Nextiva

What is Nextiva?

Nextiva provides unified business communications—VoIP phone system, video conferencing, team messaging, and customer engagement tools in one platform. Instead of stitching together separate tools for calling, video, and chat, Nextiva unifies communications. The result is simpler management and better customer experience.

For businesses wanting professional phone capabilities with modern collaboration features, Nextiva delivers enterprise-grade communications without enterprise complexity. Founded in 2006, Nextiva has grown to serve over 100,000 businesses and consistently earns top ratings for reliability and customer service.

Key Features

VoIP Phone System

Cloud phone system with professional features: auto-attendant, call routing, voicemail-to-email, and call analytics. Work from anywhere with desktop and mobile apps. The system supports unlimited calling within the US and Canada, ensuring predictable monthly costs regardless of call volume.

Advanced call management includes call forwarding, call parking, three-way calling, and call transfer capabilities. The auto-attendant handles incoming calls professionally with customizable greetings and menu options, routing callers to the right department without human intervention.

Video Meetings

Built-in video conferencing eliminates separate video tools. Screen sharing, recording, and collaboration features included. One platform for all communication modes. Host meetings with up to 250 participants on higher-tier plans, with HD video quality and virtual backgrounds.

Team Messaging

Internal chat and collaboration alongside phone and video. File sharing, channels, and integrations. Unified workspace for team communication. Create dedicated channels for projects, departments, or topics to keep conversations organized and searchable.

Contact Center

Inbound call center features for customer support. Call queues, routing, and agent management. Customer experience tools for growing support teams. Advanced features include intelligent call distribution, skills-based routing, and real-time queue monitoring.

CRM Integration

Connect to Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, and other CRMs. Call data syncs automatically. Customer context available during calls. Agents see customer history, previous interactions, and account details before answering, enabling personalized service.

Analytics and Reporting

Call analytics, usage reports, and team performance metrics. Understand communication patterns. Data-driven decisions about staffing and workflows. Track key metrics including call volume, average handle time, first-call resolution rates, and customer satisfaction scores.

Use Cases

Small Businesses

Small businesses benefit from Nextiva professional phone features without IT complexity. Replace outdated desk phones with a modern system that works on existing devices. The auto-attendant gives small teams a professional image, routing calls efficiently even with limited staff. Affordable per-user pricing scales as the business grows, with no expensive hardware investments required.

Call Centers

Call centers leverage Nextiva contact center capabilities for efficient customer service operations. Intelligent call routing ensures customers reach the right agent quickly, reducing wait times and improving satisfaction. Real-time dashboards help supervisors monitor queue lengths, agent availability, and service levels. Call recording and quality monitoring support training and compliance requirements.

Remote Teams

Remote and hybrid teams stay connected through Nextiva cloud-based platform. Employees use the same phone number whether working from home, office, or traveling. Video meetings bring dispersed teams together for face-to-face collaboration. Team messaging enables quick questions and updates without scheduling calls. The mobile app ensures accessibility from any location with internet connectivity.

Multi-Location Businesses

Businesses with multiple offices unify communications under one system. All locations share the same directory, enabling easy transfers between sites. Centralized management simplifies administration across locations. Consistent features and quality regardless of geographic distribution.

Pricing

Core — From $20/user/month (annual). Basic VoIP phone system, auto-attendant, voicemail-to-email, and mobile app.

Engage — From $25/user/month (annual). Adds video conferencing, team messaging, CRM integrations, and advanced call features.

Power Suite — From $75/user/month (annual). Full contact center features, workflow automation, and advanced analytics.

Enterprise — From $129/agent/month. Omnichannel contact center with advanced bots, workforce management, and premium support.

Volume discounts available. Monthly billing costs more. 7-day free trial available.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Exceptional reliability: 99.999% uptime backed by multiple redundant data centers ensures business continuity. Few competitors match this level of reliability.

Outstanding customer support: Award-winning 24/7 support with US-based representatives. Consistently rated highest in customer satisfaction among VoIP providers.

All-in-one platform: Phone, video, messaging, and contact center in one solution eliminates tool sprawl and reduces costs compared to multiple subscriptions.

Easy setup and management: Intuitive admin portal requires no technical expertise. Most businesses complete setup within hours, not days.

Scalability: Works for small businesses and large enterprises alike. Add users instantly without hardware changes.

Cons

Higher starting price: Entry-level pricing exceeds some competitors, though value justifies cost for most businesses.

Video limitations on basic plans: Full video conferencing requires Engage tier or higher.

Learning curve for advanced features: Contact center and automation features take time to master fully.

International calling costs: Calls outside US and Canada incur per-minute charges.

Who Uses Nextiva?

Growing businesses upgrade from basic phone systems to professional communications. Nextiva provides enterprise features at accessible pricing.

Remote and hybrid teams need unified communications across locations. Cloud platform works anywhere with internet.

Customer-focused businesses improve experience with integrated phone and engagement tools.

Nextiva vs Competitors

Nextiva vs RingCentral

RingCentral offers similar unified communications with different feature emphasis. Compare specific integrations, pricing, and customer support for your needs.

Nextiva vs 8x8

8x8 competes in unified communications space. Both are solid enterprise options—compare based on specific feature requirements and pricing.

Tips for Getting the Most from Nextiva

Invest in quality headsets: Audio quality significantly impacts call professionalism. Invest in noise-canceling headsets for customer-facing roles.

Set up call flows thoughtfully: Design auto-attendant menus from the caller perspective. Keep options concise and test routing regularly.

Train your team: Schedule dedicated training sessions for new features. Nextiva offers free webinars and tutorials for customers.

Use integrations: Connect Nextiva to your CRM, helpdesk, and productivity tools. Integration eliminates data silos and manual entry.

Monitor analytics weekly: Review call metrics to identify trends, staffing needs, and improvement opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my existing phone numbers?

Yes, Nextiva supports number porting from most carriers. The porting process typically completes within 7-10 business days. Nextiva handles the transfer process and ensures no service interruption.

What internet speed do I need?

Nextiva recommends at least 100 Kbps upload and download per concurrent call. For offices with multiple simultaneous calls, ensure bandwidth scales accordingly. Most standard business internet connections exceed these requirements.

Does Nextiva work internationally?

Nextiva platform works anywhere with internet access. However, local phone numbers are primarily available in the US and Canada. International calling rates apply for calls outside these regions.

What hardware do I need?

No specific hardware required. Use existing computers, smartphones, or tablets with Nextiva apps. Optional desk phones available for traditional phone experience, with many certified models supported.

How does billing work?

Nextiva bills monthly or annually, with annual plans offering significant discounts. Per-user pricing means costs scale predictably with team size. No hidden fees for included features.

What happens if internet goes down?

Configure call forwarding to mobile phones as backup. Nextiva mobile app can use cellular data when WiFi is unavailable. Voicemail continues capturing messages during outages.

Final Verdict

Nextiva delivers comprehensive business communications with excellent reliability and customer support. The unified platform simplifies communications management for growing businesses. While pricing sits slightly above entry-level competitors, the combination of features, reliability, and support justifies the investment for businesses serious about professional communications.

Rating: 4.4/5