8x8
Around
| Feature | 8x8 | Around |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $28/mo | Free / from $10/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | international-businesses, contact-centers, healthcare, financial-services | remote-teams, hybrid-teams, developers, creative-teams |
| Founded | 1987 | 2019 |
| Unlimited Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Conferencing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contact Center | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Call Recording | ✓ | ✗ |
| Floating Bubbles | ✗ | ✓ |
| Noise Cancellation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Auto Leveling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screen Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Reactions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Meeting Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Calendar Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 8x8 Pros
- Unlimited international calling
- Strong contact center features
- Good uptime and reliability
- Compliant for healthcare and finance
✗ 8x8 Cons
- Interface feels dated
- Support can be slow
- Pricing not transparent
✓ Around Pros
- Minimal screen footprint with floating video bubbles
- Excellent AI noise cancellation
- Auto-equalizes audio levels between participants
- Designed for casual always-on collaboration
✗ Around Cons
- Limited features for formal presentations
- Smaller user base than major platforms
- No recording on free plan
The Verdict
8x8 is built for international businesses and contact centers, with a focus on unlimited-calling and video-conferencing. Around targets remote teams and hybrid teams and leads with floating-bubbles and noise-cancellation.
On pricing, Around is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $10/mo compared to $28/mo for 8x8. That $18/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Around has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. 8x8 requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Around offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while 8x8 takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Around has a slight overall edge — but if unlimited international calling matters most to you, 8x8 may still be the right call.