8x8
Telegram
| Feature | 8x8 | Telegram |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $28/mo | Free / from $4.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | international-businesses, contact-centers, healthcare, financial-services | communities, developers, crypto-projects, international-teams |
| Founded | 1987 | 2013 |
| Unlimited Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Conferencing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contact Center | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Call Recording | ✓ | ✗ |
| Messaging | ✗ | ✓ |
| Channels | ✗ | ✓ |
| Groups | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bots Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| File Sharing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Voice Calls | ✗ | ✓ |
| Stories | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Telegram Pros
- Unlimited cloud storage for messages and files
- Powerful bot API for automation and services
- Groups up to 200,000 members
- Fast and lightweight across all platforms
✗ Telegram Cons
- End-to-end encryption only in Secret Chats (not default)
- Premium features fragmenting the experience
- Moderation challenges in large public groups
The Verdict
8x8 is built for international businesses and contact centers, with a focus on unlimited-calling and video-conferencing. Telegram targets communities and developers and leads with messaging and channels.
On pricing, Telegram is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $4.99/mo compared to $28/mo for 8x8. That $23.009999999999998/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Telegram 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.
Telegram edges out on user ratings (4.5 vs 4). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Telegram 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: Telegram has a slight overall edge — but if unlimited international calling matters most to you, 8x8 may still be the right call.