8x8
WhatsApp Business
| Feature | 8x8 | WhatsApp Business |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | From $28/mo | Free / from $0/mo |
| Free Plan | ✗ No | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | international-businesses, contact-centers, healthcare, financial-services | small-businesses, ecommerce, customer-service-teams, international-businesses |
| Founded | 1987 | 2018 |
| Unlimited Calling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Video Conferencing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Team Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contact Center | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Call Recording | ✓ | ✗ |
| Business Profiles | ✗ | ✓ |
| Product Catalogs | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automated Messages | ✗ | ✓ |
| Quick Replies | ✗ | ✓ |
| Labels | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api Integration | ✗ | ✓ |
| Broadcast Lists | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ WhatsApp Business Pros
- Access to 2B+ WhatsApp users globally
- Free app for small businesses with basic features
- API platform for enterprise-scale messaging
- High open rates (98%) compared to email
✗ WhatsApp Business Cons
- API pricing per-conversation can be expensive
- 24-hour response window for customer-initiated chats
- Strict template approval process for outbound messages
The Verdict
8x8 is built for international businesses and contact centers, with a focus on unlimited-calling and video-conferencing. WhatsApp Business targets small businesses and ecommerce and leads with business-profiles and product-catalogs.
On pricing, WhatsApp Business is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $28/mo for 8x8. That $28/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
WhatsApp Business 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, WhatsApp Business offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while 8x8 takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for international businesses — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
Bottom line: WhatsApp Business has a slight overall edge — but if unlimited international calling matters most to you, 8x8 may still be the right call.