20 Best Call Center Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 20 best software from the 26 tools reviewed.
Call center software helps support teams manage high volumes of voice interactions with more speed, structure, and control. It’s built to reduce wait times, improve call routing, and give agents the tools they need to solve issues quickly.
With deep experience evaluating CX tools for functionality, usability, and ROI, I’ve identified the best call center software for handling inbound and outbound calls with consistency and scale. This will help you find the right call center software for your team, so you can deliver better customer service without adding complexity.
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The Best Call Center Software Comparison Chart
Here’s a comparison chart that summarizes basic details about each of my top call center software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best software for your budget and business needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for automation-driven processes | Free trial available | From $24.99/user/month | Website | |
| 2 | Best for handling multiple calls | 7-day free trial available | From $19/user/month + $5/additional user | Website | |
| 3 | Best for a scalable and versatile solution | Free demo available | From $15/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 4 | Best for global call centers | 14-day free trial | From $19/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 5 | Best for answering customers’ questions | Free demo available | From $85/user/month | Website | |
| 6 | Best for phone, SMS, video, & email customer support | Free demo available | From $15/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 7 | Best for highly customizable contact centers | 5000 free active hours | $1/user/hour or $150/user/month | Website | |
| 8 | Best multichannel solution with advanced AI functionality | Free trial available | From $15/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 9 | Best for call monitoring features | Free trial available | From $30/license (billed annually) | Website | |
| 10 | Best for AI-powered customer interactions | Free plan available | From $18/user/month | Website | |
| 11 | Best for integrated telephony in CRM | 15-day free trial | From $39/user/month | Website | |
| 12 | Best for an affordable virtual contact center | 21-day free trial | From $18/user/month | Website | |
| 13 | Best for managing high call volumes | Free demo available | From $119/user/month | Website | |
| 14 | Best for intelligent call routing | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 15 | Best for omnichannel communication | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
| 16 | Best for gamification and other employee engagement features | 30-day free trial | From $75/user/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 17 | Best for personalizing communication | 14-day free trial | From $25/user/month | Website | |
| 18 | Best for integrated helpdesk and ticketing tools | 30-day free trial | From $9/agent/month (billed annually) | Website | |
| 19 | Best for unifying communication channels | 14-day free trial | From $49/user/month | Website | |
| 20 | Best for omnichannel communication | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
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Hiver
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
CRM Creatio
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.7 -
monday service
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
Best Call Center Software Reviews
I’ve provided detailed summaries of my top call center software choices and explained why I included each system in this list.
RingCentral Contact Center offers a cloud-based platform that integrates AI-driven insights and automation to enhance customer interactions. It appeals to industries ranging from retail to healthcare, where efficient customer service is paramount. By providing omnichannel support across voice, messaging, and social media, RingCentral helps businesses streamline communication and optimize agent performance, thus addressing challenges such as managing high call volumes and improving customer satisfaction.
Why I Picked RingCentral Contact Center
I picked RingCentral Contact Center for its strong focus on automation-driven processes, which is essential for any modern call center operation. With features like Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and Intelligent Virtual Agents (IVAs), you can automate routine customer interactions, reducing wait times and allowing your team to focus on more complex issues. This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also optimizes operational efficiency, ensuring your call center runs smoothly. Additionally, the use of AI-powered conversation intelligence provides real-time insights, helping your agents deliver personalized support and improving overall service quality.
RingCentral Contact Center Key Features
In addition to its automation-driven processes, RingCentral Contact Center offers a variety of key features that enhance its utility as a call center software.
- Omnichannel Support: Engage with customers through multiple channels including voice, chat, email, and social media, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
- Workforce Management: Optimize your team's schedules and monitor performance with tools designed to enhance productivity and service quality.
- Analytics and Reporting: Gain insights into your call center's performance with detailed analytics and reporting tools, helping you make informed decisions.
- Security and Compliance: Protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry regulations through advanced security features.
RingCentral Contact Center Integrations
Integrations include Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, ServiceNow, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle, and SugarCRM.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- AI-driven insights, like sentiment analysis, optimize interactions
- Advanced routing and IVR features improve call handling
- Extensive support resources, including live chat and community forums
Cons:
- Initial customization requires significant effort and resources
- Limited support for polycom phones
Talkroute is a virtual phone system designed to help businesses manage calls, texts, and video meetings using their existing devices. It enables you to make and receive business calls from anywhere, keeping your personal number private by displaying your business number on outgoing calls.
Why I Picked Talkroute: One reason I chose Talkroute is its call stacking feature, which allows your team to handle multiple incoming calls simultaneously without giving callers a busy signal. This ensures that your customers can always reach you, even during peak times. Additionally, Talkroute offers customizable call menus (auto-attendants) that greet callers and provide them with a menu of options to choose from, ensuring they reach the appropriate department or team member.
Talkroute Standout Features and Integrations
Features include unlimited multi-digit extensions, allowing you to assign direct-dial numbers to departments or individual team members, enhancing internal communication. The system also supports video conferencing with up to 100 participants, enabling your team to collaborate effectively regardless of their location.
Other useful features include a business text messaging feature that lets you send and receive SMS and MMS messages using your business numbers, providing an alternative communication channel for your customers.
Integrations include Google Sheets, HubSpot, Slack, LeadConnector, Asana, Discord, Google Chat, Gmail, LeadSimple, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and Trello.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy setup process
- Consistent call quality and reliability
- Integrates well with existing operations and allows use of existing cell phones
Cons:
- Some users may want more sophisticated functionalities
- Additional costs for extra phone numbers and users
Squaretalk is a contact center software that’s secure enough for enterprise businesses and friendly enough for first-time users.
Why I Picked Squaretalk: This platform made it onto my list because of its versatility and ability to suit the needs of businesses in different industries and of different sizes. It’s cloud-based and can be used by both in-office and remote workers to conduct high volume outbound calling efforts. It also gives users access to mobile, local, and toll-free numbers in over 100 countries, helping you establish a global presence quickly.
Squaretalk Standout Features and Integrations
Features that stand out in this platform are its SMS communications management tools. It has tools for scheduling SMS reminders and sending out feedback forms and surveys to customers.
Other useful features include the ability to set up custom workflows to automate various elements of your outbound calling processes. With CRM and other useful integrations, this can really help streamline your team’s work and make things more efficient.
Integrations include Zendesk, Telegram, Freshdesk, Zoho, Hubspot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly and intuitive interface
- Extensive reporting and analytics features
- High security standards
Cons:
- No mobile application
- Limited customization options
New Product Updates from Squaretalk
Squaretalk Partners With EAERA for Seamless CRM Integration
Squaretalk has partnered with EAERA to enhance CRM systems with click-to-call integration, ensuring optimized sales workflows and compliance. For more information, visit Squaretalk's official site.
CloudTalk is a cloud-based call center software that helps businesses communicate with customers from around the globe.
Why I picked CloudTalk: The platform enables users to provide inbound support and outbound sales to their customers worldwide. CloudTalk offers businesses 140 national phone numbers or a toll-free number, so you can establish your company as a global brand. The vendor also partnered with multiple telecom organizations around the world to give users a robust network and ensure clear calls and consistent performance.
CallTalk Standout Features and Integrations
CloudTalk works for any sized business looking for advanced features such as skills-based routing, unlimited call queues, and automation. Also, CloudTalk provides call commenting, tagging, and recording, which will help enhance your rep’s productivity when handling incoming calls. Because it works on the cloud, there’s no need to install software or buy hardware to get started - all you need is a reliable internet connection.
Other features include internal calls and extensions, call recording, call queuing, number porting, voicemail, toll-free numbers, international numbers, call flow designer, and automated call distribution.
Integrations include Freshdesk, Pipedrive, Success4, LiveAgent, Zendesk, Salesforce, Hubspot CRM, Zoho CRM, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Shopify, Zapier, Help Scout, LiveChat, and Intercom.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Stable call quality
- User-friendly interface
- Simple rep management
Cons:
- Needs better API support
- Updates can cause issues
Talkdesk puts vital customer information in front of your customer service reps to help them answer any question. Their contact center software is a suitable option for businesses that need a system to handle a small number of calls.
Why I picked Talkdesk: Many platforms put a customer’s information at your team’s fingertips, but Talkdesk sets itself apart because it does the same thing without your agents having to answer the call. It does this by using an interactive voice response function that allows your customer who calls in to complete tasks and get the information they need. Talkdesk’s interactive voice response tool is easy to configure, thanks to its visual customer journey builder.
Talkdesk Standout Features and Integrations
Talkdesk's advanced routing features ensure your customers connect with the right representative, team, or department based on their needs. If you have multiple reps that are right for the customer, Talkdesk’s ring groups feature will distribute calls to various agents simultaneously.
Other advanced features include omnichannel engagement, management tools, employee collaborations, customer experience analytics, enterprise-level uptime service level agreement, artificial intelligence applications, and low-code, no-code, and custom-code tools.
Integrations include Freshdesk, Pipedrive, Userlike, OnePageCRM, Zendesk, Salesforce, Slack, Zoho CRM, Nimble, LiveChat, Shift, Keap, and Gong.io.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly platform with good self-service options
- Efficiently organizes customer data
- Includes an AI-powered virtual assistant
Cons:
- Can be slow at generating reports
- Multichannel engagement capabilities aren't included in their basic plan
Nextiva helps businesses communicate with customers from anywhere possible with its virtual call center capabilities.
Why I picked Nextiva: The platform uses its VoIP solution, Nextiva One, to provide voice, video, fax, text, and team chat features. It’s 100% cloud-based, which makes it perfect for remote teams. Your support representatives can simply log in to Nextiva’s desktop or mobile app and start handling incoming calls. If your call center experiences a large call volume, you can automate routine tasks in the platform, allowing your support agents to focus on crucial calls.
Nextiva is excellent for companies of any size - from small-to-medium businesses to large organizations. You can use the platform to get real-time insights into your team’s data, and your reps can get essential customer details to make them feel like they’re your only customer. Also, Nextiva can provide you with an integrated solution for all customer support channels and business applications.
Nextiva Standout Features and Integrations
Features that make Nextiva stand out include its workforce management and optimization tools such as multi-channel staffing forecasts, multi-skill forecasting, and agent scheduling tools. They also offer integrated quality monitoring and coaching tools to help you improve your agent performance.
Other features worth noting include team chat, free local and toll-free phone numbers, extension dialing number change, an auto attendant, call management, voicemail forwarding, call analytics, advanced call routing, call recording and rating, call queuing, and three-way calling.
Integrations include Salesforce, Zendesk, Hubspot, Zoho CRM, Microsoft Dynamics, Workbooks, Bullhorn, SugarCRM, ServiceNow, ConnectWise, GoldMine, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Teams.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Their self-service interactive voice response (IVR) feature helps manage high call volumes
- Excellent uptime rate for a cloud-based system (99.999%)
- Includes workforce management and workload optimization features
Cons:
- Contact center and business communication modules are priced separately
- Call recording limited to Enterprise plan
Twilio Flex enables businesses to build a fully programmable contact center and maintain complete control over the features they need.
Why I picked Twilio Flex: It’s a cloud-based, programmable contact center platform designed for deep customization and flexibility. With Flex, you can design your entire agent experience, routing logic, and communication channels around your exact business requirements. While developer resources help unlock its full potential, Twilio Flex offers configuration tools and setup guides that make it accessible even for teams without heavy coding expertise.
Twilio Flex suits businesses of any size that want more control and customization than typical out-of-the-box call-center software provides. It scales automatically as your organization grows and operates on a flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing model—no long-term contracts required.
Standout Features and Integrations
Features include real-time agent monitoring, intelligent call routing, queued callbacks, speech recognition, voice and video conferencing, call recording and transcription, omnichannel messaging, and customizable agent dashboards.
Integrations include Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot, Zapier, Pipedream, Google Dialogflow, and an open API for connecting with virtually any internal or third-party system.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrates well with CRMs and APIs
- Supports multiple communication channels
- Highly customizable and developer-friendly
Cons:
- Limited out-of-box features
- Requires technical setup expertise
Dialpad is a sophisticated multichannel call center platform that uses AI to improve agent workflows and help them answer customer queries faster.
Why I picked Dialpad: The platform’s AI provides a significant enhancement to the software’s contact center capabilities. For example, Dialpad can automatically transcribe your reps’ phone calls and identify specific keywords in the conversation, such as “refund.” Then the AI will display helpful references on the rep’s screen to help with the call. The AI can also alert your managers to potential issues in real-time by detecting your reps’ conversation sentiments - each conversation will have a label of “positive,” neutral,” or “negative.”
Dialpad is excellent for small businesses wanting smarter, more effective conversations in a fully functional virtual call center. It provides deep, real-time call center metrics across voice, social media, and digital communication channels. Also, the software can generate scripts for your reps facing difficulty answering customer questions.
Dialpad Standout Features and Integrations
Dialpad's multichannel customer engagement capabilities empower your customer service agents to engage with customers across popular social media channels like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Apple Business Chat within one workspace. This helps platform users provide a better end-to-end customer journey, no matter which communication method they prefer.
Their platform also includes several noteworthy features that make it easier for managers to monitor their agents' performance, including manager alerts for service level agreement issues, call monitoring tools (Listen In, Barge, and Take Over), and a screen capture tool that takes a snapshot of an agent's computer interface.
Other notable features include flexible call routing, automated voicemail and callback, interactive voice response, real-time speech analysis, live caller sentiment, real-time coaching, and quality management tools.
Integrations include Hubspot, Zapier, Clio, Domo, Wingman, Intercom, HappyFox, Helpwise, Kizen, Salesforce, DataGrail, Recruitly, AutoReach, Microsoft Teams, and Gong.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automated post-call notes increase agent productivity
- Pinpoints follow-up topics
- Includes a self-service virtual agent
Cons:
- Limited customization options
- Hold queue is limited to 25 customers at one time
Aircall is a popular choice for modern organizations thanks to its ability to provide deep insights via real-time analytics.
Why I picked Aircall: The platform’s dashboard will give you and your sales managers instant access to your call center’s metrics to ensure everyone meets their goals. Aircall enables you to monitor your agent’s missed call rate in a straightforward, all-in-one tool. You can use the software to monitor your entire call center or narrow your focus on an individual representative on the same screen.
Aircall helps businesses in any industry that need call center software and also offers customer service tools. You’ll get the same features and capabilities of the more heavy-weight tools, such as call routing and performance reports, but for an affordable price.
Aircall Standout Features and Integrations
One feature that stood out in Aircall's system is that it enables you to claim local and international phone numbers for your business in 100+ countries, even if you aren't based there. Plus, you can use their platform’s phone system to manage customer inquiries worldwide and eliminate spam or bot callers by blocklisting numbers easily.
Their interactive voice response (IVR) feature also helps to streamline your call center operations by classifying callers according to their needs and automatically routing them to the best-suited agent (i.e., skills-based call routing), improving your customer experience greatly.
Other advanced features include call whispering (the ability to speak to teammates secretly while they're on a live call), insight cards (a tool that proactively loads your agent up with customer details as soon as their phone rings), automatic call recording, a live dashboard, third-party application data syncing, and in-depth analytics.
Integrations include monday.com, Freshdesk, Quaeris, Pipedrive, Cyclr, Wingman, Desktop.com, BetterCloud, Salesforce, Zendesk, Slack, Mailchimp, Zoho CRM, Hubspot CRM, and Constant Contact.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent customer support
- Accessible on multiple devices
- Deep communication insights
Cons:
- Loudspeaker functionality is unpredictable
- Power dialer feature is limited to the Professional plan or above
CallHippo is a cloud-based call center software that enhances business communication. It offers a suite of tools that help you manage customer interactions across various channels.
Why I Picked CallHippo: I picked CallHippo because of its AI-powered solutions, including AI agents that improve customer interactions, making your team's communication more effective. The parallel dialer is another feature that automates simultaneous dialing, allowing your team to reach more customers in less time. Smart call routing directs calls efficiently, ensuring customers connect to the right agent quickly.
Another reason is the omnichannel inbox, which integrates communications from platforms like WhatsApp and SMS into one interface. This makes it easier for your team to manage customer interactions across different channels without switching platforms. Real-time analytics provide insights into call performance, helping you make informed decisions to improve service quality.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include lead prioritization, which helps you focus on high-potential leads for effective outreach. The live call monitoring feature allows real-time oversight of calls, ensuring quality assurance is maintained throughout interactions. Call analytics provide detailed insights into call metrics, offering valuable data for performance evaluation and strategic planning.
Integrations include Business Phone System, Omnichannel Inbox, WhatsApp Business API, AI Sales and Phone Agents, AI Voicebot and Agent, Parallel and Predictive Dialers, Smart Call Routing, Real-Time Analytics, Lead Prioritization, Live Call Monitoring, Call Analytics, and Automatic Machine Detection.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Mobile app availability for on-the-go access
- Offers a variety of features including call recording and analytics
- User-friendly interface that simplifies navigation
Cons:
- Inconsistent performance during peak usage times
- Some users experienced issues with call connectivity
Zoho Voice is a comprehensive cloud telephony solution designed to meet the communication needs of businesses of all sizes. It offers a range of features including voice calls, call forwarding, call recording, and voicemail, all integrated within Zoho's ecosystem of business tools.
Why I Picked Zoho Voice: As call center software, Zoho Voice excels in providing seamless integration with CRM systems, advanced call analytics, and customizable IVR options. It simplifies customer interaction management, enabling businesses to deliver superior customer service efficiently.
Zoho Voice Standout Features and Integrations
Zoho Voice features AI-powered voice assistance, offering automated customer support to optimize call center operations. Additionally, its real-time call analytics tool provides critical data and insights, enabling businesses to make informed decisions to improve call center performance. This combination of features ensures that Zoho Voice is well-equipped to meet the dynamic needs of modern call centers.
Other features include call forwarding, call recording, voicemail, customizable ivr, ai-powered voice assistance, real-time call analytics, integration with zoho crm, and global voice call capability.
Integrations include Zoho CRM, Zoho Desk, Zoho Campaigns, Zoho Analytics, Zoho Books, Zoho SalesIQ, Zoho Recruit, Zoho WorkDrive, Zoho Projects, and Zoho Mail.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable IVR for personalized customer interactions
- Advanced call analytics for detailed performance insights
- Seamless integration with Zoho's suite of products
Cons:
- Limited customization options in comparison to some competitors
- Can be complex for new users
Best for an affordable virtual contact center
Freshdesk Contact Center is a complete, affordable, and all-in-one contact center solution for businesses.
Why I picked Freshdesk Contact Center: I included Freshdesk Contact Center in this list because their virtual setup reduces many of the costs of traditional phone systems, making them an affordable option for small businesses. With this platform, your telephony costs will be lower than normal thanks to their pay-as-you-go call charges and reduced hardware requirements. Instead of investing in lots of phone equipment, you can use a laptop, tablet, or mobile device to make outgoing calls or receive incoming calls. They also support a variety of phone number options, including local, toll-free, or vanity numbers.
Freshdesk Contact Center offers free plans for new licenses as well as affordable paid options. The free plan has limited features, but the lowest paid tier, the growth plan, has the features the free plan doesn’t and other basic capabilities. The software can also work with your business as you scale and need additional features to manage your support center.
Freshdesk Contact Center Standout Features and Integrations
One feature I found interesting is the option to save Solution Articles into a folder that all agents can assess, functioning as an internal knowledge base. You can also convert your rep’s responses into solutions and help articles to grow your internal knowledge base easily.
Another nice feature is their multi-level IVR (interactive voice response) phone tree that uses AI to direct customer inquiries to the right agent, with the ability to configure up to 5 levels of support. In addition, I also like their call-masking option that makes it possible to display your official customer support number on your customer's call display, no matter what number you're actually calling from.
Other standard features include call routing, business hour settings, shared phone lines, spam call blocking, and live call monitoring.
Integrations include ResponseTap, FrontApp, Zoho CRM, Nimble CRM, Pipedrive, Copper CRM, PipelineDeals CRM, Zendesk Sell, Salesforce, Hubspot CRM, Zapier, Shopify, and WooCommerce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Detailed analytic reports
- Flexible platform
- Simple onboarding process
Cons:
- Mobile app is sometimes buggy
- No calls between reps
Five9 is a call center solution that helps businesses that experience high call volumes engage with their customers. It's suitable for large businesses transitioning from an on-premise tool to a cloud-based solution.
Why I picked Five9: The platform offers multiple open-source call center functionalities for businesses with a high number of customer phone inquiries. Five9’s representative technology can take some of your calls, so you don’t have to hire more representatives to handle these calls.
With Five9, managers have full visibility into their entire team - it doesn’t matter if they’re working from home or on the go. Their software also includes several workforce optimization features to help you boost agent productivity, save money, and increase your ROI.
Five9 Standout Features and Integrations
Five9 uses practical AI to increase customer satisfaction rates for all users by prioritizing calls and interactions based on urgency and selecting the resource that will be most beneficial to the customer. If a customer visits your website and leaves their contact information to get information about your product, Five9’s AI will place the contact details in front of your call queue.
Another neat feature is their Intelligent Virtual Agent (IVA) which allows you to deploy a more conversational and engaging self-service feature across all your digital customer support channels.
Other features include an outbound dialer, omnichannel routing, natural language processing, dashboards and reports, call disposition, data import and export, lead management, and call tracking.
Integrations include Salesforce, Servicenow, Zendesk, Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone, Ring Central, Freshdesk, Fuze, Gong, MarketSharp, Logicbox, Sugar Sell, Balto, and Chatdesk.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Includes a helpful whisper mode to assist agents during a live call
- Includes gamification to improve agent performance
- Extensive documentation
Cons:
- Feature add-ons can be expensive
- Integration analytics are limited to their top-level paid plan
NICE CXone Mpower Platform is a cloud-based call center software designed to enhance customer interactions and operations. With a focus on intelligent automation and customer experience, it offers a variety of features that cater to modern call center needs.
Why I Picked NICE: I picked NICE CXone because of its automatic call distribution feature, which routes calls to the most suitable agents. This ensures that your team can handle customer inquiries without long wait times, improving productivity and customer satisfaction. Additionally, the platform's AI-driven insights enhance customer service by automating processes and providing intelligent data for decision-making.
Another reason for choosing NICE CXone is its interactive voice response system, which manages high call volumes. This feature is invaluable during peak times, ensuring that customers receive quality service without unnecessary delays. The platform also offers comprehensive dashboards and reporting tools that provide real-time and historical data, giving you operational visibility to make informed decisions.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include workflow orchestration, which streamlines customer service processes and improves omnichannel routing. The workforce engagement management tools provide your agents with the resources they need for enhanced performance, while service automation allows for interactions to be managed by virtual agents and proactive AI. These features work together to offer a well-rounded solution for call center operations.
Integrations include Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, ServiceNow, Zendesk, Kustomer, Pega, Amazon Lex V1, Amazon Lex V2, Google Dialogflow CX, IBM Watson Assistant, and Nuance Mix.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- AI-driven analytics for agent and customer insights
- Cloud-native, ensuring scalability and reliability
- Omnichannel routing across voice, chat, sms
Cons:
- Interface and reporting can feel dated or clunky
- Some users report call connectivity and audio issues
Bright Pattern is a cloud-based call center software that focuses on delivering omnichannel communication solutions. Its platform is designed to provide interactions across various channels, including voice, chat, email, and social media, ensuring that your team can connect with customers wherever they are.
Why I Picked Bright Pattern: I picked Bright Pattern because of its AI integration, which enhances customer interactions by offering automated conversations and real-time agent assistance. This feature ensures that your team can provide quick and accurate responses, improving the overall customer experience. Another reason is its quality management tools, which include monitoring and reporting capabilities to help maintain high service standards.
Additionally, Bright Pattern's platform supports predictive dialing, an essential feature for outbound call centers. This functionality helps your team connect with more leads by optimizing call times and reducing idle periods. With these capabilities, you can enhance your team's productivity and improve customer engagement without any hassle.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include a mobile app that allows your team to manage interactions on the go, ensuring flexibility and accessibility. The software also offers interactive voice response (IVR) systems, which automate customer interactions and reduce wait times for callers. Moreover, its CRM integrations provide a comprehensive view of customer interactions, allowing for personalized service and informed decision-making.
Integrations include Microsoft Dynamics 365, Salesforce, Zendesk, Oracle Service Cloud, Hubspot, Zoho, Microsoft Teams, Ivanti Service Management, ManageEngine, and ServiceNow.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive quality management and analytics features
- Advanced omnichannel capabilities, including voice, text, chat, email, and video
- User-friendly interface with easy training for implementation
Cons:
- High per-minute call costs
- Limited detailed reporting and customization options
Genesys provides small businesses with advanced call center features for inbound and outbound call management.
Why I picked Genesys: If you’re running a small business, Genesys can help keep your reps engaged and productive thanks to its built-in unified communication and collaboration tools. You can also use its AI capabilities to understand your customer data from the insights it distills. Your teams will get advanced call center features such as automation and workforce management to help your business provide excellent customer service.
Genesys helps small businesses take their customer experience efforts worldwide. Whether you’re operating in 2 countries or 80, the platform will help you simplify customer experiences. The platform’s predictive routing and automatic call distribution (ACD) capabilities will analyze your customers’ behavior patterns and identify the best outcome and representative to ensure all customers get the best experience every time.
Genesys Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features for Genesys, in my opinion, are their employee engagement capabilities. Genesys uses gamification features like internal scorecards and leaderboards to drive team performance. In addition, their platform also helps with employee development through embedded learning and training, coaching tools, a personalized development hub, and rewards and recognition tools. The depth of these features also provides good value for small businesses wanting more out of their call center software.
Other features include quality assurance and monitoring, predictive engagement, knowledge management, co-browse and screen share, voice bots, and predictive routing.
Integrations include Zoom Phone, Microsoft Azure, Video RTC, Daisee, Sapling AI Writing Assistant, LumenVox, Topbox, Airkit, Eleveo, Call Journey, Replicant, and Ultimate.ai.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Flexible plan options
- Strong AI features
- Simple user interface
Cons:
- Report customization limitations
- Slow report generation
Creatio CRM is a comprehensive customer relationship management tool designed to cater to the needs of businesses of various sizes. It offers a suite of features that include lead and contact management, marketing automation, sales management, and service management.
Why I Picked CRM Creatio: One of the most notable features is the 360-degree customer view, which provides a detailed overview of customer interactions and preferences. This allows call center agents to deliver highly personalized service, improving customer satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, the call tracking feature enables managers to monitor call details, analyze performance, and identify areas for improvement, ensuring that the call center operates at peak efficiency.
CRM Creatio Standout Features and Integrations
Features that stand out include workflow automation for routine tasks such as case routing and follow-ups, AI-driven customer service tools that analyze interactions, predict customer behavior, and automate responses, and a knowledge management system that centralizes access to FAQs and troubleshooting guides.
Other useful features include omnichannel communication by phone, email, and chat, no-code platform customization, AI-assisted app development, contact and account management, and real-time analytics.
Integrations include Microsoft Excel, Gmail, Mailchimp, HubSpot Marketing Hub, Google Calendar, HubSpot CRM, Microsoft Word, Tableau, Microsoft Outlook, and Meta for Business.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Scalable and flexible for growing businesses
- No-code platform accessible to non-technical users
- Extensive customization options
Cons:
- Learning curve for new users
- Customization can be time-consuming
LiveAgent is a combined helpdesk and call center solution that streamlines all communication channels into one inbox.
Steve Morris, Founder and CEO at NEWMEDIA.COM, explains how LiveAgent helped their client better manage tickets. “What made the difference wasn't just speed, but reliability: no more dropped balls, because now all the tickets read from any channel were visible at once, and it was clear at a glance who was responsible, with prioritization rules and round-robin assignment options baked in. CSAT scores tracked response time downward from the first week as customers got all the things they needed on time.”
Why I picked LiveAgent: Where many other options require businesses to integrate another solution to get a customer ticketing system, LiveAgent is a helpdesk solution that has call center functionality. The platform offers call management features that allow you to answer phone calls and other communication forms in one place. Users can connect unlimited local numbers and route and record calls.
LiveAgent offers an array of contact center features and options, along with other customer support methods, that would be a better fit for larger organizations. These organizations will appreciate that LiveAgent provides integrations with over 200 tools, so they’ll most likely be able to integrate all their systems with the platform. Some integrations are plugin and native-based, whereas others use an API that might require using Zapier.
LiveAgent Standout Features and Integrations
One standout feature for LiveAgent is its dedicated customer portal which also includes a knowledge base. This allows customers to access answers to common questions on a self-service basis, reducing your overall call volume for your agents.
Other features include automatic callback, an embeddable call button, call detail records, call routing, internal calls, call transfers, interactive voice response, and unlimited call recordings.
Integrations include TeleCube, Avoxi, Twilio, Zapier, TimeCamp, Haraka, Sendmail, Webflow, Zentap, Zoho Mail, vCita, Intercom, and Asana.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- White glove setup is available in even their most basic plan
- Sends customer satisfaction surveys after each customer interaction
- Simple user interface that's easy to use
Cons:
- Limitations on the number of pre-defined answers you can have
- Omnichannel functionality is only available as an add-on
Zendesk allows your reps to unify all forms of customer conversations in one central location.
Why I picked Zendesk: The cloud-based platform enables your business to provide personalized phone support to your customers. The Zendesk Talk solution is a part of the Zendesk for Service software, a multichannel support system that allows users to provide phone support capabilities in the same platform you can use for other customer conversations. Your reps will be able to see all real-time customer information by syncing the voice tools with your other communication channels.
Zendesk is an excellent solution for small and medium-sized businesses searching for methods to enhance their voice capabilities with tools such as call transcriptions or redactions. Current Zendesk users will also enjoy the platform because they’ll be able to add call center functionality to their helpdesk services. Its basic plan includes the call center functionality a small or medium-sized business would want, such as omnichannel support, ticketing, and basic analytics dashboards and reports.
Zendesk Standout Features and Integrations
One stand-out feature with Zendesk is their Advanced AI add-on. This enterprise-grade AI addition can help you speed up your customer service by using advanced AI bots to provide insights and suggestions to your agents while they're on a live call. In addition, Zendesk's intelligent triage feature automatically categorizes tickets based on customer intent, sentiment, and language, and can feed into additional workflows, triggers, and call routing rules.
Zendesk also makes it possible to set a maximum queue size and wait time to help you avoid having customers sitting on hold for too long. Once your calls have exceeded your maximum, additional calls will be automatically directed to voicemail instead of leaving your customers dwindling on the phone for frustratingly long wait times.
Other features include an agent workspace with lots of customer-specific context, collaboration tools, a knowledge management hub, call scripting, and a whisper mode that allows multiple agents to silently collaborate with each other during a live call.
Integrations include Slack, Mailchimp, Zapier, Campaign Monitor, Okta, Mindsay, Geckoboard, Rivery, Daisee, Airbyte, Data Virtuality, Sunshine Conversations, and IntraManager.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- User-friendly interface with robust features
- Adaptable to users’ needs
- The Zendesk Guide is beneficial
Cons:
- Difficult to personalize
- Customer support needs improvement
8x8 is an AI-powered contact center and communications platform designed to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency. It provides tools and solutions for businesses to manage their communication needs effectively.
Why I Picked 8x8: I picked 8x8 as a top call center software because of its omnichannel routing capabilities. This feature lets your team handle customer interactions across voice, chat, and email from a single platform, providing a more cohesive and responsive service. Additionally, 8x8 offers AI-driven agent assistance, giving agents real-time insights and recommendations to resolve customer queries quickly and accurately.
Another reason for choosing 8x8 is its focus on automation and data-driven insights. The platform automates repetitive tasks, freeing up your team's time for more complex issues. Its data-driven insights help you understand your operations better, allowing you to make informed decisions to improve service quality. These features make it an excellent choice for enhancing call center operations.
Standout Features & Integrations
Features include no-code APIs that simplify customizing and extending the platform to meet specific business needs. The platform supports secure communications, crucial for maintaining customer trust and compliance with industry regulations. Furthermore, 8x8 provides extensive resources for user support and education, ensuring your team has the knowledge and tools to maximize the platform's capabilities.
Integrations include Salesforce, Slack, HubSpot, Microsoft Teams, Zendesk, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Freshdesk, NetSuite, Google Sheets, monday.com, Odoo CRM, and Twilio.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Consistently reliable voice communication quality
- Easy setup and management of users through a dashboard
- Offers a wide range of features including VoIP, video, messaging
Cons:
- Reports of occasional connectivity and performance problems
- Lack of granular access controls for specific features
Other Call Center Software
Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best call center software list:
- Avaya
For enhancing business outcomes.
- AWS Connect
For onboarding new representatives.
- Aspect Software
High-performance contact center solution.
- Vonage Business Cloud Contact Center
For call center flexibility and control.
- Calabrio
For workforce optimization.
What Is Call Center Software?
Call center software is a platform that manages inbound and outbound phone communications between businesses and customers. It supports call routing, performance tracking, and operational efficiency for support and sales teams.
Call Center Software Selection Criteria
When selecting customer support software to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like improving call handling efficiency and ensuring data security. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
- Manage inbound and outbound calls
- Provide call routing and call queuing
- Offer call recording and playback
- Deliver real-time analytics and reporting
- Multi-channel communication mamagement tools
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
- AI-driven call insights
- Advanced workforce management tools
- Customizable dashboards
- Integration with virtual assistants
- Real-time language translation
Usability (10% of total score)
- Intuitive user interface
- Easy navigation and layout
- Minimal training required
- Responsive design for all devices
- Customizable user settings
Onboarding (10% of total score)
- Availability of training videos and tutorials
- Interactive product tours
- Ready-to-use templates
- Access to live webinars
- On-demand chatbots for assistance
Customer Support (10% of total score)
- 24/7 availability
- Multi-channel support options
- Fast response times
- Knowledgeable support staff
- Comprehensive help center
Value For Money (10% of total score)
- Competitive pricing structures
- Features offered at each price tier
- Discounts for annual billing
- Scalability of pricing plans
- Return on investment potential
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Commonly mentioned strengths
- Frequently noted weaknesses
- Feedback on customer support
- User experiences with updates and improvements
How to Choose Call Center Software
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
|---|---|
| Scalability | Ensure the software can grow with your business. Look for flexible plans that allow you to add users or features as needed without major disruptions. |
| Integrations | Check if it connects with your existing tools like CRM software, email, and chat systems. Seamless integration can save time and reduce errors in data handling. |
| Customizability | Look for options to tailor workflows, dashboards, and reports to fit your team's specific needs, enhancing productivity and user satisfaction. |
| Ease of Use | Choose software with an intuitive interface that requires minimal training. This helps your team quickly adapt and focus on customer interactions. |
| Budget | Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including setup fees and potential add-ons. Ensure it aligns with your financial constraints and offers good value. |
| Security Safeguards | Prioritize software with strong data protection measures. Features like encryption and compliance with regulations (e.g., GDPR) keep your data safe. |
| Support & Training | Verify the availability of customer support and training resources. These can be crucial for troubleshooting and maximizing the software's potential. |
| Performance Metrics | Look for tools that offer detailed analytics and reporting. Understanding your team's performance helps in making informed decisions and improvements. |
Trends in Call Center Software
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different call center software vendors. Here are the key trends shaping the future of call center platforms:
AI-Powered Agent Assist
Beyond chatbots, AI is now supporting agents in real time—offering live transcription, surfacing relevant knowledge articles, and suggesting next-best actions during calls to improve accuracy and reduce handle time.
Self-Service as a Strategy
More platforms are prioritizing intelligent self-service tools like conversational IVRs, guided workflows, and AI-driven FAQs. These features lower call volume and empower customers to solve issues faster without agent intervention.
Predictive and Sentiment Analytics
Real-time sentiment analysis and predictive behavior tools are becoming more common. These insights help managers coach on live calls or identify churn risk before it escalates.
Low-Code Customization
Vendors are leaning into low-code and no-code tools that let teams build and modify call flows, automations, and integrations without relying on developers—making it easier to adapt quickly to evolving needs.
AI-Driven Quality Assurance
Instead of manually reviewing a fraction of calls, AI-powered QA tools now analyze 100% of interactions for compliance, script adherence, and tone—streamlining coaching and ensuring consistency.
Omnichannel and Remote-Ready by Default
As customer expectations grow, call center platforms continue to unify voice, chat, email, and social media into one interface—while offering full remote accessibility, cloud reliability, and built-in workforce management tools.
Features of Call Center Software
When selecting call center software, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- AI-powered insights: Analyze customer interactions in real-time to improve service and understand customer sentiment.
- Omnichannel support: Manage customer interactions from multiple channels in one platform, ensuring a consistent experience.
- Remote work capabilities: Provide cloud-based access and collaboration tools to support remote teams effectively.
- Advanced workforce management: Optimize agent productivity with real-time performance tracking and automated scheduling.
- Customizable dashboards: Tailor visual data displays to fit your team's specific needs, enhancing decision-making.
- Call routing and call queuing systems: Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) features direct inbound calls to the right agents efficiently, reducing wait times and improving customer satisfaction. IVR features enable self-service and reduce agent workload.
- Call recording and playback: Record interactions for quality assurance and training purposes, ensuring service consistency.
- Real-time analytics and reporting: Monitor performance metrics to make informed decisions and improve operations.
- Security safeguards: Protect customer data with encryption and compliance with data regulations, ensuring privacy and trust.
- Integration with existing tools: Seamlessly connect with CRM, email, and chat systems to streamline workflows and data management.
- Call Monitoring and Analytics: Call monitoring features track and improve employee training, ensure call quality, and track metrics like wait times and call volumes.
Benefits of Call Center Software
Implementing call center software provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Improved customer satisfaction: Efficient call routing and omnichannel support ensure customers are connected to the right agent quickly.
- Enhanced team productivity: AI-powered insights, features like smart dialers or click-to-call, and advanced workforce management help your team focus on high-priority tasks and optimize their workflow.
- Better data management: Integration with existing tools keeps customer information organized and accessible, reducing errors in data handling.
- Increased flexibility: Remote work capabilities allow your team to provide consistent service from any location, adapting to changing work environments.
- Actionable insights: Real-time analytics and customizable dashboards offer valuable data to guide decision-making and improve operations.
- Cost savings: Automated scheduling and efficient resource allocation help reduce operational costs while maintaining service quality.
- Strengthened data security: Security safeguards protect sensitive customer information, ensuring compliance with regulations and building trust.
Costs and Pricing of Call Center Software
Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in call center software solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Call Center Software
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | $0 | Basic call routing, limited support channels, and essential analytics. |
| Personal Plan | $15-$30/user/month | Enhanced call management, basic integrations, and limited reporting capabilities. |
| Business Plan | $40-$70/user/month | Advanced analytics, multi-channel support, CRM integration, and customizable dashboards. |
| Enterprise Plan | $80-$150/user/month | Comprehensive workforce management, AI-powered insights, full omnichannel support, and dedicated support. |
Call Center Software: Frequently asked Questions
If you have general questions about what call center software has to offer, these answers to frequently asked questions are a good place to start:
What call monitoring and analytics KPIs should I track?
Here are some key call monitoring and analytics KPIs you should track using call center software:
- Average Handle Time (AHT): Tracks the average time agents spend on each call, including hold and wrap-up time, to measure efficiency.
- First Call Resolution (FCR): Shows the percentage of issues resolved during the first call, highlighting the quality of support.
- Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): Measures customer happiness with their interaction, often through post-call surveys.
- Call Abandonment Rate: Reflects the percentage of callers who hang up before reaching an agent, indicating wait time concerns.
- Service Level: Monitors how often agents meet the expected response time, such as answering 80% of calls within 30 seconds.
- Agent Utilization: Tracks how much time agents spend actively handling calls versus idle time, helping balance workloads.
- Call Volume: Shows the total number of incoming and outgoing calls to help forecast staffing needs.
- Net Promoter Score (NPS): Measures how likely customers are to recommend your business, reflecting overall satisfaction.
- Hold Time: Tracks how long customers are placed on hold during calls, helping to identify bottlenecks in service.
- Call Quality Scores: Evaluates agent performance based on factors like script adherence, professionalism, and problem resolution.
Tracking these KPIs helps optimize call center operations, improve customer experience, and support data-driven decisions.
What are the ongoing costs of call center software?
Ongoing costs for call center software can vary widely based on several factors including the size of your team, the complexity of your needs, and the specific features you require. Generally, these costs can include monthly or annual subscription fees, costs per user or agent, and additional charges for premium features such as advanced analytics, AI capabilities, and integration with other business systems. It’s also common to encounter costs associated with updates, maintenance, and support services to ensure the software remains effective and secure over time.
Can call center software support remote or distributed call center teams?
Absolutely! Modern call center software is designed with flexibility and scalability in mind, which makes it ideal for supporting remote or distributed teams. These solutions often operate on cloud-based platforms, allowing team members to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection. This enables businesses to set up virtual call centers, where agents can work from home or any other remote location, without compromising on the quality of service. Features like real-time monitoring, call routing, and collaboration tools are specifically designed to support the unique needs of remote teams.
How do call center software solutions handle data security and privacy?
Data security and privacy are top priorities for call center software solutions, given the sensitive nature of customer interactions and data. These platforms typically employ several layers of security measures including encryption of data in transit and at rest, regular security audits, compliance with international data protection regulations (like GDPR and HIPAA, depending on the region and industry), and user authentication protocols. Additionally, many providers offer features for data anonymization and secure access controls to minimize the risk of data breaches and ensure that customer information is handled responsibly.
Check Platform Security and Service Agreements
These are important factors when choosing call center software because they impact both data safety and the reliability of the software. Here’s how they relate:
- Platform Security: Call center software often handles sensitive customer data, like personal details or payment information. Strong security measures—like encryption, access controls, and regular vulnerability assessments—protect this data from breaches, ensuring compliance with laws like GDPR or CCPA.
- Service Agreements (SLAs): Service Level Agreements define the reliability and performance standards of the software, such as uptime guarantees, support response times, and resolution timelines. These agreements ensure the software operates smoothly, minimizing disruptions to customer service.
By addressing both security and service agreements, businesses can trust the call center software to be dependable and safe for their operations and their customers.
How can I integrate call center software with my existing CRM or help desk?
You can usually integrate call center software with your CRM or help desk using built-in connectors, APIs, or third-party integration platforms like Zapier. Start by checking if your call center solution offers direct integrations with popular CRMs like Salesforce, monday CRM, or HubSpot. If not, look for API documentation or middleware solutions. Integration lets you automatically sync customer data and support tickets, giving your agents richer context and reducing manual data entry.
How can call center software improve first call resolution (FCR) for my team?
Call center software improves first call resolution by giving agents real-time access to customer history, knowledge bases, and call scripts. Features like intelligent call routing or skills-based routing direct callers to the best available agent. Monitoring tools let you spot common issues and knowledge gaps, so you can coach your team. Aim to leverage automated ticket creation, note taking, and even AI-driven prompts to help agents resolve issues on the first call.
What’s the difference between omnichannel and multichannel call center software?
Omnichannel call center software connects all your communication channels—phone, email, chat, and social media—so your agents see the full customer history in one place. Multichannel solutions let you offer support on various channels but manage each one separately. With omnichannel, customers enjoy a smoother experience, and agents can switch between channels without losing context. This leads to faster, more personalized support.
Call Center Software Makes Scaling Support Simple
The major benefit of call center software in today’s modern world is its ability to enhance customer service and team efficiency. It centralizes communication across multiple channels like phone, email, and chat, ensuring that customer inquiries are handled quickly and seamlessly. Features like automated call routing, AI support, and real-time analytics help teams work smarter, not harder, by reducing response times and personalizing customer interactions.
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