You want AI transcripts and call summaries on the cheapest plan, and a lower per-seat price for a small team.
You want one suite for calls, meetings and messaging, you run several sites, or you plan to add RingCentral's AI Receptionist.
Billed annually, Dialpad Standard is $15/user versus RingCentral Core at $20, and Dialpad includes AI transcripts and recaps at that price. RingCentral includes toll-free minutes, call recording and big video meetings from Core. Both charge per seat, and both sell AI call answering separately.
Entry prices, how each one bills, and what you get on the cheapest plan. We added a third row so you can see where Fast Response fits.
| Vendor | Starting price | How it's billed | Cheapest plan includes | AI answering | Business texting | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dialpad | $15/user/mo (Standard, billed annually) | Per user; $27/user/mo billed monthly | Unlimited calling, SMS and MMS, real-time transcription, AI call summaries (AI Recaps), 1 office | AI Agent sold separately, conversation-based pricing via sales | SMS and MMS on every Connect plan | Teams that want AI transcripts and summaries on every call |
| RingCentral | $20/user/mo (RingEX Core, billed annually) | Per user; $30/user/mo billed monthly | Unlimited domestic calling, call recording, 100 toll-free min, 25 SMS per user/mo, video meetings | AI Receptionist (AIR) add-on, starts at $39 | 25 SMS per user/mo on Core, 100 on Advanced; booster add-on $25 | Multi-site teams that want calls, meetings and messaging in one suite |
| FAST RESPONSE AIThe third option | $29/mo (Starter, 1 user) | Flat monthly plan, no per-seat fees; Pro is $79/mo for your whole team; no contract | Business number, calls and texts answered 24/7, recording, transcripts and summaries, built-in CRM, web chat | Built in on every plan, in 29+ languages; your team can pick up first | Included; we handle your texting registration so you text from day one | Small teams that want your team and an AI answering the same number |
Dialpad and RingCentral figures are list prices from each vendor's own pricing page, checked September 30, 2026, in USD before taxes and fees. Annual prices assume a yearly commitment. Check each vendor's site for current pricing. Fast Response figures are exact.
Dialpad Connect, its business phone product, has three tiers. Standard is $15/user/month billed annually or $27 month to month, with a one-seat minimum and one office. Pro is $25/user/month annually or $35 monthly, needs at least three seats, and adds CRM integrations, 24/7 support and up to 10 offices. Enterprise is quoted by sales, with a 100-seat minimum. Dialpad notes prices can vary by region.
Dialpad's AI Agent, the autonomous agent that can answer calls and chats, is a separate product with conversation-based pricing through sales. It isn't a line item on the Connect plans. There's a 14-day free trial of Connect.
RingEX has two self-serve tiers on its pricing page. Core is $20/user/month billed annually or $30 monthly. Advanced is $25/user/month annually or $35 monthly and adds CRM integrations, multi-site support, reporting, 1,000 toll-free minutes and 100 SMS per user per month. Above that, RingCentral sells AI Customer Engagement bundles that include its AI Receptionist, priced by quote. RingCentral says paying annually saves up to 33%.
Add-ons are where totals climb: the AI Receptionist starts at $39, the Business SMS Booster is $25 and the Call Queues Booster is $35. Taxes and fees such as E911 and cost-recovery fees are added on top, and SMS requires carrier (TCR) registration.
Both cover the fundamentals well: business numbers, unlimited domestic calling, texting, voicemail, call routing, desktop and mobile apps, and video meetings.
Dialpad's pitch is AI built into the phone. Real-time call transcription, voicemail transcription, and AI Recaps with call summaries and action items are included on Connect plans. If you want searchable notes from every call without buying an add-on, that's its strongest point. Pro adds CRM integrations and multi-office management.
RingCentral's pitch is breadth. Every RingEX plan includes HD meetings for up to 300 participants, toll-free minutes, on-demand call recording and its AI Virtual Assistant (AVA). Advanced adds CRM integrations, multi-site support and reporting, which matters if you have several locations.
On AI that answers calls, both treat it as an extra: RingCentral's AI Receptionist is an add-on starting at $39, and Dialpad's AI Agent is priced through sales.
Choose Dialpad if per-seat cost matters and you want AI transcripts and summaries from day one. Standard covers a single-office team; move to Pro when you need CRM sync or more than one office (minimum three seats).
Choose RingCentral if you want one vendor for calls, meetings and messaging, you run multiple sites, or you want a large pool of toll-free minutes. Budget for add-ons if you want AI answering or heavier texting.
Either way, you pay for every seat, and an AI that answers calls costs extra.
Already leaning toward leaving one of them? RingCentral alternative
Dialpad and RingCentral are built for teams that want a full phone system and are willing to pay per seat for it. If what you actually need is every call answered, Fast Response is a business number where your team answers first and the AI covers the rest, with no per-seat fees.
Weighing it against a traditional service too? See our breakdown of answering service cost, or compare Fast Response plans.