Top Call Center Solutions for Small Businesses

Calilio, RingCX, Nextiva, Zendesk, Dialpad Support, Freshdesk, and CloudTalk are some of the best call center solutions for small businesses.

Calilio is a cloud-based call center solution designed for small teams that need to handle high volumes of inbound support or outbound sales calls without the complexity of traditional systems. Its "AI-first" approach automates much of the manual work typically required by supervisors. Unlike a standard phone system, Calilio provides the infrastructure for an omnichannel contact center, allowing you to manage not just voice, but also text interactions from a single window.Plus, it is built to facilitate remote or hybrid call center setups, offering features like live call monitoring that let you manage your agents from anywhere. For a small business, it provides a scalable way to implement professional call center strategies, like skill-based routing and automated dialing, on a budget that doesn't require enterprise-level investment.

Key Features

• Unified Callbox: Merges your calls and texts into one organized timeline
• AI-powered Capabilities: Uses AI for sentiment analysis and transcription
• Power Dialer: Automates your outbound sales calls

Pricing (Per user/month)

• Standard: $15
• Premium: $35
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
• Free Trial: Not Available

Pros and Cons

RingCX is an AI-powered call center solution that is a product of RingCentral, built for small and mid-sized businesses that need a budget-friendly way to manage high-volume customer service. Also, the software is built for rapid deployment, allowing you to set up complex call flows and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) menus within a short time.
It emphasizes "Agentic AI," which helps automate repetitive administrative tasks before, during, and after every customer interaction. This means you can have an enterprise-level stability and advanced omnichannel capabilities at a much lower price.

Key Features

• AI Summaries: Generates real-time transcripts and post-call summaries
• Omnichannel Interaction Designer: Drag-and-drop tool to build customer journeys across channels
• Quality Management Scorecards: Scores interactions based on custom criteria

Pricing (Per user/month)

• Standard: $75
• Professional: $110
• Elite: $165
• Enterprise: Custom pricing
• Free Trial: Not Available

Pros and Cons

Nextiva is a good choice for small businesses that want a call center experience without the technicalities of legacy software. With this software, you get a platform that merges your phone calls, customer feedback, and internal team chat.
Additionally, it is particularly strong for businesses that rely on customer relationships, as it includes built-in tools for tracking customer sentiment and sending automated follow-up surveys after a call is completed. If you want a platform that balances professional call center tools like call queuing and IVR with a very low learning curve, Nextiva is created for your needs.

Key Features

• Intelligent Call Queuing: Places callers in a virtual line with estimated wait times or callback options
• AI Voicemail-to-Email: Voicemails are transcribed into text and sent to your inbox
• Visual IVR Editor: Drag-and-drop tool to build and change call menus and routing rules

Pricing (Per user/month)

• Core: $23
• Engage: $50
• Power Suite CX: $75
• Free Trial: Not Available

Pros and Cons

Zendesk is among the best call center software made for customer support teams. While it began as a specialized help desk for managing support tickets, it has evolved into a complete contact service platform. So, it is useful for teams that have regular callers, which helps them provide faster and more efficient service.Small businesses can use Zendesk to manage calls with an easy-to-use interface and have efficient features to handle high call volumes. Here, you can also track the team's performance and customer satisfaction, making this call center software a reliable choice for your business.

Key Features

• Voice AI Agents: Uses speech recognition to answer common questions
• Automated Interaction Summaries: Generates a brief summary of every phone call
• Omnichannel Ticket Routing: Calls are automatically assigned to specific agents based on their current workload

Pricing (Per agent/month)

• Support Team: $25
• Suite Team: $69
• Suite Professional: $149
• Suite Enterprise: $219
• Free Trial: Not Available

Pros and Cons

Dialpad Support is a cloud-based call center solution built for small and growing businesses that want to offer modern customer support without the complexity of legacy systems. Developed by Dialpad, the platform uses an AI-first approach similar to Calilio to help small teams handle customer calls more efficiently while maintaining high service quality.
Powered by proprietary AI, Dialpad Support helps reduce agent workload, which is significant for small businesses with limited staff. Additionally, the built-in AI tools streamline everyday tasks, shorten onboarding time for new agents, and minimize post-call work, allowing teams to stay productive without expanding headcount. Overall, Dialpad Support is a strong fit for small businesses looking for a scalable call center platform.

Key Features

• AI Live Coach: Provides real-time guidance and answers to agents during live calls
• AI Agent: Handles generic customer questions 24/7
• AI Scorecards: Automatically evaluates calls and delivers performance feedback
• Workforce Management: Simplifies scheduling, forecasting, and team workload planning

Pricing (Per user/month)

• Essentials: $95
• Advanced: $135
• Premium: $170
• Free Trial: 14 Days

Pros and Cons

Freshdesk is a cloud-based call center and customer service platform developed by Freshworks to simplify support operations for small and mid-sized businesses. The platform focuses on helping teams resolve customer issues faster without requiring complex setup or technical expertise.Freshdesk offers an intuitive interface that allows non-technical agents to get up and running quickly. Its AI-powered capabilities automate repetitive and routine customer queries, enabling small support teams to manage higher volumes without increasing headcount. This makes it a practical option for businesses that are transitioning from basic helpdesk tools to a more structured call center solution.

Key Features

• Advanced Automation Rules: Automatically route, prioritize, and escalate support tickets
• Customizable Workflows: Adapt support processes without coding or technical complexity
• Enhanced Performance Tracking: Tracks performance metrics and team activity in real time

Pricing (Per agent/month)

• Growth: $23
• Pro: $66
• Enterprise: $107
• Free Trial: 14 Days

Pros and Cons

CloudTalk is among the top call center platforms made for teams that rely heavily on voice communication. In particular, it is built for the sales, support, and operations part of the business. So, it is well-suited for small and growing businesses that need to manage calls efficiently without adding unnecessary complexity.With global calling coverage in over 160 countries, CloudTalk helps small businesses reach customers worldwide while maintaining call quality and reliability. The platform also focuses on reducing manual dialing and missed calls, allowing teams to handle higher call volumes with less effort.

Key Features

• Power & Parallel Dialer: Call more leads faster with automated and parallel dialing
• Inbound Call Routing: Use smart menus, call queues, and rules to route calls efficiently
• Call Analytics & Dashboards: Monitor call volume, outcomes, and agent performance
• Conversation Intelligence: AI-powered summaries, transcripts, sentiment, and key topics

Pricing (Per user/month)

• Starter: $34
• Essential: $39
• Expert: $69
• Free Trial: 14 Days

Pros and Cons

Five9 is a top call center platform designed for businesses transitioning from legacy or on-premise call center systems to a modern cloud environment. It supports inbound, outbound, and blended call center operations, making it suitable for teams managing growing customer interaction volumes.Five9 enables companies to deliver more personalized customer interactions by combining human agents with AI-assisted tools, while also supporting remote and distributed call center teams. So, it is a solid option for small businesses that are expanding quickly and need a scalable, secure, and feature-rich contact center solution to support long-term growth.

Key Features

• Agent Assist: Real-time AI guidance and suggestions during live customer interactions
• Workforce Optimization (WFO): Tools for scheduling, quality management, and agent performance tracking
• Open APIs & Integrations: Easily connect CRMs and other tools for seamless workflows

Pricing (Per month/seat)

• Digital: $119
• Core: $159
• Plus: Contact the sales team
• Pro: Contact the sales team
• Enterprise: Contact the sales team
• Free Trial: Not Available

Pros and Cons

LiveAgent is an all-in-one customer care and call center solution built for small businesses, startups, and growing teams that need multiple support channels in one place. It is specifically built to simplify daily support operations, which allows businesses to offer more personal phone-based support. This helps small teams stay organized and respond faster without juggling multiple tools.LiveAgent also focuses on reducing support costs through automation and efficient ticket management. This makes it a practical option for businesses transitioning from basic support tools to a more structured customer service setup. With flexible pricing, no setup fees, and a generous free trial, LiveAgent is well-suited for small businesses looking for an affordable, easy-to-deploy call center solution.

Key Features

• Advanced Ticketing System: Automatically organizes conversations from all support channels
• AI Chatbot: Guides customers through common questions and routine requests
• Social Media Support: Manage customer messages from social platforms in one inbox
• Knowledge Base: Create self-service articles and guides directly from the dashboard

Pricing (Per agent/month)

• Small Business: $19
• Medium Business: $35
• Large Business: $59
• Enterprise: $85
• Free Trial: 30 Days

Pros and Cons

Aircall is a cloud-based call center designed for small and growing businesses that rely heavily on customer conversations. This platform is voice-first and built for sales and support teams that need reliable calling without unnecessary complexity.Aircall helps teams manage inbound and outbound calls efficiently while using AI-powered tools to improve call quality and agent productivity. With built-in performance visibility and analytics, businesses can monitor key metrics, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve team performance. The platform also helps reduce missed calls and manual follow-ups for the nurturing of potential leads.

Key Features

• Call Routing & IVR: Direct calls intelligently using customizable routing and rules
• Call Center Analytics: Track call volume, wait times, and performance KPIs
• Power Dialer: Boost outbound calling efficiency for sales teams
• CRM & Helpdesk Integrations: Connect seamlessly with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, and more

Pricing (Per License)

• Essentials: $40
• Professional: $70
• Custom: Contact Sales team
• Free Trial: Not Available

[Note: The above pricing is for the US, and varies depending on the country and number of users. So, check the exact costs by visiting their pricing page.]

Pros and Cons

The key factors for choosing call center software include aligning the platform with your business size and goals, ensuring it supports multiple communication channels, and offering smart call routing with CRM connectivity.

Determine Your Needs & Type: Start by defining your business requirements. Cloud-based solutions offer flexibility, remote access, and faster setup, while on-premise systems provide more control but require higher costs and IT resources. Choose based on team size, call volume, and growth plans.

1. Omnichannel Support: A good call center platform should manage voice, email, SMS, chat, and messaging apps in one interface. Omnichannel support gives agents full conversation context, improves response times, and delivers a consistent customer experience across all channels.
2. Intelligent Routing: Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) routes calls based on agent skills, availability, or customer data. Intelligent routing reduces wait times, improves first-call resolution, and ensures customers reach the most suitable agent quickly.
3. CRM Integration: Integrations with tools like CRM let agents instantly access customer history during calls. Platforms that sync with tools like Salesforce or Zendesk improve personalization, efficiency, and reduce manual data entry.
4. AI & Automation: AI and automation help handle routine tasks through bots, call transcription, and speech analytics. These tools reduce agent workload, enable faster self-service for customers, and provide actionable insights without manual call reviews.
5. Scalability & Flexibility: Choose a software that grows with your business. The ability to add agents, enable features, or upgrade plans easily ensures long-term value. Flexible contracts are especially important for small businesses with changing support needs.
6. User Experience (UX): An intuitive user interface reduces training time and agent fatigue. Easy-to-use software helps agents stay productive, speeds up onboarding, and improves overall job satisfaction within customer support teams.
7. Analytics & Reporting: Strong analytics tools provide real-time dashboards and detailed reports on KPIs like Average Handling Time (AHT) and First Call Resolution (FCR). These insights help managers optimize performance and make data-driven decisions.
8. Reliability & Security: Reliable call center software should offer uptime guarantees, data backups, and secure infrastructure. Compliance with industry regulations protects customer data and ensures uninterrupted service for your support operations.
9. Budget & Cost: Compare pricing models such as per-user, per-minute, or tiered plans. Watch for hidden costs like setup, add-ons, or training fees. The best option balances affordability with the features your business truly needs.

Choosing the right call center software is a critical decision for small businesses aiming to deliver reliable customer support and drive consistent sales growth. As highlighted in this blog, modern call center platforms such as Calilio, RingCX, Nextiva, Zendesk, Dialpad, Freshdesk, CloudTalk, Five9, LiveAgent, and Aircall offer powerful cloud-based solutions that combine voice communication with AI-driven automation, analytics, and omnichannel capabilities.