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Choosing the right phone system can make or break communication for your small business.
And, if you’re comparing Nextiva and OpenPhone, you’re likely looking for an affordable, reliable, and possibly HIPAA-compliant VoIP solution.
But before you commit, there’s a third option worth your attention. That option is iPlum — a powerful alternative that outperforms both in essential areas, such as compliance, reliability, and cost.
In this article, you will learn:
- Which VoIP service offers the best calling and texting experience
- How each platform stacks up in security, compliance, and reliability
- Why iPlum is a solid choice for growing teams and regulated industries
Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
1. Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—A Side-by-side feature comparison
2. Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—User reviews
3. Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—Pricing
4. How to Port Your Number to iPlum
5. Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
6. Why Choose iPlum Over Nextiva and OpenPhone?
Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—A Side-by-side feature comparison
We’ll start by breaking down the key differences between Nextiva, OpenPhone, and iPlum, feature by feature.
Below is a comparison table for a quick overview.
1. Calling Capabilities: How Do Nextiva, OpenPhone, and iPlum Compare?
A business phone system is only as good as its call quality and reliability. If you’re dealing with dropped calls, spotty audio, or complex setups, it doesn’t matter how many features are packed into the app.
Here’s how each platform performs when it comes to calling.
Nextiva
Nextiva uses VoIP technology and offers decent call quality when the internet is stable.
However, users often report downtime during updates, unstable connections, and occasional call drops, especially in high-traffic environments. Because it leans heavily on cloud infrastructure, performance depends on your internet stability and hardware setup.
Verdict: Solid call features on paper, but reliability is a concern for smaller businesses.
OpenPhone
OpenPhone, like Nextiva, is built entirely on VoIP. Therefore, it only works with an active internet or data connection.
While the app is clean and intuitive, users report distortion, dropouts, and an inability to receive SMS verifications or use the app without Wi-Fi. The service simply doesn’t offer a fallback option, such as carrier calling.
Verdict: Modern and simple, but internet-only calling limits its dependability.
iPlum
iPlum beats Nextiva and OpenPhone with its dual-mode calling feature.
The function allows users to make and receive calls via either the internet (VoIP) or the cellular voice network. You can, therefore, count on iPlum for high-definition call quality with low latency even when Wi-Fi is weak or unavailable.
Verdict: iPlum is the best phone system for reliable field, healthcare, and remote teams looking to avoid dropped calls.
2. Texting Features: Which Service Offers Better Business Messaging?
Texting is an important communication tool for customer support, appointment reminders, and team collaboration.
Here's how Nextiva, OpenPhone, and iPlum measure up when it comes to messaging.
Nextiva
Nextiva offers SMS and MMS messaging as part of its business plans. That said, texting is far from its strongest offerings.
First, according to users, the interface feels dated. In addition, many users report issues sending or receiving messages, especially media files. Besides, Nextiva doesn’t offer bulk or group texting.
Verdict: Adequate for occasional use, but may not be reliable for heavy texting workflows.
OpenPhone
Texting is one of OpenPhone’s standout features. It supports multimedia messaging, group threads, automated replies, and even integrates with tools like Slack.
However, its reliance on the internet means message delays or failures can occur, especially if connectivity is weak. Furthermore, OpenPhone’s texting is HIPAA-compliant and doesn’t support SMS verification codes
Verdict: Great interface, but not secure enough for regulated industries.
iPlum
iPlum is all about secure texting. It supports HIPAA-compliant messaging, encrypted SMS, voicemail-to-text, group messages, and text archiving, all at a lower price point.
You can also set auto-replies, business hours, and custom text signatures to maintain a professional appearance.
Even more importantly, iPlum provides a free iPlum account to your clients or patients. The account enables secure, bidirectional communication through the iPlum platform itself, distinct from standard SMS or MMS.
Verdict: iPlum is the most secure and reliable texting phone system for healthcare, legal, and professional use compared to Nextiva and OpenPhone.
3. Security and Compliance: Which Phone System Protects Your Business?
When you're handling sensitive client data, especially in healthcare, legal, or finance sectors, security is a must.
Your business phone system, therefore, needs to comply with industry regulations and ensure secure communications.
Here's how each provider stacks up.
Nextiva
Nextiva positions itself as a secure VoIP solution, and it does offer basic encryption and security protocols.
However, it doesn't provide HIPAA or HITECH compliance out of the box. You must request the provider to activate the HIPAA mode. And, once activated, you lose vital functionality such as business SMS.
Verdict: Works well for general business use, but not ideal for healthcare or sensitive data.
OpenPhone
OpenPhone leans more toward communication for startups and SMBs than compliance-heavy industries.
While the platform secures messages and calls during transmission, it doesn't meet HIPAA standards and doesn't sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs). It is, therefore, a non-starter for healthcare providers.
Verdict: Decent privacy for casual business use, but not built for regulated sectors.
iPlum
iPlum is fully HIPAA and HITECH compliant, offering end-to-end encrypted texting, secure voicemail, call logs, and custom archiving.
You can also request a signed BAA, a must-have for medical, legal, and insurance professionals. And the beauty of it is that HIPAA compliance is available in the Professional and Enterprise plans.
Verdict: Outperforms OpenPhone and Nextiva if you're in for watertight compliance and security.
4. Automatic Call Recording: Who Makes It Easy and Secure?
Automatic call recording can help streamline training, compliance, and customer service. And in regulated industries, how you record and store calls is as important as the feature itself.
Here’s how the three platforms compare on this one.
Nextiva
Nextiva offers automatic call recording. However, the feature is only available on higher tiers, which means paying between $25 and $75, depending on your plan.
The function is geared more toward enterprise-level businesses, and there’s limited control over how long recordings can be retained. Besides, Nextiva’s call recordings are HIPAA compliant.
Verdict: Offers call recording, but not ideal for compliance-heavy industries.
OpenPhone
OpenPhone includes automatic call recording starting with its Business plan or higher. You can access your recordings through the app.
In addition, you can share, download, or delete the files as required. However, there are concerns regarding storage reliability and data privacy, and, again, like Nextiva, there’s no HIPAA compliance.
Verdict: Convenient, but not secure enough for sensitive business communications.
iPlum
iPlum’s automatic call recording is available on the Premium and Enterprise plans, and it’s designed for regulated industries.
Recordings are encrypted, stored securely, and support archiving for HIPAA, FINRA, and GDPR compliance. You can also control retention policies and access logs.
Verdict: Offers effective call recording for users who need secure, compliant storage.
5. Number Options: Flexibility for Teams, Individuals, and Global Use
Choosing the right number type can significantly impact how customers perceive and interact with your business. A modern phone system should offer flexibility without forcing you into a costly upgrade.
Here’s how each provider handles number management.
Nextiva
Nextiva offers a decent variety of number options, including local and toll-free numbers. On the flip side, the platform doesn't offer vanity numbers.
Although Nextiva supports international numbers, the functionality is limited and best suited for larger enterprises with custom setups.
Verdict: Flexible but expensive; great for enterprises, less ideal for startups or solo users.
OpenPhone
OpenPhone includes one local or toll-free number per user on the Starter plan. You can add extra numbers for a monthly fee.
However, it doesn’t support international phone numbers outside of the U.S. and Canada, which can be a dealbreaker for global teams.
Verdict: Simple and affordable, but limited to U.S./Canada-based operations.
iPlum
iPlum supports U.S., Canadian, and international numbers at a lower cost than competitors.
Furthermore, you can add multiple numbers to a single device or user, making it ideal for solopreneurs, clinics, or distributed teams managing separate lines (e.g., personal, business, departmental).
iPlum also offers toll-free and vanity numbers. You can also easily port your current number to iPlum in a few steps. p
Verdict: Offers a flexible and scalable option for local or global professionals on a budget.
6. Phone Tree: How Easily Can You Route Calls?
A phone tree (also known as an auto-attendant, or IVR) helps direct callers to the right person or department without requiring a live receptionist. This feature improves customer experience and can also help boost operational efficiency.
Let’s see what you get with the three platforms
Nextiva
Nextiva offers a basic auto attendant on its Engage and Power Suite CX plans. While the system supports multi-level menus, the setup can be complex.
In fact, users say it often requires support assistance or IT knowledge. Supports multi-level routing
Verdict: Enterprise-level functionality, but overkill for smaller teams or solo professionals.
OpenPhone
OpenPhone includes basic phone menu options starting with the Business plan. You can set up a simple greeting and route callers based on keypresses (e.g., “Press 1 for sales”).
However, it lacks multi-level options or advanced logic, and is mostly suited for startups with basic routing needs.
Verdict: User-friendly for beginners, but too basic for growing organizations.
iPlum
iPlum offers a fully customizable phone tree, even on its Standard plan. You can create multi-level menus, define routing rules, and set up time-based call handling (e.g., route to voicemail after hours).
Unlike Nextiva, iPlum makes this feature available to small businesses without requiring an expensive upgrade.
Verdict: Offers a robust and flexible phone system with an auto attendant and extensions suitable for all business sizes.
7. Shared Number: Can Multiple Team Members Use the Same Line?
A shared number feature allows multiple team members to send and receive calls or texts from the same business line.
The function is handy for small teams, customer service departments, or on-call rotations. It ensures continuity, faster responses, and a unified communication experience for customers.
Here’s what you get with the three platforms.
Nextiva
Nextiva doesn't offer a true shared number experience. Instead, each user is assigned their own number, and sharing typically requires call forwarding, ring groups, or manual delegation — which can get complex. Furthermore, texting from a shared line isn't natively supported across devices.
Verdict: Can get the job done, but shared number functionality is clunky and fragmented.
OpenPhone
OpenPhone supports shared numbers, which is one of the platform's standout features. Teams can call or text from the same number, see each other's messages, and even assign conversations. The platform works well for collaboration and team-based support workflows.
Verdict: Flexible shared number functionality.
iPlum
iPlum takes shared numbers a step further by allowing multiple users to access the same phone line through its secure web portal.
Customers can call, text, or leave voicemails on your main iPlum number, and team members can respond promptly and efficiently.
In addition, administrators can configure which services you share, including calls, texts, voicemails, contacts, and faxes.
Verdict: Robust shared number functionality designed for secure, team-based communication.
Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—User reviews
According to statistics, 9 in 10 customers read user reviews before making a purchase. That said, below is a snapshot of Nextiva, OpenPhone, and iPlum user reviews.
Nextiva reviews
Downtime, unstable connections, and poor support are common complaints among Nextiva reviews. However, some users love the platform's simple onboarding process.
❌ Poor support
“I still am not able to text … passed around to 3 people … they hung up on me” — Gilbert M., Capterra
❌ Frequent downtime
“Occasional downtime during updates … hasn’t significantly impacted our operations but is annoying” — Maryam H., G2
❌ Unstable connectivity
“Unreliable connectivity … hours spent on the phone with tech support for it to just ‘start working’ then fail 2 weeks later” — Everett L., Capterra
✔ Easy onboarding
“Initial setup was incredibly straightforward” — ED, G2
OpenPhone reviews
A section of OpenPhone users love its clean, intuitive interface. However, some customers frequently mention poor onboarding, technical glitches, and heavy dependence on internet connections that disrupt service.
❌ Slow onboarding and support
“Worst onboarding and support experience ever! … cannot get any concrete information” — Uri A., Capterra
❌ Transcript and sound issues
“Pretty awful transcript feature. Sound quality is inconsistent with distortion and dropouts in recordings.” — JJ Strybosch, Trustpilot
❌ Reliant on data and internet
“They only work if you have Wi-Fi or data … cannot receive SMS verification codes.” — Carson W., G2
✔ Intuitive UI
“OpenPhone is very user-friendly, straightforward, and easy to navigate.” — Donovan D., G2
iPlum reviews
Most users describe iPlum as reliable, affordable, and ideal for healthcare organizations or small businesses that require HIPAA compliance. That said, iPlum doesn’t offer video conferencing.
✔ HIPAA-compliant voicemail
“iPlum works so well for clients to leave messages securely. I also use the texting feature … separate my personal calls from work calls.” — E.W., Capterra
✔ Quick customer support
“I sent a support ticket and was responded to within the hour … numbers interchanged with really no disruption to my service.” — Lindsey Baker, TrustPilot
✔ Affordable and user-friendly
“I was looking for a HIPAA compliant phone and text system and couldn’t be happier … easy to use, affordable, more than enough features.” — KJ, TrustPilot
⚠️ No video conferencing yet
“iPlum is fine! Reliable with customizations … but it doesn’t offer video conferencing, which would be useful.” — Anna, TrustPilot
Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—Pricing
Nextiva, OpenPhone, and iPlum are priced differently as you'd expect. Below is an overview of each platform’s pricing.
How much does Nextiva cost?
Nextiva pricing ranges from $30 to $60 per user per month, based on the plan you choose, as follows:
Core — $30 per user per month
The plan provides calling, video meetings, SMS, chat apps, voicemail transcription, and call routing through desktop and mobile browsers.
Engage — $40 per user per month
The plan includes IVR menus, reporting, a toll-free number, monthly minutes, and everything in Core.
Power Suite CX — $75 per user per month
The package offers advanced communication and analytics features designed for larger business needs.
How much does OpenPhone cost?
OpenPhone pricing ranges from $15 to $35 per user per month, based on your plan as follows:
Starter — $15 per user per month
Includes calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada, voicemail transcription, and one local or toll-free number for each user.
Business — $23 per user per month
Expands on Starter with group calling, call transfers, phone menus, analytics, auto-call recording, and call summaries.
Scale — $35 per user per month
Adds conditional call routing along with dedicated onboarding support.
How much does iPlum cost?
iPlum pricing runs from $8.99 to $25.99 per user per month, depending on your plan:
Standard — $8.99 per user per month
The plan includes mobile app calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada, voicemail, auto-replies, business hours, and a phone tree.
Professional — $14.99 per user per month
Adds web-based calling and texting, encrypted texting, voicemail transcription, group and broadcast messaging, text archiving, and HIPAA compliance with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
Enterprise — $25.99 per user per month
Builds on Professional with call recording, consent announcements, and 10-year archiving for calls and texts. Designed for finance, insurance, and legal sectors needing long-term compliance. Comes with email and live Zoom support.
Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—Which offers more value?
iPlum starts at $8.99 per user per month, making it 40% cheaper than OpenPhone’s $15 Starter plan and 64% cheaper than Nextiva’s $25 Engage tiers.
Moreover, iPlum’s Enterprise plan at $25.99 is cheaper than Nextiva’s Power Suite CX at $75, a 65% difference.
Furthermore, OpenPhone’s top Scale plan, at $35, is still 26% more expensive than iPlum’s Enterprise tier. iPlum also includes HIPAA compliance, call recording, and financial sector archiving, which costs more than its competitors.
Overall, iPlum is more affordable and boasts better technology, giving businesses and professionals the best value for less.
How to Port Your Number to iPlum
You can transfer your current Nextiva and OpenPhone numbers in a few simple steps. Watch the video below to get started.
Nextiva vs OpenPhone vs iPlum—Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is better than OpenPhone?
iPlum is one of the best alternatives to OpenPhone, especially if you’re looking for an affordable yet powerful business phone system with HIPAA and HITECH compliance.
Who is better than Nextiva?
While there are many apps like Nextiva, iPlum is one of the best alternatives for HIPAA-compliant texting and calling. Moreover, iPlum is seven times more affordable and has better technology.
Can I receive calls on iPlum?
Yes. You can receive calls on iPlum using your mobile app, tablet, or computer. In addition, iPlum gives you a dedicated business number with dual-mode calling for reliable communication.
Why Choose iPlum Over Nextiva and OpenPhone?
Nextiva and OpenPhone are, by all means, good business phone systems.
However, they may not be the perfect fit for everyone, especially if you’re in for affordability and reliable business communication.
Choose iPlum over OpenPhone if you want a cost-effective second mobile line that is HIPAA compliant. In addition, iPlum boasts dual call reliability, a feature that allows you to switch between your voice carrier and internet connection.
And, with 50,000 businesses trusting iPlum and rave reviews, you can’t go wrong with the service.
Click the link below to get started with iPlum.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes and may not reflect the most current features or capabilities of the products or companies mentioned. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the official sources of each company.
