5 Best Weave Alternatives for Patient Communication

Weave offers calling, texting, reminders, and online reviews in a single system.

While it seems like a robust patient-engagement platform for growing medical practices, it’s one of the most expensive providers, especially if you’re looking for HIPAA compliance.

The cheapest plan, for instance, is $249 per month.

But a patient communication platform doesn’t have to be that expensive.

Sure, Weave has a host of features. However, health practices can get the same tools for affordable rates. You only need to know where to look.

iPlum, for instance, costs anywhere between $8.99 and $25.99 per month, depending on your plan. Yet it overlaps many of Weave’s features, including HIPAA compliance, two-way texting, missed call texts, phone trees, and calling, to mention but a few.

Read on as we break down the best Weave alternatives that give your practice solid patient communication features.

We’ll start by answering the all-important question.

Table of Contents

1. TL;DR: best Weave alternatives comparison table

2. Why look for a Weave alternative?

3. How we selected the best Weave alternatives

4. Best alternatives to Weave

5. Weave alternatives: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

6. How to switch from Weave to iPlum

7. Get a HIPAA-compliant Weave alternative without the hefty price tag 

TL;DR: best Weave alternatives comparison table

Below is a table summarizing how the five Weave competitors stack against each other for a quick comparison

best weave alternatives comparison table

Why look for a Weave alternative?

We analyzed Weave reviews online on platforms like Capterra, G2, and Trustpilot to understand what drives clinics to switch.

Below are some of the common reasons users look for Wave alternatives. 

1. High cost

Weave comes at a steep price tag. And, a significant number of small or mid-size health practices note that the monthly cost feels too high given their budget.

2. Technical and reliability issues

Some users mention recurring bugs, app crashes, syncing delays, failed faxes, and call-handling problems. The instability can disrupt patient communications and daily operations.

3. Overkill for smaller practices

Weave boasts comprehensive tools for patient engagement. However, some of these tools remain unused in small clinics. Paying for tools that go unused every month makes the platform harder to justify.

4. Support and onboarding problems

Several reviews reference poor customer support, difficulties during setup or porting phone numbers, and frustrations when issues arise.

5. Rigid feature-set and limited customization

Some users switching electronic health records (EHR) or practice management software sometimes find integration with Weave unreliable or incomplete. That kind of breakdown disrupts patient workflows and creates unnecessary admin burden.

6. Complex pricing and fee structure

A section of users finds Weave’s pricing opaque. Some complain about hidden fees or setup costs, which add surprise expenses. The uncertainty complicates budgeting, especially for practices that need predictability.

7. An overwhelming feature set can slow adoption

We came across reviews that say Weave is not beginner-friendly and has a steep learning curve or interface issues. For teams used to simpler workflows, a minimalist alternative could be easier to manage.

How we selected the best Weave alternatives

We reviewed dozens of tools and narrowed the list based on key features for health practices. Below are the parameters we used to evaluate each alternative:

1. Call and text performance

We looked for platforms with reliable call quality, fast message delivery, and few user complaints about dropped calls or bugs.

2. Ease of use for staff

We prioritized tools with simple interfaces and short onboarding times. Reviews mentioning “easy to train on” or “no learning curve” were weighted heavily.

3. Affordability for small to mid-size practices

The monthly cost had to be reasonable compared to Weave. We focused on tools offering flexible pricing or lower entry points.

4. Essential communication features

Platforms needed to cover core needs like call routing, voicemail, two-way texting, auto-replies, or missed-call texts. Not just basic calling.

5. Reputation and user reviews

We factored in real user experiences from review platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot. Consistent praise or complaints helped shape our decisions.

Best alternatives to Weave

While there are many Weave alternatives for healthcare practices, not all are worth your attention. Below are seven options you can consider and what makes them tick. 

1. iPlum: Best Overall

iPlum is a mobile-first business phone system built for healthcare providers that want secure calling and encrypted texting on their existing phones.

It works for small clinics, specialty practices, and medical offices that need dependable communication with patients and staff.

iPlum is a good Weave alternative because it delivers HIPAA compliance, patient texting, phone-tree routing, call recording, and archiving for a fraction of Weave’s monthly price.

In addition, clinics use it to manage after-hours calls, outreach, and appointment coordination, among other things.

Key features

  • HIPAA-compliant texting: Allows you to encrypt patient conversations and protects PHI. That way, you can use iPlum safely to send for follow-ups, lab updates, medication checks, and appointment reminders via bi-directional texting, separate from SMS and MMS.
  • Phone tree with extensions: The feature gives callers a robust menu that directs them to the right person. As a result, front-desk staff spend less time transferring calls.
  • Dual-mode calling (VoIP + carrier): Allows providers to place calls using either Wi-Fi/data or the cellular network. That way, calls can still go through even when the internet slows down.
  • Call recording: Enables users to record inbound and outbound calls for compliance, training, or documentation, which is helpful for clinics that need audit trails.
  • Number sharing: Allows multiple team members to use the same iPlum line for patient communication.
  • Business texting: When you’re not using iPlum to send PHI, you can use its messaging tools to send reminders, quick updates, and non-sensitive messages through a clean business inbox.
  • Message scheduling: Enables staff to schedule texts in advance, recall notices, or follow-ups. These automated appointment reminders allow clinics to reduce no-shows and keep daily schedules on track. 
  • Voicemail transcription: You can convert voicemails into text with iPlum, enabling staff to scan patient messages instead of listening and respond in context.
  • Missed call texts: Allows you to send an automatic text when a patient calls but cannot reach the clinic. The feature helps minimize lost appointments and follow-ups.
  • 10-year data archiving: iPlum stores call logs, messages, and recordings for long-term compliance.

iPlum pricing

iPlum pricing is available in three plans as follows:

  • Standard plan: Starts at $8.99 per user per month. The package includes basic VoIP calling, voicemail, call forwarding, SMS, auto-replies, and business hours settings.
  • Professional plan: Starts at $14.99 per user per month. The plan adds HIPAA-compliant texting, voicemail transcription, secure messaging, and text archiving.
  • Enterprise plan: Costs $25.99 per user per month. It includes call recording, 10-year data retention, multiple lines, and advanced admin controls.

Even at the highest tier, iPlum costs up to 10 times less than Weave, which starts at $249 per month.

What you should know

iPlum is the only alternative to Weave on this list that offers a free account for secure patient communication. With the account, healthcare providers can text patients through encrypted channels, share updates safely, and keep PHI protected. 

In addition, patients don’t need a paid plan, which makes follow-ups easier and cheaper for clinics.

best weave alternative

2. RingCentral: Best for large practices 

RingCentral is a cloud-based phone system offering voice, texting, and video calls. It can be the right Weave alternative for large clinics and practices operating from multiple locations. 

Key features

  • Business phone system: Gives providers and staff a reliable phone line with call transfer, call flip, caller ID, and paging for steady call flow during peak hours.
  • Call queues: Distributes inbound calls across staff based on availability. The setup reduces long hold times and evens out patient call load.
  • IVR menus: Lets clinics build structured menus for scheduling, billing, nurse lines, or prescription refills. In addition, it allows callers to reach the right extension faster.
  • Video meetings: The feature allows staff to hold telehealth visits, internal meetings, or care coordination sessions through RingCentral’s video platform.
  • Team messaging: Enables internal chat channels for staff coordination. That way, medical assistants, nurses, and front-desk staff communicate quickly during busy days.
  • Call analytics and reports: Shows call volume patterns, missed calls, and wait times. Managers can use these insights to adjust staffing during rush periods.

RingCentral pricing

RingCentral’s phone system starts at around $20 to $30 per user per month. Plans with additional features like call recording, analytics, business SMS, or higher messaging limits range from $25 to $60 per month.

What you should know

RingCentral can be HIPAA compliant, offering a BAA for eligible accounts. However, clinics must configure the system correctly and monitor how staff use texting and call features. The platform leaves much of the compliance responsibility on the provider, adding extra workarounds that can be hard to manage.

best weave alternative

3. Textline: Best for clinics with heavy SMS use

Textline is a business texting messaging platform. It is a good Weave alternative if your practice sends and receives a large number of texts and wants a dedicated messaging workspace for staff.

Key features

  • Two-way texting: Allows clinics to manage patient conversations in real time. Staff can confirm appointments, answer quick questions, and send reminders through a shared inbox.
  • Broadcast messaging: Lets clinics send announcements or updates to groups of patients at once. You can use this feature to schedule changes, holiday hours, or waitlist notifications.
  • Message templates: Gives staff ready-made responses for common patient questions, which can help save time during busy hours.
  • Shared inbox: Allows multiple staff members to view and respond to incoming texts. That way, healthcare providers can keep conversations moving even when the front desk is overloaded.
  • Scheduled messages: Enables staff to set appointment reminders or follow-up texts in advance.
  • Basic segmentation: Allows users to group patients by tags or simple criteria. As a result, users can send targeted reminders to specific groups when needed.

Textline pricing

Textline costs $25 to $30 per user per month. Higher tiers add more messaging volume, advanced automation, and integrations. Plans with advanced communication tools range from $40 to $70 per user per month.

What you should know

Textline offers a HIPAA-compliant version and can sign a BAA. However, clinics must upgrade to the healthcare plan and limit what staff send through SMS, since standard texting isn’t secure for PHI. 

Again, this creates extra rules and workflows that reduce how freely medical offices can communicate with patients.

best weave alternative

4. Nextiva: Best for medical offices with busy phone traffic

Nextiva is a cloud-based phone system with call routing, voicemail, and team collaboration tools. It’s a good alternative to Weave for alternative providers with busy phone traffic, thanks to its robust routing setups and call-management tools

Key features

  • Call forwarding: Sends patient calls to another number when staff cannot answer, allowing medical offices to use it to cover lunch breaks or after-hours triage.
  • Multi-level auto-attendant: Lets clinics set up routing for scheduling, billing, clinical questions, or prescription updates. Callers reach the right option faster.
  • Voicemail-to-email: Delivers voicemail audio to a staff inbox so they can listen from any device for swift responses, even when away from the desk.
  • Call queues: Places callers in organized queues when lines get busy. That way, staff handle calls in order, which keeps phone flow steady.
  • Internal messaging: Allows staff chat inside the app to coordinate patient updates, schedule checks, or room changes.

Nextiva pricing

Nextiva pricing starts at $15 for the lower tier and up to $75 for its highest plan.

What you should know

Nextiva can be HIPAA compliant on select plans and will sign a BAA. However, clinics must turn off non-secure features and avoid texting PHI, since its SMS tools aren’t designed for sensitive information. As a result, practices must use separate channels for patient details. 

best weave alternative

5. Dialpad: Best for practices keen on AI call summaries

Dialpad is an AI-powered cloud communication platform offering business calls, messaging, and meetings in a single platform. It’s ideal for clinics looking for call transcripts, quick conversation insights, and automated notes after patient interactions.

Key features

  • Real-time transcription: Creates live text during calls. That way, users can read key points as they speak, which reduces missed details during scheduling or triage discussions.
  • AI call summaries: Generates short summaries after each call. Healthcare providers can use these summaries to update charts, track follow-ups, or confirm instructions given during the call.
  • Searchable call history: Allows staff to search past calls by words or phrases, making it easier to verify what was said during prior conversations.
  • Call recording: Records calls for training or internal review. You can use recordings to improve accuracy during intake and scheduling.
  • SMS texting: Offers basic texting for appointment reminders, simple updates, or follow-up replies when a patient can’t talk.

Dialpad pricing

Dialpad's phone system starts at around $15 to $25 per user per month, depending on the plan. You’ll need to contact the Dialpad sales team for the Enterprise plan pricing. 

What you should know 

Dialpad offers HIPAA compliance for qualified accounts and provides a BAA. However, its texting and AI tools are restricted under HIPAA, meaning clinics can’t use them freely for PHI. Providers must manage security settings and follow strict guidelines. 

Weave alternatives: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the alternative to Weave?

iPlum is a good alternative to Weave. It offers strong customer support, powerful technology for reliable phone calls, secure text messaging, and affordable pricing, among other 50+ features.  

How much does Weave cost per month?

Weave starts at $249 per month. The price increases when you add online scheduling, review management, marketing tools, review requests, or extra seats. And when you compare Weave’s pricing details with other platforms, it’s easy to see customers switch.

Is Weave HIPAA-compliant?

Yes, Weave is HIPAA-compliant. However, it is also expensive, with long-term contracts and limited customization options. In fact, many alternatives offer similar

How to switch from Weave to iPlum

You can port your existing Weave number in a few simple steps, as explained in the video below. 

Switch to iPlum

Get a HIPAA-compliant Weave alternative without the hefty price tag 

Indeed, Weave provides helpful tools, including patient reviews management and HIPAA compliance. However, it is expensive. Besides, users say it’s hard to navigate, which can create unnecessary bottlenecks.

That said, iPlum is one of the best Weave competitors for practice management. It boasts a comprehensive suite of features, including calling, texting, routing, and voicemail tools.

The best is that it offers true HIPAA compliance starting at $14.99 per month per user.

The pricing is affordable for budget-friendly clinics with access to practical communication tools.

Click the link below to get started with iPlum

Sign up for 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.

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