UCaaS · CCaaS · CPaaS
8x8 UCaaS & Communications Review
8x8, Inc. is a cloud communications company headquartered in Campbell, California, delivering unified communications (UCaaS), contact centre (CCaaS), and communications platform (CPaaS) services through its integrated XCaaS (eXperience Communications as a Service) platform. Founded in 1987 and listed on Nasdaq (EGHT), 8x8 operates a cloud-native architecture that combines voice, video, messaging, and contact centre capabilities within a single platform, supported by a financially backed 99.999% uptime SLA. The company serves businesses across more than 50 countries and has been recognised in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS for fourteen consecutive years.
Quick Facts — 8x8
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full company name | 8x8, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Campbell, California, USA |
| Founded | 1987 (name changed to 8x8 in 1996) |
| Stock | Nasdaq: EGHT |
| Primary product | XCaaS — unified UCaaS, CCaaS, and CPaaS platform |
| Architecture | Cloud-native SaaS; multi-tenant global platform |
| Global regions | Operations in 50+ countries; PSTN replacement in 50+ countries and territories |
| UK presence | UK operations and data centre coverage; UK support available |
| SD-WAN capability | None — 8x8 is a communications platform, not an SD-WAN or SASE vendor |
| SASE capability | None — 8x8 does not offer SD-WAN or network security services |
| Target market | SMB through to enterprise across all verticals |
| UK channel | Direct and channel partner network |
| Gartner position | Recognised in 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS (14th consecutive year) |
What Netify Thinks
8x8 is a mature, enterprise-grade cloud communications platform. Its principal strength is the integration of UCaaS, CCaaS, and CPaaS capabilities into a single platform — avoiding the operational complexity of managing separate vendors for internal communications, customer-facing contact centre, and developer-facing APIs.
Strengths
- Integrated XCaaS platform: UCaaS, CCaaS, and CPaaS converged in a single system eliminates the fragmentation of managing separate communication stacks, reducing vendor management overhead and providing a unified data lake for reporting and AI analytics.
- 14 consecutive years in Gartner UCaaS MQ: Reflects consistent platform delivery and market credibility across the full history of the cloud communications market.
- Microsoft Teams integration: Native integration options including Contact Center for Teams, Voice for Teams via Direct Routing as a Service, and Operator Connect address the dominant enterprise collaboration platform without requiring full Teams Phone licensing.
- 99.999% uptime SLA: Financially backed platform-wide SLA across both UCaaS and CCaaS — a commitment not universally offered across the market.
Weaknesses
- Not an SD-WAN or SASE vendor: 8x8 has no networking, SD-WAN, or security service edge products. Its inclusion on the Netify marketplace reflects its role as a communications overlay relevant to enterprises also evaluating SD-WAN and SASE architecture, but direct comparison with SD-WAN vendors is not applicable.
- Competitive UCaaS market: 8x8 competes directly with RingCentral, Cisco Webex, Microsoft Teams Phone, and Zoom Phone — all of which have larger installed bases or deeper ecosystem integrations in specific enterprise segments.
- Pricing perception: Independent reviews note that 8x8's pricing can be less flexible than some competitors for smaller deployments, and that the modular approach requires careful licence planning to avoid unexpected costs.
Verdict: 8x8 is best suited to mid-market and enterprise organisations that want a single vendor for UCaaS, CCaaS, and CPaaS with strong Microsoft Teams integration and a globally backed uptime SLA — particularly those consolidating fragmented communications stacks or seeking an alternative to Microsoft-native calling.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Integrated UCaaS, CCaaS, and CPaaS in one platform (XCaaS)
- 99.999% financially backed uptime SLA platform-wide
- 14 consecutive years in Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS
- Strong Microsoft Teams integration (Direct Routing, Operator Connect, Contact Center for Teams)
- PSTN replacement coverage in 50+ countries and territories
- In January 2026 acquired Singapore-based Maven Lab, expanding APAC reach
Cons
- Not an SD-WAN or SASE vendor — no networking or security edge products
- Competitive UCaaS market with larger rivals (RingCentral, Microsoft, Cisco)
- Pricing can be less flexible for smaller deployments
- Contact centre capability less mature than dedicated CCaaS-only vendors
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 8x8?
8x8, Inc. is a cloud communications company that delivers UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service), CCaaS (Contact Centre as a Service), and CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) through its XCaaS integrated platform. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Campbell, California, it serves businesses across more than 50 countries and has been recognised in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS for fourteen consecutive years.
How much does 8x8 cost in the UK?
8x8 pricing is subscription-based per user per month. Indicative UK pricing: the X2 plan (UCaaS with unlimited calling to 14 countries) starts from approximately £20–£22 per user/month; X4 (unlimited calling to 48 countries) is approximately £35–£38 per user/month; Contact centre plans start from approximately £80–£100 per agent/month depending on features. Actual UK pricing should be confirmed with 8x8 directly or via an authorised UK reseller, as pricing varies by contract length and volume.
Is 8x8 a good choice for UK businesses?
Yes, for organisations needing cloud communications. 8x8 has a UK presence, UK data centre coverage, and regulatory compliance relevant to UK businesses. The Microsoft Teams integration options make it particularly relevant for UK enterprises already standardised on Microsoft 365. 8x8 is not, however, an SD-WAN or SASE vendor — UK organisations evaluating network and security transformation should consider 8x8 as a communications layer alongside, not instead of, dedicated SD-WAN and SASE vendors.
How does 8x8 relate to SD-WAN and SASE?
8x8 is a cloud communications platform, not a network or security vendor. It does not offer SD-WAN, SASE, SSE, or any network underlay services. However, organisations deploying SD-WAN and SASE architectures often evaluate their communications stack at the same time, as SD-WAN can improve QoS for voice and video traffic. 8x8 integrates with major SD-WAN platforms and can benefit from the application-aware routing and quality prioritisation that SD-WAN provides for real-time communications.
Include 8x8 in your SASE RFP
Use the Netify RFP Builder to build a structured, vendor-neutral SASE RFP and receive competitive bids.
Build Your SASE RFP