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8x8 Express (discontinued) vs. Google Hangouts (Classic)

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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    8x8 Express (discontinued)

    Score3.9 out of 10
    N/A8x8 Express was a cloud-based phone system that included unlimited calling within the U.S and Canada, HD video conferencing, business SMS and team chat, pre-configured. As of March 2023 8x8 Express is end of sale and no longer available.N/A

    Google Hangouts (Classic)

    Score2.1 out of 10
    N/AThe classic version of Google Hangouts included messaging, voice, VoIP, and video call capabilities. It was replaced by the Hangouts Chat collaboration tool, and Google continues to support conferencing via the new Hangouts Meet.N/A
    Pricing
    8x8 Express (discontinued)Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    No answers on this topic
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    8x8 Express (discontinued)Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Free Trial
    YesNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    NoNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    8x8 Express (discontinued)Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Considered Both Products
    Discontinued Products
    No answer on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    8 Answers
    83%
    Would buy again
    44 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    8 Answers
    98%
    Delivers good value for the price
    46 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    8 Answers
    89%
    Happy with the feature set
    47 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    No answers on this topic
    91%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    31 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    5 Answers
    98%
    Implementation went as expected
    41 Answers
    Features
    8x8 Express (discontinued)Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
    Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    8.0
    6 Ratings
    3% below category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    -
    Ratings
    High quality audio8.06 Ratings00 Ratings
    High quality video8.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    Screen Sharing
    Comparison of Screen Sharing features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    8.5
    2 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    -
    Ratings
    Desktop sharing8.52 Ratings00 Ratings
    Online Meetings / Events
    Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    8.7
    2 Ratings
    6% above category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    -
    Ratings
    Calendar integration9.02 Ratings00 Ratings
    Meeting initiation8.02 Ratings00 Ratings
    Record meetings / events9.02 Ratings00 Ratings
    Online Events Collaboration
    Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    8.5
    2 Ratings
    6% above category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    -
    Ratings
    Live chat8.52 Ratings00 Ratings
    Online Events Security
    Comparison of Online Events Security features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    9.3
    5 Ratings
    19% above category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    -
    Ratings
    User authentication9.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Participant roles & permissions9.54 Ratings00 Ratings
    Cloud PBX
    Comparison of Cloud PBX features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    8.0
    6 Ratings
    4% below category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    5.3
    58 Ratings
    40% below category average
    Hosted PBX7.54 Ratings2.016 Ratings
    Multi-level Interactive Voice Response (IVR)8.05 Ratings7.725 Ratings
    Directory of employee names8.66 Ratings3.045 Ratings
    User templates00 Ratings5.022 Ratings
    Call reports00 Ratings9.034 Ratings
    Call Management
    Comparison of Call Management features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    8.9
    6 Ratings
    5% above category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    6.8
    67 Ratings
    21% below category average
    Answering rules9.06 Ratings2.034 Ratings
    Call recording9.05 Ratings7.937 Ratings
    Call park9.04 Ratings7.018 Ratings
    Call screening9.34 Ratings9.036 Ratings
    Message alerts9.25 Ratings8.058 Ratings
    Business SMS/External Messaging8.54 Ratings00 Ratings
    Online Fax8.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Voicemail Transcription9.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Mobile apps
    Comparison of Mobile apps features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    9.6
    3 Ratings
    13% above category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    7.0
    86 Ratings
    12% below category average
    Mobile app for iOS9.73 Ratings6.074 Ratings
    Mobile app for Android9.62 Ratings8.071 Ratings
    Unified Communications Platform and Collaboration
    Comparison of Unified Communications Platform and Collaboration features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    7.1
    5 Ratings
    12% below category average
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    -
    Ratings
    Centralized communications management8.05 Ratings00 Ratings
    Team messaging8.34 Ratings00 Ratings
    Team document sharing6.01 Ratings00 Ratings
    Call and meeting analytics6.03 Ratings00 Ratings
    VoIP system collaboration
    Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of 8x8 Express (discontinued) and Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Feature
    8x8 Express (discontinued)
    -
    Ratings
    Google Hangouts (Classic)
    7.0
    85 Ratings
    13% below category average
    Video conferencing00 Ratings3.080 Ratings
    Audio conferencing00 Ratings9.079 Ratings
    Video screen sharing00 Ratings7.148 Ratings
    Instant messaging00 Ratings9.052 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    8x8 Express (discontinued)Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Small Businesses
    Broadvoice | GoContact
    Score9.1 out of 10
    Zoom Phone
    Score9 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    PanTerra Networks
    Score6.3 out of 10
    Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Call Manager)
    Score8.6 out of 10
    Enterprises
    Webex Calling
    Score8.7 out of 10
    Google Voice
    Score7.8 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    8x8 Express (discontinued)Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    7.6
    (8 ratings)
    1.0
    (92 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Usability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (8 ratings)
    Support Rating
    9.1
    (2 ratings)
    8.0
    (36 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    8x8 Express (discontinued)Google Hangouts (Classic)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Discontinued Products
    The 8x8 app is great and very user friendly and straightforward. Team Members can adjust their own setting as needed.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Had I completed this review a couple years ago, I would have given a rating of 9 or 10 as Hangouts (Classic) is an excellent product. However, now that Google Chat has succeeded Hangouts, I would not recommend that any new users begin using it where other more modern options are available. Android users who want an internet based instant messaging that also supports calling and video calling could benefit from using Hangouts (Classic) as Google Chat requires the user to also have Google Meet installed to make video calls and there is no voice only calling option.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Discontinued Products
    • So easy to use!
    • Voicemail - can be accessed anywhere, includes transcription of the voicemail and an email message with the recording
    • Telephone services without all the fees of a landline service
    • Auto attendant, offering recordings of our messages
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Google Hangouts (Classic) is embedded within Gmail's scheduler, so setting up the link is as quick as a click of the button. It's a one-step process.
    • Google Hangouts (Classic) is user-friendly and [has] features to share screens easily.
    • Google Hangouts (Classic) is much easier to use than its competitors.
    • Google Hangouts (Classic) have [a] good connection time and there are few glitches.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Discontinued Products
    • We are just starting to use the platform and using limited features at the moment and 8x8 is doing everything we need it to do.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • I would like to see improved video support, so that saved videos can be sent back and forth via Hangouts more easily, without having to start a separate meet chat
    • More pronounced notifications of messages would be helpful; pop up notifications are good, but once there is one, additional messages do not pop up
    • Custom muting times would be great, so that if I am in a 90 minute Zoom meeting, I can set it for that time; right now, it is 1 hour or 2 hours. Easy to forget.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Usability
    Discontinued Products
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    The tool is almost self-implemented. It is likely to be available in every pc or mobile device a user or potential user might have, and all you need to do is adding the company's account and you are done. Once you are setted up, you have almost all actual communication methods available in one tool
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Discontinued Products
    If you get less than 4 phones you fall into the online only customer service. There were a couple of times that I could have used more assistance but figuring it out online was a bit of a hassle.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Google Hangouts works great and does not require a lot of work to troubleshoot. Everything is simple and easy to use. Google provides all of the tools that one requires to utilize Google Hangouts and any information can be found in the built-in help tools. There is also a forum for users to report issues and typically, Google responds well and will try to work out any issues.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Discontinued Products
    8x8 has a much lower cost that avaya for the same features. 8x8 is a bit more user friendly than some other larger well established brands. It still uses industry standards in terminology and call flows to for anyone with voip experience its a pain free switch to make over.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Google is the white cotton socks of the conferencing world. It’s a great ad-hoc tool, but not too much more. If you are not looking to spend money or operate completely on WiFi (without data charges), it’s a great free option as well. The benefit of being free and open is also the liability. It doesn’t have a great integration story with other corporate tools, but [it doesn’t have to] if you aren’t looking for that. All in all, it’s as helpful and ubiquitous as a public payphone…without the pay…and with a video capability.
    Incentivized
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    Return on Investment
    Discontinued Products
    • Being able to listen to phone calls when there is a discrepancy
    • Keeping the honest honest by knowing we can listen to calls
    • Easy to communicate internally, been very helpful and time saving
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • I believe it was part of the google suite that was purchased. It was worth the cost as it was cheaper. I believe it is now free, but also becoming deprecated. It is much better to use Teams, Discord, Telegram, etc. Google does not provide enough support or features to make using hangouts worth it these days.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots

    8x8 Express (discontinued) Screenshots

    Product screenshot