Teams Phone or RingCentral: which should we choose?

Key facts

• Teams Phone adds calling to the Teams app users already open for chat and meetings.
• RingCentral provides the phone service, numbers and calling app as one platform.
• RingCentral offers integrations for use alongside Microsoft Teams.
• Both support auto attendants, call queues, voicemail and desk phones.
• US emergency calling configuration is required on either platform.

The short comparison

Teams Phone is the calling layer of Microsoft Teams. It needs a connection to the phone network, through Microsoft Calling Plans, a carrier using Operator Connect, or Direct Routing. RingCentral is a cloud communications provider that delivers phone service, numbers, messaging, video and contact center options from its own platform.

The table lists stable differences at a high level. Confirm current features and licensing with each vendor.

When Teams Phone is the better fit

• Teams is already where people chat, meet and share files.
• You want one identity, one admin center and one set of compliance policies for calling and Microsoft 365.
• You prefer to choose your own carrier through Operator Connect or Direct Routing.
• You have analog devices, paging or multi-site needs that suit a session border controller design.
• You already own Teams Phone through an E5-level suite.

When RingCentral is the better fit

RingCentral is a long-established provider. If it already works well and calling is not a reason people would open Teams, staying on RingCentral can be the sensible choice. Some organizations use RingCentral's Teams integration to place calls from Teams while keeping RingCentral as the provider.

• You want one provider to own phone service, numbers and support end to end.
• Your teams do not use Teams heavily, or you use another productivity suite.
• You need RingCentral's contact center products tied closely to the phone system.
• Your CRM or industry apps integrate directly with RingCentral and you depend on them.
• Your staff already know RingCentral and the system meets your needs.

Cost drivers to compare

Do not compare list prices alone. Compare the full cost of each design over several years, including what you already own.

Look at each item side by side. The answer often changes once existing licenses and devices are counted.

• Licenses already owned, such as Teams Phone in E5.
• Calling service and minutes, by connection type.
• Desk phones and conference devices, and whether existing ones are certified.
• Session border controllers or hosted SBC service for Direct Routing.
• Contact center needs and their licensing.
• Admin time to run one platform versus two.

Moving from RingCentral to Teams Phone

Start with a full inventory of numbers, call flows, queues, IVR menus, fax lines and integrations. Redesign call flows for Teams rather than copying every menu, since many have grown complex over time.

Choose the Teams Phone connection, build auto attendants and call queues, configure emergency addresses and network locations, then port numbers. Move a pilot site or department first, confirm inbound and outbound calls, then move the rest. Keep RingCentral active until all ports complete and calls are tested.

How Accred Consulting approaches it

Accred Consulting compares Teams Phone with your current RingCentral setup using your real numbers, call flows, sites and licenses, then recommends a path. When Teams Phone fits, Accred designs and deploys it: discovery inventories numbers, IVRs, queues and integrations, and the proposal sets scope, a fixed price and timeline. US-based specialists choose the PSTN connection, build call routing, configure emergency calling, port numbers and roll out by site. Handover includes documentation and knowledge transfer.

Track record: 475+ client projects, 2,000+ migration workstreams and 210,000+ users migrated by a US-based team. Company facts · Case studies

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