Ohio.net vs RingCentral: Which Service is Better for Your Business?

Updated on October 2, 2025 by John Clarke

Choosing the right business phone service can make or break your company’s communication. With so many hosted VoIP options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, especially when comparing two industry leaders like Ohio.net and RingCentral. In this guide, we’ll break down the features, pricing, and support of both providers, so you can confidently pick the best business phone service for your needs. If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur searching for reliable, flexible, and cost-effective business phone service options, you’re in the right place.

Table of Contents

Overview: Ohio.net vs RingCentral

When it comes to business phone service options, both Ohio.net and RingCentral offer robust hosted VoIP solutions. But their approaches, target audiences, and support models are quite different.

Ohio.net is a full-service provider focused on local support, custom solutions, and no long-term contracts. They’re ideal for small to mid-sized businesses that want a tailored system and direct access to in-house experts.

RingCentral is a global leader in unified communications, offering a wide range of features, integrations, and AI-powered tools. Their platform is designed for scalability and is popular with larger organizations, but their complex service and inconsistent support are not ideal for many small businesses.

“The right phone system should make your business more efficient, not more complicated.”

Feature Comparison Table

Let’s see how Ohio.net and RingCentral stack up on the features that matter most to small businesses.

Feature	Ohio.net	RingCentral
Hosted VoIP/Cloud PBX	Yes – Hosted VoIP, Cloud PBX	Yes
SIP Trunking	Yes – SIP Trunking	Yes
Contracts	No contract, can adjust services as needed	Annual contract, auto-renewing is common
Local Support	Yes – In-house, dedicated reps, after-hours support line	Often outsourced, inconsistent results reported
Customization	High – tailored to industry/business needs	Moderate – many features, less customization
AI Features	No	Yes – AI assistant, call summaries, etc.
Integrations	CRM, custom dev options	500+ integrations, open API
Video Conferencing	Yes (Within VoIP)	Yes (robust, with AI features)
Call Recording	Add-on	Included (plan-dependent)
Pricing Transparency	Custom quotes, transparent pricing	Tiered, can be complex
Free Trial	No	Yes (14 days)

For a deeper dive into Ohio.net’s hosted VoIP options, check out their service page.

Ohio.net: Strengths & Unique Benefits

Ohio.net stands out for its personalized approach and commitment to local businesses. Here’s what makes them a top choice for small businesses:

No Contracts: Enjoy flexibility with no long-term commitments or hidden fees.
Local, In-House Support: Get help from real people who know your business and community.
Custom Solutions: Systems are tailored for your industry, whether you’re a home service company, insurance agency, or non-profit.
All-in-One Service: From Cloud PBX to SIP Trunking, you get everything under one roof.
Easy Management: Self-service options or full support, depending on your needs.
Reliable & Secure: Built on a stable, redundant platform with strong security protocols.

“We were able to add an auto attendant so callers could quickly reach the right people without tying up staff, and extension dialing made it easy to manage multiple companies and locations. On top of that, Ohio.net designed the system so we can keep growing without incurring astronomical costs.”
Matt Soful, CFO, Consolidated Casework
Tweet

RingCentral: Strengths & Limitations

RingCentral is a powerhouse in the unified communications space, but it’s not always the best fit for every business.

Strengths:

Extensive Features: Messaging, video, phone, AI-powered tools, and more.
Scalability: Designed for businesses of all sizes, including large enterprises.
Integrations: Connects with 500+ business apps, including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Teams.
AI Capabilities: Includes AI assistant, call summaries, and conversation intelligence.

Limitations:

Contracts & Pricing: Many users report auto-renewing contracts, difficulty or inability to downgrade or cancel service, and complex pricing. Negotiation is often needed for the best deal.
Support Issues: Reviews frequently mention long wait times and inconsistent support.
Complexity: The platform can be overwhelming for small businesses that just want a simple, reliable phone system.

External Resource: Trust Pilot: RingCentral Reviews

Pricing & Contracts

Ohio.net believes in transparent, custom pricing. There are no term contracts for services or equipment, and you only pay for what you need. It is simple to adjust services as your company’s size or structure changes. For a quick estimate, visit their pricing page.

RingCentral uses a tiered, per-user monthly pricing model. While they offer a free trial, many users find the final cost higher than expected due to add-ons and contract renewals. Users report that the annual contract auto-renews every time lines are added. Always read the fine print and negotiate before signing.

Customer Support & Service

When your phones go down, you need help fast. Here’s how the two providers compare:

Ohio.net:

24/7 support from in-house staff
Dedicated representatives for each client
Local presence and personalized service
Customer Support Resources

RingCentral:

24/7 support (for 2+ users)
Support via phone, email, and chat
Mixed reviews on responsiveness and effectiveness

“With Ohio.net, we always talk to the same support team. They know our setup and fix issues quickly.”
Dan Nagy, President, Nagy’s Collision
Tweet

Which Business Phone Service Is Right for You?

Choose Ohio.net if you:

Want a flexible, contract-free phone system
Value local, personalized, consistent support
Need a solution tailored to your industry or business size
Prefer transparent pricing and easy management

Choose RingCentral if you:

Need advanced AI features and integrations with hundreds of apps
Have a large, distributed team and require global scalability
Are comfortable navigating complex platforms and contracts

Still not sure?
Check out Ohio.net’s Hosted VoIP and Cloud PBX pages for more details.

Conclusion & Next Steps

Both Ohio.net and RingCentral offer strong hosted VoIP options, but for most small businesses, especially those who want a full-service, integrated business phone system with local support, Ohio.net is the clear winner. Their no-contract approach, custom solutions, and dedicated support make them the best choice for companies that want to focus on business, not phone system headaches.

Ready to upgrade your business phone service?
Contact Ohio.net today to discuss your needs and create a system that works for you.