Aircall and OpenPhone are two of the most popular business phone systems for small and mid-sized teams – but they are built for different buyers. Aircall is a call-centre-grade platform designed around integrations, routing and analytics; OpenPhone (now Quo) is a modern, lightweight business line built around shared numbers and texting. This comparison breaks down price, features, texting, integrations and who each one is really for, so you can pick the right one.
Quick verdict: Choose Aircall if you run outbound sales or a support desk and need deep CRM and helpdesk integrations with call-centre features. Choose OpenPhone if you are a startup or small team that wants a modern, affordable shared-number app with business texting. Aircall is the heavier, pricier call platform; OpenPhone is the lean, lower-cost pick.
Aircall vs OpenPhone at a glance
| Aircall | OpenPhone (Quo) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Sales & support teams | Startups & lean teams |
| Starting price | ~$30/user/mo | ~$15/user/mo |
| Integrations | 100+ (deep CRM/helpdesk) | Core (HubSpot, Slack, Zapier) |
| Business texting | Add-on / limited | Built in (US & Canada) |
| Call-centre tools | Strong (routing, queues, analytics) | Light |
| AI features | Call transcription & insights | AI call summaries |
| Setup & ease | More admin | Very fast, self-serve |
The two contenders
Aircall is a cloud call-centre and business phone platform built for sales and support teams. It is designed around integrations and routing: 100+ CRM and helpdesk connectors, skills-based call routing, queues, live monitoring and detailed analytics come as standard. It is the heavier, more capable platform, priced accordingly.
OpenPhone (now Quo) is a modern, lightweight business phone built for startups and small teams. It puts calling, business texting and a shared team inbox into one clean app that takes minutes to set up, with AI call summaries and the essential integrations most small teams need, at a much lower price.
Pricing: Aircall vs OpenPhone
OpenPhone is the clear winner on price. It starts around $15/user/month (annual) with business texting included, versus roughly $30/user/month for Aircall – and Aircall typically requires a minimum number of seats, which pushes the real entry cost higher for very small teams. Aircall’s price buys call-centre capability rather than a bigger phone; if you do not need routing, queues and deep analytics, you are paying for headroom you will not use. See Aircall pricing and OpenPhone pricing for current rates.
Integrations and CRM
This is Aircall’s strongest argument. It offers 100+ integrations with deep, calls-into-CRM workflows for tools like Salesforce, HubSpot and Zendesk – call logging, click-to-dial, and data that flows automatically into your pipeline or helpdesk. OpenPhone covers the essentials (HubSpot, Slack, Zapier) and does them well, but it is not built for heavy CRM-driven calling. If your team lives in a CRM and calling is central to revenue, Aircall pulls ahead.
Business texting
OpenPhone wins here. Business SMS and MMS are built into its base plans on US and Canada numbers, alongside calling, which makes it a natural fit for teams that text customers as much as they call. Aircall treats texting as more limited or add-on functionality, so if two-way business texting matters to you, OpenPhone is the stronger and cheaper option.
Call-centre tools vs simplicity
Aircall is effectively a light contact-centre platform: skills-based routing, call queues, live monitoring, coaching and detailed analytics come standard. OpenPhone deliberately keeps things simple – shared numbers, a clean inbox and fast setup – and does not try to be a call centre. The right choice depends on whether you are running structured call operations (Aircall) or just want a professional, easy business line (OpenPhone).
Which should you choose?
Pick Aircall if integrations, routing and call-centre features drive your decision and budget is secondary – it is the better fit for sales and support operations. Pick OpenPhone if you want a clean, affordable business line with texting and fast setup – the better fit for startups and lean teams. Read our full Aircall review and OpenPhone review for the details, or if you are still weighing the whole market, see our best business phone systems guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aircall or OpenPhone better?
Neither is universally better – it depends on your use case. Aircall is better for sales and support teams that need deep CRM integrations and call-centre features like routing and analytics. OpenPhone is better for startups and small teams that want an affordable, modern shared-number app with built-in texting.
Is OpenPhone cheaper than Aircall?
Yes. OpenPhone starts around $15/user/month versus about $30/user/month for Aircall, and OpenPhone includes business texting in its base plans. Aircall also often requires a seat minimum, so OpenPhone is the more affordable choice for most small teams.
Did OpenPhone change its name?
Yes. OpenPhone recently rebranded to Quo. It is the same product – a modern business phone with shared numbers, texting and AI call summaries – under a new name.
Which integrates better with a CRM?
Aircall. It offers 100+ integrations with deep, calls-into-CRM workflows for tools like Salesforce, HubSpot and Zendesk. OpenPhone covers the essentials (HubSpot, Slack, Zapier) but is not built for heavy CRM-driven calling.
