RingCentral Online Fax Review
- Headquartered in San Mateo, California
- In addition to online fax, RingCentral also offers hosted phone systems, virtual phone systems, and VOIP
- Currently serves tens of thousands of business customers
Pricing
RingCentral has three different online fax packages. While all three packages have the same technical features and capabilities, they differ in the number of monthly fax pages included and the price per page for any incoming or outgoing fax pages that exceed the package's monthly quota. In the charts below, we demonstrate which package makes the most sense, depending on the number of faxes you expect to send and/or receive and whether you prefer to choose a monthly or annual payment option.
Annual Plans:
| Features | Fax 500 | Fax 1000 | Fax 2500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Pages | 500 | 1,000 | 2,500 |
| Price Per Month | $7.99 | $19.99 | $49.99 |
| Overage Charge Per Page | 5.9¢ | 4.9¢ | 3.9¢ |
| Minimum Upgrade Point | 703 | 1,612 | N/A |
Monthly Plans:
| Features | Fax 500 | Fax 1000 | Fax 2500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Pages | 500 | 1,000 | 2,500 |
| Price Per Month | $9.99 | $24.99 | $59.99 |
| Overage Charge Per Page | 5.9¢ | 4.9¢ | 3.9¢ |
| Minimum Upgrade Point | 754 | 1,714 | N/A |
Ease of Use
Like the other online fax providers, RingCentral makes it simple to send and receive faxes. What separates RingCentral from the competition is that it offers more features with greater simplicity than most of the other providers. Sending a fax through RingCentral's online interface can be accomplished with just a few clicks and adjusting settings is also quick and intuitive.
Customer Support
RingCentral's online support was able to do something no other provider was. When we submitted a question using their online "Ask A Question" feature, they provided us with answer immediately, as soon as we hit the submit button, using a type of auto-response system based on the words we typed. On one occasion, we asked about how to schedule a fax delivery. On another, we asked about how to port a phone number. In both cases, they provided us with answers and with visual guides to answer the questions. We didn't have to wait for an email response.
RingCentral provides 24 hour support and short wait times to speak with a live service professional. They answered all of our questions quickly and accurately. Keep in mind that when you call RingCentral, they will ask for your RingCentral fax number and the security question you set up when you first registered.
Automated Customer Services Response SystemWe called and emailed RingCentral 3 times to gauge their responsiveness and the accuracy of those responses. Note the results in the table below.
Phone Support
| Answered by Live Person | Wait Time | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 39 seconds | How can I transfer a phone number? | Immediately sent me to information listed on user interface. |
| Yes | 40 seconds | Do you offer vanity numbers? | Yes. You can do this by adding another RingCentral number in your account. You'll see a vanity number link. |
| Yes | 27 seconds | Can I change my plan at any time? | Yes |
Email Support
| Answered by Live Person | Wait Time | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Immediately | Can I schedule a fax delivery? | Yes. Provided answers immediately with pictoral guide to help. |
| Yes | Immediately | Can I port a phone number to RingCentral? | Yes. Provided answers immediately with pictoral guide to help. |
| Yes | 1hr. 32 mins. | Can I change my plan at any time? | Yes |
Fax Transmission Speed
We sent five faxes using RingCentral's online service at random times of the day to find out how long it would take for each fax to reach its destination. We found that RingCentral faxes were transmitted in an average of 3 minutes and 36 seconds. The average fax time for all of the providers we tested was 2 minutes and 36 seconds, or 41% faster than RingCentral.
Transferring Existing Fax Numbers
Unlike some online fax providers, RingCentral provides a good deal of information about transferring (sometimes called porting) a number during the sign up process, on their "Select a Toll-Free Number" page. At the bottom of that page - you'll notice a link that says, "Can I transfer an existing number to my RingCentral account?" After clicking on it, you'll get step-by-step instructions with a visual guide that will take you through the entire process. RingCentral is also different from several other providers in that it will transfer your existing number for free. Once your number has been successfully transferred, RingCentral will notify you in your online interface. Keep in mind that this process could take between 15 and 30 days - regardless of which fax provider you choose.
Summary
Positive Features
- RingCentral allows you to transfer an existing number to their service free of charge. Other providers charge between $20 and $50.
- RingCentral is able to answer some of your questions before you submit them to a customer service representative through their automated, "Ask a Question" service.
- You have the ability to choose between an (866), (877), (888) or an (800) number. * Note - Choosing an (800) number requires a 1-time $15 set up fee that isn't present if you choose (866), (877) or an (888) number.
- RingCentral provides 24/7 toll-free phone support.
Negative Features
- In our tests, RingCentral's faxes took 41% longer to submit than the average fax.
- RingCentral only stores incoming and outgoing faxes up to 30 days. Some other providers store faxes up to 2 years.
