If you’re looking for Zoom Phone alternatives, you’re not alone. Many Canadian businesses are outgrowing Zoom Phone’s limitations. Zoom phone users in Canada are concerned with the lack of flexibility, local data hosting, and reliable support. While Zoom works well for video meetings, its phone features aren’t always exactly what certain organizations truly need.
In this guide, we’ll explore together five leading Zoom Phone alternatives for 2025, including options that support Canadian hosting, better pricing, and scale.
Why Canadian Businesses Are Looking for Zoom Phone Alternatives
Zoom Phone provides simplicity, but for many growing businesses, simplicity comes with trade-offs.
Common frustrations include:
- Limited call routing and queue management
- No Canadian data residency options
- Minimal customization for IVRs or call flows
- Tiered and high pricing with little flexibility
- Global (not local) customer support
Internal and external communication is critical and Canadian businesses are turning to platforms that prioritize data, better pricing, and real human support.
1. Clear Clouds by SE Telecom
Best for: Canadian businesses that want full control, local hosting, and flexible pricing.
Clear Clouds, built and managed by SE Telecom, is one of the strongest Zoom Phone alternatives for organizations that prioritize security and reliability. Unlike Zoom, Clear Clouds offers complete customization without forcing you into long-term contracts or global data centers.
Why Canadian businesses choose Clear Clouds:
- 100% Canadian-hosted infrastructure (data never leaves Canada)
- Month-to-month pricing with no seat minimums
- Bilingual support (English and French)
- Advanced call routing and IVRs
- Microsoft Teams integration via Direct Routing
- Optional white-label for MSPs and resellers
With Clear Clouds, Canadian organizations don’t just get a VoIP platform: they get a communications platform that adapts to how their business runs. From hospitality and healthcare to financial services, Clear Clouds is trusted for performance and compliance.
→ Talk to SE Telecom about Clear Clouds
2. Microsoft Teams with Direct Routing
Best for: Teams-based organizations that want a unified communications solution.
If your business already uses Microsoft Teams, Direct Routing is one of the most natural Zoom Phone alternatives. Direct Routing links Microsoft Teams to the public phone network using enterprise-grade telecom infrastructure from partners like SE Telecom. This setup enables external calling, number management, and call routing without leaving the Teams platform.
Key advantages:
- Keep your existing phone numbers
- Gain PBX-style call routing and analytics
- Benefit from Canadian or U.S. data hosting
- Scale easily across multiple offices or departments
Unlike Zoom Phone, Direct Routing gives businesses the power to customize every aspect of their telephony, all while staying within Microsoft’s environment which is familiar and comfortable for most users.
→ Speak with a Teams expert at SE Telecom
3. RingCentral MVP
Best for: Enterprises that want strong integrations and call analytics.
RingCentral remains a popular alternative for companies seeking a strong, all-in-one voice and messaging solution. It offers integrations with CRM tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft 365, making it a practical fit for mid-size and large teams.
RingCentral vs. Zoom Phone:
- Broader feature set for enterprise users
- Strong reporting and call analytics
- More integrations—but higher pricing
- No Canadian data residency
While it’s powerful, Canadian organizations often find RingCentral’s hosting model and global support (which is less responsive) less appealing than locally managed systems like Clear Clouds.
4. 8×8 X Series
Best for: Multi-location businesses that value analytics and contact center features.
Among the leading Zoom Phone alternatives, 8×8 X Series provides an advanced UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) platform that combines calling, video, and chat into one system. Its built-in AI tools and analytics dashboards help teams monitor performance and call quality very efficiently.
Pros:
- Comprehensive reporting tools
- Contact center capabilities built-in
- Strong global infrastructure
Cons for Canadian businesses:
- No local data hosting
- Complex onboarding for smaller teams
- Pricing can scale quickly with added users
For organizations that need advanced analytics but are comfortable with global infrastructure, 8×8 remains one of the most solid Zoom Phone alternatives.
5. Avaya Cloud Office
Best for: Existing Avaya users migrating to the cloud.
Avaya Cloud Office is another solid choice for organizations evaluating Zoom Phone alternatives, particularly those already using Avaya on-premises systems. It offers a smooth transition to VoIP while maintaining a familiar interface. The platform, powered by RingCentral but branded for Avaya customers, allows companies to modernize without losing the user experience they’re used to. However, Avaya’s model and pricing are not small business-friendly and would align better with Canadian large enterprises.
Highlights:
- Familiar environment for Avaya users
- Smooth migration path from legacy PBX systems
- Reliable uptime and standard voice features
However:
- U.S.-based data hosting only
- Contract-based pricing and limited flexibility
- Less accessible for smaller organizations
Comparing the Top Zoom Phone Alternatives
| Provider | Hosting | Contracts | Ideal For | Key Advantage |
| Clear Clouds (SE Telecom) | 100% Canadian | No | SMBs, healthcare, finance, hospitality | Canadian data residency, flexible pricing |
| Microsoft Teams (Direct Routing) | Canada / U.S. | No | Teams users | Deep Microsoft integration |
| RingCentral | Global | Yes | Enterprises | Enterprise features, strong analytics |
| 8×8 | Global | Yes | Multi-site businesses | AI reporting and call quality monitoring |
| Avaya Cloud Office | U.S. | Yes | Legacy Avaya users | Familiar migration path |
Why Clear Clouds Stands Out as one of the best Zoom Phone Alternatives
For Canadian organizations, Clear Clouds delivers what Zoom Phone and other U.S.-based providers often can’t:
- Data stays in Canada for full compliance with PIPEDA and other privacy standards
- Bilingual Canadian support—no offshore ticket systems
- Flexible CAD (not USD) month-to-month pricing that scales as you grow
- Custom routing and integrations built for your workflows
In short, Clear Clouds by SE Telecom is built for Canadian business realities: privacy, flexibility, and affordability.
→ Request a custom quote today
Final Thoughts
Zoom Phone works for basic needs (and is convenient if you are already using Zoom) but if your business depends on reliable, secure, and flexible communications, it may not be enough.
For Canadian teams, the best Zoom Phone alternatives are the ones that combine modern features with data residency and local expertise. Whether you’re comparing Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams, exploring RingCentral or 8×8, or considering Clear Clouds by SE Telecom, the right platform will depend on how you balance scalability, cost, and compliance.
SE Telecom makes that decision easier with Canadian hosting, transparent pricing, and real local people who understand your business.
→ Talk to SE Telecom about your next phone system
To see how SE Telecom helps Canadian businesses communicate, visit us on LinkedIn.