Consio vs Aircall vs OpenPhone vs Dialpad: which is the best e-commerce specialized phone platform?
Compare Consio, OpenPhone, Aircall & Dialpad. Discover which phone platform is best for ecommerce brands on Shopify. AI, integrations & pricing explained.
Want to boost sales for your online store over the phone? Business phone solutions like Consio, OpenPhone, Aircall, and Dialpad each offer a variety of features for communicating with your customers. But which one best meets the specific needs of e-commerce? Today, we're comparing these four platforms to determine the best e-commerce-focused phone platform. What features do they offer? At what price? Which solution is best suited to your online business? We answer all these questions and more! By the end of this article, you'll finally know which phone tool to choose for your e-commerce store.
Looking for the best phone platform for e-commerce?
In summary:
Try Consio → The phone revenue platform purpose-built for Shopify. Run outbound sales campaigns, handle inbound calls with AI agents, and track it all in one hub (calls + SMS).
Try OpenPhone → Cloud phone system with VoIP + SMS, collaborative inbox, affordable per-user plans.
Try Aircall → Cloud call center with advanced routing, 100+ CRM integrations, and analytics for support/sales teams.
Try Dialpad → Unified communications (calls, SMS, video, chat) with strong AI transcription & insights, scalable for growing companies.
The solutions in a few words
Consio : Founded in 2024, Consio is an all-in-one platform dedicated to online merchants who want to leverage the phone channel to boost sales. Co-founded by former e-commerce SaaS experts, the solution makes it easy to orchestrate outbound call campaigns to customer segments (e.g. recover abandoned carts, contact top prospects or VIP customers). Consio natively integrates with Shopify, Klaviyo, and other e-commerce tools to enable highly personalized calls. Consio is the first phone sales platform for online commerce and aims to redefine customer relationships over the phone in the digital age.
OpenPhone : OpenPhone is a cloud telephony service founded in 2018 in San Francisco. It is an application that provides small businesses and freelancers with a professional phone number. OpenPhone allows users to make and receive voice calls and SMS/MMS via a web or mobile app. OpenPhone has also recently integrated AI features (call summaries, automatic “Sona” agent) to enrich its offering.
Aircall : Aircall is a French business telephony software, launched in 2014 and based in Paris. Positioned as a modern alternative to traditional phone systems, the solution stands out for its rich feature set: handling inbound and outbound calls, team distribution, IVR/interactive menus, transfers, hold music, real-time supervision, etc. Over the years, Aircall has added AI features (transcription, automated summaries, call scoring) to help teams improve efficiency. Aircall mainly targets growing SMEs with structured support or sales teams.
Dialpad : Dialpad is an American platform founded in 2011. Unlike the others, Dialpad offers a unified communications suite covering VoIP telephony, video conferencing, and team messaging in a single tool. This all-in-one approach allows companies to manage all internal and external conversations through Dialpad. Today, Dialpad provides AI features (real-time call transcription, sentiment analysis, live recommendations, conversational bots). Its strength lies in the seamless integration of telephony with productivity, even if its positioning is less vertical (not specifically focused on e-commerce).
Consio vs. OpenPhone vs. Aircall vs. Dialpad: the comparison
Criteria | Consio | OpenPhone | Aircall | Dialpad |
Type of tool | Inbound & outbound calling platform for ecommerce sales + SMS | Modern cloud telephony system (VoIP) | Cloud call center solution (voice & SMS) | Unified communications platform (voice, video, messaging) |
Founded | 2024 | 2018 | 2014 | 2011 |
Target audience | Ecommerce merchants (D2C, online stores, retail) | Small businesses & startups across all industries | SMEs/mid-market, customer support & sales teams | SMEs and large multinational enterprises |
Plan type | Usage (minutes), unlimited agents | Per user | Per user (minimum 3 seats) | Per user |
Ecommerce specialization | 🟢 Yes (native Shopify/Klaviyo integration) | 🔴 No ecommerce-specific features | 🟡 Possible via integrations, general-purpose | 🔴 General use, no ecommerce focus |
Free trial | 🟢 Yes (free account creation, free AI voice agent trial) | 🟢 Yes (7 days) | 🟢 Yes (7 days) | 🟢 Yes (14 days) |
Pricing
Let’s start with Consio: the platform offers a flexible, transparent usage-based pricing model. There are no fixed per-user monthly fees; instead, you pay based on the volume of calls and SMS sent each month. In practice, Consio provides several tiers of minutes/credits: for example, about $30/month for 100 minutes, $60 for 400 minutes, and scaling up to high volumes (10k minutes or more). Extra minutes beyond the plan are billed at around $0.10 each. The good news: all features are included in every plan (no restrictions on AI, integrations, etc.), and you can add as many agents as you want at no extra cost. In short, you size your subscription to your actual communication needs. Account creation is free and commitment-free: you can configure campaigns, import contacts, and test the interface; billing only starts once you begin making calls (a credit card is required to activate outbound calls).
OpenPhone, by contrast, uses per-user subscription plans with several feature levels. The Starter plan begins at $19 per user/month when billed monthly, or $15 when billed annually. It includes one local number per user, unlimited calls and texts to US/Canada numbers, voicemail, basic integrations (Zapier, HubSpot), and core collaboration features (shared contacts, internal notes, etc.). The Business plan at $33/user/month (or ~$23 billed annually) adds advanced capabilities: Salesforce integration, unlimited call recordings, AI-powered call summaries, and priority support. OpenPhone also offers a custom Enterprise plan with SLAs for large teams, but most ecommerce merchants will fit in Starter or Business. Tip: all plans come with a 7-day free trial to test before committing.
Aircall also charges per user, with three main pricing tiers. The Essentials plan starts at $30 per user/month with a minimum of 3 users required. This base pack includes unlimited calling (to landlines and mobiles in most local countries + North America), call distribution system, simple IVR, basic integrations (HubSpot, Zendesk), and access to mobile/web apps. The Professional plan (~$50 per user/month) unlocks advanced features: power dialer for outbound campaigns, advanced analytics and reporting, richer CRM integrations (Salesforce, etc.), call recording, real-time monitoring (listen, whisper), and SMS (in limited regions). Finally, Aircall offers Custom/Enterprise plans for larger organizations with tailored setups, priced on request. Note: some add-ons are billed separately (e.g., international numbers, certain advanced AI features). Like most SaaS tools, Aircall includes a 7-day free trial to test the platform.
Dialpad has a model similar to OpenPhone. The Standard plan costs $15/user/month, or $20/user/month without annual billing. This entry plan already includes a lot: unlimited calls within your country + US/Canada, SMS/MMS, Google/Microsoft integrations, AI-powered call transcription, and 24/5 web support. The Pro plan at $25/user/month adds 24/7 support, multiple CRM integrations (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.), unlimited call groups, and more advanced real-time AI (like live agent assist). Beyond that, Enterprise plans (custom pricing) are available for very large organizations, with features like multi-country deployment and advanced SSO. Note: for video conferencing (Dialpad Meetings, formerly UberConference), there are separate plans, but often bundled into business tiers. As with the others, Dialpad offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required, so you can explore the platform risk-free.
The prices taken into account for this article are from October 2025.
Focus on the features offered
Criteria | Consio | OpenPhone | Aircall | Dialpad |
Focus | Ecommerce sales calls (abandoned carts, VIPs, win-backs) + SMS | Business phone system (VoIP + SMS) | Cloud call center for sales & support | Unified communications (calls, video, chat, SMS) |
Outbound calling | 🟢 Auto voicemail drops | 🟡 Basic call features | 🟢 Advanced outbound (power dialer from Pro plan) | 🟡 Standard outbound, no ecommerce targeting |
AI features | 🟢 AI voice agent, call summaries, transcripts (Real-time transcription & agent coaching planned) | 🟡 Basic AI (call summaries, transcription, Sona agent) | 🟡 AI transcription, sentiment analysis, call summaries | 🟢 Real-time transcription, AI coaching, Voice Intelligence™ |
Ecommerce integrations | 🟢 Native Shopify & Klaviyo (with attribution) | 🔴 None native (generic contacts only) | 🟢 Shopify + 100+ CRM/helpdesk tools | 🟡 Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Google Workspace |
CRM/helpdesk integrations | 🟡 Klaviyo, Gorgias (Zendesk, Richpanel planned) | 🟡 Light CRM features (notes/tags) | 🟢 100+ (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Gorgias, Shopify...) | 🟡 Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Google Workspace |
SMS & messaging | 🟢 SMS included, inbound & outbound | 🟢 SMS/MMS integrated, group texts, auto-replies | 🟡 SMS available in some regions | 🟢 SMS included, integrated with unified inbox |
Inbound call handling | 🟢 Inbound/AI agent (shared inbox, fallback bot) | 🟢 Shared inbox + routing rules | 🟢 Advanced IVR, queues, skills-based routing | 🟢 Call queues, groups, departmental routing |
Analytics & reporting | 🟢 Ecommerce revenue attribution, agent stats, conversion rate tracking | 🟡 Basic call logs, summaries | 🟢 Advanced analytics, dashboards, live monitoring | 🟢 Searchable transcripts, QA scorecards, conversation insights |
Scalability | 🟢 Unlimited agents (minutes-based pricing) | 🟡 Per-user pricing, better for small teams | 🟡 Per-user pricing, suited for larger call centers | 🟡 Per-user pricing, scalable to enterprise |
Setup & onboarding | 🟢 Shopify app install, dedicated launch support | 🟢 Quick setup, easy to use | 🟡 More complex (admin setup needed) | 🟡 Enterprise-grade setup, IT-heavy |
Best for | D2C, ecommerce & B2B brands on Shopify (abandoned cart recovery, VIP sales, hot leads) | Startups & SMBs needing a simple phone system | Support/sales teams needing robust call center features | Tech companies & multi-sites wanting all-in-one comms |
Pros and Cons
Consio
Pros of Consio
Unique ecommerce specialization – Consio is tailor-made for online merchants: native Shopify data integration, targeted campaigns on abandoned carts, etc., which generalist tools don’t provide.
Flexible and transparent pricing – No per-user fee: you pay based on minutes consumed. This can be cost-effective if your calls are targeted, while letting you add unlimited agents at no extra cost.
Proven conversion boost – Early case studies show impressive results (e.g., +40% recovery on abandoned carts). By giving your teams a new sales channel, Consio can generate additional revenue quickly.
AI sales assistance – The intelligent assistant supports your agents with the optimal script for each call and post-call feedback, helping them become more effective even if they lack sales experience.
Dedicated customer support – As a Consio user, you benefit from personalized onboarding and fast chat support. The young startup heavily invests in customer satisfaction, resulting in exceptional service.
Cons of Consio
No dedicated mobile app – Currently, the platform is web-only. A smartphone app to let agents make Consio calls on the go is missing (though likely on the product roadmap).
Variable cost with high volumes – If your team makes a very large number of calls, the bill will scale accordingly. Beyond several thousand minutes per month, a flat per-user unlimited solution could become more cost-efficient.
OpenPhone
Pros of OpenPhone
Simplicity and ease of use – OpenPhone is extremely user-friendly. The clean interface (mobile and web) makes it enjoyable for daily use, even for non-tech-savvy teams.
Affordable and predictable pricing – With plans starting around $15/user/month (calls included), OpenPhone offers great value for small businesses, with no billing surprises.
Unlimited calls + SMS – Being able to handle professional calls and texts in one place is a huge plus. You can follow up by text after a call without extra cost.
Team collaboration features – Shared numbers, internal comments, and shared history help teams collaborate effectively, ensuring everyone has full context on each client.
Cons of OpenPhone
Lacks advanced features – Compared to Aircall or Dialpad, OpenPhone is more basic: no advanced call center setup, limited supervision tools, and fewer third-party integrations.
No ecommerce targeting – No direct Shopify integration. Merchants won’t see customer data during calls automatically, forcing them to switch manually to their back-office.
Best for small teams – Beyond ~10 users, OpenPhone hits limitations: no advanced call center features or in-depth manager dashboards. Not suitable for 50+ agent teams.
Geographic call coverage limits – Unlimited calling mostly applies to North America. For businesses with heavy international traffic, costs may rise.
Aircall
Pros of Aircall
Feature-rich and proven – Aircall provides a very comprehensive set of call management tools. It’s a mature, stable solution used by thousands of companies with frequent updates.
Extensive “plug & play” integrations – Whatever your stack (CRM, support, ecommerce…), Aircall likely connects to it in a few clicks, saving time and giving agents instant context.
Scalable – Aircall supports company growth, from 3 to 50+ agents, with international numbers to open new markets. The cloud infrastructure easily handles scaling.
Cons of Aircall
High per-user costs – At ~$30/user/month (minimum 3 users), costs scale up quickly for larger teams. Advanced features often require higher-tier plans or add-ons, making it one of the pricier options.
Complex setup – Due to its rich feature set, initial configuration takes time (IVRs, queues, routing). Beginners may find it confusing without help from support.
Mixed mobile reviews – While desktop features shine, the Android app scores poorly (~2.5/5), with reports of bugs and missing features.
Limited SMS & extras – SMS is only available in select regions with quotas, and Aircall doesn’t offer video conferencing or team chat focused solely on voice.
Commitment required – Often requires annual contracts and a minimum number of users, reducing flexibility for very small teams.
Dialpad
Pros of Dialpad
All-in-one communications – Dialpad replaces your desk phone, video conferencing, and team chat, saving time and money by centralizing tools under one subscription.
Cutting-edge AI – Its Voice Intelligence™ is praised for accurate transcription and relevant live suggestions, improving productivity and ensuring nothing is missed.
Enterprise-ready – Dialpad has proven scalability for large organizations (hundreds of users) with robust stability, security, and multi-site management features.
Cons of Dialpad
Fewer integrations – Compared to Aircall, Dialpad has fewer native integrations, focusing mainly on Google/Microsoft, Salesforce, and HubSpot. Others may require Zapier or custom dev.
Heavier learning curve – With so many modules (calls, video, chat, transcripts), it can feel overwhelming at first. Proper training is needed to unlock its full value.
Annual contract for best pricing – To access the $15/user rate, annual commitment is required. Month-to-month pricing is $20/user, narrowing the cost advantage over competitors.
Which Phone Tool is Right for You? Our Conclusion
In conclusion, each platform has its strengths, and the right choice depends on your business context and objectives:
Consio is clearly the best option if your priority is ecommerce and Shopify. For an online merchant looking to boost revenue by calling customers in a targeted way, Consio offers a unique competitive advantage. Its ecommerce specialization, Shopify integration, and campaign-based outbound calling enable things that OpenPhone, Aircall, or Dialpad can’t easily replicate. It’s the solution we recommend for online stores that want to fully leverage the phone channel to fuel growth.
OpenPhone, on the other hand, is best for very small businesses or solo entrepreneurs who just need a professional phone number and text messaging to communicate with customers. If you’re a freelancer or a very early-stage ecommerce startup, OpenPhone gets the job done at a low cost with a smooth user experience. However, as soon as your needs become more complex (multiple agents, CRM integrations, high call volumes), OpenPhone will show its limits.
Aircall is ideal for SMBs focused on customer service or sales who need a reliable, full-featured, and well-integrated phone solution. If you have a support team, want to closely monitor KPIs, or need every inbound call automatically logged in your CRM/ecommerce system, Aircall is an excellent choice. It integrates everywhere and provides a professional call-center-grade environment. The main drawback is its cost, which can be significant. We recommend it if telephony is a critical business channel (e.g., your answer rate and phone satisfaction directly impact your revenue and brand).
Dialpad targets companies that want to unify communications and harness AI to save time. If you’re looking for a phone system, online meeting tool, and team messaging in one, with smart AI assistance during conversations, Dialpad checks all the boxes. It’s a strong choice for tech companies, scaling startups, or international groups with a modern view of collaboration tools. For pure ecommerce, Dialpad makes sense if you also need video calls (e.g., live product demos with clients). Otherwise, its “Swiss Army knife” approach may be overkill if your focus is strictly on customer sales calls.
In summary
Consio stands out as the best ecommerce-specialized phone platform built from day one for online merchants with sales-driven features. OpenPhone is a great entry-level option for simple business calls and texts. Aircall is the heavyweight choice for structured, high-volume customer support and sales teams. Dialpad is the innovative all-in-one platform for those who want to centralize communications with AI.
Before deciding, carefully identify your priorities:
Phone for ecommerce → Consio
Simplicity & low cost → OpenPhone
Managing a call team → Aircall
All-in-one ecosystem & AI → Dialpad
Whichever you choose, take advantage of the free trials each solution offers to test them in real conditions. The best way to know which one fits your business is to use it for a few days!
Good luck, and remember: when used well, the phone can become your ecommerce secret weapon creating a human connection with customers while competitors stick to impersonal emails. So, are you ready to pick up the phone and start ringing up more sales?
