Channels

Overview

Channels is a cloud phone system that can show names, order details, and recent calls when a customer calls. That context is useful for teams handling repeat customer conversations; IVR routing can direct callers to an agent or department based on keypad choices.

Alongside web and outbound calls, Channels supports SMS and international business phone numbers. Integrations include Shopify, Pipedrive, Magento, Integromat, HubSpot, Zendesk, Clientify, and Zapier. Its API can push and pull data, while webhooks can send event data to third-party apps, making it a stronger fit for businesses connecting phone workflows to ecommerce, sales, or support systems.

Key features

• Customer context: Names, order details, and recent calls during conversations can help agents respond with more context than a phone service focused on calls alone.
• Calling and routing: Web calls, outbound calls, SMS, international business numbers, and keypad-based IVR cover several customer contact needs. IVR is useful for directing callers, though the published routing capability is limited to selection by keypad.
• Data connections: The integrations, API, and webhooks support linking Channels with other business apps. This suits teams with existing tools to connect; it may be more than a team needs if it only wants a basic calling service.
• Security and support: Channels says it uses SSL-encrypted connections, encrypted WebRTC, secured AWS data centers, and constant monitoring, and does not access credit card information. Support is available 24/7 by phone, email, and live chat.
• Voicemail drop: The feature is included, adding a voicemail option alongside live calling.

Pricing

Channels is freemium, with a free plan and a 7-day trial. The trial includes full software access, a free phone number, and starting calling credit, with no credit card required. That gives teams a way to evaluate the full product before choosing a paid plan.

Plan	Price and inclusions	Best fit
Plus	$24 /month, billed annually. Includes 5,000 web calls, 3 users, up to 5 phone numbers, and 30 days of call history and recording storage. Additional users are $8 each.	A small team with moderate web-call volume and shorter record-retention needs.
Advanced	$62 /month, billed annually. Includes unlimited web calls, 5 users, unlimited phone numbers, and 365 days of call history and recording storage. Additional users are $16 each.	Teams that need higher call capacity, more numbers, or a longer history and recording window.

Plus keeps the entry price lower but caps web calls, numbers, and retained history; its three included users may also mean extra charges as a team grows. Advanced removes the web-call and phone-number caps and extends retention to a year, but costs substantially more and includes only two additional users before per-user charges apply. Both paid prices are tied to annual billing, so teams should compare the commitment and expected usage before choosing. Custom pricing is not given for either plan.

Platforms

Channels is available on Android, iOS, web, and as an extension, giving teams mobile and browser access.

Who it's for

Channels is aimed at online businesses of any size or industry, with customer support, ecommerce, sales, and remote work among its stated use cases. It is particularly suited to teams that benefit from customer details during calls and want phone activity connected to commerce, CRM, or support apps. A team looking only for simple calling, or one that needs a larger included seat allowance on its chosen plan, should compare alternatives.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Customer details can appear during calls, giving support and sales agents useful context while speaking with customers.
• Pro: IVR, SMS, outbound and web calls, and international business numbers cover multiple communication workflows.
• Pro: Integrations, API access, and webhooks support connections with ecommerce, CRM, and support tools.
• Con: Plus limits web calls to 5,000 and history and recording storage to 30 days, which may not suit higher-volume teams or those needing longer retention.
• Con: The paid plan prices are billed annually, while additional users cost $8 on Plus and $16 on Advanced.

Alternatives

For a broader set of sales dialer options, browse Sales Dialer Software.

• CallTools is a paid option with web, Windows, macOS, extension, and API platforms; its Power Contact Center plan supports unlimited local and domestic long-distance inbound and outbound minutes.
• PaulSpeaks Dialer is a paid Android, iOS, and web option, with a listed £99/month starting point for small teams and custom quotes depending on team size, call volume, and phone numbers.
• JustCall Sales Dialer is worth comparing for its Team plan at $29.00 USD per month billed annually, which includes a business phone system with CRM integrations; it has no free plan and does offer a free trial.
• DialerJazz is a free alternative with a free plan and web, API, and self-hosted platforms.
• Mojo Dialer is a paid Android, iOS, and web option with a $10.00 USD per month Mojo Caller ID plan.
• DialerBee is a paid alternative with a free trial; its Starter plan is $69.00 USD per month and includes up to 20 agents, inbound queues and DIDs, and preview and power dialing.
• MySalesDialer is another paid option available on web, iOS, and Android.
• Predictive Dialer is a paid option with a free trial and a $49.00 USD per month Click-to-Call plan billed per user.

Verdict

Choose Channels if your support, ecommerce, or sales team wants customer context on calls and connections to its existing business tools. Its 7-day full-access trial makes evaluation straightforward, but the annual billing, plan caps, and per-user charges deserve scrutiny. Look elsewhere if you need a free plan with clearer stated limits or want a simpler calling tool without Channels' customer-data focus.