Five9 vs Dialpad: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Five9 and Dialpad comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Dialpad wins this matchup. Our overall AI Agents pick is UiPath. Our free AI Agents pick is Prefactor. Pick Five9 if you need customer support.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Five9
Intelligent cloud contact center
Best for you if:
- • You want leverages AI (Five9 Genius AI) for agentic CX, enabling seamless, personalized, and effortless customer experiences
- • You want intelligent cloud contact center
Dialpad
AI-powered Contact Center and Unified Communications platform for customer service and sales.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
- • You want aI transcription excellent
- • You want modern interface
| At a Glance | Five9 | Dialpad |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | $119/moDigital | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Customer Support | Communication |
Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.2/5 |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Five9 or Dialpad?
Choose Five9 if
Intelligent cloud contact center
- You want leverages AI (Five9 Genius AI) for agentic CX, enabling seamless, personalized, and effortless customer experiences
- You want intelligent cloud contact center
- Your work is customer support-shaped, not communication-shaped
Choose Dialpad if
AI-powered Contact Center and Unified Communications platform for customer service and sales.
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want aI transcription excellent
- You want modern interface
- Your work is communication-shaped, not customer support-shaped
| Feature | Five9 | Dialpad |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Paid | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.1/5 1,109 reviews | ★4.2/5 7,931 reviews |
| Categories | Customer SupportAI Agents | CommunicationCustomer Support |
In-Depth Analysis
Five9
Intelligent cloud contact center
Five9's pricing, starting at $119/month for Digital and $159/month for Core, is on the higher end for cloud contact center solutions, especially considering the Digital tier lacks voice.
Strengths
- +Leverages AI (Five9 Genius AI) for agentic CX, enabling seamless, personalized, and effortless customer experiences.
- +Offers a highly flexible and scalable platform with five distinct solution packages (Digital, Core, Plus, Pro, Enterprise) to cater to diverse business needs and growth.
- +Provides comprehensive omnichannel support including voice, chat, email, SMS/MMS, and social messaging.
- +Integrates with popular CRM (Salesforce, ServiceNow, Dynamics, Zendesk, Oracle) and UC (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, RingCentral, ATT Office@hand) platforms.
- +Includes robust Workforce Engagement Management (WEM) solutions with options for Five9's own WEM or integration with partners like Verint (VCS) or Calabrio.
Weaknesses
- -Pricing for 'Plus', 'Pro', and 'Enterprise' packages requires direct sales contact, lacking transparent upfront costs for advanced features.
- -Some features, such as WhatsApp integration and additional usage-based pricing for certain functionalities, are noted as coming soon or may incur extra costs.
- -A minimum of 50 seats is required for concurrent user pricing, which might be a barrier for very small businesses.
Key features
Dialpad
AI-powered Contact Center and Unified Communications platform for customer service and sales.
Dialpad offers solid VoIP with AI features at competitive pricing.
Watch out
SMS overage charges
Strengths
- +AI transcription excellent
- +Modern interface
- +Good integrations
- +Competitive pricing
Weaknesses
- -No free tier
- -Call quality varies
- -Limited international
Key features
Pricing: Five9 vs Dialpad
| Plan | Five9 | Dialpad |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $119 Digital | $15 month per user Standard |
| Tier 2 | $159 Core | $25 month per user Pro |
| Tier 3 | Custom Plus | Custom Enterprise |
| Tier 4 | Custom Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Five9 pricing and Dialpad pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Dialpad has a free tier. Five9 is paid only.
Go with: Dialpad
Want the highest-rated option?
Five9: 4.1/5 (1,109 reviews). Dialpad: 4.2/5 (7,931 reviews).
Go with: Dialpad
Value user reviews?
Five9: 1,109 reviews (4.1/5). Dialpad: 7,931 reviews (4.2/5).
Go with: Dialpad
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Five9 is paid. Dialpad is freemium. Dialpad lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Five9 is a customer support tool. Dialpad is in communication. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Dialpad is rated higher: 4.2/5 vs 4.1/5.
Key Takeaways
Dialpad
- Higher user rating: 4.2/5 vs 4.1/5
- Larger review base (7,931 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Five9
- Better fit for customer support
The Bottom Line
Dialpad wins this matchup. Our overall AI Agents pick is UiPath. Our free AI Agents pick is Prefactor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Five9 or Dialpad better?
Dialpad is rated in our evaluation. Five9 is paid and Dialpad is freemium.
What are Five9 and Dialpad used for?
Five9: Intelligent cloud contact center. Dialpad: AI-powered Contact Center and Unified Communications platform for customer service and sales..
What does Five9 cost vs Dialpad?
Five9 is a paid tool. Dialpad is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.