Dialpad vs Sonetel: which one should you choose?
Quick answer: Choose Dialpad if you want a full team phone system with unlimited calling on Connect plans, real-time transcripts, team messaging and video meetings from $15 per user a month. Choose Sonetel if you mainly need local numbers in other countries that ring in an app or forward to any phone, with a free Basic plan and Premium at €9.95 a month on annual billing.
Dialpad vs Sonetel at a glance
| Dialpad | Sonetel | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $15 per user/month (Connect Standard) | Numbers from €1.79/month; Premium €9.95/month (annual) |
| Free plan / trial | 14-day free trial (Connect) | Free Basic plan, sign up without a card |
| Type | Cloud phone system and contact center | Virtual phone numbers and calling |
| Calling | Unlimited calling on Connect plans | Free calls to 40+ countries on paid plans; other countries cost extra |
| Number coverage | Not listed | Local numbers in 60+ countries |
| Transcripts and summaries | Real-time transcripts and call summaries on Connect Standard | Call recording with written summaries on Premium and Business |
| Messaging and meetings | Team messaging and HD video meetings built in | SMS on some number types; SMS-to-email |
| Best for | Small and mid-size teams | Small businesses and remote teams with international customers |
From each official site, checked November 14, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.
Key differences
- Dialpad is a full phone system with messaging, video meetings and contact-center plans, while Sonetel focuses on virtual numbers that ring in an app or forward to any phone.
- Sonetel offers local numbers in 60+ countries, which suits businesses with customers abroad.
- Dialpad includes real-time transcripts and call summaries from its lowest plan; Sonetel includes call recording with written summaries on Premium and Business.
- Sonetel has a free Basic plan without a number, and Dialpad has a 14-day free trial but no free plan listed.
- Dialpad offers CRM integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot and Zoho on Connect Pro and higher.
In one line each
Dialpad
Cloud phone system with built-in AI transcripts, call summaries and messaging. Starting price: $15 per user / month (Connect Standard). Free plan / trial: 14 days (Connect). Best for: Small and mid-size teams.
Read the full Dialpad summary →Sonetel
Virtual business phone numbers in 60+ countries, answered in an app or forwarded to any phone. Starting price: Numbers from €1.79/month. Free plan / trial: Free Basic plan; sign up without a card. Best for: Small businesses and remote teams with international customers.
Read the full Sonetel summary →Frequently asked questions
Is Sonetel cheaper than Dialpad?
They are priced in different currencies. Sonetel Premium is €9.95 a month with annual billing, with numbers and some calls extra, and Dialpad Connect Standard is $15 per user per month with unlimited calling. Sonetel also has a free Basic plan.
Does Dialpad or Sonetel have a free plan?
Sonetel has a free Basic plan with SMS-to-email but no included phone number. Dialpad has a 14-day free trial on Connect rather than a free plan.
Which is better for a team that lives on calls, Dialpad or Sonetel?
Dialpad fits that need, with unlimited calling on Connect plans, real-time transcripts, call summaries and team messaging. Sonetel fits small businesses and freelancers who want local numbers in several countries at low cost.
See all business phone compared →
We summarise each product from its official website, pricing page and documentation. We don't run hands-on tests or give star ratings. Some links on this site may be affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure.