Intermedia Unite Review 2024: Features, Pros & Cons

First founded in 1993, Intermedia Unite is a cloud communications platform offering Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP functionality and vital uUCaaS tools. Service features include:

• Cloud-based phone systems
• Video conferencing software
• Real-time screen sharing
• Customizable contact center call flows
• Desktop and mobile apps
• Voicemail to email
• Presence indicators for team members
• Virtual fax

Because of its high-quality service features and the ease with which it provides multiple collaboration tools from one platform, we named Intermedia Unite the “Best All-in-One UCaaS” on our list of best VoIP services for 2024.

Intermedia Unite is a cloud-based communication service, so your business must have a reliable Internet connection. You can sign up for new local or toll-free numbers or port existing numbers. Once the service gets established, use Unite to make and receive calls, join video meetings or engage in online chats.

Before signing up for service, note that Intermedia recommends cable or fiber connections for optimal results; it does not recommend digital subscriber line (DSL), leased lines or 5G. Intermedia Unite recommends cellular internet service provider (ISP) service evaluation to ensure “worry-free” voice service. Intermedia software is compatible with dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) routers.

Intermedia Unite’s cloud communication service should meet the needs of most small to medium businesses. However, some factors may make the software a good fit for some companies, but not all.

Intermedia Unite Is Best For:

• Unlimited domestic calling: Intermedia Unite provides unlimited inbound and outbound calls throughout the U.S., including Puerto Rico and Canada.
• All-in-one UCaaS platform: Intermedia not only provides a cloud-based private branch exchange (PBX) system for businesses but also omnichannel, such as voice, chat, video and fax, communication tools.
• Hardware preconfigured for software: If you buy hardware from Intermedia, it is already set up to function seamlessly with the brand’s voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) software.
• Multiple app options: Software can be downloaded to your desktop and mobile devices or accessed via a web browser.

Intermedia Unite Is Not Recommended For:

• Wide range of integrations: While Intermedia provides integrations for some of the most popular apps, it has far fewer options than leading competitors, such as RingCentral. You’ll need to look elsewhere if you want a more extensive selection.
• Bundled in toll-free numbers: Although Intermedia Unite came with a local number at no charge, you need to purchase a toll-free number separately; some competitors provide these at no extra cost with your service plan.

Unlike many VoIP service providers, Intermedia Unite leans into monthly pricing more than attempting to get businesses to pay as much as possible upfront. Its overall pricing structure is very cost-effective for small business teams seeking a cloud communication solution that meets their needs without sacrificing essential features.

In addition to offering hardware for purchase, Intermedia ensures customers set up their new equipment easily by pre-arranging it for compatibility and easy setup. This consideration makes it much easier to start using the service as quickly as possible.

Intermedia Unite provides an impressive array of features, making it an ideal communication hub for businesses of all sizes. In deciding its merits as a VoIP and UCaaS resource, we took an in-depth look at key features.

Ease of Use

Thanks to a simple step-by-step guide, our expert quickly set up and began using Intermedia Unite. You can immediately start using the service once you create your account and assign user licenses. Making calls, sending messages and making account changes was very easy. From our expert’s experience, Intermedia is simple to use, even if you have little experience with similar VoIP services.

Hardware

Intermedia Unite provides VoIP products, such as headsets and desktop phones for purchase. Depending on your plan agreement, getting certain items added to your account for free may be possible. In addition to its own branded hardware, Intermedia provides equipment from Polycom, Yealink and Logitech.

Intermedia’s desktop phones come preconfigured for use with Unite, which is advantageous to immediately use your newly purchased equipment instead of taking extra steps with hardware bought elsewhere. You can use your existing phones with Intermedia Unite’s software, provided they are compatible. Intermedia also employs a “bring your own phone” service for setting up your current hardware for use with Intermedia.

Software

Intermedia Unite’s software is compatible with desktop and mobile devices; you may download it on Windows and Mac computers or iOS and Android phones. Additionally, Intermedia has a web app version for browser-based use.

Use Intermedia’s software for

• Unlimited domestic calling (in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada)
• Business short message service (SMS)
• Video conferencing
• Screen sharing
• Team chat rooms
• Virtual faxing

In addition to VoIP capabilities, Intermedia is a cost-effective software solution for businesses seeking a viable UCaaS service to function as an all-in-one collaboration hub. It allows companies to create a cloud-based PBX system to receive and direct calls in an organized and streamlined manner. Ultimately, Intermedia helps businesses to engage customers and team members better, whether operating at an office or remotely.

Call Quality

Our expert tested Intermedia Unite’s call features using desktop and mobile apps. When using the desktop-based software, she found that call quality on her end was clear, whether using the regular voice or speaker mode.

The call recipient said there was slight static but, other than that, the audio was fine. The smartphone-based calling wasn’t as pristine. The recipient stated that the call sounded far away and harder to hear unless the expert used the speaker function. Overall, the call audio was adequate, although it lacked the HD quality of some competing VoIP services.

Please note that the strength and speed of your Internet connection often impact VoIP call quality. When testing this service, our expert’s laptop had a download speed of 550 Mbps and an upload speed of 21.5 Mbps; meanwhile, the smartphone download speed was 31.5 Mbps and an upload speed was 20.3 Mbps.

Uptime

According to Intermedia Unite’s service-level agreement (SLA), the software has a financially backed uptime of 99.999%. Customers can expect less than 26 seconds of downtime each month and no more than 5.26 minutes per year.

Intermedia credits the Microsoft Certified architects and engineers who developed its infrastructure for providing the foundation for its reliable uptime. It also emphasizes the quality of its global data centers and the reliability of its internet providers.

Security

Intermedia Unite benefits from multiple levels of security. For instance, Intermedia uses SOC1 and SOC2 Type II-audited data centers; the company also received a third-party SOC3 security audit. Intermedia also uses multiple enterprise-level firewall systems to prevent any unwanted intrusions. It also employs intrusion detection systems to intercept and deter malicious network traffic. Additionally, Intermedia actively guards against malware.

Third-party Integrations

Intermedia Unite integrates with many popular applications, including Salesforce, Google Workspace, ServiceNow, Slack and Zendesk. Intermedia also offers an extended application programming interface (API) platform that allows customers to develop custom application solutions. When testing Unite, we had access to about 17 popular integrations.

Unite Essentials

Though not featured on the website, the Unite Essentials plan is available for customers needing a simple, streamlined package. It offers unlimited domestic calling, voicemail storage, three-way calling and call center functions such as call transfer, hold and park. Certain features, such as international dialing and internet faxing, are available as add-ons.

Video conferencing participation is available but severely limited at this level; Essentials limits online web participants and panel participants to four people. Audio-only participation, meanwhile, caps at 200 people. You can join meetings from Chrome or mobile devices—and secure them using locks and passwords.

Unite Pro

Unite Pro includes everything from Essentials while adding key features such as voicemail transcription, expansion module capabilities, company messaging and SMS messages. Web faxing also gets bundled into this tier instead of being a separate add-on.

Video conferencing participation improves drastically, with video participation increasing to a maximum of 100 people; screen sharing is available for up to 100 participants. For panel participation, you are allowed a max of 20 people, up from just four.

After reviewing this plan specifically, it represents the best value for money of the three available subscriptions. Unite allows access to all the necessary channels for collaboration between team members and direct customer engagement. It also offers access to the most popular software integrations. While Essentials can work for a very small team, Pro allows greater flexibility in networking with anywhere from several to dozens of people.

Unite Enterprise

The Enterprise plan introduces exclusive access to integration tools, such as Salesforce Classic + Lightning, Oracle NetSuite and Microsoft Dynamics 365. Additionally, you get a hosted exchange mailbox of unlimited size. Enterprise provides some upgraded options for integrations. That said, there are fewer upgrades from Pro to Enterprise than from Essentials to Pro; as such, it might not be worth moving up a plan level.

Our expert engaged Intermedia’s sales and customer support teams on multiple occasions. Whether assisting in account setup or answering questions, customer service members were knowledgeable, professional and quick to help. Team members were engaged by phone and email, with personnel readily available and answering questions quickly. For instance, the wait by phone wasn’t more than 20 seconds.

If you need access to personalized support, log in your account and Intermedia will inform you of all the contact options available.

Each Intermedia Unite plan includes a free local number. However, you must buy toll-free numbers as add-ons; you’ll need to contact the sales team for a quote. Likewise, Intermedia sells online fax numbers starting at $12.99 each monthly.

	Intermedia Unite	8x8	RingCentral	Nextiva
Rating
Starting Price	$27.99 (per license per month)	Call for a quote	$20 (per user, per month)	$17.95 (per month for 100-plus users)
Contract Length	Monthly	Monthly and annually	Monthly and annually	Monthly and annually
Unlimited Domestic Calling	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Unlimited Domestic Texting	No	Yes	Yes	No (upgrade required)
International Calling	Yes; add-on	Yes	Yes; rates vary	Yes; rates vary
Video Conferencing	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Call Monitoring	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Toll-free Numbers	Yes; add-on	Yes	Yes	Yes
Voicemail to Email	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
E-fax	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Third-party Integrations	17-plus	47	300-plus	$19
Customer Support	24/7 support by website, chat and phone	24/7 support by phone, chat and website case/ticket	24/7 support by phone, chat, website and case/ticket	24/7 support by phone, chat, website and case/ticket
Learn More	On Intermedia's Website	--	On RingCentral's Website	On Nextiva's Website
Read Review	--	Read 8x8 Review	Read RingCentral Review	Read Nextiva Review

Intermedia Unite vs. 8×8

While both brands require reaching out to the sales team to begin the purchase and account creation process, Intermedia Unite has a bit more transparency. Intermedia gives customers an idea of monthly per-license pricing across its plans; it also lets customers better decide if its service features will likely be good value for the money.

With 8×8, you get unlimited domestic calls and voice calls to at least 14 countries. 8×8 also provides internet faxing from the standard service plan up; there is no need to purchase the option as an add-on. Though Intermedia Unite and 8×8 each allow you to establish a professional phone system and offer collaboration tools, 8×8 offers many more features as you scale up.

After testing both platforms, we think 8×8 works best for companies that are either already enterprise-level or soon will be; the features lend themselves to much larger teams, especially companies already familiar with VoIP products as there could be enough of a learning curve to make adjustment difficult. Intermedia Unite, alternately, has a gentler learning curve and the pricing and ease of use make it more suitable for small businesses.

Intermedia Unite vs. RingCentral

RingCentral has a similar pricing structure to Intermedia Unite, at least when priced annually; when priced at a month-to-month rate, Intermedia’s $27.99 starting price is higher than the $20 price for RingCentral’s Core plan. RingCentral offers toll-free numbers and minutes as part of its plans, while Unite makes toll-free numbers available as add-ons.

Each service provides unlimited domestic calling, Business SMS and voicemail transcriptions, though RingCentral makes internet faxing unavailable without an upgrade. Intermedia Unite does give standard plan users the option to include this service as an add-on. Both services aim to be an all-in-one platform for communication and collaboration, but one area where RingCentral notably exceeds Intermedia Unite is integration as it boasts hundreds of options.

Following the testing of each product, we believe RingCentral is the best choice for larger companies needing varied integrations, especially if they prefer paying for services upfront through an annual subscription. Small to medium-sized teams who want to pay monthly rather than annually will find Intermedia Unite more streamlined and cost-effective.

Intermedia Unite vs. Nextiva

At $17.95, Nextiva potentially has a lower starting price per person. However, you need at least 100 users before you receive the maximum discount. Intermedia’s starting price isn’t much more expensive and it’s available without an annual subscription or user minimum.

After using both services, Nextiva’s all-in-one hub feels more streamlined, with a dashboard that is very modern and visually appealing. Nextiva gives you a choice between a free local and toll-free number; Intermedia Unite only has a local number and you must buy a toll-free number separately. You also get immediate access to unlimited web faxing with Nextiva instead of needing to upgrade or buy it as an added service.

Larger companies may get the most out of Nextiva’s pricing plans. As for smaller teams, they will probably find it more cost-friendly to go with Intermedia, especially in terms of upfront payments.

From the beginning, our expert found it easy to sign up for and begin using Intermedia Unite. The sales team members were very knowledgeable and helpful and the step-by-step process was simple. The time between speaking with the sales team, following the sign-up wizard and using the account may have taken a few hours. Depending on the size of your team, your hardware needs and so on, you should be able to get started with Unite relatively quickly.

Once in the account, the expert could download the software to her desktop computer and mobile phone, after which she could make and receive calls with relative ease. Thanks to the Chrome extension and web app, she found it easy to use Intermedia Unite tools, even if away from the office. The service provides all of the essential VoIP features for businesses to interact professionally with customers.

Additionally, Intermedia Unite provides all the necessary video conferencing and team chat tools for easy collaboration. Unite Pro is the best plan option for most SMB teams as it provides the best range of features relative to pricing.