Switching from Nextiva to PupPilot
Unified customer experience platform (business phone plus digital channels and contact center) that offers the XBert AI Receptionist as a flat-priced add-on to its phone plans.
What is Nextiva?
Unified customer experience platform (business phone plus digital channels and contact center) that offers the XBert AI Receptionist as a flat-priced add-on to its phone plans. Best for: Price-sensitive SMBs that want phone, texting, chat, and social channels in one suite with an optional off-the-shelf AI receptionist.
- Pricing: per user/month (XBert priced per month with conversation allowance)
- Phones: Desk phones purchased separately from Nextiva's device store or BYOD; not included in plans
- Veterinary fit: Multi-industry
| Feature | Nextiva |
|---|---|
| Business VoIP Calling Infrastructure | Yes - unlimited US/Canada |
| Number Porting Infrastructure | Yes - free porting |
| Desk Phones / Hardware Infrastructure | Yes - supported; purchased separately |
| Fax Infrastructure | Add-on - online fax (vFax) at extra monthly cost |
| E911 Management Infrastructure | Yes |
| Outage Failover Infrastructure | Yes - 99.999% uptime, redundant data centers |
| Two-Way Business Texting Operations | Yes - 100/500/unlimited SMS per user/mo by tier |
| Missed-Call Text-Back Operations | Not documented as a native automation |
| IVR / Call Routing Operations | Yes - auto attendant; advanced IVR in contact center tiers |
| Queues & Hold Operations | Yes - inbound call center on Engage and above |
| Voicemail Transcription Operations | Yes |
| Call Recording Operations | Add-on below Scale; included on Scale/enterprise |
| Call Analytics Operations | Yes - advanced reporting on Engage and above |
| Mobile / Desktop Apps Operations | Yes |
| Multi-Location Administration Operations | Yes |
| Veterinary-Specific Product Veterinary Context | No - generic/multi-industry |
| Veterinary PIMS Integration Veterinary Context | No |
| Patient Chart Context on Calls Veterinary Context | No |
| Clinic Protocol Configuration Veterinary Context | Partial - XBert FAQ/scenario configuration; no vet protocol library |
| AI Voice — Inbound Answering AI | Yes - XBert AI Receptionist add-on ($99/mo, 100 conversations incl.), phone/SMS/chat, US and Canada |
| AI Voice — Outbound Calls AI | Not documented |
| AI Appointment Booking AI | Yes - XBert books via Google Calendar/Calendly-type integrations with real-time sync |
| AI Call Summaries AI | Yes - AI transcription and summary on Scale/enterprise tiers |
| After-Hours AI Coverage AI | Yes - XBert answers 24/7 |
| Contextual Staff Handoff AI | Partial - routes to staff via directory; reviews note minimal caller memory/context |
Verified August 2026 against Nextiva's public pages. Vendors change pricing and features; tell us if something is out of date.
Where Nextiva Stands Out
Aggressive bundle pricing across voice, SMS, chat, and social with a simple flat-priced AI receptionist add-on ($99/mo including 100 conversations) available on any plan. Strengths practices cite: Low entry pricing (Core from $15/user/mo annual) with SMS allowances and toll-free minutes bundled by tier; XBert AI Receptionist works across phone, SMS, and chat with sub-3-minute setup and 24/7 availability; Unified inbox spanning voice, text, chat, and social on higher tiers; AI transcription and summarization available on Scale and enterprise tiers; Strong US-based support reputation and 99.999% uptime claims.
Considerations Before You Buy
XBert costs $99/mo for only 100 conversations with ~$0.99 per additional conversation, and books via generic calendars (Google Calendar/Calendly), not practice systems; Online fax is a paid add-on rather than included; Call recording requires the $75 Scale tier or an add-on; No veterinary positioning, PIMS integration, or clinic protocol awareness documented; Monthly billing runs roughly 35-50% above promotional annual rates, and XBert is English/Spanish only. Pricing basis: per user/month (XBert priced per month with conversation allowance); published pricing: Core from $15/user/mo annual (~$23 monthly), Engage from $25 annual (~$50 monthly), Scale $75/user/mo; contact center from $75/agent/mo; XBert AI Receptionist from $99/mo incl. 100 conversations (~$0.99/extra); contract model: Month-to-month or 12+ month annual agreements (annual promo discounts of roughly 35-50%); no setup fees.
How PupPilot compares
PupPilot is a full veterinary phone system — unlimited calling and texting, desk phones included — with AI coverage for after-hours and overflow built into the line. The AI answers the calls your team can't get to and transfers the rest to your staff with the caller's name, patient and reason already on screen. It isn't a replacement for your receptionists; it's the part of the phone system that makes sure every call reaches someone.
Where Nextiva sells a generic $99/mo XBert receptionist that caps at 100 conversations and books into consumer calendars, PupPilot's AI front office is veterinary-trained and writes appointments directly into the clinic's PIMS with phones and unlimited texting included.
What switching looks like
Your numbers port to PupPilot in a managed 10-step migration, with your old and new lines running in parallel until cutover. Port first, cancel second. Export your texting history and recordings before you cancel, and bring your hardware inventory to onboarding — standard SIP desk phones can usually be re-provisioned, and desk phones are included with every plan either way. The full checklist is on how switching works; unlimited business texting is registered on your number at cutover.
Nextiva: Common Questions
Is Nextiva veterinary-specific?
Multi-industry. PIMS support: None documented.
How much does Nextiva cost?
Pricing basis: per user/month (XBert priced per month with conversation allowance). Published pricing: Core from $15/user/mo annual ($23 monthly), Engage from $25 annual ($50 monthly), Scale $75/user/mo; contact center from $75/agent/mo; XBert AI Receptionist from $99/mo incl. 100 conversations (~$0.99/extra). Hardware: Desk phones purchased separately from Nextiva's device store or BYOD; not included in plans. Contract: Month-to-month or 12+ month annual agreements (annual promo discounts of roughly 35-50%); no setup fees. Check the vendor's site for current terms.
What is the difference between Nextiva and PupPilot?
Where Nextiva sells a generic $99/mo XBert receptionist that caps at 100 conversations and books into consumer calendars, PupPilot's AI front office is veterinary-trained and writes appointments directly into the clinic's PIMS with phones and unlimited texting included.
Can we keep our phone number when we leave Nextiva?
Yes — port first, cancel second. Under FCC rules a simple port must complete within one business day, and a carrier cannot refuse to port a number over an unpaid balance or termination fee. PupPilot manages the port and runs your old and new lines in parallel until cutover.