Focus Group vs 8x8
Focus Group wins on breadth; 8x8 suits contact-centre-heavy businesses
Independently scored · last reviewed June 2026
Focus Group and 8x8 share one meaningful overlap, cloud telephony, but they are fundamentally different businesses serving different needs. Focus Group is a broad UK managed services provider covering telecoms, connectivity, IT, cyber security and business energy from a single account team. 8x8 is a US-listed cloud communications specialist whose strength lies in unified communications, contact centre and CPaaS, underpinned by a financially-backed 99.999% uptime SLA. For a UK SME or mid-market business looking to consolidate suppliers and cut vendor sprawl, Focus Group's range is hard to match. For an organisation that has its connectivity sorted and wants a mature, feature-rich contact centre platform with omnichannel routing and AI analytics, 8x8 makes a stronger case on telephony alone. What this comes down to is breadth versus specialist depth, and which matters more depends entirely on what your business already has in place.
Side by side
| Metric | Focus Group | 8x8 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 91 ✓ | 56 |
| Categories covered | 4
| 1
|
| Trustpilot | 4.2 ✓ | 3.2 |
| Breadth of service | 98 ✓ | 30 |
| Value for money | 74 ✓ | 62 |
| Support & service | 82 ✓ | 62 |
| Reliability | 85 | 85 |
| Reputation | 80 ✓ | 64 |
| Founded | 2003 | 1987 (as Integrated Information Technology; renamed 8x8 in 1996) |
| Head office | Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK | Campbell, California, USA (with UK operations) |
Category by category
Focus Group provides broadband, FTTP and leased line connectivity. 8x8 offers no connectivity services at all.
Both offer cloud telephony, but Focus Group's Trustpilot score of 4.2 from roughly 3,000 reviews sits well above 8x8's 3.2 from around 612, with recurring 8x8 complaints about billing and support access. 8x8 does have the edge on contact-centre depth, and its 99.999% SLA is financially backed.
Focus Group delivers managed IT and cyber security services. 8x8 offers no equivalent, so buyers who need an MSP relationship will have to look elsewhere.
Focus Group covers business energy procurement. 8x8 has no energy offering.
Which should you choose?
Focus Group is the right call for UK SMEs and mid-market businesses that want to consolidate telecoms, connectivity, IT, cyber and energy under one supplier, with a managed account relationship and proven UK support.
Full Focus Group review →8x8 suits organisations, particularly multi-site or contact-centre-heavy ones, that already have reliable connectivity in place and want a single, well-accredited cloud platform for unified communications and contact centre at enterprise scale.
Full 8x8 review →Focus Group is the clear overall pick, scoring 91 against 8x8's 56. The main reason is straightforward: covering comms, connectivity, IT, cyber and energy in one place removes the need to manage multiple suppliers. 8x8 is not a weak product. Its contact centre platform is mature and its uptime SLA is strong. But as a communications-only vendor with a below-average Trustpilot score and no UK-rooted managed services, it is the right choice only for buyers whose requirements are squarely telephony and contact centre.
FAQs
Can Focus Group replace 8x8 if we are already mid-contract?
You would need to check your 8x8 early-termination charges first. Customer reviews flag these as a recurring pain point. Focus Group can typically absorb existing contracts into a consolidated agreement, but get written confirmation of any buyout or parallel-running costs before you sign anything.
Which provider suits a smaller business with under 20 staff?
Focus Group targets SMEs explicitly, and its single-supplier model tends to suit smaller teams that cannot afford a dedicated IT or procurement function. 8x8's pricing structure and contract model are more aligned with mid-market and enterprise, which makes it a less natural fit at the micro-business end.
Does 8x8 provide the broadband or leased line you need to run its platform?
No. 8x8 is a cloud communications platform only and does not supply the underlying connectivity. You would need to source broadband or a leased line separately. Focus Group provides both, which simplifies the vendor relationship and means a single point of accountability if call quality degrades.