Kixie Review
Kixie is a sales-oriented business phone service and contact center solution designed to accelerate sales processes. It combines voice calling, SMS texting, and automation tools to help sales teams engage leads effectively. The platform is particularly valued for its PowerDialer technology, which enables high-volume outbound calling, and its seamless integrations with leading Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, and Pipedrive. Kixie also offers advanced analytics, live call coaching, and compliance features, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes, from startups to enterprises.
Kixie’s core mission is to empower revenue teams to deliver the right message at the right time. By automating repetitive tasks and providing actionable insights, Kixie aims to help sales representatives focus on building relationships and closing deals. The platform is accessible via a Google Chrome extension, mobile apps (iOS and Android), and a web-based dashboard, ensuring flexibility for remote and on-the-go teams.
Key Features of Kixie
Kixie offers a robust suite of features tailored to sales and customer support teams. Below are the standout functionalities that define its value proposition:
1. PowerDialer
The PowerDialer is Kixie’s flagship feature, designed for high-volume outbound calling. It allows sales representatives to dial up to 10 numbers simultaneously, minimizing downtime between calls and increasing the number of prospects reached. The PowerDialer is not a progressive dialer (which automatically moves through a call list) but requires manual clicks within a CRM, making it ideal for teams that prioritize control over automation. Users report significant efficiency gains, with one stating, “The PowerDialer has allowed us to connect with clients efficiently”.
2. Local Presence Dialing
Kixie’s Local Presence feature displays a local phone number on the recipient’s caller ID, increasing the likelihood of call pickups. This is particularly valuable for cold outreach, as prospects are more likely to answer calls from familiar area codes. The platform’s ConnectionBoost™ add-on further enhances answer rates by using AI to optimize call routing and timing.
3. CRM Integrations
Kixie integrates with over 25 leading CRMs and productivity tools, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive, Zoho, and HighLevel. These integrations enable automatic call logging, eliminating manual data entry and ensuring up-to-date information across platforms. For example, a user noted, “Kixie integrates incredibly well with Salesforce, logging calls and other activities”. The bi-directional workflow allows sales reps to log call dispositions with one click, streamlining pipeline management.
4. AI-Powered Analytics
Kixie’s analytics tools provide managers with insights into call duration, connection rates, response times, and conversion outcomes. The platform’s conversation intelligence feature analyzes customer interactions to identify high-potential leads and suggest optimal contact times. This data-driven approach helps teams prioritize efforts and refine strategies, with one reviewer stating, “Kixie delivers robust analytics to track and optimize communication efforts”.
5. Live Call Coaching
Kixie’s live call coaching feature allows managers to “whisper” advice to agents during calls without the prospect hearing. This is particularly useful for training new reps and improving performance in real time. The platform also supports call recording with unlimited cloud storage, enabling managers to review calls for quality assurance and compliance.
6. SMS and Multi-Channel Communication
Kixie supports SMS templates and automated texting, allowing teams to engage leads via their preferred communication method. The platform’s multi-channel approach combines voice, SMS, and email capabilities, fostering stronger connections. A user highlighted, “Texting is the new way to communicate, and Kixie has made this so smooth”.
7. Automation and Compliance
Kixie automates repetitive tasks like voicemail drops, call logging, and cadence sequences (automated sequences of calls, texts, and emails). It also includes compliance features, such as do-not-call list automation and call recording controls for two-party consent states. Administrators can toggle recordings on or off and configure settings to ensure compliance with regulations like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
8. Chrome Extension and Mobile Apps
The Kixie Chrome extension transforms every phone number on a webpage into a clickable, dialable number, simplifying workflows. The mobile apps for iOS and Android allow users to monitor calls and texts outside working hours, ensuring flexibility for remote teams.
Pricing and Plans
Kixie offers four pricing plans tailored to different business needs, though specific pricing details are not publicly disclosed and require contacting Kixie directly. The plans are:
- Integrated Plan: The foundational plan, ideal for businesses seeking basic communication tools with CRM integration.
- Engage Plan: Includes advanced features like PowerDialer and analytics for growing teams.
- Convert Plan: Designed for high-volume sales teams, with additional automation and AI-driven tools.
- Enterprise Plan: A custom-priced plan for large businesses needing tailored integrations, API support, and unlimited calling minutes.
Optional add-ons, such as ConnectionBoost™, local presence dialing, and conversation intelligence, are available for an additional fee per user. Kixie provides a 7-day free trial, allowing businesses to test the platform without financial commitment. Pricing starts at approximately $29 per user per month for the basic plan, with progressive plans at $65 and $95, according to some sources. However, costs can add up with add-ons and higher-tier plans, prompting some users to note, “Kixie costs quite a lot of money, so do your research”.
Strengths of Kixie
Kixie’s strengths lie in its ability to enhance sales efficiency and integrate seamlessly with existing workflows. Key advantages include:
- Efficiency Gains: The PowerDialer and automation tools significantly reduce downtime and repetitive tasks, enabling sales reps to contact more leads. One user reported, “Within three months of using Kixie, we dropped our time to first call from 35 minutes to 9 minutes”.
- Robust Integrations: Kixie’s compatibility with major CRMs ensures smooth data synchronization, saving time and improving pipeline accuracy.
- User-Friendly Interface: The Chrome extension and mobile apps are intuitive, with users praising the “ease of use and simplicity”.
- Advanced Analytics: AI-driven insights help teams prioritize high-value opportunities and optimize performance.
- Flexible Communication: Multi-channel support (voice, SMS, email) allows teams to engage leads effectively across platforms.
Weaknesses of Kixie
Despite its strengths, Kixie has notable drawbacks, as highlighted by user reviews and industry analyses:
- Inconsistent Customer Support: Customer support receives mixed reviews, with some users praising responsiveness and others reporting slow or unresponsive service. One reviewer noted, “Support is slow and unresponsive, limited to email and ticket support”. Another mentioned unreturned calls and long wait times for chat support.
- Technical Issues: Users report occasional bugs, crashes, and integration failures, particularly during peak hours. One customer stated, “Every day there was a different issue, like answering inbound calls or conference calling that never worked”.
- Complex Setup: Setting up automations and workflows can be challenging, with some users noting, “It doesn’t sound like Kixie is something you’ll start using an hour after you sign up”.
- Contract Rigidity: Several users complained about inflexible contracts, with one stating, “They refused to let me out of the contract when they lied about what was included”. This has led to dissatisfaction among users facing unexpected costs or underperforming features.
- Limited Onboarding: Small teams and individual agents report inadequate onboarding, with one user noting, “There’s no true onboarding for individual agents and small groups”.
User Reviews and Feedback
User reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, G2, and Capterra provide a mixed but insightful picture of Kixie’s performance. Positive feedback often centers on efficiency and integrations:
- “Kixie has made my job easier and more streamlined with its Salesforce integration”.
- “The ease of use and connectivity that Kixie provides is fantastic”.
- “Customer support and training are awesome, with answers within minutes”.
However, negative reviews highlight significant pain points:
- “This was software that did not work. Daily struggles with answering calls and a terrible app”.
- “Customer support is abysmal, run by a bunch of kids who don’t treat this like a real business”.
- “Kixie’s demos were no-shows, so I can’t even review the product”.
On G2, Kixie has a rating of 4.3 out of 5 based on 271 reviews, indicating generally positive sentiment but with notable criticisms. Trustpilot reviews show a split, with 13–15 reviews across regions averaging a moderate TrustScore. RepVue rates Kixie 3.6 out of 5 for employee satisfaction, with a strong 4.0 for product-market fit but a lower 3.3 for culture and leadership.
Who Should Use Kixie?
Kixie is best suited for:
- Sales Teams: Businesses with high-volume outbound calling needs, particularly those using CRMs like Salesforce or HubSpot, will benefit from Kixie’s PowerDialer and integrations.
- Remote and Hybrid Teams: The Chrome extension and mobile apps make Kixie ideal for distributed teams.
- Data-Driven Organizations: Teams that rely on analytics to optimize performance will appreciate Kixie’s AI-driven insights and reporting tools.
- Compliance-Conscious Businesses: Automated do-not-call list compliance and call recording controls cater to industries with strict regulatory requirements.
However, Kixie may not be ideal for:
- Small Businesses with Limited Budgets: The cost of add-ons and higher-tier plans can be prohibitive, and the learning curve may overwhelm small teams.
- Teams Needing Robust Onboarding: Businesses requiring extensive training or setup support may find Kixie’s onboarding lacking.
- Users Prioritizing Customer Support: Inconsistent support may frustrate teams with time-sensitive issues.
Alternatives to Kixie
For businesses considering alternatives, several platforms offer similar functionality:
- Aircall: A cloud-based phone system with strong integrations and a user-friendly interface, though it lacks Kixie’s advanced PowerDialer features.
- RingCentral: Offers comprehensive VoIP and contact center solutions but may be more complex and expensive.
- Dialpad: Known for AI-powered call transcription and analytics, Dialpad is a strong competitor for teams prioritizing AI features.
- Mojo: A real estate-focused dialer with progressive dialing, ideal for teams needing automated call progression.
Conclusion
Kixie is a powerful sales engagement platform that excels in boosting efficiency through its PowerDialer, CRM integrations, and AI-driven analytics. Its ability to streamline communication, automate repetitive tasks, and provide actionable insights makes it a valuable tool for sales teams, particularly those with high-volume outbound calling needs. The platform’s Chrome extension, mobile apps, and multi-channel communication options ensure flexibility for modern, distributed teams.
However, Kixie is not without flaws. Inconsistent customer support, technical glitches, complex setup, and rigid contracts have frustrated some users, particularly small businesses or those with limited technical expertise. The cost can also escalate with add-ons, making it less accessible for budget-conscious teams. User reviews reflect this dichotomy, with praise for efficiency and integrations tempered by complaints about reliability and support.
Ultimately, Kixie is a strong choice for sales-driven organizations that prioritize automation, analytics, and CRM integration, provided they can navigate its setup challenges and tolerate occasional support inconsistencies. Businesses should take advantage of the 7-day free trial to evaluate its fit and compare it with alternatives like Aircall or Dialpad. For more information, visit Kixie’s official website or contact their sales team for pricing details.