Besides per-user licences, 8x8’s services are paid for through usage: calls, messages, recording storage and a few add-on services. 8x8 publishes these on its Usage (Global) page, which lists the type of usage and the applicable rates for UCaaS, CCaaS and CPaaS services.[1] The Service Terms make the customer responsible for paying “any applicable usage charges set forth at the time of such usage” on that page.[7] This article covers the non-voice items, plus the Use Policy and the licences that govern APIs and SDKs.
Editions
The Usage page divides services into three groups: UCaaS (metered outbound calls, toll-free inbound, bundled minutes, directory assistance, recording storage), CCaaS (outbound and inbound calls, bundled minutes, directory assistance, recording storage) and CPaaS, whose usage is “à la carte” as set out in an Order or in the CPaaS product schedules on 8x8’s Legal Information Hub.[1] Messaging has two different structures, depending on whether the licence is a contact centre licence.
| Messaging structure | Applies to | Catalog row |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly pooled allowance of SMS and MMS | Licences named on the Usage page list where SMS is included, such as X Series X2 to X8 (bundled and unbundled variants), Engage Voice and legacy Virtual Office editions | SMS/MMS pooled message |
| Per-message CCaaS SMS in four country tiers | CCaaS licences | CCaaS SMS message |
| Proactive Outreach messaging | Direct customers use the rates shown in their 8x8 Connect account; resellers use rates communicated to them | CCaaS SMS message |
Metrics
SMS and MMS pool
For non-CCaaS licences, with an effective date of December 01, 2023, the Usage page lists the licences to which the monthly allowance applies. The list names X Series X2 to X8 (including bundled variants), X Series Pro, XF Pro, XF International, XF Global, XF Metered, 8x8 Engage Voice Metered and Unlimited, Virtual Office X2, X5, X6 and X8 Editions and others, and says the list is “non-exhaustive.”[1]
In the US and Canada the customer receives “a monthly aggregate SMS and MMS message pool equal to the number of applicable licenses times 50” (a total allowance of 50 outbound messages per licence). Messages are counted in carrier message segments, so a 400-character SMS of two segments sent to one recipient counts as two pooled messages. Unused messages do not roll over month to month.[1] Messages above the pool are charged per message:
| Traffic | US (USD) | Canada (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Inbound SMS and MMS | $0.000 | $0.000 |
| Outbound SMS | $0.012 | $0.016 |
| Outbound MMS | $0.024 | $0.033 |
In Australia, for Australian phone numbers only, inbound SMS is $0.000 and outbound SMS is AUD 0.050 per message, and the pool is described only for the US and Canada.[1] SKUs that include SMS capability but are not on the list “will not contribute to the monthly aggregate SMS and MMS message pool, and per message usage charges will apply.”[1] Catalog row: Monthly SMS/MMS message pool.
Eligibility for SMS also depends on licence: 8x8’s Support index states that customers with X1 and higher licences or Unlimited or Global extensions (US and Canada), or X1 and higher licences (Australia), can use SMS over 8x8 Work.[6] US and Canadian traffic must use registered campaigns, and the Usage page says “Unregistered SMS/MMS traffic is not supported.”[1] The customer “assume[s] sole responsibility for campaign registration, costs, and compliance.”[1] The Support index also notes that approved campaigns default to allowing only 48 numbers at a time.[6]
CCaaS SMS
CCaaS SMS carries a separate price list, effective November 27, 2024. Inbound rates are $0.01 per message for Tier 1 countries, a list of 23 countries and territories including the US, Canada, the UK, Germany, Spain and Australia, and $0.05 for Tier 2. Outbound rates are $0.01 for the United States and Canada, $0.05 for Tier 2, $0.10 for Tier 3 and $0.22 for Tier 4, with each tier listing destination countries.[1] Inbound traffic is classified by the country of the allocated 8x8 virtual number. Outbound traffic is classified by the destination prefix.[1] Catalog row: CCaaS SMS message.
Call recording storage
For UCaaS, extended period storage is charged at the Order rate or, if unspecified, $5.99 (USD) or £3.99 (GBP) per month per extension for each gigabyte stored in excess of one gigabyte or the allowance in the Order.[1] For CCaaS, storage is at the rate in the Order, which determines retention. The Usage page adds that customers “must configure your hot or cold storage add-ons to make them effective” and that 8x8 “only maintains purchased storage and stored data while you have an active account.”[1] A customer that cancels therefore loses its recordings along with the service and should export them first. Catalog row: Call recording storage.
Secure Pay and other charges
8x8 Secure Pay overages are $0.10 per SMS message, $0.01 per IVR minute and $0.30 per digital automation transaction in USD, with equivalents in other currencies.[1] Outbound directory assistance calls such as 411 cost $1.00 (USD) per call, and 8x8 may pass through tolls for calls such as those to 900 numbers.[1] Catalog row: 8x8 Secure Pay overage unit.
Counting / floors
Fair Use
The Use Policy and the Usage page both apply Fair Use to anything designated unlimited or unmetered. Usage must stay within “reasonable business use thresholds” in the Order or Documentation; if the threshold is unspecified, Fair Use is “up to three times the average monthly use of that specific feature or functionality by all 8x8 customers.”[2] The Use Policy cites SMS and MMS monthly allowances on the Usage page as an example of a specified threshold.[2] Overage is billed at calling rates, and 8x8 reserves the right to enforce Fair Use.[1][5] Catalog row: Fair Use threshold.
Use Policy commitments that affect counting
The Use Policy, version July 7, 2026, contains several commitments with licensing effect:
- Customer use must be for the customer’s or its Affiliate’s internal business use, and the customer may not sell, resell, sublicense, lease, rent, time-share or otherwise make 8x8 Solutions available to anyone other than its Affiliates.[2]
- Extensions are for the assigned User only, and extensions or numbers may not be trunked or forwarded to a PBX or to numbers that can process multiple calls simultaneously.[2]
- The customer must not use 8x8 Solutions to build a competitive product, for benchmarking, or to monitor availability, performance or functionality.[2]
- Customer use other than via an 8x8 desktop or mobile application must be through equipment listed by 8x8 or pre-approved in writing.[2]
- The CPaaS services do not support calls or SMS to 911, 999, 112 or other emergency services.[2]
- Specialty releases such as beta, API or SDK releases are subject to the terms on the Legal Information Hub.[2]
Virtualization & partitioning
Messaging pools are partitioned by region, with the US and Canada pool described in licences times 50 and Australia charged per message. CCaaS messaging is partitioned by country tier. The SMS pool is an aggregate across applicable licences, in the same way the contact centre minute pool is aggregated at account level.[1]
Cloud / BYOL
All services are hosted. For developers, 8x8 provides separate licences. The API License Agreement (updated and effective August 7, 2020) grants “a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license during the term of the Agreement to use the API solely for your internal business purposes of developing Your Applications that will communicate and interoperate with the Company Offerings.” The licensee may not copy, modify, sell or sublicense the API, may not combine it with software under certain open-source licences that could force disclosure, and may not use it to replicate the user experience of an 8x8 offering. It receives no support, must accept updates, and an API key may be revoked at any time.[3] The agreement says “no license fees or other payments will be due” but “we reserve the right to start charging for access to and use of the API at any time,” and caps 8x8’s aggregate liability at fifty dollars.[3]
The Software Development Kit License Agreement (effective January 23, 2025) uses the same limited, revocable grant for any 8x8 SD Tool, and in addition lets licensees incorporate Sample Code and libraries intended for incorporation into their applications and distribute them as incorporated “solely in object code form.”[4] Both licences state that they do not govern use of the commercial offerings, which fall under the service agreement.[3][4] Catalog row: API and SDK licence.
Programs
Named programmes are the monthly SMS/MMS pool and the API and SDK licences above. The Usage page also refers to proactive outreach subscription packages and 8x8 Secure Pay bundled options with allowances, whose rates are in the customer’s account or Order.[1] The terms index lists other documents: the End User Terms of Use, Beta Services Terms of Use, Learning Portal Terms of Use, Residential Terms and Website Terms of Use.[8]
Out of scope
- CPaaS pricing. CPaaS usage is à la carte as set out in an Order or product schedules, not catalogued.[1]
- Voice call rates. Rates per destination are in the 8x8 Rate Card Tool, not in the pages reviewed.
- Carrier compliance. Campaign registration procedures and content policies are operational rules, not licence terms.
- Emergency calling. Regional emergency calling terms are in the Regional Terms of the Service Terms.[7]