Phone channels vs. integrations: what's the difference? Guide
Phone channels let you talk to your assistant; integrations connect the apps it works with. Here's when to use each.
Last updated July 16, 2026
On this page
Praxivara has two kinds of connections that are easy to confuse: phone channels and integrations. This article explains what each one does so you connect the right thing for what you're trying to accomplish.
The short version: a phone channel changes where you can reach your assistant. An integration gives your assistant access to an external app you already use.
What a phone channel is
A phone channel lets you talk to your Praxivara assistant from outside the web app — from your phone, in the tools you already message with. Instead of opening the workspace in a browser, you send a message and your assistant replies right there.
Think of a phone channel as another doorway to the same assistant. Whether you're on the web, on your phone, or messaging by text, you're talking to the same assistant with the same memory of your work.
Use a phone channel when you want to:
- Message your assistant on the go without opening a browser
- Fire off a quick request or question by text
- Have your assistant reach you on your phone with updates or reminders
Tip: You were offered a phone channel at the end of onboarding. If you skipped it, you can connect one later — you don't have to decide during setup.
What an integration is
An integration connects an external app or service to Praxivara so your assistant can work with it on your behalf. Once connected, your assistant can act inside that app — reading and creating things — without you switching tabs.
Integrations cover the tools businesses run on every day: email and calendars, CRMs, messaging platforms, help desks, accounting tools, and more. Connecting one is what turns a general request like "draft a follow-up and put it on my calendar" into real actions in your real accounts.
Use an integration when you want your assistant to:
- Do work inside an app you already use
- Pull in information from an outside service to answer a question or complete a task
- Keep an external system up to date as part of a larger request
A simple way to tell them apart
| Question | Phone channel | Integration |
|---|---|---|
| What does it change? | Where you can reach your assistant | What your assistant can access |
| Who is it about? | You talking to the assistant | The assistant working with an app |
| Example | Text your assistant from your phone | Connect your CRM so it can update records |
If you're deciding how to talk to your assistant, you want a channel. If you're deciding what your assistant can do for you in another app, you want an integration.
How to connect a phone channel
- Open the phone channels area from the left sidebar.
- Choose the channel you want to connect.
- Follow the on-screen steps to link it to your account.
- Send a test message to confirm your assistant replies.
Availability of specific channels can depend on your plan. If a channel you want isn't available, check your plan or reach out to support.
How to connect an integration
- Open the Integrations page from the left sidebar.
- Find the app you want to connect and start the connection.
- Authorize access when prompted so your assistant can act on your behalf.
- Return to a chat and ask your assistant to do something with the newly connected app.
Do you need both?
Most customers use both, and they work well together. A phone channel means you can send a request from anywhere; integrations mean your assistant has the reach to actually carry it out across your tools. You can start with whichever matters most today and add the other whenever you're ready — neither one is required to begin using Praxivara.