The market is oversaturated with dozens of VoIP vendors, and it seems impossible to have an adequate look at them all, let alone find the best VoIP service. Virtual phones are becoming more and more prevalent, so the need to find the perfect one is ever-pressing for most businesses.
In this article we cover:
- What Is VoIP?
- How Does a VoIP Service Work?
- The List of Best VoIP Phone Service Providers
- VoIP Services: Comparison
- Top 15 VoIP Providers: Overview
- How We Ranked These 15 Best VoIP Providers
- Key Features of VoIP Providers
- How Much Does VoIP Phone Service Cost?
- What Equipment Do I Need for VoIP Service?
- VoIP Phone Service Providers Pros and Cons
- How to Choose a VoIP Provider
- What is the Best VoIP Phone Service?
What Is VoIP?
You need to know what cloud-based communication is when comparing VoIP providers. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, meaning that the audio signal is transmitted over the internet connection rather than the traditional wire method. This makes it a great option for anyone who wants to cut location ties and have the ability to call from anywhere and from any device by simply logging into the account.
How Does a VoIP Service Work?
As mentioned before, these phones work by transmitting your calls over the internet. That’s why they are also referred to as “cloud VoIP services,” meaning that they let you store and share your audio, video, and other files via their servers. This makes the communication almost instant, given that you have good WiFi quality.
The special thing about VoIP phone services is that there is no requirement for both callers to be using it. A virtual phone number works like any other phone number, meaning that you can simply use the dial or choose from your phone contacts like you would with a traditional phone or sim card.
The List of Best VoIP Phone Service Providers
Here is the list of the best business VoIP service providers we rated for this article:
- MightyCall: best price-value voice over IP service provider;
- Grasshopper: known for its reliability;
- Line2: works with slower internet connection;
- RingCentral: a well-earned reputation;
- Nextiva: an impressive tool set;
- 8×8: enterprise VoIP telephony system;
- Google Voice: a minimalistic solution;
- Dialpad: great for company virtual meetings;
- Vonage: superior audio quality;
- OpenPhone: one of the cheapest base plans;
- magicJack: a voice over IP phone service and device provider;
- Ooma: a simple voicemail tree;
- GoTo Connect: all-in-one phone software;
- Phone.com: IP phones and analog adapters;
- Microsoft Teams Phone: a standardized business VoIP service for Microsoft users.
VoIP Services: Comparison
| VoIP Service | Price | Top features | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MightyCall | Starts at $15/mo/user | Multi-level IVR, SMS, MMS, extra phone numbers: vanity, toll-free, or local calling from web, desktop, and mobile | Small and mid-sized businesses |
| Grasshopper | Starts at $29/mo | Business numbers, telephony features, calling from web, desktop, and mobile | Mid-sized business |
| Line2 | Starts at $15.99/mo | Business number, basic telephony features, calling from desktop and mobile | Solopreneurs |
| RingCentral | Starts at $29.99/mo/user | Business numbers, telephony features, calling from web, desktop, and mobile | Call centers; Large teams |
| Nextiva | Starts at $26.95/mo/user | Business numbers, basic telephony features, calling from web, desktop, and cell | Call centers; Large teams |
| 8×8 | Starts at $15/mo/user | Business numbers, unlimited international calling, calling from web, desktop, and cell | International business |
| Google Voice | Starts at $20/mo/user | Local business numbers, calling from web, desktop, and cell | Solopreneurs |
| Dialpad | Starts at $23/mo/user | Business numbers, telephony features, calling from web, desktop, and cell | Call centers; Large teams |
| Vonage | Starts at £9.00 | Business numbers, basic telephony features, calling from web, desktop, and cell | Small-mid sized businesses |
| OpenPhone | Starts at $13/mo/user | Business numbers, telephony features, calling from web, desktop, and cell | Call centers; Large teams |
| magicJack | Starts at $15.99 /mo/line | Business numbers, telephony features, calling from desktop, and cell | Larger teams within the US |
| Ooma | Starts at $19.95/mo/user | Business numbers, telephony features, calling from desktop, and cell | Small businesses in offices |
| GoToConnect | Starts with a free plan | Basic calling and functions | Solopreneurs with a small call volume |
| Phone.com | Starts at $14.99/mo/user | Business numbers, telephony features, calling from web, and cell | Small business, solopreneurs |
| Microsoft Teams Phone | Starts at $8.00/mo/user | Business numbers, telephony features, calling from web, and cell | Larger teams |
* all prices relevant at the time of publication
Top 15 VoIP Providers: Overview
1. MightyCall
With over 30 calling choices and integrations, local, toll-free, and vanity numbers, MightyCall is a smart choice for companies of all sizes.
Why we picked it
MightyCall is known to have one of the best customer support services on the list of hosted VoIP providers, alongside a very generous feature set that comes at a rather low price. The other unique feature is that MightyCall offers plans based on your team size rather than feature sets, meaning that it allows every company to have access to all the necessary tools without having to pay for add-ons.
Best for
SMBs: Medium-sized and small businesses
Pricing per month
- Core: from $15 per user
- Pro: from $20 per user
Features
Including, but not limited to:
- Local, toll-free, vanity business numbers
- Audio calls
- SMS/MMS
- Conference calls
- Standard and Multi-Level IVR
- Call waiting
- Call recording
- Call screening
- Call log
Integrations
- Hubspot
- Salesforce and other CRM platforms.
- Over 1500 business applications on Zapier
User Experience
MightyCall has a simple design that was developed to be used intuitively without any instructions or help, and it consistently introduces new updates.
Customer Service
MightyCall has tons of demos and a helpful customer care team, accessible by live chat, phone, and email. Furthermore, all new clients receive free assistance with phone system setup, integrations, and other issues they may have.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Convenient plans based on your team size without losing any important features | No fax option |
| Pricing transparency | The service is available in the cloud (browser profile) and as an app on all mobile devices, however there is no desktop client. |
| A multitude of features and integrations included with the plans, and consistently adding more | MightyCall is primarily focused on small teams and mid-sized businesses rather than enterprises |
User reviews
2. Grasshopper
Grasshopper is one of the best VoIP phone systems that includes conventional virtual telephony functionality as a long-standing service.
Why we picked it
Grasshopper’s UI is straightforward to use, and the service provides all of the basic business phone functions. However, if you already use a virtual service and are seeking a standalone dialer, you will be unable to utilize their softphone for business until you convert to the service.
Best for
Grasshopper is one of the best internet phone services for mid-size teams with a need for standard calling functionality.
Pricing (user/month)
- Solo: $29 up to 3 user extensions
- Partner: $49 up to 6 user extensions
- Small business: $89 for unlimited users
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Business phone numbers
- Audio calls
- Messaging
- Conference calling
- Call forwarding
Integrations
- No native integrations with CRM systems.
- Zapier
- API
User Experience
Grasshopper’s layout is known to be simple and easy to use thanks to its experience on the market.
Customer Service
Their website suggests using the FAQs and Documentation to solve problems. If this doesn’t fit your criteria, there’s an option to “Call Support” at the end of relevant FAQ articles.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive business phone | Not applicable for users just looking for a dialer |
| Desktop, web, mobile dialer | Lacks deep business integrations. Many business features like voicemail transcription come as add-ons at an extra price |
| Allows interface customization | Lowest price plan is $29/month |
User reviews
3. Line2
A simple service that can provide you with a second phone line, but it will not replace a full-fledged IP phone service for Mac due to a lack of extra capabilities.
Why we picked it
Line2 is straightforward, clean, and minimalistic. There is only one plan, with monthly and annual payments available. You receive unlimited calling in the US and Canada, unlimited SMS/MMS, and basic PBX services for a relatively low fee. Good for solopreneurs, yet restrictive for developing businesses.
Best for
Individual use, solopreneurs, small teams
Pricing (user/month)
$15.99 or $13.75/month annually
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Business phone numbers
- Call screening
- Voicemail transcriptions
- Audio calls
- Messaging
Integrations
Not available
User Experience
Users like the ease of use and the design, but complain about frequent downtimes.
Customer Service
Customer support can be reached via phone and email during work hours.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Affordable pricing | Limiting, once you find yourself in need of extra features or a bigger plan, you will have to find a different VoIP service provider |
| Clear purpose which it fulfills | Poor quality reported in user VoIP reviews, especially on Wi-fi connection |
User reviews
4. RingCentral
RingСentral is a seasoned provider of virtual phone numbers. The functionality and pricing strategy of this phone system are intended for large enterprises.
Why we picked it
RingCentral is one of the best VoIP providers on the market. It has a long-lived reputation and a high-quality connection. The platform also has several advanced features, but its plans are known to be the most expensive and basic in the industry.
Best for
Large teams/companies and enterprises
Pricing (user/month)
- Essentials plan – $29.99
- Standard – $37.99
- Premium – 44.99
- Ultimate – $59.99
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Business phone numbers
- Voice calls
- Video calls (only on Standard plan and above)
- SMS
- Voicemail to text
Integrations
- Standard Plan:
Microsoft 365
Google
Slack - Premium Plan:
CRM integrations (Salesforce, Zendesk, etc.)
Industry-specific integrations (Canvas, Smarsh etc.)
User Experience
The customers like the call quality and the simplicity of the app and the functions of the system. There is a slight concern regarding the high prices and long-term contracts.
Customer Service
The company offers 24/7 support on Standard plans and above
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Includes enterprise-level telephony features on high-tier plans | Costly with few features on small-medium sized business plans |
| Offers many integrations on upper-tier plans | Long-term contracts |
User reviews
5. Nextiva
Named the “Best Business Phone Service” by U.S. news, Nextiva definitely one of the most well-known VoIP platforms on the market.
Why we picked it
Nextiva is a well-recognized VoIP provider and has received some awards and good media coverage, making it a note-worthy service. It also has a great volunteer group called Nextiva Cares that focuses on giving back to the community.
Best for
One of the best VoIP phone services for your business, small to mid-sized, if you are not looking for a great variety of features
Pricing (user/month)
- Essential Plan: $21.95 USD
- Professional Plan: $26.95 USD
- Enterprise Plan: $36.95 USD
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Unlimited voice & video calling
- Voicemail
- Toll-free numbers
- Outlook/Google Contacts Integrations
- Unlimited internet fax
Integrations
Google and Microsoft integrations
User Experience
Nextiva customers praise it for the help in the call organization, but there are a few complaints (and praises) about the support services and the app complexity. Based on the rating and reviews, Nextiva is a platform your team will either love with their whole heart or will not accept and move on to a different provider.
Customer Service
There is a video hub and a FAQ service, as well as a chat and an option to submit a ticket
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great call quality | Lacks integration variety |
| A customizable auto-attendant | The app is reported to be buggy and slightly confusing |
User reviews
6. 8×8
8×8 is an established VoIP provider, known to have high recording quality and convenient message alerts.
Why we picked it
As one of the biggest players on the market, 8×8 is a popular VoIP service option that has to make it into any VoIP brands ranking. It has a solid feature set and a global plan with 40 international locations.
Best for
Businesses with a large volume of international calls looking for a long-term contract
Pricing (user/month)
- Express: $15
- X2: $28
- X4: $57
Features
Including, but not limited to:
- Business phone numbers
- Audio calls
- Document sharing (on X plan and above)
- Streaming of meetings on YT(on X plan and above)
- Analytics(on X plan and above)
Integrations
- Microsoft Teams
- CRM, productivity and service apps on X2 plans and up.
User Experience
Customers of 8×8 laud the company for its assistance with call organizing, although there are a few concerns (and compliments) regarding the company’s support services and the integration ease.
Customer Service
Manuals, FAQ, and live chat.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unlimited international calling | Vanity numbers unavailable |
| Solid integrations | The app is reported to be buggy and slightly confusing |
| Most users note the ease of transition between devices | Long-term contract with a penalty for preliminary ending |
User reviews
7. Google Voice
Google has a telephone VoIP service for businesses that easily integrates into other Google products.
Why we picked it
Google Voice is a part of one of the most well-known VoIP telephone services, so it was an intuitive decision to include it when we review VoIP services. If you are using other Google products, Google Voice will automatically come up as an option.
Best for
Small businesses with a small call volume
Pricing (user/month)
- Starter Plan: $10 USD
- Standard Plan: $20 USD
- Premier Plan: $30 USD
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- International calls to Europe from the USA
- Texts and phone calls
- Phone apps
- Web application
- SIP Link for plans above Starter
Integrations
- Google Suite
User Experience
Google users will feel very comfortable with the interface, it is considered a lighter option for users who are not very interested in diving head-first into professional VoIP solutions. Users do complain about the lack of features included with the plans, but you have to keep in mind that Google Voice is just a part of the ecosystem rather than a standalone product specifically crafted for voice over IP.
Customer Service
24/7 via the Google Voice Help page with its FAQs and the help community forum
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unlimited international calling | Vanity numbers unavailable |
| Solid integrations | A multitude of fees: activation, deactivation, and other subscription fees |
| There is a free basic option for personal use with limited features | Long-term contract with a penalty for preliminary ending |
User reviews
8. Dialpad
Dialpad has traditionally positioned itself as a viable VoIP solution for mid-sized organizations.
Why we picked it
Dialpad is one of the best known systems on the market, since it was created by a talented team of ex Google Voice employees and was developed to be feature-rich. It has been around for a long time, and it should be considered when choosing a VoIP provider for your team.
Best for
Mid-sized businesses and enterprises
Pricing (user/month)
- Standard Plan: $23 per user
- Pro Plan: $35 per user
- Enterprise Plan: custom
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Phone app
- Call forwarding
- IVR/Multi-level IVR
- Call recording
- Voicemail/voicemail to text
Integrations
Standard option: Google and Office 365 integrations
User Experience
Founded and maintained by a small group of former Google Voice employees, it offers more capabilities than Google Voice ever did. This means that it is a feature-rich system with a great design.
Customer Service
- 24/5 through chat and web for regular clients
- 24/7 support for Pro and Enterprise customers
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Many integrations for Pro and Enterprise plans | Customer support unavailable 24/7 for all customers, the basic plans have 24/5 support |
| MMS included in all plans | Priority live agent support is only available at the Enterprise option |
User reviews
9. Vonage
Vonage is a VoIP phone provider for business communications, offering over 40 powerful features with its plans.
Why we picked it
Vonage has a lot to offer: its service has exceptionally good quality with a great uptime for unlimited calling and texting. On top of everything, Vonage has one of the most stylish designs available on the market.
Best for
Small to mid-sized businesses
Pricing/line/month
- Basic Plan: $19.99 USD
- Premium Plan: $29.99 USD
- Basic Plan: $39.99 USD
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Phone and desktop apps
- Vonage App Center
- Unlimited Team Messaging
- Unlimited Calls and SMS
- Multi-level auto attendant on Premium Plan
Integrations
CRM Integration for Premium and up
User Experience
Users tend to love Vonage’s clean interface, features, and call quality. There is a complaint about Vonage numbers getting marked as spam and customer support team inefficiency.
Customer Service
The customer support is available via calls (7 days a week, varying work hours), a community forum, and via opening a case on the website.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A beautiful and easy to use interface | Hidden costs, add-ons, and extras |
| High call and audio quality | There are some complaints about the customer service |
User reviews
10. OpenPhone
A VoIP service with a good reputation, OpenPhone is primarily targeted at small and medium-sized organizations. It has a good range of pricing options and a strong feature set.
Why we picked it
OpenPhone is well-known on the market for its great UX, integrations, and high-quality calling services. It allows international calling, has auto-attendants, and other useful features.
Best for
Call centers and large teams
Pricing (user/month)
- Standard Team Plan – $13 USD
- Premium Team Plan – $25 USD
- Enterprise Team Plan – Individual
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- SMS/MMS
- Webphone
- Phone app
- Call forwarding
- A simple IVR
Integrations
- Email, Slack, Google Contacts, Hubspot CRM
- Zapier for extra cost
User Experience
The customers like the app, the feature variety, the Slack integration, and the toll-free numbers. There is at times a lack of customer support availability for the basic plans.
Customer Service
- FAQ section, chat box with a form;
- Priority support available for the Enterprise Plan.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Snippets feature that creates custom readily available templates for the text messages. | Does not have the automated texting option without the Zapier integration. |
| Desktop app has a stylish dark interface. | Customer support is only available via email, unless you have an enterprise plan. |
User reviews
11. magicJack
MagicJack’s VoIP plans include free unlimited calls from the U.S. & Canada and great feature sets.
Why we picked it
This list of VoIP providers needs some quality variety added to it. The plans are based on the number of years in the contract: from one to three. This is a nice option that can protect your budget long-term, although it does require commitment.
Best for
Larger teams within the US
Pricing/contract
- 1 year plan: $43 USD
- 2 year plan: $79 USD
- 3 year plan: $109 USD
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Voicemail
- Call forwarding
- Call blocking
- Number porting
- Free unlimited incoming calls from US and Canada
Integrations
None listed
User Experience
Users report the service to be most reliable and easy to use, while others complain that it is difficult to switch telephony providers.
Customer Service
A FAQ page, issue reports on the website, or an email
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Convenient contracts that “freeze” the same price for years | No short-term option |
| Ease of use | Not the most available customer support |
User reviews
12. Ooma
Ooma stands out from the other providers on our list in that its product may be used without a computer. Ooma also sells separate hardware in the form of IP desk phones.
Why we picked it
Ooma deserves to be represented on the list for its unique services since most other VoIP phone companies will not be selling you hardware. Ooma is a very successful marriage of traditional, old-school tools with modern technology.
Best for
Small business office use
Pricing (user/month)
- Essentials: $19.95
- Pro: $24.95
- Pro Plus: $29.99
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Business phone numbers
- Audio calls
- Virtual receptionist
- Virtual fax
- Call forwarding
Integrations
Salesforce integration is available only on the highest-tier plan, Ooma Office Pro Plus.
User Experience
The service is highly valued by its customers, and although there are some complaints about processes like number porting being slightly confusing, most VoIP phone reviews praise the service and its numerous products.
Customer Service
Support is available via documentation manuals and phone 24/7.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Office-centric | Most business calling features demand Pro subscription |
| Works with both softphone systems and IP desk phones | Softphone app on Pro plan and above only |
| Has simple voicemail trees | Limited integration, only on Pro Plus |
User reviews
13. GoTo Connect
A simple and secure top VoIP provider with a great design for the not-so-tech-savvy users.
Why we picked it
GoTo Connect is one of the most popular services on the market, It has a nice, though not the most vast, set of features that would be a nice addition to most businesses.
Best for
Solopreneurs with a small call volume
Pricing (user/month)
- Basic Plan: $27 USD
- Standard Plan: $32 USD
- Premium Plan: $43 USD
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Voice calls
- Call flows
- Analytics
- Video meetings
- Admin controls
Integrations
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Google Calendar
- Microsoft Teams
User Experience
Users report it as easy to manage and having a great UX, but they complain about the poor app call quality.
Customer Service
Via community forum, and form submission
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Great UX design and ease of use | A rather high price of VoIP services compared to the market |
| Automated Content Recap | A limited feature set |
User reviews
14. Phone.com
Phone.com is a VoIP phone system that offers call forwarding options, phone numbers, and the capacity to place calls using internet-connected devices.
Why we picked it
Phone.com has a loyal customer base. This top business VoIP provider has a solid basic plan, and the customer service is apparently on par. This provider covers most of the essential needs of the smaller teams. It is affordable, and it is worth looking at.
Best for
Growing teams, small business, solopreneurs
Pricing (user/month)
- Basic: $14.99
- Plus: $19.99
- Pro: $29.00
Features
Including, but not limited to:
- Business phone numbers
- Auto attendant
- Voicemail and transcription (the latter on Pro plan only)
- Call routing
- Audio calls
Integrations
Only available with the Pro Plan:
- Zapier
- Zoho office suite
- AllProWebTools CRM, and Chrometa time tracking
- Native integrations with CRMs: Hubspot and Salesforce, PipeDrive
User Experience
The users have some complaints about the call quality, but they tend to like the user interface and the ease of use of this provider.
Customer Service
24/7 service via live chat, email, and phone.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| An impressive amount and variety of features | The additional business numbers come at extra cost |
| Large team benefits: video conferencing with up to 100 participants on Pro plan | Basic plan has limited features and only 500 pooled minutes |
User reviews
15. Microsoft Teams Phone
A cloud-based calling solution from Microsoft comes in handy to make your team comfortable while making phone calls and holding conferences.
Why we picked it
Many Microsoft users would feel like adding another product from the same provider would make it more comfortable for the team to make calls and adapt.
Best for
Large cross-functional teams
Pricing (user/month)
Starts at $8.00/mo/user
Features
Included, but not limited to:
- Basic call control
- Make and answer calls
- Merge calls
- Transfer and ring back
- Transfer calls between devices
Integrations
Integrates with the Microsoft Office Suite
User Experience
This service is intuitive for Microsoft users, and is praised for being highly reliable. However, sometimes, it is reported to be difficult to integrate if you are not used to it.
Customer Service
Via phone numbers depending on your location
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Convenient for Microsoft Team users who like the interface and want to have a trusted provider | Limited flexibility |
| A clean and simple interface | Was not developed as a separate provider solely focused on cloud-based communication |
User reviews
How We Ranked These 15 Best VoIP Providers
We were looking to make a varying list of different providers, most of which are well-known VoIP companies on the market. It is important to note that every provider is unique and may end up being just perfect for your business regardless of the ranking. However, we focused on the following when selecting VoIP packages for our list:
- Features — what features does each business phone system offer? Will you get your money’s worth or will you barely be able to make calls? Are there any special add-ons?
- Price (affordability) — will you be able to afford it? What will you get for your money’s worth when choosing between the systems? What plans are available for your company? Are there hidden costs and a price comparison?
- Integration simplicity — how easy will it be to integrate the product into your company? What integrations are available? Will you have the freedom of choice?
- Amount of calls — is there a limit? Will you have to pay extra to purchase more? Will the calls be limited to local only? How about international calls? How about texts?
- Customer support — how long will you have to wait to have your concerns resolved? What are the methods of communication? Does the provider have an FAQ service or a live chat?
- UI — will you need to watch hour-long instruction videos or is the user interface intuitive? Is the design clean and simple? Will you know how to make a call, is the dial pad comfortable?
- Stability — will your company be losing customers due to VoIP system failures? Will the audio calls drop out of nowhere, and what is the uptime? Are the apps lagging?
Key Features of VoIP Providers
Here are the features you want to be looking for in the best VoIP companies:
- SMS/MMS: Calls are not always accessible and are sometimes considered intrusive in the modern world. SMS and MMS features expand your client communication field and let you share information without format limitations.
- Mobile app/webphone: Can you use the app on your phone, and can your team use the service to make calls from a desktop? This defines the flexibility of your business communication.
- Call forwarding: Will you have to take the call regardless of your availability, or will you be able to conveniently forward the calls to a colleague? Passing the calls along in the team can be a crucial factor when it comes to leaving a positive impression on your clients.
- IVR/Multi-Level IVR: When your client calls you, will they be greeted by a beeping sound or will there be a friendly voice welcoming them to the pre-recorded information points or to the right department?
- Call recording: Will you have your own personal archive with the communication history? Will there be an easy way to supervise your operators and ensure exceptional service quality?
- Voicemail/voicemail to text: When your clients call after hours, it is important to give them a chance to be heard. And it is equally important for your operators to have a quick way to check your voicemail by converting it to text.
- Conference calling: Will you be able to have multiple people on the call?
- Mini-CRM functionality: Will the customer data be managed properly, and does it deliver insights?
How Much Does VoIP Phone Service Cost?
You could find a service for free, and you could also be looking at a few hundred dollars per month. The free options will, of course, have fewer features and potentially lower call quality, but most importantly, you cannot expect much from a free service. This is why the providers with less costly plans will be a better option for you if you are trying to save money. You should be able to find the best VoIP phone service for your team for between $10 and $25 USD per person per month.
What Equipment Do I Need for VoIP Service?
One of the reasons why this type of communication is popular is due to its ease of setup. There are only a few things required:
- The best available internet connection. For a steady, interruption-free call, we advise choosing 100 kbps and above.
- A web client or your mobile service. Without using a VoIP service, you cannot have a number that is accessible via the internet.
- A contemporary gadget that can support a reliable internet connection. It can be done via a computer, a cell phone, or a tablet.
Some items are optional:
- Headphones or a headset. If your device doesn’t have a speaker or microphone and can’t record or play audio, a headset will fix the problem and let you benefit from better audio quality.
- An adaptor. You will need a virtual phone adapter to convert analog audio signals into digital IP packets if you wish to use your standard phone system with a virtual phone line. It is necessary for the operation of all virtual lines.
VoIP Phone Service Providers Pros and Cons
VoIP phone service providers have pros and cons that need to be considered prior to switching from a traditional landline.
Pros of VoIP Phone Service
- VoIP phones are not tied to a specific geographic location. This will let you expand your office internationally or be more flexible with the location of your employees. You can become a digital nomad and simplify the job for people who are not able to make it into the office.
- Virtual phones are accessible on multiple devices. This means that you will be able to connect to your account from anything that has an internet connection. Switching from your phone to your laptop will open a wide door of possibilities.
- VoIP phone services usually come with dozens of useful features. With the right provider, you will be able to have extras, such as a multi-level IVR or business contacts, for free.
- The costs tend to be lower than the average traditional phone line costs. No need to pay for the equipment or rental, and a useful package of features makes VoIP options a very attractive alternative.
- Virtual phone services are easier to scale and can be easily ported. You can get more phone numbers and make them toll-free or vanity within a few seconds.
Cons of VoIP Service
- Phone services with VoIP communication require a stable internet connection. This means that making calls during a snow or rain storm may not be possible, and your dream about going off to live in a lonely cabin in the middle of the forest will have to wait.
- The connection can be laggy based on the app or the provider you select. You will need to ensure that there is perfect compatibility between your phone, your app, and your internet provider to have good call quality.
- VoIP communication also needs a continuous power supply. Starting with the router that needs to be plugged in and ending with the phone charging, going wireless does not mean you are completely wire-free.
- Sometimes VoIP communication does not support emergency calls. You would usually have a regular phone around as well, but it is still necessary to check whether your cloud VoIP provider offers emergency calling to have proper protocol in place.
- You could get into a binding contract or run into hidden costs, although this could also happen with a traditional landline service. It would be wise to talk to your provider and check that you will be paying exactly what you were intending to.
How to Choose a VoIP Provider
Choosing the correct VoIP hosting provider will define your business communication and your relationship with your team and your customers. It takes a few steps and a few things to consider:
- Security: You will be looking for how secure the connection is and whether the service will protect you from robocallers or someone eavesdropping on your conversations. Is the server where you store information secure, or have there been rumors of its security getting hacked?
- Price-to-value relationship: How much will you be getting for your money’s worth? How expansive is the feature set? What is included in the service? Is there a free trial that helps you see for yourself that the audio quality is stable? Are the competitors offering better VoIP costs?
- Feature set: What are the features included in the plans? There is quite a variety of features that a VoIP line can offer: Toll-Free and Local Numbers, International Numbers, Caller ID, CNAM, Custom Greeting, Music on Hold, Business Hours Call Routing, Vanity Numbers, Multi-Level IVR, and more.
- Integrations: Will you be able to integrate the system into your pre-existing work processes, or will you have one more app to take care of that is completely separate from the other apps? Imagine having a few calendars to keep track of? Tough, right? This is why you may want to check whether the provider integrates into your systems.
- Technology requirements: Some providers do not work on Macintosh computers or do not have apps that work on iPhones. This is why you will need to check the compatibility and whether you have the right system update prior to making any payments or commitments.
- Customer support: Is there 24/7 support, a chat, or a ticket submission? Regardless of what the provider says on their website, it is smart to check how highly it is rated and what the reviews on one of the professional platforms say to see what people think of the service. Usually, customers go there to express complaints or gratitude.
What is the Best VoIP Phone Service?
The best VoIP service provider is the one that works best for your team and your business. Each team has its unique needs and style of operation, meaning that there is no universal approach. Each of our reviewed VoIP carriers is the best in its niche in its own way. Here is a brief review:
- MightyCall: the most cost-effective VoIP for small businesses, providing the most features for each plan;
- magicJack: with this VoIP operator, you will get both a device and the service;
- Google Voice: one of the most well-known operators, you may have used its free version at some point;
- 8×8: one of the best enterprise VoIP systems for large company owners;
- Ooma: if you want the most simple voicemail tree, this is your operator.
