You may not know it, but there’s a huge marketplace for VoIP in the United States. As a way for people to conduct business, communicate with family and friends, and access the Internet from anywhere on the planet, VoIP has come a long way. As a way to make money, however, it has yet to catch on. In this article, we’re going to break down the top VoIP providers and explain why you should consider using them.
If you’re looking for the best VoIP provider, then this is the right place to find out the best of the best. If you are looking for an awesome phone package, then you’re in the right place as well. If you are looking for a great company, then this is the right place to start and find out the top choice for you.
VoIP, or Voice over IP, is a technology that allows you to use your computer as a phone and make phone calls over the internet. Using this technology allows you to call people from all over the world without having to pay any international calling fees. There are many VoIP providers that you can choose from, but with so many choices it can be hard to know which to use. If you are looking for a VoIP provider that is not only affordable but that also provides a great service, one that will work for you, then I have listed some great options below. I strongly recommend using one of these providers to make sure that you are getting the most for your money.
Disclosure: This content is reader-supported, which means we may receive a commission if you click on some of our links.
Want to skip the reading and go straight to my top picks? The best VOIP phone services for most people are Nextiva, Ringcentral or Ooma.
Imagine this: A potential customer calls the sales number listed on your website. In six states, his personal cell phones are ringing. Your salesperson takes it, answers a few questions and closes the deal.
With the right VoIP telephony service, you can optimize the performance of your customers and employees. Faster response times with less work for your teams.
These services are easy to use and can be set up in minutes. In addition, VoIP generally costs much less than traditional phone rates.
There is no shortage of good VoIP phone services, but how do you choose the right one for you?
If you don’t know how to answer this question, you’ve come to the right place. In this article I will explain how to choose the best service for your needs, the different types of VoIP services and my main recommendations.
#1 – Nextiva Overview – The best forremote controls
In theory, any VoIP service that allows users to make calls from their computer can be used for remote control.
In practice, however, Nextiva is much better at this task than its competitors.
First, it is very easy to use. Whether you’re on a tablet, desktop, desk phone or mobile device, the interface is modern and easy to navigate.
Ease of use is an important factor when learning and training is done remotely. The VoIP platform should be intuitive enough for employees to use and troubleshoot on their own.
Every time someone redirects a call to the wrong person or forgoes it altogether, it’s a missed opportunity. By choosing Nextiva’s easy-to-use VoIP telephony service, you can minimize employee mistakes that managers find difficult to correct remotely.
The configuration of Nextiva is simple. To get a new toll-free number or to port your old number, you need to go through the setup process. This can be tricky, and it must be done correctly to ensure that there is no downtime in the operation. Nextiva’s support team will make sure you can get started immediately.
Administrators don’t need special skills to configure the system and make sure everyone is up to speed. With Nextiva’s Call Flow Builder, you can easily ensure that callers reach the right person via call routing:
Nextiva is packed with such simple features that make remote collaboration much easier to manage. The functions are extensive and easy to use, including
- Automatic switchboard operator
- Call forwarding, blocking, hold, presence, transfer.
- Mobile and desktop application
- Call history
- Call recording and evaluation
- Transferring voice messages via e-mail or SMS
- VoIP Caller ID
- Personalized hold music
- Unlimited calls within North America
- Unlimited business SMS
- Unlimited online faxing
- Local toll free number
You also get group messaging and unlimited peer-to-peer video calling. No more digging through email chains to solve problems.
Whether you’re in the same city as your colleagues or spread across the country, Nextiva makes you feel like you’re in the office next door.
I saved the best part for last. With any Nextiva plan, you get 24/7 customer support via chat, email and phone. The company has an excellent reputation for helping customers solve their problems quickly.
This makes it much easier to set up and get used to the new system. Your employees can call on Nextiva instead of bothering the internal IT support team.
This is great, especially if you don’t have an IT team to call.
And because it works 24 hours a day, you don’t have to worry about time zones or work hours that could cripple a remote team with employees on both coasts.
Nextiva offers a range of affordable pricing plans and additional features that are flexible enough for remote teams of any size. There are four business class VoIP plans:
- Essential: starting at $18.95 per month per user
- Professional: from $22.95 per month per user
- Enterprise: starting at $32.95 per month per user
- Ultimate : from $57.95 per month per user
The Essential plan will work for many teams. It includes unlimited voice and video calls, local and toll-free numbers, and 1500 free minutes. That’s a lot more than you can get with other entry-level plans.
For business conference calls and SMS, you need a professional rate. It comes with Salesforce, HubSpot and Zendesk integration. Essentials only has integration with Outlook and Google Contacts.
At the Enterprise level, which is still very affordable, you get more integrations, more free minutes and unlimited size for video conferencing.
For teams that don’t have an office to coordinate their activities, Nextiva is the best VoIP solution.
It is a product that new and existing employees can use immediately on any device they have. If you have any problems, Nextiva’s reputable customer service team is here to help.
Contact Nextiva today for a demonstration.
#2 – RingCentral Rating – best for growing teams with 50 or more employees
RingCentral offers powerful VoIP services as part of its broader UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) platform. Centralize voice, video, chat and text to easily reach your customers through any channel.
Whether you want to replace an old telephone system or invest in a state-of-the-art contact centre, RingCentral has the equipment and expertise to make you successful.
I like it for large teams because of the extensive call management and PBX features. As you add sites and your business grows, no other VoIP provider makes it so easy to organize everything.
In addition to the standard call transfer functions – extension, transfer, sort and park – RingCentral offers the ability to:
- Multilayer IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
- Manage multiple sites
- Delegate calls
- A challenging somersault.
- Intercom
- Call.
- Rules for the answer
- Name Guide
- Audit log
- Hot workplaces
For large teams spread across multiple locations, multi-site management capabilities allow administrators to manage all users, numbers and devices from a single console. This makes it easier to monitor branch activity and set calling rules based on time zones.
It’s important not to call customers at three in the morning, but it’s harder to manage when your call centres are spread across the country or abroad. RingCentral gives managers the real-time visibility and control they need.
The auto-attendant feature is ideal for simple call routing, but is not sufficient for companies offering a variety of services. When you call the company’s single customer service number, you may have to deal with employees from billing, accounting, customer service, etc.
With RingCentral’s tiered IVR, you can create as many menus and submenus as needed to direct callers to the right agent.
User models are another feature that allows for faster growth. Administrators can save and reuse account configurations to ensure new users are configured correctly and to reduce repetitive tasks.
RingCentral offers four different plans for VoIP telephony services:
- RingCentral Office Essentials: from $19.99/month per user
- RingCentral Office Standard: from $24.99/month per user
- RingCentral Office Premium: from $34.99/month per user
- RingCentral Office Ultimate: starting at $49.99/month per user
The Essentials plan is limited to 20 users and does not include video calling, internet faxing, 24/7 customer service, and many of the other great VoIP features I just mentioned.
If you need less than 20 seats, it’s best to choose Nextiva or 8×8 Express, as their boarding plans are more extensive.
If you choose the standard package, you get voice, video, fax, chat, text and the ability to videoconference with up to 100 people. You also get direct integration with Microsoft 365, G Suite, Slack and other popular business software.
With the Premium and Ultimate versions, you get every imaginable VoIP feature, larger meeting sizes and integration with leading CRM software such as Salesforce and Zendesk.
If you have already invested in a business telephone system, RingCentral can help you make the switch to VoIP. Supports virtually any existing infrastructure and delivers modern, unified communications to your employees and customers.
No matter how big your team is (or will be next year), RingCentral has the expertise, hardware and cloud platform you need to stay ahead.
#3 – Meet Ooma – the best solution for adding VoIP to existing SMB phone systems
Ooma is a great way for small businesses to improve call quality while cutting their phone bills in half.
If you’re putting off replacing your outdated phone system, Ooma can help you install a business-grade VoIP system with minimal disruption.
Whether you need equipment or not, Ooma can get your business up and running in as little as 15 minutes. Everything is ready to use, right out of the box. You can keep your current phone number or get a new one – for free.
When it comes to integrating VoIP with your existing equipment, Ooma minimizes the steps you need to take and maximizes your flexibility. Connect to Ooma Office via WiFi, Ethernet, or use the base station to connect analog devices.
Although Ooma offers solutions for businesses, its VoIP telephony services for small businesses really stand out. There are no contracts here, the prices are affordable and the customer service is fantastic.
You can contact them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and an Ooma representative will help you resolve the issue and get your VoIP service working as it should again.
Ooma’s selection of VoIP features isn’t as extensive as RingCentral or Nextiva, but it covers just about everything a small business needs:
- Virtual Administrator
- Transfer, call forwarding, parking and call forwarding
- Video conferencing
- SMS messages
- Voicemail transcription
- call registration
- Multi-device ring
- Ring groups
The multi-device ring is especially important for small businesses that can’t afford to miss opportunities to grow their business. One incoming call is routed to multiple devices, increasing the likelihood of a fast and reliable connection to the customer.
Ring groups allow you to identify employees as being part of a specific team. For example, you can add all customer service personnel to a call group. Combine this with a multi-device ring, and you can ensure that customers reach the person who is available at the time.
What would require a tangle of copper wires with a conventional telephone system is done with a few clicks of the mouse with Ooma. Administrators get more control with less work.
Ooma’s awards are divided into two levels for small businesses:
- Ooma Office: from $19.95 per month per user
- Ooma Office Pro: from $24.95/month per user
Ooma Office is ideal for most users because it offers 35 VoIP features and a really powerful mobile application. Employees can use the app to call and collaborate with colleagues whether they are in the office or on the road.
Ooma Office Pro includes video conferencing, desktop application, call recording, advanced call blocking and voicemail decoding. If these features are essential or vital to you, the cost of the upgrade is $5 per month per user.
So it is still very affordable and you never have to upgrade to get more features.
The average Ooma customer saves 40-60% on the cost of their traditional telephone service.
Are you the next company to benefit from the savings by switching to Ooma’s next generation VoIP phone service?
#4 – Verizon Review – The best for adding VoIP to existing business phone systems
Once you’ve invested a certain amount in your business phone system, it’s hard not to consider VoIP options.
Yes, the potential for cost savings exists, but will you really maintain the same level of administrative control over all your business units if you switch to a hosted PBX?
With Verizon, you can leverage your existing infrastructure and grow with one of the most powerful communications networks in the country.
Ensure reliable call quality and enable your teams to respond quickly to customer requests.
I like this solution for large companies that need a VoIP solution that is robust enough to handle their various calling needs.
For example, a company might have a single contact number for people interested in sales, customer service, new products, etc. For small businesses, a simple virtual receptionist may suffice, but if you are a national or global company, you need more advanced call routing capabilities.
Verizon offers more than 45 features to help you manage and control your communications, including:
- Automatic switchboard operator
- Call forwarding, notification, redial, call back, transfer, put on hold and resume.
- Call for three
- Anonymous and selective call refusal
- Group calls
- Caller ID
- Simultaneous ring
- Voice message to email
- File and screen sharing
- Group of hunters
In a busy call center, sometimes no one can answer the call immediately. Instead of just putting the call on hold, you can automatically transfer customers from one line to another using Verizon’s hunt group. As soon as someone is available, we’ll call them.
Prices for Verizon VoIP digital business voice services start at $35 per month for one to five lines. You can zoom to any size, but remember that there are costs and fees associated with fine print.
Study the quote and pricing information carefully so that the first bill doesn’t surprise you. This is especially important with Verizon because you have to sign a two-year contract.
Another consideration is availability, as Verizon does not offer VoIP Business Digital Voice in all regions.
Of course, there are cheaper rates, even for large companies. Verizon is a high-end VoIP provider that can help you configure and integrate an existing infrastructure.
It’s not for everyone, but if you need Verizon, there’s nothing else that works as well.
Contact a Verizon expert today to see if Business Digital Voice is available in your area.
#5 – Grasshopper Rating – ideal for companies with fewer than 10 employees
Grasshopper is the best VoIP telephony service for very small businesses that don’t need the equipment or infrastructure to equip a full office.
I’m thinking of sole proprietors, people with side jobs, and companies that only employ a few people. Grasshopper gives you everything you need and nothing more.
You can buy one line with multiple extensions or multiple lines for a small team. I really like the fact that all Grasshopper plans include the same features. This means you never have to upgrade or buy additional seats to access premium VoIP features.
No need to purchase hardware as you can make/receive calls directly from your desktop application or mobile phone. Personal and business texts are clearly separated, and caller ID allows you to see who is calling.
All functions are easy to set up and use. You can set up an automated greeting that gives your business a professional look and directs callers to the right place.
Other important VoIP features that come standard with Grasshopper are:
- Company news
- Handling of simultaneous calls
- Transferring and forwarding calls
- Report
- Virtual Fax
- VoIP/Wi-Fi calls
- Voicemail transcription
It’s a decent set of features. But for a small office, this is just what the doctor ordered. Other VoIP phone services may require you to upgrade to a premium subscription to get notifications, virtual fax, business messaging and voicemail transcription.
With Grasshopper, everything is included, even if you only buy one line.
Grasshopper’s prices are divided into three price plans:
- Solo: starting at $26/month for one phone number and three extensions
- Partner: starting at $44 per month for one issue and six renewals
- Small businesses: starting at $80 per month for one number and unlimited extensions.
The Solo plan is unique among the VoIP phone options I’ve reviewed. Nothing else has been created specifically for the entrepreneur. You don’t have to compromise on functionality and can forward calls or have all calls routed to you via up to three internal numbers.
With Partner and Small Business, you can grow while enjoying the same high-quality services. With five lines costing $80 per month, the total cost of ownership is still pretty low.
I can’t recommend Grasshopper for large teams or enterprises, because the service lacks many management features that are important for scaling.
Smaller teams, on the other hand, benefit from an elegant, user-friendly interface that isn’t weighed down by a host of features designed for full-fledged contact centers. No baggage, just the tools you need.
Grasshopper’s customer service is rated by users. If you have a problem, ask for help and get it immediately. For small businesses and sole proprietors who don’t have their own IT support, this is a boon.
If you think this solution is right for you, go to the Grasshopper website and sign up for a free seven-day trial.
#6 – 8×8 Overview – The most economical way to get professional VoIP for your business
8×8 has plans for every business, but I want to highlight 8×8 Express for its low cost and unique VoIP feature set for small businesses.
This makes a world-class 8×8 network accessible to almost anyone. You get the same call quality as 8×8 customers like McDonalds and Farmers Insurance Group.
If you’ve ever thought about buying a second phone for your business, buy the 8×8 Express. Rates start at $12 per month per user.
A new phone and a service contract costs much more than a few years of VoiP in business class with 8×8 Express. Plus, you can do a lot more with an 8×8 than with a regular phone.
Installation is as simple as downloading the 8×8 Work application. Get everything you need to create a professional look and centralize communications instantly.
When unexpected customers call your home phone, you know exactly who is calling. You still have the same phone, but your business and personal numbers are separate.
It’s also easy to set up the auto-receive function, so customers get what they need faster:
You can control everything from your phone or desktop computer, wherever you are. If you forward calls, customers won’t know you’re on the road. From their point of view, they are talking to the same office, even if your team is doing different things.
It will be very difficult to configure everything yourself, and you will probably need to call on IT support staff. For those thinking about the 8×8 Express, it’s probably not even an option.
A low price means limited features, but that may be all you need.
- A single mobile application for voice, text and video
- Forwarding
- HD voice and video conferencing
- Screen sharing
- Conference phone compatibility
- Integration with Google Calendar, Microsoft 365 and Outlook
To get video conferencing or integration with Microsoft 365, you usually need to sign up for a premium subscription. With the 8×8 Express, this feature is already included in the low price.
If you need advanced call forwarding, you should opt for a more robust 8×8 plan, such as. B. X2 or X4 rates. These plans can be a good alternative if you are considering Nextiva or Ooma, although they are certainly not the cheapest way to get VoIP for your business.
However, it is good to know that there are higher level options if you go beyond the 8×8 Express. You don’t have to change VoIP providers no matter how much your business grows.
That’s why I like the 8×8 Express plan so much: It is not a cheap provider that only works in the short term. This is a data plan that allows businesses on a budget to take advantage of one of the best VoIP providers in the world.
Get started today with a free 30-day trial of 8×8 Express. And if all goes well, you’ll pay an incredibly low rate for a user with unlimited calls to North America and no long-term contract.
If price is a factor, there is no more reliable choice than 8×8 Express to keep the total cost of ownership as low as possible.
What I looked for to find the best VoIP phone services
Some businesses see VoIP as a cost-effective way to replace a cumbersome and low-maintenance phone system. Others want a high-performance contact center that increases the efficiency of their sales, service and internal communications departments.
Many of the most popular VoIP telephony service providers, such as RingCentral and Nextiva, offer cloud-based solutions called UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service).
Unlike traditional phone systems, your business requires little infrastructure to implement UCaaS. Calls, texts, videos, everything is centralized and available to your employees as soon as they have an internet connection.
Ooma, on the other hand, offers a more limited set of features designed to replace cell phones.
These limitations may not matter if you are implementing an outbound call center and are less concerned about your VoIP service unifying all business communications.
To choose the right solution for your business, you need to assess your current situation and future goals. Switching to another VoIP provider comes with difficulties. So you have to make the right decision on the first try.
Here are the main criteria you should use to find the best VoIP phone service that you can work with for a long time.
VoIP facilities
VoIP can do much more than a traditional phone system.
The first step in choosing the right vendor should be to determine what features your business needs, what features would be nice to have, and what features you don’t need to pay for.
Once you have made a short list of your needs, compare them to the different plans from the providers I have discussed. Here are some of the features of VoIP that you should look out for:
- Call forwarding uses phone trees and virtual administrators to automatically connect callers to the right person.
- The call recording function allows you to view the history and playback of all calls.
- Mobile application turns your mobile phone into a management tool
- Online fax replaces traditional equipment
- Softphones allow you to make calls from any device with a microphone and speakers.
- Video and conference calls for meetings and webinars
- With voice message decoding, listening to a missed call becomes a quick read.
This is not a simple yes/no analysis: Does the supplier offer this possibility? Consider the range of features based on your business.
A small business may only need simple call forwarding functions to direct customers to a specific department or enter an extension number. Large businesses may require an interactive voice response (IVR) system to allow customers to view their account information.
Some companies record calls because they have to do so for legal reasons. Others want to dive into this data and use it for training or analysis of trends among callers and agents. They need more robust call reporting features, which would be useless for small businesses.
Access to VoIP via mobile phone is essential for employees working from home or on the road. Small business owners can transfer calls to their mobile phones after hours to make sure they don’t miss anything.
Is the mobile application working properly? Is it as good as the desktop app, or are reviewers complaining about shortcomings?
Listen to what reviewers have to say about the user experience. Employees don’t always like change.
The transition to VoIP will be much smoother if older employees quickly master the new platform and if new employees are not intimidated.
Quality of service
I like to look at the quality of VoIP services in two key areas: Reliability of calls and technical support.
The quality of these two elements is essential to your success, and they are closely linked.
Interrupted calls and unclear reception give a bad impression to potential customers and customers who call for help. You absolutely need a clear and reliable service.
The internet connectivity of your business plays a big role in the quality of services you offer. And unless you are using a full softphone system, you need to install the necessary hardware correctly.
That’s where technical support comes in. During the sales process, you need a representative to educate you about the new system and the resources you need to optimize call quality.
After a successful implementation, you need ongoing support to resolve problems quickly.
Ooma has an excellent reputation for quality service. Nextiva also calls and has a near 100% uptime.
With VoIP, service and quality go hand in hand.
Systems and software integration
It took months to install the old phone systems. These days, there are cloud-based options that can be installed overnight.
But there’s still a lot to think about, even if the rollout is much faster.
Do you want to add VoIP to your existing business phone system or start from scratch?
If you are connecting a new system to an existing PBX, you must set up a VoIP bridge with a public switched telephone network (PSTN). I don’t think you want to do this alone.
For businesses that have already invested heavily in a business phone system, RingCentral and Grasshopper can help improve it with VoIP.
Verizon is another good option for companies looking to integrate VoIP into their existing system. Whatever you have, Verizon can handle it.
You should also think about the existing business software you use and whether it will integrate with the new VoIP service.
Integration with CRM software is very important for customer service and sales, for example.
Nextiva has integration with Google Contacts, HubSpot, Salesforce, etc. This makes it much easier for the service agent to communicate with the customer – all the information he needs during the conversation is there.
With RingCentral, you can make calls from HubSpot or Salesforce. However, unlike Nextiva, integration is optional and not included in a specific plan.
Reduce data entry, streamline processes and provide a better experience by finding a VoIP solution that matches the products you already use.
Total operating costs
Looking at the monthly cost of each VoIP service per user can give you an idea of how much you’ll have to spend, but that’s not all.
Don’t be one of those customers who is surprised by the first bill, especially if you just signed a long contract.
Are there any additional costs for using the same business phone number with VoIP? Find out if there are any local fees for transferring a room, especially if you are transferring multiple rooms.
What is the cost of installation? With 8×8, you download the application, so there is no cost for implementation or purchasing new hardware.
In general : The more complex your installation is in terms of hardware, the higher the installation costs will be.
What are the limits and costs for overrun? Nextiva, for example, gives you a free number to call your customers and a fixed number of minutes per month. After that the cost per minute is 2.5 cents.
Ooma is ideal for small businesses because there are no contracts and the pricing is very simple. They offer everything you need for VoIP and nothing that drives up the price.
Similarly, Grasshopper offers solo and affiliate plans that are perfect for freelancers and businesses just starting out.
Pay attention not only to the pricing structure, but also to the features included. For example, all Grasshopper plans include decryption of voicemail, but for some Nextiva plans this is an additional service.
If you have correctly assessed the other criteria, it will be easier to calculate the total cost of VoIP.
One final comment: Taxes. It may include universal service fees, increased 911 levies, state and local taxes, and possibly others. Make sure these are included in the final price you offer.
Supplement
I recommend the following companies: Nextiva, Ringcentral and Ooma. They are cost-effective, reliable and easy to set up.
However, if you are looking for a large-scale solution, Verizon is the best choice.
Grasshopper is a simple yet powerful mobile application for small teams who are often out of the office.
If you’re on a tight budget, 8×8 is the cheapest VoIP phone service, starting at $12 per user per month. However, the possibilities are limited.
So, to sum up my top choices:
- Nextiva – the best for remote controls
- RingCentral – best suited to growing teams with 50 or more employees
- Ooma is the best option for adding VoIP to existing SMB phone systems.
- Verizon is the best provider for adding VoIP to existing business phone systems.
- Grasshopper – the best for companies with less than 10 employees
- 8×8 is the most affordable way of professional VoIP for your business
Whatever route you choose, consider your needs, your budget and the criteria we’ve outlined to choose the best VoIP phone service for your business.
Have you used a VoIP provider in the past? How was your experience?
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One of the best ways to get connected with your friends and family is by using a mobile phone. Nowadays, with the growing popularity of smartphones, calls are taking the place of letters, email and even voice messages. And when it comes to calling in this modern era, a lot of people are opting for VoIP calling services. So, today, we’ll look at some of the best VoIP calling services that help you make money on your time.. Read more about best voip service for business and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which VoIP phone service is best?
There are many VoIP phone services available, but the best one for you depends on your needs. For example, if you need a phone service that is easy to use and has a low monthly cost, then Google Voice is the best option for you. If you need a phone service that offers more features and has higher monthly costs, then Vonage is the best option for you.
Why VoIP is better than traditional phone services?
VoIP is better than traditional phone services because it is cheaper, more reliable, and easier to use.
Who is the best VoIP provider for business?
Skype is the best VoIP provider for business.
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