Deciding on a phone provider directly affects your day-to-day operations and ongoing costs, but we’ve done much of the research that you help you navigate through the variety of suppliers and make an informed decision. Newer VoIP-based technology has generated a lot of the more advanced call management features which used to be reserved for larger businesses available to smaller businesses such as yours while lowering costs.
Best VoIP Provider Summary Table
| VoIP Provider | Finest For | Monthly Cost From |
|---|---|---|
| Nextiva | (Best overall) Best balance between attributes, cost, and customer service | $34.95 for unlimited nationwide minutes |
| RingCentral | Businesses that need advanced features and are willing to pay to them | $49.99 for unlimited nationwide minutes |
| 8×8 | International calling | $24.99 to get 250 nationwide minutes |
| Vonage | Online collaboration via Amazon Chime | $39.99 for unlimited domestic minutes |
| Grasshopper | Softphone for domestic calls | $12.00 plus $0.06/min |
| Phone.com | Softphone for Global calls | $9.99 for 100 domestic minutes |
Greatest Small Business VoIP Provider: Nextiva
Why We Recommend Nextiva
We advocate Nextiva as the best overall VoIP provider for small businesses because they offer the ideal mix of standard features, industry-leading customer support, and cost. Nextiva’s VoIP services feature advanced call routing, unlimited free domestic calling, voicemail to email and text, online faxing, and much more. Click here for a free demo.
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Nextiva Pricing
Nextiva’s pricing is based on the amount of users and decreases per user as more are added.
- $34.95/month per user for 1-4 consumers
- $29.95per month per user to get 5-19 consumers
- $24.95/month per user for 20-99 users
- $21.95per month per user for 100+ users
Above pricing is for a month-to-month arrangement.
Nextiva Features
Nextiva includes most of the standard telephone system features that your company should expect out of their VoIP phone service provider, for example:
- Web-based system management
- Auto-attendant
- Hold music
- Call forwarding
- Conference bridge
- Caller ID
- Telephone obstructing
- Call waiting
- Call transfer
- Ring collections
- Share one lineup on multiple phones or devices
- Voicemail to email (audio file)
- Voicemail transcription
But Nextiva’s primary differentiator is the high quality of customer support they deliver. Nextiva shows why their customer service staff wins the awards that they do the moment you start to setup your service. They assign one point of contact to your business for each phase of the phone system, from setup and training to ongoing support. And in addition, their own online knowledge base and consumer manuals are comprehensive in their coverage.
As well, voicemail transcription automatically transcribes the contents of your voicemails to text and sends a copy of the text to your email. Even though this might seem like an unnecessary advantage, its real benefit comes in the ability to automatically integrate your voicemails along with your CRM system should you’ve got one. However, it should be noted that this feature comes at an extra cost of $2.95/month per user.
What is Missing from Nextiva
Nextiva provides the best balance between features and price, but it is missing Some of the more advanced features that RingCentral provides, for example:
- Infinite video meetings with display sharing
- Integrations with Microsoft, Google Box, and Dropbox
- 1,000 toll-free moments
Nextiva Client Service
Nextiva’s award winning team matches your business with a re Search representative to assist you with the setup and application of your services. This helps to make certain you’re optimizing the characteristics that may benefit your particular business.
As soon as your service is setup and in use, any problems are handled promptly. 95% of Nextiva’s incoming service calls are answered by the second ring and their goal is to solve your problem during your initial contact with them.
Nextiva’s multi-tiered support is available 24/7 with only point of contact by telephone or online.
What Our Readers Say About Nextiva
Our subscribers have given Nextiva generally positive ratings with an average of four out of five stars. Customers were very pleased with Nextiva’s customer service team, stating that Nextiva’s customer support representatives are helpful, friendly, and professional. However, users said that Nextiva is difficult to install and use and they complained of frequent downtimes and malfunctions.
For more details, check out our user reviews of Nextiva.
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Greatest Full-Featured VoIP Provider: RingCentral
When to Use RingCentral
RingCentral is our recommendation for the very best full-featured VoIP supplier for small businesses. A number of the features that come standard with RingCentral are also available from many other VoIP providers at an additional price. However, by including these features as standard, RingCentral starts out in a significantly greater monthly cost than their opponents. Click here to try RingCentral free for 15 days.
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RingCentral Pricing
RingCentral’s pricing is based on the amount of users and decreases per user as more are included.
- $49.99/month per user for 1 consumer
- $34.99per month per user for 2-19 users
- $31.99per month per user to get 20-99 consumers
- $29.99per month per user for 100-999 users
Above pricing is for a month-to-month arrangement.
RingCentral Characteristics
As a full-featured VoIP telephone service, RingCentral offers all of the same call management features as other VoIP telephone service providers, for example:
- Web-based system administration
- Auto-attendant
- Hold audio
- Call forwarding
- Seminar bridge
- Caller ID
- Telephone obstructing
- Call waiting
- Call transfer
- Ring collections
- Share one lineup on multiple phones or apparatus
- Voicemail to email (sound file)
And in addition, RingCentral provides a couple more features that other providers do not, including three key ones that greatly differentiates their phone system from others.
- Infinite video meetings with screen sharing
- Integrations with Microsoft, Google Box, and Dropbox
- 1,000 toll-free moments
The video encounters and integrations with third-party providers will help your company to collaborate with your clients and among your workers. This better integrates your phone service into your larger business operations. And the included 1,000 toll-free moments provides your small business more flexible choices to serve your customers.
What’s Missing from RingCentral
Since the most fully-featured VoIP telephone service that we reviewed, RingCentral isn’t missing any of the vital features of its rivals. However, this comes at a higher price. What RingCentral is missing is affordability — it’s also the highest priced service which we reviewed.
RingCentral Client Support
RingCentral offers an online knowledge base, phone service from 8am to 9pm EST, online chat 24/7, and ticket requests. RingCentral also offers weekly webinars on a range of topics for new users that are searching for more self-directed service options.
A significant drawback to RingCentral’s service is they devote more client support resources to their larger accounts, which means that smaller businesses don’t get the exact same degree or maintenance. RingCentral outsources their client service and paths accounts with less than 20 users offshore. It’s only accounts with over 20 users who receive US-based support.
What Our Readers Say About RingCentral
Our readers have contributed RingCentral generally positive evaluations with an average of four out of five stars. Clients said they were delighted with RingCentral’s range of features. The machine has all of the features that a small business would need to their phone system, such as caller ID, call routing, call forwarding and callback. But they were very disappointed with RingCentral’s customer services. According to several users, RingCentral had quite long telephone queues and their email service also had long response times.
For more details, check out our user reviews of RingCentral.
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Best VoIP Provider for International Calling: 8×8
When to Use 8×8
For businesses that make and receive a lot of international calls, 8×8’s top two pricing packages may result in significant cost savings. That’s due to their Unlimited and International plans include unlimited calls to 8×8’s top nine international destinations or 40, respectively. For global calls outside of those destinations, 8×8’s rates start at $0.034 per second. Click here for a free quote.
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8×8 Bargains
8×8 pricing is based on the number of users and declines each user as more are added, and a $39.99 detection fee.
- $24.99/month per user to get 250 outbound minutes into the US and Canada and $0.029/min afterward
- $39.99/month per user for unlimited moments to 8×8’s top 8 calling states
- $79.99/month per user for unlimited minutes to 8×8 leading 40 calling countries
On a 12-month agreement.
8×8 Characteristics
8×8 comprises the Majority of the standard phone system features Your business should expect from their VoIP telephone service provider, for example:
- Web-based system administration
- Auto-attendant
- Hold music
- Call forwarding
- Conference bridge
- Caller ID
- Telephone obstructing
- Call waiting
- Call transfer
- Ring groups
- Share one lineup on multiple phones or apparatus
- Voicemail to email (audio file)
But, 8×8’s best feature is not within the telephone system , but in the monthly packages they offer. Their Infinite and worldwide pricing plans include unlimited international calls to 8×8’s top nine and 40 calling destinations, respectively. And their per minute prices for different destinations start at $0.034, which is very competitive. For small business who will use their phone system to create a lot of international calls, these pricing strategies might result in a significant cost savings within the long-term when compared to Nextiva and RingCentral.
Another unique advantage of 8×8 is that it’s also compliant with HIPAA, PCI, and FISMA regulations, which makes it appropriate for businesses where the storage and collection of sensitive data are required.
What is Missing from 8×8
8×8 is missing a few of the more advanced features of its rivals, but this can be reflected in its reduced monthly price as well as the added long distance. Some of the notable advanced features Which Are missing include:
- Infinite video meetings with screen sharing
- Integrations with Microsoft, Google Box, and Dropbox
- 1,000 toll-free minutes
- Voicemail transcription
8×8 Customer Support
8×8 offers an extensive online knowledge base, live chat, and phone-based support.
8×8 also offers among the more unique support stations that we have seen from some other small business phone system provider. 8×8 crowdsources part of their service team from one of their most active electricity users, who then discuss their firsthand insights, expertise, and knowledge of the service with other clients. By linking customers with one another, 8×8 can often facilitate resolution to issues within minutes and also the expert customers who help out may earn rewards in the process.
What Our Readers Say About 8×8
Our subscribers have given 8×8 a combination of positive and negative evaluations with an average of three out of five stars. Favorable reviews of 8×8 were largely about the agency’s cost. As stated by many of its customers, when compared with other VoIP systems, 8×8 will give more attributes for a lesser price. Users that gave 8×8 a negative review said that the service generally wasn’t dependable, from the phone quality to the customer service.
For additional information, have a look at our user reviews of 8×8.
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Best VoIP Provider for Business Collaboration: Vonage
When to Utilize Vonage
Vonage has partnered with Amazon Chime, to integrating the internet communication and collaboration tool with VoIP phone service. Chime’s online meetings, video conferencing, online chat, and file sharing capabilities make Vonage’s phone service a complete end-to-end business solution. Click here for a free quote.
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Vonage Pricing
Vonage’s pricing is based on the amount of users and decreases per user as more are added.
- $39.99/month per user for 1-5 users
- $29.99/month per user for 6-9 consumers
- $24.99/month per user for 10-20 users
- $19.99per month per user for 20+ users
Vonage Features
Vonage includes a Number of the Identical call management features as its competitors, such as:
- Web-based system management
- Auto-attendant
- Hold music
- Call forwarding
- Seminar bridge
- Caller ID
- Telephone obstructing
- Telephone awaiting
- Call transfer
- Ring groups
- Share one lineup on multiple telephones or apparatus
- Voicemail to email (audio file)
Additionally, Vonage’s partnership with Amazon Chime integrates the internet communication and collaboration tool with Vonage’s VoIP phone service. Chime’s online meetings, video conferencing, online chat, and document sharing capabilities help enhance Vonage’s phone service to be a more comprehensive end-to-end small business alternative.
What is Missing from Vonage
Vonage is missing Some of the advanced features that Nextiva and RingCentral offer, for example:
- Infinite video meetings with display sharing
- Integrations with Microsoft, Google Box, and Dropbox
- 1,000 toll-free minutes
- Voicemail transcription
And while Vonage is far more affordable than RingCentral, it’s more costly than Nextiva and much more costly than 8×8.
Vonage Client Support
Vonage presents phone-based service accessible Monday-Friday from 8am to 11pm EST and 24/7 emergency on-call support. In addition, there’s a business support site with an internet knowledge base, getting started guides, technical troubleshooting, and a guide for lots of their unique capabilities.
Vonage presents specific onboarding and training programs for new business customers, which begins with a welcome kit also continues with reside administrative portal training sessions offered 20 times per week. RingCentral provides weekly webinars, but not always targeted to new small business users and surely not with the exact same frequency.
What Our Readers Say About Vonage
Our subscribers have given Vonage that a mixture of negative and positive evaluations with an average of 2 out of five stars. Favorable reviewers stated that with the correct setup, Vonage’s call quality and reliability is far better compared to other VoIP systems on the market. Users who gave Vonage a negative review said that if your installation is not done right and you experience problems with call quality, trying to get a solution from client support might be harder than trying to get it done on your own.
For additional information, check out our consumer reviews of Vonage.
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Greatest VoIP Virtual Phone Number for National Calling: Grasshopper
When to Utilize Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a digital phone service provider that strikes the ideal balance between a low-cost VoIP cell phone number solution and the characteristics and service that solo entrepreneurs and tiny companies will need. It provides users the ability to present a most important company line to their customers or to set up a phone number in a different area code from wherever they are based.
Calls are then made and received on the customer’s private cell phone, although they seem to come out of and to the digital number. Inbound calls are sent directly to your designated private phone and outbound calls can seem to originate from your business number. Click here to try Grasshopper with a 30 day money back guarantee.
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Grasshopper Pricing
Grasshopper’s pricing is based on use, with different pricing tiers paid yearly without a contract.
- $12/month and $0.06/min per user
- $24/month for 500 minutes per user
- $49/month for 2,000 minutes per user
- $199/month for 10,000 minutes each user
Grasshopper Features
In addition to the traditional call management features that Grasshopper shares with other VoIP service providers, Grasshopper offers:
- Web and app-based account management
- Telephone blocking
- Call forwarding
- Call screening
- Custom call greetings
- Seminar calling
- Telephone routing
- Incoming faxes emailed to you as PDFs
- The ability to record a custom greeting
However, the two most useful additional features that Grasshopper offers are the choice to add 800-numbers so you’re able to provide toll-free service to your customers, as well as the ability to prepare multiple extensions which route your incoming calls to various private phone numbers based upon the choice (s) your clients select.
What is Missing from Grasshopper
As a virtual phone assistance, Grasshopper is missing many of the advanced calling features that complete VoIP phone service providers can offer. This, naturally, is reflected at Grasshopper’s significantly lower price.
However, the most critical feature that’s missing is that the phone service . Because Grasshopper is a digital phone service, calls are made and received to the your personal mobile phone, although they seem to come from and to the digital number. This means you will also use your mobile phone plan’s minutes in addition to Grasshopper’s.
Grasshopper Customer Support
Grasshopper provides an extensive online knowledge base, which is organized by the agency’s most common characteristics, frequently asked questions, and includes a research area that clients can submit their question through.
If you require more personal aid, Grasshopper also offers phone support (even though they do not specify what hours it’s accessible between) and also the choice to open a ticketed case if your issue require escalation.
What Our Readers Say About Grasshopper
Our readers have contributed Grasshopper mixed ratings with an average of three out of five stars. From the reviews we read, many clients seemed satisfied with Grasshopper’s pricing, citing that the cost is right for the service provided. They also appear to concur that it’s easy to get ahold of customer support, which the service is fast and friendly. Negative reviewers had a challenging time setting up the telephone system. Many complained that it was perplexing to document voicemails and to get the call forwarding set up properly. A couple of also claimed that once they decided to cancel, it took weeks or even weeks for them to get their contact number back from Grasshopper.
For additional information, check out our user reviews of Grasshopper.
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Greatest VoIP Virtual Phone Number for International Calling: Phone.com
When to Utilize Phone.com
Phone.com s another VoIP telephone service provider that offers more of an à la carte package where a number of the features that come standard with Grasshopper incur an additional charge. Phone.com’s calling features include an auto attendant, international dialing, call screening, call queuing, voicemail to email, fax to email, and more. Click here to try Phone.com using a 30 day money-back guarantee.
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Phone.com Pricing
Phone.com charges monthly using use:
- $12.99/month for 300 min
- $19.99/month for 500 minutes
- $39.99/month for 1,000 minutes
Additional minutes, which can be shared across all users, from,
- $19.50 for 500 min
- $35 for 1,000 min
- $80 for 2,500 moments
- $155 to get 5,000 moments
- $23.99/user for unlimited minutes
Long distance calls to Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and the UK are included.
Phone.com Characteristics
Just like Grasshopper, Phone.com offers the following call management features as standard:
- Internet and app-based account management
- Call blocking
- Call forwarding
- Call screening
- Custom telephone greetings
- Conference calling
- Call routing
The most important added feature that Phone.com offers is the choice to integrate the service with third party CRM apps, for example Insightly or Salesforce, for click-to-dial, call monitoring, and screen-pops which will aid the user receiving the telephone.
Additionally, Phone.com is the only support to add the following nations in their own monthly calling minutes:
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Israel
- Italy
- The Netherlands
- Puerto Rico
- UK
So tiny businesses who make a lot of calls to these countries could quickly save a lot of cash, making Phone.com a cheaper solution.
We also liked that phone.com offers caller information and automated voicemail transcription, two features that could be of use to a lot of tiny businesses, but were frustrated they were an extra price of $3.99/month and $1.50/month, respectively. Adding these choices could immediately raise the price of phone.com over Grasshopper greater than it is.
What is Missing from Phone.com
Phone.com offers the majority of the call management features that you would expect from a VoIP telephone service provider, many on an à la carte basis. This, along with their usage-based pricing, will be able to help you save money if you limit your use; however, if your company is on the phone frequently, then the costs can quickly accumulate.
Phone.com Customer Support
Phone.com provides online getting started manuals, troubleshooting guides, and frequently asked questions. They also provide personal support by telephone, online chat, and email 365 days a year.
We discovered Phone.com’s service to be quite detailed and were pleased to see that they also provide help in Spanish from 8am to 6pm PST, Monday to Friday.
What Our Readers Say About Phone.com
Our readers have given Phone.com that a combination of negative and positive ratings with an average of three out of five stars. According to clients who gave Phone.com positive reviews, the support is quite inexpensive. People also liked that the plans were flexible so they could add attributes as needed. Users who reviewed Phone.com negatively said the service was unreliable with frequent down times. Customer service was also a significant concern, with users saying several problems like long wait times, unknowledgeable support personnel and delayed responses.
For additional information, check out our user reviews of Phone.com.
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