Sam Dadofalza

Ruby Receptionist, also known as Ruby, is a live answering solution providing virtual receptionists and managed website chat. Its call handling services include bilingual answering, appointment scheduling, and flexible call forwarding, while the live chat covers lead capture and chat-call connection. In this Ruby Receptionist review, the provider earned a perfect score on general features and ease of use but scored low on pricing. Its subscription packages are more expensive than other live answering solution providers, and a free trial is unavailable. Ruby Receptionist Review: At a Glance Ruby Receptionist Deciding Factors offers a wide array of call and chat management services, allowing businesses to have an excellent, extended customer service team. The 24/7 live answering services ensure that no customer inquiry goes unaddressed. The provider caters to different industries, including legal, healthcare, home services, and financial services. Ruby Receptionist Alternatives While provides a multi-channel customer communication solution, it lacks robust integrations with third-party platforms and order processing services. Its monthly subscription cost is higher than other providers. If these are deal-breakers for your customer service operations, here are some alternatives to explore: has two separate pricing plans for its virtual receptionist and live chat services. It also features bundled plans, which combine these two services for a discounted price. Although it doesn’t offer a free trial, the provider has a 21-day money-back guarantee policy. The four reception packages offer the same features, varying only in the number of receptionist minutes. These features include live transferring, call routing, voicemail transcription, outbound calling, and bilingual answering. The provider doesn’t have annual prepayments, so users must pay the subscription monthly. Learn more about Ruby Receptionist pricing plans here: Ruby Receptionist Chat Plans Similarly, the four chat plans differ in the number of chats, but all have the same features: chat transcription, call-connect, and customized frequently asked questions (FAQs). These chat packages are also paid monthly. Here are the costs for the managed chat services: Chat Ruby 10: $135 for up to 10 chats Chat Ruby 30: $315 for up to 30 chats Chat Ruby 50: $490 for up to 50 chats Ruby Receptionist Features answering services address customer needs immediately and help businesses capture opportunities. Its average call answer time is less than 10 seconds, and the chat specialists attend to web visitors’ questions in under a minute, creating a better customer experience. With the Ruby Receptionist app, it’s easy to track all these customer interactions. In this review, the provider earned a perfect score on general features for having the standard capabilities businesses require from live answering solutions. For one, it has flexible call forwarding services, allowing you to choose among manual, remote, and delayed options: Manual forwarding involves dialing a three-digit code followed by the phone number you want the calls to be forwarded to. Remote forwarding requires dialing the toll-free number from your phone service provider and forwarding to the phone line you want after a few prompts. Delayed forwarding automatically forwards the call when it’s not picked up after a predetermined number of phone rings. Aside from flexible call forwarding options, Ruby Receptionist features include: Live transferring Outbound calling Local and toll-free phone numbers HIPAA-compliant services Custom after-hours call routing Bilingual receptionist services Voicemail transcriptions Personalized greetings Hold music Robocall filtering Number porting and hosting Message taking Mobile app Customized FAQs We scored Ruby Receptionist 3.13 out of 5 on niche features because while it offers specialized services like live chat and appointment scheduling, it lacks order processing, which many businesses look for in a live answering solution. Moreover, its third-party integrations only include Clio, MyCase, Rocket Matter, and business phone systems Nextiva and Grasshopper. Nonetheless, Ruby Receptionist’s specialized features are highly useful for businesses managing phone lines and live chats for customer service. Click on its niche features below: We gave customer service a high score of 4.38 out of 5 because it offers comprehensive support for businesses. You have the option to call the provider, send an email, or message through its live chat. These communication channels are available 24/7. In addition, Ruby Receptionist has a help center, which features a broad range of helpful topics, including getting started with Ruby, account and billing, app and online portal, and reception and chat services. The help center features a video library, ideal for those who learn best through visuals. On top of this, the provider has a resources page containing blogs that outline tips for maximizing Ruby’s services and features. In this review, the provider earned a perfect score on ease of use since the process of getting started and using the services is straightforward. Users whose numbers are hosted by Ruby simply have to log into the online portal (my.ruby.com) or mobile app to forward calls. For those with a separate phone provider, Ruby initiates the call forwarding with the telecom company. As for using the Ruby Receptionist platforms, all the navigation tools are located on the left side of the portal and at the bottom of the app. Here, you'll see the buttons for “Activity,” “Status,” “Contacts,” and “Account.” Based on reviews in third-party platforms, many are pleased with the provider’s services. Some praised the receptionists’ friendliness and appreciated the fact that the receptionists gave the impression that they were right inside the business’ office. Others commended the great customer service, noting that the provider quickly responds to concerns. There are also users who appreciated how the team quickly arranged call routing despite complicated instructions. These are the user ratings in third-party review sites: Capterra: 4.7 out of 5 based on 7 reviews G2: 3.9 out of 5 based on 9 reviews TrustRadius: 7.9 out of 10 based on 2 reviews How We Evaluated Ruby Receptionist To assess services, we examined critical areas, such as pricing, features, quality of customer support, and ease of use. We checked user ratings and reviews on credible third-party sites as well. Learn how we evaluated Ruby Receptionist by clicking on the tabs below: Bottom Line offers a multi-channel customer communication solution ideal for businesses that need to engage with clients online and via phone. Its highly trained team offering 24/7 live answering creates a better customer experience marked by swift, personalized service. Sign up today for Ruby Receptionist’s plan.

Aircall is cloud-based call center software equipped with call management, productivity, and analytics features. It offers desktop and mobile device access and integrates with various third-party apps. In this Aircall review, the provider scored high on general features, customer service, and ease of use. It received an average score on pricing because while it offers different options for a subscription plan, it doesn't provide a free version and volume discounts. Aircall Review: At a Glance Aircall Deciding Factors comes with a wide range of business phone system features, namely call routing, conference calling, auto-dialers, and interactive voice response (IVR). With a feature-rich call center platform, businesses are able to stay on top of inbound and outbound calls with ease. Aside from call management capabilities, the system has basic collaboration tools, facilitating an efficient workflow among teams. Aircall Alternatives is a feature-rich call center system, but it lacks unified communications tools provided in the best business phone systems, namely, team messaging and video conferencing. Moreover, you must subscribe to its most expensive plan to unlock unlimited international calling. It doesn’t have a free version either, unlike other call center systems. If unified communications, international calling, and a free plan are your priorities in a call center system, consider these alternatives below: In this review, the provider got a score of 3 out of 5 on pricing, as it provides annual discounts and multiple options for a subscription package but doesn’t have a free version and volume discounts. Nonetheless, its plans pack robust features for managing customer calls. All Aircall pricing plans include one local or toll-free phone number, unlimited inbound and domestic outbound calls, and business text messaging. They include call queuing, IVR, ring groups, shared call inbox and contacts, extensions, call recording, and conference calling. Learn about the different inclusions for each Aircall pricing plan here: Aircall Features Similar to small business voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) service providers, Aircall features consist of call management, collaboration, productivity, and analytics tools. It integrates with over a hundred apps, including popular business systems like , , , , , and . Ensuring reliability for users, Aircall delivers 99.99% uptime. Below is an overview of the call center system’s general and niche features: In this review, we gave the provider a 5 out of 5 rating on general features because it checks all the standard capabilities required to manage inbound and outbound calls. For one, it features an intelligent call routing system, automatically distributing calls to agents based on predetermined rules. The Aircall VoIP phone system includes different virtual phone number options: local, toll-free, and international numbers in 100-plus countries. Learn more about the provider’s basic call management features below: Call queueing IVR Ring groups Click-to-dial Business hours Voicemail Extensions Conference call Business text messaging Warm transfer Call recording Call center analytics Aircall scored lower on niche features, as its outbound dialers are not as robust as competitors and . However, it has specialized tools businesses look for, including a mobile app and integrations with third-party apps. Its mobile app is easy to use, and the third-party integrations are extensive, allowing users to connect with over 100 business tools. Here’s an overview of other notable Aircall features: earned a high score of 4.69 out of 5 on customer service for the variety of communication channels it offers for technical assistance. It has global phone numbers across 12 countries and operates a live chat all day from Monday through Friday for English inquiries. Through the Aircall dashboard, users are able to submit tickets. The provider’s website has a comprehensive knowledge base covering different topics, from setting up the system and using specific features to troubleshooting issues. For ease of use, got a perfect score mainly because of its intuitive interface that doesn’t require a sophisticated level of expertise to operate. The tabs on the main panel help users navigate the platform and access features. The options include “Numbers,” “Teams,” “Users,” “Stats,” “Activity Feed,” “Call Settings,” and “Integrations & API.” By clicking on these options, you’ll be able to add and port numbers, see call center metrics, and check which agents are available. Based on reviews online, many users are pleased with the call center system’s performance. Some noted the ease of connecting third-party apps, while others said that they found transferring and routing calls more convenient with Aircall. With the provider’s mobile app, some shared that taking calls from anywhere, even outside the office, was easy. These are the Aircall user ratings on different third-party review sites: G2: 4.3 out of 5 based on 729 reviews GetApp: 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 333 reviews TrustRadius: 8.0 out of 10 stars based on 78 reviews How We Evaluated Aircall To assess , we identified different criteria points, including pricing, features, quality of customer service, and ease of use. While looking at these crucial areas, we also considered what other call center systems offer. To understand better what businesses think of Aircall, we checked reviews on credible sites. Learn how we evaluated Aircall by clicking on the tabs below: Bottom Line With its robust call management features, helps businesses stay on top of huge volumes of inbound and outbound calls. While it lacks omnichannel support and unified communication features, it shouldn’t be a problem for businesses focusing on delivering customer service through phone calls. In fact, the no-frills solution is an advantage, offering only the essential phone system capabilities. Sign up for Aircall’s entry-level plan to see if it fits your needs.

Five9 is a cloud-based contact center solution supporting omnichannel customer service—voice calling, messaging, email, and video in one platform. In this Five9 review, the contact center earned a high rating of 4.25 out of 5, getting perfect scores on features, customer service, and ease of use. It received a lower score on pricing because it doesn't offer a free plan and its subscription packages are more expensive than competitors. Five9 Review: At a Glance Five9 Deciding Factors is a contact center software equipped with tools for call management, workforce optimization, and customer engagement. While the provider doesn’t have a free plan, it has four subscription tiers, giving businesses multiple options with varying inclusions. The base plan costs $149, which is costlier than competitors and . Nonetheless, its omnichannel support makes it suitable for businesses with several customer service channels. Five9 Alternatives While has comprehensive features for a contact center system, its pricing and limited integrations are a deal-breaker for some businesses. The best small business voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) services, which can handle customer interactions, come with more affordable subscription packages and robust integration capabilities. Five9 doesn’t offer native team chat and customer relationship management (CRM) functionalities either. If you think these constraints will affect your contact center operations, consider the best business phone systems instead or these alternative platforms: pricing earned a score of 2 out of 5 primarily because its subscription plans are more expensive than competitors. Unlike , it doesn't offer a free plan. It doesn’t have an annual billing option with discounts, while competitors and do provide it. In addition, you have to pay more for valuable features like the intelligent virtual agent and social engagement, as they are only available as add-ons. Aside from the features offered in Five9 pricing plans, the provider has these add-ons: Intelligent virtual agent Agent assist Social, video, and SMS engagement and automated outreach Workforce optimization recording data protection Performance dashboard Gamification Admin assist Agent and supervisor consoles Connectivity, Security, (TFN), and (DIDs) CRM connectors Extra storage Interactive voice response with speech recognition Operational intelligence Secure payment capture Five9 Features earned perfect scores on general and niche features as the provider has robust call management and omnichannel support tools, boosting efficiency in delivering customer service. These capabilities are easily accessed through the user-friendly Five9 Agent Desktop. Learn more about Five9’s features below: In this review, the provider earned a perfect score on general features, as it ticks off all the essential features businesses usually look for in a contact center. For one, it has an automatic call distribution (ACD) system, which uses intelligent call routing. This boosts overall contact center efficiency, as the calls are routed to the agent who can best handle a particular customer concern. Here are other features provided by Five9: Inbound and outbound calling Interactive voice response (IVR) Omnichannel support Call quality monitoring Call center statistics Call recording Call transfer Call parking Do Not Call compliance Toll-free numbers got a perfect score on niche features as it’s packed with advanced capabilities businesses are looking for in a contact center system. This includes an intelligent virtual agent, which enables businesses to address customer issues quickly and accurately without human intervention. Click on Five9’s notable niche features below: In this review, the provider earned a score of 5 out of 5 as it offers customer support in various channels, including phone, email, and live chat. The communication lines are open 24/7, allowing businesses to reach out on their most convenient schedule. Five9 has a resource center that contains case studies, tutorials for using specific features, and announcements of new products and services. It has a status page providing real-time updates about system performance. In addition, its add-ons include technical account management, helping businesses maximize the platform’s features. has an intuitive interface, which makes it easy to navigate. On the left panel of the contact center system, you'll find icons for different communication channels: call, voicemail, chat, email, and social. The contact book and activity history are the last two icons featured on the panel. Through this panel alone, agents have one-click access to customer interactions across different channels. Based on reviews on third-party sites, users appreciate the system’s call management features, including call transfer, screening, and auto-dialers. Some liked the platform’s integration with popular CRM tools. Others praised how easy it is to use the tool and to reach out to the provider’s customer support team. There are some, however, who had a hard time using the reporting features. Learn more about the user ratings for Five9 below: G2: 4 out of 5 stars based on 351 reviews GetApp: 4.2 out of 5 stars based on 439 reviews TrustRadius: 7.9 out of 10 stars based on 86 reviews How We Evaluated Five9 To evaluate , we looked at critical areas businesses consider when choosing a contact center system. We also referred to verified users’ ratings and reviews on third-party platforms. Click on the tabs below to know how we evaluated Five9: Bottom Line For its robust omnichannel support and agent productivity tools, makes for an excellent contact center solution for businesses wanting to improve efficiency in handling multiple customer service channels. Take advantage of the platform’s call management, workforce optimization, and AI features. Try Five9’s entry-level subscription plan and see if it fits your needs.

MightyCall is a cloud-based phone system that helps you manage business communications. Its basic plan starts at $15 per user, offering basic voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) features, including call forwarding, call recording, and interactive voice response (IVR). In this MightyCall review, the provider got an overall rating of 3.81 out of 5, receiving high scores on general features and ease of use. However, it earned a low score on pricing as it lacks volume and annual discounts. MightyCall Review: At a Glance MightyCall Deciding Factors is a reliable virtual phone system equipped with basic call management features. It’s an excellent choice for solopreneurs and small businesses needing a no-frills communication platform. Its core offerings include virtual phone numbers, voicemail transcription, business messaging, call reporting, and call flow. MightyCall Alternatives While has plenty of valuable phone system features, businesses will benefit more from alternative platforms in specific situations. For instance, offers several options for phone numbers as it features a wide variety of 800 prefixes. If you need virtual fax and unlimited calling minutes at an affordable flat rate, is a great alternative to MightyCall. Meanwhile, is your best choice if you need both audio and video conferencing in your phone system. The provider allows unlimited meetings and hosts up to 1,000 audio and 200 video conferencing participants. RingCentral is the top platform in our list of the best business phone systems and best small business VoIP services. pricing earned a low score of 2 out of 5 primarily because it doesn’t offer a free plan like competitor and annual discounts like . However, the provider gets a slight boost as it features three subscription packages, giving businesses options as they manage their budget. An additional $10 on top of the monthly plan is charged if you need extra phone numbers and international numbers. Learn more about the features included in each of the MightyCall pricing packages here: MightyCall Features ticks all the right boxes in terms of features, as it has a wide range of VoIP capabilities, enabling streamlined business communications. These include talk minutes, texts, and virtual phone numbers (local, toll-free, vanity, and international numbers). Here’s an overview of MightyCall features: got a high score of 4.38 out of 5 for general features since it comes with several tools for routing and monitoring calls. For instance, it has an easily customizable call flow letting you decide how callers will be directed through your system. It also comes with an auto-receptionist, guiding callers to appropriate teams depending on their concerns. Below are some call management tools in MightyCall: Business contact book Caller ID User extensions Call queues Custom greeting Music on hold Call waiting Call screening Dial-by-name directory Call forwarding Call transfer Conference calls SMS and MMS Business hours call routing Voicemail-to-text Presence indicator In this review, the provider’s niche features earned a score of 3.13 out of 5. While the provider checks all the boxes in general features, we didn’t find as many standout capabilities as other business phone systems have. Nonetheless, MightyCall gets a slight boost in rating as it features a multi-level IVR system. Learn more about MightyCall’s niche features below: For offering different customer support channels, earned a high score of 4.69 out of 5 for customer service. Users are able to connect to the provider via live chat, phone, and email. The customer service hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays and 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on weekends. In addition, MightyCall has an online help center where you find comprehensive guides for using the different phone system features. If you want to know how other businesses use the platform, refer to the case studies section. The help center also hosts MightyCall’s status page, which provides updates about system performance and issues. For ease of use, received a perfect score because navigation is effortless with easily recognizable icons. Find all the tools for managing inbound and outbound calls on the left side of the interface. From top to bottom, you’ll see the icons for calls, contacts, teams, call flows, numbers, and widgets. The last one provides a convenient tool for adding and porting virtual phone numbers. We gave an expert score of 4 out of 5, given that many reviews on third-party platforms praised its features. Some liked the easy-to-use call flow builder and the convenience of adding virtual numbers. Others appreciated the call recording and voicemail-to-email feature, as it allows them to go back to conversations and pick up details of the message. Here are the user ratings in MightyCall reviews from third-party sites: GetApp: 3.8 out of 5 based on 94 reviews G2: 4.5 out of 5 based on 113 reviews Capterra: 3.8 out of 5 based on 94 reviews How We Evaluated MightyCall To assess , we identified the criteria that are essentially the priorities of most small businesses when choosing a business phone system: pricing, features, customer service, and ease of use. We checked third-party review platforms as well in our evaluation. Learn how we evaluated MightyCall by clicking on the tabs below: Bottom Line is a virtual phone system equipped with a range of features that help businesses route inbound calls more efficiently. It’s ideal for teams that only need essential VoIP capabilities as it doesn’t have as many advanced capabilities as other platforms, like virtual fax, team chat, and video conferencing. With its intuitive interface and various customer support channels, you’ll find it easy to navigate the system and maximize its features. Sign up for MightyCall’s seven-day free trial today.

Twilio is a communication platform as a service (CPaaS) solution that allows users to add text, voice, chat, video, and other communication features to existing business apps. This works through application programming interfaces (APIs) connecting the programs. In this Twilio review, it earned perfect scores for its features and customer service. However, it scored lower on pricing as the pay-as-you-go fees are more expensive than other CPaaS platforms. Twilio Review: At a Glance Twilio Deciding Factors As one of the best CPaaS platforms, offers a wide range of APIs, making it an ideal solution for those wanting to enhance the capabilities of their communication systems. The APIs include SMS, MMS, chat, WhatsApp, email, voice, video, and SIP trunking. It follows a pay-as-you-go pricing scheme except for the email APIs (monthly flat rate). Twilio also has solutions for customizing contact centers and intelligent bots. Twilio Alternatives While is an excellent CPaaS solution, it has limitations, including the lack of advanced collaboration or project management features. If you’re prioritizing specific communication campaigns like SMS marketing or reputation management, it’s best to explore other platforms. Consider the top options below or check out other Twilio alternatives: pricing got a score of 1 out of 5 because it doesn’t offer a free plan and annual discounts. Most of its APIs are available on a pay-as-you-go basis, but the fees are more expensive than other CPaaS platforms like and . This pricing model applies to APIs for voice, messaging, WhatsApp Business, elastic SIP trunking, video, and verification. Meanwhile, the conversation API and Twilio Flex have user-based fees. Twilio Segment and SendGrid Email API, on the other hand, follow a monthly flat rate. Learn more about Twilio pricing in the table below. Twilio Features In this review, the provider earned a perfect score on general and niche features as it offers a full range of APIs, making it easy for businesses to pick capabilities and add more as their communication needs grow. With its comprehensive documentation, developer teams are able to understand codes easily and see sample applications. Go to Twilio Docs to find the API references and tutorials categorized per product and service. earned a 5 out of 5 rating on general features, offering all the standard features businesses should consider when choosing a CPaaS solution, including voice APIs. With the provider's voice software development kits (SDKs), you can add call tracking, global conferencing, masked calling, and call recording to your business apps—capabilities similar to features in the best small business VoIP services. Build a robust communication system with these Twilio features: SMS API MMS API WhatsApp Business API Conversations API Email API Elastic SIP Trunking Phone numbers API Lookup API Notify API Proxy API We gave niche features a 5 out of 5, as it has video and user verification APIs, excellent analytics tools for specific APIs, and robust data security controls. The platform is certified under the international standard for information security management ISO/IEC 27001 and supports TLS 1.2 encryption. Below are some more advanced solutions Twilio offers: We rated a 5 out of 5 on customer service because it offers 24/7 live chat, phone, and email support, as long as you have a paid support plan. The support plans are Developer (free), Production (4% of your monthly spend or $250 minimum), Business (6% of your monthly spend or $1,500 minimum), and Personalized (8% of monthly spend or $5,000 minimum). The Personalized plan has a dedicated technical account manager and a support escalation line. All the paid plans have a guaranteed response time within an hour to nine business hours, depending on your plan. earned a score of 3.25 out of 5 for ease of use because while it’s easy to set up, maximizing its features requires the expertise of professional developers. The setup takes only a couple of minutes, with users signing up on the provider’s website and verifying the account through their personal phone number. Once verified, you’ll have access to the Twilio Console Dashboard, which shows the products and services on the main menu. As for using the APIs, your dev team should refer to Twilio Docs for the code snippets, instructions, and tutorials. Although extensive, the documentation is easy to follow. In this review, the provider received a high expert score of 4.13 out of 5 because most of the reviews on third-party platforms commended its features. Some appreciated the extensive range of the provider's API, while others praised its easy-to-follow documentation. Some users liked specific features, namely the messaging notifications and the low-code, no-code app builder Twilio Studio. Here are the user ratings at Twilio reviews on third-party platforms: GetApp: 4.6 out of 5 based on 353 reviews G2: 4.6 out of 5 based on 403 reviews TrustRadius: 8.5 out of 10 based on 149 reviews How We Evaluated Twilio To evaluate , we looked at six factors that we think are the most critical to consider when businesses choose CPaaS platforms. We also referred to reviews on third-party sites to better understand how the tool’s strengths and limitations affect actual users. Learn how we evaluated Twilio by clicking on the tabs below: Bottom Line is an excellent CPaaS platform offering a wide range of APIs and other customizable communication systems. We recommended it for businesses that want to build their own infrastructure or upgrade existing business platforms with new functionalities like SMS, voice calling, video, and email. With its pay-as-you-go pricing scheme, you’ll be able to manage communication costs as you scale operations. Sign up today for Twilio’s free 30-day trial.

NICE CXone, formerly called NICE inContact CXone, is a cloud-based customer experience platform equipped with omnichannel routing, workforce engagement, and automation features. In this NICE CXone review, the provider earned a high rating of 4.08 out of 5, achieving perfect scores in general and niche features as well as ease of use. However, it garnered a low score on pricing since it doesn't have a free plan, and the subscription cost is higher than its competitors. NICE CXone Review: At a Glance NICE CXone Deciding Factors is an omnichannel contact center platform that supports various communication channels and provides artificial intelligence (AI) tools for agent performance optimization. It offers four pricing plans, but the exact costs are only available upon request. Overall, it’s a great option for companies handling large-scale customer service operations. NICE CXone Alternatives While has plenty of excellent features, other business communication platforms may be more suitable for certain contexts. The best business phone systems in the market are less expensive, but they also use intelligent routing systems that make customer service delivery efficient. Check out other alternatives below if you need a more budget-friendly solution or require specific customer service management and agent performance tracking tools: pricing earned a low score of 1.5 out of 5 primarily because the subscription cost is not readily available on the website, and businesses need to request a quote. In addition, the monthly estimated price, which is $100 per feature, is higher than other providers like and . Nonetheless, NICE CXone offers several plans that cater to different budget needs. In addition, it offers a free trial that lasts 60 days. Proactive outbound and prebuilt CRM integrations are features available as add-ons. To learn more about NICE CXone pricing, click on the plans below: NICE CXone Features In this review, the provider's general and niche features earned perfect scores as the platform offers a wide array of tools that enhance both customer and agent experience. As an omnichannel contact center, NICE CXone offers various interaction channels, letting businesses communicate with customers in their preferred channel, be it voice or digital. The system supports 30-plus digital channels, covering email, live chat, social media, and mobile apps. Here’s a quick breakdown of NICE CXone features: has a robust call management system complete with essential voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) features, namely ACD, interactive voice response (IVR), voicemail, call forwarding, and call monitoring. Its call reporting and analytics capabilities include prebuilt and custom reports on several key metrics. With this feature, it’s easy to measure agents’ level of competence and create training programs to further improve performance. Here are some more call management features at NICE CXone: Call queue Caller ID CXone attendant (auto-attendant) Agent state (call presence) Call suppression Conference bridge Call recording Call whisper Call barge-in Do Not Call (DNC) Beyond basic VoIP capabilities, features tools that make contact center operations more efficient. Using the platform, it’s possible to provide self-service to customers, run outbound calling campaigns, and ensure ample staffing. Here are some of the specific niche features: customer service got a 3.75 out of 5 rating as it offers different customer support channels, except for email. These channels include live chat and phone, which are accessible 24/7. The provider has an exclusive online hub for its subscribers, serving as a help center and community platform. The CXone Customer Community features discussion threads about different topics, where subscribers and the provider’s subject matter experts are free to interact and offer advice to one another. This online platform also contains webinar announcements, allowing subscribers to register for virtual events aimed at teaching users how to maximize certain features. We scored a perfect score on ease of use because the setup and navigation of the platform are straightforward and simple. It doesn’t require sophisticated know-how to operate. Being familiar with the tool takes only a few minutes, thanks to the neat, intuitive interface. The main tab located on the left side of the dashboard contains all the navigation options you need to perform tasks, which include the following: Admin: Lets you view key information about team members ACD: Lists down all the contact center’s communication campaigns Reporting: Allows you to track metrics We gave a nearly perfect expert score as the majority of online reviews in third-party review sites had positive sentiments. Many users complemented the ease of use, appreciating the fact that there's little to no training required to operate it. Others liked how it seamlessly integrates with other NICE platforms, including the workforce management software. Here are the user ratings on NICE CXone reviews at third-party platforms: G2: 4.3 out of 1,564 reviews GetApp: 4.2 out of 5 based on 528 reviews TrustRadius: 8.6 out of 10 based on 760 reviews How We Evaluated NICE CXone To come up with an objective evaluation of , we looked at several factors, namely pricing, features, ease of use, and quality of customer service. We also checked the ratings in reliable review platforms to understand what actual users think of the contact center solution. Here’s a breakdown of the factors we used to assess NICE CXone: Bottom Line A complete contact center platform, supports omnichannel customer service and provides AI tools to improve agent performance. It suits companies that want to streamline and simplify communications across different channels, like voice, chat, and social media. Since its pricing model is based on features used, it benefits organizations requiring a scalable contact center solution. Make use of NICE CXone’s 60-day free trial today to see if it fits your needs.

Free business phone number apps make communications easy as they provide a professional number separate from a personal one—streamlining calls and texts. However, they differ in the types of numbers offered, the number of extensions, call and text management features, and call charges. We evaluated dozens of providers to arrive at the seven top options for small businesses. Based on our research, these are the best options, ideal to use for different business needs and situations: : Best overall business phone number app without a monthly subscription or hidden costs : Excellent pick for teams that require customizable call services : Ideal choice for those who need advanced call management features : Great option for businesses running text marketing campaigns : Best for on-the-go teams needing a reliable cellular service : Suitable choice for those handling low incoming call volume : Best for teams that need free vanity numbers Best Free Business Phone Number Apps at a Glance See fullscreen table × Types of Business Phone Numbers When you're looking for the best business phone number app, it's important to understand what's available. As a general rule, there are four different types of numbers you can get for your business. These include local, toll-free, international, and vanity phone numbers. Each of these has value for different types of businesses and deciding which is best for yours is critical. Take a look at our business phone number article to really understand how these virtual numbers work and check out our video series on the topic. In the meantime, here's a listing of the best free business phone number apps on the market. Google Voice: Best Overall Free Business Phone Number App tops the list of free business phone number apps because it’s the only one that provides a phone number without a monthly subscription. All you need is a Google account to get started. Through your laptop browser or mobile, streamline business communications with the phone system’s features, including sending and receiving unlimited texts, making calls, and saving voicemails. When you call someone from the platform, the Google Voice number will appear on the recipient's caller ID, keeping your personal phone number private. During the call, you have the option to mute your audio, put the call on hold, and access the dial pad to key in numbers following a customer inquiry. Learn more about this platform’s free business phone service in our comprehensive Google Voice review. Unfortunately, Google Voice doesn't have toll-free and vanity phone numbers in their free and paid plans. Consider if you need these types of services. The provider lets businesses choose among different phone numbers in their subscription plans. Google Voice Features Google Voice allows businesses to customize voicemail greetings according to their brand personality. (Source: Business Insider) Voicemail greeting recording: Chrome and Firefox allow you to record a three-minute-long greeting. On Safari, recordings are only a minute long. Find the voicemail greeting recording function in the Settings under the Active greeting section. Spam filter and number blocker: Worry no more about messages and calls from telemarketers, as Google Voice automatically places these in your spam folder using a global database. Manually block a number by selecting the number in question from your call log and choosing the Block Number option in the three-dot settings. Call forwarding: Link a phone number to your Google Voice account to avoid missing calls. This feature is especially useful when you’re traveling to a place that doesn’t have a good internet connection. Callcentric: Best for Teams That Require Customizable VoIP Services *Service comes with a setup fee of $1.50 used to offer free business phone numbers. Now, they charge for the service, but at an affordable cost. To get a business phone number, you must subscribe to the Dollar Unlimited plan, which costs $1 a month. The package features unlimited incoming call minutes within select U.S. states. This provider allows businesses to be flexible in terms of customizing VoIP services. It features independent packages for inbound and outbound calls, ideal for teams with fluctuating call volumes. These solutions are available on a flat-rate unlimited and pay-per-use basis, offering greater control over costs. On top of the cheap business phone number and communication services, Callcentric accommodates a variety of user agents, including 3CX, Acrobits, Asterisk, and Cisco Systems, making it easy to integrate existing business processes. Aside from the configurable services, Callcentric offers a range of VoIP features: call forwarding, call hunting, call waiting, and custom caller ID. While some businesses would appreciate the highly customizable services Callcentric provides, others find it challenging and sometimes confusing. If you don’t want to worry about device configurations, choose , which takes only a few minutes to set up. Callcentric Features Bring your own device (BYOD): There's no need to replace your existing devices when using Callcentric's services. Any device that supports Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is compatible with the provider. Conference room: Host a virtual meeting with a single click. There's no limit to the number of participants in the conference, so you can freely meet a large team for town halls and learning sessions. Caller ID blocking: This feature hides the caller ID on outbound calls. If you only want to block the ID on a specific call, that's also possible by adding *67 before the number you're calling. Phone.com: Best for Businesses Requiring Advanced Call Management Features *Save 20% with annual billing is the best phone number app for businesses that want more call management features in their phone system. The provider features a host of voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) capabilities, including call handling rules, call screening, call waiting, call transfer, click-to-call, hold music, automated attendant, and audio conferencing. To access these capabilities and get a business phone number free, subscribe to the provider’s Basic plan. One more advantage of using Phone.com is the pooled minutes available for each user in the Basic account. The starter plan carries 500 pooled minutes. If you have three basic users, you will share 1,500 minutes for inbound and outbound calls. Our comprehensive Phone.com review will help you learn more about its features and perks. While Phone.com offers plenty of call management features, its plans don’t provide inbound toll-free minutes. If you want customers to reach you quickly, choose instead, which offers a flexible package for inbound toll-free minutes. You only have to pay $3.95 monthly for unlimited call minutes within the U.S. and Canada. Phone.com Features Call handling: Route incoming calls more efficiently. Call handling options include setting up an auto-attendant, using the dial-by-name directory, forwarding, and scheduled routing. Click-to-call: Embed a code on your website that facilitates voice communication between you and the customer. When users click a button, Phone.com will call the number the customer provided. Audio conferencing: Host up to 300 participants in a conference call. The virtual meeting is secure, using password protection and a dedicated number. Sideline: Best for Businesses That Use Text Messaging for Marketing Initiatives Given its advanced text messaging features, is the ideal option when you’re managing SMS campaigns. It has an auto-reply feature, which sends a text to a recipient if you don't answer. Although automated, this gives customers the peace of mind that you’ve received their message. Sideline also features branded messages, in which you can add an image or logo to your texts. Aside from brand assets, the MMS messaging capability supports visual updates of invoices and projects. Our in-depth Sideline review details other text messaging features the provider offers. While it offers advanced text messaging features, Sideline has limited call management capabilities. is the better option if you’re looking for a VoIP feature-rich platform. Sideline Features Group messaging: Include several contacts, colleagues, or clients in one conversation. This helps in resolving issues quickly or fast-tracking the progress of a project. Team number: Have one number on multiple devices so your team members have visibility in communication lines. The inbound calls and texts will ring everyone in the group at the same time. Custom signature: Professionalize your messages with a signature that appears under the main SMS and MMS content. This feature helps in establishing brand identity and recall better. FreedomPop: Best for On-the-go Teams If you're constantly traveling for work, your team might benefit from , a platform that offers not only a free business phone number but also free cellular services. Its Freemium plan, which includes a SIM card, carries unlimited texting over Wi-Fi, 10 free text messages and 10 free call minutes delivered via cellular data networks, and 25MB of high-speed data. To get a business number free, you must buy the SIM kit that costs $10. The nano-sized SIM card, which fits most devices, is available for sale on the provider's website and leading retail stores like Target and Walmart. The drawback in choosing a cellular service provider like FreedomPop is that the perks are limited to Wi-Fi calling and messaging. If your business requires a platform with more call management capabilities and without a cost, is the better option. FreedomPop Features With FreedomPop’s voicemail transcription, it’s easy to read voicemail messages and better take note of important details. (Source: APKPure) Wi-Fi calling: Make and receive calls wherever you are using the Wi-Fi network. To enable this feature, go to your phone's Cellular or Mobile settings and switch Wi-Fi calling on. Native cellular voice and text: You don't need to download the FreedomPop app to use its voice, text, and data services. It’s a no-frills solution ideal for less techy entrepreneurs and professionals. Voicemail transcription: Be more efficient in taking note of details in voicemail messages by reading the transcribed version. CallHippo: Best for Businesses With Low Call Volumes *Save three months' cost with annual billing is the best phone number app option for businesses that accommodate low call volumes since the provider only has basic call management capabilities. The features are not too overwhelming, making it ideal for small teams or those using a VoIP system for the first time. The provider’s starter plan includes interactive voice response (IVR), ring groups, click-to-call, and voicemail, allowing up to 10 users. Another advantage of using CallHippo for your small team is its integrations. The tool seamlessly integrates with customer management tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics, and Typeform. Read our CallHippo review to see how it would accommodate your business needs. Unfortunately, some essential call features offered in other providers’ basic plans are available in CallHippo’s high-tier plans or as add-ons, namely voicemail transcription and call recording. If these capabilities are essential to your business, choose instead. CallHippo Features IVR: Help customers get to the most qualified representatives who will address their concerns. A well-designed IVR system helps increase first contact resolution, which improves customer experience. Power dialer: Don't waste your time on manual dialing. With this feature, CallHippo automatically dials phone numbers from an uploaded contacts list for campaigns. Global connect: Determine the exact time zone and validity of phone numbers of contacts from different countries. With Global Connect, you're able to pick the right time when calling customers. Grasshopper: Best for Securing Vanity Numbers *Save over 10% with annual billing is the ideal option for a phone number app when your business is looking for vanity numbers. It is one of our top picks for business phone systems, offering custom toll-free numbers for any account. Getting one is easy, as you simply have to search in their number lookup tool. With a memorable number, you increase brand awareness and recall. Part of Grasshopper’s vanity number services is the option to port existing numbers at no cost. When you sign up, Grasshopper will give you a transfer form. Once the transfer is complete, you’re free to use your custom number on the platform. Learn more about this provider by checking out our guide on using the Grasshopper phone system and our in-depth Grasshopper review. Before adopting Grasshopper in your business, take note that it lacks advanced call management features other VoIP providers offer. is the best free business phone number app if you want a more robust feature set. Learn more by checking out our article about other excellent Grasshopper alternatives. Grasshopper Features Instant response: Grasshopper sends an automated response when you miss a call from a customer. The customer has the option to respond with call-back details. Virtual fax: Have faxes delivered to your email inbox as PDF attachments. With this feature, it’s easy to share files with colleagues online. Incoming call control: Screen calls and block unknown numbers. Create custom schedules that align with your business hours to manage incoming calls better. How We Evaluated the Best Free Business Phone Number App Many VoIP and cellular service providers offer free business phone numbers that help small businesses maintain a professional image. To determine the best among excellent phone number app options in the market, we looked at these criteria points shown in the tabs below: Bottom Line Out of the free business phone number apps we evaluated, emerged as the best for its truly free service, requiring no monthly subscription fees. It’s easy to set up and use because the platform is simple and intuitive. It has general and advanced features, including local phone numbers and unlimited calling capabilities. Use Google Voice to get your free business phone number today.

The best business cell phone plans make it easy to answer calls, attend meetings wherever you are, and provide customer support without a hassle. As mobile technology continues to evolve, you now have more cell phone plan options catered to different business needs—from supporting remote teams to improving mobile security. The challenge is finding the most suitable provider for your operations and specific business needs. To help you in this decision, we assessed dozens of providers to find the best phone plans for different business functions: : Best overall business cell phone plan for connecting remote teams : Recommended for facilitating team collaboration : Ideal option for securing reliable coverage : Excellent cell phone plan provider with video meetings : Great option for enhanced mobile security : Best for making calls and texts at an affordable price Best Business Cell Phone Plan Providers Compared Take our quiz to find out which business cell phone plan is right for you. T-Mobile: Best Overall for Connecting Remote Teams *Per phone line; estimated for six lines is the ideal cell phone plan for businesses with remote teams or members who are always on the move because it has features supporting international communications and travels. For instance, its basic business phone plan provides unlimited texts and up to 5GB of high-speed data in 11 countries. For select countries and destinations, there’s unlimited data at up to 256Kbps. Additionally, this business cell phone plan supports the use of devices in Mexico and Canada. Have up to 5GB of high-speed data in these countries while enjoying unlimited talk and text. Aside from its international and travel-related features, the impressive data cap is most notable about T-Mobile’s cell phone plan. Its most advanced package has no limit, meaning you can enjoy a reliable internet connection consistently. However, since unlimited data is only available in the highest-tier plan, it costs more. The high cost is a major drawback of T-Mobile’s cell phone plan. Most of its valuable perks and features are locked behind its most expensive plans. If you’re looking for a cheap business phone plan for your business, it’s worth considering instead. T-Mobile Features Internet on board: Enjoy in-flight Wi-Fi with streaming on Alaska Airlines and select American, Delta, and United flights. To use this feature, enable Wi-Fi Calling on your phone, connect to the airline's Wi-Fi network, and enter your phone number on the Gogo inflight page. Microsoft 365 access: T-Mobile’s Advanced and Ultimate packages includes Microsoft Office license, giving access to productivity tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. The collaboration tools Microsoft Teams and One Drive (1TB cloud storage) are also included. Scam Shield Premium: Block robocalls and spam messages with T-Mobile's enhanced call-blocking features. With its name ID, you’ll be able to identify unknown numbers. This, however, is only available for the Ultimate plan. RingCentral: Suitable for Facilitating Team Collaboration *Per user estimated for one to 20 users; save up to 33% by paying annually If your idea of the best business cell phone plan is one that supports team collaboration, is the recommended solution. It packs a range of unified communication features, including team messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing. On top of this, you benefit from its advanced call management features, including the multilevel auto-attendant, call recording, audio and video conferencing, overflow call queues, and answering rules. While these ultimately improve customer service, they also help your team become more efficient, another plus point to collaboration. Unfortunately, the abundance of features on RingCentral gets a little overwhelming to some. It might take a while before you’re able to maximize all the phone solutions’ capabilities. It also doesn’t help that the company’s customer service isn’t responsive, according to recent user reviews. If you want to explore more voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) system options, refer to our list of the best business phone systems. RingCentral Features Third-party integrations: Integrate RingCentral with top platforms, such as Microsoft 365, Zendesk, Zoho CRM, Salesforce, and over 200 tools. Video conferencing: Organize meetings with up to 200 participants. These video meetings are equipped with screen sharing and in-meeting chat capabilities. Reporting and analytics: Track key performance indicators with real-time dashboards and auto-generated reports. To learn more about this platform’s reporting, analytics, and other notable features, check out our comprehensive RingCentral review. Verizon: Ideal Option for Securing Reliable Coverage *Per phone line; estimated for five or more lines When it comes to coverage, tops the list of the best small business cell phone plans. The company's 4G LTE network covers more than 2.68 million square miles in the country. Its coverage and performance were recognized by third-party firm RootMetrics in its 1H2022 report. It also emerged as the top provider in J.D. Power's wireless network quality performance report, beating and in almost every region. In addition, the company rolled out 5G ultra-wideband in over 1,700 cities earlier this year. This, along with 5G Nationwide, ensures that users have a reliable network wherever they are. Considering all these, Verizon is an excellent choice if your business operates in several locations or has team members who travel frequently—maximize unlimited talk, text, and data provided in their phone plans. However, note that the mobile hotspot data is reduced once you've used up 5GB to 100GB of data. Another drawback you’ll encounter with Verizon is the possibility that your device isn’t compatible with the 5G technology. In this case, you have to swap it for a newer phone model to maximize the broadband network. Verizon offers a range of 5G-supported phone models, including Apple iPhone 14 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22, and compared to and , it has the most affordable monthly price point. Verizon Features Tablet device: When you subscribe to Verizon’s highest-tier plan, you'll get a 50% discount on tablets. The Business Unlimited Tablet Start is priced at $30 per month and includes 5G Nationwide/4G LTE and video streaming at 480p. Call filter spam blocker: Worry no more over spam calls as your phone plan includes an app that automatically detects and blocks these messages. Business Mobile Secure: This protects your phone against phishing and other online risks. It also alerts you when the device tries to connect to unsecured Wi-Fi. Nextiva: Excellent Cell Phone Plan With Video Meetings *Per user for five to 19 users; save up to 27% by paying annually Like RingCentral, has unified communications features, which means you have messaging and video on top of calls in one cell phone plan. What’s most notable about this small business phone plan provider is its video conferencing features, which are offered in all three plans. This allows businesses to hold meetings for up to 45 minutes and up to 250 participants. Additionally, video conference recording is available on all packages. Also included in Nextiva's meeting features are scheduling tools and calendar integrations with Google and Outlook. If your team relies on video for team huddles, client presentations, and talent recruitment, Nextiva makes the best cell phone plans for the business. Enjoy great voice calling features, including unlimited calls within the U.S. and Canada, free number porting, call log reports, and toll-free minutes of up to 12,500 minutes. Unfortunately, this VoIP solution limits the duration and number of participants in video meetings. They only last up to 45 minutes and up to 250 participants. Another disadvantage is that the international calling rates are more expensive than others in the market. For instance, calls to Mexico are charged 16 cents per minute. In comparison, charges 1 cent per minute. Explore other small business VoIP services here. Nextiva Features Auto-attendant: Improve call management and reduce missed calls with an auto-attendant, transferring incoming calls to specific extensions in your organization. With this, your employees will have more time for more complex tasks. Multilevel auto-attendant features are available for Professional and Enterprise plans. Bring your own device (BYOD): Feel free to use your own mobile phones when you get Nextiva's plans. The provider supports BYOD and lets users add their devices to the software manually. Third-party app integrations: Use existing tools with Nextiva's platform. The VoIP solution supports MS Outlook, Zendesk, NetSuite, , Oracle, Google Contacts, Salesforce, and Workbooks. Want to learn more about what this platform offers small businesses? Learn about its integrations and features in this extensive Nextiva review. AT&T: Great Option for Enhanced Mobile Security *Per phone line for six lines provides all the standard perks of business cell phone service: unlimited domestic data, talk, and text, access to a 5G network, and mobile hotspot data, which goes up to 5GB. What sets it apart from its competitors is its security features. The AT&T ActiveArmor mobile security blocks spam and fraud calls. The advanced version, available on Performance and Elite business phone plans, includes identity monitoring and safe browsing. Another advantage to choosing AT&T is the hardware options. Some devices come with discounts and deals. Besides mobile phones, the company offers tablets and smartwatches, which help facilitate mobility and increase employee productivity. Although AT&T is a leader in internet connectivity, the connection, unfortunately, slows down after hitting your data cap. As a result, most businesses are then forced to upgrade to high-tier plans to get a high data cap. AT&T Features AT&T ActiveArmor Advanced: This app identifies unknown callers and sends reports when companies you do business with experience a data breach. Other features include reverse number lookup, theft alerts for Android devices, and public Wi-Fi protection. International roaming: Keep team members connected even when you go places with AT&T's unlimited talk, text, and data in Latin America. Business Fast Track: Preselect specific apps to reduce the impact of data surges. Google Voice: Best for Affordable Calls & Texts *Plans are paid per user emerges as the cheapest business phone plan since it starts at the monthly price of $10 per user. Its affordable packages come with several features, including unlimited calls and texts. Some of Google Voice’s Starter package features are included in other providers’ high-tier business phone plans. These capabilities include voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and integrations with other tools, such as Google Calendar and Google Meet. While Google Voice offers excellent call features, it lacks advanced capabilities such as real-time analytics or hotdesking. Additionally, toll-free and vanity numbers are not supported. If you’re looking for phone systems with a rich feature set that lets you make unlimited calls worldwide, choose or explore other Google Voice alternatives. Given that Google Voice is a virtual phone number service, you must have an existing phone number where the calls will be forwarded. This means you need to be constantly plugged into an internet connection. This shouldn't be a problem, though, since your mobile device and desktop computer are internet-enabled. Google Voice Features Ring groups: Manage incoming calls better with Google Voice, as the system alerts multiple devices at the same time until someone in your ring group answers. This feature, however, isn’t available in the Starter plan. Call recording: Since you’re able to monitor calls with this feature, it will be easy to train employees and recalibrate strategies for handling calls. Explore other apps capable of call recording here. Multilevel auto-attendant: Speed up the process of addressing a caller’s concern. Configure the attendant with consideration of the customers' frequently asked questions. How We Evaluated the Best Business Cell Phone Plans All the providers mentioned here in the battle among small business phone plans have distinct features that cater to different users. Some are ideal for connecting remote teams, while others offer excellent coverage. Bearing this in mind, we considered several factors to make a fair assessment and determine which emerges as the top provider. Learn how we evaluated the best business cell phone plans by clicking on the tabs below: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) What’s the difference between a standard cell phone plan and a VoIP system? Standard business cell phone plans take advantage of 5G and 4G towers and typically are attached to specific provider phones. These provide their own service using these towers in the U.S. and sometimes international markets. With a VoIP system, like RingCentral or Nextiva, your phone won’t have service by default but will be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi signals to make business calls. What is an uptime service level agreement? Many cell phone carriers offer phone plans with specific uptime service level agreements or SLAs. These guarantee a certain level of service availability, which is typically measured per year. For example, with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, you are guaranteed no more than eight hours and 41 minutes of yearly downtime. Check out our guide to service level agreements to understand more. Are phones cheaper on a business account? Most carriers want to take advantage of economy of scale, so typically, you can find some very good deals on hardware. Additionally, rather than paying the cost of your device immediately, most carriers offer per-month payment plans that will help offset costs. Bottom Line In the battle among business mobile phone plans, emerges as the best. It's more affordable than its direct competitors, and its features support a remote team who's always on the go, particularly the in-flight Wi-Fi services. Additionally, you benefit from the Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint included in the plans. However, if you prefer a VoIP solution with advanced call management and unified communication features, go with .