6 Best Business Cell Phone Plans for 2022

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:

• T-Mobile: Best overall business cell phone plan for connecting remote teams
• RingCentral: Recommended for facilitating team collaboration
• Verizon: Ideal option for securing reliable coverage
• Nextiva: Excellent cell phone plan provider with video meetings
• AT&T: Great option for enhanced mobile security
• Google Voice: Best for making calls and texts at an affordable price

Best Business Cell Phone Plan Providers Compared

T-Mobile: Best Overall for Connecting Remote Teams

*Per phone line; estimated for six lines

T-Mobile 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 Google Voice 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, RingCentral 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, Verizon 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 T-Mobile and AT&T 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 T-Mobile and AT&T, 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, Nextiva 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, RingCentral 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, HubSpot, 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

AT&T 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

Google Voice 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 RingCentral 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:

Bottom Line

In the battle among business mobile phone plans, T-Mobile 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 RingCentral.