If you want to equip your team to answer calls on a smartphone, there are three ways you can do it without requiring staff have an extra cell phone. You sign up for a dedicated business phone plan from a cellular provider, use a mobile app from a voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) provider, or forward calls to an existing device with a virtual phone provider. Since there are advantages to each option, we evaluated both possibilities to uncover the best business cell phone plans.
When you think of a business cell phone plan, the first thing that comes to mind may be a multiline plan from one of the country’s wireless carriers. While those can be useful, it’s worth noting that small businesses can save a great deal of money with any of today’s internet-based services, which can be downloaded onto any smartphone via an app. While we discuss traditional cellular plans in this guide, we also offer the alternative of a VoIP or virtual system.
The top business cell phone plans for small businesses are:
- RingCentral: Best overall for companies needing an all-in-one unified communications platform
- T-Mobile: Best for employees who frequently travel and want to stay productive while flying
- Verizon: Best for organizations with a remote team spread across the United States
- AT&T: Best for businesses looking to mix and match many different cell phone plans
- Google Voice: Best free or low-cost solution for solopreneurs and small teams
- Grasshopper: Best for small teams wanting to route calls to employee extensions
How We Evaluated Business Cell Phone Plans
To compare various cellular and mobile-friendly VoIP plans, we looked at the affordability of their business phone system packages, flexibility in their contracts, how systems could be used to support “bring your own device” (BYOD) policies, and advanced features small business owners and employees need.
While including VoIP systems in our comparison might seem unusual in a guide about best business cell phone plans, the fact is most traditional carrier plans come at a great cost to small business owners. This is especially true when you factor in plans, hardware costs, and cellular data. Alternatively, VoIP systems have mobile apps that employees can download onto their own devices, offering additional device flexibility at a fraction of the price.
RingCentral’s score of 3.70 out of 5 makes it the best overall small business cell phone solution. It offers enterprise-grade tools, supports multiple devices (not just mobile phones), and integrates with business software. However, if you want a more traditional cell phone plan from a major carrier, Verizon, with a score of 3.63 out of 5, is the best option.
Learn how we selected the best business cell phone plans by clicking on the tabs below:
30% of Overall Score
We reviewed the costs of plans offered by VoIP and cellular providers as well as contract requirements. We also looked at things that could impact pricing, such as the availability of volume discounts, and at services offering a free plan.
25% of Overall Score
We considered the fundamental features business users require, such as call management features, mobile hotspot, conference calling, and international calling. Plus, we gave an extra point to providers offering free hardware.
15% of Overall Score
We examined plans to find those providing advanced features, such as video calling or free virtual private networks (VPNs). Providers offering data encryption or rollover data also earned points during our evaluation.
30% of Overall Score
We based our expert score on the overall functionality of services and customer reviews and ratings. Furthermore, we looked at services that are easy to use and provide the best value for small businesses.
RingCentral
PROS
- Apps for smartphones, tablets, and desktop devices
- Video calling for up to 200 people
- More affordable than traditional cell carriers
CONS
- Advanced functionality locked behind premium plans
- Potential overkill for smaller teams
- Does not come with telephony hardware
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
RingCentral is a small business VoIP service offering a full-featured unified communications platform. Your teams can use an existing smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer by installing a top-rated RingCentral application. All plans include voicemail-to-text, an auto-attendant, and unlimited calling and texting. Plans start at $19.99 per user, per month for up to 10 users when paid annually. However, you can add dozens of employees on the Standard, Premium, and Ultimate plans.
RingCentral Pricing*
- Essentials: $19.99 per user, per month for up to 10 users, unlimited calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada, team messaging, document sharing, and 100 toll-free minutes
- Standard: $27.99 per user, per month for video meetings for up to 100 participants, unlimited audio conferencing, and 1,000 toll-free minutes
- Premium: $34.99 per user, per month for automatic call recording, advanced call handling features, video meetings with up to 200 participants, and 2,500 toll-free minutes
- Ultimate: $49.99 per user, per month for unlimited cloud storage, device status reports, and 10,000 toll-free minutes
*Pricing is on an annual basis for two to 20 users. RingCentral also offers month-to-month plans, and you can add an unlimited number of users to the Standard, Premium, and Ultimate packages.
RingCentral Features
- Phone options: With RingCentral, your employees can use a cell phone, tablet, or desktop to answer calls. This flexibility supports a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy and allows your staff to switch between a smartphone and desktop when answering calls. You can also rent business hardware, such as headsets or desk phones, starting at $3.99 per device, per month.
- Automated attendant: A custom greeting welcomes all callers to your RingCentral business phone number, offers a menu for callers to choose a department or employee extension, and automatically routes calls to your employee’s cell phone.
- Video calling: With the Standard, Premium, and Ultimate plans, your staff can participate or host video conferences with up to 200 participants. During the call, users can share their screen or chat publicly or privately with other callers.
Check out our RingCentral reviews page for more information.
T-Mobile
PROS
- Free in-flight data on select airlines
- Improved coverage after Spring acquisition
- Use multiple phone lines on one device
CONS
- Constrictive limited data plans
- Free international texting limited to 2G
- Uneven coverage in rural areas
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 3.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.44 | OUT OF | 5 |
T-Mobile is a wireless cell phone provider that recently acquired Sprint, extending its network coverage. However, 4G coverage is less than AT&T and Verizon, leaving rural areas with spotty coverage. But, T-Mobile currently offers more 5G coverage than other major carriers limited to big urban areas. T-Mobile stands out for providing a variety of low-cost plans that support local and international teams. In fact, with in-flight Wi-Fi, your staff can stay productive and on the clock while traveling. Basic plans start at $30 per line, per month for four lines and come with a mobile hotspot.
T-Mobile Business Cell Phone Pricing*
- T-Mobile Essentials: $30 per line, per month for four lines for unlimited talk, text, and data, unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data, and after 50GB of data use, speeds may slow
- Magenta for Business: $40 per line, per month for four lines on auto-pay, and the price includes taxes and fees for unlimited talk, text, and data, unlimited data and texting in 210 countries, one Microsoft 365 basic license, 3GB hotspot, 4G LTE data, and one hour of in-flight Wi-Fi
- Magenta Plus for Business: $50 per line, per month for four lines on auto-pay, and the price includes taxes and fees for unlimited talk, text, and data, unlimited data and texting in 210 countries, one Microsoft 365 basic license, one Business Standard license, 20 GB of 4G hotspot data, unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi, and Premium Scam Shield
- Business Unlimited: $285 for 13 lines per month on auto-pay and $25 per extra line for unlimited talk, text, and data, unlimited data and texting in 210 countries, two Microsoft 365 basic licenses, 10GB of 4G hotspot data, and one hour of inflight Wi-Fi
- Business Unlimited Plus: $415 for 13 lines per month on auto-pay and $35 per extra line for unlimited talk, text, and data, unlimited data and texting in 210 countries, one Microsoft 365 basic license, one Business Standard license, 30GB of 4G hotspot data, unlimited inflight Wi-Fi, and Premium Scam Shield
- Simple Choice: Starting at $50 per line, per month for one line with 2GB data, unlimited domestic talk and text, unused data rolls forward for 12 months, and you can mix and match 2GB, 6GB, and 10GB plans
*You can select one to six lines with T-Mobile Essentials and buy 10GB of high-speed 4G LTE data for an extra $10 per month. Magenta for Business and Simple Choice plans are for 12 lines and under, whereas Business Unlimited plans are for 13 or more lines.
T-Mobile Features
- Microsoft 365: With T-Mobile Magenta and Unlimited plans, you get a free subscription to Microsoft 365, allowing your teams to work in real time on word processing documents, spreadsheets, and slideshows. It also offers a company intranet, email program, and project collaboration tools.
- Inflight Wi-Fi: Your employees can text, access their visual voicemail, or use Wi-Fi to finish business projects while traveling in the U.S. or across the globe.
- International features: T-Mobile provides unlimited 2G data and texting in more than 210 countries, so your employees can stay in contact with teams and customers in the U.S. while traveling abroad.
Verizon
PROS
- Solid national service coverage
- Unlimited calling in Mexico and Canada
- Flexible plans available
CONS
- Selection of devices could be overwhelming
- International calling costs can add up to be expensive
- Might be overkill for smaller teams
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.44 | OUT OF | 5 |
Verizon offers business cell phone, internet, landline, and VoIP services. It provides the broadest coverage out of the major carriers, meaning the service will likely work for most of your employees. Verizon offers plans that work on phones purchased from Verizon and compatible devices purchased elsewhere. For Verizon VoIP, you can use any compatible device by downloading the mobile and desktop applications. Plans start at $30 per line, per month when purchasing five lines and feature unlimited talk, text, and data.
Verizon Business Cell Phone & VoIP Pricing
- Business Unlimited Start Smartphone: $30 per line, per month for unlimited talk and text, plus unlimited 4G LTE and 5G data*
- Business Unlimited Plus Smartphone: $40 per line, per month for unlimited talk and text, unlimited data with guaranteed 4G and 5G speeds during peak hours for up to 60GB per month, and an unlimited mobile hotspot with reduced speeds after 30GB*
- Business Unlimited Pro Smartphone: $50 per line, per month for unlimited talk and text, unlimited data with guaranteed 4G and 5G speeds during peak hours for up to 120GB per month, and an unlimited mobile hotspot with reduced speeds after 60GB*
- VoIP Business Digital Voice: Starting at $35 per line, per month for one to five VoIP business phone lines, unlimited nationwide calling, call transfer between devices, over 45 call management features, and it works on desktop and mobile devices**
*Pricing based on five lines and includes a $25 per line, per month discount for bringing your own device or paying for a new smartphone in full, and a $5 per line, per month credit for auto-pay and paper-free billing.
**Prices vary by area, speed purchased, and contract length. An activation fee of $49 may apply, and Verizon may require a one- or two-year contract.
Verizon Business Cell Phone Plan Features
- National coverage: If your team is spread out across the U.S., it’s difficult to find a cell phone carrier that works for every employee. Fortunately, Verizon networks offer the most coverage out of all providers and cover roughly 70% of the U.S.
- VoIP options: Along with cellular plans, you can also purchase VoIP plans and take advantage of more than 45 features, such as an auto-attendant, voicemail-to-email, mobile and desktop apps, and screen sharing.
- Business Mobile Secure: Verizon Plus and Pro plans come with a security bundle that helps protect your data, employees, and devices. It features mobile device management, Wi-Fi protection, tech support, and mobile endpoint security.
AT&T
PROS
- Large service coverage
- Rollover data plans can be useful
- Flexible range of plans
CONS
- Hardware selection could be better
- Some plans can get expensive quickly
- Slower speeds can happen at select times
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 1.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.44 | OUT OF | 5 |
AT&T provides business cell phones, landlines, and internet services. It offers the largest variety of plans, allowing you to customize your setup and possibly lower your monthly costs. For instance, some plans guarantee 5G data speeds for a certain amount of data, whereas you may experience slower speeds on other plans during times of high congestion. Pooled plans let you share data among employees, which is great for teams with varying needs. Packages start at $30 per line, per month for unlimited talk and text in the U.S. and to Mexico and Canada.
AT&T Business Cell Phone Pricing
- Business Unlimited Starter: $30 per line, per month for unlimited domestic data, talk, and text, unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, standard mobile security, and access to 5G speeds*
- Business Unlimited Performance: $35 per line, per month for guaranteed 5G speeds for up to 50GB per line, per month, unlimited domestic data, talk, and text, unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, 30GB hotspot, and advanced mobile security*
- Business Unlimited Elite: $45 per line, per month to get a higher priority for data during times of high congestion, advanced mobile security, 100GB mobile hotspot data, unlimited domestic data, talk, and text, and unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada*
- AT&T Mobile Select – Pooled: Starting at $35 per line, per month for 1GB of data per line, access to 5G data speed, unlimited texting from the U.S. to over 120 countries, unlimited domestic talk and text, and Call Protect Basic**
- AT&T Mobile Share Plus for Business: Starting at $50 per line, per month for 3GB to 100GB of shareable data, Call Protect Basic, unlimited texts from the U.S. to over 120 countries, unlimited domestic call and text, mobile hotspot, and rollover data***
- AT&T Business 4GB: $50 per line, per month for unlimited talk, text and 4GB of data per line, unlimited text from the U.S. to over 120 countries, unlimited talk from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada, Standard Mobile Security, and a mobile hotspot
*Pricing based on five lines, using eligible phones.
**Pooled plan prices include a $10 Auto-pay and paperless billing discount on eligible phones.
***Share Plus plan pricing varies based on the number of lines and size of the data package.
AT&T Features
- Mix and match plans: For unlimited plans, you can set up some employees with mobile hotspots, advanced mobile security (which includes a virtual private network), and higher guaranteed data speeds. Then choose lower-priced plans for employees needing unlimited minutes but less reliance on data. You can select 1GB to 100GB of data per line on pooled and shared data plans, and your team can share the data.
- Mobile security: AT&T provides basic or advanced security features on most business cell phone plans. Depending on your package, features may include spam and fraud alerts, phone number blocking, a secure W-Fi VPN, theft alerts, and a safe browsing tool.
- International texting: On select AT&T plans, your teams that are located in the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands can send text messages to over 190 countries and send picture and video text messages to over 120 countries at no extra charge.
Google Voice
PROS
- Free version available
- Unlimited domestic calling
- Free local phone number for most cities in the United States
CONS
- Limited features
- Requires existing phone line
- Needs workers to use their personal devices
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.13 | OUT OF | 5 |
Google Voice is a virtual phone number provider that lets people receive and make calls using their existing cell phone or desktop device. All you need is a Google account to get started with basic calling and texting, a new local business number, and voicemail. Paid plans add mobile apps, Google Calendar integration, and voicemail transcription. Prices start at $10 per user, per month.
Google Voice Pricing
- Free: Get a business phone number to make unlimited calls and text messages to any number in the U.S. and Canada
- Starter: $10 per user, per month for up to 10 users for unlimited domestic calling and SMS, voicemail transcripts, and mobile apps for iOS and Android devices
- Standard: $20 per user, per month for unlimited calling and texting, a multilevel auto-attendant, desk phone compatibility, and ring groups
- Premier: $30 per user, per month for unlimited calling and texting, adding employees in unlimited international locations, and advanced reporting
Google Voice Features
- Free phone service: For small teams needing a free solution, Google Voice is an excellent option. The apps work on any mobile device, so you don’t need to buy new hardware or pay a monthly cost to call or text message anyone in the U.S.
- Auto-attendant: Paid plans let you set up custom greetings, an optional non-skippable special announcement, menu prompts, custom working hours, and call routing rules. You can transfer callers to voicemail, a submenu, or an extension.
- Voicemail: Keep business voicemails separate using the Google voicemail box. You can create custom greetings, forward voicemails to your email, and get voicemails transcribed to read them from any device.
Grasshopper
PROS
- Affordable
- Automated voicemail transcriptions
- Intuitive mobile apps
CONS
- Can be expensive for solo workers
- Bigger teams may want more functionality
- Lacks video calling
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 1.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 1.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.69 | OUT OF | 5 |
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system providing VoIP features such as a virtual receptionist and unlimited calling and texting between the U.S. and Canada. The user-friendly mobile apps turn any smartphone into a business cell phone. Your employees can read text messages, listen to voicemails, or answer calls using the Grasshopper mobile app for Android or iOS. Plans start at $26 per month for up to three extensions when paid annually. But, you can select the package with unlimited extensions and add dozens of employees and devices.
Grasshopper Pricing*
- Solo: $29 per month for one phone number and three extensions
- Partner: $49 per month for three phone numbers and six extensions
- Small Business: $89 per month for five phone numbers and unlimited extensions
*Plan pricing is based on an annual payment, but month-to-month plans are available.
Grasshopper Features
- Extensions: Instead of paying a per-user cost, Grasshopper allows you to add extensions to your business number, meaning you can route incoming calls to three, six, or an unlimited number of cell phones and other devices. This is an affordable option for business owners wanting to connect several employees for a low monthly fee.
- Call management: Simultaneous call handling features and an automated attendant means your customers never get a busy signal. Instead, they hear custom greetings before their call is transferred to any extension, including an optional informational extension for self-service.
- Desktop and mobile apps: Grasshopper provides easy-to-use iOS, Android, and desktop apps, so your employees can use any device to answer calls, text customers, or check their voicemail.
Bottom Line
Keeping your employees connected in and out of the office is essential. With VoIP and cellular phone plans, you’re not limited to certain device brands or on the hook for expensive packages. Instead, you can allow staff to bring their own devices, mix and match plans to suit different needs, and take advantage of call management features.
The best business cell phone plans offer flexibility and affordability while allowing you to customize packages based on your employee’s location and data requirements. Although we appreciate Verizon’s services, many companies will find a VoIP solution like RingCentral provides the best overall value.
Sarah Coumbe
Lots of good information here. As a small business, we are experiencing some growing pains, and at this time are searching for a phone plan that will work for us. We are a 24/7 towing operation and having a reliable phone system is crucial for our business. We have been with different carriers and currently have Verizon. Our service is better than any we’ve had before. The problem we are having now is that our call volume is so high we are losing calls because we don’t have enough holding lines. We need a mobile service with our current business number and a minimum of 4-5 lines for holding calls. Do you have any recommendations for something like this?
Amanda Norman
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for visiting the site! I suggest checking out Ring Central. It comes with call parking for up to 50 callers. You can read more about the call parking feature in our article, Call Parking: Definition, Benefits & When to Use It.
Hope this helps. Best wishes,
Mandy, Moderator