Best Cheap VoIP Providers for Small Businesses in 2026

Jun 9, 2026
14 minute read

Cheap VoIP services help small businesses reduce phone costs while still offering professional calling features such as voicemail, call routing, business texting, video meetings, and mobile apps. The best low-cost VoIP providers balance affordability with reliability, so you are not sacrificing call quality, support, or essential tools just to save a few dollars per user.

After comparing pricing, core features, AI tools, and overall value, Nextiva is my top pick for the best cheap VoIP provider for small businesses. It offers phone, video, messaging, fax, and customer management tools on a single platform, making it a strong value for teams that want more than basic calling.

Below are the best cheap VoIP providers for small businesses:

Cheap VoIP servicesBest forStarting monthly price
NextivaCustomer management$23 per user
RingCentralAll-in-one communication hub$30 per user
GrasshopperSharing phone numbers$18 for 1 user
Zoom PhoneFlexible call patterns$12 per user
CallHippoAgent-focused features$25 per user
OomaClear call management$19.95 per user
TalkrouteShared phone w/o per-user fee$19 for 1 user
Phone.comBusiness with international clients$18 per user
eVoiceSolo professionals$14

Why you can trust Fit Small Business

Best cheap VoIP services compared

Cheap VoIP servicesFree trialAI featuresVideo meetings & chat24/7 supportMy rating
Nextiva4.88 out of 5
RingCentral4.75 out of 5
Grasshopper4.72 out of 5
Zoom Phone4.69 out of 5
CallHippo
4.66 out of 5
Ooma
4.58 out of 5
TalkrouteVideo meetings only4.36 out of 5
Phone.comVideo meetings only4.26 out of 5
eVoice3.96 out of 5

Which cheap VoIP service is right for you?

Nextiva: Best for customer management

My expert opinion

I chose Nextiva as the overall best cheap VoIP service because it delivers an all-in-one platform for business communication, collaboration, and customer management. Its robust feature set centralizes customer interactions, allowing you to respond to inquiries faster, automate surveys, and reduce costs by reducing reliance on third-party apps.

Comparable to RingCentral in unified communications (UC) capabilities, Nextiva combines a business phone system with video conferencing, team messaging, and online faxing. However, if you find Nextiva’s monthly plans on the higher side, Zoom Phone is my top budget-friendly alternative, starting at just $10.50 per user for metered calling (when billed annually).

Pricing & top features

Nextiva offers three monthly plans starting at $15 per user when billed annually and $23 per user when billed monthly.

  • Host meetings with up to nine participants using a dedicated conference line.
  • Send and receive faxes without limits.
  • Manage incoming calls by placing callers in a queue until the next available agent.
Nextiva analytics dashboard showing agent performance, call goals, and voicemail logs.
Nextiva delivers in-depth call center metrics to help businesses monitor agent productivity and improve customer service. (Source: Nextiva)

RingCentral: Best for all-in-one communication hub

My expert opinion

RingCentral’s $30-per-user starting price is higher than many budget VoIP options, but its entry-level plan offers excellent value. It includes advanced features like interactive voice response (IVR), caller ID, call queues, and on-demand call recording, plus a full suite of video conferencing and messaging capabilities that many competitors reserve for higher tiers.

The main limitation is texting, as plans only include a set number of SMS credits per user each month. If your business depends on frequent client communication via text, I recommend Grasshopper, which offers unlimited business texting and customizable SMS tools like instant response.

Pricing & top features

RingCentral has three subscription plans priced from $30 to $45 per user, with a 33% discount available for annual subscriptions.

  • Create shared contact lists and a company-wide directory accessible to all employees.
  • Collaborate through instant messaging and file sharing without using your phone number.
  • Display your availability status to indicate if you’re online, offline, busy, or in a meeting.
RingCentral VoIP settings page with options for incoming and outgoing call preferences.
RingCentral lets users customize call handling and voicemail settings to match their business workflow. (Source: RingCentral)

Grasshopper: Best for sharing phone numbers

My expert opinion

Grasshopper is my top choice for sharing numbers at an affordable price, starting at $18 and dropping to $14 with annual prepayment. Its higher-tier plans provide multiple phone numbers and unlimited users, making it ideal for teams that share lines. Unlike most VoIP providers that charge per user, Grasshopper uses a fixed-rate model, so you can grow your team without added monthly costs.

Every plan includes a full suite of call management tools, giving small teams the essentials for daily communication. However, these features may fall short for handling high call volumes, whereas alternatives like RingCentral offer stronger performance.

Pricing & top features

Grasshopper has three subscription plans ranging from $18 to $70 per user each month, with savings of up to 17% when billed annually.

  • Send automated SMS responses to missed calls from new contacts.
  • Receive voicemail transcriptions right from your email inbox.
  • Make calls over the internet when the cell signal is weak.
Grasshopper call log interface listing inbound, outbound, and missed calls with timestamps and details.
Grasshopper organizes call history in one place, allowing users to quickly access details for better follow-up and client communication. (Source: Grasshopper)

Zoom Phone: Best for flexible call patterns

My expert opinion

Of all my recommendations, Zoom Phone is the cheapest VoIP service, starting at just $10.50 per user per month. What I particularly like about it is that its basic plan includes essential call management tools such as an auto-attendant, call routing, call monitoring, and call recording.

For businesses with international clients, its top-tier plan offers unlimited domestic calling in one of 48 supported countries, along with metered international calling. Despite its competitive pricing, Zoom Phone lacks a built-in virtual fax feature. Businesses that regularly send confidential documents may prefer Ooma or RingCentral, which offer internet fax as part of their plans.

Pricing & top features

Zoom Phone has flexible monthly pricing per user, starting at $12 for metered calling, $18 for unlimited regional calls, and $25 for unlimited calls to one of 48 supported countries.

  • Call recording, with transcription and playback, makes it easy to review calls.
  • Instantly switch a phone call into a fully featured Zoom Meeting.
  • Give group members direct access to a group’s phone number and voicemail.
Zoom Phone desktop screen showing an active call, control buttons, and AI summary panel.
Zoom Phone enhances calls with AI-generated summaries, helping teams capture key points and action items instantly. (Source: Zoom Phone)

CallHippo: Best for agent-focused features

My expert opinion

CallHippo differentiates itself from competitors by offering call center tools for sales and support teams. Beyond standard calling features, it includes campaign management, outbound dialers, gamification, and call feedback to boost agent performance. The platform offers add-on services like speech analytics, call tracking, and voice broadcasting, making it a versatile choice for both inbound and outbound campaigns.

While CallHippo has a free plan, its paid tiers may be expensive for smaller teams. Businesses seeking a more affordable option without sacrificing functionality might consider Phone.com, which delivers over 50 standard voice features starting at just $18 per user each month.

Pricing & top features

CallHippo provides a free plan, while its four paid tiers range from $25 to $55 per user per month, with custom pricing available. Discounts are offered for teams with more than 50 users.

  • Tailored greetings and on-hold music give your business a polished, professional image.
  • Users can set up call forwarding to multiple phones for greater flexibility.
  • The Global Connect feature lets you check the best time to reach international clients.
CallHippo VoIP dashboard displaying user stats, phone numbers, and recent call activity graph.
CallHippo provides a clear view of user activity and call trends, helping teams track performance and manage communication efficiently. (Source: CallHippo)

Ooma: Best for clear call management

My expert opinion

Ooma focuses on core call management features, making it a good fit for businesses with moderate call volumes. Its emphasis on phone and voicemail capabilities provides a no-frills alternative to feature-heavy competitors like RingCentral, which can overwhelm smaller teams with enterprise-grade tools such as business analytics and AI meetings.

It’s also one of the best VoIP systems for home offices, with its free home phone service. By purchasing the Ooma Telo device for $99.99, users get unlimited access to US calling. While Ooma does offer video conferencing, its capabilities are less robust than those of full-scale platforms. For a more comprehensive VoIP and video conferencing solution, Zoom Phone is a stronger choice.

Pricing & top features

Ooma has three monthly subscription plans, priced from $19.95 to $29.95, as well as Enterprise calling plans.

  • Customize your on-hold messages with your business hours, location information, or even your own phone greetings.
  • Toll-free numbers include 500 toll-free minutes of inbound calls each month.
  • Send and receive faxes with the Ooma Office app.
Ooma desktop interface listing company contacts with communication options and contact details.
Ooma streamlines contact management by centralizing calls, chats, and faxes for quick and efficient communication. (Source: Ooma)

Talkroute: Best for shared phone w/o per-user fee

My expert opinion

Unlike most VoIP providers that bill per user, Talkroute keeps costs low by offering plans to cover multiple users. For example, the Plus plan supports 3 users for $39 per month, while the Pro plan supports up to 10 users for $59 per month. This provides small teams access to a range of call management features and unlimited local calling. As your business grows, you can add additional users for as low as $5 each.

While its predictable pricing is a plus, I find that the lack of international calling may be a drawback for businesses with overseas clients or partners. In that case, Zoom Phone is a better fit, offering unlimited international calling for a minimal monthly fee.

Pricing & top features

Talkroute’s monthly plans start at $19 for a single user and go up to $59 for 10 users, with custom rates available for Enterprise accounts.

  • Pay only $5 per month for every additional user, voicemail box, or phone number.
  • Route all your calls to one phone, whether it’s a cell, landline, or VoIP softphone.
  • Reply to text messages through the online dashboard, email, desktop app, mobile app, or web app.
Talkroute VoIP dashboard displaying user count, phone numbers, and call activity over 30 days.
Talkroute tracks user activity and call volume trends, making it easier to manage team communication and performance. (Source: Talkroute)

Phone.com: Best for business with international clients

My expert opinion

Phone.com is the most budget-friendly VoIP service for businesses looking to expand internationally, offering phone numbers in over 50 countries for just $4.99 per month, the standard rate for local numbers. Bulk purchases bring even bigger savings, with rates dropping to $2.99 per month for 50 or more numbers and $1.99 per month for 100 or more numbers.

While it’s an excellent choice for building a local presence abroad, Phone.com offers limited integrations with third-party apps and CRMs. For businesses that depend on a broader range of customer-facing tools, this limitation could be a drawback. Nextiva is a better fit, offering built-in customer management features and CRM integrations for small businesses.

Pricing & top features

Phone.com offers three monthly plans priced between $18 and $40 per user, with a 17% discount available for annual billing.

  • Pay US local rates to landline numbers in Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Puerto Rico, and the UK.
  • Features all types of virtual phone numbers: local, toll-free, vanity, and international.
  • Provides add-on services for live receptionist and AI answering solutions.
Phone.com desktop screen showing voicemail list and expanded message view with playback controls.
Phone.com simplifies voicemail handling with an easy-to-navigate interface for listening, reading, and managing messages. (Source: Phone.com)

eVoice: Best for solo professionals

My expert opinion

eVoice’s single-tier subscription makes it a great VoIP solution for freelancers or small business owners who have no plans of scaling soon. Its Elite plan focuses on core calling and texting features and includes three phone numbers, ideal for creating the appearance of multiple departments. Then, the Elite Plus plan adds unlimited messaging within the US & Canada.

However, its feature set is intentionally limited, making it less suitable for enterprise-level needs that require greater flexibility and customization. For a more comprehensive phone system that can scale with businesses of any size, I would choose RingCentral.

Pricing & top features

eVoice has two pricing plans, starting at $14 per user per month or $12 per user per month when you pay annually in advance.

  • Create multiple routing schedules for different days of the week.
  • Merge up to 94 callers within a single call.
  • Add a live receptionist plan to your VoIP service.
eVoice app screen showing voicemail message with audio controls and transcription text.
eVoice makes it easy to manage voicemails with both audio playback and text transcription for quick message review. (Source: eVoice)

My methodology

To find the best cheap VoIP services, I used a weighted scoring rubric to rate each provider on key factors most important to small business owners. Each factor was evaluated based on real-world usability, value for money, and its ability to meet the needs of budget-conscious teams.

  • Pricing (15%): I compared free trials, entry-level pricing, and cost per user across multiple tiers to determine overall affordability. Services with flexible plans priced between $25 and $40 per user scored higher for offering better long-term value.
  • General features (25%): The evaluation included core VoIP functions like call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID, and mobile apps. Providers that delivered a well-rounded feature set in their base plans earned stronger ratings.
  • Niche features (20%): I looked at higher-end tools such as call analytics, CRM integrations, auto-attendants, and call recording. Platforms that included these without steep upgrades scored better for delivering extra functionality at a low price point.
  • Customer support (15%): Each provider’s customer service was reviewed for availability, channels, and responsiveness. Higher scores were given to services offering 24/7 support via multiple channels, such as phone, chat, and email.
  • Ease of use (10%): I assessed the setup process, dashboard navigation, and user interface design. Platforms with quick onboarding, clear menus for setting up a phone tree, and minimal learning curves ranked highest in this category.
  • Expert score (15%): Finally, I factored in my hands-on testing and industry experience to give an expert score. This helped weigh subjective elements such as reliability, flexibility, and overall business value.

Free & SIP-based VoIP alternatives

Free and SIP-based VoIP services give you basic calling features without the recurring fees of traditional VoIP providers. These options use the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to connect calls over the internet, making them flexible and often compatible with a wide range of devices and software. While they may lack advanced features like integrated analytics or call management, they can be a great fit for startups or small teams with limited budgets.

Here’s a comparison of VoIP services available:


Average costKey featuresBest for
Paid VoIP service$10 to $40 per user/monthUnlimited calling, video meetings, call routing, and CRM integrationsSmall to large businesses needing a complete phone system
Free VoIP service$0Basic calling and voicemailFreelancers or solopreneurs with low call volume
SIP-based VoIP service$0 or pay-as-you-go for minutesSIP trunking, bring-your-own-device (BYOC), and custom call routingTech-savvy businesses wanting flexibility and control on their on-premise systems

A study shows that investing in advanced communication technology can result in cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved customer satisfaction, so pairing a free SIP service with the right hardware or add-ons can still deliver strong business results. These platforms often allow you to customize your setup with third-party apps, which gives you more control over features and spending.

For budget-conscious businesses, free and SIP-based solutions offer a practical starting point without locking you into long-term contracts.

How to choose a cheap VoIP service

Choosing a cheap VoIP service isn’t just about finding the lowest price. It’s also about balancing cost with features, usability, and reliability. By knowing what to look for, you can get a budget-friendly solution that still meets your business needs.

  • Pricing
    Look for transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and compare the cost per user or per line. Some small business VoIP service providers offer discounted annual rates or bundled minutes that can help you save more over time.
  • Feature inclusions
    A low-cost plan should still include essentials like call forwarding, voicemail, and auto-attendant. Check if the provider offers unlimited calling or any usage caps that might impact your team’s work.
  • UCaaS integrations
    Many modern VoIP phone systems integrate with unified communications tools like video meetings and team chat. They also connect natively with ecommerce and CRM systems like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zendesk to allow data to flow seamlessly between the CRM and the phone system. This makes it easier to manage all communication channels from one platform without paying for separate tools.
  • Usability
    A cheap VoIP service should still be easy to set up and navigate, even for non-technical users. Look for mobile and desktop apps that allow you to manage calls from anywhere.
  • Security
    Even cheap VoIP services should include encryption and security features to protect your calls and data. Ask about measures like encryption in transit and at rest, account authentication, and regular security updates.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is the cheapest VoIP service?

An example of the cheapest VoIP service is Zoom Phone, with plans starting at just $10.50 per user per month, billed annually. Even at this low price, it includes essential call handling features and flexible call plans.

Are there any free VoIP services?

Yes. CallHippo offers a completely free VoIP service that includes an omnichannel inbox, real-time analytics, and 100 SMS messages.

What is the best home VoIP service?

In terms of reliability and popularity, Ooma is a top choice for home VoIP. Its free residential phone plan is included with a one-time purchase of the Ooma Telo device, offering free US calling and an answering machine. You can also upgrade to the Premium plan for advanced call blocking and enhanced voicemail features.

Bottom line

The best cheap VoIP provider should lower your phone costs without forcing you to give up the features your business needs to serve customers. While the cheapest plans are useful for basic calling, small businesses should also compare call routing, texting, video meetings, mobile apps, support, security, and add-on fees before choosing a provider.

Based on my evaluation, Nextiva is the best cheap VoIP provider for small businesses because it combines customer management, calling, video meetings, team messaging, and responsive support in one platform. However, the right choice depends on your budget and workflow. Zoom Phone is the most affordable option for flexible calling, Grasshopper and Talkroute work well for shared phone numbers, and eVoice is a simple fit for solo professionals.

Faithe J. Day, Ph.D.

Faithe J. Day, Ph.D.

Lead Writer, VoIP at Fit Small Business

Faithe J. Day is a technology expert with over a decade of experience writing and teaching about emerging digital trends. Holding a Ph.D. in Communication Studies, she has spent more than six years educating diverse audiences on communication strategies and collaborative tools. Her expertise spans office technology, project management software, and social media platforms. Faithe has contributed to Fit Small Business, Technology Advice, Noble Desktop, and Women in Tech, providing insightful analysis to help readers navigate the evolving tech landscape.

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