Top 6 Cheap VoIP Services for 2022
Corey McCraw is a staff writer covering VoIP and Unified Communications. Corey has over a decade of experience in marketing, tech writing, and corporate communications and has even penned content for the former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative.
This article is part of a larger series on VoIP.
Voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) providers offer must-have tools for internal and external business communications, but they don’t have to break your budget. There are several low-cost VoIP options that provide great phone calling, short message service (SMS) texting, video conferencing, team chat, and efficient call handling features. We found these six platforms offer the best cheap VoIP services for small businesses:
- Grasshopper: Best overall, and top cheap VoIP service for small teams that want a modern, easy-to-use user interface (UI) and basic call management features
- Phone.com: Top low-cost VoIP solution for small businesses that want metered and unlimited pricing options, video conferencing, and a la carte add-ons
- Dialpad: Best affordable VoIP option for startups looking for a simple, user-friendly solution with a smart, multi-level auto-attendant
- 8×8: Best cheap VoIP plans for organizations that want unlimited calling and texting to 48 international locations and the ability to mix and match plans to save money
- Google Voice: Best for solopreneurs and small teams that want a low-cost, Google-integrated VoIP service that easily connects with Google Workspace applications
- 800.com: Top cheap VoIP service for companies in need of an affordable toll-free number
Cheap VoIP Service | Starting Price | Key Features | Free Trial | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $26 per user, per month |
| 7 days | 4.54 out of 5 |
 | $10.39 per user, per month |
| N/A | 4.36 out of 5 |
 | $15 per user, per month |
| 14 days | 4.29 out of 5 |
 | $15 per user, per month |
| 30 days | 4.12 out of 5 |
 | $10 per user, per month |
| N/A | 3.59 out of 5 |
 | $19 per user, per month |
| N/A | 3.53 out of 5 |
Grasshopper: Best Overall Cheap VoIP Service
Grasshopper
Overall Score: 4.54
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Modern user interface (UI)
- Easy to set up
- Call handling features
What's Missing
- Lacks international calling and international phone numbers
- Expensive for single user
Grasshopper Pricing*
- Solo Plan: $26 per month for one phone number and up to three extensions
- Partner Plan: $44 per month for three phone numbers and up to six extensions
- Small Business Plan: $80 per month for five phone numbers and unlimited extensions
*Pricing based on 10% annual subscription discount
Grasshopper is our top choice for cheap VoIP service providers. Its modern user interface is easy to navigate and use. Every calling feature is included with each Grasshopper plan, meaning you can choose the package that makes sense for your user count rather than upgrading to unlock specific features.
Our favorite Grasshopper features are the instant response, custom greetings, and simultaneous call handling. While you have to pay a one-time $75 fee for a professional voice greeting up to 250 words, it adds another layer of polish to your brand.
On the downside, while Grasshopper’s services are perfect for solopreneurs, the entry-level pricing is not. For instance, if you choose the Solo plan, you pay $26 per month, which is hefty compared to Google Voice’s $10 per user, per month plan or Dialpad’s Standard plan, which comes in at $15 per user, per month.
However, if you upgrade to the Grasshopper Partner plan, you essentially pay less than $15 per phone number, per month, making it one of the most affordable options on this list. Plus, if your team can get by with extensions rather than phone numbers, your real per-user cost drops dramatically.
Grasshopper Features
Entering a number is easy in Grasshopper’s clean, modern interface. (Source: Grasshopper)
- Instant response: Automatically text incoming callers when you’re unavailable to answer the phone, ensuring everyone gets a timely response.
- Incoming call control: Set custom business hours and screen callers to handle calls on your schedule.
- Custom greetings: Hire professional voice talent from Grasshopper’s Voice Studio to record your business’ greeting.
Phone.com: Best Cheap VoIP Service for Mixed Pricing Options
Phone.com
Overall Score: 4.36
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Metered and unlimited plans
- Video conferencing
- A la carte add-ons
What's Missing
- Less intuitive navigation and dated-looking UI
- Customer relationship management (CRM) software integration only available on Pro plan
Phone.com Pricing*
- Basic Users: $10.39 per user, per month for 300 pooled minutes, 1,000 pooled text messages, 10 video conferencing participants, and mobile and web apps
- Plus Users: $15.99 per user, per month for unlimited minutes and text messages, 25 video conference participants, and video recording
- Pro Users: $23.99 per user, per month for CRM integrations, call analytics, 100 video meeting participants, recording transcription, and whiteboarding
*Pricing based on 20% annual subscription discount
Phone.com makes our list for its diverse set of pricing plans. Choose from a mix of metered and unlimited plans to ensure your business only pays for what it needs. The entry-level Basic Users plan comes with 300 pooled minutes and 1,000 pooled text segments, making it the perfect option for organizations with low call volume.
Phone.com provides a competitive list of general and advanced features. Users get smart routing, high definition (HD) voice, hold music, international calling, video conferencing, automated attendants, and even customer relationship manager (CRM) integrations.
Plus, you can purchase specific add-ons on an a la carte basis to avoid spending money for features you don’t need. These add-ons include live receptionists, international calling, global numbers, call recording, and toll-free numbers.
Unfortunately, the user interface (UI) is a bit dated and difficult to navigate. Businesses looking for a more modern UI will appreciate Grasshopper’s clean design and easy-to-navigate menus or Dialpad’s simplicity and user-friendliness.
Phone.com Features
Phone.com’s video conferencing tools and interface. (Source: Phone.com)
- Breakout rooms: Add engagement to your video conferencing meetings with breakout rooms on Phone.com’s Pro Users plan.
- Business phone numbers: Toll-free, global, local, or custom (vanity) numbers—Phone.com has it all.
- Metered plans: Control business expenses by paying only for what you need and purchase add-on minutes to avoid overages.
Dialpad: Best Cheap VoIP Service for Ease of Use
Dialpad
Overall Score: 4.29
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- International phone numbers, calling, and SMS texting
- Key third-party integrations
- Multi-level auto-attendant
What's Missing
- Extensions are locked behind Enterprise plan
- Video conferencing is through another app (Dialpad UberConference)
Dialpad Pricing
- Standard: $15 per user, per month for unlimited domestic calling and SMS texting, call handling features, voicemails transcriptions, and basic integrations
- Pro: $25 per user, per month for CRM integrations, 5-hour meeting duration, and international SMS texting
- Enterprise: Contact sales for a 100% uptime service level agreement (SLA), unlimited ring groups, and single sign-on (SSO) integrations
Dialpad earns a top spot on this list of the top cheap VoIP services thanks to its simplicity and ease of use. It’s smooth, user-friendly apps are packed with all the essential features most businesses need to communicate. The multi-level auto-attendant is one of the best advanced features Dialpad offers, and it’s even available on the entry-level plan.
Dialpad offers basic integrations and call handling features on all of its plans, making it a great option for small businesses that can’t afford to upgrade to premium tiers. However, while every user gets a local number included with their license, businesses will need to purchase the Enterprise plan to unlock extensions—a feature that comes with Grasshopper’s entry-level plan.
Grasshopper’s Partner plan is a bit more budget-friendly for small teams, but it doesn’t offer video conferencing or the number of integrations that Dialpad supports. If you need one license, we recommend Dialpad—if you need two or more licenses, choose Grasshopper.
Dialpad Features
Chat, share files, and move projects along in Dialpad’s user-friendly interface. (Source: Dialpad)
- Team chat: Get unified communications functionality like the ability to message with team members, share files, and collaborate from a single platform.
- AI assistance: Artificial intelligence (AI) transcribes calls, analyzes customer sentiment, and sends you a call summary detailing next steps.
- Integrations: Connect Dialpad to popular business apps like Salesforce, Google Workspace, Zendesk, Slack, and Okta.
8×8: Best Cheap VoIP Service for International Calling
8x8
Overall Score: 4.12
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Unlimited calling to 48 international locations
- Easy to set up and manage
- Scalable for growing businesses
What's Missing
- Expensive premium plan
- Clunky UI
8x8 Pricing*
- Express: $15 per user, per month for unlimited voice, video, and SMS texting in the U.S. and Canada, an auto-attendant, on-hold music, and intelligent call routing
- X2: $24 per user, per month for unlimited calling to 14 countries, 30 days of media storage, unlimited internet fax, and call activity analytics
- X4: $44 per user, per month for unlimited calling to 48 countries, media storage for 130 days, and supervisor analytics
*Pricing based on annual subscription discount
International calling is notoriously costly, but not if you have a unified communications solution like 8×8. 8×8 supports unlimited international calling to 48 locations on the X4 plan, making it more affordable to communicate with teammates and customers across seas and borders.
However, with a hefty $44 per user, per month cost, it’s still costly to do business internationally. Fortunately, you can reduce that cost with 8×8, since one of their unique aspects is the ability to mix and match plans. Users who need the advanced features and international calling capabilities in X Series plans can have them while other users can subscribe to cheaper plans.
8×8 provides unlimited voice, video, and SMS texting in the U.S. and Canada, as well as robust VoIP features like auto-attendants, intelligent call routing, and call handling functionality like monitor, whisper, and barge.
Unfortunately, 8×8’s UI is clunky and not especially intuitive. It lacks the ease and simplicity that you get with apps like Dialpad and Grasshopper. Still, once you learn to navigate all the features, 8×8 is a powerful and fairly affordable VoIP service your business can use from its startup days all the way to enterprise.
8×8 Features
Two 8×8 users on a VoIP video call. (Source: 8×8)
- HD video conferencing: Host HD video meetings with up to 500 participants and end-to-end encryption.
- Unlimited international calling: Make unlimited international calls to 14 or 48 locations with X series plans.
- Call handling: Provide top-notch training and agent support with call handling features like monitor, whisper, and barge.
Google Voice: Best Cheap VoIP Service for Businesses Using Google Workspace
Google Voice
Overall Score: 3.59
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Integrates with Google Workspace apps
- Familiar user interface
- Desk phone support
What's Missing
- Limited VoIP features
- Poor customer service
Google Voice Pricing
- Starter: $10 per user, per month for up to 10 users with unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada and unlimited SMS texting in the U.S.
- Standard: $20 per user, per month for unlimited users, a multi-level auto-attendant, ring groups, and desk phone support
- Premier: $30 per user, per month for advanced reporting and analytics
Google Voice is the go-to cheap VoIP option for businesses that rely on Google Workspace applications. It integrates smoothly with Gmail, Calendars, Meet, Drive, and Google Fi to streamline workflows and help you collaborate more from your VoIP service platform. Google Voice’s user interface feels familiar to other Google apps, making it easy for new users to get up and running in no time.
Google Voice supports various Polycom desk phones, empowering you to take and receive calls over the internet on your existing hardware. Unfortunately, this feature is locked behind the Standard plan, so you’ll need to upgrade if you plan on taking advantage of it.
While Google Voice’s prices and reliability compete well with other cheap VoIP services, it falls behind when it comes to features. The platform delivers a multi-level auto-attendant, but it lacks some of the more robust call routing and call handling features that other providers like 8×8 and Phone.com provide.
Google Voice Features
Google Voice’s web and mobile user interfaces. (Source: Google Voice)
- Google Workspace integrations: Connect Google Voice to your favorite Google Workspace apps to streamline your workflows and reduce duplicative tasks.
- Multi-level auto-attendant: Guide inbound callers to the right extension the first time with easy-to-navigate menus.
- Visual voicemail: Google Voice automatically transcribes your voicemails and lets you lock them behind a personal identification number (PIN) for extra privacy.
800.com: Best Cheap VoIP Service for Toll-free Numbers
800.com
Overall Score: 3.53
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Every plan includes all features, just like with Grasshopper
- Toll-free numbers
- Application programming interface (API) access
What's Missing
- No volume discounts
- No video conferencing
800.com Pricing*
- Personal: $19 per month for 1,000 minutes, 1 toll-free number, and all VoIP features
- Unlimited: $49 per month for unlimited minutes and 1 toll-free number
- Pro: $199 per month for unlimited seats, 5,000 minutes, and 5 toll-free numbers
*Pricing based on 20% annual subscription discount
800.com is a great option for businesses in need of vanity or toll-free numbers (including Canadian toll-free numbers). The VoIP service offers SMS texting, call forwarding, call recording, voicemail-to-email, and developer API and webhook access.
The $19 per month entry-level plan is a bit steep, but it’s the perfect package if your business has low call volume but wants the professional branding that comes with a toll-free number. 800.com lacks the scalability of other services and instead caters to solopreneurs and small teams. Businesses in need of more robust VoIP features will find 8×8 or Phone.com to be better solutions.
800.com Features
Choosing a toll free or vanity business phone number is easy with 800.com. (Source: 800.com)
- API and webhook access: Connect 800.com into your applications with API and webhook access.
- Call forwarding options: Choose to forward your calls simultaneously or sequentially.
- Call notifications: Turn on call notifications to track missed calls and receive email notifications about your inbound callers.
How We Evaluated the Best Cheap VoIP Services
Our primary factor in building this list of cheap VoIP services is price. While other business phone systems like RingCentral and Nextiva boast more extensive features and integrations, they demand more costly per-user monthly subscriptions. After evaluating price points, we compared each platform’s general and advanced features to see how they stacked up against each other.
Based on the criteria above, we found Grasshopper to be the best cheap VoIP service for small businesses and solopreneurs. Grasshopper provides affordable pricing for teams (as low as $15 per user, per month on the Partner plan), while delivering call management functionality like business hours, instant response, custom greetings, and simultaneous call handling. Plus, it’s all delivered through user-friendly mobile and web apps.
Learn how we evaluated the best cheap VoIP service by clicking on the tabs below:
20%
Pricing
30%
General Features
25%
Advanced Features
25%
Expert Score
20% of Overall Score
We compared the price points of entry-level and premium plans to determine which providers deliver the most bang for your buck. We gave bonus points to cheap VoIP services that offer free plans, lower annual pricing, and free trials.
30% of Overall Score
We analyzed each service’s offerings to ensure it provided general VoIP features, such as automated attendants, short message service (SMS) texting, voicemail, mobile and desktop apps, and conference calling.
25% of Overall Score
While advanced features aren’t must-haves, they differentiate small business VoIP providers and make them more powerful for certain businesses. We looked for features like international calling, vanity numbers, software integrations, voicemail transcription, and toll-free numbers.
25% of Overall Score
Expert score is based on our own hands-on experience with the products to determine the ease of setup and use, and we also looked for standout features. Plus, we analyzed user reviews to learn about other buyer’s experiences with the products.
*Percentages of overall score
Bottom Line
These are the best cheap VoIP services to get the communication tools your business needs while staying within your budget. Based on our research, Grasshopper is the best all-around solution for businesses that need a simple, easy-to-use cheap VoIP service. Businesses in need of a unified communications platform will find 8×8 and Phone.com deliver for a bit of a higher fee, but they’re still cheaper than most other small business VoIP services.
