Google Voice offers a free virtual phone number and additional features with a paid plan, making it a great option for solopreneurs. However the service’s simple features are a less ideal solution for growing teams. Therefore, we evaluated several of the best Google Voice alternatives on the market to help identify more attractive options for small businesses with more robust calling needs.
Based on our review, the best Google Voice alternatives include:
- RingCentral: Better for companies wanting an all-in-one unified communications platform
- Grasshopper: An easy-to-use, drop-in alternative for those needing multiple extension support but not a full-blown business phone system
- Phone.com: A better choice for businesses that want to mix and match phone features for specific employees
- 8×8: A more suitable business phone solution for organizations making frequent international calls
- OpenPhone: A better virtual phone service for those who want robust integrations
- Sideline: A better option for teams who want calls to a single phone line to be associated with multiple devices
How We Evaluated Google Voice Alternatives
Google Voice is a top-rated virtual phone system, which means it requires users to have a pre-existing phone line in order to work. We considered the plans and feature sets of similar technology, but we also looked at full-featured business phone services that did away with this requirement.
With a score of 4.63 out of 5, RingCentral is the best Google Voice alternative. This is because it does away with the need for an existing phone line while also providing you with mobility and features Google Voice users love, like visual voicemail. In addition, it’s also one of the best full-featured business phone systems for ease of use, popularity, and value, making it a great option for teams of all sizes.
Click on the tabs below to see the criteria used in our evaluation:
25% of Overall Score
When considering plans, we looked at price points for each tier, including per-user costs and optional free plans. Plus, we figured in discounts for annual payments.
25% of Overall Score
We reviewed plans offering an auto-attendant, text messaging, visual voicemail, and call forwarding. Moreover, we looked at toll-free numbers and multiple extension options.
25% of Overall Score
We assessed mobile and desktop app functionality, the cost of international calling, call log reports, and voicemail transcription during our review.
25% of Overall Score
To determine an expert score, we analyzed overall features, value, popularity, and ease of use.
RingCentral
PROS
- Document sharing capabilities on all plans
- Video and audio conferencing
- Voicemail-to-text feature
CONS
- More expensive than Google Voice
- Unlike Google Voice, call recording is only on upper-tier plans
- It may be overkill for small teams
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
RingCentral and Google Voice both offer visual voicemail options and mobile apps. However, it is worth pointing out that RingCentral is a more advanced service. For example, while Google Voice works primarily as a call forwarding platform, RingCentral is a complete unified communications platform that can replace your existing phone service and eliminates the need for a separate video calling service or messaging app.
As a result, RingCentral is an excellent alternative for companies wanting an all-in-one communication and collaboration platform. Unlike Google Voice, RingCentral gives discounts for annual payments, with plans starting at $19.99 per user, per month for two to 10 users when paid annually.
RingCentral Pricing*
- Essentials: $19.99 per user, per month for a local or toll-free number, voicemail-to-text, an auto-attendant, document sharing, and unlimited calls and text
- Standard: $27.99 per user, per month for a local, 800, or international number, multilevel auto-attendant, and video meetings with up to 100 participants
- Premium: $34.99 per user, per month for automatic call recording, custom integrations, video meetings with up to 200 participants, and advanced call handling features
- Ultimate: $49.99 per user, per month for unlimited cloud storage and advanced device management capabilities
*Pricing is based on two to 20 users when paid yearly, and monthly plans are available at a higher cost.
RingCentral Features
- Collaboration tools: Google Voice isn’t a unified communications tool like RingCentral, so RingCentral provides many more capabilities, allowing you to share documents and message team members with ease.
- Video calling: Unlike Google Voice, RingCentral offers video meetings without using a different app. You can have 100 to 200 participants per video call.
- Voicemail transcription: RingCentral and Google Voice both provide voicemail transcription. However, RingCentral also offers voicemail-to-text and voicemail-to-email options.
Learn more about RingCentral by reading our full review.
Grasshopper
PROS
- Set up your phone system in minutes
- Plans offer multiple numbers and extensions
- Voicemail transcriptions
CONS
- No call recording
- No calendar integrations
- Not a phone system replacement
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
Like Google Voice, Grasshopper is a virtual phone number provider offering unlimited domestic calling and a free business phone number. It’s a suitable alternative for companies wanting more of a drop-in replacement compared to an alternative like RingCentral, with more customer service options and a simple four-step setup process compared to Google Voice.
Plus, you can select a toll-free or vanity number, which Google Voice doesn’t offer. Grasshopper plans start at $26 per month for one phone number and three extensions when paid annually. Since you can connect three employees via extensions, Grasshopper is cheaper than Google’s per-user pricing.
Grasshopper Pricing*
- Solo: $26 per month for one local, vanity, or toll-free phone number and three extensions
- Partner: $44 per month for three local, vanity, or toll-free phone numbers and six extensions
- Small Business: $80 per month for five local, vanity, or toll-free numbers and unlimited extensions
*Pricing is based on annual billing, but you can opt for monthly plans at a higher cost.
Grasshopper Features
- Instant response: Grasshopper comes with a unique feature that lets you send an automated text message when you miss a call, and the recipient can message you back.
- Multiple numbers and extensions: Google Voice charges by the user, but Grasshopper allows you to pay one price for one to six phone numbers and forward callers to many different employee extensions.
- Mobile and desktop apps: Like Google Voice, Grasshopper provides user-friendly applications. However, Grasshopper’s get slightly higher user ratings for ease of use.
For a full comparison, check out our Grasshopper vs Google Voice article. You may also read our Grasshopper review to learn if this virtual phone system is right for your company.
Phone.com
PROS
- Hold music comes with all plans
- User-friendly click-to-call feature
- All plans offer an auto-attendant
CONS
- Voicemail transcription isn’t available for basic users
- Inbound faxing is an add-on fee
- Call recording only available for Pro users
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
Google Voice doesn’t let you mix and match packages to suit the needs of different employees or offer discounts when buying in volume or paying annually. This means you might wind up paying for features individuals on your team don’t need.
In contrast, Phone.com lets you create a pricing plan tailored to your specific needs. Moreover, with Phone.com, you’ll get over 50 standard features, including video conferencing, and an auto-attendant on all plans. Even without tailoring your plan, Phone.com costs about the same as Google Voice, but annual payments will make Phone.com the less expensive option.
Phone.com Pricing*
- Basic Users: $10.39 per user, per month for one standard number per account, 300 polled minutes, 1,000 polled text segments, and up to 10 video meeting participants
- Plus Users: $15.99 per user, per month for one phone number per user, unlimited minutes and text messages, and up to 25 video participants
- Pro Users: $23.99 per user, per month for everything in the Plus plan plus call recording, analytics, and up to 100 video meeting participants
*Prices are based on an annual payment, and monthly plans are available. Volume discounts can reduce your monthly costs by $2 to $8 per user.
Phone.com Features
- Team collaboration: Phone.com users can easily share their screen or documents during a call or chat during a meeting, allowing employees to get more done over the phone than is possible with Google Voice.
- Mix and match plans: With Phone.com, you can pick different plans according to individual employee needs, potentially lowering your overall phone system cost without sacrificing features.
- Integrations: For Pro users, you can integrate with your customer relationship management (CRM) software and use click-to-dial, call tracking, and screen pops. Although Phone.com doesn’t integrate natively with Google applications, Zapier can connect your phone system to Google and other tools.
8x8
PROS
- Unlimited international calls
- Scalable call center capabilities
- 30-day free trial for 8x8 Express
CONS
- More expensive than Google Voice plans
- Customer service isn’t always responsive
- Unlike Google Voice, call recording isn’t available for the basic 8x8 plan
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.44 | OUT OF | 5 |
If your business is expanding globally, per-minute rates while using Google Voice can add up. This makes 8×8 a better alternative as it offers unlimited international calling for 14 to 47 countries. Even better, like Google Voice, 8×8 comes with voicemail and an auto-attendant. However, you’ll also get video and audio conferencing capabilities, on-hold music, and advanced call routing features. Monthly packages start at $12 per user, per month, but you’ll need upper-tier plans for unlimited international calling.
8x8 Pricing
- 8×8 Express: $12 per user, per month for unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada, call routing, auto-attendant, and music-on-hold
- X2: $24 per user, per month for unlimited voice calling to 14 countries, video and audio conferencing, and integrations*
- X4: $44 per user, per month for unlimited voice calling to 47 countries and monitor, whisper, and barge functions*
*Prices are based on an annual payment, but monthly plans are available.
8x8 Features
- International calling: 8×8 offers unmetered calling zones with X-series plans, allowing you to call up to 47 countries without per-minute costs. Some countries include Australia, France, Germany, Italy, and Ireland.
- Call center capabilities: Companies using Google Voice may outgrow the plan’s features. But, 8×8 provides packages for small teams up to full-size contact centers.
- Call management: Unlike Google Voice, 8×8 delivers advanced call routing and handling features, such as hot-desking, call monitoring, call whisper, and call barge.
OpenPhone
PROS
- More features than Google Voice for a similar price
- Toll-free numbers
- Voicemail-to-text
CONS
- No discounts for annual payments
- Limited to only five phone numbers per account
- No video meeting options
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 2.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.06 | OUT OF | 5 |
OpenPhone is a strong Google Voice competitor as it’s perfect for companies on a budget wanting call recording, voicemail transcription, and unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada. Notably, the service also includes native Zapier integrations so that you can connect the service with a wide range of outside business applications, such as a scheduling app like Calendly or a collaboration platform like Airtable. As such, we recommend it for anyone who wants their phone service to work with virtually all of their other apps.
OpenPhone Pricing
- Standard: $10 per user, per month for a local or toll-free number, unlimited calling and texting, call recording, Slack, and Zapier integrations
- Premium: $25 per user, per month to add call transfer, analytics, and priority phone support
- Enterprise: Receive a customized quote to access an audit log and get a dedicated account manager
OpenPhone Features
- Integrations: Use Zapier, import a CSV file, or sync Google Contacts with your OpenPhone system for a companywide contact list. You can make notes on contacts and alert team members by mentioning them in your contacts. Google Voice lacks this level of integration.
Snippets: Although Google Voice supports text messaging, OpenPhone goes a step further. You can ensure consistent messaging by creating message templates and saved responses that your team can use for replying to clients. You can also set up auto-replies. - Call routing: Google Voice only offers an auto-attendant on upper-tier plans, but it comes on all OpenPhone plans. Plus, you can forward calls to a U.S. or Canadian number or transfer a call to a coworker.
Sideline
PROS
- Text messaging marketing tools
- 30-day free trial for the Enterprise plan
- Custom caller ID
CONS
- Growing companies may need more features
- Doesn’t offer call recording
- No toll-free phone numbers
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.44 | OUT OF | 5 |
Sideline is a virtual number provider like Google Voice. It offers similar features, such as voicemail and unlimited calling and texting. But Sideline gives users access to its proprietary caller ID system, allowing you to quickly tell the difference between personal and professional calls. Furthermore, Sideline offers a number-sharing option where you can pay one price and connect an unlimited number of employees to your line, which can cost as little as $9.99 per month.
Sideline Pricing
- Sideline Standard: $9.99 per month for one phone number, a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, an auto-reply feature, voicemail, and voicemail transcription*
- Sideline Pro: $9.99 per month through June 30, 2021, for one phone number, an iOS app, automated text reminders, a contact panel, and premium support
- Sideline Team Number: $9.99 per month for the Standard plan, and you can set up team sharing by inviting co-workers to join your line**
- Sideline Enterprise: $9.99 per line, per month for one phone number, iOS and Android apps, an instant employee directory, and an admin control panel
*Six- and 12-month plans cost $8.33 per month when paid in full.
**Three-, six-, and 12-month plans cost $8.33 per month when paid upfront.
Sideline Features
- SMS marketing: Although Google allows unlimited texting, you can’t customize your messages with a logo or website address like you can with Sideline. Plus, Sideline lets you send automatic reminders to clients.
- Contact panel: Google Voice calls don’t always show up correctly on your caller ID, while Sideline uses a custom caller ID system so you know who’s calling and whether they’re calling your personal or business number.
- Team number: Pay one low price to share your phone line with all team members. Anyone can answer calls or respond to text messages using a shared inbox. Additionally, you can review logs to see which employees called or texted clients.
Bottom Line
Google Voice is an inexpensive business phone system for small businesses. However, there are several reasons why business owners choose a Google Voice alternative. Free 1-800 phone numbers and advanced call management features can help a company expand. But Google Voice offers a limited feature set that’s lacking in some places where top contenders stand out.
Our top pick for the best Google Voice alternative is RingCentral. It’s a robust, all-in-one communications and collaboration platform. RingCentral offers features you already use in Google Voice, but adds advanced options perfect for a growing business. RingCentral will port your Google Voice number for free, and you can take advantage of a free trial to see if it’s a good fit.
