8 Best Google Voice Alternatives for 2023

Google Voice is a budget-friendly, voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) platform that allows businesses to secure a virtual phone number, make and receive calls, and send messages. While it’s a great phone system for solopreneurs and small businesses, it lacks variety in phone number offerings, call management capabilities, and third-party integrations. For this reason, we explored phone systems providing the features Google Voice lacks.

After comparing different solutions, Phone.com came out as the best overall Google Voice alternative. Here are excellent contenders to Google Voice and their best use cases:

• Phone.com: Best for small teams requiring a budget-friendly, yet feature-rich VoIP solution
• RingCentral: Ideal for companies that prefer a wide range of third-party integrations
• Dialpad: Top choice for organizations looking for a phone system with robust artificial intelligence (AI) tools
• 8×8: Best for businesses aiming to expand or maintain global reach
• Grasshopper: Ideal for companies that prefer flat rates on VoIP solutions
• GoTo Connect: Top choice for organizations scaling customer communications
• Ooma: Best for startups that need a phone system for their home office
• Avaya Cloud: Ideal for organizations requiring a generous toll-free minute allowance

Google Voice & Best Alternatives at a Glance

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Phone.com: Best Overall Google Voice Alternative

Phone.com is the best overall Google Voice alternative because it features robust VoIP capabilities at a subscription cost close to Google Voice, with annual and volume discounts available. Its business phone tools include call handling rules, call screening, call forwarding, call transfer, and call waiting. Choose from local, toll-free, vanity, and global numbers. If you want to retain a number, the porting services are offered across all plans, at no extra cost.

Aside from its robust VoIP capabilities, Phone.com is a great Google Voice alternative because it comes with video conferencing features. Users are able to virtually meet without time limits and host up to 100 participants. Collaborate with remote team members using screen and file sharing, in-meeting chat, and whiteboard.

However, take note that Phone.com’s call analytics, a standard feature in other Google Voice alternatives, is only available in its most expensive package. Dialpad has this capability powered by artificial intelligence (AI), offered across all its pricing plans, including its base-level subscription.

Phone.com Monthly Pricing at a Glance*

• Basic: $14.99 per user for 500 pooled minutes, one phone number per account, short messaging service (SMS), automated attendant, and up to 10 video meeting participants
• Plus: $19.99 for unlimited calling minutes, one phone number per user, voicemail transcription, up to 25 video meeting participants, video recording, meeting lock, and HIPAA-compliant video
• Pro: $29.99 per user for call recording, integration with third-party business tools, up to 100 video meeting participants, livestreaming of video meetings on YouTube, Hi-Fi video transcription, and breakout rooms

*Pricing is based on monthly billing for one to four users; save 20% with annual billing.

Phone.com Features

• Audio conferencing: Conduct virtual meetings for up to 300 participants with high-definition voice quality. Phone.com offers a conference bridge that features a separate, password-protected number.
• Click-to-call: Let your website visitors connect with a company representative while they browse through online pages. When visitors leave contact numbers, Phone.com automatically places an outbound call to connect you with the interested customer.
• Voicemail transcription: Get the gist of voicemails quickly without playing them repeatedly by reading the transcribed version of the message. Users are able to delete, download, and mark voicemails as read and unread.

RingCentral: Best for Extensive Third-party Integrations

Listed as our top pick for the best business phone systems, RingCentral is an excellent Google Voice alternate for its extensive third-party integrations. Google Voice only connects with Google Workspace tools like Meet. RingCentral, on the other hand, works with over 200 business tools. It even integrates with Google Workspace, enabling users to schedule meetings via Google Calendar, share files with Google Drive, and send SMS right from Gmail threads.

Unlike Google Voice, RingCentral features can be embedded into customer relationship management (CRM) systems. These tools include Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Zendesk, and ServiceNow. With this, you get to see all key customer information while placing and receiving calls.

One disadvantage in choosing RingCentral, however, is that its subscription packages are slightly in the expensive range. Moreover, you must choose its Premium plan ($47.99 per user, per month) to unlock CRM integrations. If you’re after an affordable VoIP platform with CRM integrations, go for 8×8 instead, another great alternative for Google Voice. Its second-tier package, priced at only $28, includes CRM integrations.

RingCentral Monthly Pricing at a Glance*

• Core: $30 for message and phone functionality for 20 users
• Advanced: $35 for an unlimited number of users, unlimited internet fax, audio conferencing, third-party integrations, and video conferencing for up to 24 hours and 100 participants
• Ultra: $45 for automatic call recording, real-time analytics, customer relationship management (CRM) integration, devices status reports, and video meetings with up to 200 participants
• Free trial: 14 days

*Pricing is based on monthly billing for one to 20 users; save up to 40% with annual billing.

RingCentral Features

• Task replies: Part of RingCentral’s team messaging features is the ability to give updates on the progress of created and assigned tasks. This capability helps the team stay on top of projects without jumping to an external task management platform.
• Team huddle: This persistent video chat room replicates spontaneous, real-life office interactions, as it allows team members to go in and out of meetings as they please.
• Live meeting transcription: This feature helps team members follow discussion points more accurately. It benefits late attendees, as they are able to scroll through the transcript, understand the context of the conversation, and catch up with colleagues.

Dialpad: Best Google Voice Alternative With AI Features

Dialpad is the top alternative to Google Voice when you want a phone system equipped with AI capabilities. This VoIP platform features real-time call and voicemail transcriptions, made accurate by natural language processing technology and machine learning algorithms. It sends automated post-call summaries, outlining the points and next steps discussed in the call.

The provider also has AI-powered live speech coaching, a feature that offers suggestions on how users can speak clearly during a call or meeting. If you host large video meetings, however, Dialpad may not be a good option. It only allows up to 10 session participants. Consider the other best alternatives to Google Voice: RingCentral accommodates up to 200 video meeting participants, while GoTo Connect hosts a maximum of 250. 8×8 has a 500-attendee capacity.

Dialpad Monthly Pricing at a Glance*

• Standard: $23 per user for unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada, internet fax, one local number, multi-level auto-attendant, maximum of three ring groups, unlimited meetings, up to 10 participants in video conferences, and built-in AI tools
• Pro: $35 per user for additional local or international numbers, maximum of 25 ring groups, international SMS, and integrations with CRM systems
• Enterprise: Customized quote for unlimited ring groups and integrations with single sign-on service providers, such as Okta, Azure, and OneLogin
• Free trial: 14 days

*Pricing is based on monthly billing. The entry-level plan’s cost is reduced from $23 to $15 per user, per month when you choose annual billing.

Dialpad Features

• Interactive voice response (IVR): Direct stakeholders to the right teams with Dialpad’s IVR system. Configure this feature by going to the Edit Call Routing option in the Admin settings.
• Call flip: Transfer calls without interrupting the conversation. This feature works on any device, whether it be desktop, mobile phone, or tablet.
• International calling: With advanced VoIP technologies like WebRTC and Opus Codec, you get to experience high-definition international calls. Dialpad charges overseas calls on a per minute basis.

8×8: Best for Global Reach

If you want to engage an international audience, 8×8 is one of the best Google Voice alternatives. The VoIP platform offers international numbers in over 100 countries, particularly Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and North and Latin America territories. On top of that, it provides unlimited voice calling to 48 countries.

Aside from international numbers and calling capabilities, 8×8 supports large audio and video conferencing sessions, accommodating up to 500 attendees. Participants from outside the U.S. are able to dial in via toll-free numbers.

The downside of using 8×8 as a phone system is you must choose its second-tier and most expensive plans to get the most of its valuable features. Unfortunately, those packages don’t come with a free trial. If you want a budget-friendly platform that comes with international phone numbers, consider using the best Google Voice alternative listed here: Phone.com.

8×8 Monthly Pricing at a Glance*

• Express: $15 per user for up to five users, unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada, basic auto-attendant, voicemail, team messaging, and audio and video conferencing
• X2: $29 per user for unlimited users, unlimited voice calling to 14 countries, hotdesking, multi-level auto-attendant, call handling, call queues, presence detection, voicemail transcription, team messaging with file sharing, up to 500 audio and video meeting participants, and livestreaming of meetings
• X4: $57 per user for 8×8 Frontdesk for receptionists and operators, call monitoring, and supervisor analytics
• Free trial: 30 days

*Pricing is based on monthly billing; save up to 23% with annual billing.

8×8 Features

• Branded video meetings: Customize the meeting interface background with your brand colors or images. Add your company logo and create a vanity URL to professionalize the virtual meeting environment and make a good impression on customers.
• Business hour handling: Determine where calls are directed during business hours. Set your voicemail or alternate contact numbers when calls are placed outside your office schedule.
• Remote desktop: If a participant in a meeting has trouble understanding something on their screen, e.g., during a software training session, send a request to connect to their desktop. Once the request is accepted, their screen will be shared, and you’re able to remotely control the desktop and demonstrate features.

Grasshopper: Best for Its Flat Rate Pricing

Grasshopper is another one of those apps similar to Google Voice, enabling businesses to forward calls, send texts, and read voicemails. What stands out in Grasshopper is its flat rate pricing model. Unlike Google Voice and other alternatives that charge per user, Grasshopper has a fixed fee regardless of the number of team members using the platform. This greatly benefits larger companies.

One more thing that makes Grasshopper better than Google Voice is that it offers all its features in all its plans—from call forwarding, virtual fax, and voicemail to instant response and call transfers. If you want to get a more in-depth discussion of the differences between these two VoIP providers, read this Grasshopper vs Google Voice guide.

While Grasshopper is a budget-friendly solution for big organizations, it’s not advisable for remote teams that need to be constantly connected. It lacks collaboration features, such as team chat and video conferencing. If these are important to you, choose the other listed VoIP apps similar to Google Voice, like RingCentral and 8×8.

Grasshopper Monthly Pricing at a Glance*

• Solo: $31 for one phone number, three extensions, and unlimited users
• Partner: $51 for three phone numbers, six extensions, and unlimited users
• Small Business: $89 for five phone numbers and unlimited extensions and users
• Free trial: Seven days

All plans include mobile and desktop apps, business text messaging, call forwarding, VoIP plus Wi-Fi calling, virtual fax, voicemail, instant response, custom greetings, call transfers, simultaneous call handling, incoming call control, and reporting.

*Pricing is based on monthly billing; save over 10% with annual billing.

Grasshopper Features

• Call forwarding: Direct inbound calls to several phones to make sure that all calls are accommodated. Configure the scheduling based on the availability of your team members.
• Voice studio: Record high-quality, professional greetings by tapping into the expertise of Grasshopper’s voice actors. This feature is an add-on, priced at $75 per order. An order can have several scripts.
• Q&A extensions: This phone extension lets businesses record questions that the Grasshopper system will ask callers, typically used in the company’s lead generation and order-taking efforts. The VoIP platform gathers all the answers into one voicemail.

GoTo Connect: Best for Scalability Features

GoTo Connect is a phone service like Google Voice, offering call forwarding and ring groups in its pricing plans. However, GoTo Connect outpaces Google Voice in terms of scalability. By choosing the Premium Plan, businesses are able to scale their phone system to a call center platform, equipping teams to handle high-volume calls and streamline agent performance.

Some of the features included in the GoTo Connect’s cloud call center are inbound and outbound call monitoring, supervisor dashboard, real-time queue updates, and agent effectiveness reporting. Compared to other call center phone systems, the provider’s Premium pricing is in the affordable range.

One drawback in choosing this VoIP platform, however, is that it doesn’t offer unlimited texting services. Depending on the plan you choose, you’ll only get a certain number of SMS credits. If you frequently execute text marketing campaigns, it’s better to choose Phone.com, as it offers unlimited SMS text messaging to any U.S. local number.

GoTo Connect Monthly Pricing at a Glance

• Basic: $27 per user for business phone numbers, smart call routing, unlimited extensions, one ring group, one auto-attendant recorded greeting, one call queue, maximum of four meeting participants, and 40 SMS credits
• Standard: $32 per user for unlimited auto-attendant recorded greetings, ring groups, and call queues, hotdesking, internet fax, free international calling to 50-plus countries, up to 1,000 toll-free minutes, maximum of 150 meeting participants, and 80 SMS credits
• Premium: $43 per user for up to 5,000 toll-free minutes, maximum of 250 meeting participants, 125 SMS credits, and contact center tools like call monitoring, supervisor dashboard, real-time queue updates, and agent effectiveness reporting

GoTo Connect Features

• Dial plan editor: This visual, drag-and-drop call flow editor makes it easy to map out how inbound calls move through the phone system. Maximize this feature to direct calls to specific ring groups and voicemail boxes.
• Call recording: Initiate a system-wide or call-specific recording. Call-specific recordings can be configured according to certain phone numbers, lines, ring groups, call queues, or conference bridges.
• Caller hold time report: Know how long a caller is put on hold before answering the call. With this information, you’re able to anticipate irate customers who have been on the line for a long time and plan an approach to easing the tension.

Ooma: Best for Home Office Operations

For solopreneurs and startups that need a Google Voice substitute for their home office operations, Ooma is the best option. The VoIP provider has its own analog telephone adapter, Telo, which allows you to connect any standard home phone, including cordless units, to your internet router. This eliminates the need to buy new internet protocol (IP) phones for your home office.

You’ll save more money in the long run, given that Ooma doesn’t charge a monthly fee, only a one-time payment for the Telo device. Aside from home phone services, Ooma has business phone plans, which feature over 50 call management and mobility capabilities, far more extensive than Google Voice offerings. Learn more about the differences between these two VoIP platforms in this Ooma vs Google Voice comparison review.

Unfortunately, a lot of the valuable VoIP features, namely call recording and voicemail transcription, are locked behind higher-tier Ooma Office plans, which start at $24.95 per user. Those capabilities are included in Dialpad’s base-level subscription, priced at $15 per user only when you choose the annual billing option.

Ooma Monthly Pricing at a Glance

• Ooma Basic*: $99.99 for Ooma Telo, unlimited nationwide calling, PureVoice high-definition technology, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, mobile app, and integration with Amazon Echo
• Essentials: $19.95 per user for 50-plus standard features, virtual receptionist, ring groups, music on hold, one toll-free number, digital fax, mobile app, and email audio attachments
• Pro: $24.95 per user for desktop app, text messaging, video conferencing, call recording, enhanced call blocking, voicemail transcription, Google and Office 365 integrations, and analytics
• Pro Plus: $29.95 per user for call queueing, Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 integrations, advanced call management, hotdesking, find me/follow me, and meetings recording

*The plan requires a one-time payment only for Ooma Telo, with no monthly phone service fee.

Ooma Features

• Call park: Put a call on hold and place it in a “community parking spot,” where other team members are able to pick up the call and attend to the caller’s concern. This feature is also beneficial when you want to retrieve the call from a different extension.
• 7-digit dialing: Make dialing easier and faster by dialing a local number without keying in its area code. To activate this feature, go to the “Numbers” settings and set the user’s local area code by clicking the option “Area Code for 7-digit Dial.”
• Integration with CRM systems: Take and receive calls right from Salesforce or Microsoft Dynamics 365. Ooma automatically generates a call task containing key information, such as the time and length of the call.

Avaya Cloud: Best for Generous Toll-free Minute Allowance

Businesses that receive plenty of customer inquiries and orders over the phone from different parts of the country will benefit from Avaya Cloud’s generous toll-free minute allowance. The maximum offering per account is 10,000 toll-free minutes.

Moreover, each user gets a toll-free number used for calling, team messaging, and video meeting access. Adding a toll-free number is as easy as confirming a system-assigned number or completing a vanity number request form in the Number settings at the web portal.

If you’re planning to use IP desk phones and conference phones, note that Avaya Cloud only works with its own hardware. If you need a wider range of hardware options, go for other alternatives to Google Voice like RingCentral. This VoIP solution allows businesses to rent phones from Poly, Yealink, Cisco, Mitel, Unify, and Avaya.

Avaya Cloud Monthly Pricing at a Glance*

• Essentials: $22.99 per user for up to 20 users only, business phone numbers, unlimited calls within the U.S. and Canada, up to 100 toll-free minutes, text messaging, voicemail transcription, team messaging, file sharing, and 24/7 support
• Standard: $30.99 per user for an unlimited number of users, international numbers, up to 1,000 toll-free minutes, on-demand call recording, unlimited internet fax and audio conferencing, and a maximum of 100 video meeting participants
• Premium: $37.99 per user for up to 2,500 toll-free minutes, automatic call recording, single sign-on, hotdesking, call monitoring, real-time analytics, CRM and industry-specific integrations, developer platform and custom integrations, and a maximum of 200 video meeting participants
• Ultimate: $52.99 per user for up to 10,000 toll-free minutes, device status reports and alerts, and unlimited storage

*Pricing is based on monthly billing for one to 20 users; save up to 13% with annual billing.

Avaya Cloud Features

• Audio conferencing: Host a maximum of 1,000 participants in a conference call. Each account user has unique host and participant access codes.
• Custom integrations: Avaya Cloud lets you use APIs for creating your own custom apps. However, take note that this feature is only available on Premium and Ultimate plans.
• Tasks: Click the file drawer icon at the left navigation panel of Avaya’s interface to view different kinds of tasks. Here, you’ll see the ones you created, the ones assigned to you, and the ones past due.

How We Evaluated the Best Google Voice Alternatives

To choose the top alternatives to Google Voice, we looked at VoIP platforms that offer features Google Voice lacks. These include robust call management capabilities, valuable AI tools, and extensive integrations. Similarly, we included the providers with accessible pricing points in our assessment.

Learn how we evaluated each Google Voice competitor by clicking on the tabs below:

Bottom Line

Google Voice is a straightforward VoIP solution ideal for solopreneurs and small teams. However, its limited call management capabilities are a deal-breaker to some businesses. If you’re looking for a great alternative, Phone.com is an excellent choice, given its affordable, flexible pricing, a wide range of phone number options, extensive features, and compatibility with IP desk phones. Subscribe to Phone.com risk-free with its 30-day money-back guarantee.

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