The best virtual phone number for small businesses offers a range of features that help keep work and personal communications organized and separate. Phone number options include local, toll-free, vanity, and international numbers. For streamlined call management, these vendors let you set up multiple phone lines and deliver extensive phone features, such as call forwarding, custom greetings, and call routing rules.
To choose a high-quality virtual phone number for business communication, consider the following list of VoIP providers:
- Grasshopper: Best overall virtual phone number provider
- RingCentral: Best for international communications
- Ooma: Best for regional calling
- Talkroute: Best for small-scale call centers
- Nextiva: Best for unified interactions
- eVoice: Best for affordability
- 800.com: Best call tracking
Grasshopper offers a seamless platform designed to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners alike. Take your business to the next level with streamlined communications. |
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Best virtual phone number providers compared
Virtual phone number provider | Monthly starting price (per user) | Key features | Our score out of 5 |
---|---|---|---|
$18 |
| 4.44 | |
$30 |
| 4.20 | |
$19.95 |
| 4.11 | |
$19 |
| 3.95 | |
$25 |
| 3.84 | |
$14 |
| 3.83 | |
$23 |
| 3.66 | |
Grasshopper: Best overall virtual phone number provider
What I liked
- Charges a flat monthly fee for unlimited users
- Offers toll-free vanity numbers with no extra fee
- Has the same feature set across plans
Where it falls behind
- Call recording and handling are not available on the base plan
- Has no integrations with third-party apps
- Limits usage to phone calls and SMS only
Grasshopper pricing All plans include business texting, call transfer, incoming call control, call forwarding, voicemail, e-fax, virtual fax, custom greetings, and reporting.
- True Solo: $18/user/month (or $14/user annually)
- Solo Plus: $32/user/month (or $25/user annually)
- Small Business: $70/user/month (or $55/user annually)
- Free trial: 7 days
Most virtual phone number providers typically charge per user for their monthly subscriptions. However, Grasshopper takes a cost-saving approach by charging a fixed monthly fee regardless of the number of users, making it suitable for teams sharing phone numbers.
Team members may share four numbers and unlimited extensions on its highest-tier plan. This enables you to manage customer calls and text messages from a manageable set of phone numbers, simplifying the customer service workflow. You can add as many employees as you want to an account without incurring extra charges.
Although Grasshopper is ideal for sharing phone numbers, it lacks integrations with third-party apps and unified communication features. For access to over 300 business integrations, consider RingCentral, which also has unified communication tools like team chat and video conferencing.
- Incoming call control: Customize call schedules and set up extensions based on your business hours. Prevent unwanted callers with call screening and call blocking.
- Mobile and desktop app: Use it for business calls and texts while keeping your calls and texts separate. You can also view voicemails and call history.
- Virtual fax: Use your business number to receive faxes on the Grasshopper app or in your email. Currently, only inbound faxing is supported, and faxes are sent in PDF format.
Send and receive messages in the Grasshopper mobile app. (Source: Grasshopper)
RingCentral: Best for international communications
What I liked
- Supports voice, video, and messaging across plans
- Has the most extensive library of third-party integrations
- Offers complete call management
Where it falls behind
- The most expensive provider on the list
- Can be too complex for teams with basic phone needs
- Has limited SMS credits per month
RingCentral pricing
- Core: $30/user/month (or $20/user annually)
- Advanced: $35/user/month (or $25/user annually)
- Ultra: $45/user/month (or $35/user annually)
RingCentral is the best provider of virtual phone numbers for businesses that regularly engage with a global clientele. It offers international calling with up to 1,000 minutes per user monthly, and it supports international SMS — businesses only need to submit a request to unlock this feature.
As the industry-leading VoIP phone system, RingCentral is an all-in-one business communications solution for calls, video conferencing, and team chat. It also integrates with over 300 third-party applications, allowing users to extend the platform’s functionality.
However, one major drawback of RingCentral is that its monthly fees exceed the average cost of other virtual number providers. A more budget-friendly alternative is eVoice, which charges just $14 per user and includes three phone numbers.
- Visual voicemail: This feature displays your voicemails in a list, including key information, such as the duration, contact name, and voicemail transcription. You can save the message, return the call, or select other responses.
- RingOut: Users with an unstable internet connection can make calls using a landline or mobile phone with a RingCentral phone number while keeping their landline or mobile number hidden.
- Team huddle: Host impromptu audio and video meetings where participants can come and go as they please. They can create huddle topics and hop in or out of the conversation at any time.
Start a huddle in the RingCentral app to meet with teammates. (Source: RingCentral)
Ooma: Best for regional calling
What I liked
- Includes 50-plus phone features
- Supports free home phone service
- Offers low-cost global calling rates
Where it falls behind
- Call queuing is only available on the highest-tier plan
- Has limited app integrations
- Lacks SMS credits on the base plan
Ooma pricing
Business Phone Plan
- Essentials: $19.95 a month
- Pro: $24.95 a month
- Pro Plus: $29.95 a month
Home Phone Service
- Basic: Free for US and Canada calling, call waiting, call logs, call hold, voicemail, caller ID, and call blocking
- Premier: $9.99 for enhanced caller ID, custom call blocking, advanced voicemail, call forwarding, and multi-ring
Ooma is the only virtual phone number service with unlimited calls beyond the US and Canada, extending to Mexico and Puerto Rico. This is perfect for businesses with customers in Latin American regions. In addition, its free home phone service offers unlimited international calling plans.
This provider’s home phone service lets you port your existing residential number or a new one. Then, you can subscribe to Ooma’s business phone plan to use its mobility features, enabling you to forward incoming calls to your home landline or mobile app. You can also use its international calling plan to make unlimited calls to landlines in over 60 countries and mobile phones in 10-plus locations.
While Ooma has extensive coverage for regional calls, it doesn’t have global phone numbers. So, if you need access to all types of virtual phone numbers, RingCentral is the most comprehensive solution for international communications, offering local numbers in over 100 locations.
- Overhead paging: Integrate your third-party paging system with your Ooma office phone. This is ideal for delivering announcements and emergency alerts.
- Virtual receptionist: Create a schedule that sends calls to the automated menu, extension, or voicemail. Use the text-to-speech feature to create custom messages.
- Simultaneous ring: Customize your call handling settings to allow multiple devices to ring when a user receives a call. Supported devices include analog, IP, or mobile phones.
Manage your ring order in the Ooma admin portal. (Source: Ooma)
Talkroute: Best for small-scale call centers
What I liked
- Allows unlimited inbound and outbound calls to the US and Canada
- Provides professional voiceover services on the highest-tier plans
- Charges only $5 per month for every additional user, phone number, and voice mailbox
Where it falls behind
- Lacks international numbers
- Locks in key features behind higher tiers like call recording and submenus
- Largely depends on Zapier for integrations
Talkroute pricing
- Basic: $19/month for one user
- Plus: $39/month with three users included
- Pro: $59/month with 10 users included
- Enterprise: Contact sales for custom pricing for over 20 users
- Free trial: 7 days
Talkroute works for small call center teams that prefer a low-cost virtual phone system over a full-fledged contact center platform. Higher subscription tiers like Plus, Pro, and Enterprise support three, 10, or over 20 users, respectively, so there’s no need to purchase a monthly subscription for each agent. In contrast, the Basic plan is best for solopreneurs.
Unlike most virtual phone number providers, Talkroute stands out for its complete call management capabilities, specifically for routing and forwarding incoming calls. It has unlimited inbound and outbound calls to the US and Canada (toll-free minutes included), allowing you to connect with local customers without worrying about overage charges.
However, the base plan does not offer many of Talkroute’s call handling features, such as call forwarding and transfers. So, solopreneurs who want more access to advanced VoIP features should consider Ooma, which offers all the features needed for routing calls in a business phone system.
- Multidigit extensions: Set up three- or four-digit extensions to route calls to the correct destination, play recorded messages, or send callers to voicemail.
- Call reporting and analytics: Detailed reports provide critical call information, such as date, time, duration, caller ID, and status. Use filtering options to retrieve specific call data.
- Call stacking: Accommodate multiple calls simultaneously and prevent busy signals on the caller’s end. Talkroute puts callers in a queue and plays hold music while they wait for the next available agent.
Talkroute allows you to assign multi-digit extensions to employees. (Source: Talkroute)
Nextiva: Best for unified interactions
What I liked
- Specializes in multichannel client interactions
- Provides a la carte options for features and integrations
- Supports multiple hardware options
Where it falls behind
- Lacks vanity number options
- Doesn’t include phone capabilities on entry-level plan
- Live chat and chatbot are paid add-on features
Nextiva pricing
- Digital: $25/user/month (or $20 annually)
- Core: $35/user/month (or $30 annually)
- Engage: $50/user/month (or $40 annually)
- Power Suite: $75/user/month (or $60 annually)
Nextiva is a cloud-based phone system that allows users to manage team and customer conversations from a single screen. Its productivity work hub, NextivaONE, is designed to address siloed data, application overload, and complex integrations. Users can access all internal and external interactions within a centralized platform, including calls, emails, SMS, and video meetings.
Similarly, Nextiva has been included in this guide because it has free number porting and virtual numbers. If you want to keep your existing number, Nextiva will help you with the transfer process without extra cost. To facilitate the process, submit all the requirements, like a completed Letter of Agency (LOA) and a recent bill from the current provider.
However, Nextiva’s lack of vanity of numbers may be a concern for businesses seeking a custom phone line. If you need a memorable contact number to make a great first impression, Grasshopper is a better option, as it doesn’t charge extra for toll-free vanity numbers.
- Phone presence: This feature displays the real-time phone status of employee extensions so you can quickly determine whether they are on a call. Status indicators include online, busy, and do not disturb.
- Team chat: Nextiva offers an integrated messaging app for group chats, video meetings, and virtual presentations. This enables users to collaborate over a scalable office phone system.
- Call flow builder: Nextiva provides a digital canvas for designing your automated phone menu. Configure your business hours, call routing, announcements, and extensions.
Customize your phone menu with Nextiva’s call flow builder. (Source: Nextiva)
eVoice: Best for affordability
What I liked
- Allows easy scalability for its single-plan structure
- Includes three phone numbers per plan
- Offers professional greetings and live answering services
Where it falls behind
- Doesn’t integrate with third-party apps
- Charges an extra fee for voicemail transcription and call recording
- Doesn’t have 24/7 live support
eVoice is the best virtual phone number for small businesses on a budget. Its inexpensive, single-structure plan includes three phone numbers and costs only $14. This service suits solopreneurs who do not anticipate scaling their business soon and prefer a straightforward phone solution. eVoice uses an a la carte approach, allowing you to add features based on your specific needs.
Regardless of your chosen plan, you can access the same voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) features, such as call routing, auto-attendant, and virtual fax. You can customize your service with add-ons like live answering services and professional voiceover actors.
At the same time, eVoice lacks unified communication tools, such as team chat and video conferencing. A better alternative would be RingCentral, which offers a complete cloud communications solution for voice calls, video meetings, and team messaging.
- International forwarding: You can forward your phone calls globally without purchasing an international phone number. This allows you to reach new foreign markets, even if your business is in the US or Canada.
- Sequential ring: Direct incoming calls to multiple departments or team members in any preferred order. The call will continue to ring a series of phone numbers until someone picks up.
- After-hours greetings: When callers call your business after regular operating hours, play a prerecorded message. Use this message to create an away greeting, including alternative contact methods.
Set up different greetings based on the time of day. (Source: eVoice)
800.com: Best call tracking
What I liked
- Doesn’t charge activation fees for phone numbers
- Robust call tracking tools and analytics
- Maintains a clean user interface
Where it falls behind
- Has a limited set of features compared to other VoIP providers
- Incurs an extra charge of 3 cents per minute for call transcription services
- Lacks third-party software integrations
800.com pricing All plans include extensions, one fax number, call recording, texting, analytics, voicemail, call screening, and call forwarding (standard, sequential, and simultaneous).
- Personal: $23/month for one user (or $19/month annually)
- Unlimited: $59/month for unlimited minutes (or $49/month annually)
- Pro: $149/month for unlimited users (or $127/month annually)
800.com provides a virtual telephone number for businesses wanting to monitor and evaluate the success of their marketing campaigns. With its call tracking service, you can assign numbers to different ad channels and determine the total number of answered, missed, and unique callers for each number.
Additionally, the Vanity Marketplace is 800.com’s number search tool that allows users to assess the availability of a vanity phone number. Simply enter your desired combination of letters and numbers and browse through available patterns until you find a number that matches your business needs.
With these metrics readily available in your platform, you can make strategic decisions for improving your marketing campaigns and assign custom phone numbers to extensions. However, 800.com prohibits bulk call-in lines, like customer support or sales call centers. If you want more customer support tools, consider Nextiva, which offers advanced contact center solutions.
- Comprehensive inbox: Access your calls, texts, faxes, and voicemails from a single location. The list includes filterable categories to narrow your results.
- Whisper greeting: Add a whisper message to tracking numbers. Agents hear an audio recording about the source of the call, helping them prepare beforehand.
- Call analytics: This feature allows you to collect and analyze data from your business phone calls to make strategic decisions about improving customer experience and operational efficiency.
The analytics dashboard provides data on call duration and flow. (Source: 800.com)
How I evaluated the best virtual phone number providers
A scoring rubric was my basis for assessing the best virtual phone number services. The rubric includes various criteria, such as the providers’ subscription fees, types of phone numbers provided, call management features, and ease of use. I also referred to third-party review websites to see real-life users’ feedback.
Learn how I evaluated the top virtual phone number services by clicking on the tabs below:
20% of Overall Score
To gauge the provider’s affordability, I compared its entry-level subscription plan’s cost with the industry average. I gave more points to those with annual discounts and multiple phone numbers in subscription plans. I also checked how much the provider charges for extra local numbers and if it offers a free trial or plan.
30% of Overall Score
The availability of the four types of phone numbers comprised the majority of our assessment of general features: local, toll-free, vanity, and international numbers. Vendors offering free number porting, minute allowances, or unlimited minutes received higher points.
15% of Overall Score
Assessing niche features includes advanced phone capabilities, namely call analytics, voicemail transcription, and call handling. Those offering unified communication features, like video conferencing and team chat, earned more points.
10% of Overall Score
Not all users are tech-savvy, so virtual phone number providers must be easy to use, even without technical know-how. They must allow businesses to secure different number types without any hassle. Additionally, I determined how intuitive each of the software solutions’ interfaces is.
10% of Overall Score
Businesses need timely assistance on technical concerns, especially small teams with no in-house IT departments. I looked at each vendor’s customer service hours and the channels available. I also noted if each provider includes live chat, phone, email, and knowledge base support.
15% of Overall Score
The expert score includes assessing the solution’s capabilities, value for money, and ease of use. To gauge their popularity among business professionals, I consulted third-party review sites.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Grasshopper includes a free phone number and the purchase of a monthly subscription starting at as low as $18 per user. Local and toll-free vanity number options are available with no additional fees.
Yes! The most convenient way to claim a virtual phone number for business use is to sign up with a reliable VoIP service. The process only takes a few minutes; you can make calls when you obtain your phone number.
Grasshopper offers a starter plan for individual users who simply require a second phone number to separate their personal and work communications. If you opt for an annual subscription, you can choose from local or toll-free vanity options and pay only $14 monthly.
Bottom line
A virtual phone number lets business users define their identity and keep their work and personal communications separate. Whether you want to be instantly recognized or have an international in-country presence, options are available. Each provider has unique features, so you must evaluate your organization’s needs before choosing a provider.
Based on our criteria, Grasshopper is the best virtual phone number provider for small businesses because each subscription includes local, toll-free, and vanity numbers. Higher-tier plans have unlimited users, and all-inclusive plans offer options for phone and text messaging interactions. Sign up for a seven-day free trial to explore the provider’s features.