A virtual phone number service routes calls via your internet connection or cellular service to an existing phone line. Although it can’t replace your landline, the best systems provide mobility along with additional call management features, making them a great option for remote teams in need of a professional number. We examined the plans and feature sets of several providers to uncover the six leading platforms.
The best virtual phone number providers for 2021 are:
- Grasshopper: Best overall value for solopreneurs and small teams wanting a user-friendly mobile app and phone system
- MightyCall: Best for those wanting to connect an unlimited number of users to your professional number
- CallHippo: Ideal choice for companies wanting to integrate sales and marketing tools to their phone service
- Talkroute: Best for calling-heavy businesses needing contact center capabilities
- 800.com: Great option for companies with international employees or needing a vanity 800 virtual number and advanced features
- VirtualPhone.com: Affordable choice for small businesses looking to expand globally with more basic needs
How We Evaluated Virtual Phone Number Services
Virtual phone number providers offer toll-free or local numbers, unlimited calling or metered plans, and a range of call management features. Since small businesses use virtual phone services for customer support and lead generation, your business phone system should support various activities and make it easy for users to answer calls on business and personal devices.
With a score of 4.19 out of 5, Grasshopper is our top choice for a virtual business phone number service. It provides excellent customer support, an auto-attendant, unlimited calling, and apps for your cell phone or desktop computer. Plus, you can take advantage of the free trial to set up a toll-free number and forward calls to your local number or your extensions.
Learn how we assessed the best virtual phone number services by clicking on the tabs below:
25% of Overall Score
Virtual phone systems may offer fewer features than standalone voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) solutions, so plan pricing should reflect those differences. We assessed plans based on overall affordability, discounts for volume, and the availability of free versions.
30% of Overall Score
Most small businesses require standard features, such as call management, voicemail, and call queues. But mobile apps and conference calling also rates high on our list of must-haves. We examined plans to identify those offering a broad selection of necessary features.
20% of Overall Score
Virtual phone platforms may offer additional features to support excellent caller experiences and increased employee productivity. We evaluated plans for enhanced features, like call recording, integrations, on-hold music, and voicemail transcription. Plus, we considered the cost and ease of calling internationally.
25% of Overall Score
In this section, we reviewed each provider’s web browser, mobile, and desktop apps for ease of use and overall feature sets and pricing to determine value while assessing customer reviews and customer support to see how the company responds to good and bad feedback. The best virtual phone number providers deliver a well-rounded package.
Grasshopper
PROS
- Fast and simple setup
- Great customer support
- Has a free trial
CONS
- No international calling
- No call recording
- No multilevel auto-attendant
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
Grasshopper is a well-known virtual phone number provider offering user-friendly mobile and desktop apps and 24/7 U.S.-based customer service. All Grasshopper plans come with unlimited calling, an automated attendant, caller ID, call management features, and unlimited texting. Additionally, you can choose from toll-free, vanity, and local phone numbers or port your current business phone number for free. The plans start at $26 per month when paid annually, making Grasshopper an affordable small business phone system.
Grasshopper Pricing*
- Solo: $26 per month for one vanity, toll-free, or a local virtual number and three extensions
- Partner: $44 per month for three virtual business phone numbers and six extensions
- Small Business: $80 per month for five virtual numbers and unlimited extensions
*Pricing based on annual billing, but month-to-month plans are available.
Grasshopper Features
- Mobile and desktop apps: You can stay connected via business and personal devices by downloading Grasshopper’s mobile and desktop applications. The clean and straightforward interface makes it easy to view call logs, complete call transfers, or view voicemail.
- Instant response: Grasshopper users can set up an instant response to automatically send callers a text message when they can’t answer inbound calls. The recipient can reply to your message and share the best time to reach them.
- Voicemail transcription: Voicemails from your local phone number are transcribed and sent to your email to save time and track important conversations. This feature comes with all plans and lets you keep your communications in a searchable format.
To know if this is a good fit for your business, read our full Grasshopper review or get started with a free trial.
MightyCall
PROS
- Automatic call recording
- Unlimited extensions and users
- Dial-by-name directory
CONS
- No virtual fax
- Less modern user interface
- Limited integrations
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.44 | OUT OF | 5 |
MightyCall is a virtual phone number provider that doesn’t charge a per-user cost. Instead, you can connect an unlimited number of users to your account, making MightyCall a budget-friendly solution for larger teams. All plans come with two to 10 local or toll-free numbers, a contact book, call screening, an auto-attendant, and customer relationship management (CRM) functionality. Plus, you can port your existing business number for free. Plans start at $29.99 per month for 1,000 minutes.
MightyCall Pricing
- Basic: $29.99 per month for 1,000 minutes, unlimited extensions, and two toll-free or local virtual phone numbers
- Standard: $49.99 per month for unlimited calls and call recording, voice-to-text, and five local or toll-free virtual phone numbers
- Ultimate: $99.99 per month for unlimited calls, a free voice studio recording, and 10 local or toll-free numbers
MightyCall Features
- Unlimited users and extensions: Many voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) services charge a per-user fee, which can add up. However, MightyCall charges you one monthly price to add as many employees as you need. Select a plan with unlimited calling to avoid overage charges and get the most out of your virtual number.
- Call queues: MightyCall’s cloud virtual phone system lets you create various call groups to route calls when your agents are busy. Combine call forwarding rules with custom greetings, on-hold music, and personalized messages to improve the caller experience.
- Conference call: Turn any phone call into a conference call by inviting up to five people to join the line. Also, you can record your meetings and store them online for an unlimited amount of time.
CallHippo
PROS
- All plans offer integration with over 100 apps
- Click-to-call Chrome extension
- Robust customer support
CONS
- International calling rates are more expensive than other providers
- Questionable user reviews
- No auto-attendant on entry-level plan
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.13 | OUT OF | 5 |
CallHippo provides a business phone system built for sales and marketing teams, with more than 100 integrations with software, such as Pipedrive, Zoho, and HubSpot. All plans feature a smart dashboard, call logs, call transfer, a local number, and a standalone dialer. The packages start at $14 per user, per month with a minimum of two users and an annual payment. Use CallHippo to connect with leads anywhere in the world and track conversations using your existing tools.
CallHippo Pricing*
- Bronze: $14 per user, per month for one standard business number, voicemail, and skill-based call routing
- Silver: $24 per user, per month for unlimited incoming calls, call recording, gamification, call queuing, and call tagging
- Platinum: $35 per user, per month for voice broadcasting, a call dialer, call barging, three-way conferencing, and call whisper
- Enterprise: Get a custom quote to add custom integrations, post-call surveys, and dedicated customer support services
*Prices are based on an annual payment, and monthly plans are available. There’s a per-minute rate for incoming calls and outgoing calls, depending on the location.
CallHippo Features
- Integrations: Although many virtual services connect to your contact data or calendar, few offer the huge range of integrations provided by CallHippo. Increase productivity and improve customer experiences by integrating your sales automation, CRM, helpdesk, and ecommerce tools.
- Smart call forwarding: Forward phone calls to any number and device based on your preset rules and conditions. Plus, you can add automated greetings and customized music to enhance your call routing experience.
- Power dialer: From following up with leads to collecting debts, your teams can upload a list of numbers and start moving through business calls quickly.
Talkroute
PROS
- A user-friendly mobile app
- Affordable pricing with no per-user costs
- Advanced features for call centers
CONS
- No fax capabilities
- Only the highest-plan tier offers customer service via telephone
- Auto-attendant isn’t available on the Basic plan
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 3.20 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.44 | OUT OF | 5 |
Talkroute is a virtual phone system offering contact center capabilities at a lower price than standard VoIP call center software. It comes with unlimited incoming and outgoing calling, unlimited call routing and forwarding, and call stacking. You can make and receive calls via your desktop, mobile app, or web browser using a business or personal phone. Use Talkroute to set up simple or complex call routing plans and stack callers in queues where they can hear on-hold music or custom messages. Packages start at $19 per month for one user.
Talkroute Pricing*
- Basic: $19 per month for one user, 500 text messages, one toll-free or local number, unlimited domestic minutes for outbound and inbound calls, and unlimited call forwarding and routing
- Plus: $39 per month for up to three account users, unlimited text messaging, two toll-free numbers, and an auto-attendant
- Pro: $59 per month for up to 10 account users, three virtual numbers, a multilevel automated attendant, and call recording
- Enterprise: $99 per month for up to 20 account users, five local or toll-free virtual phone numbers, custom integrations, and a service level agreement (SLA)
*Add additional users to any plan for $5 each per month.
Talkroute Features
- Call management: Develop a custom solution to call management by configuring your single or multilevel auto-attendant with a custom greeting, call routing rules, a directory, and department and team options. Plus, you can live transfer callers to ensure excellent customer experiences.
- Call reporting: Analyze your call volume by looking at call dates, times, duration, and status. Or view detailed call paths and use the insights to improve your first contact resolution rates for inbound calls.
- Extensions: Create phone extensions to suit various needs, such as informational, voicemail, and multidigit extensions. Plus, you can forward calls to a personal phone, mobile phone, or desktop computer.
800.com
PROS
- Toll-free Canadian numbers
- Can connect to international teams
- All call plans provide call recording
CONS
- Limited software integrations
- Poor user experience with mobile app
- $100 deposit to set up international call forwarding
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 2.40 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 2.81 | OUT OF | 5 |
800.com offers virtual VoIP phone services with a vast selection of toll-free business phone numbers for locations in the United States and Canada. Unlike other providers, 800.com lets you forward calls to over 60 international locations, making it perfect for businesses with a global workforce. All plans offer voicemail-to-email, call recording, call transfer, and caller ID for business calls. Annual plans start at $19 per month for 1,000 minutes.
800.com Pricing*
- Personal: $19 per month for 1,000 minutes, 50 mass texting campaign credits, and one toll-free number
- Unlimited: $49 per month for unlimited minutes, 500 mass texting campaign credits, and one free virtual 1-800 number
- Pro: $199 per month for 5,000 minutes, five toll-free virtual numbers, 1,000 mass texting campaign credits, and unlimited users
*The above plans are based on annual billing, but monthly plans are available. Forwarding calls internationally will incur per-minute charges that are separate from the included plan minutes. Additional mass texting campaign credits cost 6 cents each.
800.com Features
- Call recording: You can set up automatic recordings for your calls, which are stored online. Or you download your calls, tag, and archive them for future reference.
- Call and fax reports: All your call records are archived so you can view them on your 800.com account or export them to Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.
- Mass texting campaigns: Use up to 600 characters, including emojis and multimedia images, to send leads or customers your latest promotion via text message.
VirtualPhone.com
PROS
- Toll-free and local numbers in over 120 countries
- Live chat with voice feature
- Free virtual phone plan
CONS
- No mobile app
- No voicemail transcription
- Limited customer reviews
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 1.60 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 2.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Advanced Features | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
VirtualPhone.com is a virtual phone number service offering toll-free and local virtual business phone numbers in over 120 countries. Small business owners can set up a local international number to encourage global leads to call your company for free. All virtual numbers get forwarded to your U.S.-based cell phone or device. VirtualPhone.com plans feature call recording, interactive voice response (IVR), and call screening. You can use the free plan for up to 100 minutes or texts per month or choose a pay-as-you-go or metered subscription.
VirtualPhone.com Pricing*
- Free: There’s no charge for up to 100 minutes or texts per month
- Pay as you go: Only pay for what you use, 5.9 cents per minute for calls, and 1.9 cents per text
- 200 minutes or text: $60 per year for 200 minutes or texts; overage costs are 5.9 cents per minute for calls and 1.9 cents per text
- 500 minutes or text: $108 per year for 500 minutes or texts; overage costs are 4.7 cents per minute for calls and 1.7 cents for texts
- 2,000 minutes or texts: $468 annually for 2,000 minutes or texts, and overage charges are 3.9 cents per minute and 1.5 cents per text
- 4,000 minutes or 3,000 texts: $828 per year for 4,000 calling minutes or 3,000 text messages, plus overage charges of 3.4 cents per minute or 1.3 cents per text
- 10,000 minutes or text: $1,788 annually for 10,000 minutes or text with overage costing 2.9 cents per minute or 1.1 cents per text
- 30,000 minutes or text: $4,788 yearly for 30,000 minutes or text and overage costs are 2.4 cents per minute or 0.9 cents per text
*Plans are based on an annual payment, but month-to-month plans are available.
VirtualPhone.com Features
- Global phone numbers: VirtualPhone.com offers the largest selection of international numbers. Simply select the country, choose a local or toll-free business phone number, and select a mobile phone or desktop device to forward calls to.
- Live chat with voice: Add a button to your website, email signature, or digital advertisement so customers can click to connect to your team via voice or chat.
- Call schedule: Create a custom schedule for your business to correctly route callers to your staff during business hours and direct them to your voicemail or IVR system on holidays or after hours.
Bottom Line
A virtual phone service can be a less expensive alternative to voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) systems. However, each solution offers different functionality, so it’s essential to review your needs before deciding. At a minimum, you should be able to make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection.
Our top pick for the best virtual phone number providers is Grasshopper. It is known for high-quality audio, user-friendly applications, and easy setup and installation. Plus, you can get a virtual phone number and start making unlimited calls with a free trial option. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to set up and use Grasshopper.
Raj Caan
I have tried ‘Cloud SIM’ App and it is the best virtual number provider. I found it through app store and downloaded the app. I now have 3 numbers on my iPhone and the costs are very cheap. will recommend.
Amanda Norman
Hi Raj,
Thank you for sharing, and thanks for reading!
Mandy, Moderator
Alexey Knoroz
What about this site smstools.online/receive-free-sms/ that providing free virtual phone numbers?
Laura Handrick
Hi Alexey,
We can certainly check it out on our next update of this article.
Best!
Kim Mitchell
What about Freedom Voice? Was there a reason they aren’t on the list. I have used Freedom Voice for over a year and they offer a free 30 day trial and 9.99 for 300 minutes, and 19.99 for 1200 minutes and 29.95 for 3000 minutes. You can set up to 100 free mailboxes per number, make outgoing calls and has and app as well. They also offer voicemail transcription and many other features.
Gavin Graham
Hi Kim,
There are many excellent options on the market, so we chose to focus on three of the biggest with the widest reach. We’ll certainly consider Freedom Voice for future updates of this guide, though. Thanks for the tip!
G
Shiva Naidu
I would like to suggestion one CallHippo. I am using Callhippo from last Six to eight months. I really happy with feature for my business. Compare to other services providers CallHippo prices is also affordable. Callhippo saves my communication bills.
Jeremy Marsan
Hi Shiva,
CallHippo looks like a good & affordable option, although it should be noted — there is a per minute charge on outgoing calls. This is very low (only $0.01 in the US and UK and, which means it could be a good option for international calling. However, it doesn’t beat Google Voice’s completely free virtual number for domestic calling.
Best,
Jeremy
emma brown
Even though Google is free CallHippo Provides multiple additional benefits at a minimal added cost, so if you are looking for a lot of features, getting a CallHippo Number would be your best option.
Kiah Treece
Thank you so much for your insight, Emma! We’ll take that into consideration when we update this article.
Best,
Kiah