A virtual phone service gives customers a dedicated business line that can be added to an existing mobile phone number or landline. They tend to cost less than voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) or other types of phone systems, which makes them great in particular for teams on a budget. We looked at the best virtual phone number providers on the market today and judged them based on pricing, features, and usability.
Best For | |
|---|---|
(Best Overall) Companies looking for an exceptional balance of phone features with affordable pricing | |
Salespeople looking for detailed analytic reports to help them better understand their call activity | |
Organizations that want to choose the perfect 800 number for their needs | |
Businesses with overseas audiences that would benefit from an international number | |
Businesses seeking call center features in their virtual phone service | |
Freelancers and solopreneurs who want a free dedicated business line |
How We Evaluated Virtual Phone Number Providers
Virtual phone services require an existing phone line to forward calls from, so they should cost less overall than VoIP or other kinds of business phone systems that work by themselves. A solid virtual phone service should make it easy for customers to make calls, send texts, and check their voicemail. Common advanced features also include automated attendants, mobile apps, and call queuing capabilities.
Click through the tabs in the box below to see our full evaluation criteria for virtual phone systems.
25% of Overall Score
Since virtual phone systems tend to offer fewer features than their standalone VoIP counterparts and require an existing phone line, they should be highly affordable. Low-cost services scored higher than more expensive offerings. We also gave recognition to services with free versions.
25% of Overall Score
At a bare minimum, virtual phone services should allow users to make and receive calls with ease. We looked at whether each service offered other common features like SMS, voicemail, call forwarding, and support for multiple extensions at once.
25% of Overall Score
Some platforms offer features beyond simple calling, such as mobile apps and international calling capabilities. We also looked at whether each service offers 24/7 customer service over the phone, as this can be essential when you are first starting out with the service. Systems with more advanced features got more points than more basic systems.
25% of Overall Score
I used this section to evaluate the more subjective aspects of each service. I gave points to services which I felt had pleasing, intuitive user interfaces (UIs). Other criteria included how I felt each service worked as a complete package in a business’ overall daily workflow. More popular services also got points, as established services are generally better equipped to provide customers with more updated and better security.
With an overall score of 4.6 out of 5, we find that Grasshopper is the best overall virtual phone service for most organizations. It has all of the core telephony functions you need to keep in touch with your team members and customers. It also has best-in-class mobile and desktop apps, as well as an automated attendant to handle all of your incoming call traffic.
Deciding on a new virtual phone service can be a daunting task. Take our quiz to find out which service is best for you.
Answer a few questions about your business and we'll give you personalized product match
Grasshopper
PROS
- Exceptionally easy to use
- Affordable monthly pricing
- All features come standard with the service regardless of plan
CONS
- No live transfer feature
- Could be overkill for freelancers or very small teams
- Faxing is limited compared to competing systems
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 4.63 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
Grasshopper is a small business virtual phone service that comes with unlimited domestic calling, texting, and voicemail. It also comes with an automated attendant to greet and route your callers without human intervention. The service has a starting price of $26 per month on an annual basis.
All told, Grasshopper offers an ideal balance of pricing and features, and it wraps it all up in a package that is attractive and easy to understand. It is one of the more popular systems of its kind because it offers an all-around system that could benefit just about any kind of small business. This is especially true for a new business that is looking for its first dedicated business line.
Grasshopper Pricing
- Solo: $26 per month for one number and three extensions*
- Partner: $44 per month for three numbers and six extensions*
- Small Businesses: $80 per month for five numbers and unlimited extensions*
*Pricing is on an annual basis. Month-to-month plans are also available for an additional fee.
Grasshopper Standout Features
- Automated attendant: All versions of Grasshopper come standard with the automated attendant, which can handle all of your business’ incoming call traffic. It’s similar to its competitors in this regard.
- Phone numbers: With each new account, Grasshopper offers you the choice between a local phone number and a toll-free number with a 1-800 prefix. Toll-free numbers can help small companies seem more established to potential customers.
- Mobile apps: Grasshopper’s apps for iOS and Android offer nearly all of the features found in the desktop version. Check out our guide to using Grasshopper to learn how to take advantage of the platform’s features.
CallHippo
PROS
- Easy vanity number lookup
- Smooth, modern UI
- Standard call recording in all plans
CONS
- More expensive than other systems
- Standard version has limited calling minutes
- No auto-attendant in basic plans
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 4.63 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
CallHippo is a virtual phone number provider that offers plans starting at $14 per user, per month. It offers unlimited calling and texting, as well as the choice between local, toll-free, and customized vanity numbers like 1-800-FLOWERS.
If you are trying to stand out from your competitors, having a vanity number can help because it stands out in the memory of customers rather than a simple string of numbers. CallHippo offers an intuitive module for looking up and buying any vanity number you want. The fact that it is so easy to use makes it our favorite system for adopting custom numbers.
CallHippo Pricing
- Bronze: $16 per user, per month for a free number, voicemail, and call recording*
- Silver: $20 per user, per month for unlimited incoming calls, automated attendant, and call queuing*
- Platinum: $30 per user, per month for power dialing and three-way calling*
- Enterprise: (Call for pricing) Guided setup and prioritized custom development*
*Pricing is on an annual basis. Monthly pricing is available at an extra cost.
CallHippo Standout Features
- Vanity numbers: CallHippo offers a best-in-class tool for searching for available numbers based on keywords and prefixes. No matter what industry you are in, you can likely find the perfect number for your needs.
- Mobile apps: The system offers smooth, modern apps for iOS and Android devices.
- Call management tools: CallHippo comes standard with modules for call forward, block, and hold. It works very similarly to competing solutions in this space.
800.com
PROS
- Easy toll-free number lookup
- Call recording with all plans
- Canadian toll-free numbers available
CONS
- Only one unlimited calling plan available
- Could be overkill for smaller teams
- Faxing features not as robust as competing systems
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
800.com is a virtual phone system that specializes in letting customers choose toll-free numbers so that customers can call their office at no cost to them. Pricing for the system starts $19 per month for one number and 1,000 monthly calling minutes.
Having a toll-free number serves two purposes for small businesses. On one hand, your customers with limited phone plans can reach out at no cost to them. On the other hand, a toll-free number makes your business seem like a nationwide enterprise, even if it’s just a small team based in your home office. 800.com gives you all the tools you need to choose all sorts of toll-free prefixes for your business. If having a toll-free number is of the utmost importance to you, the system is a perfect fit.
800.com Pricing
- Personal Yearly: $19 per month for one number 1,000 monthly minutes
- Unlimited Yearly: $49 per month for one number and unlimited minutes
- Pro Yearly: $199 per month for five numbers and 5,000 monthly minutes
800.com Standout Features
- Toll-free numbers: 800.com offers the best tools for looking up and adopting toll-free numbers of all prefixes. It even offers Canadian toll-free numbers.
- Call recording: All versions of the system come with the ability to save all of your important conversations for future reference.
- Voicemail transcription: 800.com will automatically transcribe the messages in your voicemail inbox and deliver them to you as text-based messages.
VirtualPhone.com
PROS
- International numbers available from all over the world
- Affordable pricing plans
- Support for unlimited extensions
CONS
- Only plans with limited minutes are available
- Clunky user interface
- Faxing capabilities are limited
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 4.13 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
VirtualPhone.com, which offers a free version with plans starting at $5 per month, is a virtual phone system that offers mobile apps, domestic calling, and visual voicemail functionality. It also comes with the option to adopt an international number from countries all over the world.
If you have customers, supplies, or other associates located overseas, it can be costly to make calls to them on a regular basis. In many cases, it would be easier to have a number from that country that they can reach at no additional cost to them. VirtualPhone.com allows you to adopt numbers from many different international locations, which makes it great for any small company that does business outside of the United States.
VirtualPhone.com Pricing
- Free: 100 minutes or texts
- Starter: $5 to $9 per month for 200 to 500 minutes or texts*
- Medium: $39 to $69 per month for 2,000 to 4,000 minutes or texts*
- Large: $149 to $399 per month for 10,000 to 30,000 minutes or texts*
*Pricing shown requires an annual subscription with monthly billing.
VirtualPhone.com Standout Features
- International numbers: VirtualPhone.com’s number lookup tool lets you choose between numbers in dozens of countries around the globe.
- Unlimited extensions: Each of the service’s plans supports unlimited extensions, which makes it very easy to share the system among your staff.
- Auto-attendant: Virtualphone.com can automatically answer all of your incoming calls and route your customers to their desired extensions, just like most of its competitors.
Talkroute
PROS
- Call center features
- Affordable pricing plans
- Intuitive interface
CONS
- Limited texting allowance in entry-level package
- Potentially overkill for smaller teams
- Call recording locked behind premium tiers of service
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 3.38 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 |
Talkroute is a small business virtual phone service that offers calling, texting, and voicemail features just like other systems we looked at. It also comes with live transfer, call queuing, and other features that lend themselves well to call center environments. Pricing starts at $19 per month for the basic plan.
Call center teams have distinct needs when it comes to a phone system. Since their incoming call volume is so high, they benefit from features such as call queuing, as well as live transfer and call reports for evaluating team performance. Talkroute comes with all of these features, which makes it a perfect fit for remote call center teams that want to effectively serve customers’ needs.
Talkroute Pricing
- Basic: $19 per month for one local or toll-free number, one account user, and 500 monthly text messages*
- Plus: $39 per month for two local or toll-free numbers, three account users, and unlimited texting*
- Pro: $59 per month for three local or toll-free numbers, 10 account users, and call recording*
- Enterprise: $99 per month for five local or toll-free numbers and 20 account users*
*Additional users can be added to each package for an undisclosed rate. Get in touch with a Talkroute sales agent for more details.
Talkroute Standout Features
- Call center functionality: Talkroute offers the ability to place incoming callers in a virtual queue, which is helpful for teams with large daily call volumes. It also comes with shared inbox modules so that your team can better work collaboratively on customer tickets.
- Professionally recorded voice greeting: Pro and Enterprise versions of the service come with the company’s Voice Studio feature, which provides customers with one free professionally recorded voice greeting. Having a professional voiceover artist be the “voice” of your phone system can make your business sound more established and respectable compared to your competitors.
- 24/7 customer service: If you run into a problem when using the system, Talkroute’s customer service team is standing by at all hours to help you with whatever you need.
Google Voice
PROS
- Completely free business phone system
- Local numbers for more U.S. area codes
- Free call recording
CONS
- Limited compared to paid systems
- No toll-free numbers
- Some area codes in major metro areas not available
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 1.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 1.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Niche or article-specific features | 3.13 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.69 | OUT OF | 5 |
Google Voice is a free virtual phone service that offers all of the core telephony functions of competing solutions to anyone with a Google account. It also comes with apps for iOS and Android devices.
If you are a solo worker or freelancer, you may find that the likes of Grasshopper and Talkroute offer functionality that you do not need. If all you are looking for is a phone line dedicated for work purposes, then Google Voice might be the perfect choice for you. It provides local phone numbers from nearly anywhere in the United States, as well as the ability to make domestic calls and send texts from that number free of charge.
Google Voice Pricing
Google Voice is completely free. There are some fees for calling select numbers in North America and international locations. You can go to their calling rates page for more information.
Google Voice Standout Features
- Free phone system: Anyone with a free Google account can start making calls and sending texts with Google Voice within minutes.
- Local phone number: Google voice lets you choose a local phone number with the prefix of almost any area code in the United States, just like many of its competitors.
- Ease of use: We have a detailed guide on using Google Voice, but the truth of the matter is that the system is so easy to use because it works so similarly to the default phone app found on most smartphones.
Bottom Line
Virtual phone services are phenomenal for small businesses because they offer a complete professional phone service at a fraction of the cost of alternative options. Using an existing line to forward calls from is a worthy trade-off for such a great overall value. This is especially true considering most virtual systems offer advanced features like call recording, automated attendants, and voicemail transcription.
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