A voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) or virtual phone system helps your teams stay connected while improving customer experience. With no shortage of solutions, finding the best one for your small business is challenging. However, Grasshopper and eVoice are two top internet-based services that offer affordable and feature-rich plans. Explore these two providers to find out which VoIP service suits your needs and provides the most value.
- eVoice: Best for solopreneurs and small teams needing a professional phone line to communicate with customers and employees
- Grasshopper: Best for small businesses wanting a full-featured business phone system with unlimited minutes and user-friendly mobile applications
eVoice vs Grasshopper Overview
eVoice | Grasshopper | |
|---|---|---|
Starting Price | $14.00 per user, per month with monthly plans | $29.99 for one phone number and three extensions |
Unlimited SMS | For an extra fee | ✔ |
Desktop App | No | ✔ |
Mobile App | ✔ | ✔ |
Auto-attendant | ✔ | ✔ |
Voicemail | ✔ | ✔ |
More Information |
Takeaway: Although eVoice appears to cost less, its per-user pricing and add-on costs for features, such as text messaging, quickly add up for small businesses. In contrast, Grasshopper offers affordable plans allowing you to forward calls to multiple extensions or employees at no extra charge. Most companies will find Grasshopper to be a better virtual phone number provider.
How We Evaluated Grasshopper vs eVoice
Both virtual phone systems offer similar features, like an auto-attendant and voicemail. However, the companies price their plans differently, and each service provides features not offered by the other.
We compared eVoice vs Grasshopper based on the following criteria:
- Cost of monthly and annual plans
- Extra charges for add-on services
- Ease of use for setup and installation
- Types of standard calling features
- Consumer ratings for mobile applications
- Customer support and self-service options
- Overall affordability for small businesses
- Availability of standout features
While eVoice is a low-priced solution for a freelancer or small team, small businesses will find Grasshopper provides better features and a selection of affordable packages. Grasshopper’s transparent pricing means you’ll never get hit with unexpected charges and can scale your team without switching phone providers.
When to Use eVoice
eVoice is a virtual phone system that gives you a business number and routes calls to your existing cell phone number. It offers one plan that comes with 30,000 minutes, three phone numbers, and unlimited extensions. The per-user-based pricing is $14 per month or $144 for an annual payment. You can also choose from many add-on features to create a custom plan for your team.
eVoice Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Click-to-call widget | Add-on feature pricing is not disclosed on website |
| Dial-by-name directory | Poor mobile app ratings |
| Inbound faxing | Business texting costs extra per user, per month |
eVoice Pricing
eVoice offers one plan, Elite Monthly. It costs $14 per user, per month, or $144 for yearly plans. The package includes 30,000 minutes, three phone numbers, unlimited extensions, and inbound faxing.
Once you purchase a monthly package, you can choose additional features to add to your plan for a per user, per month cost. For example, SMS messaging is $1.95, voice-to-text is $4.95 for 40 messages, and call recording is $8.95. It’s possible to participate in web conferences with up to 95 participants. Still, extra charges may apply depending on the number of people on the call and the conference length, as it uses your monthly minutes.
Why eVoice Is Better for Solopreneurs or Small Teams
- Click-to-call widget: Encourage customers to contact your business by adding a text link or image on your website, banner ads, newsletter, or emails. Clients simply click the widget and input their phone numbers. eVoice then calls the number and connects it to your business phone line.
- Virtual receptionist: Both eVoice and Grasshopper provide an automated attendant. Callers hear a custom greeting and can pick from menu options to connect to a specific department. You can use a dial-by-name directory to route callers to the appropriate team member quickly.
- Custom greetings: Personalize what your callers hear when they call your company during or after business hours. You also can create custom greetings for extensions and voicemail boxes.
When to Use Grasshopper
Grasshopper offers a virtual phone system with a toll-free or local business phone number. Calls get routed to your existing phone line yet allow you to keep professional calls separate from private ones. Similar to eVoice, all plans come with an auto-attendant and multiple extensions. However, Grasshopper doesn’t charge per user, and all packages provide SMS messaging. Prices start at $26 for one phone number and three extensions when paid annually. With feature-rich plans offering unlimited extensions, Grasshopper gives you an affordable way to add new employees.
Grasshopper Pros & Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| High-rated, user-friendly mobile apps | No video calling features |
| Instant response text messages | Limited software integrations |
| Voicemail transcription | No outgoing fax |
Grasshopper Pricing*
- Solo: $29 per month for one phone number and three extensions
- Partner: $49 per month for three phone numbers and six extensions
- Small Business: $89 per month for five phone numbers and unlimited extensions
*Plan pricing is based on a monthly payment, but you can save 10% by paying annually.
Why Grasshopper Is Better for Small Businesses
- Desktop and mobile apps: Grasshopper provides apps for desktop and mobile phone users. The applications receive high user ratings, and Grasshopper responds to reviews offering assistance with those with problems. This differs greatly from eVoice, which doesn’t respond to reviews and hasn’t updated its application since 2018.
- Instant response: If you’re unable to answer your phone, you can set up an instant response to immediately and automatically send a text message to your caller. The recipient can respond to your text message and provide further information to help you personalize your response and assist them without delay.
- Voicemail transcription: Turn audio voicemails into transcribed emails automatically using this feature. Doing so allows you to read your voicemails on any device, even if you’re on another call.
eVoice vs Grasshopper: When to Use an Alternative
Grasshopper and eVoice provide virtual phone services and features necessary for small companies. However, both services offer diminished benefits for companies with more than one or two employees. If your business phone plan needs to support more than three users and you are looking for a robust mix of features in your phone system, check out our guide on Grasshopper alternatives.
On the other hand, if cost is your primary consideration when evaluating a business phone solution for your business, check out our guide listing the Top 6 Cheap VoIP Services.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a virtual phone service?
A virtual phone service is an internet-based phone system that provides a separate business phone number from your existing phone number. However, it differs from voice-over-internet-protocol services because you need a current phone line to forward business calls. In contrast, a VoIP service can replace your existing landline or cell phone.
What does auto-attendant mean?
An auto-attendant, or virtual receptionist, is a system that greets your callers and allows them to select from a menu to direct their phone call quickly. An automated attendant reduces the need for a human receptionist to answer the phone and direct the call.
