7 Best Free Business Phone Number Apps for Small Businesses

Google Voice is a free business number app for individual users with a Google account who simply want to keep their work and personal calls separate. With just your Google email address and a US phone number, you can claim a free local number and use basic voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) features like call forwarding and voicemail transcription at no cost.

For businesses using Google Workspace, you can purchase the Google Voice add-on for $10 to $30 per user monthly. This unlocks extra features like unlimited text messaging, multilevel auto-attendant, and ring groups, making it a built-in business phone within Google’s productivity platform.

Google Voice doesn’t offer toll-free, vanity, or international numbers. This can be a drawback for small businesses that want a more national presence, as they will be stuck with numbers within their local areas. If you need these options, consider Phone.com, which offers cheap phone numbers for business at an affordable monthly rate.

• Voicemail transcription: With Google’s advanced speech recognition technology, you can take a quick glance at your voicemails instead of listening to them individually. Use it when you don’t have time to listen to your messages during a meeting or while traveling.
• Spam filter: It automatically directs suspected spam calls to a dedicated folder by running the number on a global database. You can also block specific numbers by selecting them from your call log and choosing the “Block Number” option.
• Call forwarding: You can link an additional phone number to your Google Voice account to ensure you never miss a call. This feature is particularly useful when traveling to areas with unstable internet.

Save time by reading the text version of your voicemails. (Source: Google Voice)

When choosing vanity numbers, many providers charge a one-time fee or monthly subscription. However, with Grasshopper, you can get a custom, free business number by subscribing to any monthly plan. This provides your business with a memorable number, helping boost brand recognition at no added charges.

The Grasshopper number lookup tool makes it easy to get a vanity number with alphanumeric combinations (like 1-800-FLOWERS). You can also transfer your existing custom number from your old carrier for free.

Grasshopper’s pricing is perfect for growing teams needing a basic phone system without extras like video conferencing and app integrations. Add as many users as you want at no extra cost, each with its own extension and all-inclusive access to VoIP phone system features. However, it falls short in some areas, particularly the lack of call recording and app integrations. For a more robust call management system, consider Talkroute.

• Instant response: Automatically send a personalized message when you miss a call from a new client. Customize it by adding your company logo or website address to build a professional impression.
• Virtual fax: Receive faxes directly in your email inbox as PDFs. This feature ensures easy file sharing with colleagues online, streamlining document management.
• Incoming call control: Manage your calls more efficiently by filtering calls and blocking unknown numbers and unwanted callers. Set custom schedules based on your business hours to manage incoming calls effectively.

Send quick replies to new customers when you miss a call. (Source: Grasshopper)

Talkroute is an ideal choice for businesses with low call volumes, offering essential phone features like call forwarding and routing. It provides the basics you need to maintain a professional image, such as custom greetings, caller ID names, and toll-free numbers.

Its toll-free number services comprise a wide selection of memorable 800 codes ready for registration. Along with your free 800 number, you’ll get unlimited inbound and inbound toll-free minutes for calls in the US and Canada—a valuable feature many VoIP providers don’t include in their basic plans. As you scale up, you’ll be rewarded with two, three, and 10-plus numbers, respectively, for each tier.

However, businesses looking to expand internationally should consider other options, as Talkroute doesn’t support international calling and phone numbers. For a free business number that lets you connect with your global audience, CallHippo is a better alternative. This provider offers local phone numbers in over 70 countries and low-cost international calling rates

• Voice Studio: It provides voice talent services for your voicemail greetings or auto-attendant prompts. Just submit the script through their website, and you’ll receive the recording within three business days.
• Caller ID: Customize your outbound caller ID by displaying your preferred phone number and customizing your display name. This increases the likelihood of your calls being answered by your customers since it’s easier to recognize the number and name, making them more at ease picking up the call.
• Call reporting: Access detailed call history reports that include key information such as date, time, duration, caller ID, and call status. You can also use the advanced filtering feature to refine your call log results.

Send and receive text messages with your Talkroute phone number. (Source: Talkroute)

CallHippo offers a dedicated plan for businesses primarily focused on handling customer support calls. It emphasizes essential call routing features, including an IVR system, ring groups, business hours, and shared inboxes. These tools enhance customer satisfaction by efficiently connecting callers to the right support team while ensuring shorter wait times.

For more advanced call capabilities, CallHippo is as straightforward as it gets. It’s a great fit for businesses or nonprofits with occasional call needs, such as handling short spurts of calls or who might only contact customers irregularly. Once the need arises for bulk calling, CallHippo makes it easy to upgrade to a call center solution.

However, some key functionalities are only available if you upgrade to high-tier plans or purchase them as add-ons. If these features are critical to your business, choose Callcentric instead, which offers up to 50 phone features with all plans, including those starting at just one dollar.

• IVR: Direct customers to the most qualified representatives who can resolve their concerns efficiently. A well-designed IVR system enhances first contact resolution, improving overall customer satisfaction.
• Power dialer: Don’t waste your time on manual dialing. This feature automatically dials phone numbers from an uploaded contacts list, streamlining your outreach efforts.
• Global Connect: Instantly identify the correct time zone and phone number validity for contacts in different countries. With Global Connect, you can ensure you’re calling customers at the most appropriate time.

Know the best time to call a customer with the Global Connect feature. (Source: CallHippo)

Virtual phone systems often come with multiple phone numbers in a single plan, helping businesses streamline communication. With eVoice, you can get three phone numbers for the price of just one phone line, allowing teams to maintain separate lines for different departments, such as sales, billing, and customer service.

eVoice has a single-plan structure packed with standard phone features, such as auto-attendant, call routing, and greetings. Live receptionist services are available; professional phone operators answer calls and perform administrative tasks. Bundling an eVoice plan with a live receptionist service starts at $188.95 per month.

For its user experience, eVoice has a somewhat outdated interface, which further complicates the learning curve. If you’re looking for a more modern and user-friendly experience, Grasshopper is an excellent alternative because of its intuitive design for both desktop and mobile applications.

• Call screening: This feature lets you accept, decline, or send incoming calls directly to voicemail. It automatically plays a prompt asking for the caller’s name, giving you the information you need before deciding how to handle the call.
• Click-to-call: Enhance your website engagement by adding a click-to-call widget. This button enables website visitors to enter their phone numbers and request a callback, making it easier to contact your business.
• Message center: Manage all your texts, voicemails, and faxes in one location. The message center includes a preview panel and search bar, allowing users to read and find specific messages quickly.

eVoice lets you choose from three types of extensions. (Source: eVoice)

Callcentric stands out as the best free business phone number provider because of its customizable VoIP service. It features independent packages for receiving and making calls, making it perfect for teams with varying call volumes.

Monthly plans are available on a flat-rate unlimited and pay-per-use basis, allowing you to select the right incoming service and outgoing plan for your calling habits. Each plan includes a free business phone line and over 50 calling features, all at very reasonable prices for small businesses on a budget.

While some businesses appreciate the customization options Callcentric provides, others may find them complex and sometimes confusing. If you prefer a straightforward number setup, choose Google Voice, which takes only a few minutes to get started.

• Bring your own device (BYOD): With Callcentric, you don’t need to replace your existing phone equipment. Any device that supports Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) can be used with their services.
• Conference room: Host quick virtual meetings with just one click. There’s no limit to the number of participants, making it perfect for large team gatherings, town halls, or peer learning sessions.
• Caller ID blocking: Hide your caller ID when making outbound calls. If you want to block your ID on a specific call, simply add *67 before dialing the number you’re calling.

Set rules for managing incoming calls. (Source: Callcentric)

Phone.com is an excellent choice for businesses that want flexibility in their calling plans, especially if their call volumes are low to moderate. It offers both metered and unlimited plan options, allowing you to mix and match these plans based on actual usage.

The Basic plan carries 500 pooled minutes. For example, if you have three users on this plan, you’ll share a total of 1,500 minutes for inbound and outbound calls. If some users have a higher call volume, you can easily upgrade them to the Plus or Pro plan, which includes unlimited minutes and additional call handling features to manage call traffic more efficiently.

However, one downside of Phone.com is its user experience. Many users have reported issues with its clunky mobile app and complicated setup process. For a more user-friendly option, consider Grasshopper as an alternative. It has a clean and intuitive interface that lets you get started easily, even without technical expertise.

• Call handling: Easily route incoming calls to the right destinations with various call handling options. You can set up an auto attendant, use a dial-by-name directory, or schedule the routing of calls based on predefined criteria.
• Text-to-greeting: Personalize your audio messages with over 40 voice personalities and sound effects. Just type in your message, choose the voice you like, and save it as an audio file.
• Voice tagging: This feature provides information about the caller’s selection before you pick up the call. For example, if the caller presses the “Business Line” option, you’ll hear the voice tag “Business Line,” before the call connects.

Record your greeting in three ways: text-to-speech, custom file, or audio. (Source: Phone.com)