magicJack for Business and Ooma Office are two of the leading voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) solutions for small teams and solopreneurs. Both are budget-friendly with flexible device options to let you communicate from your mobile phone, desktop, or desk phone. However, when you compare magicJack vs Ooma, magicJack is the cheaper option, while Ooma provides more functionality and communication channels for scaling businesses.
- magicJack: Best for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners who need an affordable, easy-to-use VoIP solution
- Ooma: Best for small businesses and teams that need a basic business phone system with added features like video conferencing and text messaging (SMS) services
When comparing the business variations of magicJack and Ooma, it’s important to note that both are relatively basic small business phone systems. If you need a contact center, real-time analytics, APIs, and third-party integrations, you’re going to be better off with a full-featured business phone system. Learn more about the most feature-rich phone systems in our guide to the best small business phone systems.
magicJack vs Ooma at a Glance
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Price | $15.99 per line, per month (plus one-time purchase of new phone for $54.99 or more) | $19.95 to $24.95 per user, per month |
Free Trial | N/A | N/A |
Hardware | Must purchase phone with a subscription | Compatible phones available (but not required) for purchase |
Communication Channels | Calling, texting (limited), faxing | Calling, texting, faxing, video conferencing |
International Calling | Unlimited U.S. and Canada calling | Unlimited U.S. and Canada calling |
Call Handling Features | Auto-attendant, music on hold, enhanced call forwarding, call queue | Auto-attendant, custom messages, call flip, voicemail transcriptions, call recording |
Integrations | N/A | Google and Microsoft Calendars |
Reliability | 99.99% uptime guarantee | N/A |
Ease of Use | Very easy to use | Easy to use |
How We Evaluated magicJack vs Ooma
You’ll find many overlapping functionalities and use cases when you compare magicJack to Ooma, but each serves different types of small businesses when it comes to which phone system is better. We compared each platform’s pricing, features, channels, ease of use, and more to help you determine the best platform for your business.
Click the tabs below for more information on our evaluation criteria:
30% of Overall Score
While magicJack and Ooma are both budget-friendly options for small business owners, each has subtle nuances you need to consider. We examined monthly pricing per user as well as required hardware purchases and add-ons to see which makes for a more affordable option.
30% of Overall Score
Ooma and magicJack give business owners different levels of control over their inbound and outbound calls. We set out to explore which provides the most robust functionality while also still maintaining simplicity and ease of use.
15% of Overall Score
Regardless of the pricing and features, business phone systems need to be easy to use for both admins, agents, and customers. We analyzed user feedback and tested the product for ourselves (across mobile and desktop apps) to determine each product’s usability.
15% of Overall Score
International calling features are a must-have for some small businesses, so we evaluated the offerings of magicJack and Ooma to see if either one has a competitive advantage when it comes to calling across borders.
10% of Overall Score
After evaluating the head-to-head feedback, we judged our own experience using the apps. We thought about the ease of use, functionality, and overall experience of using and navigating the platforms. We also looked at feedback from other users on popular review sites to compare our experiences with others.
Best for Pricing: magicJack
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Tier 1 | $15.99 per line, per month | $19.95 per user, per month |
Tier 2 | N/A | $24.95 per user, per month |
Required Hardware | Minimum purchase of a $54.99 phone required | Optional phone purchase starting at $69.99 |
magicJack for Business is one of the most affordable VoIP options on the market. Everything the service offers is included for just $15.99 per line, per month, which is quite affordable for small teams and solopreneurs. However, you are required to purchase a phone with your magicJack phone system subscription, even if you only plan to use magicJack’s mobile or desktop apps.
Ooma Office comes in at a competitive price of just $19.95 per user, per month. Users wanting a desktop app, video conferencing, call recording, or voicemail transcriptions can upgrade to an Ooma Office Pro account for just $24.95 per user, per month. While magicJack requires purchase of a phone, purchasing an Ooma phone is optional with pricing starting at $69.99 for two mid-level desk phones.
When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, magicJack’s one-and-only pricing plan offers similar functionality to Ooma’s entry-level plan and is almost $4 cheaper each month. However, if you don’t plan on using the desk phone, you’ll have to factor in the sunk cost of $54.99 for a phone, which takes more than a year in monthly savings to recoup.
Winner: magicJack’s business plan offers similar functionality to Ooma’s and it’s cheaper. For business owners planning on purchasing a VoIP desk phone, magicJack’s required phone purchase may not be a deterrent.
Best for International Calling: Ooma
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Only provides unlimited domestic calling to the United States and Canada | While Ooma only provides unlimited domestic calling, its international rates are slightly cheaper than magicJack’s |
magicJack and Ooma both offer international calling, but you’ll have to pay additional per-minute prices determined by the country location you’re calling. Rates vary by country, so check magicJack’s rates and Ooma’s rates to see which provides cheaper pricing for the countries your business calls frequently.
If you are looking for a more international-friendly calling provider, check out 8×8 or GoToConnect. 8×8 provides unlimited international calling to 47 unmetered destinations and GoToConnect includes free calls to 52 countries.
Winner: Both magicJack and Ooma offer international calling, but you’ll pay per-minute rates to call any phone number outside of the United States or Canada. Ooma Office edges out magicJack with slightly cheaper international calling rates.
Best Call Handling Features: Ooma
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Standout Call Handling Features | Auto-attendant, music on hold, enhanced call forwarding, call queue | Auto-attendant, custom messages, call flip, voicemail transcriptions, call recording |
magicJack and Ooma both include the essential call handling features you need to provide customers with top-notch calling experiences. However, when you compare magicJack vs Ooma side-by-side, Ooma includes everything magicJack does and a little bit more.
Ooma’s features include an intelligent virtual receptionist with multiple menus, custom recorded messages, business hours, and ring groups. You’ll also get voicemail transcriptions and call recordings.
magicJack for Business’ call handling features are competitive, and may still be adequate for the needs of your business, with an auto-attendant, music on hold, and call queues. Plus, with magicJack’s enhanced call forwarding, you can establish custom call routing rules:
- Always forward a call
- Forward a call if not answered
- Simultaneous call forwarding
- Sequential call forwarding
Winner: Ooma and magicJack offer similar feature sets, but Ooma comes out on top for providing voicemail transcriptions, call recordings, and custom recorded messages.
Best Communication Channels: Ooma
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Calling | ✔ | ✔ |
Texting (SMS) | ✔ (limited) | ✔ |
Faxing | ✔ (with add-on purchase) | ✔ |
Video Conferencing | N/A | ✔ |
When it comes to customer engagement, magicJack is mostly focused on voice communications. You get unlimited domestic calling to the U.S. and Canada, but text functionality is lacking compared to competitors. You can initiate one-to-one conversations with contacts, but you can’t use magicJack for SMS promotional campaigns or appointment confirmations. To add virtual faxing to your subscription, you’ll also pay an additional $5 per month.
Ooma’s communication channels are more straightforward and robust. With Ooma’s basic Ooma Office plan, you get access to unlimited domestic calling, SMS text messaging, and virtual faxing.
For access to video conferencing, you’ll need to upgrade to the more expensive Ooma Office Pro plan. Ooma’s video conferencing lets up to 25 users join by browser or app. It provides popular video meeting features like screen sharing, chat, recurring meetings, and password-protected meetings.
Winner: Ooma is the better platform for channel versatility because it provides more flexible SMS messaging options, included fax capabilities, and the addition of video conferencing.
Best for User-friendliness: magicJack
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magicJack’s mobile app is simple and easy to use, and the desktop app replicates the mobile app interface, giving you the same ease of use on the mobile app or desktop device. | Ooma’s desktop and mobile apps are easy to use, but some tabs can get cluttered with all the available features. |
Compared to other mobile and desktop softphone apps, magicJack and Ooma are relatively easy to use. Both platforms provide simple navigation and easy-to-find features that make it easy for you and your team to accomplish whatever tasks you need to complete.
magicJack’s desktop app resembles the mobile experience, keeping the user interface simple and uncluttered. While magicJack might not have the added functionality Ooma offers, they keep things straightforward for users.
Ooma’s basic functions are easy to navigate, but some interfaces become messy and complex. For example, the video conferencing tab on the desktop application can be overwhelming to new users at first glance.
Winner: magicJack is the better app when it comes to user-friendliness, mostly because the service offers less functionality. However, it’s important to note that both Ooma and magicJack are easier to use compared to full-featured business communications platforms.
Best Alternatives
Ooma and magicJack are excellent phone systems for small businesses and solopreneurs, but they still might not be the right fit for your business. If you need different functionality, features, or pricing, here are some of the best alternatives to Ooma and magicJack:
- RingCentral: Great option if your small business needs a unified communications solution with robust integrations and an open API.
- 8×8: Best business phone system for businesses with international calling needs that want access to calling, texting, team messaging, and video conferencing.
- Grasshopper: Excellent virtual phone number service for business owners or small teams that want a second phone number with custom greetings, instant response, and a virtual receptionist.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does magicJack have a monthly fee?
Yes. On top of the one-time purchase fee for a desk phone, you’ll pay a monthly subscription to use magicJack.
Do I need a desktop computer for VoIP calling?
No. magicJack and Ooma both provide desk phones, mobile apps, and desktop apps to help you make and receive calls in a way that fits your specific small business.
What’s the difference between standard & business versions of Ooma & magicJack?
Ooma and magicJack both offer residential and business plans. Each has different features, hardware, and pricing, so make sure you choose the plan that provides the best solution for your business. Ooma Office and magicJack for Business are the commercial phone systems you need to run your business. As a result, you’ll have features like virtual receptionists, ring groups, and call park with both Ooma Office and magicJack for Business.
Bottom Line
Ooma and magicJack are both great VoIP phone services for budget-conscious small businesses. Each provides all the functionality a small business owner needs without bogging down the apps with unnecessary features.
magicJack for Business is better for freelancers and business owners who plan on operating their phone system solo and on a budget. On the other hand, Ooma Office is better for small teams looking to scale and expand with a business phone service that has more features, like video conferencing and SMS campaign functionality.
