9 Vonage Alternatives & Competitors for 2023
Corey McCraw is a staff writer covering VoIP and Unified Communications. Corey has over a decade of experience in marketing, tech writing, and corporate communications and has even penned content for the former First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative.
With more than five years of content writing experience, Sam covers office technology topics at Fit Small Business, including business phone systems and unified communications as a service (UCaaS).
This article is part of a larger series on VoIP.
Vonage is a unified communications platform equipped with basic call management, unlimited team chat, and video conferencing capabilities. However, many companies look for Vonage alternatives because essential tools (e.g., call recording and internet fax) are offered as add-ons, increasing subscription costs. Its integrations and video meeting features are also limited.
Based on our research, these are the top Vonage competitors that are worth considering as your next voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) solution:
- RingCentral: Best overall Vonage alternative with robust unified communications
- Nextiva: Ideal business communications software for sales teams to manage leads
- Dialpad: Best for task automation with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) features
- 8×8: Solid choice for businesses that want flexibility in subscription plans
- GoTo Connect: Best for companies that provide customer service to a global market
- Zoom One: Ideal for remote teams with regular online meetings
- Grasshopper: Excellent choice for businesses that need to separate phone numbers for departments or projects
- Google Voice: Free, affordable alternative for solopreneurs and small teams
- Ooma: Top option for brick-and-mortar companies
Vonage & Best Alternatives at a Glance
Vonage & Best Alternatives | Monthly Starting Price (per User) | Key Features | Customer Support Options | FSB Rating out of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $19.99 |
|
| 4.16 |
 | $30 per user |
|
| 4.38 |
 | $30.95 |
|
| 4.34 |
 | $23 |
|
| 4.28 |
 | $28 |
|
| 4.15 |
 | $27 |
|
| 4.05 |
 | $15.99* |
|
| 3.93 |
 | $31 |
|
| 3.89 |
 | $10* |
|
| 3.86 |
 | $19.95 |
|
| 3.83 |
*Zoom One and Google Voice also offer a free plan with limited features.
Revisit Vonage’s pricing, features, and customer support options in our Vonage Business Communications review. The guide will help you decide if the platform is right for you or if it’s better to consider an alternative.
RingCentral: Best Overall Vonage Alternative for Unified Communications
Overall Score:
4.38 / 5
What We Like
- Allows businesses to rent desk and conference phones
- Provides unlimited audio conferencing
- Includes a business phone number in every plan
Where It Falls Behind
- High subscription fees
- Entry-level plan doesn't have a video conferencing feature
- Features may be overwhelming to some users
How It Compares to Vonage
- RingCentral has over 200 third-party integrations, while Vonage only has 20+ business tools, with some involving an extra fee.
- RingCentral’s second-tier plan includes call recording, while Vonage offers this feature as an add-on on top of its subscription plans.
- Both providers allow a maximum number of 200 video meeting participants.
- RingCentral’s local and toll-free numbers cost $4.99 per month. Vonage charges $4.99 for local numbers and $39.99 for toll-free numbers.
RingCentral MVP, our top pick for the best business phone system, is the top alternative to Vonage thanks to its extensive unified communications capabilities. Its robust call management system has answering rules, call forwarding, and call transfer. Virtual fax, call monitoring, and call recording, which are add-ons in Vonage, are already included in RingCentral MVP’s subscription plans, starting from the third-tier package.
The provider offers a toll-free minute allowance, ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 bundles depending on your chosen plan. Its video meetings accommodate up to 200 participants and support a 24-hour duration. Its team chat lets you collaborate with colleagues in real time, manage tasks, and share files.
Compared to other services like Vonage, RingCentral has expensive monthly subscription fees. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option with useful call management and collaboration features, consider Google Voice.
RingCentral Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Core: $30 for message and phone functionality for 20 users
- Advanced: $35 for an unlimited number of users, unlimited internet fax, audio conferencing, third-party integrations, and video conferencing for up to 24 hours and 100 participants
- Ultra: $45 for automatic call recording, real-time analytics, customer relationship management (CRM) integration, devices status reports, and video meetings with up to 200 participants
*Pricing is based on monthly billing; save up to 40% with annual billing. RingCentral also has available volume discounts.
RingCentral Features
RingCentral transcribes meeting minutes, helping attendees follow the discussion better. (Source: RingCentral)
- Team huddle: This informal, always-on meeting space allows team members to have a quick brainstorming session or a casual chit-chat. Designed to replicate real-life spontaneous conversations, it lets people enter and exit virtual rooms as they please.
- Live transcription: Follow the meeting discussion by reading the automatically generated transcription near the chatbox. Late attendees are able to catch up on the conversation thanks to this feature.
- Voicemail-to-text: RingCentral converts voicemails into text form, making it easier for users to know which messages to prioritize. There’s no need to play the audio file over and over to get the important details.
In our RingCentral review, we explore more of the provider’s capabilities. Check out the guide before subscribing to a subscription plan.
Nextiva: Best for Lead Management
Overall Score:
4.34 / 5
What We Like
- 99.999% uptime guarantee
- Threaded conversations feature makes it easy to organize customer communications
- Intuitive business phone app
Where It Falls Behind
- More expensive than other VoIP providers
- The maximum duration of video meetings is 45 minutes only
- Mobile SMS isn’t included in the entry-level plan
How It Compares to Vonage
- Nextiva offers a toll-free number for free across subscription plans. Vonage, on the other hand, charges $39.99 a month on top of the monthly subscription package.
- Both providers feature an auto-attendant across all subscription plans.
- Nextiva allows unlimited participants in conference calls. Vonage only has a maximum of 200 participants.
- Nextiva offers unlimited internet fax as a standard feature in all subscription packages. Vonage provides this as an add-on, costing $14.99 a month.
Nextiva, one of our top picks for small business VoIP services, is an excellent Vonage alternative for sales teams because it has a built-in lead management tool mapping out the entire sales pipeline. The platform allows users to add tasks and deadlines for each stage of the sales process, making it easier to follow up with prospects and close deals.
The sales tool complements Nextiva’s robust call management system, which consists of call groups, multi-level auto-attendants, and call recording. As you accommodate callers, the VoIP platform creates accurate customer profiles that better inform your communication strategies.
Unfortunately, though, Nextiva limits video meetings to 45 minutes. If you’re looking for Vonage alternatives with robust conferencing features, go for Zoom One, which has a 30-hour duration, or GoTo Connect, which places no time limits on sessions.
Nextiva Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Essential: $30.95 per user for a free local and toll-free number, a maximum of 1,500 toll-free minutes, auto-attendant, and video meetings of up to 45 minutes
- Professional: $35.95 per user for unlimited conference calls for 40 participants, up to 3,000 toll-free minutes, mobile SMS and multimedia messaging service (MMS), and multi-level auto-attendant
- Enterprise: $45.95 per user for unlimited conference calls for unlimited participants, up to 12,500 toll-free minutes, call recording, and enterprise integrations with the most popular CRM tools
- Free trial: 7 days
*Pricing is based on monthly billing for one to four users; save up to 25% with annual billing. Like RingCentral, Nextiva offers volume discounts.
Nextiva Features
Assign a ringtone for specific phone numbers like those of important customers. (Source: Nextiva)
- Voicemail forwarding: Share a voicemail message to another extension’s mailbox. This makes it easy for team members to relay important information to each other and ensure that all parties involved in a task or project are in the loop.
- Advanced interactive voice response (IVR): Powered by conversational AI, this feature promotes self-service among callers. The IVR system answers frequently asked questions, schedules appointments, takes in callback requests, and facilitates payments.
- Priority alerts: Set a specific ringtone for high-value customers. Add up to 12 phone numbers to a priority alert list and configure the time or holiday schedule.
Our Nextiva review outlines some key pros and cons of the VoIP platform. Familiarize yourself with the tool and see if it fits your communication needs.
Dialpad: Best Vonage Alternative for Task Automation
Overall Score:
4.28 / 5
What We Like
- Supports international numbers
- Offers an unlimited number of ring groups
- Generates automated post-call summaries
Where It Falls Behind
- CRM integrations are not available in the entry-level subscription plan
- Businesses need to subscribe to the highest-tier package to use phone extensions
- Maximum number of video meeting participants is limited to 10
How It Compares to Vonage
- Ring groups are available across all Dialpad’s subscription plans. Vonage offers the feature as an add-on for $4.99 monthly per call group.
- Dialpad’s additional toll-free number costs $17 per month. Vonage charges $39.99 a month on top of the monthly subscription fee.
- Dialpad allows businesses to purchase Obihai, Polycom, and Yealink internet protocol (IP) desk and room phones while supporting Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Meanwhile, Vonage sells Netgear, Panasonic, Poly, and Yealink devices.
- Dialpad has 60+ third-party integrations for its unified communications platform. Vonage integrates with less than 30 business tools.
Dialpad is the best alternative to Vonage when you’re looking to improve your business communications with the assistance of advanced AI. The provider features various AI tools, including real-time call transcriptions, live speech coaching, and automated post-call summaries.
With real-time call transcriptions, agents do away with note-taking and focus better on addressing the concern a customer raised. Live speech coaching highlights recommendations on how customer service representatives can improve how they engage with the caller. On the other hand, the post-call summaries help team members remember the next action steps and work on them immediately without the need to replay call recordings.
While Dialpad provides different AI tools, it has limited third-party integrations. If you plan to add business apps to the phone system, it’s better to choose RingCentral, as the platform has more integrations than Dialpad.
Dialpad Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Standard: $23 per user for one local number, multi-level auto-attendant, a maximum of three ring groups, and up to 10 video meeting participants
- Pro: $35 per user for a maximum of 25 ring groups, international SMS, and integrations with CRM systems and open APIs
- Enterprise: Customized quote for extensions, an unlimited number of ring groups, and integrations with single sign-on service providers
- Free trial: 14 days
*Pricing is based on monthly billing. The entry-level plan’s fee lowers from $23 to $15 with annual billing.
Dialpad Features
Dialpad allows users to switch from one device to another during a live call. (Source: Dialpad)
- Call flip: Transfer seamlessly from one device to another without interrupting the live call. Team members who are always on the go easily move from their desktop to mobile whenever they go outside the office.
- Simultaneous ring: Alert several devices of an incoming call to ensure that your team accommodates all customer queries. The VoIP app works across iOS, Android, Mac, and PC, allowing you to pick up the call from the device you’re currently on.
- Call transfer: Move a live call to another qualified customer service representative in your organization. This feature facilitates better team productivity while creating a smooth customer experience.
If you’re interested in using this VoIP platform, check out our Dialpad review first. It will help you decide if its subscription fees and features are worth the investment.
8×8: Best for Subscription Fee Flexibility
Overall Score:
4.15 / 5
What We Like
- Provides unlimited internet fax
- Supports livestreaming of video meetings via YouTube
- Complies with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards
Where It Falls Behind
- Lacks volume-based discounts like RingCentral and Nextiva
- Integration with Microsoft Teams requires an additional fee
- Outbound dialers are locked in more expensive contact center subscription packages
How It Compares to Vonage
- Both providers have call monitoring tools like whisper and barge, but in 8×8, these are already included in its $57 monthly subscription plan. In Vonage, it’s an add-on that costs $49.99 a month.
- The maximum number of video meeting participants with 8×8 is 500, whereas with Vonage, it’s 200.
- Unlike Vonage, 8×8 offers 24/7 customer support in all subscription plans.
- 8×8 offers unlimited international calls, while Vonage doesn’t.
If you like Vonage’s flexible pricing, but don’t want to pay more for standard call management features, 8×8 should be among your top VoIP Vonage alternatives. 8×8 allows users to mix and match plans and get the features fit to their unique business needs. Unlike Vonage though, 8×8 doesn’t offer features as add-ons, as they are included in subscription plans.
One of its notable offerings is unlimited voice calls to 48 countries. The phone system comes with sophisticated call handling capabilities, like caller ID, call forwarding, transfer, park, hunt groups, and ring groups. The highest-tier subscription package has call monitoring tools, like whisper and barge.
However, the disadvantage of choosing 8×8 is that the integration with Microsoft Teams comes with an additional fee. Other VoIP solutions like Dialpad and GoTo Connect can be connected to Teams for free.
8×8 Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- X2: $28 per user for unlimited voice calling to 14 countries, multi-level auto-attendant, team messaging with document sharing, and video meetings for up to 500 participants
- X4: $57 per user for unlimited voice calling to 48 countries, 8×8 Frontdesk, and supervisor analytics
*Pricing is based on monthly billing; save up to 23% with annual billing.
8×8 Features
Create a barge, monitor, and whisper group on 8×8 and enable managers to listen to live calls and coach agents. (Source: 8×8)
- Call queue: Create a virtual line for incoming calls and distribute customers to the next available agent. To improve customer experience, allow callers to leave voicemails instead of waiting in the queue.
- Visual voicemail: See a complete list of your voicemails and decide which ones to prioritize first. 8×8 sends a visual voicemail to the email inbox, making sharing messages with other team members easy.
- Call monitoring: Let team leaders assist new agents in handling customer inquiries. Whisper advice to team members without the customer knowing or barge into the conversation to resolve concerns directly.
See how this VoIP provider’s general and niche features fared in our comprehensive 8×8 review. Learn how its voice, messaging, and meeting tools help businesses meet communication demands.
GoTo Connect: Best for Establishing International Presence
Overall Score:
4.05 / 5
What We Like
- 99.999% uptime guarantee
- Supports Cisco, Polycom, and Yealink phones
- Instant response for missed calls
Where It Falls Behind
- Meeting duration for entry-level plan subscribers is 40 minutes only
- Not ideal for businesses running text marketing campaigns as it only offers a maximum of 80 SMS credits
- Entry-level plan allows only one ring group and call queue
How It Compares to Vonage
- GoTo Connect provides a toll-free minute allowance, while Vonage doesn’t.
- Unlike Vonage, GoTo Connect has unlimited phone extensions.
- GoTo Connect’s Standard plan, which costs $32 per user, per month, offers unlimited ring groups, while Vonage provides this as an add-on for $4.99 per group, per month.
- GoTo Connect features call recording in its Standard plan. Vonage offers this at an additional cost of $4.99 per month on top of the monthly subscription fee.
In the aspect of international calling, GoTo Connect is a superior Vonage competitor. It allows businesses to make and receive unlimited calls between 50-plus countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. The free international calls are offered in the highest-tier subscription package priced at $32 per user, per month.
On top of the global calling capabilities, GoTo Connect offers 1,000 toll-free minutes in the Standard plan. If you run SMS marketing campaigns, choose other VoIP platforms because GoTo Connect only has 80 text credits. Consider Nextiva, as it offers unlimited text messages.
GoTo Connect Monthly Pricing at a Glance
- Basic: $27 per user for one ring group and call queue, 3 cents per toll-free minute, a maximum of 40 minutes and four participants in video meetings, and 40 SMS credits
- Standard: $32 per user for unlimited ring groups and call queues, unlimited international calls to 50-plus countries, up to 1,000 toll-free minutes, unlimited meeting duration for 150 participants, and 80 SMS credits
- Free trial: 14 days
GoTo Connect Features
Organize video meetings for several participants on GoTo Connect. (Source: GoTo Connect)
- Video meetings: Host meetings for an unlimited duration for up to 150 participants. Use the built-in drawing tools, such as a pointer, pen, and highlighter, to illustrate points during presentations better.
- Hotdesking: Let team members log into any phone on your system and find their user profile settings automatically configured into that device. With this feature, employees are able to work on any desktop computer, Android, or iOS phone.
- Call forwarding: Direct calls to another phone number. Use this to maintain a single phone number as primary contact information and ensure customers won’t hear busy signals.
In our GoTo Connect review, we recommended this VoIP provider to those looking for a reliable virtual number and hosted private branch exchange (PBX) provider. Read the article to learn more about the platform’s best-use cases.
Zoom One: Best for Remote Teams With Regular Online Meetings
Overall Score:
3.93 / 5
What We Like
- Easily navigable interface
- Allows up to 50 breakout rooms
- Meeting collaboration tools are available in the free version
Where It Falls Behind
- Business phone features aren’t available in the entry-level package
- Doesn't offer toll-free conference call options in the subscription plans
- Requires a Business subscription to unlock meeting transcription
How It Compares to Vonage
- Zoom has a forever-free version, while Vonage doesn’t.
- Barge, whisper, and takeover features are included in Zoom One’s Business Plus package, which costs $25. These tools cost an extra $49.99 monthly on top of your Vonage’s monthly subscription fee.
- Zoom One accommodates up to 1,000 video meeting attendees, whereas Vonage only has a maximum of 200.
- Zoom integrates with over 1,000 business tools, while Vonage only works with 20+ apps.
Among Vonage competitors, Zoom One is the best option for those seeking a unified communications (UC) platform with great video conferencing tools. Its free version already packs valuable features: virtual backgrounds, screen sharing, host controls, and personal meeting ID. When you upgrade the plan, you’ll have a wider range of capabilities, such as 1,000 meeting participants and unlimited whiteboards.
The provider has improved security features too. Hosts are able to lock a meeting, create a waiting room to gatekeep attendees, remove a participant, and put watermarks on screen-sharing sessions.
The only drawback of choosing this platform is that its VoIP capabilities are unavailable in the entry-level paid package. You must have the Business Plus subscription to make calls, secure toll-free numbers, and create routing rules for IVRs and holiday hours. Other Vonage alternatives like Google Voice and Dialpad have several business phone features in their affordable entry-level plans.
Zoom One Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Basic: Free for a maximum of 40-minute meeting duration and 100 participants, three whiteboards, and team chat
- Pro: $15.99 per user for a maximum of 30-hour meeting duration and 100 participants, 5GB cloud storage, and free premium apps for a year
- Business: $19.99 per user for a maximum of 300 meeting attendees, unlimited whiteboards, and automatic recording transcripts
- Business Plus: $25 per user for metered and unlimited outbound calling, toll-free numbers, automatic call distribution (ACD), and call monitoring
- Enterprise: Customized quote for a maximum of 1,000 meeting participants, Webinar 500, and local and unlimited cloud recording
*Pricing is based on monthly billing; save up to 21% with annual billing.
Zoom One Features
Zoom One enables users to send a brief reply when declining meeting invites.
(Source: Zoom One)
- Waiting room: Control the people joining your meeting by placing attendees in the Waiting Room. Give them access to the meeting one by one or all at once.
- Zoom Whiteboard: Brainstorm ideas with a virtual canvas in your meeting room. Draw shapes, add texts, and insert images to explain concepts better.
- Quick reply to meeting invite: If you’re in the middle of working on an important task and a colleague invites you to a huddle, decline and send a brief reason for being unable to attend. Zoom One lets you choose among template messages, including “I’ll call you back” or “I can’t meet right now.”
If you plan to adopt this platform in your business communications, explore further its capabilities in our extensive Zoom review. The article will help you determine if the platform suits your existing work processes.
Grasshopper: Best for Securing Separate Phone Numbers for Different Teams
Overall Score:
3.89 / 5
What We Like
- Offers a subscription plan that suits solopreneurs
- Voice studio for custom greetings features professional voice actors
- 24/7 support is available across all plans
Where It Falls Behind
- Doesn't have team chat and meeting features
- Lacks call recording capabilities
- Doesn't support sending shortcodes
How It Compares to Vonage
- Unlike Vonage, Grasshopper includes all its VoIP features on all subscription plans.
- Businesses secure multiple phone numbers in Grasshopper’s second- and third-tier plans. On Vonage, you’ll only have one local number, regardless of your chosen plan.
- Grasshopper provides live receptionist services via Ruby, while Vonage doesn’t.
- Businesses need Vonage’s highest-tier subscription package to unlock the visual voicemail feature. In contrast, Grasshopper includes this in its starter plan.
If you plan to get multiple phone numbers for different departments within the company or various campaigns, Grasshopper must be at the top of your options for alternatives to Vonage. This phone system provider has a flat rate for phone numbers and extensions. For $89, your team will be able to share unlimited extensions and five phone numbers. The number options include local, toll-free, and vanity.
All Grasshopper’s pricing plans include call management features, such as transfer, forwarding, and voicemail. However, note that this VoIP provider doesn’t have team chat and video conferencing capabilities. If these are important tools for you, along with the range of number options, go for the top Vonage substitute, which is RingCentral MVP. The additional numbers only cost $4.99 plus taxes and fees.
Grasshopper Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Solo: $31 for one phone number and three extensions
- Partner: $51 for three phone numbers and six extensions
- Small Business: $89 for five phone numbers and unlimited extensions
- Free trial: 7 days
*Pricing is based on monthly billing; save up to 10% with annual billing.
Grasshopper Features
Receive faxes on the Grasshopper app and easily share documents with colleagues. (Source: Grasshopper)
- Business texting: Send and receive SMS through your business phone number. Picture messages or MMS are also allowed using Grasshopper’s local numbers.
- Call blasting: Ring multiple devices simultaneously to never miss a call. This feature is an add-on that costs $10 per month.
- Virtual fax: Receive faxes on the Grasshopper app or in your email. With this, you can keep all communications in one place using one phone number. Plus, you won’t need an actual fax machine that is costly to maintain.
Discover this VoIP provider’s other capabilities in our Grasshopper review. It earned high scores on general and niche features, as it offers tools suitable for solopreneurs and small businesses.
Google Voice: Best for Affordability
Overall Score:
3.86 / 5
What We Like
- Easy-to-use business phone app
- Integrates seamlessly with other Google products
- Affordable subscription plans, with the entry-level package starting at $10 per user, monthly
Where It Falls Behind
- Free version is only available for use in the U.S.
- Lacks advanced call management features
- Doesn't support toll-free, vanity, and international numbers
How It Compares to Vonage
- Both providers offer unlimited text messaging, but Google Voice has this feature in its free version.
- Google Voice offers voicemail transcription across all paid subscription plans. Vonage charges an extra $4.99 monthly for this feature on top of the monthly subscription fee.
- Vonage and Google Voice provide access to mobile apps across all their subscription plans.
- Unlike Vonage, Google Voice’s paid subscription plans offer a service level agreement (SLA).
Businesses looking for a cheaper alternative to Vonage will find Google Voice as the most suitable VoIP solution. The platform has a forever-free version, which comes with a phone number and unlimited calls and texts within the U.S. Its paid subscription starts at $10 per user, letting users maximize voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and mobile and web applications. Plus, you can count on the provider’s SLA and 24/7 support.
Before subscribing to Google Voice, note that the provider only offers local phone numbers. If you need toll-free and vanity numbers at an affordable subscription fee, Grasshopper is the better choice. For international numbers, Dialpad and 8×8 are great options.
Google Voice Monthly Pricing at a Glance
- Personal: Free for one user, unlimited calls to the U.S., and unlimited texts within the U.S.
- Starter: $10 per user for up to 10 users, call forwarding, access to mobile apps, and integration with Google Calendar and Meet
- Standard: $20 per user for an unlimited number of users, multi-level auto-attendant, ring groups, and desk phone and analog telephone adapter (ATA) support
- Premier: $30 per user for advanced reporting and automatic call recording
Google Voice Features
Google Voice automatically labels suspicious calls as spam using advanced AI. (Source: Google Voice)
- Call recording: Review how customer service representatives engage with customers by playing actual call recordings. With this feature, you’re also able to preserve important information needed for addressing disputes.
- Multi-level auto-attendant: Play prerecorded messages of menu options as customers call your phone number. Google Voice uses text-to-speech technology and, at the same time, allows users to upload their own audio files.
- Spam call detection: A red text that says “suspected spam caller” appears when a suspicious call comes through your phone system. You have the option to confirm it or mark it as not spam. Google Voice uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to identify spam calls.
If you’re a solopreneur or a small team, this VoIP platform could be the right solution for you. Learn more about it in our Google Voice review.
Ooma: Best for Brick & Mortar Businesses
Overall Score:
3.83 / 5
What We Like
- 50+ standard features on all subscription plans
- Offers unlimited international calling plans for small businesses
- Supports call transfer to external lines
Where It Falls Behind
- Access to the desktop app and SMS services are not provided in the entry-level plan
- Limited third-party integrations
- Maximum number of video meeting participants is 100
How It Compares to Vonage
- Ooma includes a free toll-free number in all its subscription plans. Vonage charges $39.99 monthly for this feature, on top of the monthly subscription fee.
- Unlike Vonage, Ooma provides an allowance of 500 toll-free minutes.
- Vonage offers unlimited calls to the U.S. and Canada only. Ooma extends its reach by including Mexico and Puerto Rico in its unlimited call offer.
- Vonage’s virtual fax requires an extra fee of $14.99 per month. Ooma has this feature in its entry-level package.
Ooma is the ideal Vonage substitute for brick-and-mortar companies, featuring overhead paging systems and intercoms. With Vonage, the internet protocol (IP) phone paging system is an add-on priced at $4.99 monthly on top of the monthly subscription cost. With a reliable paging system from Ooma, it’s easy for those managing retail stores, warehousing facilities, and large offices to broadcast important alerts, appointment reminders, and emergency notifications.
Aside from the paging system, Ooma provides analog fax machine support across all its plans. Unfortunately, access to the desktop app and SMS services are unavailable in its entry-level package, which costs $19.95 per user, per month. If these are essential features to you, go for Google Voice instead, as these capabilities are offered in its $10-per-user plan.
Ooma Monthly Pricing at a Glance*
- Essentials: $19.95 per user for one toll-free number, access to the mobile app, ring groups, and virtual receptionist
- Pro: $24.95 per user for access to the desktop app, text messaging, video conferencing, and call recording
- Pro Plus: $29.95 per user for call queueing, integration with CRM systems, meetings recording, and hotdesking
- Free trial: 30-day money-back guarantee
*Applicable fees and taxes are not included.
Ooma Features
Ooma sends a voicemail notification to a user’s email inbox. (Source: Ooma)
- Conference bridge: Help remote team members dial into virtual meetings from any phone anywhere in the world. Ooma’s conference bridge accommodates up to 10 participants.
- Seven-digit dialing: Make dialing more efficient by allowing employees to dial a local number without dialing the area code. Configure the area code settings in the “Numbers” tab on your Ooma Office Manager dashboard.
- Voicemail-to-email: Get voicemail notifications via email. The email you receive contains a transcription of the audio message, letting you read through the text and helping you decide if it needs immediate attention.
If you’re keen on using this VoIP solution for your communications, read first our in-depth Ooma review. See if their pricing, features, customer service, and ease of use suit your current operations.
How We Evaluated the Best Vonage Alternatives
To assess the top apps like Vonage, we considered pricing, general and advanced features, ease of use, and customer support. We added our expert opinion on its value for money and popularity in the evaluation.
Learn how we assessed the VoIP platforms by clicking on the tabs below:
20%
Pricing
25%
General Features
20%
Advanced Features
10%
Ease of Use
10%
Customer Support
15%
Expert Score
20% of Overall Score
To determine the platform’s affordability, we looked at the cost of the base-level and second-tier plans and gave more points to those offering annual and volume discounts. We also considered if the providers offer a forever-free plan that benefits solopreneurs, startups, and small teams.
25% of Overall Score
The general features we looked at were unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada, video and audio conferencing, and a mobile app. Since businesses need a reliable communications platform, we included the SLA guarantee in our assessment, giving more points to those with 99.999% or above uptime.
20% of Overall Score
The specialized features we checked were international calling, international numbers, and the IVR system. Higher points were given to providers with robust integrations.
10% of Overall Score
We evaluated ease of use by determining the expertise required to set up and operate the phone system. We also assessed if providers have an intuitive interface.
10% of Overall Score
The variety of customer communication channels was part of our evaluation. We gave more points to providers with email, phone, and live chat support. We considered the time these channels are active and operational.
15% of Overall Score
This includes our evaluation of the provider’s standout features, value for money, and ease of use. We checked user ratings in third-party review sites to gauge the platform’s popularity.
*Percentages of overall score
Bottom Line
Vonage is an excellent VoIP solution for organizations that want to cherry-pick features based on their communication needs. However, if you need a range of advanced call management and productivity tools, your monthly fee may quickly increase with the add-ons. In this case, it’s better to explore feature-rich unified communications platforms.
Among the top alternatives we evaluated, RingCentral is the best overall, as it packs robust call management, team messaging, and video conferencing capabilities. Moreover, it integrates with various business tools, facilitating an easier, smoother transition process for teams. Sign up for RingCentral’s 14-day free trial.
