As remote work continues to rise in popularity, many organizations are looking for reliable voice communication options so that employees can effectively do their jobs while working from home. That’s why more businesses are moving away from traditional phones and using VoIP phone systems as a communications solution.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows you to make phone calls using a broadband internet connection rather than a regular phone line. Thanks to its versatility, extensive features, and affordability, VoIP has become the go-to phone service for individuals and businesses of all sizes.
With so many VoIP options — ranging from basic phone services to all-in-one platforms that provide phone, messaging, and video conferencing solutions — it can be challenging to choose the best VoIP provider for your organization.
We’ve taken the guesswork out and compiled a list of the 8 best VoIP services for business and working from home, including:
- FreeConferenceCall.com
- Dialpad
- Nextiva
- RingCentral
- Ooma
- Grasshopper
- 8×8 X Series
- Vonage
Each of these platforms offers VoIP services that will help your business effectively manage customer relationships, handle any volume of business calls, and support employee collaboration.
Read on for information that will help you choose the best VoIP service for your business or organization.
1. FreeConferenceCall.com
We are fully confident that FreeConferenceCall.com is the best VoIP service available.
As the name implies, it’s always free to call into a FreeConferenceCall.com meeting. They make it easy to make VoIP calls. All you need is your phone, our mobile app, and a free FreeConferenceCall.com account.
Don’t have access to a phone to make your call? No problem! You can easily join a VoIP conference call with your tablet, desktop or laptop computer and a headset or similar listening device to dial in from anywhere.
FreeConferenceCall.com also offers other free and low-cost services, including video teleconferences, instant messaging, and more.
Pros:
- Allows up to 1,000 participants per call
- Crisp and clear audio quality
- Available on all mobile devices and web browsers
- Charitable cause
Cons:
- Limited access to call logs, transcripts, user information during calls
Pricing: Free (pay what you can). If you want to upgrade your account for add-on features (e.g., custom greetings, toll-free business number), you can do so for a small fee.
2. Dialpad
Dialpad is an innovative company offering VoIP phone systems for small businesses and large global enterprises alike.
In addition to VoIP services, Dialpad also offers video meetings and instant messaging that can be accessed through the user-friendly desktop and mobile apps. Dialpad sets itself apart from competitors by offering AI: Voice Intelligence, which transcribes calls in real-time and offers helpful “Assist” cards to help your company’s customer service reps easily answer customer questions.
Pros:
- User-friendly dashboard makes it easy to manage multiple users and phone numbers
- Many features across all plans
- Thorough call analytics
- Integrates seamlessly with outside software and apps (e.g., Salesforce, G Suite, Office 365)
Cons:
- 24/7 customer service/phone support comes at an extra cost
Pricing: Plans start at $20/month per user
3. Nextiva
Nextiva offers a versatile and powerful VoIP phone and communication system for businesses of all sizes. Features include unlimited calling to the US and Canada, unlimited faxing, instant conference calls, voicemail messages delivered directly to your email, and a call queue feature to make handling calls during busy times a little easier.
Seamless integration with various other tech systems, including Google, Outlook, Salesforce, and more.
Pros:
- User-friendly administrator panel to manage calls, voicemails, and text messages
- Unlimited calls to the US and Canada
- High-quality audio
- 24/7 customer support via phone and email
Cons:
- Lowest price only available if you purchase a 3-year plan
- Can take some time setting up and getting familiar with Nextiva’s interface
Pricing: Plans start from $18.95/month per user
4. RingCentral
RingCentral is a popular VoIP solution that appeals to both small and large businesses alike. The company frequently aligns with external vendors to integrate other software programs into the RingCentral environment for VoIP and other communication purposes.
This cloud-hosted system offers key features that enhance the user experience, including auto-attendant, call forwarding, a company directory, and multiple extensions. The RingCentral mobile and desktop apps can be used to make and receive calls as well as manage virtual faxes.
Pros:
- Easy set-up; activate your VoIP phone within minutes
- Wide variety of pricing plans
- Can add new features to your plan as needed
- AI capabilities for call transcriptions
Cons:
- Some users complain of poor customer support
- No video conferencing options
Pricing: Plans start from $29.95/month per user.
5. Ooma
Ooma is an amazing VoIP phone systems for small businesses. When you sign up for an Ooma Office account, you’re assigned one free 1-800 (toll-free) number to stay in contact with customers whether you’re working from home, the office (or the beach).
Key features include mobile and desktop apps, a multi-ring feature, call recording, call blocking, and a virtual receptionist. Ooma is affordable, but phones must be pre-configured from Ooma in order to use it right away, or extensive set-up is required on existing phones.
Pros:
- Lots of features at affordable prices
- Can convert traditional analog telephone to digital signals
- No fixed contract
- User-friendly interface
Cons:
- Some users report issues with call delays
- Limited analytics and reporting capabilities
Pricing: Plans start from $19.95/month per user.
6. Grasshopper
Grasshopper delivers an easy-to-use VoIP phone system solution for small businesses, particularly for those on a limited budget. You need only a functioning phone number, headsets (or a mobile phone) and a reliable internet connection to use this service.
With Grasshopper, you’ll have access to unlimited calls and text messages, call forwarding options, simultaneous call handling, virtual fax, and 24/7 customer support. Some plans allow you to choose from toll-free, local, and vanity toll-free numbers as your business line.
Pros:
- Easy set-up
- Call forwarding to anywhere in the world
- Affordable billing options
- User-friendly mobile and desktop apps
Cons:
- Limited features
- No analytics provided
Pricing: Starting at $26/month for 1 phone number and 3 extensions.
7. 8×8
One of the more affordable providers, 8×8 offers VoIP phone solutions to small businesses. Plans include all of the features you would expect from an internet-based phone system, including integrated voice, virtual meetings, virtual fax, contact centers, and real-time communication analytics.
In addition to VoIP phone services and audio conferences, 8×8 also offers high-definition video conferencing with up to 100 participants per meeting (more participants can be added in higher-priced plans). While 8×8 offers fewer advanced features and customization options than their competitors, the user interface and admin console are well-designed and easy to use.
Pros:
- Easy to use, suitable for those new to VoIP systems
- Integrates into other apps and software (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Google, Slack)
- Privacy-compliant in the US and Europe
- Unlimited calling to many countries around the world
Cons:
- Few advanced features available
- Some users report issues with importing contacts from Google
Pricing: Starting at $15/month per user
8. Vonage
As one of the first VoIP providers on the market, Vonage’s services stand out as reliable and affordable. High-quality audio, voice, video, and messaging are available across all plans.
A unique feature is Vonage’s collaboration with Amazon Chime, which gives users access to web conferencing and additional video conference needs, such as file sharing and screen sharing. It also integrates with other cloud-based apps such as G Suite, Salesforce, and Office 365.
Pros:
- Boasts a 99.999% uptime reliability
- Low rates for international calls
- Unique features
- Well-designed user interface
Cons:
- Set-up requires technical skills and can be time-consuming
- Can be costly when adding more features
Pricing: Starting at $19.99/month per user
Conclusion
Adopting a VoIP phone system can help bolster your company’s collaboration, communication, and employee productivity. And all of this at a fraction of the cost of traditional phone services.
If you’re ready to get started with VoIP on FreeConferenceCall.com, visit our VoIP Conference Calls page to learn more.
