voip business plans

Home > Services > Phone

The Best Business VoIP Providers in 2024

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With annual billing **With contract

Not sure which service is best for your situation? Talk to one of our experts for honest, impartial advice

We are committed to sharing unbiased reviews. Some of the links on our site are from our partners who compensate us. Read our editorial guidelines and advertising disclosure .

With business VoIP services, you don't have to worry about limited numbers of physical phone lines.  VoIP services offer tons of perks that small business owners love . Some of these include being able to place VoIP calls from your desktop or cell phone using your VoIP phone number. What is especially great about it, is that when you call, your business phone number will show up on caller ID instead of your cell number or whatever you are using to make that call. This goes for incoming calls as well. They will dial the VoIP number and you can answer on whichever phone you want to use.

Bottom line: We searched through the market for the top services and found the 13 best VoIP providers out there—with RingCentral at the top offering price matching and a wide feature range at a low cost.  Ooma is also great for remote workers because of its ease of use and phone system flexibility.

For a full-service business phone solution that also provides reliable services for your growing business, RingCentral is a great option.

• RingCentral : Best full-service VoIP provider
• Ooma : Best VoIP service for remote work
• Nextiva : Best VoIP provider for midsize business
• 8x8 : Best budget buy
• Vonage : Best small business VoIP provider

Which VoIP should I use? Compare best providers

Ringcentral: best overall voip.

We love that RingCentral offers such a wide range of product features. And the plans are fairly affordable, with price matching available and a generous allotment of toll-free minutes. Just look out for a so-so customer service experience.

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With annual billing

RingCentral offers a well-rounded work-from-home solution that includes integrated messaging, unlimited video conferencing, and cloud-hosted VoIP service right out of the box. The service includes a lot of features that other providers charge extra for (such as generous toll-free minutes). And small businesses don’t have to worry about whether they’re getting raked over the coals for their cloud-hosted VoIP service because RingCentral offers price matching on plans with less than 50 lines.

RingCentral VoIP plans

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *Retention period applies

Another thing we love about RingCentral is its reliability. RingCentral promises a 99.999% uptime, meaning both your in-house and remote employees can rely on your VoIP system to work whenever they need it. Plus, RingCentral plans include unlimited internet faxing, phone conferencing, and video conferencing for up to 200 participants. Video meetings can even last up to 24 hours — just in case.

Here are a few other features business owners are sure to love:

• Unlimited calls within the US and Canada
• A toll-free or local phone number
• Automatic call recording
• Inbound caller ID
• Service in 100+ countries worldwide
• Voice menus in 10 different languages

And if you ever experience trouble with your VoIP system, RingCentral’s customer service team is available 24/7 via online chat or via phone during standard business hours. Keep in mind, though, that usually only larger enterprises get US-based support — small businesses usually get outsourced to overseas customer service representatives. If that doesn’t work for you, though, RingCentral also offers ticket service, an extensive online knowledge base, and weekly webinars to answer common questions.

Ooma: Best VoIP service for remote work

If your business has transitioned to remote work, Ooma offers affordable services that are easy to use and can easily grow with your company. While some customers have complained about dropped calls, we think Ooma’s still the ideal VoIP service for businesses working remotely.

Data as of post date.. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

With its scalable solutions, Ooma is one of our favorite small-business phone services. But Ooma’s Office and Office Pro plans also stand out as some of the best VoIP phone service offerings for businesses with remote employees.

Ooma phone systems are flexible, so you can use your office phone while working at home, place and accept work calls on your cell phone, and even use the Ooma desktop app to place calls on your computer. And Ooma’s plans stay affordable even with an upper-tier plan.

Ooma VoIP plans

Ooma’s remote features can help your business stay up and running no matter where your employees are. For starters, Ooma’s mobile and desktop apps allow remote employees to make and receive unlimited calls within North America using your business number.

We also like Ooma’s Ring Groups feature, which lets you group extensions together in your phone system so they all ring simultaneously. Then it transfers the call to whichever employee answers first. This allows your customers to get through to a representative as quickly as possible and provides a backup in case one of your employees has to step away to deal with childcare or move the laundry along.

Businesses working remotely should keep in mind, though, that Ooma offers video conferencing only on the Ooma Office Pro and Pro Plus plans. Otherwise, you get a conference line that lets remote employees collaborate over the phone. That puts Ooma a pace behind some of the other providers on our list, but with providers like Nextiva currently offering their video collaboration tool to businesses for free, it shouldn’t be a major issue.

Nextiva: Best VoIP software for midsize businesses

If you operate more than one office or have employees scattered around your areas working from home, Nextiva is easy to scale without breaking your budget. However, this option may not be best for companies that need low-cost international calling features.

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Nextiva is great for midsize businesses on a budget because it delivers an impressive balance of pricing and features. Nextiva’s mobile app and desktop app allow your employees to ditch the clunky office phones of the past, and the service’s online management platform makes it easy to juggle multiple lines—even when your employees are all working from different locations.

Nextiva VoIP plans

Nextiva service also provides a number of helpful features for businesses working from home. For starters, there’s the Nextiva app, which lets you use your business phone number to make calls remotely from your desktop or mobile devices. Nextiva’s team collaboration tool, Cospace, also lets your team collaborate via video chat, so you can keep everyone one the same page.

If you need a way to video chat with your team, but aren’t interested in a full-blown VoIP service, we have good news. Right now, Nextiva is offering video and team collaboration for an unlimited number of users—completely free. See the Nextiva website to learn more about their Video & Collaboration service.

Word to the wise, though: Nextiva’s pricing can be a little complex, so make sure you click around the website’s pricing page to find the accurate pricing for your business. The website lists the Essential plan at $18.95 per month, for example. But if you click the tiny question mark next to the price, you find out that price is only for prepaid 36-month contracts on plans with 20-99 users. If you’re a small business on a month-to-month plan, you’ll actually wind up paying $30.95 per month for the same package.

That being said, we think it’s impressive that none of Nextiva’s plans cost more than $45 per month—especially considering all the VoIP service features you get. And for businesses with remote employees, features like unlimited video conferencing (with a Professional plan or higher), screen sharing, and team messaging make it easier to get work done even when everyone’s physically distant.

8x8: Best budget buy

8x8’s claims to fame are its incredibly low pricing, cheap international calling rates, and crowdsourced customer service. This VoIP provider offers limited mobile access, but it’s a good pick for any business trying to save a buck without sacrificing quality.

Data as of 7/7/23. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Given all the economic uncertainty faced by small businesses today, choosing a low-cost VoIP phone service makes a lot of sense. 

Fortunately, 8x8 offers three simple, feature-loaded plans that can help you keep your expenses low while also getting all the VoIP features you need. 8x8 even offers integrations with third-party business apps like Salesforce, Zendesk, Netsuite, and Microsoft Dynamics. That way, your business can build out a complete enterprise resource planning solution that allows your inventory, accounting, point-of-sale, and customer service to work together seamlessly—all without having to shell out big money for it.

8x8 VoIP plans

Data as of post date.. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *When billed annually

All 8x8 plans include team messaging, HD video conferencing, and screen sharing, you you can easily keep all your remote team members engaged and collaborative. And contact centers that have transitioned to remote work can still enjoy features like omnichannel routing, which allows your employees to engage with customers via chat, social media, text, and phone—all in one platform.

And of course, you can’t ignore the fact that 8x8 offers full internet phone services that start at just $15 per month. The company’s introductory plan even offers an auto-attendant to help transfer calls to the appropriate extension without you needing to pay a receptionist to answer the phone—a feature other internet and phone providers don’t offer except on upper-tier plans. 

That being said, 8x8’s plan upgrades are not the cheapest on our list. But considering the number of features you get for the price, we think it’s a good value for most companies looking for a VoIP phone system that offers a lot of bang for your buck.

Vonage: Best small business VoIP provider

Sure, Vonage has dealt with bad press and technical issues in the past. But these days, the service’s easy setup, impressive 99.999% uptime, and scalable business phone system options make it a top-notch VoIP choice for businesses with an eye toward growth.

Data as of post date.. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *Up to 99 users

As one of the earliest VoIP services on the market, Vonage is one of the most well-known PBX solutions currently available. And for good reason.

Vonage phone service can easily grow with your company, so you don’t have to worry about difficult transitions to new systems as your needs expand. Vonage integrates with everything from Salesforce to Slack, so you’re covered if your business ever outgrows its current customer relationship tools. And Vonage offers VoIP communications features that make the service easy to use even when you’re at home.

Vonage VoIP plans

Vonage plans offer great features for remote employees, including unlimited team messaging, unlimited calls, and unlimited business text messages on every plan. However, if video conferencing is important to your business, you’ll need to upgrade to the Premium plan.

We also like that Vonage offers 20 third-party integrations through the Vonage App Center, which is available even on the Mobile plan. This feature allows you to sync your VoIP phone system with select accounting, inventory, and CRM software so you can build out a completely interconnected business.

Furthermore, all Vonage customers get 24/7 customer support and IT solutions. Between that and all the other features included on Vonage’s basic phone system plans, it’s a great solution for small businesses that want advanced features at a budget price. And Vonage can definitely keep up when it’s time to upgrade your devices or add more lines, so your business can easily grow within your existing VoIP system.

By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Other VoIP service providers for small businesses

• Grasshopper : Best for mobile businesses
• Verizon : Most reliable
• GoToConnect : Best features
• Phone.com : Cheapest plans
• Fusion Connect : Best customer service
• 1-VoIP : Most flexible
• Google Voice
• Mitel MiCloud Connect
• Microsoft Teams Phone
• Freshdesk Contact Center
• Intermedia Unite

Compare other VoIP providers for small business

Grasshopper: best for mobile businesses.

While Grasshopper may suffer from minor audio quality and transcription problems, the service is a major contender for businesses that operate from multiple locations. It’s easy to set up and easy to use, and it includes toll-free vanity numbers.

Now more than ever, businesses are discovering that they don’t need their employees to work in an office environment to be successful. But Grasshopper is an especially great VoIP software for mobile businesses like food trucks and pop-up stores.

Like many other VoIP phone services, Grasshopper offers iOS and Android apps that allow you to make and receive business calls on your cell phone. But unlike the competition, it allows you to customize call forwarding rules for each phone extension on your plan. That way, each of your employees or business locations can manage calls in whatever way works best for them.

Grasshopper VoIP plans

Grasshopper is great for small businesses, so why didn’t we name it our top small-business phone service? To be honest, we think Grasshopper is a little expensive compared to other options on the table. Grasshopper plans start at $26 per month (assuming you sign up for annual billing), which is pretty pricey considering you get only one business phone number with up to three extensions.

Grasshopper also offers fewer unified communications features than other PBX solutions. You also have to provide your own devices. That’s not a big deal if your employees are all working from home and using their cell phones or desktop phones to place calls. But it may pose a problem if you need to upgrade your office’s old analog phones.

Oh, and Grasshopper only offers service to businesses in the US and Canada.

On the upside, though, Grasshopper offers the same features across all its plans. Unlike other business VoIP solutions, you don’t have to upgrade your plan just to get business texting (for example). That means your business can enjoy the same high-end VoIP phone system features as a large company, even if you have only a couple of lines.

Right now, Grasshopper is offering $75 off when you sign up for a 12-month prepaid plan. That way, you don’t have to break the bank to stay connected. See Grasshopper’s home page for more details.

Verizon VoIP: Most reliable

Verizon is definitely one of the most expensive VoIP options on our list. But given the company’s reputation for reliable mobile solutions and full-service fiber-optic connections, it may be worth the extra cost for some businesses (assuming you live in an area with Verizon’s fiber-optic options, of course).

Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With two-year contract

Verizon’s mobile solutions and ultra-fast fiber-optic internet connections (named Fios) have made the company the current gold standard when it comes to reliable telecommunications. And frankly, Verizon doesn’t disappoint when it comes to its bring-your-own-device (BYOD) VoIP service.

Verizon’s appeal ultimately comes down to its reliability. The telecommunications giant offers both fiber-optic and DSL connections nationwide. And say what you want about Verizon’s customer service—the company is one of the few internet and phone providers with a reputation for maintaining a state-of-the-art network with few to no dropped calls on its internet phone

Verizon VoIP plans

Unfortunately, that reliability doesn’t exactly come cheap. Verizon’s Business Digital Voice VoIP plan starts relatively high, and if you need more than 5 lines, you'll need to call them for additional information. Keep in mind that Verizon isn’t a budget choice for small businesses: it’s a reliability choice.

If you’re located in one of the 8 states (plus Washington, DC) that currently enjoy Verizon Fios service—which are mostly in the northeast—you’ll have access to one of the fastest internet connections available, which is perfect for VoIP. If your remote employees don’t have Verizon Fios internet or your business is in DSL-only country, the speed will be slower, but uptime is still guaranteed at 99.9%. Either internet option will support steady VoIP service, and if your business is more medium-sized than small, Verizon could add up to a better value in the long run (especially if you’re in Fios territory).

Since Verizon is a massive company, customer service ratings are in line with what you’d usually read in the comments section—meaning, people are far more motivated to complain than praise. Navigating Verizon’s bundling plans for businesses may be like a choose-your-own-adventure odyssey, but its support lines are segregated well, with separate contacts for small, medium, and larger businesses. Verizon also offers competitive SLAs (service level agreements) for quality and service and 24/7 VoIP phone services support via phone, email, and tickets.

Verizon Business Digital Voice isn’t necessarily budget friendly for a smaller business, but it should be attractive to medium and larger outfits that demand reliable uptime, or at least prefer an all-in-one telecom provider.

GoToConnect: Best feature-rich VoIP

GoToConnect offers all its features on every plan—the only difference is the number of users you get. That makes it easy to choose a feature-rich plan that’s easily customized to suit your business needs.

GoToConnect has nearly as many glowing reviews as the Radiohead discography, minus the pretentious lyricism. GoToConnect has established a positive industry reputation since its launch as Jive in 2006, thanks mostly to its interface simplicity, focus on small businesses, and large array of telephone features that are available to all pricing tiers.

GoToConnect VoIP plans

All these tiers deliver top-notch phone service features, which include the following perks:

• Call routing
• Do Not Disturb
• Custom hold music
• International calling
• Advanced ring strategies
• Call queues

In addition, GoToConnect plans deliver unlimited video conferencing for up to 250 participants. That makes company-wide meetings a lot easier while your employees are based from home. Plus, GoToConnect offers virtual international numbers in more than 50 countries—though you’ll have to pay a $19.99 setup fee, plus a charge per minute for the basic plan (you won't have to pay this in the upper tier plans if it's one of the 50 countries).

We also like that GoToConnect’s phone systems are easy to set up and come with US-based 24/7 phone, live chat, and email support (with specific help for small businesses, large businesses, government agencies, and education clients). Overall, it’s a simple and feature-loaded VoIP phone system that works for all kinds of businesses.

3 more VoIP providers reviewed by Business.org:

Curious to find out more about the small business phone systems near you? Answer a few questions to find out more about the options in your area.

Best VoIP for Small Business FAQ

Since VoIP is a relatively new technology that differs from traditional copper-line telephone systems, there may be a bit of a learning curve before you dive into adopting it for your business. Here are a few elemental points to get started.

RingCentral has the best VoIP due to it's fair pricing and wide range of features. It also offers price matching for plans with less than 50 lines—making it even more affordable. 

Yes, VoIP is good for small business. It is an easily scalable, cost-effective way to communicate.

A VoIP phone number is just like a regular telephone number, but it’s assigned to a user rather than a specific physical phone line.

When landline providers set up your telephone system, they map your new number to the physical copper connections that are hardwired into your home. But with VoIP phone systems, your number is assigned to your internet phone services account. That allows you to access your VoIP phone number (and make VoIP phone calls) from any device with an internet connection. That gives you the flexibility to use your VoIP phone number at home, in the office, or even from your smartphone.

If you’ll be switching to a VoIP business system, will you want to keep your current phone number? Most VoIP services offer number porting, which lets you transfer—or port—your number to a new service. Check for number porting in a VoIP service’s features; some will apply it for free, while others may charge a one-time fee.

A SIP (session initiation protocol) trunk carries voice, data, and video through a “trunk” that replaces copper telephone connections through the conventional PSTN (public switched telephone network), consolidating phone and internet service into a single digital line.

In plain English, SIP trunking allows you to physically disconnect from your phone company, opening the door for digital, internet-powered options (read: VoIP). And unlike hardwired telephone lines, digital lines allow you to scale your phone solutions as your business grows.

A private branch exchange (PBX) is the closed telephone network within a business, which employees share for outbound, inbound, and interoffice phone calls. VoIP systems manage PBXs off-site through cloud PBX hosting, eliminating the need for costly (and space-hogging) on-premise equipment and maintenance.

BYOD stands for  bring your own device . This term refers to employees conducting company business on personal laptops, tablets, and phones instead of on company-owned gear. Most VoIP companies offer BYOD features and solutions within their plans, either included or at additional cost. However, extra IT security layers and company guidelines for BYOD are on you.

As mentioned earlier, VoIP is entirely reliant on a high-speed internet connection—and is also entirely at the mercy of power outages. Telephone lines may be archaic, but they still work in a blackout—internet equipment and connections, not so much. If your business requires 24/7 uptime, make sure backup power sources are in place.

Unlike traditional telephone lines, VoIP numbers can’t be traced by 911 operators. This doesn’t mean you’d be helpless in case of a natural disaster or Sasquatch attack, however. Upon initial setup at a location, you simply need to enter your info manually through the system’s E911 (Enhanced 911) feature, which will attach a physical address to your VoIP number.

Just as a smartphone can do more than a landline phone, a VoIP phone system for business can perform all the expected tasks of standard business phone plans and then some. They’re a great choice for small businesses that need full functionality, and the VoIP systems we’ve reviewed include most, if not all, of the following features:

• Web-based system administration
• Mobile management (iOS and Android)
• Automated attendant
• Call forwarding
• Conference bridging
• Conference calling
• Call blocking
• Call waiting
• Call transferring
• Find Me/Follow Me
• Ring groups
• One-line sharing on multiple phones/devices
• Video conferencing
• Voicemail to Email (as audio file)
• Voicemail to Text
• Fax to Text (as PDF)

The takeaway: The Best VoIP providers

Landline providers are almost a thing of the past—like it or not, VoIP systems may soon be your only business phone choice. Moreover, VoIP phone systems may be the best method to adjust to an increasingly home-based work environment.

Fortunately, you have plenty of VoIP home phone and business telephone systems to choose from, with more digital features and affordable pricing than ever before. Even so, it’s an increasingly competitive market, so don’t sell yourself short—do your homework before settling on a small-business VoIP system.

Not convinced VoIP is right for your business? Check out our guide to how VoIP differs from other options, or click over to our summary of the different types of phone systems for business.

How VoIP delivers for small business owners

Just how crucial is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in 2023? According to small-business owners, very —and getting more and more important all the time.

That’s good news for the VoIP industry, which saw an 8.3% growth in 2020 amid stay-at-home orders and public health concerns. 1 That growth should continue, and multiple studies project that the VoIP industry will earn a US market revenue of at least USD $55 billion in 2025. 2

Based on a survey conducted by Business.org, predictions of the VoIP industry’s continued expansion are right on track. Per our survey results, over 64% of surveyed small businesses added VoIP services during the pandemic. And a full 85% of surveyed business owners said VoIP kept their teams more connected throughout 2020.

Our survey results

So apart from the fact that business owners in 2020 switched to or added VoIP in increasing numbers, what else did we learn? For one, more small-business owners with one business location added VoIP this year than businesses with multiple locations—61% of respondents had businesses with one location while 39% had businesses multiple locations.

Additionally, surveyed business owners value VoIP for more than its connectivity:

• 84% said VoIP saves their business money
• 87% said VoIP improves their ability to offer better customer service
• 50% said they chose VoIP to help increase worker productivity

And our survey respondents also have a few concerns about the future of VoIP:

• 54.5% said they worried about AI chatbots using VoIP
• 60.5% said they worried about increased spam calls related to VoIP

VoIP will remain crucial in the post-pandemic business world

VoIP is an essential part of an ever-increasing number of businesses. And with global 5G availability on the horizon, VoIP is perfectly positioned to become the next multi-billion-dollar industry. We’re interested to see whether the VoIP industry hits that number in 2025—or, thanks to the new work-from-home norm, much sooner. 

Methodology

We partnered with Pollfish to conduct an anonymous survey of 650 small-business owners who currently use VoIP. Business.org analyzed the results and compiled this report. To learn more about Pollfish and how it organically finds respondents, check out its methodology .

Related content

• 11 VoIP Features Business Owners Consider a Must
• SIP vs. VoIP
• Cheapest VoIP Phone Service for Business 2024
• VoIP Phone Systems Explained: What to Know about Voice over Internet Protocol
• Best VoIP Service for Call Centers 2024

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

• IBISWorld, “ VoIP Industry in the US ,” January 26, 2022. Accessed May 3, 2023.
• Global Market Insights, “ VoIP Market Size Forecast 2019-2025 | Industry Share Analysis Report ,” April 2021. Accessed May 3, 2023.

5202 W Douglas Corrigan Way Salt Lake City, UT 84116

Accounting & Payroll

Point of Sale

Payment Processing

Inventory Management

Human Resources

Other Services

Best Small Business Loans

Best Inventory Management Software

Best Small Business Accounting Software

Best Payroll Software

Best Mobile Credit Card Readers

Best POS Systems

Best Tax Software

Stay updated on the latest products and services anytime anywhere.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use  and  Privacy Policy .

Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase.

Our mission is to help consumers make informed purchase decisions. While we strive to keep our reviews as unbiased as possible, we do receive affiliate compensation through some of our links. This can affect which services appear on our site and where we rank them. Our affiliate compensation allows us to maintain an ad-free website and provide a free service to our readers. For more information, please see our  Privacy Policy Page . |

© Business.org 2024 All Rights Reserved.

80+ Best Early Black Friday Deals 2024 »

When you use links on our website, we may earn a fee.

• Best VoIP Business Phone Systems of 2024

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems can help businesses improve their collaboration, productivity, and communication.

Popular Business Phone Systems

Nextiva »

RingCentral »

Ooma »

Vonage »

8x8 »

Why Trust U.S. News

Our ratings are unbiased. We follow strict editorial guidelines, maintain a separate business team, and have a transparent methodology.

Sources Reviewed

Business Phone Services Considered

Companies Selected

Table of Contents

• Best VoIP Business Phone Systems
• Rating Details

Key takeaways:

• Most VoIP business phone systems integrate with your existing hardware
• Price for VoIP plans range from $15-$100
• Standard VoIP business phone features include call recording, call forwarding, and video conferencing
• Low-cost alternatives to VoIP services are available

Our Best VoIP Business Phone Systems of 2024 Rating

• RingCentral
• GoTo Connect

Compare the Best VoIP Business Phone Systems of 2024

Compare quotes for business phone systems.

Fill out this questionnaire to get customized pricing from providers that meet your needs.

Best VoIP Business Phone Systems in Detail

Cloud-based phone services offer plans with unlimited calling, text messaging, and video conferencing. However, the features vary by provider and plan. Some platforms provide advanced tools like AI-driven insights and real-time meeting transcriptions, while others seamlessly connect with your analog devices. Pricing for the top VoIP business phone systems starts at $15 per user per month.

Intermedia »

Straightforward pricing

Most integrations available with basic plan

Some features require separate add-ons

Video conferencing maxes out at 200 participants

Intermedia is our Best Business Phone System of 2024 and our No. 1 rated VoIP Business Phone System. Its Unite packages, Pro and Enterprise, offer a unified communications phone system that include features such as cloud storage, voicemail transcription, call recording, video conferencing capabilities, and analytics capabilities.

The Pro plan begins at $27.99 and the Enterprise level plan begins at $32.99. At the Enterprise level, users will have access to 200 GB of storage, an exchange mailbox, HD video conferencing for up to 200 users, supervisor functions. The Enterprise level has additional integrations with Salesforce, Service Now, NetSuite, MS Dynamics plus the integrations that come with the Pro plan: Google and Microsoft applications, Slack, Sugar CRM, Zoho CRM, and Zendesk.

Read more in our Intermedia review .

Round-the-clock customer support

Monthly, no-contract plans available

Integrates with existing contact and CRM tools

Some features aren't available on the base plan

Best price requires a three-year commitment

Nextiva provides a single user interface for communication and collaboration. It puts multi-channel interactions into threaded conversations, allowing you to see a client’s entire history, including phone calls, notes, emails, and text messages. There are three Nextiva plans: Essential, Professional, and Enterprise. All include 45-minute video meetings with up to 250 participants and a toll-free number with minutes.

The base plan doesn’t have call recording or SMS/MMS, but does come with team messaging and video conference recording. Mid- and upper-tier versions provide free professionally recorded greetings for your auto-attendant system and voice mailboxes. In addition, Professional and Enterprise plans have integrations with CRMs , such as HubSpot , Salesforce , and SugarCRM .

Read more in our Nextiva review .

Dialpad »

App integrations available at entry-level

AI-powered call analysis and transcription

APIs provide additional user management functionality

14-day trial period is short

24/7 support not available with all plans

When paid annually, Dialpad’s entry-level plan is less expensive than others in our rating. Yet, it’s packed with features, including live speech coaching, automated post-call summaries, and real-time call transcriptions. The three subscriptions (Standard, Pro, and Enterprise) offer unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada, file sharing, and five-hour video meetings with 10 participants.

If your staff lives or works outside of the U.S., Dialpad Pro and Enterprise provide local number support in more than 70 countries and allow international text messaging. These plans also integrate with HubSpot, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Salesforce.

Read more in our Dialpad review .

Designed for office, remote, and mobile employees

Unlimited number of users can be added

Offers secure global PBX services

Essentials plan limited to 20 users

No video conferencing capabilities on the base plan

No 24/7 technical support on the base plan

RingCentral provides three unified communications plans: Core, Advanced, and Ultra. All versions include unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada, allotted toll-free minutes (if you opt for a free 1-800 number), allotted SMS, team messaging, and voicemail-to-text. However, you’ll need a mid- or upper-tier subscription for virtual fax, hot desking, automatic call recording, and adoption and business analytics.

There are hundreds of integrations available, depending on your plan. For instance, Advanced and Ultra plans connect to CRMs , like Salesforce and HubSpot. RingCentral provides an array of collaboration and meeting tools, making it perfect for remote and hybrid teams. It features Team Huddle, an always-on video and chat meeting room where co-workers can drop in for spontaneous conversations. The whiteboard, breakout rooms, and presentation modes mimic in-person activities.

Read more in our RingCentral review .

Base-level Express plan is very inexpensive

Compliant with various privacy standards including HIPAA

Many plans include unlimited international calling

24/7 support is limited to higher plan tiers

Basic plan doesn’t offer as many features as other companies

Solopreneurs and small teams with five or fewer phone users can sign up for 8x8 Express. The $15 per user monthly price tag doesn’t require a contract or annual billing. It’s also one of the most robust entry-level subscriptions, offering audio and video conferencing for up to 100 attendees, team messaging, and an auto-attendant.

Larger teams can mix and match X-Series plans for knowledge workers, supervisors, and contact center employees. For companies with international staff and clients, 8x8 has the edge over RingCentral. X2 offers unmetered calls to 14 countries, whereas X4, X6, X7, and X8 allow unlimited calls to 48 countries. Also, 8x8 has international phone numbers for branches outside of the U.S. or virtual numbers for U.S.-based organizations.

8x8 X-Series increases meeting capacity to 500 users, one of the highest limits on our Best VoIP Business Phone Systems of 2024 rating. Also, X2 and X4 allow users to livestream meetings via YouTube.

Read more in our 8x8 review .

GoTo Connect »

Connects with business productivity apps

International calling capabilities

Plans combine phone and virtual meeting features

Meetings are limited at Basic level

Self-service customer support for Basic plan

Like 8x8, GoTo Connect offers two subscriptions with unlimited calling to more than 50 countries, making it a good choice for businesses with overseas clients. However, GoTo Connect doesn’t offer international phone numbers. Instead, you can choose a local or toll-free number. Standard and Premium subscriptions come with 1,000 and 5,000 toll-free minutes, whereas Basic users pay $0.03 per minute.

GoTo Connect integrates with Zoho CRM , Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, and more. All plans include the instant response feature, allowing users to send an automatic text message to first-time callers when they’re unable to answer the phone.

Read more in our GoTo Connect review .

Includes unlimited calls, SMS, and team messaging

The mid-level plan integrates with CRM software

Provides 24/7 service and tech support

Visual voicemail and call recording only on highest plan

Toll-free numbers are an extra cost

The entry-level plan doesn’t work with desk phones

Vonage is a smart choice for remote or mobile-only users, as the starter plan has mobile and desktop apps. It also includes over 20 third-party integrations. Companies that need IP desk phone compatibility need the Premium or Advanced package. These versions add CRM integrations with HubSpot, SugarCRM, Salesforce, and Zoho CRM.

In addition, all subscriptions provide call continuity services that automatically route calls during a power outage or emergency. Vonage provides local direct inbound dialing (DID) numbers in more than 96 countries and supports U.S. and international locations.

Read more in our Vonage review .

Aircall »

One-click integrations with third-party software

Offers local, toll-free, and international numbers in over 100 countries

Call recording comes standard with all Aircall plans

Requires a minimum of three users

Base plan costs more than entry-level plans from other providers

No video conferencing available

Aircall is designed for call centers, as all subscriptions include flexible call distribution rules, email reporting, and conference calling. It requires a minimum of three users, so it’s not a great fit for solopreneurs. Although the entry-level Essentials plan costs more than other solutions on our Best VoIP Business Phone Systems of 2024 rating, it offers features typically locked behind mid- and upper-tier packages.

For instance, Aircall Essentials integrates with over 100 applications and provides application programming interface (API) access. Users can connect to HubSpot , Pipedrive, and Zendesk. However, you need the Professional or Custom package to connect to Salesforce .

Read more in our Aircall review .

24/7 customer support

Can be used with existing non-digital office phones

Entry-level plan includes features like digital fax

Toll free numbers cost extra

Video conferencing not available in basic plan

CRM integration is only available for highest tier plan

Ooma has three business plans – Essentials, Pro, and Pro Plus – and three enterprise Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) solutions – Standard, Enhanced, and Call Center.

Ooma supports analog devices in its basic plans, while other companies in our rating put desk phone compatibility in higher-tier plans only. Ooma’s analog device support includes overhead paging systems and fax machines. Ooma is also the only company in our ratings to offer unlimited calling to Puerto Rico.

All accounts with Ooma will include a toll-free number with 500 inbound calling minutes every month.

If you have a hybrid or remote team, your employees can access video conference tools, voicemail transcriptions, and call analytics with Ooma’s Pro plan. If you want Pro Plus, you get Salesforce integration and call queuing. All Enterprise plans come with white glove onboarding, but the highest Enterprise plan provides advanced features like:

• Skills-based routing
• Automatic call distributor
• An interactive voice response system

Read more in our Ooma review .

Avaya »

Systems available for all business sizes

Wide range of features available

Free plan available with Avaya Spaces

Smaller businesses might not need advanced features

Only top plan has international calling

Avaya has four service plans: Essentials, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate. Avaya limits the base plan to 20 or fewer users. All subscriptions include document sharing, team messaging, voicemail transcription, toll-free minutes, and unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada.

Avaya also provides business phone numbers in more than 100 countries on all plans except Essentials. Mid and upper-tier packages offer audio and video conferencing capabilities. Avaya has a large ecosystem of integrations apps, but the number and type vary by tier. Standard users can connect to Google Workspace, Slack, and Microsoft 365, whereas Premium offers CRM integrations .

Read more in our Avaya review .

What Are Business Phone Systems and How Do They Work?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol . As the Federal Communications Commission explains, VoIP-based business phone systems route phone calls through your business's wired or Wi-Fi internet connection, instead of through traditional phone lines. While some users may experience a spotty connection, modern VoIP solutions generally offer good call quality and reliability when a business has high-speed internet. You can usually make calls from VoIP phones or softphones to traditional phone lines and cell phones. Plus, you can forward calls to your landline or mobile phone if you’re away from the office.

It's possible to have on-premises servers for VoIP phone software, similar to a system called a PBX that handles traditional business landline calls. However, many VoIP systems are cloud-hosted, meaning that the VoIP provider's servers process your calls. That often makes it easier to connect to them from multiple locations, including through a cloud-based mobile app. This can be good for businesses with people who are frequently on the road or working from home.

VoIP phone systems often also include other services, such as video conferencing and internal company messaging. With cloud-based systems reliant on your phone company's servers and software, it can be important to pick a provider with the level of customer service that you want.

How Much Do Business Phone Systems Cost?

The business phone systems in our rating can range from $15 to $100 per user per month. Lower-priced packages typically have limits on the number of users and offer fewer advanced features, and they might be better for small businesses , solopreneurs, or startups.

With some VoIP services, it is possible to earn discounts for paying the annual fee upfront, entering into a multi-year contract, or signing up more users. However, you may have additional fees for toll-free and international calls, premium support, hardware, and federal and state taxes and fees.

Cost is just one of the features you’ll want to consider when purchasing a VoIP phone system .

Features To Consider When Choosing a VoIP Business Phone System

Before selecting a business VoIP phone system, you’ll want to think about the needs of your company. For instance, do you have a large remote or mobile workforce? Will you need a mobile app or internal messaging features? Would you prefer to have calls routed to employees' personal cell phones?

After you’ve answered those questions, you’ll need to explore the features each company offers. Standard ones typically include call recording, call forwarding, and video conferencing, but you’ll also want to consider other features:

• Three-way calling
• Internet faxing
• CRM integration
• Auto-attendants for call routing
• Voicemail-to-email 
• Customer service options, including 24/7 support and help with IP phone installation
• Integration with existing software and hardware
• Scalability

How To Choose a Business Phone System

After identifying your budget and the features you prefer, Sam Sansome, principal and VP of Operations, Sales, and Marketing at Aligned Technologies suggested asking some additional questions:

Today’s VoIP services do more than send and receive calls over the internet. They offer advanced call management features; all-in-one platforms for voice, messaging, and video; and even may use AI to automate tasks, coach employees, and track issues and opportunities.

So instead of just replacing your existing phone system with a similar one, explore how modern VoIP features can improve the customer experience and make your company more accessible and responsive. “This is an opportunity for people to have some meaningful impact on the productivity of their workforce,” says Sansome.

How many employees, departments, and office locations do you need to support? Do you require toll-free phone numbers or specific call management features? What are your technical and customer service expectations?

“The great thing about these cloud systems is they are, by nature, extremely scalable,” says Sansome. Typically, it’s easy to add users, upgrade to next-tier plans, or switch providers by porting numbers.

All cloud-hosted VoIP phone services require a high-speed internet connection. To ensure call quality and reliability, Sansome recommends you have two separate connections, plus run software-defined wide area networking, or SD-WAN, software. SD-WAN acts as a traffic director. It monitors the two connections and routes calls to the one performing best.

You also may need to buy IP desk phones for an on-premises phone system. Some VoIP services can adapt to the analog phones you currently own.

Some VoIP phone services integrate with the software and CRM applications used by your business. Integrations are “huge” for boosting productivity, so you’ll want a system that works with your applications, says Sansome.

An integrated app, for example, may let you pull up a customer profile, click to make a call, log call details into the CRM program, and attach a call recording or transcript, all without entering data manually. Some VoIP services enable custom integrations via APIs and webhooks.

It’s important to choose a VoIP solution that accommodates the needs of both, says Sansome. Do employees want desk phones? Would they prefer to use smartphones and computer apps? Do they want to team message and video meet with coworkers?

Customers increasingly prefer text and instant messaging. “Are you going to make it easy for them to do business the way they want to do business with you or are you just going to provide them with a phone number,” asks Sansome.

Alternatives to VoIP Business Phone Systems

If you prefer not to use a VoIP business phone, or you want another option, you have a few alternatives to consider.

• Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) integrates multiple options for communicating including video conferencing, voice calls, and messaging into one system and can be used for desktops, laptops, and mobile devices.
• Mobile communication apps like Skype, Google Voice, WhatsApp, and more provide some of the same benefits as VoIP while providing texting options, free or low-cost international calls, and are available on mobile devices.
• Virtual phone systems are typically cloud-based systems that send calls to your personal device, whether a smartphone or desk phone, without the need for additional hardware. 

If none of these work for you or your business, you can still use a traditional landline service combined with some mobile apps for your remote or in-the-field employees.

As long as you have the right bandwidth, infrastructure (hardware and software), and a stable internet connection, a VoIP business phone system is a reliable way for your business to communicate with customers.

You don't necessarily need any hardware for a VoIP-based phone system, because many provide support for mobile phone and desktop apps to make and receive calls. If you prefer to use more traditional office devices, many VoIP companies offer desk phones and conference room phones that you can use with their services, often preconfigured to quickly connect to their networks.

You may also be able to use third-party phones as well. If you have existing desk phones, you may need an adaptor to connect them to the VoIP network, particularly if they're traditional landline devices rather than digital phones.

Modern VoIP systems generally use encryption to keep your calls safe. Many VoIP providers advertise compliance with particular privacy and security standards, including the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards for safeguarding healthcare information, and Europe's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Many also undergo audits according to protocols like SOC 2 and SOC 3, designed to ensure that companies have adequate safeguards to prevent data breaches.

You can also keep your calls secure by picking secure passwords and making sure your phones, computers, and other devices have the latest security updates and security software installed.

Many business VoIP providers offer plug-and-play desk phones that are designed to operate with the provider's network as soon as you receive them. These companies also often offer smartphones and desktop apps that can connect to their networks when you download them from the provider or your phone's app marketplace.

If you're setting up an entire office worth of phones or adjusting existing devices to work with your new VoIP provider, you may want to see if the company can provide assistance over the phone or in person in setting up your new equipment.

Best Business Phone Systems:

• Best Business Phone Systems
• Best Small Business Phone Systems
• What Is VoIP?
• How to Buy a Business Phone System
• Best Business Cell Phone Plans
• Cheapest VoIP Phone Services

Compare our Best Business Phones Systems:

• Nextiva vs. RingCentral Business Phone Systems
• magicJack vs. Ooma Business Phone Systems
• Ooma vs. Vonage Business Phone Systems
• RingCentral vs. Zoom Business Phone Systems
• Google Voice
• Grasshopper
• Spectrum Business Phone
• Verizon Business Phone

Other Guides from 360 Reviews

Best Credit Card Processing Companies of 2024

Dennis O'Reilly

Best Web Hosting Services of 2024

Lauren Swift

Best CRM Software Platform

Eric Rosenberg

Best Payroll Software

Bob Haegele

Best POS System of 2024

Jeremy Brown and Bryce Colburn

10 Best VPN Services of September 2024

Jeff Kinney

Best Internet Service Providers

Jeff Kinney and Kathryn Core

Best Password Managers of 2024

Jeff Kinney and Onjeinika Brooks

Best Cell Phones of 2024

Kyle Wagner

Our 360 Methodology for Evaluating Business Phone Systems

U.S. News 360 Reviews takes an unbiased approach to our recommendations. When you use our links to buy products, we may earn a commission but that in no way affects our editorial independence.

Stay connected and save time with an easy-to-use business phone solution that fits organizations of any size.

Work from anywhere

Your Voice line works on mobile devices, laptops, and supported deskphones so you can stay connected at work, home, or on-the-go.

Voice can be customized to fit your day-to-day workflow. Number assignment, porting, and billing are neatly consolidated in the familiar Google Workspace Admin console.

Voice uses Google AI to help save you time by blocking spam calls and transcribing voicemails to text automatically. Integrations with Google Meet and Calendar help keep the focus on what's important.

Voice can be deployed instantly — and globally — from anywhere, with less administrative work. This feature includes easy set up of multi-level auto attendants and ring groups (also known as hunt groups).

Works with Voice

Focus on what's important while staying connected with a business phone system on deskphones, smartphones, and the web.

Expand your reach with SIP Link

SIP Link  allows customers to connect PSTN services from any carrier to Google Voice through certified Session Border Controllers (SBCs).

Compatible hardware

Trusted by organizations of many sizes,  Polycom® devices  and  certified headsets  provide reliable solutions for business communication.

Google Workspace

Receive valuable meeting context from  Google Meet

Manage your work-life balance with  Google Calendar

Get more done with Voice and Google Workspace

Easy for users

Built for Google Workspace, Voice has a familiar look and user-friendly feel that fits easily into their workflow.

Easier for IT

Make it simple for your IT team to stay on top of their work with Voice, an integral part of the Google Workspace family.

Smart for business

Manage costs for your business with three license editions that help you streamline operations with Voice and Google Workspace.

Choose the right business phone plan for you.

1 View the list of countries where Voice is available.

Sign up for Google Workspace

Learn more about Google Workspace

per user / month

Up to 10 users

Up to 10 Domestic Locations

Calls between Google Voice numbers included

Calls to the US from any Google Voice number included 2

Calls to Canada from a Canadian or US Google Voice number included 2

Calls to most European countries from within Europe included 2

Google Fi Compatible [US only]

Voicemail transcription

Google Calendar Integration

Google Meet Integration

Mobile apps: Android & IOS

Web Application

24/7 Support

Service Level Agreement (SLA)

Usage and activity reporting

Call forwarding

Unlimited number of users

Unlimited Regional Locations

Unlimited Domestic Locations

Unlimited text messaging in US

Multi level auto attendant

Ring Groups

Desk phone and ATA support

eDiscovery for calls, voice mails and text messaging records

Ad-hoc user call recording

Unlimited International Locations 1

Advanced reporting (BigQuery)

Automatic Ad-hoc user call recording

Promotional pricing plans apply to EMEA only. Other regions may vary.

2 Refer to the Voice rate card for a complete list of calling rates for your Voice number.

Learn how VoIP phone emergency features differ from traditional emergency calling service .

Our sales team now uses Google Voice to call and text customers from their smartphones, tablets, and the web. And because it is considerably more affordable to operate than our legacy VoIP systems, we continue to steadily expand our usage of Google Voice.

Get started

Add Voice to your Google Workspace account

Voice integrates with your Google Workspace products. Get Voice for your organization. It's easy.

Work with a specialist

Ready for Voice, but have more questions? We've got you covered.