Best Free VoIP Phone Services & Software for 2025

Why I chose Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is the best free VoIP phone service overall because of its holistic approach to VoIP solutions within a collaborative workspace. MS Teams offers high-quality voice calls but also integrates these calls into a user’s daily workflow alongside other collaboration tools. This integration is backed by Microsoft’s infrastructure, ensuring reliability and security for virtual meetings and business calls. 

With its intuitive interface, MS Teams makes it easy to manage call flows, group chats, and emails, all from the convenience of an all-in-one platform. Unlike competitors (e.g., Slack or Zoom), Teams excels in its comprehensive VoIP features and contributions as a fully integrated solution. This integration provides a unified experience where voice communication is on par with features like file sharing and real-time collaboration.

Compared to other VoIP providers, Microsoft Teams consistently delivers high-quality voice calls, a critical factor for business communications. However, MS Teams has some limitations to its features on the free plan, which is geared towards home use and only provides about 5GB of storage for file sharing. If you need more storage to send documents within a team setting, consider Google Voice, which has access to 15GB of storage with a free account.

Why I chose Google Voice

Google Voice’s free tier is ideal for individual users or solopreneurs who need basic VoIP services and team collaboration tools. Its simplicity, coupled with Google’s dependable infrastructure, makes it a strong competitor in this category. Notably, Google Voice features an intuitive interface that simplifies navigation and offers excellent integration with Google’s ecosystem, including Gmail, Meet, and Google Calendar.

Each of these services is essential for managing team members, scheduling calls, and hosting virtual meetings, and many individuals adopt Google’s suite of tools as their digital workspace. At the same time, Google Voice’s evolution has been marked by a focus on VoIP services, like voicemail transcription and spam blocking, demonstrating a commitment to collaboration and business communication.

Google Voice provides excellent self-help resources for new users, including a comprehensive range of online guides and community forums. Reflecting on its evolution, Google Voice has undoubtedly come a long way, expanding its feature set and improving user experience. However, it retains its core focus on basic VoIP services without branching extensively into the more advanced telephony features that some businesses might require.

However, the cons are notable. The Google Voice phone service lacks advanced features like virtual fax and automated attendants, and its free tier offers limited customer support. Due to the fact that the free version of Google Voice is a personal plan, there are also limitations on business messaging. For access to more VoIP services, consider Microsoft Teams, which specializes in team collaboration tools, or WhatsApp, which offers a service for businesses to message customers.

Why I chose WhatsApp

WhatsApp is among the most popular messaging apps, offering free domestic and international messaging for users worldwide. However, many people aren’t aware that the app also provides a Business app with a free VoIP phone service and calling features that engage audiences and help increase sales. 

The Business app lets you set up a business phone number to separate your personal calls from customer interactions. This number can also include customizable welcome greetings to introduce your business and automatic away messages after business hours. Because WhatsApp is a subsidiary of Meta, it also offers integrations with social media platforms like Facebook and its Marketplace. This integration benefits small business owners who use social media to advertise and sell their products. 

At the same time, WhatsApp lacks some call management features that business owners with more complex phone systems may require, such as advanced call forwarding and transfers. Also, WhatsApp does not offer call recording, so users must rely on a third-party app to record calls. If you need call recording or access to more advanced features, consider using Google Voice.

Why I chose Linphone

Linphone is a free, open-source platform based in France, which sets it apart from many commercial VoIP solutions. This aspect allows for a high degree of customization and technical flexibility, appealing to users with the technical know-how to fully exploit its capabilities. Its strong call quality and compatibility performance also make it a viable option in the free VoIP software category. 

Over the years, Linphone has expanded its capabilities to include instant messaging and conference calling, adapting to the growing needs of its users. This makes Linphone particularly appealing to those interested in creating a collaborative workspace. For instance, it is an excellent choice for tech-savvy users or organizations that value customizing their VoIP solutions with branded elements.

However, Linphone’s open-source nature also brings certain drawbacks. The software’s learning curve can be steep for those new to VoIP technologies, and while it offers a range of self-help resources, the lack of immediate customer support might be a challenge for some users. Microsoft Teams might be more suitable for those seeking extensive customer support and advanced features straight out of the box.

Why I chose Textfree

Textfree by pinger is recommended as the best free VoIP for North American users primarily due to its regional optimization, which ensures high-quality call and text services within the US and Canada. Its user-friendly interface, coupled with the essential features it offers, makes it an ideal choice for individuals or small businesses looking for a straightforward, reliable secondary communication line.

While it may not boast an extensive list like some paid services in terms of feature richness, its core offerings of unlimited calls, texts, and a free local number are robust for a free service. It also stands out from other providers by offering unique personalization features, like custom wallpapers and group messaging, with the ability to send custom reactions and GIFs. Therefore, Textfree is excellent for sharing informal messages with coworkers, family, and friends. 

However, while Textfree offers simple VoIP phone services for North American users, it doesn’t provide international calling or texting. Users with a global clientele or an interest in communicating outside their country of origin should consider WhatsApp, which offers international calling and messaging.

Why I chose Jitsi

Jitsi is an excellent choice for those who value open-source flexibility, high-quality video conferencing, and strong VoIP security features. The platform began as a simple messaging tool and has since expanded to become a platform for video conferencing and collaboration with multiple projects, such as Jitsi Meet and Videobridge. Its strong performance in call quality and compatibility makes it a viable option for those looking to host meetings with team members or stream content to a live audience. 

When compared to other VoIP solutions, Jitsi stands out for users who prioritize security and customization. Over the years, Jitsi has undergone numerous upgrades, significantly enhancing its video and audio quality while integrating end-to-end encryption. This feature has been a game-changer in terms of security, providing a significant advantage over many commercial VoIP solutions, especially in an era where data privacy is paramount.

However, this strength also presents a notable drawback: the learning curve can be steep for those unfamiliar with open-source platforms. Additionally, while Jitsi offers excellent self-help resources, its customer support is primarily community-driven, which might not suffice for users seeking immediate professional assistance. A solution like Linphone might be better for those seeking a more traditional VoIP experience.