Google Voice is a popular business phone solution mainly for its ease of use, free personal plan, and cheap subscription fees. While it stands out for its simplicity and low pricing, its limited functionality and integrations can disadvantage larger enterprises or scaling teams that require in-depth collaboration capabilities and call customization options for handling call traffic.
The best Google Voice alternatives feature a comprehensive call management system, extensive phone number options, collaboration capabilities, and dedicated support. Below, we break down six industry-leading competitors catering to unique business needs.
- Zoom Phone: Best overall for varying call volumes
- RingCentral: Best for unified communications
- Nextiva: Best for customer interaction management
- GoTo Connect: Best for international calling
- Grasshopper: Best for small teams
- Ooma: Best lightweight VoIP solution
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Top Google Voice alternatives at a glance
Software
Expert Score
Starting Price
Key Features
Zoom Phone
4.86
$10/user/mo
- Metered and unlimited call plans
- Unlimited regional calling
- Elevate calls to a Zoom meeting
RingCentral
4.84
$30/user/mo
- Complete call management features
- Up to 300 third-party integrations
- Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered video conferencing solution
Nextiva
4.80
$25/user/mo
- Omnichannel customer experience platform
- Unified team and client interactions
- Social media management
GoTo Connect
4.63
$26/user/mo
- Unlimited calls to over 50 countries
- Scalable phone system platform
- Toll-free and vanity numbers
Grasshopper
4.36
$18/user/mo
- Unlimited users for fixed monthly fees
- Automated text response
- Live receptionist services
Ooma
4.19
$19.95/user/mo
- Up to 100 phone features
- Cheap desk phone models
- 500 toll-free minutes
Zoom Phone: Best overall for varying call volumes
Overall Score
4.86/5
Pricing
3.63/5
General features
4/5
Advanced features
4.5/5
Support
4.69/5
Ease of use
4.25/5
Expert score
4.69/5
Pros
- Mix metered and unlimited plans in one company account
- All plans share the same feature inclusions
- Has a cheap monthly starting fee, like Google Voice
- Flexible subscription options for varying call volumes
Cons
- Need to upgrade for 24/7 support
- Missing reporting capabilities
Why we chose Zoom Phone
Zoom Phone is our top Google Voice alternative for users seeking a similarly priced solution but with greater functionality and customization features. Traditionally, VoIP providers limit advanced features to higher-tier plans and offer only unlimited nationwide calling. With Zoom Phone, users get the flexibility to select the right call plan based on a specific team member’s call volume while enjoying access to the same feature set across all plans.
A single company account can consist of various call plans, including metered domestic calling, unlimited calls to the US and Canada, or unlimited calls to one selected country. For example, team members with low to moderate call activity can opt for the metered plan, while those handling high outbound call volumes can select unlimited regional calling.
All Zoom Phone plans include access to its web conferencing software, allowing you to switch your phone calls to a Zoom meeting. Zoom Phone charges a monthly fee of $10 for unlimited international calling to over 15 countries. However, if you want to expand your company’s global reach, GoTo Connect is a more cost-effective option, providing unlimited calls to 52 countries for just $26 per user per month.
- Highlight-to-call: Automatically make a call by simply highlighting a phone number on a web browser or email and then pressing Ctrl+Shift+C.
- Team SMS: Enable callers to send text-based replies to your auto-attendant, allowing them to easily reach their desired destination or receive answers to frequently asked questions.
- Local survivability: If you lose connection to the cloud, your devices will enter this mode to maintain access to key phone features like internet extension dialing, hold, and blind transfer.
- Global call routing: Set up your business’s operational hours to automatically redirect calls to your global offices based on different time zones.
- Takeover: Enables a supervisor monitoring a call to take control of the conversation in real time, replacing the current speaker.
- US & Canada Metered: $10/user/mo for local phone number, metered outbound calling within the US and Canada, and metered international calling
- US & Canada Unlimited: $15/user/mo for unlimited outbound calling within the US and Canada and the add-on option for international calling
- Global Select: $20/user/mo for a local number in a selected country, unlimited regional calling in one of the 48 supported countries, and the add-on option for international calling
The plans include voicemail transcription, auto-attendant, interactive voice response (IVR), automatic call distribution (ACD), call monitoring, business hours routing, call park, call recording, team chat, and video meetings.
RingCentral: Best for unified communications
Overall Score
4.84/5
Pricing
3/5
General features
4.63/5
Advanced features
4.5/5
Support
5/5
Ease of use
3.5/5
Expert score
4.69/5
Pros
- Comprehensive call management
- Phone, video, and messaging capabilities on the base plan
- Leverages AI across all its functions
- Integrates with over 300 third-party apps
Cons
- Restrictive monthly SMS credits
- Requires a plan upgrade for integration capabilities
Why we chose RingCentral
If you find Google Voice lacking in phone and collaboration functionality, RingCentral is one of the most comprehensive alternatives. Known as the leader in cloud-based business communications software, RingCentral offers a full-featured platform that includes voice, video meetings, and team messaging.
RingCentral’s entry-level plan includes all the features needed to facilitate remote communication. It also has complete call management and phone administration features to customize call flow during high-volume periods. Collaboration features like team messaging, task assignment, file sharing, and AI-based video meetings elevate team interaction.
While RingCentral offers more value for money than other VoIP providers, its steep pricing can easily discourage businesses on a budget. If you’re seeking a free Google Voice alternative with unified communications features, Zoom offers a generous free plan with complete video meetings and team chat capabilities.
- Directed call pickup: When a team member receives a call, other group members can pick up the call by dialing the pickup code and ringing the extension.
- User call handling: Customize call handling rules, ring settings, and greetings right from your desktop or mobile device
- AI-powered robocall protection: Receive additional information from unsolicited calls to help you decide whether to answer it. Blacklisted caller IDs are labeled as “Suspected Robocall.”
- Standalone call window: Provides a separate interface for handling calls that automatically detaches from the main app, making multitasking easier.
- Call queue pickup: Assign an alternative user group to answer calls when the primary team members of a designated call queue are unavailable.
Save up to 33% by paying yearly and get volume discounts for 100 or more users.
- Core: $30/user/mo for one phone number, unlimited domestic calling, 100 toll-free minutes, SMS/MMS, IVR, visual voicemail, multi-level auto-attendant, on-demand call recording, call management, desk phone rentals, team chat, and 100 video attendees
- Advanced: $35/user/mo for auto call recording, call monitoring, efax, hotdesking, advanced call queue, and usage analytics
- Ultra: $45/user/mo for custom business analytics, 200 video attendees, and unlimited storage
Nextiva: Best for customer interaction management
Overall Score
4.8/5
Pricing
3.75/5
General features
4/5
Advanced features
4.5/5
Support
4.69/5
Ease of use
3.5/5
Expert score
4.69/5
Pros
- Focuses on omnichannel customer interactions
- Clean and modern interface
- A wide range of productivity features
- Has purchase and lease options on various desk phone models
Cons
- Charges one of the highest monthly fees for a business phone plan
- Requires upgrading to a pricier plan to unlock more voice features
Why we chose Nextiva
Although Nextiva has recently evolved into a customer experience management software, it remains one of our best Google Voice competitors due to its powerful voice platform. Its VoIP phone service seamlessly integrates with digital channels, including web chat, social media, video meetings, SMS, and email.
As more customers increasingly prefer digital channels over voice, Nextiva lets you connect with your customers on any platform, allowing you to personalize the digital customer service experience. On top of its unified platform, Nextiva offers a suite of features for managing omnichannel interactions, including digital bots, customer journey tracking, and secure payment processors.
Nextiva outperforms Google Voice in terms of customer-facing tools, but like RingCentral, its expensive price tag can be a drawback to budget-conscious teams. Consider GoTo Connect’s comprehensive phone system if you’re seeking a cheaper VoIP solution with similar customer engagement features.
- Alternate numbers: Assign multiple numbers or extensions to a single auto-attendant or call group, allowing each number to hear the same greeting and menu option.
- Anonymous call rejection: Automatically rejects calls from incoming calls using a private number or blocked caller ID.
- Call forward unreachable: In a power outage or unstable internet, incoming calls will be forwarded to another number or calling network.
- Call pull: Easily move an ongoing call to any device, including your computer, mobile phone, or desk phone, without interruption.
- Calling line ID blocking override: This displays the caller ID details of callers who have attempted to prevent you from seeing them.
If you pay annually, you can get up to a 20% discount.
- Digital: $25/user/mo for website chat, messaging apps, email, two social media management accounts, helpdesk, unified inbox, and review management
- Core: $35/user/mo for inbound/outbound voice, 100 SMS credits, customer video and screen sharing, call routing, voicemail transcription, and team chat
- Engage: $50/user/mo for chatbot, 250 SMS, 10 social media management accounts, e-fax, 2,000 toll-free minutes, call center capabilities, call recording, and voice analytics
- Power Suite: $75/user/mo for 10,000 toll-free minutes, unlimited SMS credits, and unlimited social media management accounts
GoTo Connect: Best for international calling
Overall Score
4.63/5
Pricing
3.75/5
General features
4.25/5
Advanced features
4/5
Support
4.06/5
Ease of use
3.5/5
Expert score
4.38/5
Pros
- Free unlimited calls to 52 countries
- Allows sharing of toll-free minute credits in one account
- Easily scalable into a full-fledged contact center
- Supports unlimited dial plans, ring groups, and call queues
Cons
- Lacks AI-powered tools on phone system plan
- Limited range of third-party integrations
Why we chose GoTo Connect
GoTo Connect is the best Google Voice alternative for business teams that frequently communicate with overseas staff and clients. It’s the sole VoIP provider in this list that offers unlimited international calling across its monthly plans, allowing you to make and receive free calls to over 50 countries without worrying about overage charges.
Regardless of the selected plan, each user receives 1,000 toll-free minutes, which can be shared within a single company account. You also get unlimited access to complete phone features, including call queues, automated greetings, and ring groups, giving you limitless ways to customize the caller journey.
Like Zoom Phone and RingCentral, GoTo Connect offers a unified platform for voice calls, meetings, and chat. However, the lack of AI features can be a letdown for tech-savvy teams that want to explore intelligent features to boost their phone system’s efficiency. For an AI-powered phone system, RingCentral leverages generative AI to summarize interactions and extract data insights from various channels.
- Desk phone support: GoTo Connect is compatible with over 180 IP phone models, including Cisco, Yealink, and Polycom.
- Dial plan editor: This tool provides a visually appealing drag-and-drop interface for mapping out call flows and setting different call patterns based on business hours and holidays.
- Shared line appearance: Assign a single extension to multiple phones so you can quickly move calls and place them on hold for a shared member to pick up.
- Virtual voicemail: Receive your voicemail in text or audio form, whether via email, web app, or text message.
- Call filtering: Route specific calls to their intended destination based on the caller ID.
Contact the GoTo Connect sales team to avail of volume discounts.
- Phone System: $26/user/mo for call queues, hot desking, auto-attendants, ring groups, call handling, call recording, team chat, and up to 250 video attendees
- Connect CX: $34/user/mo for SMS/MMS campaigns, shared inbox, call reporting, and advanced integrations
- Contact Center: $80/user/mo for autodialer, call monitoring, custom surveys, queue callback, and call campaign
Grasshopper: Best for small teams
Overall Score
4.36/5
Pricing
4.5/5
General features
4.5/5
Advanced features
1/5
Support
4.06/5
Ease of use
5/5
Expert score
4.38/5
Pros
- Fixed monthly fee for unlimited users
- Doesn’t charge for vanity numbers
- Offers live answering and professional greeting services
- VoIP features span all plans
Cons
- Lacks video calling and chat capabilities
- Doesn’t integrate with any third-party app
Why we chose Grasshopper
Free VoIP apps like Google Voice cater to users who want to separate their work and personal communications. However, managing a small team with a shared responsibility for incoming calls and texts requires a different solution. Grasshopper offers a virtual phone system that allows team members to share phone numbers and handle communications efficiently.
Upgrading to Grasshopper’s premium packages supports unlimited users and multiple extensions for a fixed monthly fee. All features remain the same regardless of the selected plan, allowing team members to take advantage of VoIP features such as simultaneous call handling and transfer. When multiple customers call the company’s main phone number, you can ensure that calls are handled even during high call volumes.
Grasshopper’s core functionality is limited to phone calls and texts. If you prefer an omnichannel approach for business communications, we recommend Nextiva. This AI-powered customer experience platform supports a variety of digital channels, allowing you to meet customers wherever they are.
- Custom greetings: Welcome callers with a personalized greeting by recording directly from your phone or uploading an audio file.
- Incoming call control: Customize how you want to receive calls by setting up a call schedule, blocking spam calls, and ringing all forwarding numbers at once.
- Virtual fax: Receive all incoming faxes in your email as a PDF attachment or view them directly on your Grasshopper app.
- Instant response: Send an automated SMS to missed calls from new callers and personalize your message by adding an image or link.
- Live receptionist: Add Ruby to your Grasshopper account and have professional phone operators answer all your incoming calls.
Get up to 20% discount if you make an annual pre-payment.
- True Solo: $18 for one user, one phone number, and a single extension
- Solo Plus: $32 for unlimited users, one phone number, and three extensions
- Small Business: $70 for four phone numbers and unlimited extensions
- Free trial: 7 days
All plans include business texting, call transfer, incoming call control, call forwarding, voicemail, e-fax, virtual fax, custom greetings, and reporting.
Ooma: Best for lightweight VoIP solution
Overall Score
4.19/5
Pricing
4/5
General features
4.25/5
Advanced features
2.5/5
Support
4.06/5
Ease of use
3.25/5
Expert score
4.69/5
Pros
- Up to 50 standard phone features on the base plan
- Unlimited calls to the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
- Provides a la carte services and additional capacity for customization
- Affordable international calling rates
Cons
- Collaboration features are not up to par with competitors
- Charges a one-time activation fee of $49.95
Why we chose Ooma
Apps like Google Voice work as a lightweight VoIP solution designed for low-level VoIP usage. However, its simplicity can be too limiting for companies needing more capabilities to manage unpredictable call volumes. Ooma provides a straightforward solution with over 100 business phone features to connect and collaborate with your team.
While most alternatives to Google Voice limit regional calling to the US and Canada, Ooma extends it to Puerto Rico and Mexico. Each toll-free number includes 500 minutes, but you can purchase an additional 1,500 for only $15 monthly.
The Ooma Office packages have a wide range of calling features and unified communications (UC) capabilities. Call management tools let you set up virtual extensions, play music when transferring callers, and view call logs.
Unfortunately, collaboration capabilities are not up to par with competitors due to limited team chat capacity and basic video conferencing features. RingCentral outperforms Ooma by providing an AI-powered communication platform for phone, video meetings, and messaging.
- Hybrid ring groups: Create up to five ring group subgroups and take advantage of both sequential and simultaneous ringing modes.
- Multi-device ring: Let your phone calls follow you by allowing incoming calls to ring your home phone, office desk phone, or any specified number.
- Flexible numbering plan: Add as many user extensions as you need by assigning users with any extension number from 1000 to 9999.
- Enhanced call blocking: Block up to 100 numbers, either individually or in bulk, and let when suspected callers hear a busy signal call any company extension.
- Distinctive ringtones: Assign a unique ringtone to a call queue or ring group to give group members a heads-up about the nature of an incoming call.
- Essentials: $19.95/user/mo for unlimited calling in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, virtual receptionist, ring groups, and virtual fax
- Pro: $24.95/user/mo for desktop app access, enhanced call blocking, call recording, and up to 25 video meeting participants
- Pro Plus: $29.95/user/mo for call queueing, integration with CRM apps, hot desking, team chat, and up to 100 video meeting participants
Advantages: Why is Google Voice is so popular
Compared to most VoIP solutions, Google Voice is designed for solopreneurs, startups, and small businesses due to its ease of use and low-cost service plans. It has two account types: personal and business. The individual plan is free for Google account users, while the business plan can be purchased as an add-on for Google Workspace subscribers.
The Google Personal plan includes a free local number, voicemail transcription, and call forwarding. The Business version, on the other hand, packs in professional phone features, such as usage reporting, multilevel auto-attendant, and ring groups. Guided by Google’s clean and user-friendly interface, Google Voice allows easy setup and navigation for its mobile app and web interface.
In the end, it could turn out that Google Voice, is, in fact, the right choice for your needs. You can check them out below.
Disadvantages: When to use a Google Voice alternative
Google Voice may not be ideal for businesses seeking comprehensive functionality and customization options, particularly those experiencing large call volumes frequently. Virtual numbers are limited to local area codes, which can be limiting to those who want to establish a nationwide presence or create a memorable impression.
Access to Google Voice for Business requires a Google Workspace subscription. In addition to the monthly per-user cost of Google Workspace, you need to purchase any Google Voice business plan to unlock its features. Establishing connectivity with other third-party tools can be challenging due to its tight integration with Google service, which limits the flexibility for businesses relying heavily on non-Google apps or requiring extensive software compatibility.
How to choose the best Google Voice alternatives
Evaluating your business’s key priorities is necessary for finding the best Google Voice alternatives. It involves your budget, communication needs, security, and device compatibility. These factors will help you determine which providers best meet your business requirements in a cloud phone system.
In this article, we compiled a list of six providers, along with their corresponding use case scenarios. This will help you understand how each solution can address different business demands—whether you prioritize advanced call management, seamless integrations, or scalability.
Zoom Phone emerges as our top alternative to Google Voice, offering a comprehensive range of call management features and flexible call plans, all at the same monthly pricing as Google Voice. Different VoIP providers offer specialized features and services designed to meet specific needs. With the right solution, you can ensure reliability, high-quality calls, and excellent value for your investment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
