When it comes to selecting the right phone service provider, there’s a lot to consider. From standout features and user reviews to the reliability of customer support, every detail matters. But let’s be honest, staying within budget is a big factor. For many businesses, voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) has emerged as one of the most budget-friendly options available, as it eliminates the need for costly hardware and the hassle of setting up a traditional landline.
If you’re looking for the cheapest VoIP phone services, there’s a wealth of options available, and many of them offer outstanding quality, even among the most budget-friendly brands. To explore some of these options, check out the list below and discover a VoIP provider that suits both your business needs and your budget.
- RingCentral: Best overall low-cost VoIP service
- Zoom Phone: Best for the lowest monthly price
- Dialpad: Best for automation and artificial intelligence
- Phone.com: Best for privacy and compliance
- Nextiva: Best for enterprises and large-scale teams
- Vonage: Best for unified communication solutions
- Grasshopper: Best for solopreneurs
Comparing the cheapest VoIP phone services
“Cheap” is a somewhat loaded term that is commonly defined as “inexpensive due to poor quality or low value.” However, none of the vendors on this list qualify under that definition. Each of these VoIP providers, from the most comprehensive platforms to the most basic offerings, delivers a big bang for your buck.
So, instead of thinking about the negative connotations of the word, think about how much money you can save by choosing one of the following affordable options. I even included a comparison table with a quick overview to make it even easier to review each of the picks individually.
Providers
Monthly Starting Price (per Line)
Key Features

4.53
$30
- AI-powered summaries and insights
- Hundreds of third-party integrations
- Multi-level auto attendant and IVR

4.23
$10
- Metered and unlimited international calling
- Dial by name directory
- Call recording

4.12
$27
- Real-time call transcription
- HD meetings and call quality
- Custom call routing

4.0
$18
- Unlimited audio conferencing
- Mobile and web apps
- HIPAA-compliant voice and video

3.93
$36
- Smart call routing
- Unified digital user inbox
- Team chat

3.85
$19.99
- Unlimited domestic calling
- Phone number porting
- Virtual receptionists

3.76
$18
- Instant response
- Call forwarding
- Unlimited business texting

RingCentral: Best overall low-cost VoIP service
Overall Score
4.53/5
Pricing
5/5
General features
4/5
Advanced features
4.38/5
Ease of use
3.75/5
Customer support
5/5
Expert score
4.63/5
Pros
- All plans include unmetered calls, text messaging, IVR, and visual voicemail.
- AI-powered video features, including automated meeting transcriptions and insights.
- Extensive integration, API, and developer tool options.
Cons
- Some semi-standard features (e.g., auto call recording, advanced call monitoring, unlimited internet fax) are unavailable for entry-level subscribers.
- No unlimited option for international calls.
- Custom roles and user permissions require upgrading.
Why I chose RingCentral
RingCentral has several key attributes that place it at the forefront of this list. For one, RingCentral comes with some of the most impressive features and offerings, right out of the gate (even for Core subscribers). Unlimited domestic calling and AI functionality are available at every tier, and that’s only the beginning.
Many competitors require upgrading to the second or third paid tier for equivalent functionality, making RingCentral a great option for businesses that want all of the bells and whistles on a base plan. While RingCentral may not be as well-suited for teams that need to support international staff or callers, and while some traditional VoIP features require upgraded plans, RingCentral is an excellent fit for smaller teams operating in North America. Additionally, the extensive integrations and artificial intelligence features make it popular for call and contact centers.

Zoom Phone: Best for the lowest monthly price
Overall Score
4.23/5
Pricing
4/5
General features
4.5/5
Niche features
3.13/5
Ease of use
4.63/5
Customer support
5/5
Expert score
4.63/5
Pros
- The Pay-As-You-Go plan is the least expensive option on this list.
- The top-tier plan is more affordable than most competitors.
- Can bundle VoIP services with Zoom Workplace for maximum features and savings.
Cons
- The entry-level plan meters domestic calls.
- Toll-free numbers are not included in any plan.
- Limited integration options compared to other providers.
Why I chose Zoom Phone
Although this is a list of inexpensive VoIP providers, if I had to pick a leading contender in that category, Zoom Phone would be my choice. With a starting monthly price of just $10 per user, you’re paying less than an ad-free streaming subscription to have a dedicated business phone line. You’re also paying roughly half the starting price for most of Zoom’s VoIP competitors.
However, Zoom offers more than just phone services. By bundling with your Zoom Workplace subscription, you can add video meeting capabilities, AI companion support, and much more. Some of the more advanced call handling, analytics, and other premium features are harder to find with Zoom, making it less suitable for use cases that involve a lot of complex juggling and shuffling of inbound calls. However, for those looking for reliable service at the lowest price, this is the best choice.

Dialpad: Best for automation and artificial intelligence
Overall Score
4.12/5
Pricing
3.63/5
General features
4/5
Niche features
4.38/5
Ease of use
4.19/5
Customer support
5/5
Expert score
4.38/5
Pros
- Includes multiple AI features, such as call transcriptions, summaries, and automated action items
- Free and secure number porting for local and toll-free numbers
- Team collaboration features, like messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing
Cons
- Internet fax is an add-on feature
- Additional numbers and extensions aren’t available on the base plan
Why I chose Dialpad
Automation and artificial intelligence are two technologies that everyone is seeking these days, and Dialpad delivers as a low-cost platform with numerous features that revolutionize conversational intelligence. And while many providers are new to the game, Dialpad made AI its key differentiator as early as 2018.
Whether you need call transcriptions and post-meeting summaries that replace handwritten meeting notes, or sentiment analysis of customer calls, Dialpad automates the process of multiple everyday tasks. These features, along with automated action items, make it easier for you to collaborate with team members on projects and calls. If you transfer your number from another account, there is also free number porting, which is a win for teams interested in making the switch to a lower-cost VoIP service.

Phone.com: Best for privacy and compliance
Overall Score
4/5
Pricing
4/5
General features
4/5
Niche features
3.13/5
Ease of use
3.75/5
Customer support
5/5
Expert score
4.38/5
Pros
- The platform prioritizes privacy, particularly HIPAA compliance, for both audio and video calls.
- Video conferencing functionality across plans.
- Mix-and-match subscriptions based on user need, rather than paying the same subscription price for everyone
Cons
- Inclusion of domestic phone numbers is limited.
- International phone numbers cost extra on every plan.
- Some “standard” features, like those offered by other competitors, require upgrading subscriptions or paying for add-ons (if available at all).
Why I chose Phone.com
Premium offerings tend to come with everything but the kitchen sink. Not because everyone will need every feature, but because, for the price you pay, you expect that all the features you do need will be in the list. More affordable options tend to go the opposite route, stripping out anything unnecessary or outside the niche of the target use case. Phone.com is an interesting example of bridging that gap.
This provider’s feature list isn’t quite as broad or deep as that of some of its competitors. But it isn’t the slimmest either. And it offers incredible flexibility regarding pricing, as you can “mix and match” subscription tiers. That way, each user is signed up according to what features they need, and you only pay higher-tier rates for staff who need them.
Beyond their pricing structure, Phone.com stands out as the only entry in the list to prioritize above-average privacy compliance. Specifically, they guarantee HIPAA compliance throughout the platform. And while your organization may not be directly involved in healthcare, that’s a higher standard for data privacy than most industries and a win for those who prioritize robust security.

Nextiva: Best for enterprises and large-scale teams
Overall Score
3.93/5
Pricing
2.63/5
General features
4.5/5
Niche features
3.75/5
Ease of use
4.63/5
Customer support
5/5
Expert score
4.75/5
Pros
- Live chat, chatbot, and even unlimited SMS are available, depending on the subscription tier.
- Includes social media management and review management (unique features in this particular list).
- Group email, productivity tools, and other features are designed to help teams work more effectively together.
Cons
- Business integrations are an add-on feature on the base plan
- With many key features reserved for the Engage and Power Suite plans, Nextiva is better suited to meeting the needs of larger teams (with slightly larger budgets).
Why I chose Nextiva
Nextiva is not often the first provider that comes to mind when considering cheap VoIP services, but it is one of the best providers on the market. With a wealth of premium features, a legion of valuable add-ons and upgrades, and an enterprise-focused design, it’s the best fit in this list for larger teams with room in the budget to grow.
Therefore, Nextiva is my top choice for an affordable premium option. While its monthly fees are higher than those of other providers on this list, the annual pricing offers a sufficient discount to make it worthwhile for small business owners. However, smaller teams looking to reduce expenses may find the initial cost frustrating, especially since basic inbound and outbound voice functionality is priced higher.
Additionally, many of the more desirable features are only available to top-tier subscribers, unlike brands like RingCentral and Zoom, which provide access to these functions at a lower cost. But if top-tier was where you were aiming in the first place, then Nextiva is your best bet.

Vonage: Best for unified communication solutions
Overall Score
3.85/5
Pricing
4/5
General features
4/5
Niche features
2.5/5
Ease of use
3.75/5
Customer support
5/5
Expert score
5/5
Pros
- Unlimited domestic calling across plans with SMS and MMS messaging.
- Virtual receptionist and IVR to automatically route calls through the phone system.
- Access to unified communication and collaborative tools, like team messaging and meetings.
Cons
- Most features are à la carte, which can cause additional features to add up in cost.
- Limited unified communication features on the base plan.
- More difficult to set up than other providers on this list.
Why I chose Vonage
Although Vonage is known for its unified communication as a service (UCaaS) provider, its business phone plans still rely on VoIP technology to make calls across the internet. In many ways, VoIP supports UCaaS by providing more affordable phone services, with less money spent on things like hardware and international calling.
In this sense, Vonage provides the best of both worlds, offering the low prices of a traditional VoIP provider along with unified communication features. However, most of these features, such as team messaging and Vonage meetings, are only available on the highest-tier plans. If that’s what you’re looking for, there are other providers, like RingCentral and Phone.com. If you want to pick and choose your VoIP and UCaaS features, then Vonage’s customizable plans and add-on features will be perfect for you.

Grasshopper: Best for solopreneurs
Overall Score
3.76/5
Pricing
4.38/5
General features
4/5
Niche features
1.25/5
Ease of use
4.19/5
Customer support
5/5
Expert score
3.63/5
Pros
- Provides a dedicated business phone line without using your personal number or purchasing an additional device.
- Leverage automated greetings, professional voice talent, and caller ID to make an excellent first impression.
- Plans are designed around solo professionals and small businesses.
Cons
- No options for video calls or conferencing are available.
- International calling can only be enabled after 60 days of service.
- Can receive faxes, but cannot send them.
Why I chose Grasshopper
Not every operation is large and complex enough to warrant a multi-faceted phone system. Sometimes, the team is very small, perhaps even just one person. And sometimes, all you need is a way to separate business calls from personal ones, without having to purchase a separate phone.
Grasshopper provides that, and much more. Its entry-level tier provides nearly all of its functionality, with most of the benefit for upgrading coming in the form of increased user counts and limits. And with lower-than-average costs, and several unique perks and add-ons to help your business sound as professional as possible, there’s plenty to love about Grasshopper’s VoIP services.
This makes Grasshopper an excellent choice for solo professionals and small teams; however, the lack of video and unified communication features makes it less effective for remote teams that rely heavily on digital tools for collaboration. In that case, you might want to consider Phone.com for its affordable price and video-conferencing features.
How to choose the best cheap VoIP service
If you’ve never heard it before, let me be the first to tell you: there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution, least of all in software (so don’t let any vendor tell you otherwise).
The fact is, just like how no single hat can fit every head size and shape, each business has its own unique needs and circumstances. Even within the same industry, one use case can vary wildly from another. However, there are still a few common threads and overlapping factors that are worth keeping in mind if you need help guiding your search. I’ve covered some of the top priorities below in the tabs.