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Best VoIP Services & Providers For Your Business Communications Needs 2024

Tyler Webb
Top Image - Main Charticle

Researchers at the University of Southern Indiana state that companies can cut communication costs by more than 55% by using a VoIP phone system instead of a landline. Plus, fixed-line phones require bulky on-site hardware and frequent maintenance, restricting agents to a local office, unlike VoIP systems. 

Cloud-based VoIP systems eliminate the need for on-premises hardware by allowing users to make calls over the internet. These networks are easy to set up, provide excellent call quality, and have a wide array of communication options. Every company offering this service has its own pricing plans, features, and calling areas. 

To help you make a more informed decision and identify which company best fits your needs, we reviewed and ranked the top 10 VoIP providers for 2024.

Our Top 10 Best VoIP Providers & Services:

  • RingCentral MVP - Best VoIP provider overall
  • Vonage - Best for reliability with 99.99% uptime
  • Zoom Phone - Best for unlimited domestic calls outside the US
  • GoTo Connect - Best for all-in-one solution
  • Dialpad - Best for small businesses seeking AI support
  • Grasshopper - Best for limitless number extensions
  • Ooma Office - Best for large call queues
  • Phone by web.com - Best for low call volumes
  • Vox Direct - Best for SMS marketing
  • Comcast Business - Best for building custom ring groups for sequential dialing
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Our Methodology: How We Reviewed the Best VoIP Providers & Services

We used the same comparison factors to ensure fair ratings for each of the 10 VoIP providers listed in this review. Still, depending on your business's needs, some features will be more important to you than others. To evaluate and rank the best business VoIP services, we factored in the following critical qualities of a Voice over Internet Protocol system: 

  • Features
  • Collaboration tools
  • Communication channels
  • Queueing and routing controls
  • Analytics and supervisor tools
  • Unlimited and international calling coverage
  • Supported integrations
  • Pricing
  • Ease of use

Our 10 Best VoIP Companies & Services

  • 1
    RingCentral MVP

    RingCentral MVP

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $19.99/month per user
    • Best forInternal team collaboration and task management

    RingCentral MVP - Best VoIP provider overall

    RingCentral MVP is a teamwork-oriented UCaaS (Unified Communication as a Service) platform. It has built-in collaboration tools like VoIP calling, SMS messaging, team chat, and video conferencing. 

    The platform lets you invite users by email and build a custom phone system with voicemail transcription, call recording, and adaptive Interactive Voice Response (IVR) menus for self-service routing. You can also create dozens of team-chat channels where members can message each other, send images, share files, and assign tasks with due dates. 

    HD-video meetings host up to 200 participants and are supported by AI-based tools. These include auto-generated insights, background noise reduction, live transcription, and collaborative drawing whiteboards.

    According to Emma Grotluschen, Senior Manager of Customer Service at Swanson, RingCentral Contact Center enables their entire team "to improve [their] customer service operation." She adds, "The reporting capabilities help us continually monitor and improve our performance, and [with] the automatic call recording, our supervisors tripled the calls they can review."

    Why we chose RingCentral MVP: RingCentral MVP offers VoIP plans with a collaborative, well-rounded UCaaS platform suitable for large and small businesses. All plans also enable unlimited calling in the US and Canada.

    Our experience: We liked how we were able to get set up in minutes. RingCentral's app was also easy to use and let our team members instantly interact through various mediums. 

    Pros
    • Collaborative video features
    • File management capabilities
    • International VoIP numbers
    Cons
    • Essentials plan has a 20-user maximum
    • No unlimited international calling options
  • 2
    Vonage

    Vonage

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $19.99/month per user
    • Best forRemote companies seeking mobility

    Vonage - Best for reliability with 99.99% uptime

    Vonage is a UCaaS platform offering VoIP and SMS, live chat, and video functionality—these three features are becoming increasingly popular with young audiences. Its Business Communications platform has basic phone-system features and collaboration tools.

    The Vonage desktop, browser, and mobile apps come with standard calling features, including routing via auto attendant and call management tools like call holding, forwarding, and parking. Queues and multichannel business inboxes are also available as add-ons.

    This service's team messaging lets individuals and groups communicate easily. Video calls come with collaboration features like whiteboards with 20 participants, team chat, waiting rooms, and integration with calendar apps for scheduling.

    Kevin Peña, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Headsets.com, says, "Since moving to Vonage Business Communications, we have team members working in home stations, office stations, or both, and they are able to seamlessly log in from wherever they are that day. We can log in to our VBC accounts and make or receive calls from a cell phone just as easily as an office phone with a simple, user-friendly interface that keeps calls, voicemails, and messages all in one place."

    Why we chose Vonage: Vonage Business Communications offers straightforward VoIP features that are easy to use. It also includes Vonage Meetings, with voice, video, and messaging collaboration in every plan. 

    Our experience: We liked Vonage's video collaboration whiteboards and team messaging. Its desktop click-to-call feature was particularly convenient for spur-of-the-moment communication.

    Pros
    • Auto attendant functionality
    • No user limit on lower-tier plans
    • Can flip live calls between devices
    Cons
    • No analytics
    • Charges additional fees for features included in competitor plans
  • 3
    Zoom Phone

    Zoom Phone

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $10/month per user
    • Best forBusinesses looking for an advanced phone-only solution

    Zoom Phone - Best for unlimited domestic calls outside the US

    Zoom Phone is Zoom's VoIP phone system, not to be confused with its Meetings video-conferencing app or Zoom One collaboration platform. Zoom Phone includes team chat and bundles with Zoom One, to make collaboration more available and intuitive to remote workers. The Zoom app—available on desktop, browser, and mobile—unites all of the company's applications in a seamless interface, but also works with Zoom Phone alone.

    This phone system is perfect for companies that want an advanced phone-only solution without other communication channels. All three pricing plans have the same features, varying by unlimited calling area and call-pricing structure: a US- and Canada-based pay-per-minute plan, a US-Canada unlimited calling plan, and unlimited domestic calling plans in over 40 different countries. The two unlimited plans also come with an add-on allowing limitless calling to 19 other countries. Local and toll-free Direct Inward Dial (DID) numbers can be purchased in several countries worldwide.

    The Zoom Phone system provides access to an expansive library of advanced call center features. These include unlimited queues, ring groups (a cluster of phone extensions that share incoming calls), call distribution, voicemail transcription, call recording, routing via IVR, and flipping between devices. While Zoom Phone doesn't provide analytics, it does deliver call-center monitoring through supervisor surveillance, barge, and takeover. The chat and video functionality are also standard but can be greatly improved if you bundle Zoom One as a synchronous UCaaS platform.

    Why we chose Zoom Phone: Zoom Phone boasts a wide variety of advanced call center features, with unique global and domestic unlimited calling options.

    Our experience: We like that Zoom Phone offers affordable pricing plans and unlimited queueing, but wish it had queue analytics for greater visibility.

    Pros
    • Boundless domestic plans outside the US
    • Add-ons for unlimited calling in 19 countries
    • Infinite call queues
    Cons
    • Advanced chat collaboration requires a Zoom One subscription
    • No analytics
  • 4
    GoTo Connect

    GoTo Connect

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $27/month/user
    • Best forCall center monitoring

    GoTo Connect - Best for all-in-one solution

    GoTo Connect is a unified communications platform and business phone system with VoIP calling, SMS, internal team chat, and collaborative video. It offers virtual phone numbers around the world, and all plans support unlimited calling in over 50 countries. 

    With this service, you can answer and make calls via softphone from the GoTo Connect app on any device. You can also flip calls live and customize call routing with a drag-and-drop dial plan editor to link users, voicemails, and announcements.

    Additionally, you'll be able to create ring groups with a custom routing sequence, which can be organized into unlimited call queues. The highest-tiered Premium plan includes live queue analytics, a supervisor dashboard with monitoring tools, and agent effectiveness reporting.

    GoTo Connect HD video meetings support up to 250 participants, with screen sharing and chat. It allows for the creation and scheduling of video meetings within the system and links them with calendar apps. Want to start an unlimited one-on-one or team chat? You can do that too, along with file sharing, one-click buttons to join a call or video meeting, and emojis.

    Why we picked GoTo Connect: GoTo Connect has one of the largest unlimited VoIP calling areas on the market—a remarkable 50 countries.

    Our experience: We appreciate that GoTo Connect includes unlimited queues and supervisor monitoring tools for visibility. We also like that the system can link scheduled meetings with many popular calendar apps, including Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar, and Apple iCloud Calendar.

    Pros
    • Unlimited calling area
    • Custom ring orders
    • Unrestricted call queues
    Cons
    • Basic plan limits video meetings to four participants
    • Plans are pricier than some competitors
  • 5
    Dialpad

    Dialpad

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $15/month per user
    • Best forSmall-team video collaboration and real-time agent support

    Dialpad - Best for small businesses seeking AI support

    Dialpad is an AI-enhanced UCaaS platform with VoIP phone, SMS, collaborative team chat, and video conferencing. Video meetings are capped at 10 users, making this provider an excellent fit for small teams.

    The phone system supports unlimited calling within the US and Canada, along with international cloud numbers in 70+ other countries. It includes routing and queueing features like auto attendants and custom call distribution, unlimited hold queues, and ring groups.

    Dialpad's greatest strength is AI support. All calls have real-time transcription, with auto-generated call summaries that follow up with key topics, sentiment scores, highlights, and action items. Agents get real-time AI coaching, while supervisors can access live queue reports.

    Dialpad meetings are capped at 10 users but feature collaborative tools like chat, waiting rooms, and whiteboards. You can use the system to schedule meetings in integrated apps—like Google or Microsoft 365—and invite any user to join without needing to download the app. Dialpad chat supports file sharing and storage, with a search function for easy access.

    Why we picked Dialpad: Dialpad features a variety of AI-supported functions, including agent coaching and auto-generated call summaries.

    Our experience: We like that Dialpad's video meetings are full of collaboration features, such as transcription and whiteboards. We also think the auto-generated call summaries help streamline the post-call process by making it easy to review the content discussed in a call.

    Pros
    • AI support
    • File management functions
    • Affordable plans
    Cons
    • Limited video meeting participants
    • Small unlimited calling area
  • 6
    Grasshopper

    Grasshopper

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $14/user/month
    • Best forTeams that share phone numbers among multiple users and extensions

    Grasshopper - Best for limitless number extensions

    Grasshopper is a VoIP phone system offering voice calling and SMS. The phone system itself, accessible through a mobile and desktop app, is straightforward to use.

    This service's plans support unlimited calling in the US and Canada, and each includes a preset phone number limit you can split among as many agents as needed. Grasshopper's unique payment structure works well for companies that want to share a handful of phone numbers among many extensions. However, all of their available DID numbers have US area codes.

    In the Grasshopper app, agents can make calls and send SMSes anywhere in the world. They can also access their voicemail with transcription and screen, transfer or forward calls. Each agent has the option to set up a personal greeting that can be configured with Grasshopper's phone number extensions to create an auto attendant routing system. These plans support between three and an unlimited number of extensions.

    With this service, you can send texts globally and configure your phone system to dispatch auto-responses to first-time callers, callers that get a busy signal, and more.

    Why we picked Grasshopper: Grasshopper is best suited to those who don't need multiple channels, collaboration, routing, or queueing. Its pricing plans also work well for companies whose agents need to share phone numbers.

    Our experience: We found Grasshopper's app user-friendly and appreciated the texting functionalities. While the IVR was a little confusing to set up, the responsive and knowledgeable customer support team helped us get it done in under 30 minutes.

    Pros
    • Voicemail to email
    • Shared phone numbers
    • Auto attendant routing systems
    Cons
    • Lacks video and chat features
    • No international phone numbers
  • 7
    Ooma Office

    Ooma Office

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $19.95/month per user
    • Best forCall queues and live queue monitoring

    Ooma Office - Best for large call queues

    Ooma Office is a VoIP phone system and UCaaS platform with all core communication channels: voice, SMS, team chat, and video. The phone system supports unlimited calling in the US and Canada, with per-minute fees anywhere else in the world. Ooma also provides local and toll-free numbers from US area codes. 

    The Ooma Office app on desktop and mobile gives agents access to team messaging, voicemail, call logs, SMS, video, and basic call controls. These let you participate in three-way conference calls and forward, transfer, park, and flip calls between devices.

    Supervisors can set up unlimited call queues, ring groups, automatic call recording, and a self-service auto attendant for routing. Administrators can view live and historical call analytics to gain insights into contact center activity and performance. While sending SMS messages, agents can share a singular inbox, splitting responsibility for inbound texts. 

    Ooma allows one-on-one and team channel messaging, and its video meetings support screen-sharing but don't have any collaboration features.

    Why we picked Ooma Office: Ooma Office comes with a well-rounded suite of phone system features, like routing and queueing. It's a smart option for teams needing a standard UCaaS capability platform.

    Our experience: From a supervisor's perspective, we appreciated Ooma's advanced analytics and queue monitoring. We also like that agents can share voicemail boxes and that team chat is included in all of Ooma's plans.

    Pros
    • Routing and queueing features
    • Advanced monitoring analytics
    • Team chat included in all plans
    Cons
    • No international numbers
    • Very few chat and video features
  • 8
    Phone by web.com

    Phone by web.com

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $11.99/month per user
    • Best forAccessing a low-cost basic plan that includes video conferencing

    Phone by web.com - Best for low call volumes

    Phone by Web.com (provided by Phone.com) is a cloud phone system with VoIP calling, SMS texting, and video meetings. It is an affordable platform that delivers pooled minutes and unlimited calling options.

    The Basic Phone by Web.com plan delivers 500 pooled calling minutes and 1,000 pooled texts, while higher-tier plans support unlimited calling and texting within the US and Canada. These more advanced plans also provide useful routing features like IVR menus, call queues, voicemail transcription, and automatic voicemail-to-email forwarding. 

    Video conferencing supports up to 100 participants with no time limit. It has dynamic collaboration features such as document sharing, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, whiteboards, and breakout rooms.

    All three Phone by Web.com communication channels are included with every plan, but the best collaborative features—like call recording and breakout rooms—are only available on the Pro plan.

    Why we picked Phone by Web.com: Phone by Web.com offers a cost-effective pooled-minutes plan for teams with low call volumes that need access to video meetings.

    Our experience: We appreciate that Phone by Web.com integrates video conferencing capabilities into all its plans—without time limits. We also like that it supports international calling, with virtual phone numbers available worldwide. 

    Pros
    • Unlimited video duration
    • Call queueing features
    • Whiteboards collaboration tools for video meetings
    Cons
    • No team chat
    • Video meetings have low participant capacity
  • 9
    Vox Direct

    Vox Direct

    • No. of users10
    • PricingFrom $39/month per account
    • Best forBulk and scheduled SMS texting

    VoxDirect - Best for SMS marketing

    VoxDirect is a VoIP phone system specializing in voice and SMS marketing. While it doesn't have internal collaboration channels like video or team chat, it does offer text templates and settings to enable drop campaigns, alerts, and other mass-email use cases.

    All VoxDirect plans include one phone number—a toll-free, vanity, or local VoIP number in the US. Subscriptions support unlimited calling in the US and Canada, plus the ability to configure international VoIP calling. Each plan has a preset amount of extensions and virtual receptionists, allowing you to share numbers among multiple users and configure a self-service routing system for customers. While live on a call, agents can record in a click and easily transfer. The Vox User dashboard lets you manage multiple numbers simultaneously, customize IVR, set up call recording, and access voicemail with transcription.

    The text dashboard organizes all text-related tools and functions. This lets you view your subscribers, see their contact information, and organize them into groups for various marketing or customer service purposes. You can also create and schedule texts using text templates—for events, promotions, news, engagement, and alerts—to build drip campaigns, communicating with thousands of customers at once. When a customer responds to a blast or automated text, the agent gets the response and can move to a one-on-one text conversation.

    Why we picked VoxDirect: VoxDirect's blast-texting offers unique SMS marketing options like templates for sales and announcements, auto-responses, and scheduled texts.

    Our experience: We found it very easy to schedule texts using VoxDirect's vast library of SMS templates, spanning use categories like welcomes, promotions, alerts, and standard auto responses.

    Pros
    • Text templates for marketing
    • Easy-to-manage contact lists
    • Toll-free and vanity numbers
    Cons
    • Limited call analytics
    • No chat or video
  • 10
    Comcast Business

    Comcast Business

    • No. of users5,000
    • PricingCustom-quote pricing
    • Best forEasy transitions from a basic landline to a VoIP phone system

    Comcast Business - Best for building custom ring groups

    Comcast Business Voice offers a VoIP phone system you can use on any device—mobile or desktop—with local numbers around the world or the option to port pre-existing numbers.

    Their Business app does not support built-in texting, team chat, or video. Still, Comcast's user interface has useful call controls and routing tools, such as caller ID and history, call hold and transfer, and call forwarding, parking, retrieval, and waiting. 

    With this service, you can build groups with custom ring orders so that users are dialed in sequence until one answers. You can also set up business hours and forwarding rules, where each agent has a virtual voicemail box with a custom greeting, transcription, and one-click callback.

    Why we chose Comcast Business: Comcast Business lets you purchase SIP and PRI trunks to add phone lines or move entirely to an on-site VoIP system. Plus, if your company wants to switch from an on-site legacy PBX system, which connects your phone system and users via landline cables, Comcast can facilitate this transition.

    Our experience: We found that Comcast Business made it easy to transition from a basic landline phone system, as it didn't require us to learn a new interface or to use new tools.

    Pros
    • Easy-to-use app interface
    • Variety of call controls
    • Custom ring orders for groups
    Cons
    • No chat, SMS, video, or analytics
    • No built-in IVR functionality



How to Compare the Best VoIP Providers & Services

To differentiate between the best VoIP providers, consider several factors like your budget, collaboration needs, most frequently-used channels, call and messaging volumes, supervisor and call center monitoring needs, and which destinations you call most.

Then evaluate and compare potential VoIP service providers based on their features and pricing. The most important VoIP qualities are call distribution, auto-attendant menus, caller ID, video conferencing, SMS texting, and file sharing.

The chart below outlines vital features and channels that you can use to help you identify which provider meets the broadest scope of your business's needs.

What Is VoIP?

*Minimum 1-year contract required for new accounts only. Standard monthly recurring charges for one (1) local number are waived for the life cycle of the VBC account. The promotional discount of 30% off the standard rate is for the duration of the service. This discount only applies to monthly recurring voice extension charges for online purchases up to 99 lines. Discount does not apply to add-ons, features, hardware, or one-time charges. Services and billing will continue until canceled. Cancellations may be completed using the VBC Admin Portal or by calling Vonage Customer Care. However, cancelling service during contract term is subject to Early Termination Fees. Early Termination Fees can range up to the total price of your service contract. Choose a plan and the promo code 30PERCENTOFF will be applied automatically when you checkout online. Offer valid through March 31, 2024.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a phone service that transmits audio data via an internet connection—instead of sending a signal over a traditional landline. VoIP is a more portable option as users can access their phone functionality from any location with an internet connection. These systems are commonly used for:

  • Managing incoming and outgoing phone calls in call centers
  • Participating in call and video conferencing
  • Conducting distance learning sessions
  • Providing telehealthcare services
  • Calling associates, friends, or relatives who live in different countries

How Does VoIP Services  Work?

VoIP works by converting a speaker's audio into data packets, then sending those over the internet to recipients anywhere in the world. 

When a company signs up with a VoIP provider, its agents have access to a desktop or browser app that connects to the internet. As the agent speaks into the device's softphone—or virtual phone—the app transmits the audio data to the provider, usually based in the US. From there, the system sends the audio through an international chain of networks and servers to reach the recipient.

If an agent dials a VoIP number, the call is transmitted entirely over the internet. However, if they dial a mobile number, the VoIP data is converted into 4G or 5G mobile data before it reaches the endpoint. When the dialed number is a landline, this data is converted into a public switched telephone network (PSTN) audio signal.

What Is Business VoIP and How Can It Help Your Business?

Business VoIP solutions use the same audio transmission process as regular VoIP, which involves sending data packets over the internet. However, it's specifically tailored to meet the needs of your business.

Many companies prefer VoIP phone systems over traditional on-premises PBX systems since they have more benefits, like: 

  • Quick setup
  • No hardware maintenance
  • Scalability
  • More communication channels
  • Establishing a global business presence
  • Internal collaboration options
  • Better customer service
  • Improved call quality
  • Agent mobility
  • Retaining a unified business identity with a remote workforce

Another reason VoIP is so attractive is that it lets agents collaborate more effectively, use AI support and workflow tools, and communicate with customers across multiple channels—all from one app on any device, anywhere they have internet or cell service.

How to Choose the Best Business VoIP Services

Before choosing a VoIP provider, compare how well each one caters to your business's needs. These steps will help you conduct a thorough comparison and identify the system that best suits your requirements.

  1. Consider your company's needs: Determine your budget, desired features, preferred communication channels, degree of collaboration required by agents, and the geographical areas where you frequently operate.
  2. Compare collaboration and multichannel features: Look at what communication channels are offered by each provider in our list. Pay attention to their pricing plans, collaboration features of video meetings and team chat, and additional agent-support tools such as live call transcription or speech coaching.
  3. Assess unlimited calling areas: Review your call logs and volume to determine the destinations your agents call most often. If they make frequent international calls, reach out to providers with cheap international rates or multi-country unlimited calling areas.
  4. Determine your desired geographical presence: Consider where your customers are, and decide if you want to expand your reach in those areas. Look for a service provider that offers DID virtual numbers in the regions where you want to establish a local presence.
  5. Compare routing and queueing capabilities: Assess the size of your call center, including the number of agents, supervisors, and departments you have. Determine if you need to route inbound calls to multiple departments—sales, marketing, billing, customer service, etc. Then, compare each provider's routing and queueing offerings, such as ring groups, auto attendant menus, skills-based routing, and live queue analytics for supervisors.

Important Features of VoIP Services You Must Know

The most important VoIP features include multiple communication channels, call routing, IVR and auto attendants, call queueing, analytics, call recording, and transcription. These help your agents and administrators get the most out of your company's system.

Communication Channels

Most VoIP companies focus on internet-based voice calling, while UCaaS platforms offer up to four virtual communication channels, namely phone, SMS, video conferencing, and team chat, as a single product. Phone refers to VoIP calls, SMS lets you send and receive text messages, video conferencing allows agents to engage in video meetings with customers, and team chat enables them to send one-on-one and web-chat messages. 

Call Routing

Sometimes called automatic call distribution (ACD), routing is when you configure your phone system to send incoming calls to specific users in line with preset routing rules. For example, self-service IVR menus let customers direct themselves to the right user/department by choosing the option that best matches their needs. Skills-based routing (SBR), on the other hand, navigates customers based on the aptitudes a call requires, matching them to the agent with the best-fitting skillset.

Call Queueing

When inbound phone calls reach a busy agent, a call queue places the customer in a line, ordered according to when the calls were received. Agents can see the calls in their queue and choose which to pick up. Some systems also offer ring groups, allowing you to pool multiple agents to share queues and inbound call responsibility.

Analytics

Statistics and metrics about your phone system's performance, usage, and activity can give insights into queue activity, agent performance, and call quality. Analytics include reports, graphs, tables, charts, and data that can be sorted according to custom historical periods.

Call Recording

Call recording allows you to record calls for storage, audio sharing, and review. You can choose between auto-recording, where all calls are recorded, and on-demand recording, where only certain calls are recorded.

Transcription

Transcription, where AI systems convert audio from phone calls or voicemails into text or captions, lets these systems identify customer sentiment, compile call summaries, and offer live-agent coaching.

Call Management Features

Call management features, sometimes called ACD or call routing, let you set up your phone system to direct incoming calls to specific agents according to rules you've set ahead of time. (This feature is very similar to self-service IVR and skills-based routing in our previous example.)

Mobile Compatibility

A VoIP phone system should be compatible with mobile devices, desktops, and browsers. Usually, most VoIP features—such as analytics, call controls, team chat, and even video conferencing—are available on all devices, including mobile platforms like iOS and Android.

Integrations

A VoIP phone system should be able to integrate with your company's third-party apps. Some VoIP providers, like RingCentral and Dialpad, integrate with dozens of other apps, allowing you to use their features directly within the other app's interface and vice versa. Useful CRM integrations include platforms like Salesforce, calendar apps like Google, and collaboration apps like Slack.

Collaboration Tools

In addition to calling, many VoIP providers offer collaboration features that agents can access directly within the system's app. These include team chat rooms (which enable users to create threads, share files and images, and assign tasks) and video meetings (utilizing collaboration tools, like simultaneous whiteboards, screen sharing, and live polls).

Additional Numbers

VoIP providers typically include a  DID number with each user sign-up. However, they also let you purchase more VoIP numbers. You can add numbers with area codes from anywhere in the United States; some providers even have virtual numbers from countries all around the world.

Video Conferencing

Many VoIP providers offer video conferencing as a communication channel. Agents can join internal team video meetings for collaboration purposes or send invite links to customers. Each provider supports unique video meeting participant capacities, time limits, and collaboration tools. Video meetings typically host up to 200 participants, last up to 24 hours, and support features like chat and screen sharing.

IVR 

Also called auto attendant, IVR is a self-service phone menu that customers can use to reach specific agents within your company. Most VoIP providers allow you to configure your own IVR menu, using type-to-talk or custom-recorded messages to provide different options such as "Dial '1' for sales," etc.

Key Benefits of Using Business VoIP Phone Service Providers

The key benefits of using business VoIP phone services include scalability, affordability, versatility, compatibility with many devices, excellent audio quality, advanced features, remote teams, and accessibility around the world.

Scalability

VoIP virtual phone providers let you modify the system's users in minutes—no matter where they are—without installing new phone jacks or setting up new desktop equipment. This means that when your company wants to add or remove agents, you can do it in just a few clicks. In contrast, traditional on-premises PBX systems require you to add new physical phone lines and purchase new hardware, making it more challenging to include new users.

Virtual phone providers offer subscription pricing plans that are highly flexible, letting you add and remove features just as fast. You can also scale your company globally by purchasing VoIP numbers in countries outside your local area. This scalability is impossible with cable landlines. VoIP also supports operating multiple small businesses under a single account.

Affordability

VoIP systems are cheaper than traditional landline phone systems because they are less expensive to install, maintain, and modify. They also have more features, capabilities, and calling options per dollar.

Most VoIP pricing plans offer over 50 advanced features—including team chat, video calling, routing, and queueing—even with their most basic subscriptions, which are typically under $20/month per user. These phone plans often include unlimited calling within the US and Canada and do not require any additional hardware purchases. 

Versatility

VoIP phone platforms serve as more than just phone systems. It also provides unified communications services like team chat, task management, drawing and brainstorming, call center monitoring and video collaboration. This allows you to oversee a whole team of users and business phone numbers globally from a single dashboard, making account management much easier.

Quality

Since most VoIP providers and devices support high-fidelity audio codecs—such as G.722 and the Opus codec—they deliver a broader frequency range. This results in clearer and more natural-sounding audio quality when compared to traditional landline calls.

Business Features

VoIP pricing plans offer a range of advanced business features. Lower-tier plans typically include IVR menus, basic routing and queueing, team chat, video meetings with 100 participants, voicemail transcription, and basic call logs. These also usually give you access to tools like call blocking and caller ID to help you avoid telemarketers.

Mid-tier pricing plans add more advanced multi-level IVR menus, collaboration features in team chat channels, call recording, and call center monitoring (which allows supervisors to listen in and join agent calls). They also include advanced analytics providing insights, metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs) about everything from queue activity to call volume and customer satisfaction scores—unlocking a variety of marketing and customer-support use cases.

Higher-tier pricing plans usually feature file storage, AI support like meeting summaries and live agent coaching, and advanced real-time queue analytics.

Remote Working

A VoIP phone system makes it easy to unify a remote workforce—even one spread across the globe. Where on-site PBX systems prevent remote users from adopting a company number or area code, multiple users can share the same phone number—and even make calls simultaneously—no matter where they're located. This means that agents can utilize their business phone number from their car, at home, from a coffee shop, or even while they're on vacation.

A VoIP system's internal collaboration tools—especially team chat and video conferencing tools like whiteboards—also enable remote employees to draw, present, and brainstorm as if they were together in person.

Device Compatibility

While traditional PSTN telephony requires a landline phone, VoIP users can make calls and send messages from any internet-connected device, including computers, tablets, and mobiles. Nearly every VoIP phone system has softphone functionality, enabling agents to make online business calls from any device. 

Global Accessibility

Many VoIP providers include international toll-free and local phone numbers, and nearly all of them also have virtual phone numbers in area codes throughout the US. This means no matter where your business is, you can establish a presence across the globe. For example, if you do business in China or Italy, you can operate from a local number in one of these countries, creating a more familiar presence for your customers.

Choosing the Right VoIP Company for Your Needs

Choosing a VoIP system with the right features, capabilities, and channels to serve your customers' demands and business needs is essential. This will improve customer service, marketing, agent productivity, and internal team satisfaction.

The information below will help you determine which service provider is best suited to help you grow your business.

The Best VoIP Services for Call Centers

Vonage is one of the best VoIP services for call centers because they offer routing, queueing, analytics, and call monitoring features. Vonage also delivers ACD, ring groups, call recording, and a supervisor dashboard. These features address the common call-center issue of ineffective routing, where customers wind up speaking to the wrong agent.

The Best VoIP Services for Virtual PBX

Some of the best virtual PBX phone systems are Ooma and Grasshopper since they deliver high-quality audio, unlimited calling within the US, and voicemail features. These two providers also offer call routing, management, and basic controls. With many on-site PBX systems, it can be a hassle to set up voicemail services—but this process is easy with Ooma and Grasshopper.

The Best VoIP Services for Law Firms

GoTo Connect is one of the best VoIP providers for law firms as it includes call recording, SMS, voicemail, call transcription, and advanced call analytics with customer satisfaction score (CSAT) and customer sentiment. Law firms need to track and record the core details their clients mention, and the above features support this.

The Best VoIP Services for Hotels

Mitel, one of the best VoIP providers for hotels, offers call extensions, detailed call logs, routing, and analytics. These tools help hotel management monitor their guests' call times, destinations, and expenses, while efficiently routing calls throughout the hotel as needed. 

The Best VoIP Services for Hospitals

The best VoIP providers for hospitals, such as RingCentral and 8x8, include extensions, custom routing, and detailed call logs. In most cases, hospital phone systems do not require messaging, video conferencing, or collaboration features; they need widespread phone usage. Those calling into a hospital get frustrated when they can't easily connect with the guest they want to reach—these routing features resolve this issue.

The Best VoIP Providers for Residential Use

The best residential VoIP providers, like Verizon and VOXOX, deliver high-quality audio, voicemail with transcription, reliable uptime, and unlimited calling in their domestic area. Residential users typically don't need collaboration tools or multiple communication channels. Instead, they require reliable services and high-quality voicemails delivered by these providers. 

Types of VoIP Systems

Below, we outline some of the most common types of VoIP phone systems.

Hosted System

A hosted VoIP system implies that a third-party provider manages your cloud-based phone system off-premises. With this, your company doesn't have to oversee the IP PBX hardware or install updates. Instead, your provider handles the VoIP phone system for you. Hosted VoIP systems are best for small businesses due to their highly flexible pricing structure. (All the providers on our list are hosted VoIP systems.)

On-Premise System

An on-premise PBX system means you provide your own voice-over IP service through an IP PBX or SIP Trunk, which is installed in your building. Some companies find that SIP trunking saves them money in the long run (compared to a hosted VoIP provider). On-premises systems are better for large businesses since they can utilize one hardware room to power the whole building's phone scheme.

Managed System

A managed system is a cross between a hosted and on-premises VoIP system. With it, your provider assigns a VoIP and IT specialist to set up and manage your on-premises arrangement and internet connection. A managed system delivers substantial flexibility and control over your VoIP network's settings while freeing you from having to maintain it yourself.

A managed system works best for a large business because it has access to an expert who can fully devote their services to resolving any issues that pop up.

Does Switching to VoIP Save Money?

Switching from legacy PBX to VoIP will save your company money in multiple ways: low setup and maintenance costs, a remote workforce without in-person equipment, easy scalability, and a unified company phone bill.

Cordless Costs Less to Setup and Maintain

Landline phone systems require a bulky on-site PBX system, phone jacks, and desk phones for each agent, while hosted VoIP systems require none of this. In fact, you can set up a hosted VoIP phone system without buying any new hardware.

Users can access all VoIP capabilities—such as calling, messaging, video, and routing—using the computers and mobile devices they already have. What's more, your provider handles all maintenance and upgrades.

Remote Workforce Equals Reduced Overheads

VoIP makes it easy to support a remote workforce. You can assign employees virtual phone numbers, enabling them to make calls, send messages, and handle all business duties remotely.

By using a VoIP-enabled remote workforce, your company saves money on overhead fees associated with an in-person office: electricity, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, etc.

No Paying Through the Roof to Move or Expand

VoIP services are flexible, portable, and scalable—saving you money and hassle when your company changes locations, adds a new site, or adds new users.

If you move offices, nothing changes about your VoIP telephone service—agents can keep their numbers and continue to use the same devices. Adding a new office location means simply purchasing new DID numbers from your VoIP phone company. These can be based in your new office's area code or any other you choose. To add new users, you can simply purchase a new subscription—no installation or IT setup required.

One Communications Bill

Rather than managing multiple communication bills, you only pay one monthly subscription with VoIP. Most of the time, this multichannel subscription costs less than $30/month per user.

Calculating the Cost Savings of VoIP

To calculate how much you could save by switching from landline to VoIP, first add up all your communication costs and overhead charges: devices, maintenance, electricity, monthly phone, and messaging bills.

Next, determine which pricing plan meets your needs, factoring in the features and channels you plan to use. The table below will help you compare the costs of a traditional landline vs. a VoIP phone system.

Upfront Costs
VoIP
Traditional
Setup & Installation
N/A
$500-$4000
PBX Hardware
N/A
$1,000/employee
PBX Software License
N/A
Around $4,000/year
Hardphone*
$80-$400/user
$80-$400/user

*Note that this is an optional accessory for VoIP users but a requirement for traditional landlines.

Regular Costs
VoIP
Traditional
Per User/Per Month
$10-$40
$40
Unlimited Calls in US/Canada
Free
$800/month
International Calls*
$0.039-0.575/minute
$0.08-$3.25/minute
Unlimited Video Conferencing
Free
Pay to third party
Unlimited Text Messaging
Free
Pay to third party
Unlimited Internet Fax
Free
Pay to third party
Third-Party Integrations
Free
Limited, pay to third party

*Varies by country. For both VoIP and traditional systems, calls to mobile phones are more expensive than to landlines.

When factoring in the costs of setup, hardware, features, and calling, VoIP is the clear winner over traditional PBX. Especially for large companies, choosing VoIP can save you tens of thousands of dollars per year.

How Do VoIP Phones Work Compared to Landline Phones?

While landline phones use the PSTN to transmit an audio signal via wired cables, VoIP telephony uses the internet to send audio data packets.

Landline phones must be connected to the PSTN with wires and phone jacks, limiting usage to your office location. Once the call is made, the audio signal transmits via cable through a series of worldwide switches before reaching its destination.

VoIP audio data transmits via the internet to your company, which then routes the data to the recipient via a cellular network, the internet, or a landline.

More VoIP Providers We Reviewed

In addition to the 10 services listed above, we also reviewed the following business and residential VoIP providers:

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Connect to Customers and Grow Your Business With VoIP

Compared to traditional PBX phone systems, VoIP benefits your business in nearly every way: easy setup, lower monthly costs, easy scalability, unlimited calling, multiple communication channels, and more.

While many VoIP providers offer outstanding functionality, each has unique features and pricing plans. Consider your business type, call area, and use cases, and select the provider that best meets your business's needs.

Our picks for the top 10 best VoIP Companies & Service Providers are RingCentral, Vonage, Zoom Phone, GoTo Connect,  Dialpad, Grasshopper, Ooma Office, Phone by web.com, Vox Direct and Comcast Business.



Frequently Asked Questions
Which VoIP phone service is best?+-

RingCentral is the overall top VoIP phone service, offering all key communication channels, international phone numbers, routing features, and collaboration tools. Still, the best VoIP for your business depends on your budget, call volume, calling area, routing and collaboration needs, and the communication channels you need.

What basic features do you get with VoIP service?+-

Each VoIP provider delivers unique functionalities, but most cloud-phone providers offer multiple communication channels, including SMS, internal calls, team chat, and video conferencing. Other features include desktop and mobile applications, routing and queueing tools, voicemail transcription, analytics, and video collaboration, call, and chat functions.

How much does VoIP cost per month?+-

Depending on your chosen pricing plan, VoIP solutions tend to cost from $20 to $40 monthly per user.

What is a VoIP number?+-

A VoIP number is a virtual phone number capable of using the internet to make and receive calls. VoIP numbers are typically DID numbers that can also send and receive SMS text messages. These can be toll-free, vanity, local, or international.

Is VoIP worth it for a small business?+-

In most cases, VoIP is worth the investment for small businesses. A cloud-based VoIP phone system is more affordable than a traditional PBX phone system, especially when considering hardware maintenance, setup charges, advanced digital features, included communication channels, and scalability.

Which is the cheapest VoIP provider?+-

Zoom Phone is one of the cheapest VoIP providers on the market, with prices starting from $10/month per user. But Phone by Web.com comes in as a close second, charging $11.99/month per user for a basic subscription.

Is there a free VoIP service?+-

No, VoIP providers don't deliver free VoIP phone services. However, some providers—such as RingCentral, Dialpad, and GoTo Connect—offer free trials ranging from seven to 14 days.

Tyler Webb
Tyler Webb writes for Top10.com as a B2B content writer who specializes in telecommunications topics like VoIP and unified communications. He holds a master's degree in English and taught literature for five years before beginning his tech writing career.