Best VoIP providers 2021

Date:
Wed, 16 Jun 2021 12:27:12 +0000

Description:
Look no further for the best VoIP services for business today. Our guide
makes it easy to find the best VoIP service providers and pick the most suitable option for your needs.

FULL STORY ======================================================================The
best VoIP services

Click the links below to go view the provider's website:

1. RingCentral Office

2. Ooma Office (US and Canada)

3. Nextiva

4. Dialpad (US-only)

5. 8x8 X Series

If youre looking for the best Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services for your business, then we're here to help.

In this article we take a look at the industry's top VoIP services for daily business communication, and help you understand what can be a complex topic, so you can identify the best VoIP service for your businesss needs.

What do we mean by best? Well, we know that there's a lot to consider when choosing a VoIP service provider . We've objectively picked the best VoIP services based on ease of management, business features and practicality as a business phone system using internet protocol.

VoIP technology and cloud phone systems have revolutionized the business communication space. So, knowing what you need from your VoIP service before you set out to look is key. Read next

Not sure where to start with choosing a VoIP phone or VoIP service provider? Read these first:

How to choose a small business VoIP phone service

VoIP vs PBX: How to choose which business phone system is right for you

Get a quote for a business phone system today

Easy mistakes your business could make when choosing a VoIP system

Consider how you and your colleagues work and collaborate. Is your team located in one office, or are they split over a number of locations? Does
your team include people who are new to work-from-home life and how do your clients and customers prefer to communicate?

Most of us really felt the benefits of VoIP and IP phone systems over lockdown, as the COVID-19 pandemic made workplace collaboration increasingly difficult. VoIP services enabled colleagues and clients to remain in contact in unprecedented times. And as we move forward into a new more flexible workplace, collaboration tools will become ever more important if businesses are to stay ahead of the curve. What to consider when choosing the best VoIP service

Do you need the best VoIP services or the best VoIP hardware?

It can be easy to mix up the two when you've just started your search, but answering this question early on will help you find the best VoIP service provider for your business faster.

While VoIP hardware refers to the phone handsets themselves, VoIP service providers actually deal with the establishment and routing of calls over a high-speed internet connection.

Many VoIP service providers also provide additional telephony features.
Often, these features can transform a standalone business VoIP solution into
a unified communications (UC) platform, with functions specifically designed for business communication.

Top VoIP service providers for business

Some of the best known VoIP service providers include Aircall , Avaya ,
Vonage , and RingCentral , in addition to well-known tech firms like
Microsoft and Google.

These companies may list their solutions as VoIP services, VoIP business
phone systems, or cloud phone systems. Ultimately, these terms all mean using a broadband internet connection to make a voice call instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.

Continues below... The top three VoIP deals right now

RingCentral Office best VoIP for medium and large businesses
RingCentral is a great all-rounder for businesses, regardless of industry.
It utilizes a cloud-based PBX platform, which includes popular businesses
VoIP system features, namely: video software,collaboration tools, and even AI capabilities.


Ooma Office best for security-conscious users (US and Canada)
Affordable and offered with a choice of plans, Ooma Office's VoIP services are a great choice for smaller businesses that have a large proportion of remote workers. Ooma's basic plan costs $19.95 per user per month and comes with a mobile app, virtual receptionist, call-forwarding functionality and more.


Dialpad best for remote workers (US-only)
Dialpad's VoIP service solution is cost-effective, well-designed and is suited to businesses that have workflows favorable to using softphones apps that are installed on internet-connected devices to make phone calls. Employees can work anywhere and on any device; Dialpad's voice intelligence can even take notes.


Jump to our expert VoIP reviews What is VoIP and how does it work?

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a technology that enables voice communications to be transmitted via an internet connection rather than through a traditional phone network. VoIP works in much the same way as a conventional phone system, but its usually much more affordable and easier to scale.

On top of this, VoIP technology comes with a suite of benefits that traditional phone systems dont. For example, it enables you to make or
receive calls from virtually any device, in any location, as long as you have an internet connection. Use your smartphone, tablet, computer, or even dedicated VoIP hardware to stay in touch at all times.

Many VoIP systems also come with several advanced features. You will be able to take advantage of things like simple call routing, advanced on-hold messages, multiple phone numbers, and more.

At the higher end of the spectrum, many VoIP packages are equipped with a selection of integrated tools, such as online fax, integrated email
marketing, and video conferencing. How much does VoIP cost?

The cost of a VoIP system can vary immensely. Numerous basic free solutions are available, and premium plans can range from a few dollars per year into the hundreds or even thousands per month for businesses with high-end requirements.

Most VoIP service providers offer unlimited voice and video calling, along with unlimited SMS to numbers in specified parts of the world. Subscriptions are usually offered on a per-user basis, which means that you can expect to pay more if you need support for more team members.

Some providers do offer all-in-one solutions that support a specified number of users for one price, but this payment model isnt all that common.

Expect to pay extra for advanced features, integrations with certain third-party platforms, and international calling options. What equipment is needed for VoIP?

The only equipment you need for a VoIP system is a strong internet connection and a device that can connect to the internet.

Most service providers offer some sort of mobile and/or desktop app which you can download and use to manage incoming and outgoing calls and messages. On top of this, many VoIP platforms feature a powerful web interface, enabling users to log in from any device with an internet connection.

However, many businesses opt to add extra VoIP hardware. Specialized phone systems, headsets, and even things like PC handsets are available to streamline business workflows and maximize the efficiency of your VoIP.

Speak with your VoIP service provider to find out more about the available hardware options. The five best VoIP phone services compared VoIP service Pricing Features Support RingCentral Office From $19.99 / 7.99 per user/mo Integrated phone, video conferencing, and messages; RingCentral app Live
chat, support case, app integration, knowledge base Ooma Office From $19.99 /user/mo Mobile app, ring groups, video conferencing (Pro plan-only) Live chat, knowledge base, 24/7 phone Nextiva From $18.95 per user/mo HD phone, app, team chat, conversational AI Live chat, knowledge base, ticketing
Dialpad From $14 / 12 per user/mo Call and routing, video conferencing (+ mobile app), voice intelligence Live chat, knowledge base 8x8 X Series From $15 per user/mo Cloud phone, chat, video conferencing Live chat, knowledge base Get a free quote VoIP quote tailored to your business needs Why get a quote from us?

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Are you looking to upgrade your phone system to a modern VoIP service and benefit from its features?

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service for your business, be it an SMB or enterprise-level company.

To request a quote , just fill in the form below to start the process. It takes less than a minute .

Here's how it works: Tell us about your business requirements and leave some contact details. We match your requirements with features and prices from our partners. Only the companies that match your requirements will reach out to you. The best VoIP phone services reviews (Image credit: RingCentral) 1. RingCentral Office

The best VoIP solution for medium and large businesses Price: From $19.99 / 7.99 per user/mo | Features: Integrated phone, video conferencing, and messages; RingCentral app | Support: Live chat, support case, app
integration, knowledge base The best VoIP service User friendly Variety of price plans Lower plans very basic

A great all-rounder for businesses, regardless of industry, RingCentral
Office is a cloud-based PBX platform that includes all the features that modern organizations have come to expect from their VoIP system: video software, collaboration tools , and even AI capabilities.

All the core features are included, such as an auto-attendant system, a company directory, call forwarding and handling, and multiple extensions. A 99.999% uptime SLA also means that businesses can have peace of mind that any disruptions to their communications network are going to be infrequent affairs.

There is also a range of pricing plans to choose from, starting with the Essentials plan for $19.99 a month. Designed for small to medium-sized businesses, RingCentral Office Essentials includes unlimited voice and video calling, a free local and toll-free number, and 1500 toll-free minutes but
the limit of 20 users is unlikely to be enough for some firms.

Fortunately, RingCentrals plans for larger businesses are where the solution really comes into its own. The Standard plan comes with no limits on user numbers for $24.99 a month, while the Premium offering also comes with automatic call recording, real-time analytics , and integrations with popular CRM tools like Salesforce, Zendesk, and more for $34.99.

For organizations that need the most advanced VoIP solutions, the Ultimate package, priced at $49.999 a month, also comes with device status reports and unlimited storage . Whatever plan businesses plump for, the scalability of RingCentral Office is one of its most important benefits. With APIs available in the backend, this is a VoIP solution that can be scaled and customized accordingly into a full-scale unified communications solution as well as a cloud contact center .

Read our full RingCentral Office review . (Image credit: Ooma Office) 2. Ooma Office

The best for security-conscious users Pricing: From $19.99 /user/mo | Features: Mobile app, ring groups, video conferencing (Pro plan-only) | Support: Live chat, knowledge base, 24/7 phone Ease of use Integrates with home security solutions Phones have to be configured by Ooma Some features still in development

Affordably priced and with a couple of different plans to choose from, Ooma Office is a great choice for smaller firms or businesses that have a sizable number of remote workers. The basic plan costs $19.95 per user, per month and comes with a mobile app, a virtual receptionist, call-forwarding functionality, and a host of other features. Ooma Office Pro, which costs $24.95 per user, per month, adds video conferencing tools, voicemail transcription, and a number of other useful business features.

Interestingly, Ooma has recently entered the home security space and the way that its VoIP service integrates with this offering could interest workers that split their time between the home and the office. Using Ooma Telo as a security hub, the company offers a broad range of security options, including audible alarms, motion sensors, and instant alerts. For workers that want to benefit from VoIP communication and robust home security, Oomas service may
be just whats needed.

For businesses that arent interested in the added security functionality,
Ooma still provides a reliable VoIP service. The offering is particularly useful for companies with remote workers, with both the mobile and desktop apps allowing workers to make and receive unlimited calls within the US using their business number.

Another particularly handy feature is Ring Groups, which allows organizations to group extensions together so they all ring simultaneously. The call is
then simply transferred to whichever employee answers first. Although the
fact that video conferencing only comes with the more expensive pro plan may disappoint some businesses, Ooma Office still represents a great choice for firms that may not need the flashiest VoIP solution.

Read our full Ooma Office review . (Image credit: Nextiva) 3. Nextiva

Streamlining VoIP in a single platform Pricing: From $18.95 per user/mo | Features: HD phone, app, team chat, conversational AI | Support: Live chat, knowledge base, ticketing Free trial available HD-quality calls No 24/7 phone/email support

If youre considering cloud-based communication for your employees and customers, Nextiva certainly has many points in its favor, including flexible pricing plans and a range of features to match many of its rivals.

You can make unlimited calls to any phone in the US or Canada, and its real-time presence feature also allows you to see which of your contacts is currently available, while the call queue allows you to handle calls during busy times. Video conferencing is available with all plans, and Nextiva
allows you to share screens and files during your conferences. You can also use Nextivas video function to livestream virtual events and webinars .

Other features include that voicemail messages can be delivered directly to your email inbox, and the software also gives you the ability to record your outgoing voicemail message. You can also send and receive an unlimited number of text messages, and you can send and receive unlimited faxes.

Nextiva's system has clearly been designed with usability and functionality
in mind. By dividing its tools on the basis of communication, sales, and service, the company allows you to find the features you need as soon as you log in.

There are also various integrations available, such as for Outlook and Google Contacts, as well as for Salesforce, Hubspot, and Zendesk on the Professional plan.

One of the biggest selling points could lie in the option for a free trial.
If youre still undecided, it might be worth signing up for the trial to see
if Nextiva is the right solution for your organization. (Image credit: Dialpad) 4. Dialpad

Best for remote workers Pricing: From $14 / 12 per user/mo | Features: Call and routing, video conferencing (+ mobile app), voice intelligence | Support: Live chat, knowledge base Very price competitive Easy to use Lots of features even at entry-level Built for the cloud Video conferencing not included as standard Less accessible developer platform

Software has changed the nature of telephone communications in many offices and this is particularly evident when using Dialpad. The VoIP solution is cost-effective and well-designed and is particularly suited to businesses
that have workflows favorable to using softphones software applications that are installed on internet-connected devices in order to make phone calls.

The companys VoIP offering, actually called Dialpad Talk, uses cloud calling and AI to boost employee productivity and flexibility. Members of staff can work from anywhere and use any device for their business conversations, and AI-powered voice intelligence can be used to automating note-taking and
detect customer sentiments during a call.

User setup is straightforward as Dialpad comes with one central administrator portal that makes it easy to add new users, assign them phone numbers,
connect them with office suites like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, and establish their permissions. The whole process should only take a few minutes and either a desktop interface or smartphone app can be used to manage user profiles day-to-day.

While remote working has certainly become more common of late, Dialpad
remains compatible with many desk-based phones, and the company has also partnered with Jabra and Poly to integrate functionality with a number of headsets.

Price-wise, Dialpad Talk is extremely competitive. The Standard plan costs
$15 a month (when billed annually), the Pro plan will set businesses back $25 a month, while the Enterprise plan is billed on a more bespoke basis. Like
the Pro plan, the Enterprise version offers local number support in over 50 countries, but it also includes integration with the identity management platform Okta.

Read our full Dialpad review . (Image credit: 8x8) 5. 8x8 X Series

The most affordable VoIP service Pricing: From $15 per user/mo | Features: Cloud phone, chat, video conferencing | Support: Live chat, knowledge base Competitive pricing Variety of features Simple setup Support can sometimes be lacking

Perhaps the first thing to notice about the 8x8 X Series is its price tag.
For an enterprise-standard VoIP service, its base offering is very
affordable, which is ideal for any organization that feels like it is currently spending too much on its communication tools.

The 8x8 Express Plan starts from just $12 per user, per month and comes with unlimited video conferencing , chat, calling, and SMS messages across the US and Canada and a bespoke app to manage all your business communications. As a sweetener, the plan also comes with a one-month free trial, plus three months of Wix Unlimited so small businesses can get started with their website building plans as well.

For businesses that need more features than those on offer with the Express plan, the X Series X2 plan provides unlimited calling within 14 countries, video and audio conferencing, SMS, MMS and Teams chat functionality, and various enterprise integrations, including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Outlook, NetSuite, Salesforce and ZenDesk, for $24.

The X Series X4 plan, meanwhile, adds unlimited calling within 47 countries, call quality reporting, and supervisor analytics. Additional plans are designed to cater for voice-focused contact centers and multichannel associates.

It is worth noting that the 8x8 x series does not offer a bargain basement service and higher-level plans can come at a significant cost. Aside from
the great affordability provided by 8x8's more basic plans, all the company's solutions also make great collaboration tools. A universal team messaging application allows businesses to collaborate internally as well as with clients and vendors and includes extensive interoperability with thirdparty solutions.

Read our full 8x8 X Series review . (Image credit: LogMeIn) 6. GoToConnect

The best for a wide range of telephony features End-to-end encryption Same features for each tier CRM integration Does not include cloud storage

With all of the VoIP solutions featured in this guide, there is a multitude
of different features on offer, depending on the particular pricing plan that businesses decide to go for. What makes GoToConnect so impressive is the
sheer number of features available, with the platform offering businesses
more than 100 calling, collaboration, and mobile features and tools, as well as several video conferencing services.

All of the general features, including custom call routing, team-based call distribution, as well as time-based and geolocation routing, are included,
and customers also have access to personal meeting rooms.

Advertising itself as a UCaaS solution, businesses dont need to install any new equipment and GoToConnect will handle all maintenance and upgrades. That being said, the company does recommend that customers have a
business-standard router , an Ethernet switch capable of Quality of Service, and a firewall configured to allow access to HTTP, HTTPS, and UDP traffic on their network.

Interestingly, unlike most VoIP service providers, GoToConnect does not
charge businesses more for additional features. Instead, the companys pricing plan varies based on how many employees a business has. Prices range from $29.95 per user, per month for customers with between one and four users, to as little as $19.95 per user, per month for businesses with between 50 and 99 users. All pricing plans come with access to the majority of GoToConnects tools, and bespoke pricing plans are available for businesses with more than 100 members of staff.

Among the available features are Cloud PBX, custom hold music, call management, advanced ring strategies, and one-click screen sharing. Of
course, more features do mean a greater potential for things to go wrong, but GoToConnect also offers extensive email and call support should any issues arise.

Read our full GoToConnect review . (Image credit: AT&T) 7. AT&T Business

Best for businesses with legacy hardware Support for legacy PBX hardware A robust list of features Excellent call quality Configuration is overly
complex

Telecoms giant AT&T may be one of the older players in the communication
space but that hasnt stopped it from adopting the most up-to-date
developments in the VoIP market. In particular, what makes AT&T Business so unique is the way that it integrates with legacy systems. AT&T Collaborate supports prebuilt integration with approximately 30 external services, including Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft 365, and various Salesforce offerings, and existing analog office phones can continue to be used.

Although new registrations are no longer being taken for AT&T Collaborate, AT&T Office@Hand is a flexible cloud-based solution delivering voice, fax,
and text messaging options, as well as audio and video conferencing features. The solution is cloud-based and comes with three pricing plans.

The Standard Edition starts at $25.40 per user, per month and includes unlimited internet faxing, 1000 toll-free minutes per month, and allows unlimited user numbers. The Premium Edition, meanwhile, costs $36.25 per
user, per month and also comes with Salesforce integration and 200 HD video seats. Prices for the Enterprise Edition vary but all customers will receive 10,000 toll-free minutes a month.

While AT&T does allow businesses to use their own hardware for the
Office@Hand service, providing it is compatible, the company will not be able to provide help desk support. Instructions will be provided on how to configure the equipment but that is unlikely to completely prevent difficulties from arising, so its a good idea for businesses to employ
experts during the installation process.

Once installation and configuration are out of the way, however, AT&T
Business is simplicity personified. Each employee is given their own unique extension and direct-dial number for voice, fax, and text messaging. (Image credit: Microsoft) 8. Microsoft 365 Business Voice

The best for businesses using Microsoft Teams Robust integration with Office 365 Strong mobile and desktop performance Limited user capacity

Microsofts many digital solutions are already commonplace in offices all over the world and the company now has a cloud telephony service to add to its portfolio. Microsoft 365 Business Voice lets organizations make calls from
any device to anywhere in the world, leveraging the companys cloud services
to ensure high levels of reliability and good audio quality.

In terms of pricing, Microsoft 365 Business Voice works out to be very affordable - particularly if subscribers are already paying for Microsoft
365. In that case, the standard Business Voice plan is purchased as an add-on to the existing Microsoft 365 subscription (that includes Teams) at a cost of $20 per user, per month. It includes a cloud-based phone system with advanced features such as call transfer, multi-level auto attendants, and call queues, as well as 24/7 customer support.

Perhaps the most attractive feature of Microsoft 365 Business Voice is the
way that it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams. Since the onset of
the COVID-19 pandemic, Teams has become increasingly important to businesses and many will no doubt appreciate the ease with which 365 Business Voice connects to the platform. Setup is quick and it is easy to view upcoming
Teams meetings and connect to discussions via your VoIP handset with Business Voice installed.

The major drawback for users of Microsoft 365 Business Voice is that it comes with a user limit of 300, which makes the service suitable for small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) only. Nevertheless, if thats not an issue, then Microsoft 365 Business Voice represents a great option, particularly for
firms that already rely on a number of other Microsoft solutions. (Image credit: Grasshopper) 9. Grasshopper

The best for small businesses Fast and easy setup Scalable and affordable billing structure Not the most advanced set of features

Acquired by remote access solutions provider LogMeIn in 2018, Grasshopper delivers a great VoIP service for smaller firms, particularly those that may not have the financial resources to invest in additional hardware. With Grasshopper, businesses simply gain access to a PBX software instance that connects extensions to existing phone numbers. Businesses only need a functioning phone number, existing handsets (which includes cell phones), and a reliable internet connection.

But while the requirements for Grasshopper are slight, the number of features on offer are also somewhat limited. There is no analytics here, nor the kind of advanced features needed to support call centers or VoIP desktop phones. Customers do gain access to an unlimited number of business calls and texts, call forwarding options, and 24/7 support but beyond that, theres not much to say about the Grasshopper solution.

Fortunately, the pricing is very favorable, with Solo-tier starting at $26 a month for one number and three extensions. The Partner tier, on the other hand, is $44 per month for three numbers and six extensions, whole the Small Business tier costs $80 each month and comes with up to five numbers and an unlimited number of extensions. Unlike most VoIP providers, Grasshoppers prices arent charged on a per-user basis. These are all-in monthly costs, which means small businesses could face a significantly smaller bill.

Aside from the price, the ease of setup is another bonus of the Grasshopper solution, with users simply selecting their service level and choosing their numbers before the service is ready to go. Theres also a desktop, iOS, and Android app for easy management of Grasshoppers features. (Image credit: 1-VoIP) 10. 1-VoIP

The best for businesses that want to avoid spam calls Very flexible pricing Great anti-spam feature Lacking customization features Configuration can be challenging

1-VoIP offers both residential and business VoIP solutions, with its business offering proving particularly useful for companies on a budget. For $14.97
per extension, per month, companies gain access to HD call quality and more than 40 features across 1-VoIPs metered plan. With this plan, customers only pay for what they use, facing an additional charge of 2 cents per minute for any calls made.

All features are included with each business plan, with
extension-to-extension calling, digital call forwarding, and cell phone redirection available at no extra cost. Other useful features include the use of an auto attendant to make sure callers are redirected to the correct department, and custom pre-recorded announcements that can be adapted for
each particular recipient.

One of the most useful aspects of the 1-VoIP solution is its integration with the third-party anti-spam service Nomorobo. So far, this solution has been used by organizations to block more than 2 billion automated spam calls. The service is flexible, allowing companies to toggle the feature on and off, and businesses can report new spam numbers to the service for review. The service is also continuously monitored so calls from essential services like schools and pharmacies are always permitted.

A few frustrating aspects of the 1-VoIP service have been pointed out by users, particularly in terms of the setup and configuration. Finding the
right settings for international calling can be challenging, for example, and theres not much in the way of integration with CRM solutions . Nevertheless, 1-VoIP is a good choice for businesses that want a fairly standard VoIP solution that will prevent telemarketers from pestering their employees.

Read our full 1-VoIP review . (Image credit: 1-VoIP) More information about VoIP

Looking for more information about VoIP? Our FAQ will help you understand the benefits of VoIP solutions for businesses of all sizes. Is VoIP free?

There are numerous free VoIP solutions available, but most of these are targeted at personal users rather than businesses, and they tend to come with quite limited features. Popular examples of free VoIP services include messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Skype, Viber, and more.

Many people go with free VoIP apps because they are simple, easy to download and set up, and in general, more than adequate for basic personal use. However, they tend to be a little limited when it comes to advanced features for business, which is why we often recommend a premium solution.

One major drawback with free VoIP apps is that everyone has to be using the same application. You cant use WhatsApp to call Skype or vice versa, for example. And in most cases, a paid solution is required if you want to call phone numbers directly.

In terms of advanced business features, most free solutions lack even basic tools such as call recording, simple data collection, and on-hold messages, which will likely be a major concern for many corporate users.

So, while free VoIP options are available, business users will generally be much better serviced by a premium solution. How does a VoIP phone number
work?

For all practical purposes, a VoIP phone number is identical to a traditional landline or cell phone number. It enables you to call any landline or mobile number, send SMS messages, and access other advanced features.

The main difference between a VoIP number and a traditional phone number is that a VoIP number isnt linked to a specific phone line or SIM card. Rather, its linked to a user and can be accessed from virtually any device with an internet connection. What are the disadvantages of VoIP?

Despite its rapid growth as a business phone technology, VoIP has its disadvantages over traditional phone systems. With a good VoIP setup, these will generally be minor, but its still important to be aware of them.

For one, all VoIP systems require a strong internet connection. If your connection is slow or unstable, your phone system will likely suffer. You may have trouble making or receiving calls, which can impact general business processes.

Additionally, you need to ensure your connection has low latency. This basically means that there shouldnt be major delays in either transmitting or receiving VoIP data, or else your system will be hindered.

Another minor consideration is that your VoIP devices will need to have a reliable power source. Many traditional phones dont require consistent mains power, and most others consume very small amounts of energy. However, VoIP devices cant be used if theres
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