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The best alternative to Google Voice is 8×8, offering a far greater feature catalog than Google Voice, while retaining equally strong security. With plans starting from $24 per month, it's not as cheap as Google — but you get more bang for your buck.
However, just because our research found that 8×8 is the best overall Google Voice alternative, doesn't mean that it's right for your business. Read on for a guide to the different options or use our free price comparison tool to find the best fit for your budget.
Our expert guide breaks down key factors such as price, features, and integrations, to enable you to make the right choice. Whatever your business needs, you'll find a solution right here.
Google Voice Alternatives Overview
- 8×8 – Best Google Voice alternative
- RingCentral – Best for hospitality, retail and customer service
- Zoom Phone – Best value Google Voice alternative overall
- Ooma – Great customer experience
- GoTo Connect – Better value for larger companies
- Nextiva – Great option for professional services
- OpenPhone – Equal cost alternative to Google Voice
- Grasshopper – A Google Voice alternative for individuals
- Monster VoIP – Good range of dedicated apps
- Telzio – Flat fee alternative not based on user numbers
Click on the links to start comparing prices for Google Voice alternatives today.
In this guide:
- Best Google Voice Alternatives Compared
- Methodology: How We Test Google Voice Alternatives
- Best Free Alternatives to Google Voice
- Google Voice Alternatives to Avoid
- Should I Choose Google Voice Anyway?
- Pros and Cons of Google Voice
- Google Voice vs Google Meet
- How to Switch From Google Voice
- Verdict: Which Google Alternative Is Best?
- Frequently Asked Questions
If you've not tried Google Voice yet, it is one of the most secure calling tools we have tested, and comes as a low-cost add on to the already-popular and great-value Google Workspace.
However, we've found that Google Voice lacks the features, external connections, and customer support of the best VoIP providers that can facilitate internet-based calling from anywhere.
Price from The typical lowest starting price. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs. | Best For | Pros | Cons | |||||||
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BEST ALTERNATIVE | ||||||||||
Google Voice | 8×8 | RingCentral | Zoom Phone | GoTo Connect | Ooma | Nextiva | OpenPhone | Grasshopper | Monster VoIP | Telzio |
Small businesses that prioritize security | Sales teams | Overall, hospitality, retail, healthcare & customer service | Value for money | Great for scaling | Overall customer experience | Professional services | Mobile startup teams | Lots of features on the Solo tier | App add-ons | Multiple users at a flat fee |
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| Lots of excellent features, especially in the advanced plans which offer call recording and voicemail to text. |
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| Some users state that the initial set up can be pretty time consuming. |
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Our research found that RingCentral and 8×8 are the best VoIP options overall. They have better features and will cater to both medium-sized and large businesses in a way that Google Voice can't – but naturally, they cost a little more too.
We'd also recommend the likes of 8×8 to sales teams over Google Voice, as it has more features for managing outbound calls and training staff on the job, like call whisper and call barge, as well as video conferencing for up to 500 participants. RingCentral performed better than Google Voice in every category aside from security and customer score and has lots of inbound call features that make it a better choice for healthcare, hospitality, and retail entities.
Expert tip
While Google Voice is one of our favorites for businesses that need strong security — especially for those who wish to use Google Voice for International Calls — it's not the best fit for scaling a business.
Microsoft Teams is also a stellar pick, providing a low-cost option with some serious scalability, especially if you're interested in using other Microsoft programs, while Ooma is well-rated by customers with strong customer support channels – although it scores poorly for security (1/5), and that's an area where Google Voice excels.
As far as value is concerned, GoTo Connect provides the most features at the lowest price for larger businesses, so that could pique your interest if you're a larger team on a budget. You can check out our VoIP quotes tool to learn more about the best deals available for your business.
What makes these providers robust Google Voice alternatives? Well, it depends, but if you've got complaints about Google Voice, we're sure that one of the brands above can provide a solution. Read on to find your next great VoIP provider- and be warned of those to avoid.
Pros
- Popular with users
- Great integrations & features
- Great for security
Cons
- Unimpressive customer score
- Higher tiers are quite expensive
Why is 8×8 a good Google Voice alternative?
8×8 is one of the most popular and robust VoIP providers on the market today, making it a clear alternative to Google Voice. In our research, we found that it offers more features than any other option available, including Google Voice, as well as a solid selection of integrations, unbeatable customer support, and robust security for its users.
On top of all that, it offers a lot of scalable features, including user limits, call queues, ring groups, local numbers, and a whole host of tools for training staff.
Expert tip
The only spot where 8×8 isn't as great as Google Voice is its cost, as it provides all these features in higher pricing tiers.
8×8 scores well for scalability, thanks to its software integrations, ring groups and user limits, gaining the provider a 4.9 out of 5 for that assessment area in our testing, compared with Google Voice's mere 2.9 out of 5. Just make sure you can afford them by getting an exact quote for your needs using our free quote collection tool.
8×8's biggest selling point as a Google Voice alternative, however, is that it is the only VoIP provider in our research to have the same level of security as Google Voice, with both scoring a perfect 5 out of 5 in our research (these were the only two providers awarded full marks in this assessment area). 8×8 offers everything from password rules and multi-factor authentication to TLS/SRTP encryption and a vast array of compliances across all plans.
Plus, 8×8 is always evolving, having recently announced the 8×8 Technology Partner Ecosystem to help customer service organizations integrate more software into their platform.
8×8 will also let you build APIs to manage multiple communication channels simultaneously, and offers advanced tools that large sales and marketing teams will find useful, such as the analytics dashboard below:
8×8 gives users a statistics-packed “company summary” analytics page.
Image: 8×8
8×8 plans and pricing
Recently, 8×8 removed the publicly available pricing on their website. However, the prices listed below are what they were in our most recent research, so that should give you a good idea of what's available.
8×8 offers two pricing plans for standard VoIP use — X2, and X4 — which cost $24 per user per month and $44 per user per month, respectively.
Additionally, 8×8 offers three call center plans — X6, X7, and X8 — which are more expensive but are aimed at larger businesses that need to handle a lot of incoming calls and cost a lot more. These plans will run you $85 per user per month, $110 per user per month, and $140 per user per month, respectively.
You can also check out our 8×8 pricing and review guide for more information
Pros
- Highly Scalable
- Lots of external connections
- Feature-rich
Cons
- Limited inclusive minutes
- Not popular with users
Why is RingCentral a good Google Voice alternative?
Chances are you've seen RingCentral mentioned before in your online VoIP searches. A huge company with a global reach, RingCentral is very much a safe pair of hands, particularly as a Google Voice alternative.
Find the best price for your business using our free VoIP quotes comparison tool.
In our testing, RingCentral scores higher (5/5) for customer support than Google Voice (31/5) – you can contact RingCentral by live chat, phone, or email, and there's 24/7 live support on offer too, as well as onboarding support for new customers. There's no onboarding support for Google Voice, nor live chat or email support.
One of the selling points for Google Voice is that it's easy to use and set up, which our research found to be true for RingCentral as well. It's also worth noting that, just like Google Voice, RingCentral includes unlimited calls to the US and Canada as part of its package. As you can see from the image below, the interface is pretty friendly, tidy and won't take you long to get to grips with:
RingCentral makes it simple and easy to join a desktop conference call.
Image: RingCentral
RingCentral plans and pricing
The platform will cost you $20 per user, per month for its Core VoIP package or $25 per user, per month for its Advanced plan.
The Advanced plan might be the smarter choice depending on your needs and business size. For this price, you'll get features like automatic call recording, whisper, barge, and more CRM integrations such as Salesforce, Zendesk, and more. Those interested in the unlimited storage, as well as device status reports and alerts, might even consider the Ultra plan, at $35 per user, per month.
RingCentral may be a slightly pricier prospect than some of the other Google Voice alternatives on our list, but there's no doubt that it's a fully featured platform that won't leave your business wanting.
Pros
- Very low starting price ($10/user/month)
- Highly scalable, with features for growing businesses
- Echo and typing cancellation on all plans
- Accepts calls from 40+ countries
Cons
- Weak security features
- Limited customer support options
Why is Zoom Phone a good Google Voice alternative?
There's no doubt you've heard of Zoom before. The video conferencing tool that was used fervently throughout the pandemic for everything from happy hours to work meetings has built out its business offerings and now also offers a VoIP system in the form of Zoom Phone.
Our independent research found Zoom Phone to be the third best VoIP option on the market, scoring an impressive 4.4/5 in our research analysis, thanks to its easy-to-use interface and strong feature set. In fact, we found Zoom Phone to be the best value for the money across the entire industry, with prices starting on the lower end of the spectrum.
Even better, Zoom Phone is always adding new features, including advanced encryption for voicemails in a July 2023 update.
The downside? Zoom doesn't offer as many security features (2/5) as its competitors, so wouldn't be suitable for businesses communicating large amounts of sensitive data, and it charges extra for customer support (3.3/5).
With Zoom Phone, all your contacts can be grouped into segments like “Accounting,” “Billing,” or others.
Image: Zoom
Zoom Phone plans and pricing
Zoom pricing for the Metered plan comes in at $10 per user, per month, the Unlimited plan costs $15 per user, per month, and the Global Select plan costs $20 per user, per month, all of which are more affordable than some starter plans on this list.
It's also worth noting that although Zoom Phone is still sold as a standalone product (and this is the cheapest way to purchase it) Zoom Phone is also part of Zoom One, the provider's new product which combines Zoom Phone with Meetings, Team Chat, and other Zoom video conferencing features. However, you'll need the Zoom One Business Plus plan ($25 per license, per month) or the Enterprise plan (no public pricing) if you want VoIP features.
Check out our Zoom Phone review for more information about this VoIP solution
Pros
- Free number transfer
- Multi-level virtual receptionist
- Easy DIY installation
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Pricier high tier plans that others
- Scores poorly for security
- Few third party integrations
Why is Ooma Office a good Google Voice alternative?
Ooma marries strong features, integrations, and value into one appealing bundle, and we feel that it's a great alternative to Google Voice for small businesses.
We really like the integrations that are available with Ooma, such as Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Zendesk, Microsoft 365, and ServiceNow. It's not an exhaustive list, which is why the provider only scores 2.7/5 for external connections compared to RingCentral's 4.3/5 and 8×8's 4.2/5, but it does check off the majority of the big-name software that your company is likely to use. Here's a quick look at the interface:
Read our head-to-head Ooma vs Google Voice comparison to learn more
It's not ranked more highly on our list, however, because its security is pretty bad. Ooma scores just 1 out of 5 in our research compared to Google Voice's whopping 5 out of 5 rating for security, which was better than RingCentral (4/5). Google Voice will let you enforce password rules, manage user permissions and protect all your staff with multi-factor authentication.
What it does do well, is support its clientele, and support them in supporting their customers. When we looked into user satisfaction levels, Ooma matched Google Voice's 4.4/5 rating from its user base, and beat Google Voice on its Support options, scoring 4.5 stars vs Google Voice's 3.1 rating, thanks to 24/7 live chat and phone support, and extensive onboarding support.
Ooma can be navigated with a left sidebar that holds buttons for a directory, call history, settings, and more.
Image: Ooma
Ooma Office plans and pricing
Ooma Office starts at $19.95 for the Essentials plan, and unlike some basic tiers, this one is actually well worth your time and your wallet. With it you can expect a bevy of features, including a virtual receptionist, which gives it a serious leg up on Google Voice.
For $24.95 per user per month, you can get the Pro plan, which gives companies higher usage limits for audio conferencing and extension monitoring. Finally, the Pro Plus plan is available for $29.95 per user, per month, which adds Salesforce integration and advanced call management features.
If you really want to make sure that Ooma suits your business needs, it even offers a free trial, meaning you can try it without any commitment.
Check out our Ooma Office review to learn more
Pros
- Excellent 24-hour support
- Uncomplicated product range
- Lots of features for the price point
Cons
- Confusing setup
- No free trial (demo only)
Why is GoTo Connect a good Google Voice alternative?
GoTo Connect is the VoIP service from GoTo, with a moderate offering of features and customer support options. Our researchers found that it has great customer support, and the customer score is high enough to tell us that users don't hate using the system. All in all, it's one of the stronger Google Voice alternatives.
GoTo Connect's best reason for competing with Google Voice is its low price and more specifically the value for money, scoring a very high 4.3/5 for value in our testing, whereas Google Voice only achieved a 4/5. GoTo Connect was also awarded a 4.4/5 for scalability, meaning it's a better choice than Google Voice (2.9/5) for businesses looking to grow, thanks to management features like call recording and security features like multi-factor authentication.
The biggest downside for GoTo Connect, however, is the number of external connections available for users. It simply doesn't have the same level of integrations as other options on this list, with CRM integrations with only Salesforce and Zendesk and web conferencing integrations with only Microsoft Teams. Even worse, it offers no analytics, so you can't see how your team communications in a comprehensive dashboard.
Simply put, if you need a value option that can stand on its own, GoTo Connect is a great option, but there are definitely better providers out there if you look hard enough. As you can see from the image below, it's a much more business-focused platform than Google Voice:
GoTo Connect's complex management tools make it a great pick for a large or fast-growing company.
Image: GoTo
GoTo Connect plans and pricing
While the starting price for GoTo Connect is a bit high at $24 per user per month, its other plan is only $29 per user per month, and it offers a vast array of advanced features. It's still more expensive than Google Voice, but it offers a lot more as far as what you get for the money. What's more, if you add more than 10 employees, the above prices will be reduced slightly.
Pros
- Unlimited users on all plans
- Simple to set up, easy to use
- 24/7 live support + excellent additional options
- Lots of collaboration features like a team messenger
Cons
- Few management features (not very scalable)
- No multi-factor authentication
- Few integrations on the first paid plan
Why is Nextiva a good Google Voice alternative?
Much like Ooma, Nextiva is a well-known and respected VoIP brand with plenty of experience, and they're a solid choice for most businesses looking for Google Voice alternatives. The provider offers noticeably more features than Google Voice, such as customizable greetings and virtual receptionists, scoring a 3.8 out of 5 in our research, compared to Google Voice's mere 2.8 out of 5. Its security is average (3/5) compared to Google (5/5), let down by a lack of multi-factor authentication and password rules, but, again like Ooma, it has better customer support (4.5/5 vs 3.1/5).
Learn more in our 8×8 vs Nextiva comparison guide
What we like most about Nextiva is its strong suite of analytical tools. This is something that you won't get with the likes of Google Voice, and something which could well give you valuable insights into your business. Our research also found that the features Nextiva prioritize in their plans are especially good for those working in service industries such as consultants, accountants, contractors, and designers.
Overall, Nextiva is an alternative to Google Voice to consider, but given its cost, the features don't blow us away, so it's not quite as good value for money unless you do work in a professional service role. Find the best value for money for your unique business needs by comparing VoIP quotes.
Even Nextiva's lowest plan, Essentials, includes offers unlimited voice and video calling.
Image: Nextiva
Nextiva plans and pricing
Nextiva's Essential tier starts at $23.95 per user, per month for 1-4 users, but drops as you add users, costing just $18.95 per user for teams with between 20 and 100 users. It offers unlimited voice and video calling, auto attendant, integration with Outlook and Google Contacts, unlimited internet fax and 24/7 customer support. We particularly like the included video calling on this tier, as well as the friendly user interface.
Professional is priced at $27.95 per user, per month for 1-4 users or $22.95 per user, per month for 20-100 users, and adds in unlimited conference calls, for up to 40 participants, unlimited text messages, and offers more integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot and Zendesk.
At the top end of the scale, there's Enterprise, priced at $37.95 per user, per month for 1-4 users or $32.95 per user, per month for 20-100 users. This is where the analytical features come to the fore, with voice and customer journey analytics. The integrations are also bolstered with Microsoft Teams, Oracle Sales, and ServiceNow.
Highlights:
- Cheap alternative to other VoIP providers
- Desktop and mobile compatibility
- Free trial
Key Features:
- Call recording
- Auto replies
- Voicemail to text
- Call routing
Why is OpenPhone a good Google Voice alternative?
OpenPhone is another Google Voice alternative worth checking out, not least for the affordable $13 per user, per month price it sets its first paid plan at.
Where it falls down slightly is with its integrations, a feature that Google Voice succeeds quite well at. The list isn't exactly expansive, and while this won't directly impact fledgling businesses, those that are more established might find them lacking. There's email, Slack, Zapier, HubSpot, Salesforce, and that's it.
If you opt for the cheapest price, you may also struggle to get a quick customer service response. Google Voice doesn't score too high here either, at only 3.1 out of 5 in our research, but OpenPhone isn't much better. Those on the $13 tier only get email and SMS support, while Premium and Enterprise customers get priority service.
OpenPhone isn't one for a bigger or expanding business, but startups with tight purse strings could do a lot worse.
With OpenPhone, each contact's calling and text history can be pulled up alongside their contact profile.
Image: OpenPhone
OpenPhone plans and pricing
OpenPhone offers three price plans: Standard for $15 per user, per month, Premium for $23 per user, per month, and Enterprise, for a custom quote on request.
When it comes to price, OpenPhone's $15-per-month Standard package is a good swap for Google Voice's $10-per-month starting plan. On the surface, this seems like great value, as it offers unlimited calls. When you look at the features included for the entry price though, you'll see that it's not just a pretty face.
Highlights:
- Attractive pricing for businesses
- String customer support
- Abundance of features
Key Features:
- Reporting
- Auto receptionist
- Call transfer
- Business texting
Why is Grasshopper a good Google Voice alternative?
Grasshopper is a relatively unknown name, but still a respectable option to consider as a Google Voice alternative. It can be a bit expensive compared to others on this list, but its Solo plan is fairly generous.
On its most basic “Solo” tier, Grasshopper grants you access to ring groups and advanced reporting, which are reserved for the more expensive Google Voice plans.
Higher tiers increase the amount of phone numbers and extensions, and a free seven-day trial comes with one phone number and three extensions, 100 minutes, and 100 texts.
Ultimately, Grasshopper doesn't offer enough features to compete with the other VoIP options listed above, but if you're just looking for the basics and a business number, its “True Solo” tier could be suitable as an alternative to Google Voice offering slightly better value for an entrepreneur. Here's what the user interface looks like on desktop and mobile:
Grasshopper's clean interface includes plenty of white space.
Image: Grasshopper
Grasshopper plans and pricing
Grasshopper pricing starts quite competitively, with its True Solo plan starting at only $14 per month, a comparable price to Google Voice. You only get one user, one phone number, and one extension, though, which explains the name.
The Grasshopper Solo Plus tier starts at $14 per month and offers one phone number and 3 extensions. The second tier, Partner, includes all of the features in Solo but comes with three phone numbers instead, and six extensions. It's priced at $46 per month.
Lastly, the ‘Small Business' tier adds five phone numbers and unlimited extensions and is priced at $80 per month.
Related: Best Softphone VoIP Apps
Highlights
- Large number of integrations
- 14 day free trial
- 24/7 support
Key Features
- Call recording
- Call analytics
- Video conferencing
Why is Monster VoIP a good Google Voice alternative?
Monster VoIP has been around since 2012, but has grown considerably in recent years, with many positive reviews from users online, prompting us to take a closer look at it to find out if the hype was justified.
Monster VoIP has a wide range of features which is likely to appeal to many. A real feather in its cap and a justification for that price tag is that it boasts apps for almost every platform (iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and browsers).
It also offers unlimited SMS, call queues, call recording, voicemail transcript, and call analytics, and has video conferencing features, although they don't nearly compare with Google Meet or the rest of the Google Workspace ecosystem. Integrations are strong enough, with major software such as Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Microsoft Teams and others all compatible.
Monster VoIP includes some video conferencing tools as well as audio calling support.
Image: Monster VoIP
Monster VoIP plans and pricing
Recently, Monster VoIP removed the publicly available pricing on their website. However, the prices listed below are what they were in our most recent research, so that should give you a good idea of what's available.
There's no denying that the $25 per month is on the pricier side. You can get this down to $270 per year if you pay annually (Sep 2023 update: Prices are rising. This annual deal used to be $250), and the service does offer a two-week free trial, but Monster VoIP is not the option for those looking for a budget solution — Google Voice is still one of the best there, starting at only $10 per month.
However, what we do like about the platform is that there are no hidden costs — the fee you see is literally what you'll pay. No set-up fees, no contracts, taxes or fees are included.
Highlights:
- Base price cheap if not making many calls
- Unlimited users and extensions
- Free trial
- 50+ features
Key Features:
- Google analytics intergration
- Toll free numbers
- Voicemail transcription
Why Is Telzio a good Google Voice alternative?
Telzio's approach differs slightly from its competitors, in that you don't pay per user like you do with Google Voice. Rather, businesses pay for a set number of minutes, which can be used by as many employees as needed. This won't work for everyone and could work out rather expensive if you're a business that is looking to make a lot of calls.
However, if you are a fledgling business with not many calls to make and want the flexibility to allow anyone within your business to make these calls, then Telzio could be a viable solution for you.
In terms of integrations, there are a few big-name software platforms that Telzio connects with, but it's not exhaustive. Google Analytics, Zapier, Stripe, Vtiger, and Webhooks are all represented. Features-wise, there's a very good lineup of useful tools for businesses, including hold music, voicemail, call queues, menus, call recording, and live reporting.
Honestly, it's really not a great Google Voice alternative, although it has its pros. Would we recommend Telzio to everyone? No, there are much better, cheaper options, but if you're a business with low call volumes and lots of users, then this platform could well suit your needs.
Telzio offers a comprehensive interface that even beginners can figure out.
Image: Telzio
Telzio plans and pricing
Starting at $50 per month for 1,000 minutes of call time, Telzio is not the cheapest option, but a good set of features and strong customer support do go some way to make up for it.
The service also charges separately for SMS messaging, which again, is unusual — Google Voice simply includes this in their packages.
Methodology: How We Test Google Voice Alternatives
We take our impartial research and analysis seriously, so you can have complete confidence that we're giving you the clearest, most useful recommendations.
After conducting an initial exploration to identify the most relevant, popular, and established tools in the market, we put them through their paces with hands-on testing to see their real strengths and weaknesses. In this case, we put ten VoIP systems to the test across 78 areas of investigation.
Based on years of market and user needs research, we've established a VoIP system testing methodology that scores each product in seven main categories of investigation and 16 subcategories; this covers everything from the features and security options available to the product's value for money and customer score, as well as much more.
Our main testing categories for VoIP phone systems are:
Customer Score: the external customer opinion as to their satisfaction with the VoIP product; the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular VoIP system, as well as the market poisiton and reputation a VoIP software holds.
Cost: the pricing structure associated with the VoIP service. It includes factors such as monthly subscription fees, call rates (especially for international calls), setup fees, hardware costs (if applicable), and any additional charges for add-on features or services.
Features: the functionalities and capabilities offered by the VoIP service. This can include basic features such as call forwarding, voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID, as well as advanced features like auto-attendant, conference calling, and call recording.
External Connections: the VoIP service's ability to connect and integrate with external systems or devices. This can include compatibility with existing phone systems, integration with mobile devices, and support for softphones or IP phones.
Customer Support: the assistance and resources provided by the VoIP service provider to customers. This can include technical support, documentation, online resources, knowledge bases, and access to customer support representatives.
Security Options: Security options refer to the measures and features implemented by the VoIP service to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and protection of voice communications and data. This can include encryption of voice calls, compliance, password ruels and user permissions.
Scalability: the ability of the VoIP service to accommodate the growth and changing needs of an organization. This includes factors such as the capacity to handle a growing number of users, support multiple locations or offices, and scale up or down according to the organisation's requirements.
When it comes to calculating a product's final score, not all testing areas are weighted evenly, as we know some aspects matter more to our readers than others, which are merely "nice to have." After hundreds of hours, our process is complete, and the results should ensure you can find the best solution for your needs.
At Tech.co, we have a number of full time in-house researchers, who re-run this testing process regularly, to ensure our results remain reflective of the present day.
What's the Best Google Voice Alternative for Free?
Now that we've looked at paid providers, it's only logical to ask: is there a free alternative to Google Voice? Well, the best free alternative to Google Voice is Facebook Messenger, which offers a familiar interface and is incredibly simple to use. Other options include Line, Just Call, and WhatsApp, but their business features are limited.
Facebook Messenger
+ Doesn't cost anything
+ Most people already use Facebook and should be familiar with Messenger
+ Can use to contract individuals or groups
– Not many features
– Not secure
– Relies on the person you're trying to contact having Facebook Messenger
Line
+ Available on most platforms including iOS, Android and Windows
+ Includes in-app payment system
+ Widely used in countries such as China and Japan
– Very little recognition in the US
– Very basic features
– No customer support
Free VoIP services may seem a great solution, but in reality, they will only serve your business in the short term, especially if you're looking to grow. They offer few features, can look unprofessional, and almost never offer the level of support that a paid for VoIP platform does. To find the best deal for your needs from a range of recommended VoIP providers, use our free price comparison tool.
+ International and local numbers
+ Okay features (call routing, SMS, CRM integrations)
– Every international or local number after the first costs extra (this is free with Google Voice)
– Starts at $48/mo for Standard access for 2 users with limited minutes
– 14-day free trial (Google Voice offers 30 days free)
WhatsApp – You'll soon outgrow this app
+ Free to use
+ WhatsApp for Business option
– Not built for business functionality
– Mobile app lacks analytics and menus
– No hold music
– Business-specific plan requires messy integration with dedicated API
Ready to find the best VoIP provider for your business? Use our free tool to compare VoIP quotes
Should I Still Choose Google Voice Anyway?
Yes, Google Voice is well worth using. The service offers some key advantages over the Google Voice alternatives we've been discussing. For one, Google Voice has excellent security options, including multi-factor authentication and password rules on all plans, to ensure your business is secure at every end-point. This helped Google Voice earn a 5/5 score for security, which was better than Ooma (1/5), Vonage (3/5), and even RingCentral (4/5), all of which couldn't compete with its extensive security offerings.
Google Voice also achieved a 4/5 value for money score, thanks to a starting plan available for just $10 per user, per month – this is cheaper than pretty much every other provider's starting plan, including 8×8, Nextiva, and GoTo Connect, making Voice ideal for small teams.
Another reason to choose Google Voice over a Google Voice alternative like Zoom Phone is the range of integrations. Google Voice has some that Zoom Phone doesn't offer, including Google Meet, Google Workspace and even more CRM systems than Zoom Phone, such as Pipedrive and HubSpot. Finally, you'll definitely want to stick with Voice if you're already a Google Workspace subscriber and you'd like a VoIP system that seamlessly slots in amongst your other Google programs.
Customer feedback on using Google Voice
“I use Google Voice for my VOIP and it is easy to use,” says Tim Connon, Founder of ParamountQuote Insurance Advisors. “I really like the call forwarding and the fact that I can have it tell me it is from my Google Voice number on my mobile phone. I also like the user interface and how basic it can be, which keeps things simple.”
However, it's not all plain sailing with Google Voice. “My biggest dislike of it is the fact that not all inbound calls come through on it in real-time,” Connon explains. “I will receive a missed call on my Google Voice phone and never even hear it ring. That is my biggest frustration with Google voice I would hope it gets fixed soon.”
Bonnie Whitfield, Human Resources Director of Family Destinations Guide, said Google voice was “cost-effective” and eliminated her company's need for “traditional phone lines and equipment,” which she said saved her business “money on phone and communication expenses.”
However, Whitfield said that she's found the voicemail transcription service offered by Google Voice isn't always useful. “While it is a convenient way to quickly read and respond to voicemails, I have found that the accuracy of the transcription is not always up to my standards,” she remarked.
Pros and Cons of Google Voice
We've spent quite a bit of time going through the merits and pitfalls of the best Google Voice alternatives – so it would only be fair if we did the same with Google Voice itself. Here's a rundown of the key pros and cons of Google Voice:
Pros of Google Voice | Cons of Google Voice |
---|---|
Excellent security features – Google Voice scores 5/5 for security, has numerous compliance certifications, and features like user permissions and MFA to protect your company's data. | You have to have a Google Workspace Subscription – starting from $6 per month, purchasing this beforehand is the only way you'll be able to access Google Voice. |
Cheaper than competitors – Google Voice is on the cheaper end of the VoIP market, and undercuts RingCentral, 8×8, GoTo Connect, and various other top VoIP systems. | Not very scalable – Growing businesses may find Google Voice sufficient to start with, but there aren't enough management and high-level comms features to scale up this software. |
24/7 live support available – If you're experiencing technical issues, Google has staff on hand to help, whatever time of day. | No localized or toll-free numbers – Google Voice doesn't offer this important feature, but all the VoIP providers we tested do. |
Google Voice vs Google Meet
Communicating with Google services has become quite popular in recent years, particularly with the pandemic spurring the remote work boom that had everyone signing into video chats to stay in touch with their team. As a result, you may be thinking that Google Meet could be a good alternative to Google Voice, as it provides an affordable way to talk to others.
However, the reality is that Google Voice and Google Meet serve very different functions. Google Meet is a video conferencing platform at its core, which means you can't really set it up to replace your business phone system. Yes, it's a great way to stay in touch with people on your team, but you can't set it up in a way that could accept outside calls for your business.
All that to say, Google Meet is not a suitable Google Voice alternative, which means you'll have to look at one of the aforementioned competitors above to get your business phone system set up today.
How To Switch From Google Voice
To switch from Google Voice, start by checking what type of account you have. Google Voice has a light version, but only a full account requires you to port or create a telephone number. If switching from a full account, you'll either need to swap your Google Voice number to a new line or change your telephone number entirely, which a new provider can do for you.
You likely want to port your number to your new provider. First you'll have to unlock the number, which is a simple process that is either free or a $3 charge, depending on how you first set up your number. If your new provider requests an account number to complete the porting process, just give them your Google Voice number.
Switch from Google Voice: Find the best provider for free today
Verdict: Which Google Voice Alternative Is Best for You?
As we've shown here, Google Voice isn't the only VoIP option out there, far from it. We've found many great alternatives that offer excellent features, integrations and pricing options, so much so that you might wonder why you ever considered Google Voice in the first place.
Ultimately, we think the best Google Alternative is 8×8, which provides a truly superb VoIP package for your business for $24 per user, per month. 8×8 is a great alternative to Google Voice for those that want plenty of features, great customer support, and robust security.
Whoever you choose in the end, we're confident that you'll be happy you did. Switching from Google Voice means you can expect better integrations, better support, and even more features at your fingertips.
Also, switching is a lot easier than you might expect, and you can take your number with you too! Get started with custom quotes for your business and find the best deal on a Google Voie alternative using our free comparison tool.
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