Our Top Picks for the Best Cheap VoIP Phone Service Plans
The best 6 business phone provider's lowest cost plans that get the job done.
The
best cheap VoIP service providers each deliver outstanding integrated communication
platforms employing multiple communication channels. They also merge tools
to allow small teams to collaborate effectively, saving time and
resources. Our pick of the top providers most basic low-cost plans includes impressive
feature-sets, and a variety of valuable tools for a decidedly small business.
Predominately tailored for very small businesses, these multi-channel virtual phone providers understand that entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small teams routinely use their smart phones. Therefore, these plans combine professional PBX phone system features to manage business calls using an app that you download onto your phone. The tendency for remote work is increasing. More companies are relying on shared, virtual phone numbers that work from anywhere, not just in the office. Some providers also include a desktop app in their most affordable plans. And a few offer starter plans that can be used employing a variety of devices, including a SIP desk phone. None of them require any new hardware, if that is your preference.
Here are the top 6 virtual phone services for a powerful cost-effective communications solution.
Talkroute's Basic plan manages calls and texts plus video for $19/mo. for one user.
- Desktop and mobile apps are available for MacOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, & Android.
- The Basic plan is $19./mo. for one user (add a user for $5) and comes with one number, unlimited calling, 500 texts and video meetings.
What We Found Outstanding:
- Select a toll-free or local number.
- All of Talkroute's plans include call forwarding & routing, call stacking, custom greetings, caller ID name, and video meetings.
- HIPAA Compliance.
- Live on-boarding and highly regarded 24/7 support.
What We Identified As Potential Shortcomings:
- The hours of operation feature is not included with the Basic plan.
- No virtual fax.
Talkroute is Best Noted For:
- A fully functioning virtual phone system with dozens of features and an easy-to-navigate, clean User Interface. The Plus plan at $39/mo. includes three users and incorporates unlimited minutes and texts, menu, single digit extensions, simultaneous ring, live call transfer, and hours of operation.
- A leading choice for small teams to collaborate, financial
services, nonprofits, and tele-health professionals.
Real-estate agents, multi-location businesses, and sales teams. - Try it for free: Talkroute
Openphone's Starter Plan is $19/user monthly or $15 when paid annually.
- The app can be installed on both desktops and mobile phones.
- The starter plan includes one local or toll-free number per user with unlimited calling and text to US and Canadian numbers.
What We Found Outstanding:
- Unlimited calling and text to US and Canadian numbers.
- One new local or toll-free phone number per user.
- Plans include auto-attendant, voicemail to text, call recording, auto-replies, and group messaging.
- An outstanding well-designed easy to use customer management and team collaboration app. Their platform provides better in-depth integrations with the productivity tools that customers already have in use.
What We Identified As Potential Shortcomings:
- They do not provide a plan with video conferencing.
- Support, although outstanding, is through email.
Openphone is Best Noted For:
- Businesses seeking an outstanding app for collaboration between associates and customers. The Starter plan at $15./user when paid annually is one of the best values available for a collaboration platform that integrates nicely with existing apps that you may be using.
- An outstanding choice for digital nomads, start-ups and small teams.
Real-estate agent teams.
Logistics, transportation and professional services. - Free trial: OpenPhone
Grasshopper offers a Solo Plus Plan for $31 paid monthly.
- The Grasshopper app installs on your cell phone. A True Solo plan is available for $17.00/mo. paid monthly.
- The Solo Plus plan includes one local number or toll-free number, three extensions, and unlimited users.
What We Found Outstanding:
- All of Grasshopper's plans include the same features. They change by the number of phone numbers and the number of extensions. The True Solo plan includes one user, one phone number, and one extension for $14.00/mo. paid annually.
- An extremely popular business phone service for entrepreneurs designed to implement on your existing smart phone. Features include auto-attendant, voicemail to email, call forwarding, virtual fax, VoIP and WiFi calling, and reporting.
- You won't require any new hardware. A very easy to use app that separates business calls and increases professionalism.
- Live 24/7 multi-channel customer support.
What We Identified As Potential Shortcomings:
- Grasshoppers service is designed to be added to your existing cell phone service, not as a standalone phone system.
- They do not offer call recording, nor do they have any plans that include video conferencing.
Grasshopper is Best Noted For:
- The Solo Plan incorporates all the same features as their larger plans. Implementing three extensions between three users effectively makes the cost less than $11.00 per user. The cost per user decreases with the larger Partner and Small Business plans.
- A favorite for Real-estate agents and Agent Teams.
As well as, the service industry like, home inspectors, appraisers, repairmen, maintenance, and landscapers.
Remote small teams. - 7-Day Free Trial: Grasshopper
For Basic users Phone.com's plan is $14.99/mo./user monthly or $12.74 billed annually.
- Both web-based and mobile apps are included for basic users with 50 standard voice features.
- The basic user plan includes one phone number per account and includes 500 "pooled" minutes per user.*
What We Found Outstanding:
- Calling and text to US and Canadian numbers.
- One phone number per user.
- Plans include auto-attendant, call handling, call transfer, fax from phone (outbound), business texting, video conferencing, screen sharing, document sharing, and meeting chat.
- Phone.com has developed a remarkably flexible versatile HIPAA compliant platform that incorporates an impressive number of tools for communication and collaboration.
- Live 24/7 highly regarded support.
What We Identified As Potential Shortcomings:
- The basic users plan is only suited for small businesses that require limited minutes.
- Some customers have stated that some settings can be a little confusing to setup.
Phone.com is Best Noted For:
- Any small business seeking an outstanding multi-channel communications platform that includes video. You get voice, video, text, call management, and collaboration features all in one solution.
- A preferred choice for entrepreneurs and small, growing teams.
Healthcare and education (HIPAA compliant).
Legal and professional offices.
Startups and business services. - Get 20% off on the first 3 Months on any plan by entering: PDCCJ2023 at Phone.com: Phone.com
* Three users would share 1500 minutes.
Unitel Voice has a Start-UP plan for $9.99/mo. that includes three users.
- The app installs on mobile phones for the Start-up plan.
- The Start-up plan includes one local or toll-free number with 500 minutes.
What We Found Outstanding:
- Maintain an existing number or choose a new toll-free, local or vanity number.
- Onboarding is included along with utilizing one of their human voice talents to record your greetings for you at no extra charge.
- All of Unitel Voice's four plans include auto-attendant, call announcement, on-hold music, voicemail to email, send and receive faxes, Wifi calling and call transfer. The Office-Plus plan incorporates video conferencing.
- Live USA based support.
What We Identified As Potential Shortcomings:
- Some features incur an additional fee, like call recording, conference calling, and voicemail transcription. However, these features can be added to any plan.
- The Start-up plan is only favorable for low volume calling teams.
Unitel Voice is Best Noted For:
- Those that use limited minutes and are seeking the most affordable service with a robust multi-channel platform. For businesses requiring more call usage, the three-user Office plan for $29.99/mo. include unlimited minutes.
-
An exceptional choice for any small business with on-the-move
or remote employees.
A great pick for a real-estate agent team.
Any small team that desires an integrated low-cost video solution. - 30 day Risk-free trial: Unitel Voice
VirtualPBX offers a Starter Plan for $9/user paid monthly.
- The Starter plan supports forwarding calls to an existing cell phone or a landline service.
- The Starter plan includes one local number per user with unlimited incoming calls within the US, Canada, and Mexico.
What We Found Outstanding:
- Unlimited calls within the US, Canada, and Mexico for all plans.
- They deliver an award winning business phone service for under $10 with a solid feature-set tailored to very small businesses (up to 10 users).
- The Starter plan includes auto-attendant, conferencing, digital faxing, voicemail transcription, and ring groups.
- Topnotch 24/7 customer support.
What We Identified As Potential Shortcomings:
- The Starter plan is basically a forwarding service and does not incorporate outbound calling. Outbound calls go over an existing service only.
- To use a VoIP device, like an IP phone, requires the Flex or Pro plan which then comes with unlimited calling (inbound and outbound) and additional features.
VirtualPBX is Best Noted For:
- The Starter Plan includes the "must have" call handling features that small businesses depend upon. It's the most cost-effective service to handle inbound calls in a professional manor. For an even more budget friendly option, pay yearly and get the service for $8/mo./user.
- Best for users looking for a plan including Mexico.
Outstanding for Non-Profits or a Political Campaign.
A Remote Office or to deliver calls to remote employees.
Construction, E-Commerce. - 14-Day Free Trial: VirtualPBX
Pricing, plans and specials may change at any time without notice. The provider's website will remain the determining factor for prices, plans, special discount offers, and features. Subscription costs for some providers listed may not include federal, state, and local taxes and fees, which vary by location.
Keeping with transparency; when visitors purchase services discussed on our site through onsite affiliate links or ads, we might then earn affiliate commissions which helps with our endeavors. Some providers we recommend have no affiliation. We qualify services, providers and equipment based on use, stability, features, user satisfaction and value regardless of any affiliation.