
Senior Writer: Rohit Rajpal
The best VoIP providers make business communications cost-effective and help quickly set up an office phone system. In addition, VoIP providers have advanced features for modern businesses, including auto-dialer, auto-attendant, team messaging, call recording, voicemail transcription, business hours, and more.
According to Verified Market Research, the VoIP market was valued at $23.28 billion in 2020. It is expected to reach $52.84 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 10.8%. This indicates more and more businesses are adopting VoIP phone systems. Implementing a VoIP system could reduce the cost of phone calls by 50%.
However, with hundreds of providers, each with its pricing and features, finding the right VoIP phone system for your business could take time and effort. But don’t worry. This article will help you understand what VoIP is, how it works, its benefits, and how to choose the best VoIP service, providers. Let’s get started.
What Is VoIP and How Does It Work?
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a technology that allows you to make and receive calls over the internet rather than traditional phone lines. As a result, local and international calling becomes more affordable.
VoIP services don’t require installing phone lines in your office or purchasing desk phones. Instead, you can use a mobile device or desktop to manage business communications from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. This makes it easier for remote teams to collaborate cost-effectively.
VoIP system converts your voice signals into data packets and sends them over the internet. Then, the receiving end reassembles the data packets into audio to make communication possible. And all of this happens within microseconds, eliminating potential delays.
What To Consider When Choosing the Best VoIP Service Provider?
As mentioned above, hundreds of VoIP business phone systems are in the market and choosing one could be overwhelming. We have identified the four most critical aspects of business VoIP service providers to make things easier. Let’s look at them.
- Price: Since VoIP service is often subscription-based, you’d need to consider long-term costs when buying one. Check if VoIP offers the necessary features in your budget. Or do you have to buy an add-on for the features you need?
- Call Quality and Uptime: You’d want to partner with a VoIP provider that offers excellent call quality rather than the one that frequently experiences call drops. The best VoIP providers, like DialerHQ and CallHippo, offer a 99.99% uptime guarantee. This highlights that their technology can withstand all incoming and outgoing calls.
- Customer Support: Even the best technology faces challenges at some point. Therefore, choosing a VoIP provider that offers 24/7 support or a dedicated account manager to whom you can reach out instantly is critical.
- Local and Toll-free Numbers: Local numbers help establish and strengthen your presence in different locations. On the other hand, a toll-free number allows your customers to reach out to you for free. If you’re a small business, a local number would be sufficient. However, as your business grows, you’d also need toll-free numbers.
How Much Do VoIP Services Cost?
The cost of a VoIP business phone system can vary immensely based on its features. Besides, there are numerous free VoIP service providers with basic features like one ring group, one auto-attendant, video conferencing (up to 20 participants), and team messaging. On the other hand, premium plans range from a few dollars to hundreds per month for businesses with high-end requirements.
Most VoIP service providers offer unlimited calling and messaging across specified parts of the world (like the US and Canada). In addition, subscriptions are often offered on a per-user basis. However, companies like the DialerHQ and CallHippo allow you to add unlimited extensions to each number, making them more pocket-friendly.
The Benefits of VoIP
The benefits of the VoIP phone system are lower costs, increased accessibility, better scalability, improved coaching, and extensive analytics. Let’s look at these benefits in more detail.
- Lower costs: Since you don’t need any hardware or install wires, the upfront investment is eliminated. Furthermore, the price of calling per minute is typically lower than that of traditional phone lines.
- Increased accessibility: One of the best benefits of VoIP is that it can manage business communications from anywhere. This makes it perfect for remote teams and businesses with multiple branches.
- Better scalability: You can scale your VoIP system up and down per your business requirements. You can even add more features to support business growth.
- Analytics and reports: Monitor agents’ performance, measure customer satisfaction, and coach them based on actionable insights. You can also analyze call recordings to determine common objections and optimize your script accordingly.
The Five Best VoIP Phone Services Compared
VoIP Service Provider | Pricing | Features | Support |
DialerHQ | From $10/user/month | Free number, call recording, business hours | 24/7 support |
CallHippo | From $0/user/month | IVR, power dialer, AI-based call routing, call barging | 24/7 support |
RingCentral MVP | From $19.99 /user/month | Integrated phone, video, and messaging | Live chat, support case, and knowledge base |
Nextiva | From $18.95/user/month | HD phone, team chat, conversational AI | Live chat and knowledge base |
Dialpad | From $15/user/month | Video conferencing, voice intelligence, open APIs and webhooks | Live chat and knowledge base |
The Best VoIP Providers of 2022
Our list of VoIP providers includes the following
1. DialerHQ
2. CallHippo
3. RingCentral MVP
4. Nextiva
5. Dialpad
6. 8×8
7. GoToConnect
8. Ooma Office
9. 1-VoIP
10. AT&T Business
Let’s compare VoIP providers so you can make a more informed decision.
1. DialerHQ – VoIP Service Provider
DialerHQ is the best VoIP provider that makes business communications look more professional. Another thing that makes it a top VoIP provider is its seamless setup and exceptional portability. You can set up and start using your virtual phone system in less than four steps. However, it is best suited for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Features of DialerHQ
- Free number (standard)
- Business hours
- Call recording
- Firepower threat defense (FTD)
- Unlimited calling
- Free SMS
The features depend on the plan you choose.
Pros of DialerHQ
- Easy to set up
- It comes with a free number and a $2 complimentary calling credit
- The free trial allows you to test the system before committing
- Its mobile app helps boost team productivity by allowing them to work from anywhere
Cons of DialerHQ
- Limited features for growing businesses
- Only the top-tier plan has 24/7 phone support
- Does not have a voicemail transcription facility
- Offers minimal support for customer service personalization
DialerHQ Pricing
It offers three plans. Here’s how much they cost (when billed annually).
- Standard: $10 per month
- Premium: $20 per month
- Unlimited: $30 per month
2. CallHippo – Business VoIP Service Provider
CallHippo is one of the best business VoIP service providers offering advanced features at pocket-friendly prices. Plus, its unmatched call quality empowers you to offer the best possible experience to your callers. Another reason to choose CallHippo over VoIP telephone service providers is its in-depth call reports that provide actionable insights to help you improve.
Features of CallHippo
- Click to dial
- Global connect
- Call forwarding
- Voicemail
- AI-based call routing
- Webhook
- Campaign management
- Power dialer
- Voice broadcasting
- Multi-level IVR
- Call barging
- Intelligent reports
- Automatic machine detection
- 85+ integrations
Pros of CallHippo
- More features at less price
- No random call drops or jitter issues
- Provides complete customer information on the dial screen
- Customer support team is available round the clock
Cons of CallHippo
- The mobile app could be improved
- Add-on services are quite expensive
- No knowledge base for self-service
- Setting up voicemail is time-consuming
CallHippo Pricing
CallHippo has four plans. Here’s how much they cost (when billed annually).
Basic: $0 per user per month
Bronze: $16 per user per month
Silver: $24 per user per month
Platinum: $40 per user per month
3. RingCentral MVP – VoIP System Service Provider
Formerly known as RingCentral Office, RingCentral MVP is a leading VoIP provider with all the features that a modern business will ever need. Built for businesses of all sizes and industries, this phone VoIP service provider makes it easier to comply with data regulations like GDPR and HIPAA.
Features of RingCentral MVP
- Business phone or toll-free numbers
- Unlimited calling within the US and Canada
- Business SMS
- Voicemail transcription
- Document sharing
- Call log reports
- Video conferencing
- Integration with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Slack
- Call recording
Pros of RingCentral MVP
- Helps comply with GDPR and HIPAA regulations
- Extensive features for rapidly growing businesses
- Lets you monitor your team in real time via customizable dashboards
- Allows you to send images and MMS through text
Cons of RingCentral MVP
- Expensive for small businesses
- 24/7 support available only on select plans
- The video conferencing feature is difficult to navigate and doesn’t work with the Safari browser
- International calls drop very often
RingCentral MVP Pricing
RingCentral offers four plans. Here’s how much they cost (when billed annually)
- Essentials: $19.99 per user per month
- Standard: $27.99 per user per month
- Premium: $34.99 per user per month
- Ultimate: $49.99 per user per month
4. Nextiva – Phone VoIP service provider
Nextiva is one of the best VoIP providers, bringing all your business communications (voice, video, messaging, and email) to one place. It also makes team collaboration more effortless, so you get necessary information faster.
Features of Nextiva
- Unlimited calling
- Video conferencing
- Team messaging and collaboration
- Calendar and meeting scheduling
- Integration with HubSpot and Salesforce
- Call recording
Pros of Nextiva
- Easy to use, intuitive interface
- It helps unify all your communications
- Has a highly customizable auto attendant
- Advanced call management system
Cons of Nextiva
- Lacks 24/7 email or phone support
- Mobile apps have a lot of bugs and glitches
- Offers limited integration options
- You need to add a number in the contacts to see their availability status
Nextiva Pricing
Nextiva has three plans. Here’s how much they cost (when billed annually).
- Essential: $18.95 per user per month
- Professional: $22.95 per user per month
- Enterprise: $32.95 per user per month
5. Dialpad – Featured VoIP Service Provider
Powered by artificial intelligence, Dialpad is a VoIP service provider that offers advanced features to make the customer experience seamless. For example, it has built-in speech recognition and natural language processing to help you analyze all the inbound and outbound calls.
Features of Dialpad
- Unlimited calling and text messaging
- AI-powered call and voicemail transcription
- Unlimited video conferencing
- Web and chat support
- CRM integrations
- Open APIs and webhooks
- Multiple phone numbers per account
Pros of Dialpad
- Unlimited calling and video conferencing in the standard plan
- Pocket-friendly pricing
- You can sort the dashboard by department or type of call
- Robust analytics and reporting
Cons of Dialpad
- Limited integration options
- No 24/7 support in the standard plan
- Phone activation and deactivation can be challenging
- Voicemail transcription isn’t effective
Dialpad Pricing
Dialpad has three plans. Here’s how much they cost (when billed annually).
- Standard: $15 per user per month
- Pro: $25 per user per month
- Enterprise: Custom quote available
6. 8×8 – Business VoIP Service Provider
8×8 is yet another top VoIP services provider that offers a variety of features at competitive pricing. Designed for businesses of all sizes, 8×8 allows you to buy local and toll-free numbers from different countries to gain a competitive edge. Its analytics and reports help you understand agents’ performance and take corrective actions to improve them.
Features of 8×8
- Unlimited calling in the US and Canada
- Auto attendant
- Music on hold
- Voicemail
- Team messaging
- Hot deskingCall queues
- Presence detection
- Call activity analytics
Pros of 8×8
- Easy to set up and assign users
- Lots of features in high-end plans
- The learning curve is very small, making it easier for new employees to understand and use the VoIP system
- Cross-platform functionality and experience is good
Cons of 8×8
- Customer support could be improved
- The basic plan is expensive, given the features it offers
- If you don’t have a robust WiFi connection, the call quality will reduce significantly
- Connecting Bluetooth headphones to the app is complicated
8×8 Pricing
8×8 has three pricing plans. Here’s how much they cost (when billed annually).
- Express: $15 per user per month
- X2: $24 per user per month
- X4: $44 per user per month
7. GoToConnect – VoIP Service Provider
What makes GoToConnect one of the best VoIP service providers is it’s in-built messaging and meetings feature that allows you to collaborate more efficiently. Plus, the VoIP provider offers all the necessary features in every plan, making it perfect for small businesses with a limited budget.
Features of GoToConnect
- Number porting
- Local, toll-free, and vanity numbers
- Smart call routing
- Unlimited extensions
- Call forwarding
- Instant response
- Customizable dial plans
- Auto attendant recorded greetings
- Ring groups
- Hot desking
- Intercom
Pros of GoToConnect
- End-to-end encryption
- Even the basic tier consists of all the necessary features
- CRM integrations
- The graphical IVR editor makes it easy to customize the IVR system
Cons of GoToConnect
- Customer support could be improved
- Troubleshooting the software could be challenging at times
- Call queue dashboard is hard to navigate, and confusing
- Reporting and analytics could see some improvement
GoToConnect Pricing
GoToConnect offers three plans. Here’s how much they cost (when billed annually).
- Basic: $27 per user per month
- Standard: $32 per user per month
- Premium: $43 per user per month
8. Ooma Office – Customize VoIP Service Provider
Ooma Office is the right choice if you’re looking for a small business-hosted VoIP service. It has 50+ standard features in every plan, making it one of the most cost-effective VoIP telephone service providers. Furthermore, it has a mobile app that lets you manage your business communications from anywhere.
Features of Ooma Office
- Virtual receptionist
- Ring groups
- Music on hold
- One toll-free number
- Email audio attachments
- Text messaging
- Video conferencing
- Call recording
- Enhanced call blocking
- Voicemail transcription
- Google and Office 365 integrations
- Call analytics
Pros of Ooma Office
- Easy-to-use, intuitive software
- 50+ standard features in the basic plan
- Customer service is knowledgeable and proactive
- Robust virtual assistant
Cons of Ooma Office
- Phones have to be configured by Ooma
- Some essential features are missing
- Reviewing call logs could be a little cumbersome
- Doesn’t have robocall or spoofed caller ID-blocking feature
Ooma Office Pricing
Ooma Office has three plans. Here’s how much they cost (when billed annually).
- Essentials: $19.95 per user per month
- Pro: $24.95 per user per month
- Pro Plus: $29.95 per user per month
9. 1-VoIP – Best VoIP Service Provider
1-VoIP is a leading VoIP services provider that offers HD call quality and numerous features at a pocket-friendly price. However, what makes it different than other companies in this list of VoIP providers is that it offers all the features in every plan.
Features of 1-VoIP
- Music on hold
- Call queues
- Digital call forward
- Auto attendant
- Virtual fax
- Extension transfer
- Business hours
- Voicemail
- Custom announcements
Pros of 1-VoIP
- Offers flexible pricing
- Great anti-spam feature
- 24/7 customer support
- User-friendly interface
Cons of 1-VoIP
- Limited customization options
- Configuring the system can be challenging
- No video conferencing
- Number porting doesn’t always work
1-VoIP Pricing
1-VoIP has three plans, and they’d cost you:
- Metered: $14.97 per extension per month
- Corporate: $19.97 per extension per month
- Professional: $29.97 per extension per month
10. AT&T Business – Business VoIP Service Provider
The last one on our list of VoIP phone service providers is AT&T Business. It integrates with more than 30+ third-party tools, including Microsoft and Salesforce. Besides, you can use your analog phones as well with AT&T VoIP. Its standard edition includes 1000 toll-free minutes per month and unlimited internet faxing.
Features of AT&T Business
- Unlimited calling to Canada, the US, and Mexico
- Advanced call handling and routing
- Automatic and on-demand record
- Three-way calling
- Flexible caller ID
- Voicemail transcription
- Call screening
Pros of AT&T Business
- Supports legacy PBX systems
- Excellent call quality
- Integration with 200+ apps
- Extensive list of features
Cons of AT&T Business
- Configuring the VoIP system could be challenging
- Customer support isn’t great
- No free trial or freemium version
- International calling rates are on the higher side
AT&T Business Pricing
AT&T has various plans depending on your needs. You can check them out here.
Learn more About VoIP Systems
VoIP services are cost-effective, offer more features than landlines, and help you provide better customer service. Therefore, you must understand what VoIP is and how it can help your business grow. Then, choose from our list of top VoIP providers to speed up the process!
Updated : February 16, 2023