DialerHQ Vs Sideline

Sideline Alternatives: Top 10 Alternatives and Competitors

With the emergence of COVID-19 and deeper penetration of the internet, remote work culture gained prominence to define the new normal eventually. It’s important for businesses to keep their teams in the loop, no matter where and how they work. 

How you communicate with your team and customers is a key determinant of your business identity. A second or separate phone number from the same phone can help you draw a line between your professional communications and personal lives. 

In your search for a fruitful solution, chances are that you might land up in Sideline’s second number setup. When you dive deeper, you will understand that Sideline lacks essential features. In this blog, we present an evaluation of the best Sideline alternatives that may better align with your needs and requirements. 

What Should You Know About Sideline?

Before you nod to go with Sideline as the second phone number for business, you must understand that Sideline is not a VoIP-based phone system. 

Sideline provides a second phone number and voicemail through the mobile application. Instead of communicating over VoIP, Sideline uses your existing phone connection. 

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Some of the key features of Sideline business phone system are, 

• Auto attendant,
• Group messaging,
• International calling,
• Auto-response to calls and texts,
• Shared number.

These features are good enough for small businesses that are just kickstarting their business operations and have only a handful of clients. But, as they eventually scale and broaden their scope, businesses find that Sideline lacks some of the essential features.

Though Sideline offers some of the important features needed for a business, there exists no plan that has all of these features in a go. Say, you cannot find a plan that offers both auto attendant and shared number. You have to trade off one for the other. 

Beyond, Sideline also lacks call recording, toll-free numbers, and other advanced call management features that come with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phones. This is highly important if you are targeting a broad customer base and they might require support and assistance from the customer service team.

Next, Sideline does not offer analytics and reporting tools like VoIP solution providers. This is more important as businesses scale and expand their client base.

When a business grows, the team naturally scales up. To simplify project management tasks, you will need an efficient phone system that lets you build communication and coordination between the team members. Sideline lacks integration tools and does not go well with many third-party applications. 

The subscription plans are quite complex and are not effective in terms of cost and utility for small businesses and startups. 

Sideline uses data from the mobile service provider to make and receive calls. Because it uses minutes from your carrier, it comes with a hidden charge, unlike VoIP and cloud phone systems that operate over the internet. 

How To Choose The Best Sideline Alternative?

Following are some of the important criteria that you must consider while you look up to find a second phone number for your business. We have used the same to evaluate and pick the top 10 Sideline alternatives. 

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1. Ease of use

No matter how sophisticated the features are, usability is all that a user looks up to. So, ease of use is the first criterion on which we base our evaluation of Sideline alternatives. You will not want to spend too much of your time on installation, registration formalities, or learning the technicalities to be able to use a second number. We assess the Sideline App alternatives based on the ease of installation and use so as to help you pick one that gets you a business phone number in a matter of minutes. 

2. Cost and subscription plans

As we present the alternatives to Sideline, we assess their subscription plans and cost and check if they are reasonable. Does the feature and service quality justify the price? We also look for hidden charges. 

3. Features

We evaluate Sideline alternatives based on a broad array of features that help optimize business communication abilities. Is it a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)? Does it come with an auto attendant? Voicemail transcription? Caller ID? Call recording? Call transfer and filtering? Call prioritization? 

4. International calling option

As you scale your customer base beyond geographies, you might have to handle calls to/from places outside of your country. So, we evaluate the Sideline alternatives based on how they model and handle international calls.

5. Technical support and assistance

You would not want to wait for days or call the service team multiple times to get your queries answered and problems resolved when it comes to getting a second line for your business. We consider the quality of technical support and availability of 24/7 assistance in evaluating the Sideline alternatives. 

6. Security protocols.

In this era, ensuring the safety and security of customer and business data is crucial. In evaluating apps like Sideline, we check if their security protocols, tools, and policies are up-to-date. 

10 Best Sideline Alternatives in 2023

Below we have selected the top Sideline Alternatives that you can check out! 

1. DialerHQ

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If you are looking for an alternative to Sideline, DialerHQ is the most appropriate. It uses VoIP instead of cellular networks to make, receive, and manage calls. This reduces communication costs for businesses. DialerHQ provides a free second phone number so you can differentiate your professional calls from personal ones. Beyond the second phone number, DialerHQ offers several advanced call management features like IVR, auto attendants, ACD, call recording, call reporting, call analytics, and so on. So, if you are looking for a Sideline App alternative, DialerHQ is the perfect call management solution. 

Features

• Second phone number
• Global number selection
• Toll-free number
• Auto attendants
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
• Exclusive mobile apps for iOS and Android
• Automatic Call Distribution
• Call analytics and reporting
• Call recording
• International calling and texting

Pros

• Low installation cost
• Highly customizable
• Excellent customer service
• Affordable than Sideline
• Desktop and mobile apps
• Free trials
• Reasonable subscription plans
• Good call clarity
• Advanced call management features

Cons

• Requires stable internet connection

Pricing

• Unlimited Plan: $12/user/month (Free number per user. 1000 free calling minutes for US and Canada.)
• Free software: $1500/month (Free software, Advanced features)

2. CallHippo

CallHippo is a cloud-based VoIP solution for enterprises, and it has a broad range of features that allows you to make, receive and manage business phone calls seamlessly. It includes a free local phone number in the USA and Canada, an auto attendant, voicemail, call prioritization, and advanced call routing features. It also has a wide array of appropriate plans for businesses of different sizes and scales. If you are looking for apps like Sideline, CallHippo is the best alternative, and it offers a better way to manage phone lines at affordable pricing.

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Key Features

• VoIP calling
• Power dialer
• Voicemails
• Custom greetings
• Easy setup and installation
• Unlimited local and International calling
• Custom auto attendant
• CRM integration and collaboration features
• Multi-user login
• Smart call routing
• Call flow prioritization
• Call analytics

Pros

• Cloud-based architecture
• Free Trials
• Easy integration
• Absolute voice clarity
• Excellent customer support
• Advanced features for call management

Cons

• Voicemail needs upgradation

Pricing

• Bronze plan – $16.00 per user per month (Appropriate for Startups and small business owners) 
• Silver plan – $24.00 per user per month (Preferred For small Sales Teams)
• Platinum plan – $40.00 per user per month (For SMB Sales, Customer Support & Marketing Teams)
• Enterprise Plan: $48 per user per month (Ideal for medium and large-scale organizations) 

3. OpenPhone 

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OpenPhone is a VoIP-based calling system that lets you add work numbers virtually. It has a wide of advanced call management features, including video conferencing, team messaging, voicemail-to-text transcription, etc. It uses the internet to establish all your business communications instead of using data from a mobile carrier. It has a mobile app that functions on iOS and Android, a web app that goes well on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and a desktop app for Mac. 

Key Features

• Contact management features
• Shared phone numbers
• Toll-free second phone numbers
• Voicemail to text transcriptions
• IVR and auto-attendant
• Call recording

Pros

• Good customer service
• Easy to use and operate
• Toll-free numbers availability
• Affordable plans
• Advanced call center software management options

Cons

• Cannot perform 3-way conference calling
• Call clarity is lost at times

Pricing 

• Standard: $13 per user per month
• Premium: $25 per user per month
• Enterprise: Custom contract and pricing. 

4. Google Voice

If you have subscribed to Google Workspace, Google Voice is an appropriate alternative to Sideline. Google Voice can be easily integrated with other tools like Google Suite. Google Voice allows you to share numbers within the ring groups. It allows call forwarding to an existing number and so you don’t have the endure the hardship of managing multiple lines. It has a broad spectrum of call management features ranging from custom incoming call recordings and voicemail transcription abilities to managing multiple phone numbers and contact lists. All these make Google Voice an appropriate alternative to Sideline. 

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Key Features

• Free personal number
• Call blocking and filtering
• Text messaging
• Google suite integrations
• Call forwarding
• Voicemail transcriptions
• Web and mobile apps.

Pros

• Free phone numbers
• Free business calls to US and Canada
• Excellent integration with Google workspace
• International calling abilities
• Porting existing numbers
• Share numbers within ring groups

Cons

• Ring groups cannot make outbound calls
• Lack of compatibility with apps other than Google workspace.
• No toll-free numbers
• No multi-extension support

Pricing 

• Starter Plan: $10 per user per month
• Standard Plan: $20 per user per month
• Premier Plan: $30 per user per month

5. Chalkboard

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Chalkboard is a VoIP calling platform and call center software with affordable, inclusive plans for small businesses and freelancers. Chalkboard lets you add and organize your business contacts. Because Chalkboard is a cloud business phone system operating over the internet, you don’t have to worry about carrier plans. Beyond organizing the contacts, Chalkboard lets you broadcast messages to a group, and it also notifies you when your contacts review your business online. This helps manage the reputation of your brand online. This feature is unique to Chalkboard and makes it a better alternative to Sideline.

Key Features

• Auto reply feature
• Sends review requests automatically
• Send offers by text
• Organizes contacts in a single place
• Apps for web and mobile phones.

Pros

• No extra charges for phone calls and texts
• Cancel contract anytime
• No hidden charges
• Does not require extra devices or equipment
• Hassle-free porting of your current number
• Excellent reputation and review management features
• Set auto-replies, so you don’t have to endure the problem of missed calls

Cons

• No desktop app
• Lack of advanced call analytics
• Not available globally
• Lack of clarity in subscription plans

Pricing 

• $10/£10 + VAT per month

6. TextNow 

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TextNow allows users to make phone calls using data from other cellular network carriers. It is a free application, and the free version has group texting, conference calling, and voicemail options. The best thing is you don’t have to give your credit card details to register your account. TextNow keeps the phone service free through paid-in apps. So, it is more appropriate for individuals than for business phone system.

Key Features

• Voicemail transcription
• Conference calling
• Group texting options
• International calling
• Second phone number

Pros

• Free voice and text plan
• Free Sim card 
• Allows you to change to new numbers at no extra cost
• No contracts and hidden charges
• You don’t have to invest in devices or equipment
• Unlimited text messages and voice calls.
• Easy porting of your existing number

Cons

• No live customer support
• Unless you pay, you will have to endure Ads in between

Pricing 

• $8.99 per month for 1 GB of data
• $15.99 per month for 2 GB of data with No Ads
• $19.99 per month for 3 GB of data with No Ads
• $27.99 per month for 5 GB of data with No Ads

7. Nextiva 

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Nextiva is a VoIP-based communication platform that has a variety of features to support all kinds of businesses. It has integrated video, voice, and text messaging tools. Its advanced call management features, like IVR, automatic call distribution, call queuing, faxing, conference calling, etc., let businesses connect with more callers in a short span of time. The pricing depends on the number of features you would need, the number of users, and the size of your business. 

Key Features

• Unlimited calling in the USA
• Auto-attendant feature
• Mobile and desktop apps
• Voicemail transcription
• Caller Id
• Call flow prioritization
• Video conferencing
• Salesforce/ Hubspot integration

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface
• Customizable plans
• Advanced call management features
• SIP Trunking
• Unified Communications
• Call Screening
• Phone support

Cons

• The free trial is short
• The cancellation policy is not so flexible
• Call quality is spotty at times. 

Pricing

• Essentials: $18.95 per user per month 
• Professional: $22.95 per user per month 
• Enterprise: $32.95 per user per month

8. Line2 Pro 

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When it comes to the second phone number, Line2Pro is a popular platform. In addition to the second phone number, Line2Pro has IVR, call recording, call routing, call transfer, video conferencing, etc. It must be noted that these options are not available in the Sideline business phone system. It offers both live assistance and phone support. Line2Pro is ideal for small businesses and freelancers.

Key Features

• Caller ID
• Unlimited SMS & MMS text
• Spam calls filtering and blocking
• Call forwarding
• Voicemail to email transcriptions
• Voicemail recordings
• Call greeting
• Video conferencing support

Pros

• Unlimited calls within U.S. & Canada
• Reliable customer support
• Seamless number porting
• Toll-free number
• Option to select a mobile network or Wi-fi hotspot

Cons

• No free trial period.
• Technical glitches in the installation
• The second line goes on hold if we receive a call from the phone carrier. 
• Not appropriate for mid-size and large enterprises.

Pricing

• Monthly: $15.99 per month 
• Annual: $13.75 per month

9. JustCall 

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JustCall is a cloud-based phone system that helps businesses acquire multiple virtual numbers in around 70 countries across the world. Using JustCall, you can make and receive phone calls using your web and mobile applications. Offering virtual phone numbers, SMS campaigns, CRM integrations, and several advanced call management features, it is an effective Sideline alternative to Sales and Customer support teams.  

Key Features

• IVR and Voice Recognition
• Telemarketing management 
• Predictive dialer
• VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calling
• Custom phone numbers
• Call monitoring and recording
• Auto dialer
• Conference calling
• Ring all phones in a go
• Automatic call distribution

Pros

• Easy porting of existing number
• Toll-free numbers
• Reasonable pricing
• Call analytics and reporting
• Better value for money
• Industry-specific solutions
• Excellent customer support
• Easy to install and use
• Integration with CRM 

Cons

• Hard to generate some reports
• Adding phone numbers is a costly affair
• Incoming calls are lost due to excessive waiting

Pricing

• Standard: $24 per user per month
• Premium: $48 per user per month
• Custom package 

10. Textdrip

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Textdrip offers an automated text messaging solution that is efficient, cost-effective, and reliable. It caters to the need for a business texting platform. Textdrip promises high message deliverability than traditional platforms that recorded low response rates. 

Key Features

• 2-way messaging
• Drip campaigns
• Custom messages
• Web and mobile phone apps
• Reporting and analytics

Pros

• Easy to import contact
• Scheduled messages
• Quick responses
• Custom campaigns
• Free Trial

Cons

• Difficulty in attaching pictures

Pricing

• SMS: $0.012 per outgoing text segment
• MMS: $0.06 per message
• Voice: $0.012 per minute

Wrapping Up

As remote work becomes the new normal, businesses are increasingly looking for an efficient platform to communicate with their customers and employees. When you are looking for a second phone number app, take a deeper dive to analyze the call management features that the platform offers, pricing, ease of installation, and quality of customer support. If you are looking for Apps like Sideline, extend your research to cover VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and cloud phones.

 

Studies show that cloud phone systems have the ability to reduce business communication costs by 50%. So, when you are looking for a second phone number,  make sure that you look for cloud phone systems that have advanced call management features.