Table of Contents
Introduction
When it comes to customer support, having multiple touchpoints for your customers is quite important. Whether it be through live chat, email, text, or call, all these channels bring their own advantages and disadvantages.
Every business has some kind of calling service for this purpose. If we trace it back, the first method of calling service for businesses was landline phones. Although it provided good service, the limitations with landline phones for calling service were that:
- It was costly
- It required a lot of hardware
- It could only be answered from where the phone was situated, which was mostly the office
As time passed and technology became an inescapable part of our reality, upgraded calling methods such as VoIP were introduced.
VoIP or Voice over internet protocol allows for calls to be placed over the internet, with less hardware equipment, and easy on the pocket.
Google took note of this and introduced Google Voice in 2009.
What is Google Voice?
Google Voice is a VoIP service. It allows for calls to be received, placed, and managed over the internet.
Google Voice can be used for both individual use and business purposes.
Google Voice is completely free for individual use.
For business purposes, however, it comes at a slight price. The price packages vary from $10 to $30.
What is Google Voice used for?
Google voice is used for:
- Making and receiving phone calls
- Sending text messages
- Forwarding calls from one number to another
- Syncing phone numbers to any number of devices
- Transcribing voicemails into text
- Screening calls and messages in real-time
- Recording calls
- Making conference calls
How does Google Voice work?
As discussed above, Google Voice is a VoIP service; hence, it operates like any other VoIP service over the internet. As long as you have an internet connection and an internet-enabled device (cellphone, laptop, computer, or another mobile device), you can use Google Voice. Google Voice allows you to make free calls just by signing up with an email address.
Current status of Google Voice
Google recently pulled out its Google Voice legacy version. Along with it, some features such as carrier call forwarding and call notes were also removed.
As of today the latest version of Google Voice is very much up and running and continues to be a decent option for satisfying business phone needs.
Some other features offered by Google Voice along with calling include:
– Reading voicemail transcripts in the inbox and searching for them like emails.
– Protection from spam calls and messages
– Screening calls before answering
– Block calls
Though Google Voice has been up and running for the past 14 years, users are now shifting to other alternatives.
Reasons for switching from Google Voice
- Google Voice is free but is also basic. It doesn’t offer any support or personalization to users.
- There are no distinct features and there are various alternatives that offer more functionalities at the same price.
- Google has the tendency to sunset products, which can prove to be risky for businesses that are relying on its VoIP services.
- Google Voice offers no integrations
There are plenty of google voice alternatives out there that you could consider.
Below is a quick comparison table rating 15 of the most relevant Google voice alternatives on various parameters, such as overall rating, ease of use, highlights, value for money, the support offered, and price.
15 best google voice alternatives
Selection process:
To see which one would be the best fit for you, follow these steps:
Step-1: Lay down the requirements of your business and check which of the above-mentioned google voice alternatives seems like a fit for you.
Step-2: List down all the features you need for your business
Step-3: Compare the per month, per-user prices of each of the alternatives.
Step-4: Check the support option for the alternatives. A plan that provides a 24/7 option will always prove ideal.
Let’s dive a bit deeper into each of these alternatives for a better understanding.
1. Our Solution: Emitrr
About:
One of the best google voice alternatives, Emitrr is a customer interaction and engagement platform. It allows businesses to connect with their customers through omnichannel means. One of the solutions Emitrr provides is a VoIP phone system.
Features:
- Business text messaging
- Bot reply
- Automated assistant for missed calls
- Webchat to text
- Call forwarding
- Call hold
- Call transfer
- Call metrics
- Voicemail to text transcription
- Access to voicemail recordings
All features can be viewed under one dashboard, thereby ensuring operational efficiency.
Pricing:
$25 per user, per month
No setup fee
No additional fee for users or usage
To get more pricing details, write to us and we will be happy to customize a plan for you!
Pros:
- Excellent customer support
- Ease of use
- Affordable and customizable pricing
Overall Rating: 4.8/5.0
Best for:
Local businesses looking for customization and scalability
Reviews:
“The system is very user-friendly. I love the ability to chat or call.”
“Emittr’s onboarding was superior to other texting software companies. We found the platform to be user-friendly for clients and internal staff. The live chat feature on the website is outstanding.”
Support:
- Phone
- Chat
- Live representative
- FAQs
- Knowledge base
What makes Emitrr different?
- Users can track conversions from phone calls
- Emitrr allows integrations with 1000+ local businesses, whereas other alternatives cater to online businesses
- It offers the digitization of workflows and metrics
2. OpenPhone
About:
OpenPhone is a google voice alternative that is a cloud-based VoIP service system. It allows you to add work phone numbers to your exciting devices.
Features:
- Calling and Messaging (US & Canada)
- Calling and Messaging (International)
- Included Phone Numbers
- Additional Phone Numbers
- Port Phone numbers from other carriers
Pricing:
Openphone has 3 pricing plans:
Pricing model: Per user, per month
- Standard: $13
- Premium: $25
- Enterprise: Available on request
Free trial available
No hidden charges/ overcharges
Pros:
- Affordable pricing
- Good customer support
Cons:
- Issues with call quality
- Lack of integrations with CRMs
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0
Best for:
Small businesses, teams
Reviews:
“Great phone system with not as great call quality.”
“OpenPhone helps me to get a US phone number and talk to partners and investors everywhere.”
Support:
- Knowledge base
- Helpdesk
3. Ringcentral
About:
RingCentral is also a cloud-based VoIP solution. This google voice alternative has categorized its services into Message, Video, and Phone. RingCentral can be termed as a giant in the VoIP industry, it is especially a good option for established businesses.
Features:
- Call Center Management
- Call forwarding
- Call Routing
- Reporting
- Automated Attendant
- Text Messaging for Messages
- Two-way audio
- Video for the Video category
Pricing:
Pricing model: Per user, per month
- Essentials: $19.99
- Standard: $27.99
- Premium: $34.99
- Ultimate: $49.99
Free trial available
Pros:
- Diverse range of features
- Mobile-friendly
Cons:
- 24*7 Support lacking in essentials package
- Inefficient customer service
Overall rating: 4.3/5.0
Best for:
All types of businesses, across industries
Reviews:
“Almost the best UCaaS in the market for global businesses.”
“Overall RingCentral has been a great addition to my workplace and I recommend it.”
Support:
- Phone Support
- Email/Help Desk
- Chat
- FAQs/Forum
- Knowledge Base
- 24/7 Live representative
4. Nextiva
About:
Nextiva is a google voice alternative that terms its VoIP phone service as made for modern work. Its target audience is both small and established businesses and enterprises. It is a fully cloud-based VoIP service. It provides services for both business communication and contact centers.
Features:
- Call reporting
- Performance monitoring
- Trend analysis
- Performance gamification
- Call recording and sharing
- Customizable reports
Pricing:
- Essential package: $30.95
- Professional package: $35.95
- Enterprise package: $45.95
- Ultimate package: $75.95
Pricing model: Per user, per month
Pros:
- Unlimited voice and video calling
- Great support
Cons:
- Complicated user experience
Overall rating: 4.1 /5.0
Best for: Small businesses
Reviews:
“Using Nextiva we have reduced are phone bill, increased control over our phone system and added the ability to use the phone app.”
“Service is spotty, Calls get dropped, Phones disconnect from service, Voice Packets get lost.
Support:
- Forum
- Phone support
5. Ooma
About:
Ooma is yet another VoIP service that caters to both small businesses and enterprises. This google voice alternative is an award-winning VoIP service provider and has been termed as the best Google Voice Competitors by many articles out there.
Features:
- Phone Calls
- Video Calls
- Screen Sharing
- Conference Calls
- Desk to Desk calls
- On Hold Music
- Browser Extensions
Pricing:
Ooma has two plans, on a per-user per-month basis.
Ooma Office: $19.95
Ooma Office Pro: $24.95
Pros:
- Virtual Assistant even at the most basic plan level
- Cost-effective
Cons:
- Essential VoIP features are only available at higher package levels
- Overpaying for services that are currently of no use
Overall rating: 4.5 /5.0
Best for: Businesses of all sizes
Reviews:
“Great for small office/home office and smaller businesses. Great value, clear calls, and great reliability.”
“Voicemail transcription is an extra cost, as is PC/Mac softphone, which is a bummer.”
Support:
- Email/Help Desk
- FAQs/Forum
- Phone Support
- 24/7 (Live Rep)
- Chat
6. Freshdesk Contact Center
About:
Freshcaller is now called Freshdesk Contact Center. It provides a VoIP contact center solution to make handling calls easy.
Features:
- Phone services (buying local phone numbers, toll-free phone numbers masking calls)
- Call Center Setup (call routing, virtual bots, routing calls to voicemail)
- Call Center Management (call barging, call monitoring, analytics and reporting, call recording)
- Call Center Performance (caller IDs, Call Notes, Agent extensions)
Pricing:
Free package: $0
Growth package: $15
Pro package: $49
Enterprise package: $79
Pros:
- Easy call handling
Cons:
- Inefficient customer support
- Complicated pricing
Overall rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Best for: Businesses of all sizes, across various industries
Reviews:
“Happy, good support and account management and good value for money compared to other services in the market.”
“Freshdesk is a basic tool, not recommended for a fast-moving team.”
Support:
- Knowledge Base
- Email/Help Desk
- FAQs/Forum
- 24/7 (Live Rep)
- Phone Support
- Chat
7. Grasshopper
About:
Founded in 2003 grasshopper is one of the oldest VoIP service providers and a popular google voice alternative. Grasshopper’s website terms itself as the ‘affordable option for small business’. Grasshopper also provides a free trial.
Features:
- Business texting
- Call Forwarding
- Extensions
- Call Transfer
- Virtual Receptionist (Ruby)
- Voicemail transcription
Pricing:
Solo: $29
Partner: $49
Small business: $89
Flat rate, per month, billed annually
Pros:
- Unlimited calling and texting
- Affordable
Cons:
- Poor user experience
Overall rating: 4.4 /5.0
Best for: Small businesses
Reviews:
“Some of the features are not intuitive because you are using your mobile phone, desktop, or the app on your phone. The most frequently used feature is call transfer, and I have to look up how to do it every time or give the caller the correct extension and ask them to redial. It would be very helpful to have a transfer option built into the app itself.”
“The customizable hold music and voicemail are awesome. It really helps startups put the best voice forward facing to their prospects and patrons.”
Support:
- Email/Help Desk
- FAQs/Forum
- Knowledge Base
- Phone Support
- 24/7 (Live Rep)
- Chat
8. Telzio
About:
Telzio is different from its competitors in the respect that it allows an unlimited number of users if you use its platform. Telzio is quite extensive in the features that it offers.
Features:
- Call queue
- Call recording
- Text messaging
- Call forwarding
- Live reporting and monitoring
- Call analytics
- Internal extension-to-extension calling
Pricing:
One basic plan at $50 per user per month
Pros:
- Ease of use
- Good customer support
Cons:
- Average voicemail translation
Overall rating: 4.4 /5.0
Best for: Small businesses, non-profits, enterprises
Reviews:
“I have been looking now for a service that had everything we needed. Now I’m excited that I found a service with everything I needed and much more for a great cost.”
Support:
- Email/Help Desk
- Chat
- Knowledge Base
- 24/7 (Live Rep)
- Phone Support
9. Ringblaze
About:
Ringblaze is a google voice alternative that offers a pretty simple VoIP solution. It is simple and straightforward in the VoIP features it offers and how a team would be able to use it.
Features:
- Call logging
- Call recording
- Call transfer
- ‘Click-to-call’ widget
Pricing:
$19 per user per month, if billed monthly
$15 per user per month, if billed annually
Pros:
- Good customer support
- Ease of use
Cons:
- Limited features
- Better alternatives available
Overall rating: 4.0 /5.0
Best for: Small businesses
Reviews:
“Ringblaze is an amazing tool for any modern-day business! “
“Huge potential, but not there yet.”
Support:
- Email/Help Desk
- Chat
- Knowledge Base
10. Phone.com
About:
Phone.com is one of the cheapest google voice alternatives. It is a good option for businesses with small teams that do not need to handle a huge volume of calls.
Features:
- Call forwarding
- Call recording
- Call transfer
- On-hold music
- IVR
- Business text messaging
- Auto attendant
Pricing:
Base price: $12.99 per user per month
There are plans that charge as per each feature.
Pros:
- Multiple call routing options
Cons:
- Average customer experience
- Poor customer support
Overall rating: 3.9 /5.0
Best for: Small businesses
Reviews:
“The customer experience is horrendous. We deal with several software vendors and this one takes the top prize for the most impersonal and dismal customer experience.”
“I like that it’s scalable as my business grows and I can put a high-quality Polycom SIP phone right in my home office. The Android app is also useful if I want to make calls from that number remotely.”
Support:
- Knowledge Base
- Email/Help Desk
- FAQs/Forum
- Chat
- Phone Support
- 24/7 (Live Rep)
11. Sideline
About
Sideline is a google voice alternative that provides 2 numbers for you to use on a single device: personal and business. If you want to mute a particular line for a while, you will be able to do so. It is important to note that Sideline is not particularly a VoIP solution, it is mainly your phone’s second phone number.
Features:
- Unlimited calls and texts
- Auto reply
- Separate voicemail
- 2nd number
- Advanced number ID
Pricing
- Standard: $9.99
- Pro: $14.99
Pros:
- Ease of use
- Second phone number
Cons:
- Inefficiency in blocking numbers
- Poor customer service
Overall rating: 3.9 /5.0
Best for: Small businesses
Reviews:
“Worst customer service I have ever found! Cannot contact anyone via phone and have no response via email. My business needs customer support”
“I liked having two lines while carrying one cell phone. I liked it being anonymous to the party I was making business with.”
Support:
- 24/7 (Live Rep)
- Email/Help Desk
- Knowledge Base
- Chat
- FAQs/Forum
12. JustCall
About:
Justcall is a google voice alternative which is a cloud phone system built for small and medium businesses. Its services can be broken down into 3: An outbound call center for sales, a Contact center for support, and a Business Phone system.
Features:
- Automated text messaging
- Call forwarding
- Call whispering
- Voicemail by email
- Call distribution
- Call monitoring
- Conference calling
Pricing:
- Standard: $30
- Premium: $60
- Custom: Available on request
- Per user per month
Pros:
- Good configuration of end-user devices
- Ease of use
Cons:
- Issues with the call transfer system
- Poor customer support
Overall rating: 4.1 /5.0
Best for: Small and medium businesses
Reviews:
“JustCall has been a great addition to our systems and makes calling from the office or the road very easy.”
“The support is very poor. The entire team is overseas and communication is painful. The software is full of bugs. Have been trying for 6+ hours today to fix 1 small issue and they keep sending help articles. The articles are missing information so my issue is still not resolved. How can a phone service not offer phone support? Crazy.”
Support:
- Email/Help Desk
- Knowledge Base
- FAQs/Forum
- Chat
- 24/7 (Live Rep)
13. Skype
About:
Skype is perhaps known the best for its video conferencing feature, so much so that ‘skype’ is used by people around the world as a substitute for video calling. Currently, Skype is offering free calls to Ukraine and translation of voice and video calls from/to Ukrainian.
Features:
- HD audio and video calling
- Smart messaging
- Screen sharing
- Call recording
- International calling
Pricing:
$3.59 Per user per month
Pros:
- Good call quality
- End-to-end encryption
Cons
- Limited features
- Lagging and freezing issues
Overall rating: 4.2/ 5.0
Best for: Private users, small businesses
Reviews:
“Overall, Skype is a good product to have as an individual or as a business.”
“Connectivity (FREEZES) Issues. Lack of new features, it’s been the same for years.”
Support
- FAQs/Forum
- Knowledge Base
- Chat
14. Burner
About:
Phone Burner is a VoIP dialer software that caters to result-driven businesses. It allows call center agents to engage with customers just through a pair of headsets and a strong internet connection.
Features:
- Power dialer
- Call recording
- Call scripting
- Call monitoring
- Call routing
- Automatic call distribution
- Call transfer
Pricing
- Standard: $127
- Professional: $152
- Premium: $169
Per user, per month
Pros:
- Time-saving
- Good customer service
Cons:
- Lagging issues
Overall rating: 4.8 /5.0
Best for: B2B and B2C businesses
Reviews:
“PhoneBurner An Amazing Product For Business”
“Sometimes it becomes slow and freezes. Sometimes when using the pause it does not work and dial the phone number and when you click pause again, the call is cut off and goes on to the next one.”
Support:
- Chat
- Email/Help Desk
- Knowledge Base
- FAQs/Forum
- Phone Support
15. Microsoft Teams
About:
Microsoft teams has found a lot of users with the dawn of the pandemic. Microsoft has constantly evolved Teams, adding more features on a seemingly weekly basis.
Features:
- Call recording
- Call queues
- Cloud voicemail
- Call management
- Screen sharing
Pricing:
- Free version
- Essentials: $4
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50
Per user per month
Annual subscription
Pros:
- Cost-effective
Cons:
- Difficulty in navigating the computer app
Overall rating: 4.5/ 5.0
Best for: Internal communication, small businesses
Reviews:
“I like this software because it is secure and allow file transfer while having a fast, good quality meeting.”
“Sync with desktop prone to errors. The UI for editing in teams is horrible and prone to errors.”
Support:
- FAQs/Forum
- Email/Help Desk
- Knowledge Base
- Chat
- 24/7 (Live Rep)
Conclusion
You might need a VoIP solution as a support system for your business, for sales or even for marketing purposes. For the latter situation, it would be best if you look into a service that provides all the VoIP features along with business texting, a solution for missed calls, automation, etc to name a few.
Once you are clear about your needs and goals, making a decision can become a little less complicated. Some of the VoIP providers also offer a 7-day free trial that could help you in making a decision.
All in all, having a VoIP solution for your business is going to prove more beneficial to you than a traditional landline system, so don’t hesitate to do your research and finalize one of these google voice alternatives today!
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