Ooma vs Grasshopper vs Emitrr: Which is the Better VoIP Solution?

Introduction

Picking the right VoIP phone system for your small business can be tricky. Ooma and Grasshopper are two well-known options, each offering a mix of calling, texting, and business-friendly features. But how do they compare? And more importantly, do they truly meet your needs?

That’s where this blog comes in. We’re breaking down Ooma vs. Grasshopper vs. Emitrr, comparing their pricing, features, and how they handle VoIP texting apps. And if you’re looking for a more flexible and cost-effective alternative, you’ll see how Emitrr offers a better solution for many businesses.

By the end, you’ll have all the insights you need to choose the right VoIP system—one that keeps you connected, efficient, and ready to grow. 

What is Ooma?

Ooma is a VoIP provider offering communication solutions for businesses and individuals. It includes essential calling features such as call forwarding, call routing, call recording, and voicemail transcription. Known for its affordability and ease of use, Ooma is designed to provide reliable phone service with straightforward functionality.

What is Grasshopper?

Grasshopper is a virtual phone system designed for small businesses, offering core VoIP features like call forwarding, call routing, and voicemail transcription. It provides a simple and easy-to-use solution but lacks advanced functionalities like AI features, integrations, and team collaboration tools. While it works well for solopreneurs and small teams, it may not be ideal for businesses needing scalability and advanced communication features.

Ooma vs. Grasshopper: Feature Comparison

Let’s explore a detailed comparison of the features offered by both platforms, examining them one by one:

Ooma Features

• Call Forwarding – Redirect incoming calls to another number to ensure availability.
• Call Routing – Directs calls to the appropriate person or department based on set rules.
• Call Queuing – Places callers in a queue when all agents are busy, improving call handling.
• Call Queuing Groups – Allows grouping of agents for efficient call distribution.
• IVR Menu/Call Tree – An interactive voice menu that helps route calls based on user input.
• Call Recording – Records and stores calls for quality monitoring and compliance.
• Call Conferencing – Enables multiple participants to join a single call.
• User Extensions – Assigns unique extensions for different users or departments.
• Business Working Hours Setup – Allows businesses to define when they are available to receive calls.
• Multi-location Setup (Limited) – Provides some support for businesses operating in multiple locations.
• Auto Attendants – Automated virtual receptionist to guide callers to the right destination.
• Voicemail Transcription – Converts voicemails into text for easy access and reference.
• Two-way Texting – Allows businesses to communicate via SMS with customers.
• Broadcast/Bulk SMS (Limited) – Send bulk messages for promotions or updates to multiple recipients.

Grasshopper Features

• Call Forwarding – Redirects incoming calls to another phone number, ensuring you never miss a call.
• Call Routing – Directs calls to the appropriate person or department based on predefined rules.
• Call Recording – Allows users to record calls for future reference, training, or compliance purposes.
• Call Conferencing – Enables multiple people to join a call, making collaboration easier.
• User Extensions – Provides unique extensions for team members, helping with call management and internal communication.
• Business Working Hours Setup – Let’s users define business hours so calls can be routed accordingly.
• Auto Attendants – Provides an automated menu system to greet and guide callers to the right extension.
• Two-Way Texting – Enables businesses to send and receive text messages with customers.
• Voicemail Transcription – Converts voicemails into text, making it easier to review messages without listening to them.

Here is a quick comparison of the features of Ooma, Grasshopper, and Emitrr:

Features	Ooma	Grasshopper	Emitrr
Call Forwarding	Yes	Yes	Yes
Call Routing	Yes	Yes	Yes
Call Queuing	Yes	No	Yes
Call Queuing Groups	Yes	No	Yes
IVR Menu/ Call Tree	Yes	No	Yes
Call Recording	Yes	Yes	Yes
Call Conferencing	Yes	Yes	Yes
User Extensions	Yes	Yes	Yes
Business Working Hours Set Up	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multi-location Set Up	Limited	No	Yes
Auto Attendants	Yes	Yes	Yes
Missed call to text	No	No	Yes
Two-way texting	Yes	Yes	Yes
Group Texting	No	No	Yes
Webchat-to-Text	No	No	Yes
Team Chat	No	No	Yes
Facebook Messenger	No	No	Yes
Voicemail Transcription	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto-responders	No	No	Yes
AI Receptionist	No	No	Yes
Schedule-based texting	No	No	Yes
Broadcast/Bulk SMS	Limited	Limited	Yes
Appointment Scheduling	No	No	Yes
Automated Reminders	No	No	Yes
Reviews + Reputation	No	No	Yes
Customer Surveys	No	No	Yes
Digital Forms	No	No	Yes
Customer Recall	No	No	Yes
Birthday wishes	No	No	Yes
24/7 Customer Support	No	No	Yes

Ooma vs. Grasshopper: Pricing Comparison

Here’s a pricing comparison of Ooma and Grasshopper to help you determine which platform offers the best value for your needs. Let’s start with Ooma:

Ooma Pricing

Ooma Office offers three pricing plans tailored for businesses of all sizes:

• Essentials
• Pro
• Pro Plus

Each plan comes with internet calling, phone management tools, and real-time customer support. With no long-term contracts, Ooma keeps pricing simple and flexible, starting at $19.95 per user per month.

Grasshopper Pricing

Grasshopper offers three pricing plans tailored for businesses of all sizes which start from $31 per user per month: 

• Solo
• Partner
• Small Business

Ooma vs. Grasshopper: Pros and Cons

Let’s explore the pros and cons of Ooma and Grasshopper to determine which suits your business needs best:

Ooma Pros

• Simple Setup Process – Easy to install and get started without extensive technical expertise.
• No Contracts Required – Users can subscribe on a month-to-month basis without long-term commitments.
• Scalable for Growing Businesses – Can accommodate small businesses looking to expand their phone systems.
• Offers a Physical Device Option – Unlike many cloud-only providers, Ooma provides hardware solutions for businesses that prefer on-premise VoIP setups.

Ooma Cons

• False Promises – Customers report discrepancies between advertised features and actual performance.
• Limited Feature Set – Lacks many advanced VoIP functionalities compared to competitors.
• No Call Hold or Transfer – Lacks basic call management options, making it inconvenient for businesses.
• Poorly Designed User Interface – The platform is not intuitive, leading to usability issues.
• Rude Customer Service – Users have reported unhelpful and dismissive support experiences.
• Security Concerns – Allegations of insufficient protection against data breaches.
• Unreliable Messaging – Some users face issues with messages not being received.
• Call Forwarding Issues – Calls do not always get forwarded as expected, causing disruptions.

Grasshopper Pros

• User-Friendly for Beginners – Designed for those who need a simple and straightforward phone system.
• Mobile Accessibility – Allows users to manage calls from their smartphones or existing devices.
• Affordable for Solopreneurs – A cost-effective option for freelancers and very small businesses.
• Virtual Phone System – Provides a business number separate from personal lines for professional use.

Grasshopper Cons

• Poor Customer Support – Users report slow response times and unhelpful support.
• Unreliable Text Messaging – Messages often fail to send or receive properly.
• Missed Calls & System Delays – Calls frequently get missed due to system inefficiencies.
• Difficult to Use – The platform is not intuitive and takes time to learn.
• Lack of Analytics – No reporting or insights into call performance.
• Frequent Logouts – Users get automatically logged out, disrupting workflow.
• Low Call Quality – Calls may drop, lag, or suffer from poor audio clarity.
• No Caller ID Visibility – Users cannot see caller names, making it harder to manage calls.
• Loss of Data After Number Porting – Call logs, voicemails, and texts are erased when numbers are moved to another provider.

When to use Ooma?

Ooma is a reliable VoIP phone system designed for small businesses that need an affordable and easy-to-use solution. It’s a great choice for:

• Budget-Friendly Business Communication – Ooma offers cost-effective plans with essential features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and a virtual receptionist, making it ideal for startups and small businesses.
• Call Management & Automation – With features like virtual receptionists, call blocking, and call routing, Ooma helps businesses handle incoming calls efficiently without the need for a full-time receptionist.
• Remote & Mobile Work – The Ooma mobile app allows businesses to make and receive calls from anywhere, ensuring seamless communication for remote teams.

When to use Grasshopper?

Grasshopper is a virtual phone system designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses that need a professional business number without complicated setup. It’s a great choice for:

• Solo Entrepreneurs & Small Teams – Grasshopper provides a business phone number with call forwarding to personal devices, helping small teams maintain a professional presence.
• Simple & Quick Setup – No hardware or complicated installation is needed—just choose a number, download the app, and start making business calls.
• Multiple Extensions Without Extra Phones – Businesses can set up multiple extensions for different departments or team members, all linked to existing personal devices.

Emitrr: The Better Alternative to Ooma and Grasshopper

Emitrr is powerful VoIP phone software designed to streamline business communication with advanced automation and AI capabilities. It offers features like call forwarding, call routing, voicemail-to-text, call recording, and SMS capabilities, ensuring seamless connectivity. With an AI receptionist to handle calls, automate responses, and improve customer engagement, businesses can enhance efficiency and never miss an important call. Emitrr’s VoIP solution is built for industries like healthcare, home services, and local businesses, providing a reliable, intelligent, and scalable communication system. 

Emitrr Features

VoIP Features

• IVR/Call Tree – Allows multi-level IVR setup to route calls based on caller input, forwarding calls to specific numbers, extensions, or another call tree.
• Call Forwarding – Redirect calls to another extension, number, or voicemail when unavailable.
• Call Queue Groups – Routes calls to predefined teams with customizable rules.
• Missed Call Handling – Redirects missed calls to another extension, number, or voicemail.
• User Extensions – Each team member gets a unique user extension number.
• Multi-Location Setup – Manage multiple locations from a single platform.
• During and After-Hours Routing – Route calls differently based on business hours.
• Call Recording – Enable/disable call recording for training or compliance.
• Business Working Hours Setup – Define standard business hours to automate after-hours call handling.

Emitrr AI Receptionist

• AI-Powered Receptionist – The AI receptionist answers 100% of customer calls, even outside business hours.
• 24/7 Appointment Management – Handles bookings, rescheduling, and confirmations while syncing with CRM/EMR/PMS.
• Intelligent Inquiry Handling – Provides instant AI responses to common customer queries, reducing wait times.
• Automated Customer Outreach – Proactively contacts customers for confirmations, reminders, and follow-ups, reducing no-shows.
• Smart Call Routing – Engages callers in preliminary conversations and routes them to the right department efficiently.

Texting Features

• Bulk/Mass Text Messaging – Bulk texting sends thousands of messages with a 98% open rate, personalize campaigns, and integrate with CRM/EMR/PMS.
• Automated Text Reminders – Schedule appointment reminders via text, email, and voice with options for rescheduling or cancellations.
• Online Appointment Bookings – Enable self-scheduling via website or link with automated confirmations and reminders.
• And more… 

Future AI Capabilities

• AI Outbound Calling – Automates customer outreach.
• Expanded AI Inquiry Handling – Enhances AI’s ability to answer a broader range of queries.
• AI-Powered Voicemail Management – Listens to and responds to voicemails automatically.
• Automated SMS Conversations – Engages customers via AI-powered text responses.
• Increased Customization & Personalization – Businesses can tailor AI responses to their workflows.

Emitrr Pricing

Emitrr offers different pricing plans for different capabilities. For VoIP, there are two pricing plans: Standard and Professional. 

Standard Plan

• Annually: $20 per user per month
• Monthly: $25 per user per month

Professional Plan

• Annually: $25 per user per month
• Monthly: $30 per user per month

Emitrr Integrations

Emitrr integrates with over 1000+ CRM systems, making automation and customer engagement effortless by eliminating manual work and boosting efficiency.

Integrations include:

• Zapier
• Mailchimp 
• HubSpot
• AthenaHealth
• Denticon
• Curve Hero
• Dentrix
• Dentrix Enterprise
• Dentrix Ascend
• Dolphin
• DrChrono
• eClinicalWorks
• Eaglesoft
• OpenDental
• Orthotrac
• Kareo
• Practiceworks
• Acuity Scheduling
• HousecallPro

Emitrr Reviews

Emitrr has a customer rating of 4.8 on Capterra and 4.7 on G2, and here’s what customers are saying about it: 

“You have it all integrated into one platform, the signatures, the amount of characters, you can attach files, send photos. You can create and send forms. Unlimited amount of things we can use and take advantage of.”

“I LOVE Emitrr. The support you get is wonderful, the app is easy to use and they have been incredibly responsive. As a small business, we needed a messaging platform that wouldn’t break the bank and this meets all our needs (and then some) without making us feel overwhelmed.”

Source: Capterra

Ooma vs. Grasshopper: Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Choosing the right VoIP phone system depends on what works best for your business. Ooma and Grasshopper both have their advantages—Ooma offers strong call management features, while Grasshopper provides a simple virtual phone setup for small businesses.

Emitrr takes it a step further with smart automation, VoIP texting, and round-the-clock support, offering a more dynamic way to manage business communication. Schedule a free demo with Emitrr today and explore a better way to stay connected!