Top 5 VOIP Phone Systems For Churches

Introduction

As the digital world is taking a new course, churches are also finding ways to stay connected with their communities. One of the most preferred softwares is the VOIP phone system. VOIP systems allow churches to manage calls, messages and communication at ease, no matter the size of the audience. Churches find VOIP easy to use for scheduling services, staying in touch with the members, or providing spiritual support. A reliable VOIP system makes managing phone calls a piece of cake. In this blog, let us explore the top 5 VOIP phone systems that are the best fit for churches and deep-dive into the features and other aspects of the softwares.

Top 5 VOIP Phone Systems For Churches

1. Emitrr
2. RingCentral
3. Vonage
4. Ooma
5. Grasshopper

Top VoIP Software for Churches: A Quick Comparison

Key Highlights:

1. Emitrr leads the pack, with Aircall and Vonage following closely, both offering similar features.  
2. Grasshopper lacks many key features compared to its competitors, while Ooma is a good option for churches needing fewer, basic features.

How Does VOIP Phone System Work For Churches?

VOIP is a life-saver for churches that offers modern and cost-effective ways to keep the congregation connected. Imagine the church office easily handling calls from members wanting to confirm service times or check in on events, all without worrying about high phone bills. With VOIP, staff can take calls from anywhere, whether they’re in the church office or on the go. It’s as simple as answering a phone call on their mobile device or laptop. Plus, VOIP comes with cool features like voicemail-to-email, so no message is ever missed and it is perfect for those times when a quick call-back is needed during busy Sunday mornings.

Now, think about those big events—maybe it’s the annual fundraiser, a wedding, or even a last-minute prayer request. With VOIP, churches can easily set up automated menus to direct callers to the right person or department, so they’re never left waiting. Want to make announcements on upcoming church activities? Group calls can be sent out to notify everyone at once. In short, VOIP helps churches manage their communications like a pro, all while keeping things simple and affordable.

Benefits of Using VOIP For Churches

Cost-effective Communication

VOIP systems use the internet to make calls, which significantly lowers costs for both local and international calls. This allows churches to communicate with members and ministries around the world without the burden of high phone bills.

Better Connectivity

VOIP makes it easy for church staff to stay connected, whether they’re in the office, at home, or even traveling. Calls can be answered from mobile phones, computers, or tablets, ensuring that pastors and staff are always available when needed, no matter where they are.

Flexible Communication

With VOIP, calls can be forwarded to different devices, so church leaders don’t have to be tied to a desk to answer important calls. This is especially helpful for emergencies or urgent needs outside of regular office hours.

Scalability

As the church expands, adding new phone lines or features is effortless with VOIP. Whether it’s a growing staff or new ministries being added, VOIP systems can easily scale to meet the church’s needs without the hassle or expense of traditional phone systems.

Watch this quick video see how VoIP differs from traditional phone systems:

Improved Collaboration

VOIP enables church staff and volunteers to communicate more effectively through features like conference calls, group messaging, and virtual meetings. This helps teams work together smoothly, whether they’re planning events, coordinating services, or managing day-to-day operations.

Must-Have Features In A VOIP Software For Churches

Call Forwarding

Call forwarding feature allows incoming calls to be redirected to different devices or numbers, ensuring that calls are answered even when staff are away from the office or in meetings.

Auto-Responders

Auto-responders answer calls and provide a menu of options for callers. This helps direct them to the right department or person, streamlining communication and reducing wait times. This feature can also reduce manual effort and ensure that no calls go unanswered.

Conference Calling

With the conference calling feature you can enable multiple people to join a call simultaneously, which is ideal for coordinating with staff, organizing events, or holding prayer meetings with several participants.

Call Recording

With the call recording feature, you can effortlessly record conversations for later review. This is valuable for training, tracking important discussions, and keeping a record of communications with the congregation.

Caller ID

When Caller ID displays the caller’s information, it helps staff quickly recognize and prioritize calls from church members, volunteers, or other important contacts.

Mobile Integration

Mobile integration allows staff to make and receive calls on their mobile devices, ensuring they stay connected with the church community even while on the go.

Group Messaging

Group messaging enables you to send updates, changes, or announcements to multiple recipients at once, making it effortless to keep congregation members informed and engaged with church events.

Deep Look Into The Top 5 VOIP Phone Systems For Churches

Emitrr

Emitrr offers the best communication platform with VOIP and texting features at its core. Whether it’s making VoIP calls or sending texts on the go, Emitrr has your back for seamless communication. Our cutting-edge texting features and user-friendly interface make staying connected effortless. 

Key Features of Emitrr

IVR/Call Tree

• You can set up 1 or multiple Call Trees
• Forward calls on key press to
  • Phone number
  • Extension
  • Call Queue Groups
  • Ring Everyone
  • To another call tree 

Call queue groups

• Setup call groups with multiple extensions/team members
• Define call routing rules for each call queue group
  • Call forwarding
    • Simultaneously
    • Sequentially
  • When call is missed
    • To another extension
    • To a number
    • To a voicemail

Extensions

• Setup multiple extensions – one for each individual user
  • Setup user hours
  • Setup user availability by day
  • Setup call forwarding rules for each user/extension 

General phone settings

• Define how your VOIP is setup during and after hours
  • Ring everyone
  • Ring an extension
  • Forward to a call tree/IVR etc
  • Call recording settings – Automatically record / not record all calls
  • Setup general business working hours

Bulk/Mass Text Messaging

• Send 1000s of text messages and achieve 98% open rate
• Send personalized 2-way text messages at a scale
• Create groups for sending text messages to a group of customers 
• Import your contacts and lists to the platform with few clicks
• Create lists to segment your audience and set up multi-touch text messaging campaigns
• Automatically sync data from your current CRM. Emitrr supports over 500+ integrations 
• Automatically follow up using drip campaigns
• Send automated reminders by text, email, and voice
• Use editable templates to personalize your reminders
• Define your reminder cadence and frequency – weekly, daily, hourly, or on the same day

Emitrr Pros

• Provides robust Text messaging features
• Excellent calling quality 
• 5-star customer support
• Dedicated onboarding team
• 1000+ Integrations for workflow automations

Emitrr Cons

• More advanced VoIP features are yet to be launched

Emitrr Pricing

• Contact Team Emitrr to get a quote 

Emitrr Reviews

Vonage

Vonage offers VOIP communication solutions. Offering a suite of services including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems, messaging, and video conferencing, Vonage caters to diverse organizational needs. In the next section, we’ll examine Vonage as an alternative to other communication platforms such as Dialpad. We’ll explore its features, reviews, and applicability across various business contexts, enabling you to make an informed decision about your communication strategy.

Key Features of Vonage

Automatic Call Distribution: Automatically routes incoming calls to the most appropriate agent or department based on predefined criteria, enhancing efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Call Center Management: Provides tools to manage and optimize call center operations, including agent performance monitoring, queue management, and reporting.

Call Conferencing: Enables multiple parties to participate in a single call, fostering collaboration and facilitating meetings without the need for physical presence.

Call Recording: Allows users to record calls for quality assurance, compliance, or training purposes, providing a valuable resource for reviewing interactions with customers or clients.

Call Routing: Directs incoming calls to specific destinations or individuals based on predefined rules or criteria, ensuring calls are efficiently handled and directed.

Call Transfer: Enables seamless transfer of calls between agents or departments, allowing for smooth escalation or handoff of customer inquiries or issues.

Caller ID: Displays identifying information about the incoming caller, such as their phone number or name, providing context to the recipient before answering the call.

Caller ID: Displays identifying information about the incoming caller, such as their phone number or name, providing context to the recipient before answering the call.

Vonage Drawbacks

• Bad customer support: Vonage’s customer support may not meet expectations, leading to frustration and difficulty in resolving issues effectively.
• Desktop app crashes frequently: Users may encounter frequent crashes when using Vonage’s desktop application, disrupting workflow and causing inconvenience.
• App often freezes: The Vonage app may experience frequent freezing, hindering smooth communication and productivity.
• Limited integrations: Vonage may have limited integrations with other software and tools, limiting its compatibility and functionality in certain business environments.
• Fake promises: Vonage may make promises or claims that are not fulfilled, leading to disappointment and loss of trust among users.
• Not easy to use: Vonage’s interface and features may not be intuitive or user-friendly, resulting in a steep learning curve and difficulties in navigation.
• Compulsory contract signing: Users may be required to sign compulsory contracts with Vonage, restricting flexibility and imposing long-term commitments.
• Poor call quality: Vonage’s call quality may be subpar, leading to unclear audio and frustrating communication experiences for users and customers.
• Non-reliable service: Vonage’s service may suffer from unreliability, causing disruptions and potentially impacting business operations.
• Call forwarding does not work: Users may encounter issues with Vonage’s call forwarding feature, leading to missed calls and communication delays.
• Don’t get notifications for missed calls or texts: Users may not receive notifications for missed calls or text messages on Vonage, potentially causing delays in responding to important communications.
• Gets stuck all the time, does not answer phone calls, drops calls on hold: Users may experience frequent issues with Vonage’s performance, including being stuck, unresponsive, and dropping calls unexpectedly, leading to frustration and inefficiency.

Vonage Pricing

• Vonage Business Essentials: Starting at around $19.99 per user per month, this plan includes basic features like unlimited calls within the U.S. and Canada, voicemail, and call forwarding.

• Vonage Business Premium: Priced at approximately $29.99 per user per month, this plan adds more advanced features such as video conferencing, call recording, and enhanced integrations.

• Vonage Business Communications: This plan, starting around $39.99 per user per month, includes all features from the Premium plan plus additional tools like CRM integration and advanced analytics.

Vonage Reviews

Ooma

Ooma is a VoIP phone designed to streamline business operations and enhance connectivity. While it boasts features aimed at improving collaboration and customer interactions, it’s important to take a closer look at what Ooma has to offer for businesses wanting to evaluate their communication.

Key Features of Ooma

Call Center Management: Ooma offers tools to efficiently manage call center operations, including call routing, agent performance tracking, and queue management, aimed at improving customer service and productivity.

Call Conferencing: Ooma facilitates seamless conference calls, allowing multiple participants to join meetings and collaborate effectively, enhancing communication within teams and with clients.

Call Recording: Ooma provides call recording functionality, enabling businesses to record and store conversations for training purposes, quality assurance, and compliance with industry regulations.

Caller ID: Ooma displays caller identification information, allowing users to see the incoming caller’s phone number or name before answering the call, enhancing call screening and prioritization.

Chat/Messaging: Ooma offers chat and messaging capabilities, enabling real-time communication between team members and clients, fostering collaboration and quick information exchange.

Multi-Channel Communication: Ooma supports various communication channels, including voice calls, messaging, and conferencing, allowing users to communicate seamlessly across different platforms and devices.

VoIP Connection: Ooma leverages Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to establish high-quality voice connections over the internet, offering flexibility, cost savings, and scalability for businesses.

Ooma Drawbacks

• False Promises: Users have reported instances of Ooma failing to deliver on promised features or performance, leading to disappointment and frustration.
• Limited Features: Ooma may lack advanced features compared to competitors, limiting its functionality and versatility for businesses with complex communication needs.
• Lack of Call Hold/Transfer: Ooma’s absence of call hold and transfer features can hinder efficient call management, potentially leading to delays and disruptions in customer service.
• Poorly Designed User Interface: Some users find Ooma’s user interface to be poorly designed and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate and utilize effectively.
• Rude Customer Service: Ooma’s customer service representatives have been criticized for being rude or unhelpful, resulting in negative experiences and dissatisfaction among users.

Ooma Pricing

Ooma Office Essentials: Priced at around $19.95 per user per month, this plan includes features like unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada, voicemail, call forwarding, and mobile app access.

Ooma Office Professional: At approximately $24.95 per user per month, this plan adds advanced features such as video conferencing, call recording, and an extended auto-attendant.

Ooma Office Pro Plus: Starting at about $29.95 per user per month, this plan includes all Professional features plus enhanced call blocking and CRM integration.

Ooma Reviews

Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a virtual phone system designed for small businesses and entrepreneurs. With Grasshopper, users can easily manage their communication needs, keep personal and professional calls separate, and stay connected with clients. In the next section, we’ll explore Grasshopper’s features and benefits, helping you understand how it can enhance your business communications.

Key Features of Grasshopper

Automated Attendant: Grasshopper’s automated system directs callers to the right department or person with custom greetings.

Automatic Call Distribution: Calls are automatically routed to available agents or departments for efficient handling.

Call Center Management: Tools for monitoring agent performance, tracking calls, and generating reports streamline call center operations.

Call Conferencing: Easily set up conference calls for collaboration with clients or team members.

Call Logging: Detailed call logs provide insights into call activity, helping track trends and improve efficiency.

Call Monitoring: Supervisors can monitor live calls for coaching and quality control purposes.

Call Routing: Customize call handling based on factors like time, location, or keywords for better customer service.

Grasshopper Drawbacks

• Inadequate customer support: Grasshopper’s customer support may not effectively address user issues or provide timely assistance.
• Text messaging functionality is unreliable: Users may encounter difficulties with Grasshopper’s text messaging feature, experiencing issues with sending or receiving messages.
• System inefficiencies lead to missed calls: Grasshopper’s system may be time-consuming to navigate, resulting in missed calls and potential customer dissatisfaction.
• Complex interface complicates usage: The system’s interface may be overly complex, making it difficult for users to understand and utilize its features effectively.
• Lack of analytics tools: Grasshopper lacks comprehensive analytics capabilities, limiting users’ ability to track performance metrics and gain insights from call data.
• Frequent automatic logouts: Users may experience frequent automatic logouts from the Grasshopper system, disrupting workflow and causing inconvenience.
• Poor call quality: Grasshopper may suffer from subpar call quality, leading to unclear audio and frustrating communication experiences for users and customers.
• Inability to view caller names: Users may not be able to see the names of incoming callers, making it challenging to identify and prioritize important calls.
• Loss of data when porting numbers: When porting numbers to another provider, users may lose access to all associated records, including text messages, call logs, and voicemails, which can result in data loss and operational setbacks.

Grasshopper Pricing

Solo: Starting at $29 per month, this plan includes one phone number and one extension, offering features like unlimited calls and texts, voicemail, and call forwarding.

Partner: Priced at $49 per month, this plan provides one phone number with up to three extensions, including all features from the Solo plan plus additional extensions and enhanced call management tools.

Small Business: At $89 per month, this plan includes one phone number with up to five extensions, offering more comprehensive features and capabilities, including advanced call handling and management.

Grasshopper Reviews

Aircall

Aircall is a phone and communication platform aimed at enhancing business communication and collaboration. While it promises to streamline workflows and improve customer interactions, it’s essential to examine its features and functionalities to determine if it aligns with your organization’s needs.

Key Features of Aircall

Call Center Management: Aircall provides tools to efficiently manage call center operations, including call routing, agent performance tracking, and queue management, aimed at improving customer service and productivity.

Call Conferencing: Aircall facilitates seamless conference calls, allowing multiple participants to join meetings and collaborate effectively, enhancing communication within teams and with clients.

Call Queues: Aircall’s call queue feature organizes incoming calls and distributes them to available agents, reducing wait times for callers and ensuring efficient handling of customer inquiries.

Call Recording: Aircall offers call recording functionality, enabling businesses to record and store conversations for training purposes, quality assurance, and compliance with industry regulations.

CRM Integration: Aircall integrates with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, allowing agents to access customer information during calls, personalize interactions, and streamline workflows.

Real-Time Reporting: Aircall provides real-time reporting and analytics tools, allowing businesses to monitor call metrics, track agent performance, and make data-driven decisions to optimize communication processes.

VoIP Connection: Aircall leverages Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to establish high-quality voice connections over the internet, offering flexibility, cost savings, and scalability for businesses.

Aircall Drawbacks

• Limited Integrations: Aircall’s integration options are limited, potentially restricting its compatibility with other software systems and limiting workflow automation possibilities.
• High Price: Aircall’s pricing may be considered relatively high compared to competitors, making it less accessible for smaller businesses or those operating on a tight budget.
• Contract: Aircall may require users to sign lengthy contracts, locking them into a commitment that could be inconvenient or restrictive.
• Billing Team Ethics: Some users have reported ethical concerns regarding Aircall’s billing team, suggesting potential issues with transparency or fair billing practices.
• Unstable Connection: Aircall’s connection stability may be inconsistent, leading to dropped calls or poor call quality, which can disrupt business operations and frustrate users.

Aircall Pricing

Essential: Starting at $30 per user per month, this plan includes features like unlimited calling in the U.S., call management, and basic reporting tools.

Professional: Priced at around $50 per user per month, this plan adds advanced features such as integrations with CRM systems, call recording, and analytics.

Custom: For larger businesses with more specific needs, Aircall offers a Custom plan. Pricing for this plan varies and includes additional features like advanced analytics, dedicated account management, and personalized support.

Aircall Reviews

Why Emitrr Is The Best VOIP For Churches?

Emitrr is your go-to solution for boosting customer communication and experiences through VOIP and Text Messaging. Packed with a range of features and over 1000 integrations for automated tasks, it’s a rising star on review platforms like Capterra, G2, and Software Advice.

Unlike other options, Emitrr goes above and beyond VOIP features. Perfect for businesses aiming to save 100+ manual hours, 3x their team productivity, and supercharge lead conversion by 10x. Experience the future of customer communication and engagement with Emitrr.

With Emitrr you can – 

• Access Emitrr’s cloud phone on any desktop or app unlike legacy phone systems. This will help you receive and make calls from anywhere and everywhere. 
• You can sync with internal team members using extensions with direct dial.

• You can delight members with advanced call routing/trees, call queues, extensions, transfers, and a lot more
• Record your calls, make notes to monitor call quality, usage, and more
• Move beyond stand-alone phone systems with the power of text, web chat, group chats, bulk SMS, automation, and a lot more

• Never miss a call with automated missed call-to-text capabilities
• Allow members to respond to your promotional texts which go right into your inbox
• Check metrics for incoming, outgoing and missed calls for day, week, month
• Look at your team’s performance through metrics – Total Answered Calls, Avg. Answered Call Duration, Total Outgoing Calls, Avg. Outgoing Call Duration

How Emitrr Stands Out From Other Alternatives?

Emitrr Offers the best of all the VOIP, Texting Features along with top-notch customer support and more. Let’s have a look at how Emitrr’s other offerings that makes it the best VOIP choice for your church. 

• Excellent call quality – no delays, no call drops
• Transparent pricing – no hidden charges
• 24/7 Human Support – Via Text, Email and Phone
• Centralized platform for texting and calling with a single number
• Make the switch and enjoy 24/7 support via text, email, and phone. Don’t feel stuck again
• Free onboarding and training support for all the plans
• 1000+ CRM integrations to automate workflows

FAQs

Conclusion

VoIP technology offers churches a lot of great benefits, like saving money, growing with your needs, and providing flexible, easy-to-use communication tools. With a reliable provider like Emitrr, your church can have a secure and efficient system that fits perfectly with what you need. We hope this overview has helped you understand how VoIP can improve your church’s communication. Interested in seeing how it works? Book a quick demo and find out how VoIP can make a difference for your church!