Finding the right VoIP phone service for your business can be a difficult task. With dozens of options to choose from, how do you know which provider to trust with your business communication?
One provider that might have appeared on your list is Vonage Business. It is a cloud-based communications provider that helps small and midsize businesses communicate both internally and externally. Vonage offers a variety of internet phone features, ranging from voice and video conferencing to team chat.
Vonage also prides itself on its customer service. However, it recently announced that its support team moved to chat-only, which may affect how customers receive support from the provider. Prince Rich of Rich Technology Group breaks it down below:
If you’re looking for a Vonage Business alternative that offers great customer support and extra features, we compared the top 10 Vonage Business alternatives, including:
1. Nextiva
Nextiva is a cloud-based communications platform that has been around since 2006. They provide business communications to companies of all sizes, more recently, the Pac-12 Conference decided to completely overhaul their traditional phone system with Nextiva. On third-party review sites like G2 and Gartner, Nextiva ranks highly compared to other solutions.
Nextiva was named the #1 rated business phone system of 2020, according to U.S. News. More than 100,000 companies today are using Nextiva to take their business communications to the next level.
What are some of its top features?
We’ve listed Nextiva as the #1 alternative to Vonage Business because of the robust suite of features included in their plans. Some of the most noteworthy include:
- International calling: You’re able to make long-distance, international calls using Nextiva’s VoIP phone system. The best part – it’s much cheaper than traditional landline calls, especially if the person you’re calling is also using VoIP.
- Auto-attendant: Greet incoming callers with a professional message. Nextiva’s auto-attendant uses your phone dial pad to route incoming callers as quickly and efficiently as possible to the right departments.
- Voice and video conferencing: With the acceleration of remote work, you need a way to collaborate with your team outside the office. Nextiva’s in-app voice and video conferencing tools allow for smooth communication.
- Mobile phone and desktop apps: Nextiva’s app is compatible with Mac, iOS, Android, and Windows. Your team will be able to take business calls wherever they are, so long as they’ve got an internet-connected device.
- Team chat: Ditch the need for several chat tools with Nextiva. You’ll be able to create channels for each department, host video conferences as a team, and send direct messages, all inside one platform.
Reliability, support, and security
Nextiva has eight military-grade data centers at various points across the U.S. Should one network have connection issues, your business’ phone system will be automatically routed through a fully-functioning center. It’s why their uptime is 99.999%; gold-standard in the communications industry.
Nextiva also has best-in-class customer support. You can easily reach a human support agent if you’re experiencing any problems. But in most cases, they’ll reach out to you with a rundown of any issues before you even notice them.
Nextiva pricing options
Pricing for Nextiva’s business communication suite starts from less than $18 per month. However, they do have several pricing tiers depending on the features your business needs.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s included in each plan:
- Essential Plan: The best option for companies who want essential communication tools like video conferencing, toll-free numbers, and unlimited calling. For this plan, pricing starts at $17.95 per user, per month.
- Professional Plan: A superb option for smaller teams who want some bonus features on top of the basic package, such as voicemail to SMS and email. For this plan, pricing starts at $21.95 per user, per month.
- Enterprise Plan: The best option for small or midsize companies making more calls, conferences, and chats. It includes some extra bonus features like call recording and voicemail transcription. For this plan, pricing starts at $31.95 per user, per month.
- Ultimate Plan: Get every tool Nextiva has to offer with this tier, including sales pipeline management, customer journey analytics, and service ticket management. For this plan, pricing starts at $52.95 per user, per month.
2. GoToConnect
Formerly known as Jive, GoToConnect has a suite of VoIP products that help businesses communicate. They’re best known for their phone system that can customize how you accept inbound calls.
What are some of its top features?
All GoToConnect packages include the 80+ features their communications platform has to offer. Amongst their best features are:
- Customizable call flows: GoToConnect has a drag-and-drop interface that helps you customize the route a call takes when it comes through to your network. This means you can change call routing for days your team (or an individual team member) is out of the office.
- Video conferencing: Need to host video calls with your team or customers? With GoToConnect, you can host up to 250 people on each video call, and share your screen in just a single click.
- Call analytics: Get a solid grasp of how many calls are made through your VoIP system with call analytics. You’ll see key metrics like your average wait time, average call time, and call history.
Reliability, support, and security
Security isn’t an issue with GoToConnect. Their communications suite runs through the cloud, which means that all calls made through your network are encrypted. Nobody is able to eavesdrop on calls, messages, or videos hosted through your network.
Plus, GoToConnect is committed to staying up to date with security standards. They’re SOC-2 and GDPR compliant.
GoToConnect pricing options
GoToConnect has a typical pricing system, compared to most other VoIP providers. Each tier offers access to every feature. However, the cost per user decreases as you add more seats to your plan:
- 1-4 users: $29.95 per seat, per month
- 5-9 users: $25.95 per seat, per month
- 10-24 users: $23.95 per seat, per month
- 25-49 users: $21.95 per seat, per month
3. Ooma Office
Ooma Office is a cloud phone provider tailored to small businesses, also known as Ooma Telo. They pride themselves on having a no-contract service and offering a toll-free number for customers to make long-distance calls.
What are some of its top features?
Ooma Office has 35 features in its repertoire. Some of their most impressive features are:
- Enhanced call blocking: Do you have spam calls coming through to your reception desk? These calls are frustrating, to say the least, and could cause issues for real customers to get through. Ooma Office allows you to block those spammy numbers.
- Desktop and mobile app: Work anywhere (with an internet connection) using Ooma Office’s mobile and desktop apps.
- Voicemail transcription: Forward voicemail messages left on your business’ phone system to your email address. You can easily follow-up with any missed calls, and have a permanent reference of what the person wanted to discuss.
Reliability, support, and security
All calls made through Ooma’s platform (except those made through their free calling app) are encrypted. You’ll also get end-to-end encryption if the person on the other end of the line is using Ooma’s network, too.
Ooma Office also claims that its small business VoIP system can be set-up in less than 20 minutes. But, should you run into any issues, they have an online library of support docs designed to walk you through set-up.
Ooma Office pricing options
Ooma Office offers two standalone plans for their small business phone service, each depending on the features you want access to. Those are:
- Ooma Office: Get all of Ooma’s basic features like SMS messaging, call forwarding, and call parking. Pricing for this plan starts at $19.95 per month, per user.
- Ooma Office Pro: According to Ooma, this is their most popular plan. It includes access to all basic features, plus advanced tools like video conferencing, advanced call blocking, and call recording. Pricing for this plan starts at $24.95 per month, per user.
4. Mitel
Mitel is a business phone provider that offers two packages, depending on company size. Their flagship package is designed for enterprise businesses and can handle a large influx of calls being made through a VoIP network. They also have a package designed for small businesses to get the basic communication tools they need.
What are some of its top features?
Here are some of the best features Mitel’s phone system has to offer:
- Call recording: Mitel can record all calls being made through your business VoIP system. That library of recordings can be used to recap a conversation or train your sales and support teams.
- Video conferencing management: Running a big video conference? Mitel allows you to mute disruptive attendees, and ask attendees to raise their virtual hand to speak, no awkward interruptions necessary.
- Mobile apps: Their VoIP system means all business communication is made through an internet connection. Mitel has apps compatible with PC, Mac, iOS, and Android so you’re always on. Take business calls on a personal mobile phone, and switch it to “off” when you leave the office.
Reliability, support, and security
Mitel has two data centers to manage their customers’ phone networks, so if one goes down, your calls will be routed through the other. This is what contributes to their 99.999% SLA uptime. Mitel is also built on Google Cloud, which means they can offer 24/7 monitoring. They’re also SOC 2 and HIPAA compliant.
Mitel customers also like the fact they can use their self-service online training hub to resolve any issues or answer any questions.
Mitel pricing options
Pricing for Mitel’s business phone system depends on the features you want access to. However, it is worth noting that not everyone on your team needs the same plan. You can mix-and-match tiers depending on each individual person’s must-have features:
- Essentials Plan: Get access to Mitel’s cloud-hosted PBX and basic audio and video conferencing tools. Pricing for this tier starts at $20.99 per seat, per month.
- Premier Plan: This is Mitel’s most popular plan and includes all basic features alongside call recording and advanced integrations. Pricing for this tier starts at $26.59 per seat, per month.
- Elite Plan: This is the only plan that gives access to all features Mitel has to offer. Pricing for this tier starts at $38.49 per seat, per month.
5. Dialpad
Dialpad is a business communications platform that offers a range of VoIP services. They have a standalone product called Dialpad Talk, which allows your team to virtually connect to your network and take calls from anywhere.
Their VoIP platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) to coach your team, while also giving them real-time information that might be useful during a conversation.
What are some of its top features?
Some of Dialpad’s top features include:
- AI suggestions: Dialpad’s artificial intelligence tool thinks of the resources you might need mid-conversation, and provides you with them throughout the call. It can also analyze the sentiment of a phone call, which can help with reporting.
- Web portal: Manage your entire business communications network through one web-based portal. You can add and remove users from the portal, and configure your phone network on any device.
- Porting number: Do you have customers who recognize your caller ID? Instead of switching to a brand new business phone number, Dialpad imports numbers from another provider so you can use your existing number. Customers won’t be able to tell any difference.
Reliability, support, and security
Calls made through Dialpad’s VoIP network are just as clear (if not, better) than traditional landline calls. They also have a reported 100% uptime SLA.
But just like any other VoIP network, downtime related to issues with your own internet (or device) is limited. You can easily switch devices to one using another network – like WiFi, for example – and take business calls.
Dialpad pricing options
Similar to the other Vonage alternatives we’ve shared so far, each Dialpad plan offers access to different features. Below is a rundown of what they include:
- Standard Plan: Get unlimited calling, voicemail transcription, and basic call controls from $15 per seat, per month.
- Pro Plan: Get custom off-hours routine and local numbers from $25 per seat, per month. Bear in mind that you’ll need at least three licenses to choose this plan.
- Enterprise Plan: Want access to every feature Dialpad has to offer? Pricing for their Enterprise plan isn’t publicly available. If you have at least 100 seats to buy, reach out to their team for a custom quote.
6. Phone.com
Phone.com is a business phone service provider that offers VoIP packages. They have over 40,000 customers on their books, including Zoho, Insightly, and Ameridoc. Part of their service includes access to a mobile app so you can take calls anywhere with an internet connection.
What are some of its top features?
Phone.com has more than 50 features available to its customers using its VoIP service. Amongst some of the best are:
- Superb call quality: Calls made through Phone.com’s VoIP phone system are of much higher quality than landline calls. That’s because of the way Phone.com processes digital phone connections, rather than rusty old (and unreliable) wires.
- Instant messaging: Phone.com has an entire suite of business communication tools, including live chat. You’ll be able to send instant messages to your team through the app.
- Live receptionists: If you can’t afford to hire a human receptionist, this feature allows you to use Phone.com’s team. They’ll greet incoming callers and route them to the person (or department) they’re asking to speak with.
Reliability, support, and security
Phone.com’s platform is HIPAA compliant, and all calls made through their network are encrypted with high-grade SSL when discussing personal information. They’re also PCI DSS compliant, which is essential if you’re receiving payments by phone.
Should you need it, Phone.com has a team of support agents ready to answer any questions. We’ve listed them as a Vonage Business alternative because their support team is available 24/7, and you can start conversations with them by phone, text, or email.
Phone.com pricing options
The best Phone.com package for your business depends on the features you need access to, and the size of your team. Below is a basic rundown of the tiers they offer, but it’s worth noting that there is a discount available on annual plans:
- Base Plan: Get up to 2,000 text messages and 300 minutes each month with this plan. Prices start from $12.99 per seat, per month, but if you’re not happy, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Plus Plan: Get premium hold music, unlimited minutes, and video conferencing for 25 participants on this plan. Prices start from $19.99 per seat, per month.
- Unlimited Plan: Get call recording, CRM integrations, and advanced call analytics with this plan. Prices start from $29.99 per seat, per month.
7. Zoom
Zoom offers an enterprise cloud phone system that runs through an online web portal. They’re best known for their video conferencing tool. Zoom’s add-on VoIP service allows businesses to host meetings, make and receive calls, and send instant messages to coworkers.
What are some of its top features?
Zoom offers tons of features in their business communications suite. Some of them include:
- Team availability: Use Zoom’s dashboard to see whether your co-worker is busy before diverting a call their way. It stops customers from holding the line for hours. Your customers get to speak with the next available person.
- CRM integrations: Pass chat, video, and call data through to your CRM automatically. Zoom integrates with popular CRMs like Salesforce, GSuite, Office 365, and Microsoft.
- Elevate to meeting: Got several people on a phone call? You might need someone to start sharing their screen. With access to Zoom’s phone and meeting platform, you can easily upgrade a standard phone call to a video conference, without having to hang up and start again.
Reliability, support, and security
Part of Zoom’s service offering includes a web-based portal that shows any issues with your VoIP network. You’re able to see any issues with specific devices and troubleshoot call quality problems.
Plus, all calls made through Zoom’s network are 256-bit TLS encrypted. You can also set passwords for call and meeting attendees to enter before they hop on a call, so no unwanted visitors can drop-in on your chat.
Zoom pricing options
Zoom is best-known for its video conferencing platform that skyrocketed in use throughout the last year, with everyone working from home. Yet to use their VoIP phone network alongside their video conferencing tool, you’ll need to choose a paid plan:
- US & Canada: Start making calls through Zoom with this basic package. There are two tiers under this plan. Pricing starts from $10 per license, per month for their pay-as-you-go service. Or, get unlimited calls within the USA and Canada for $15 per license, per month.
- Pro Global Select: Get a direct dial number, advanced phone features, and unlimited domestic calling in 40+ countries on this plan. Pricing starts from $20 per license, per month.
- Zoom United Business: Get all of Zoom’s phone features along with their meetings feature, which allows you to host up to 300 people on a video call. There is a 10-seat minimum for this plan. Pricing starts from $30 per license, per month.
8. Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a small business cloud phone system. It works by adding a business line to your personal phone. That means you don’t need to invest in new equipment to use their network: you simply sign into Grasshopper’s network using an internet-connected device, such as your mobile device.
What are some of its top features?
Grasshopper has several features on offer for their small business customers, such as:
- Vanity numbers: Stop customers from dialing a complex, hard to remember phone number when contacting your business. Grasshopper offers vanity numbers, like 492-FLOWERS, so people can easily remember your contact information.
- Instant response: Too busy to accept an incoming call? Instead of sending them to voicemail, Grasshopper can automatically send a text message that says you’re unavailable, but will call back at your earliest convenience.
- Business texting: It’s not just audio calls that you can host through Grasshopper’s VoIP network. You’re also able to send and receive SMS messages through the same business number.
Reliability, support, and security
Calls being made through Grasshopper use your existing internet network, which means your call quality is just as good as other calls made on your device. They handle 140 million calls every year, meaning their platform is robust enough to withstand large call volumes.
They also have an online support center that answers FAQs, so you don’t need to contact their support team if you need any help.
Grasshopper pricing options
All tiers for Grasshopper’s VoIP system include features like business texting, call transfers, and WiFi calling. Plans depend on how many phone lines and extensions you need:
- Solo Plan: Get one phone number and three extensions from $26/month, billed annually. Grasshopper says this plan is ideal for entrepreneurs with a small side gig.
- Partner Plan: Get three phone numbers and six extensions from $44/month, billed annually. This is the best tier for growing businesses with fewer than 3 employees.
- Small Business Plan: Get five phone numbers and unlimited line extensions from $80/month, billed annually. This tier is ideal for businesses with 3+ employees.
9. CallHippo
CallHippo is a virtual phone system used by over 5,000 companies worldwide, including Amazon, Honeywell, and Aramex. They have mobile and desktop applications for customers to accept calls wherever they may be.
What are some of its top features?
Wondering which features CallHippo offer in their business VoIP packages? Here are a handful of features you can expect:
- Global connect: Hosting video or audio calls with people in another country? CallHippo has a built-in timezone converter so you can quickly find the best times to chat.
- Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Save costs on human receptionists with this feature. It’ll greet incoming callers and ask them to press a number on their keypad to reach a specific department, like “press 2 to speak to sales.” The call will automatically pass through.
- Smart call forwarding: Create rules for calls to be diverted in specific circumstances. For example, you can configure your virtual phone system so incoming calls outside of normal working hours are diverted to your personal phone.
Reliability, support, and security
According to their status page, CallHippo’s servers have had 99.9%+ uptime over the last three months. They also offer SDAP, a patent-pending technology that promises to improve call quality and deliver a super calling experience.
CallHippo pricing options
Pricing for CallHippo’s virtual phone service depends on the features you need.
- Bronze Plan: Get one free phone number, team inboxes, and SMS messaging with this plan. Pricing starts at $14 per user, per month.
- Silver Plan: Get all Bronze features, plus call recording, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), and intelligent call reports. Pricing for this plan starts at $24 per user, per month.
- Platinum Plan: Get all Silver features, plus three-way calling, custom caller IDs, and power dialing. Pricing for this plan starts at $35 per user, per month. However, this package is only available for annual subscriptions.
10. 8X8
8X8 is an all-in-one communications platform used by companies like McDonald’s, Regus, and Remax. Connections for their chat, call, and video tools are made through the cloud, which means you don’t need 8X8’s team to visit your office to install a new phone system. It’s all configured remotely.
What are some of its top features?
8X8 offers some great features in their VoIP phone packages, including:
- Visual voicemail: Want clarification on what someone said in their voicemail message? 8X8 allows you to convert voice messages into text, so you can easily spot (and reference) what someone said.
- Call Parking: If you have a larger support team answering inbound calls, use their call parking feature to put people on hold. Another team member can pick-up the call when they’re available.
- In-depth call analytics: Create custom dashboards inside 8X8 to spot patterns across your business phone system. View the quality of your calls, how many conversations your team is having, and the total number of calls you’ve missed.
Reliability, support, and security
8X8’s phone network is FCC compliant, which means they’re committed to protecting personal consumer data. They’re also GDPR compliant; essential if you have customers or clients based in the EU. Nobody can eavesdrop on your calls, which are end-to-end SLA encrypted.
Plus, because 8X8’s network runs through the cloud, you can use their network if you’re suffering with an internet shortage on one device. If your WiFi fails in the office, for example, you can connect your device to a 4G or 5G network to accept calls.
8X8 pricing options
To choose your 8X8 plan, you’ll need to think of the features you require. Their plans offer access to specific features:
- Small Business Plan: Get an auto-attendant, unlimited calling within the US and Canada, and intelligent call routing. Pricing for this plan starts at $12 per seat, per month.
- Voice, Video, and Chat: Get access to all three communication tools with this plan. You’ll have unlimited voice calling to 14 countries and team chat. Pricing for this plan starts at $24 per seat, per month.
- Analytics Plan: Get every feature 8X8 has to offer, including unlimited voice calling to 40+ countries. You’ll also get in-depth call reporting. Pricing for this plan starts at $44 per seat, per month.
Why is Nextiva the top alternative to Vonage Business?
Vonage has been in the business communications industry for quite some time, and while they have an impressive set of features, we believe Nextiva edges them out.
Nextiva has a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on GetVoIP. Customers often reference Nextiva’s secure VoIP network and world-class reliability in their reviews. In fact, 93% of Nextiva customers would recommend its business phone service.
We mentioned earlier how U.S. News named Nextiva as the best business phone system in 2020. This is not only because of Nextiva’s service and reliability but because of its outstanding customer support. You can reach Nextiva’s support team on the channel you prefer, not just live chat.
Nextiva has more than 40 VoIP features for you to pick and choose from. The ones mentioned in this article are just a snapshot of what you can get out of the business phone system.
Check out Nextiva’s pricing and plans if you’re looking for a world-class business communications provider at a cost that fits your budget.
Gaetano DiNardi is the Director of Demand Generation at Nextiva and has a track record of success working with brands like Major League Baseball, Pipedrive, Sales Hacker and Outreach.io. Outside of marketing, Gaetano is an accomplished music producer and songwriter – he’s worked with major artists like Fat Joe, Shaggy and loves making music to stay turbocharged. To get in touch, follow him on LinkedIn.