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10 Best Small Business VoIP Phone Service Providers

By: Christina Davies
Updated on: August 26, 2024

More small businesses are switching from landline phones to VoIP, and for good reason.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) transmits voice through an Internet system. There are no telephone wires or desktop phones required either. Where there is an Internet connection, VoIP users can make and receive phone calls.

With VoIP, business users and their employees no longer need to be at their desks to make and take calls. Workers can use any mobile device like their laptop, cell phone, or tablet.

Although traditional phone lines are familiar, it does not mean they are the best. Every small business must decide which communications system is right for them.

Overview

  1. Best VoIP Call Center Setup: Freshcaller
  2. Best VoIP Cloud-Based Collaboration: JustCall
  3. Best VoIP Virtual System: Grasshopper
  4. Best VoIP On-Site Phone Solution: Mitel
  5. Best VoIP Desktop Phones: 1-VoIP
  6. Best VoIP International Calling: 8×8
  7. Best VoIP Unified Communications Platform: Zoom
  8. Best VoIP Voice Intelligence Feature: Dialpad
  9. Best VoIP for Less than Five Employees: Ooma
  10. Best VoIP for Third-Party Integrations: PanTerra

Differences Between VoIP Phone Systems and Landlines for Small Businesses

Businesses thinking about changing from landline to VoIP must learn the difference. It is how you can make a knowledgeable decision.

Landlines use hard-wired telephone lines to transmit voice. Whereas VoIP uses an internet connection.

Large businesses find landlines to be valuable assets. Traditional phones are great if your employees work in the same place. But for small businesses, this is often not the case.

In the effort to save money, small companies choose affordable methods. Deciding to use remote workers and VoIP costs less without diminishing quality.

VoIP vs. Landline

Traditional phone systems connect to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). Phones ran on copper wiring for telephone companies. Traditional phones also used the PBX system (Private Branch Exchange). The system is how calls were switched between businesses and the telephone network.

Landlines need PBX for another reason, to offer an assortment of calling features. Some features include voicemail, conference calling, and automated attendants.

Landline services that include unlimited local calls only typically cost between $15-$30/month. Additional features, such as long-distance and international calling, call waiting, voicemail, or caller ID, usually come at an extra cost.

VoIP is different in a variety of ways. It gives your business more control over the calling experience. VoIP lets you use your mobile phone, computer, or desk phone to make calls. All your devices need is a stable Internet connection.

VoIP is the more affordable option over landline services.

Your business can use existing equipment and the internet, saving you money. Landlines often require you to pay for additional hardware.

As a small company with a limited budget, you need to lower costs. VoIP phone systems allow you to use what you already have, which cuts down on extra expenses.

VoIP systems typically cost between $25 and $40 per user per month. But total costs will vary depending on the number of employees, network enhancements, and phone service provider.

At first glance, it may seem that landline systems are cheaper, but remember, you are only paying for phone service. Everything else costs extra.

The same cannot be said about VoIP systems. As for features, landlines are no match against VoIP.

Standard VoIP features:

  • Voicemail
  • Call Forwarding
  • Auto Forwarding
  • Do Not Disturb (DND)
  • Conferencing
  • Auto Attendant
  • Call Recording
  • 411 Directory Assistance
  • 3-Way calling
  • Address Book
  • BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)
  • Call Block
  • Call Hold
  • Caller ID
  • Caller ID Block
  • Call Return
  • Call Waiting (W/Caller ID)
  • E911
  • Business Phone Number Portability
  • Speed Dialing

These are only a few basic features VoIP offers businesses. VoIP also has advanced features, and what you get depends on the VoIP service plan and the VoIP provider you choose.

Advanced VoIP features:

  • Call Screening
  • Enhanced Voicemail
  • Visual Voicemail
  • Voicemail To Email
  • API Integrations
  • Call Logs
  • Call Queues
  • Click-to-Call
  • Extensions
  • Faxing Capabilities
  • Find Me/Follow Me
  • Remote Office
  • Scalability
  • Toll-Free Business Numbers
  • Virtual Numbers

With VoIP, you get options that landline systems cannot provide.

For businesses to communicate within an office space, you need a private branch exchange (PBX). It is a system that handles internal calls. Another version of PBX that VoIP systems offer is cloud-based. Cloud-based PBX allows for a broader range of features and capabilities.

VoIP gives you access to plenty of useful features. Your small business not only gains a phone service but a unified communication system. The same cannot be said about landlines.

Not all VoIP providers are the same, nor do they offer the exact same features. Choosing the right VoIP phone system for your small company requires the use of analytics, insights, and business needs. It will also depend on the size of your small business and how VoIP enhances services.

10 Best VoIP Phone System Providers for Your Small Business

Best VoIP Call Center Setup:
Freshcaller
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Freshcaller is a modern cloud PBX phone system. It requires no hardware, downloads, or maintenance cost.

Freshcaller
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Best VoIP Call Center Setup: Freshcaller
Best VoIP Cloud-Based Collaboration: JustCall
Best VoIP Virtual System: Grasshopper
Best VoIP On-Site Phone Solution: Mitel
Best VoIP Desktop Phones: 1-VoIP
Best VoIP International Calling: 8×8
Best VoIP Unified Communications Platform: Zoom
Best VoIP Voice Intelligence Feature: Dialpad
Best VoIP for Less than Five Employees: Ooma
Best VoIP for Third-Party Integrations: PanTerra

Conclusion

Many small businesses are searching for a new phone system or replacing a problematic one. Others may be merely starting their business or looking to upgrade their business phone system. No matter the reason, VoIP is the best option.

If you are relocating, adding new offices, or unhappy with your current phone service, make a change. Give your small business a user-friendly phone system from one of the best VoIP phone service providers.

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