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Our latest research shows that Google Voice is the cheapest VoIP phone service in 2024, with plans starting from as low as $10 per user per month. However, it only offers the basics when it comes to features, so if your needs are slightly more complex, there are other low-cost Google Voice alternatives.
With advanced AI-powered features and packages starting from $15 per user, per month, Dialpad is an excellent option for startups, while Ooma’s low downtime and top-notch customer service options make it the most reliable VoIP provider we tested. Read on to learn more about why these three providers currently rank as the best cheap VoIP service in Winter 2024.
Cheapest VoIP Phone Service Overview
- Google Voice – Cheapest starting price
- DialPad – Great option for startups
- Ooma – Great customer experience
- Vonage – Best training features
- RingCentral – Great for small businesses
- GoTo Connect – Great for scaling
- 8×8 – Best for sales features
- Net2Phone – Great for international businesses
Use the links above to start comparing prices for the cheapest VoIP systems, or read on for the reviews.
To save you the time and hassle of shopping around, this guide covers eight of the cheapest options on the market, focusing on starting price, overall value for money, and ability to scale over time. Alternatively, if it’s quick quotes you’re after, check out our free VoIP quotes calculator for prices tailored to your business.
Best Cheap VoIP Services in 2024
Price from The typical lowest starting price. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs. | International Call Fees | Scalable? | Domestic Calls Included? | International Calls Included? | ||||
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Cheapest Starting Price | Best Value Provider | Great Option for Startups | Great Customer Experience | Best Training Features | Best Customer Service | Great for Scaling | Best for Sales Teams | Great for International Businesses |
Google Voice | Zoom Phone | Dialpad | Ooma | Vonage | RingCentral | GoTo Connect | 8×8 | Net2Phone |
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| Free international calling across all plans |
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| | | | | | Yes – but not on first plan | | |
Does Scalability Matter?
VoIP scalability refers to a system’s ability to meet your business’s future needs. When researching the cheapest VoIP services on the market, we found that scalability had a massive impact on price. The cheapest systems to set up initially, aren’t always the cheapest in the long run. When a telephone system is able to evolve alongside your business, you’ll save money and the hassle involved with installing a new product – or expensive add-ons – later down the line. Comparing custom price quotes can give you the full overview of costs for your exact business needs.
Google Voice is the cheapest VoIP phone service, but there are loads of high-quality, affordable options on the market. Considering both the short and long-term costs of services, our research suggests that these are the eight cheapest VoIP phone services in 2024:
1. Google Voice – Cheapest VoIP System Overall
- Prices from: $10/user/month
Of the top VoIP providers, we found that Google Voice delivers the cheapest VoIP phone service for businesses in 2024, with plans starting from $10 per user per month. However, there is an important caveat to bear in mind: customers must be subscribed to Google Workspace to use the platform, which costs a minimum of $6 extra per month.
Paying a little bit extra a month for Google Workspace will likely pay dividends, though. Google Workspace gives businesses access to a variety of platforms, allowing for a seamless switch between Google’s VoIP service and its web conferencing solution. Even with the Workspace integration, businesses can get started with Google Voice for as little as $16 per month, which is only marginally cheaper than our next cheapest service, RingCentral.
Google Voice’s entry-level Starter plan offers most features you would expect from a top cloud phone system, too. This plan allows for up to 10 users and domestic locations, businesses can make and receive domestic and international calls, personalize voicemail greetings, search voicemail transcripts like emails, and block unwanted callers.
Its simple usability helped it secure a solid customer score of 4.4/5. Aside from its obvious name recognition and ease of use, the system really comes into its own with a strong set of security features. Google Voice encrypts all consumer information and stores it in world-class data centers for safekeeping. When compared with services like Vonage, which only ranks 3/5 for security, Google’s commitment to security is pretty extensive.
Google Voice can be used on a laptop or desktop as well as on a mobile device. Source: voice.google.com
However, as the cheapest VoIP provider, there are a few drawbacks. While it offers strong security features, we found that the rest of its feature package is lacking. The system even bypasses basic communication and management tools like call queue, call barge, and call recording, making it a poor choice for quite a few businesses. Unless you have fairly basic VoIP needs, we’d recommend you go for well-rounded systems like Ring Central or Dialpad as they offer a much broader array of telephony features.
What’s more, since Google Voice has fairly limited VoIP capabilities and poor integration options, it’s not able to grow alongside businesses as their needs evolve. This makes it much less scalable than most other VoIP providers on this list.
You can read our full Google Voice review to learn more about why it’s our favorite cheap VoIP service.
Pros
- Unbeatable security, which you can only get from Google
- Inexpensive pricing structure, so won't break the bank
- Single Sign-On across and spam prevention across all plans
- Syncs up with Google's app suite, which you may already be using
Cons
- Has the least features out of the VoIP providers we analyze
- Poor customer support - up to 10 days for a reply
- Limited scalability due to lack of training and management features
Google Voice pricing
Google Voice is available to businesses at three different price points. We break them down in our table below:
What we like
- Great value software package
- World-class data security
- User-friendly interface
What we don’t like
- System isn’t very scalable
- Minimal integration support
- Starter plan limits number of users
2. Dialpad – Great for Startups
- Prices from: $15/user/month
Dialpad is the second cheapest VoIP phone service we researched, with its cheapest plan priced at $15 per user, per month. This affordable price point makes it perfect for startups and smaller businesses that need to stay connected while keeping overheads low.
Dialpad offers a range of powerful collaboration tools needed to lift your business off the ground, including ring group capabilities and instant messaging features. This makes inbound communication a breeze, and lets businesses manage all communication from a centralized platform.
The provider also has a number porting tool so that businesses can use their existing phone number. For the modest price you’ll be paying for the service, this is a pretty impressive toolkit, as most other feature-rich options we researched cost at least an extra $5 per user, per month.
The provider recently launched an AI coaching hub for early adopters, which makes it easier for managers to track performance, streamline the onboarding process, and improve customer experiences (see below).
Dialpad’s AI Coaching Hub feature is a great way to monitor your team’s performance and identify coaching opportunities. Source: dialpad.com
Unfortunately, DialPad’s low monthly fees mean there are a few downsides. Unlike Net2Phone, international calls aren’t included in the system’s startup costs, which means that businesses making calls outside the US will be subject to additional fees. It receives a score of 3.3/5 for scalability because it lacks call monitoring, call flow designer, and an Uptime guarantee on plans below the Enterprise tier, which means it isn’t able to grow well with businesses. Due to the costs this is likely to incur businesses down the line, we think Dialpad’s overall value for money isn’t as strong as Net2Phone or Zoom.
DialPad’s training features leave a lot to be desired too, making it less suitable for businesses that onboard regularly.
What's new for Dialpad?
Dark Mode – You can now switch Dialpad’s interface between Light and Dark Mode, or set it to change automatically based on your system’s preferences. (August 2023)
Ai Coaching Hub – Gain a complete overview of your team’s performance and identify which teams and agents may need additional support. (June 2023)
In-Queue Callback Setting – Allow customers who requested a callback to ring your first with Dialpad’s new in-queue callback setting. (June 2023)
Highlights
- Advanced business features
- Easy to set up
- Great customer support options
Key Features
- Unlimited domestic calls
- AI keyword tracking
- AI voice transcription
- Business SMS's
Dialpad pricing
Dialpad offers three main pricing plans: Standard, Pro, and Enterprise. See how they compare below:
What we like
- Low-cost solution for managing high call volumes
- All-in-one platform for calls, video meetings, and messaging
- Sophisticated AI features
What we don’t like
- Lacks advanced training features
- No CRM integrations on Standard plan
- Uptime guarantee only promised on Enterprise plan
3. Ooma – Great Customer Experience
- Prices from: $19.95/user/month
With a decent range of business features, and round-the-clock customer support, Ooma is a simple yet practical VoIP solution. Businesses can access ring groups, customizable call routing, and virtual receptionist features on the Basic plan, which is a great low-cost option for teams managing calls among different departments.
Our independent research saw us compare telephone services against hundreds of data points, and we found that Ooma is the most reliable VoIP provider. With an impressive customer rating of 4.4/5 from clients, because of its excellent user experience and support options, the system is clearly a favorite among businesses.
Ooma Call Analytics Feature allows the administrator to visualize calling metrics, source: ooma.com
However, there are some limitations with the service. If you’re serious about data security, Ooma’s features probably won’t cut the mustard. All plans lack basic security tools, like multi-factor authentication and user permissions. Ooma doesn’t display any compliance certifications on its site either. Ooma’s upfront costs are slightly higher than with other VoIP systems too, and if you want to unlock extra capabilities like CRM you’ll have to fork out for the provider’s priciest plan.
Pros
- Free number transfer, so canceling your existing service is super easy
- Multi-level virtual receptionist, great for businesses fielding lots of incoming calls
- Easy DIY installation, so you can getting going really quickly
- 24/7 support, which is nice to have in the back pocket
Cons
- Pricier high-tier plans without the features to justify the cost
- Scores poorly for security, so there are better options for businesses handling sensitive data
- Few third-party integrations, which will make it harder to slot into your business infrastructure
Ooma pricing
Ooma offers three distinct plans: Office Essentials, Office Pro, and Office Pro Plus. Learn more about them in our comparison table below:
Price | Users | Unlimited calls in US | Video conferencing | CRM integration | ||
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Ooma Office | Ooma Office Pro | Ooma Office Pro Plus | Ooma Enterprise Standard | Ooma Enterprise Enhanced | Ooma Enterprise Call Center | |
Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |
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What we like
- Dual functionality with phone and video
- Can easily scale into enterprise solution
- Great customer support features
What we don’t like
- Higher upfront costs than other services
- No multi-factor authentication
- CRM integrations restricted to highest pricing plan
4. Vonage – Best Training Features
- Price: from $19.99/user/month
With an overall score of 4.4/5, Vonage is one of the best business telephone systems our researchers reviewed. It offers users excellent sales and customer service features and solid security tools for the monthly price of $19.99 per user, per month. Vonage is a great system for teams on a budget. The system also has a high score for scalability, meaning it can grow easily alongside your business.
Users won’t have to spend more to gain access to a decent set of features because its entry-level Mobile plan offers voicemail, spam prevention, hold music, and toll-free numbers. The software also provides interactive guided and video tutorials to all of its users, making the learning curve manageable.
Vonage’s Team Messages feature lets you send off one-to-one and group messages, and make video calls. Source: Vonage
Despite Vonage’s list of strengths, it’s unable to beat contenders like 8×8 and RingCentral because the system doesn’t receive high scores across all benchmarks. For instance, it’s received fairly basic reviews from businesses on sites like TrustRadius and TrustPilot, and it lacks basic security features like multi-factor authentication. Basic calling and training features aren’t included in its base price either, which can ramp up the provider’s startup costs which are already higher than competitors like Ooma and DialPad.
What's new for Vonage?
Enhanced Call Blocking – Vonage released a new, sophisticated algorithm to identify and block unwanted calls. (March, 2023)
Pros
- Great central hub for collaborating, with team messaging on all plans
- Great training and management features on, perfect for sales and customer service teams
- Lots of big-name integrations means minimal changes for your team
Cons
- No multi-factor authentication, which is bad for end-point security
- Analytics features are quite primitive, making it difficult to get actionable insights
- Lots of features include additional fees, so it's hard to get a good gauge of your final price
Vonage pricing
Vonage offers three pricing plans: Mobile, Premium, and Advanced. See how they compare below:
Price | Users | Unlimited calls in US | Video conferencing | 24/7 support | Call recording | Email integration | CRM integration | ||
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Mobile | Premium | Advanced | |||||||
Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | |||||||
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Read our guide to the best Vonage alternatives to see how the VoIP service compares.
What we like
- Brings all your communication into one place
- Great for training staff
- 24/7 customer support
What we don’t like
- Higher startup costs than some of its rivals
- No multi-factor authentication
- Certain call management and training features cost extra
5. RingCentral – Best for Supercharging Customer Service
- Price: from $20/user/month
We’re massive fans of RingCentral at Tech.co. In fact, after analyzing and cataloging the leading VoIP providers, we found that it provides the best VoIP softphone app and one of the best internet phone services on the market, second only to Ooma.
It receives a 5/5 for help and support and scalability thanks to its onboarding support and the multiple ways to contact customer service. It is a great option for small businesses looking for a comprehensive solution that can grow alongside your business. However, while RingCentral’s plans are affordable, basic capabilities like external interactions and international calls come at a premium, preventing it from appearing any higher on our list.
Access your call history and call previous contacts with RingCentral. Source: Ring Central
What's new for RingCentral?
Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) – RingCentral released this new purchase option that allows businesses to rent RingCentral desk phones on a monthly basis, rather than purchasing them at a higher price. (February 2023)
Pros
- Highly Scalable thanks to lots of team management features
- Lots of integrations, which makes setting up super easy
- Range of features makes it suitable for both sales and customer service teams
Cons
- Limited inclusive an toll-free minutes, and you'll have to pay extra if you need more
- Not as popular with its users as some of the other providers on this list
RingCentral pricing
RingCentral offers three pricing plans: Core, Advanced, and Ultra. Learn about the prices and features below:
Price | Users | Team messaging | Video conferencing | 24/7 support | Email integration | CRM integration | ||
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Core | Advanced | Ultra | ||||||
20 lines max. (for more, contact sales) | 20 lines max. (for more, contact sales) | 20 lines max. (for more, contact sales) | ||||||
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100 participants | 100 participants | 200 participants | ||||||
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What we like
- Affordable pricing plans
- Dual functionality with phone and video
- Makes it easier to handle lots of incoming calls
What we don’t like
- User permissions restricted to expensive pricing plans
- Only the pricier plans include CRM integrations
6. GoTo Connect – Great for Managing Large Call Volumes
- Pricing: from $27/month/user
GoTo Connect is another safe bet for businesses in need of a budget-friendly VoIP solution. Businesses are able to access a raft of useful calling features for $27 per month with its Basic plan, like number porting, call forwarding, and unlimited extensions, but global businesses are better off upgrading to its Standard plan, as it includes international calls to 50+ countries.
Our research shows that it also offers top-tier security features, including multi-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption (E2EE), and user permissions on all its plans. GoTo Connect is far more secure than most other VoIP providers – except for Google Voice, which is the most secure system we tested.
However, GoTo Connect’s features aren’t as competitive as others on the list. For instance, the service lacks basic functions like call transcription, call monitoring, predictive dialing, and custom call lists, and it offers the worst external connections out of any other VoIP service we reviewed. Therefore, just like Net2Phone, its shortage of standard VoIP features make it less suited to large businesses than RingCentral and 8×8.
Use the Ring Central app to make calls, video calls and to view call history. Source: GoTo Connect
What's new for GoTo Connect?
GoTo Contact Groups – You can now easily group and organize your contacts into contact groups. You can do this manually or through CSV import. (October 2023)
Instant Message Response – GoTo Connect’s new feature allows you to set up an instant response with its desktop app, allowing you to customize its time period and response frequency. (August 2023)
Pros
- Excellent 24-hour support service, minimizing downtime
- Uncomplicated product range, meaning no hidden costs or paid add-ons
- Lots of features for the price point, which is lower than 8x8 and Vonage's top-tier plans
Cons
- Setting up is quite complicated, so you won't be able to get started quickly
- No free trial, so you can't test the software before you buy it
- Users often complain about performance and connectivity issues
GoTo Connect pricing
GoTo Connect offers two plans: GoTo Connect Basic and GoTo Connect Standard. Scroll down to learn more.
What we like
- Great solution for managing inbound calls
- Scalable packages that can grow with your business
- Integrates with Slack, MS Teams, and Outlook
What we don’t like
- Limited number of CRM integrations
- High starting price
7. 8×8 – Best for Streamlining Communications
- Prices: from $24/user/month
Our research ranks 8×8 as second for business and security features, with plans that start from $24 per user, per month.
We found that 8×8 is the best VoIP option for streamlining communications because it combines a variety of channels in one platform, letting users connect via voice calls, video conferences, instant messaging features, and more. The solution is extremely scalable too, making it a great option for businesses hoping to expand in the future.
However, the provider’s affordable Express plan is no longer available, driving its entry price up to $24 per month. This isn’t as affordable as other providers like RingCentral or Google Voice, but if you’re after a multi-level communication platform that’s highly scalable, 8×8 is a great option.
8×8’s expansive tool kit aside, the system has only been able to achieve a value score of 2.5/5 because basic features like analytics and call transcription are reserved for users with premium plans, unlike with systems like Ooma. The provider’s higher tiers cost as much as $140 per user, per month, pushing the system’s average price far above most of its rivals.
If your business is growing and you’re preparing to scale up your VoIP solution, 8×8 offers varying pricing plans. Its value offering improves over time too as it’s advanced features provide businesses with the best RoI. If you’re after advanced capabilities like training features, quality management, and omnichannel support, however, you’ll need to upgrade to one of 8×8’s priciest tiers.
View and manage your business call data with 8×8’s Ring Groups Summary Analytics feature. Source: 8×8.com
What's new for 8x8?
SMS Spam Blocking – 8×8 has recently introduced a spam prevention feature that lets admins block messages from select numbers for the whole company. (May 2023)
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Integration – 8×8 has also deepened its connection with the CRM platform, allowing users to tailor CX workflow within Dynamics, and benefit from single sign-on options. (May 2023)
Pros
- Extensive outgoing call features are perfect for sales teams
- Great security features, perfect for sensitive data handling
- Training features like call whisper, call barge will help staff improve
- Onboarding assistance on all plans makes getting started smooth
Cons
- Unimpressive customer scores from those who've used the product
- Higher tiers are very pricey, and there are cheaper options for small businesses
- No dedicated spam prevention mechanism, which may prove problematic for large businesses
8×8 pricing
8×8 offers two main VoIP plans: X2, and X4. To learn more about the provider’s VoIP packages, read our guide to 8×8’s prices and features, or check out our comparison table below.
Price | Users | Unlimited calls in US | Video conferencing | CRM integration | ||
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X2 | X4 | X6 | X7 | X8 | ||
Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | ||
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500 participants | 500 participants | 500 participants | 500 participants | 500 participants | ||
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What we like
- Great telephone system features
- Easy to use and setup, even for beginners
- All-in-one platform for calls, video meetings, and messaging
What we don’t like
- No spam call prevention features
- Only the more expensive plans include training features
8. Net2Phone – Great for International Use
Pricing from: $23.99/user/month
With Net2Phone’s cheapest plan for teams of 25-99 weighing in at $24.99 per user, per month, the system’s price point is marginally steeper than its rivals. However, after reviewing the provider’s full package, our researchers awarded the system a value score of 4.5/5, making it one of the best value VoIP systems on this list, and a great choice for international businesses.
While Net2Phone may not be the cheapest VoIP phone service we reviewed, its entry-level package includes free desk phones and unlimited domestic and international calls to over 40 countries. Since these benefits typically cost VoIP customers a premium – with providers like Google Voice charging as much as $2.50 per minute for calls to certain territories – Net2Phone is more likely to save businesses money in the long term.
View your monthly call data with Net2phone’s VoIP analytics feature. Source: net2phone.com
The service isn’t perfect though. Net2Phone ranks poorly on scalability, coming in seventh place behind providers like RingCentral, 8×8, and Vonage. This means that while the provider’s system is great value overall, it’s lack of basic web conferencing, analytics, and external communication integrations make it less suitable for growing businesses.
Net2Phone’s feature set is pretty limited too. While the plans offer basic VoIP functions like call voicemail, call forwarding, and business SMSs, it foregoes standard external coms, call management, training, and conversation features. Net2Phone offers very limited integration options too, making the system less suited for larger enterprises and those with specific business call requirements.
Pros
- Scalable from 9 users to over 101
- Superb reporting package
- Excellent value pick
Cons
- Limited external connections
- Few third party integrations
- Middling feature offering
Net2Phone pricing
Net2Phone offers three packages for small businesses: Office, Pro, and Power. The price of these plans depends on the size of the teams, with larger teams receiveing a slightly lower price per user. The prices of the plans below are for teams of 25-99 people.
What we like
- Affordable pricing plans
- Domestic and international calls to 40+ countries
- 24/7 support
How Do I Switch VoIP Providers?
If you aren’t happy with your current VoIP provider, it might be sensible to switch to another service that better suits your needs. After you’ve decided which VoIP provider you’d like to switch to, notify your current VoIP provider and decide on a service end date. Once your contract comes to an end, you should be able to get your new VoIP service up and running on the same day that you sign up.
If you want to keep your current number, there shouldn’t be any noticeable disruption to your phone service. However, we do advise that you port your number ahead of time because the process typically costs extra and takes at least one business day to complete.
New to VoIP? Learn more about the benefits of VoIP.
We take our impartial research and analysis seriously, so you can have complete confidence that we're giving you the clearest, most useful recommendations.
After conducting an initial exploration to identify the most relevant, popular, and established tools in the market, we put them through their paces with hands-on testing to see their real strengths and weaknesses. In this case, we put ten VoIP systems to the test across 78 areas of investigation.
Based on years of market and user needs research, we've established a VoIP system testing methodology that scores each product in seven main categories of investigation and 16 subcategories; this covers everything from the features and security options available to the product's value for money and customer score, as well as much more.
Our main testing categories for VoIP phone systems are:
Customer Score: the external customer opinion as to their satisfaction with the VoIP product; the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular VoIP system, as well as the market poisiton and reputation a VoIP software holds.
Cost: the pricing structure associated with the VoIP service. It includes factors such as monthly subscription fees, call rates (especially for international calls), setup fees, hardware costs (if applicable), and any additional charges for add-on features or services.
Features: the functionalities and capabilities offered by the VoIP service. This can include basic features such as call forwarding, voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID, as well as advanced features like auto-attendant, conference calling, and call recording.
External Connections: the VoIP service's ability to connect and integrate with external systems or devices. This can include compatibility with existing phone systems, integration with mobile devices, and support for softphones or IP phones.
Customer Support: the assistance and resources provided by the VoIP service provider to customers. This can include technical support, documentation, online resources, knowledge bases, and access to customer support representatives.
Security Options: Security options refer to the measures and features implemented by the VoIP service to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and protection of voice communications and data. This can include encryption of voice calls, compliance, password ruels and user permissions.
Scalability: the ability of the VoIP service to accommodate the growth and changing needs of an organization. This includes factors such as the capacity to handle a growing number of users, support multiple locations or offices, and scale up or down according to the organisation's requirements.
When it comes to calculating a product's final score, not all testing areas are weighted evenly, as we know some aspects matter more to our readers than others, which are merely "nice to have." After hundreds of hours, our process is complete, and the results should ensure you can find the best solution for your needs.
At Tech.co, we have a number of full time in-house researchers, who re-run this testing process regularly, to ensure our results remain reflective of the present day.
Verdict: Which Cheap VoIP Provider Should You Choose?
Based on entry price alone, our research shows that Google Voice is currently the cheapest VoIP phone service on the market. Undercutting the runner-up by $5 per user per month, it is a safe bet for smaller teams looking for no-frills business phone software. If you’re after a budget VoIP service that doesn’t sacrifice quality, 8×8 and DialPad are also great alternatives — with 8×8 ranking #1 for business features and DialPad providing an excellent customer experience.
Even with our guidance, we understand that whittling through the competition isn’t easy. This is why we’ve developed a unique tool that lets businesses compare the prices of VoIP providers with just a few clicks. Click on the button below to find a budget-friendly VoIP provider in minutes.
However, free VoIP systems normally offer limited business features and have strict user caps. This means they won’t fit the needs of most businesses.