Zoom Metered US & CA is the best alternative to Google Voice, with the best balance of price ($10 per month) and features for small businesses. It’s the same monthly price as Google Voice, but you won’t be required to get the mandatory additional $7-per-month Workspace subscription.
While Google Voice is a great platform for making calls over the internet, as well as one of the cheapest VoIP providers on the market, its calling features are quite limited, compared with other options on the market.
In this article, we take a closer look at the best alternatives to Google Voice, prioritizing solutions that match the provider’s affordability and slick user experience. We even round up some free VoIP platforms to consider — although they may not be suitable for businesses.
Key Takeaways
- Zoom US & CA Metered is the top Google Voice alternative, offering robust functionality and great ease of use for just $10 per user, per month.
- While affordable, Google Voice lacks advanced features, like an auto-attendant and integrations, that competitors, like Zoom, RingCentral, and Nextiva, provide.
- When looking for a VoIP solution, it’s important to think about your business case. High-volume inbound call centers will benefit from Zoom’s features, while businesses with low call volume might find Google Voice sufficient.
- Paid alternatives to Google Voice have a wide price range, from budget-friendly options at around $10 per user, per month, to comprehensive omnichannel solutions costing over $30 per user, per month.
- Google Meet is not a suitable Google Voice alternative, as it can’t be set up to accept external calls for your business.
In This Guide:
Pros
- Excellent security features: Google Voice has industry-leading security safeguards, including compliance certifications, and features like user permissions and MFA to protect your company’s data. Elsewhere, built-in spam filtering provides some protection against AI-enabled voice spoofing, which is increasingly prevalent in 2026.
- Cheaper than competitors: Google Voice is on the cheaper end of the VoIP market, and undercuts RingCentral, 8×8, GoTo Connect, and various other top VoIP systems.
- 24/7 live support available: If you’re experiencing technical issues, Google has staff on hand to help, whatever time of day.
Cons
- You need a Google Workspace subscription: Starting from $7 per month. Purchasing this beforehand is the only way you’ll be able to access Google Voice.
- Not very scalable: Growing businesses may find Google Voice sufficient to start with, but there aren’t enough management and high-level comms features to scale up this software.
- No localized or toll-free numbers: Google Voice doesn’t offer this important feature, but all the other VoIP providers we tested do. With many businesses in 2026 expanding across state lines to boost demand, this is a major shortcoming.
What Are the Best Alternatives to Google Voice?
Google Voice is one of the best VoIP providers on the market, with a robust feature catalog, top security, and unbeatable pricing. However, it’s far from the only platform around and, depending on your business case, another option might be a better fit for you. Below, you’ll find our list of the best paid alternatives to Google Voice.
| Plan | Price | Desk phone compatibility How many desk phone brands is the service compatible with? | Unlimited calls in US | 24/7 support | CRM integration | Call queue | Call barge | Voicemail screening | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FEATURED SPONSOR  |  |  | |  |  |  | ||||
| RingCentral | Zoom Phone | magicJack | Zoom Phone | Dialpad | net2phone | Nextiva | ||||
| Core | US & CA Metered | magicJack for Business | US & CA Unlimited | Standard | Essentials | Core | ||||
| $20/user/month | $10/user/month | $9.99/line/month | $15/user/month | $15/user/month | $19.99/user/month | $15/user/month | ||||
| 4 brands | 7 brands | 1 brand | 7 brands | 4 brands | 2 brands | 6 brands | ||||
| | | | | | | | ||||
| Phone + chat | Phone + chat | | Phone + chat | Add-on | Phone | Phone, chat + email | ||||
| | | | | | Add-on | Add-on | ||||
| | | | | | Add-on | | ||||
| | | | | | | | ||||
| | | | | | | |
Our research found that Zoom, magicJack, and Dialpad are the best VoIP options overall. They have advanced call management features, as well as CRM integrations, that Google Voice currently lacks.
In the section below, we’ll take you through our guide to each of the above providers, looking at key features, what makes it such a good alternative to Google Voice, and pricing.
- Zoom US & CA Metered – Best Google Phone alternative
- magicJack for Business – Best for teams on a budget
- Zoom US & CA Unlimited – Best Google Phone upgrade
- Dialpad Standard – Best for small customer service teams
- net2phone Essentials – Best for call management features
- RingCentral Core – Best for multi-location businesses
- Nextiva Core – Best for omnichannel communication
Click on the links to start comparing prices for Google Voice alternatives today.
Expert tip for choosing a Google Voice alternative
Google Voice is a great option if you’re already using Google Workspace and want to extend your stay under Google’s reassuring security umbrella. In fact, it’s one of the most secure ways to make a call over the internet.
However, providers like Zoom have significantly upgraded their security offerings in recent years. I spoke with the Zoom team directly, and they pointed out several improvements they’d made to the platform, such as providing more ways for users to authenticate their accounts.
Now that it’s closed the security gap, it’s actually a much better platform overall than Google Voice — Zoom has way more features for managing inbound calls, so will be a better choice than Google Voice for healthcare, customer service, and retail teams. There’s also 24/7 customer support available, which is always great to have on hand.
1. Is Zoom US & CA Metered the Best Google Phone Alternative?
Price: $10 per user, per month
Downside: Limited integrations
Key takeaway: Great for small businesses with high call volume
Yes, Zoom US & CA Metered is our pick of the best Google Voice alternatives. It offers unbeatable pricing (from $10 per user, per month), robust functionality, and great ease of use, courtesy of an intuitive, streamlined, and slick platform.
During testing, I concluded that it was the perfect solution for cost-conscious small businesses that process a high-volume of inbound calls. At the same time, I think larger enterprises might find its shortage of integrations too stifling.
Pros
- Very low starting price, ideal for smaller businesses
- Excellent for managing high numbers of incoming calls (spam prevention, hold music, etc.)
- Top tier security protocol with abundance of compliance certificates
Cons
- Limited number of CRM and helpdesk integrations
- No email support available and you don't get much help with onboarding
- Insufficient analytics tools with a lack of detail in reporting
- US & CA Metered: $10/user/month
Why is Zoom US & CA Metered a good Google Voice alternative?
At just $10 per user, per month, the Zoom US & CA Metered plan matches the Google Voice Standard starting price. However, Zoom US & CA Metered is actually cheaper than Google Voice, since you won’t need to pay $7 per user, per month, for Google Workspace.
The plan delivers all the basics that a small business needs to route a high volume of incoming calls to any teams or individuals who need to take them.
I was highly impressed with Zoom’s wealth of inbound communication features, with standouts including automatic call distribution groups complete with call queueing, spam prevention, and post-call summaries. These tools will improve the call experience for your end user, root out unwanted callers, and lastly provide helpful insight for your agents.
Added to this is excellent call functionality, including caller ID, voicemail screening, call blocking, voicemail transcriptions, and customizable greetings, along with the previously mentioned call routing tools.
And you’ll benefit from team messaging and video conferencing, two options that open up plenty of communication flexibility.
Finally, Zoom US & CA Metered has great training tools, including call monitoring, call barging, and call whisper, none of which are offered on any Google Voice plans.
These will enable leaders to monitor and offer live coaching to their staff, helping to improve your team’s performance in the long run.
It took me a couple of taps to check my voicemail with Zoom Phone. Source: Tech.co user testing
What limitations does Zoom US & CA Metered have?
Compared with other names on this list, Zoom US & CA Metered isn’t the most comprehensive plan. To begin with, outbound minutes are not inclusive, so teams that place a lot of calls to clients or leads won’t be well served. Google Voice beats it in this area, since all Voice plans include unlimited outbound calls, if placed to the US.
In addition, the stripped-down plan doesn’t offer very many integrations. Users will be limited to this short (but popular) list: Outlook, Salesforce, HubSpot, Bullhorn, Zoho, Gmail, Teams, and Zendesk.
If you’re a fan of Gmail, you’ll likely be happy with the Google integration Zoom offers on all plans: during testing, we found it was great for streamlining workflows and reducing the need for multiple applications.
Who is Zoom US & CA Metered best for?
Once you’ve mastered its relatively shallow learning curve, Zoom US & CA Metered has all the tools a small team needs to run a highly efficient operation. As a result, it’s a top pick for customer service and retail teams, since they handle more incoming calls on average.
On the flipside, companies that are looking for a scalable platform should look elsewhere. Zoom US & CA Metered’s paltry selection of integrations is not conducive to a growing business, and you will likely find yourself needing to upgrade fairly quickly. In this scenario, RingCentral might be a better fit.
How much does Zoom US & CA Metered cost?
Zoom pricing for the Zoom Phone US & CA Metered plan comes in at $10 per user, per month, which is just 1¢ more expensive than the cheapest plan on this list, magicJack for Business.
Should you require an upgrade, Zoom Phone’s three additional plans remain cost-effective. You’ll find a breakdown below:
- US & CA Unlimited: $15 per user, per month
- Pro Plus: $18.33 per user, per month
- Business Plus: $22.49 per user, per month
2. Is magicJack for Business Best for Teams on a Budget?
Price: $9.99 per line, per month
Downside: Basic functionality without complex features
Key takeaway: Great for microbusinesses that keep it simple
Yes, magicJack for Business is the best Google Voice alternative for teams on a budget. The platform offers fantastic value for money, with a single pricing plan starting at $9.99 per user, per month.
For that modest outlay, you’ll get your hands on some decent call functionality, including call transfer, call waiting, caller ID, blocking, conference calling, an iOS or Android mobile app, and more.
Pros
- Simple pricing options
- Comprehensive mobile app
- Great value for call management features provided
Cons
- Limited features, so it's not an all-in-one communication solution
- Does not provide tools to aid in training new employees
- Few integrations are provided
- One pricing plan: $9.99/line/month
- Add-ons available for around $5-$10/month
- Hardware starts from $54.99 per handset
Why is magicJack for Business a good Google Voice alternative?
magicJack for Business offers excellent value for money, with a single pricing plan that costs $9.99 per line, per month. In addition, users can get a brand-new desk phone for $54.99. While a lot of businesses are transitioning to softphones in 2026, this will still suit smaller businesses that favor hardware.
By contrast, Google Voice starts at $10 per user, per month, but requires that pesky additional $7 per user, per month, Workspace subscription.
Zoom US & CA Metered ($10 per user, per month) is cheap, but doesn’t offer unlimited outbound and inbound minutes, while magicJack does.
magicJack has a few paid-ons, which would up your overall monthly cost. You’ll find a breakdown below:
- Auto attendant: $10 per month
- Virtual fax: $5 per month
- Toll free numbers: $5 per month
For reference, auto attendant is only available on the Google Voice Standard plan ($20 per user, per month), while it doesn’t have a native virtual fax available on any plan.
Our independent research found magicJack users will get a selection of key VoIP features, with examples including custom hold music, call queueing, ring groups, and localized numbers.
With call queueing and ring groups, you can improve the experience for your end user by ensuring that their call is answered as quickly as possible. In turn, this will help to boost customer sentiment towards your brand.
Users will not get custom call routing or call flipping — in comparison, all Google Voice plans include routing but lack flipping.
magicJack’s Settings, as viewed on desktop, include a toggle for a “Do Not Disturb” function. Source: magicJack
What limitations does magicJack for Business have?
magicJack lacks team messaging and video conferencing, and its simple call routing tools may do the job, but they don’t match up to Zoom US & CA Metered.
The platform has no training tools, either, since it lacks call recording, call monitoring, analytics, call barging, or call whisper functionality. In comparison, our top pick, Zoom US & CA Metered, offers all of those tools.
Who is magicJack for Business best for?
With its straightforward pricing model, magicJack for Business will particularly appeal to companies that need to get set up quickly and would prefer not to spend a lot of time researching different platforms.
Like Zoom US & CA Metered, however, magicJack for Business will likely be too lightweight for larger businesses that require more advanced features, such as CRM or helpdesk features. If this is critical for your business, you should consider Nextiva Core.
How much does magicJack for Business cost?
magicJack just offers one paid plan, magicJack for Business, which costs $9.99 per line, per month. However, that’s not the whole story. You’ll also have the option to pay for three add-ons, each of which comes at a monthly fee that ultimately adds up pretty fast. The paid add-ons include:
- Auto-attendant: $10 per month,
- Virtual fax: $5 per month
- Toll-free numbers: $5 per month
Together, with the basic monthly fee, you’ll be charged $35.99 per line, per month, if those features are crucial for your business needs.
You can also check out our magicJack pricing and review guide for more information.
3. Is Zoom US & CA Unlimited the Best Google Phone Upgrade?
Price: $15 per user, per month
Downside: Limited integrations
Key takeaway: Unlimited outbound domestic calls
Yes, Zoom US & CA Unlimited is the best Google Phone upgrade that you will find. For $15 per user, per month, you’ll get your hands on some outstanding call management features, hardware integrations, and top-of-the-line security.
For its relatively low price point, it’s pretty hard to beat — which helped US & CA Unlimited top our picks for the best VoIP platforms for small businesses.
Pros
- Unlimited domestic calls
- Unlock unlimited calls to 19 extra countries through a paid add-on
- Gentle learning curve and intuitive interface make it ideal for VoIP beginners
Cons
- Limited number of CRM and Helpdesk integrations
- No email support available and you don't get much help with onboarding
- Insufficient analytics tools with a lack of detail in reporting
- US & CA Unlimited: $15/user/month
Why is Zoom US & CA Unlimited a good Google Voice alternative?
US & CA Unlimited offers everything that US & CA Metered has, with one key benefit: it offers unlimited outbound domestic calls alongside unlimited inbound calls. This is a great opportunity to generate new leads, nurture relationships with existing ones, and ultimately boost your revenue.
All Google Voice plans offer unlimited outbound calls, but only if they’re made to the US, so US & CA Unlimited surpasses this.
Since the cost is a still-low $15 per user, per month, US & CA Unlimited is a value-rich choice for a business that places just as many calls as it receives, such as a B2B sales team.
Like Zoom US & CA Metered, the Zoom US & CA Unlimited has expansive training tools, including post-call summaries, barge, monitor, whisper, and takeover. Not only does this improve on any of Google Voice’s plans, but it means you can upskill your existing employees.
It also offers around-the-clock phone and live chat support, alongside a user forum and online knowledge base, so you can get help in whichever way you prefer, should the situation call for it.
The dashboard in Zoom Phone lets users quickly navigate to areas including Messages, Team Chat, Phone, and more. Source: Tech.co testing
What limitations does Zoom US & CA Unlimited have?
The plan’s biggest drawback is that users will get the same limited set of integrations that Zoom US & CA Metered users get, so no customer service live chat integrations or any video conferencing integrations — although video conferencing itself remains available, as do team messages.
There’s also no email support, although help and support options are pretty strong on the whole. Businesses that prefer to keep a paper trail for reference will likely be frustrated by this. Google Voice, by contrast, does offer email support.
Who is Zoom US & CA Unlimited best for?
Many small businesses need a full VoIP platform to operate their sales and marketing team’s outbound calls and their customer service team’s inbound calls from the same system. At the same time, they need a little more functionality than the pared-down magicJack for Business platform offers. Zoom US & CA Unlimited is the best plan on the market for those businesses.
At the same time, businesses that make a lot of international calls should consider other options. Zoom US & CA Unlimited only includes metered international calling, meaning that calls to countries outside the US and Canada will incur additional per-minute charges.
You can purchase international calling to more than 15 countries and regions as an add-on for $10 per month. But if you need to reach a wider audience, you should consider Net2Phone’s Professional plan ($24.99 per user, per month), which provides unlimited international calls to over 40 countries.
How much does Zoom US & CA Unlimited cost?
Zoom Phone’s US & CA Unlimited plan costs $15 per user, per month. Plus, if your business needs a bit more functionality, there are three further plans to explore:
- Pro Plus: $18.33 per user, per month
- Business Plus: $22.49 per user, per month
- Global Select: $20 per selected country, per license, per month
You can check out our Zoom Phone review for more information about this well-recommended VoIP solution.
4. Is Dialpad Standard Best for Small Customer Service Teams?
Price: $15 per user, per month
Downside: Lacks call queueing
Key takeaway: Balances unlimited outbound and inbound calls with good call features
Yes, Dialpad Standard is the best Google Voice alternative for customer service teams, due to its excellent call management features and good range of communication channels.
Added to this, Dialpad boasts great pricing, excellent training features, and a generous selection of hardware integrations.
Pros
- Excellent, comprehensive suite of features
- Great array of alternative communication channels
- Excellent security
Cons
- Slim range of software integrations with CRM, helpdesk, or PMS
- Lacks some training tools
- No call queue functionality
- Standard: $15/user/month
Why is Dialpad Standard a good Google Voice alternative?
With its attractive price point, Dialpad Standard is a great Google Voice alternative, especially for customer service teams looking for a well-rounded small business VoIP plan.
It excels at managing high call volumes, while strong integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zendesk ensure that larger companies can get the joint benefit of CRM and VoIP.
Dialpad Standard has a lot of inbound call functionality, including custom greetings, call routing, voicemail transcriptions, caller ID, call blocking and automatic screening, voicemail screening, call forwarding, call flip, ring groups, and custom hold music. This all adds up to an inbound call functionality that rivals Zoom US & CA Metered.
The Dialpad Inbox interface is clean and comprehensive. Source: Dialpad
In terms of alternative communication channels, the platform supports team messaging, SMS messages, call conferencing, and video conferencing, although video calls are capped at 150 participants. Like other softphones, Dialpad can be operated from a mobile app, which allows users to make and receive calls while on the go.
Dialpad is also compatible with four major hardware providers: Obihai, Polycom, Yealink, and Cisco. If you’re migrating to Dialpad from another VoIP provider and possess legacy hardware, this may be of interest.
What limitations does Dialpad Standard have?
Unlike Zoom, Dialpad Standard has limited training features. It does have call recording and analytics, but lacks call monitoring, call barging, or call whispering. The lack of call queuing, too, may be a dealbreaker for companies that constantly handle a large volume of calls.
The Standard plan also has next to no integrations. Our research team found a single Google Workspace Calendar integration, so no integrations for popular workplace software such as CRM, helpdesk, or customer service.
Who is Dialpad Standard best for?
Due to its unlimited outbound and inbound domestic calls, robust set of communication channels, and call management tools, it’s a great option for customer service teams.
However, businesses looking to onboard multiple new hires, such as a call center, should note the lack of training features. In this case, a better option would be Net2Phone Essentials ($19.99 per user, per month), which includes call recording, parking, breakout rooms, AI coaching (add-on), admin messaging controls, and more.
How much does Dialpad Standard cost?
Dialpad Standard starts at $15 per user, per month. If you’re looking for more functionality, it has two other plans to choose from:
- Pro: $25 per user, per month
- Enterprise: No public pricing
5. Does net2phone Essentials Have the Best Call Management Features?
Price: From $19.99 per user, per month
Downside: Expensive
Key takeaway: Great call features and support
Yes, net2phone Essentials has outstanding call management features, as well as security features, with standout examples including voicemail screening, which allows you to filter out unwanted calls, such as spam.
While smaller businesses might be priced out of net2phone Essentials, larger ones will find everything they need to carry out their daily operations.
Our team of researchers scored this plan pretty highly during our most recent round of testing. In fact, the only providers to better it were Zoom and Dialpad.
Pros
- Excellent call management features
- Built-in onboarding support
- Excellent security features
Cons
- Video conferencing and AI features very limited in Essentials plan
- Toll-free and international numbers cost extra in all plans
- Training features are highly limited
- Essentials: From $19.99/user/month
Why is net2phone Essentials a good Google Voice alternative?
net2phone Essentials is a great option for larger businesses, owing to its high volume of call management features and its per-user pricing model, which will work in your favor if you have a lot of employees.
You’ll get an extensive selection of call managing capabilities with net2phone Essentials. For example, you’ll be able to customize automated greetings, which is a a great way to personalize the experience for your end customer, ultimately helping them to feel valued.
net2phone offers plenty of useful call management features including call routing and ring groups. Source: net2phone
What limitations does net2phone Essentials have?
Despite its premium price point, net2phone Essentials has pretty strict allowance limits. Like Dialpad and Google Voice, its training tools are limited to call recording and analytics, with no option for monitoring, call barge, or call whisper.
It also caps video conferencing participants at 10, which is the lowest we’ve seen. Pricier net2phone plans expand this cap to 100 users, but even that is well under the 150 cap that Dialpad Standard imposes.
Its range of integrations is limited as well: the platform bundles in a Google Calendar integration, but the Salesforce and Microsoft Teams integrations are only available as add-ons. If your team regularly uses Salesforce or Microsoft Teams, staying connected to net2phone Essential will cost a little extra.
Who is net2phone Essentials best for?
To its credit, the plan includes dedicated onboarding support, which marks it out as a top pick for any teams that are concerned about a learning curve for software adaptation.
However, microbusinesses that just need a cheap, streamlined VoIP platform will probably find net2phone’s entry price too steep. Such businesses should opt for Google Voice or Zoom, instead.
How much does net2phone Essentials cost?
The Net2Phone Essentials plan costs between $19.99 and $27.99 per user, per month, depending on how many users you’re paying for. Here’s how the price breakdown works:
- 1 to 9 users: $27.99 per user, per month
- 10 to 24 users: $21.99 per user, per month
- 25 to 99 users: $19.99 per user, per month
- 100+ users: Custom pricing
Check out our full net2phone review for more in-depth information.
6. Is RingCentral Core the Best for Multi-Location Businesses?
Price: $20 per user, per month
Downside: Limited training features
Key takeaway: Great 24/7 support
Yes, RingCentral Core is the best Google Voice alternative for multi-location businesses, due to its strong set of features for transferring and queuing calls, meaning that you can seamlessly connect end customers with the department relevant to their needs without disrupting the call experience.
Starting at $20 per user, per month, RingCentral’s Core plan is scalable VoIP platform with a large selection of available integrations, outstanding 24/7 support options, and alternative communications channels.
Pros
- 24/7 support available
- Call queuing available
- Good range of alternative communication channels
Cons
- Learning curve for beginners
- Quite pricey for small businesses
- Lack of CRM integrations
- Core: $20/user/month
Why is RingCentral Core a good Google Voice alternative?
RingCentral Core is a great Google Voice alternative due to its raft of features for managing inbound and outbound calls, including the call queueing function that net2phone requires an add-on for, and which Dialpad and Google Voice skip entirely.
Alongside this, it delivers call forwarding, transferring, screening, and analytics, singling RingCentral out as a good pick for businesses with multiple locations, since they can transfer and queue calls with ease.
This is also helped by RingCentral’s huge range of communication channels. In addition to standard voice call, you’ll get team messaging, video conferencing, SMS, and call conferencing.
With these options at your disposal, you have the flexibility to meet your end customers where they are, which can be really useful in certain business contexts. For example, a B2B sales agent might want to engage a lead over video call in order to bring a potential deal closer to fruition.
It’s worth noting that Google Voice includes all of these channels as well, however.
RingCentral’s call pop-up appears on your screen when you’re receiving an incoming call. Source: Tech.co testing
Unlike most of the names on this list, RingCentral Core has an excellent array of integrations for customer service live chat tools. Nextiva was the only other platform listed in this article that included any integrations for this, but RingCentral supports the most, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Apple Business Chat, and Google Business Messages.
Finally, RingCentral offers comprehensive support options. These include a user forum, online knowledge base, and 24/7 phone and live chat support (matching Google Voice), as well as email support within business hours. You’ll also get free onboarding support.
What limitations does RingCentral Core have?
When we tested out RingCentral Core, we found that it wasn’t the easiest platform to use. In particular, we found it a little difficult to download video call meeting transcripts, and struggled to locate our call recordings. This was frustrating, and should deter VoIP novices and smaller businesses that don’t have the time to negotiate a steep learning curve.
Like Dialpad and net2phone, RingCentral Core lacks call monitoring, barging, and whisper functionality, although all these features are included in Advanced, the next RingCentral plan, which costs just $5 more per user, per month ($25 per user, per month).
Who is RingCentral Core best for?
RingCentral Core is best for large companies that operate over several sites. With its comprehensive set of tools for transferring, queuing, and organizing inbound calls, you can seamlessly manage the call journey for your end user, no matter which department or location you need to route them to.
Smaller businesses might find themselves a little daunted by the starting price, however.
How much does RingCentral Core cost?
RingCentral Core starts at $20 per user, per month.
The platform offers three additional plans, in case you’re looking to upgrade. See a breakdown below:
- Advanced: $25 per user, per month
- Ultra: $35 per user, per month
- Customer Engagement Bundle: Custom pricing
For more information, read our full RingCentral review.
7. Does Nextiva Core Offer Omnichannel Communication?
Price: $15 per user, per month
Downside: Limited range of training features
Key takeaway: Unmatched omnichannel platform
Yes, Nextiva Core is a fantastic omnichannel communications platform that will appeal to larger businesses that want to conduct their inbound and outbound comms in a variety of different ways.
Starting at $15 per user, per month, Nextiva boasts ecommerce and social media functionality in addition to its phone calling functions. For this reason, smaller businesses with modest needs should look elsewhere, as they will end up paying for functionality that they don’t need.
Pros
- Intuitive, flexible interface that's great for beginners
- Social media integrations for Facebook and Instagram
- Reasonably priced compared with other options
Cons
- May not integrate with older systems
- Strong learning curve that could benefit from training
- Core: $15/user/month
Why is Nextiva a good Google Voice alternative?
Nextiva Core is a great Google Voice alternative because, unlike most of the names on this list, it’s an all-in-one platform that will enable you to manage the end-to-end customer experience without the need for multiple vendors.
It offers ecommerce and social media functionality as well as phone calling functions, and along with RingCentral, it’s the only plan to include social media integrations for Facebook. It also supports Instagram.
In terms of classic VoIP features, you’ll get unlimited inbound and outbound calls, caller ID, voicemail transcription, call blocking, call forwarding, ring groups, and more. Unfortunately, call queuing is not included.
Nextiva’s interface is simple, making it easy to navigate. Source: Nextiva
Nextiva Core has an impressive range of internal communication channels so you can meet your end customers where they are, including team messaging, video conferencing, SMS, and call conferencing tools, although e-fax is only available as an add-on. Still, this does one-up Google Voice, which includes all the same channels but lacks the e-fax, even as an add-on.
What limitations does Nextiva Core have?
Training options are very limited. Call barging is supported, but fairly common tools, like call recording and analytics, are only available as add-ons. For a tool that is ultimately oriented towards larger businesses, this lack of training features is a little surprising.
Who is Nextiva Core best for?
Large businesses looking for an omnichannel communications platform should look no further than Nextiva Core, which packs a huge range of alternative channels and integrations into a very fair price tag.
Customers who are just looking for a basic VoIP platform will find themselves paying for a lot of functionality that they don’t need. While Nextiva Core is pretty reasonably priced (starting at $15 per user, per month), customers with these basic needs would be much better suited opting for a cheaper and more streamlined platform, such as Zoom.
How much does Nextiva Core cost?
Nextiva Core starts at $15 per user, per month. It has two other plans, which you can find out about below:
- Engage: $25 per user, per month
- Power Suite CX: $75 per user, per month
Read our full Nextiva review for more information.
What is the Best Free Google Voice Alternative for Businesses?
The best free alternative to Google Voice for businesses is Facebook Messenger, which offers a familiar interface and is incredibly simple to use. Other options include Line, JustCall, and WhatsApp, but their business features are limited.
Facebook Messenger
+ Doesn’t cost anything
+ Most people already use Facebook and should be familiar with Messenger
+ Can use to contract individuals or groups
– Not many features
– Extensive security and compliance risks in 2026, e.g. IFTA, GDPR
– Relies on the person you’re trying to contact having Facebook Messenger
Line
+ Available on most platforms including iOS, Android, and Windows
+ Includes in-app payment system
+ Widely used in countries such as China and Japan
– Very little recognition in the US
– Very basic features
– No customer support
+ Free to use
+ WhatsApp for Business option
– Not built for business functionality
– Mobile app lacks analytics and menus
– No hold music
– Business-specific plan requires messy integration with dedicated API
What Do Customers Have to Say About Google Voice?
“I use Google Voice for my VoIP and it is easy to use,” says Tim Connon, founder of ParamountQuote Insurance Advisors. “I really like the call forwarding and the fact that I can have it tell me it is from my Google Voice number on my mobile phone. I also like the user interface and how basic it can be, which keeps things simple.”
However, it’s not all plain sailing with Google Voice. “My biggest dislike of it is the fact that not all inbound calls come through in real-time,” Connon explains. “I will receive a missed call on my Google Voice phone and never even hear it ring. That is my biggest frustration with Google Voice. I hope it gets fixed soon.”
Bonnie Whitfield, human resources director of Family Destinations Guide, said Google Voice was “cost-effective” and eliminated her company’s need for “traditional phone lines and equipment,” which she said saved her business “money on phone and communication expenses.”
However, Whitfield said that she’s found the voicemail transcription service offered by Google Voice isn’t always useful. “While it is a convenient way to quickly read and respond to voicemails, I have found that the accuracy of the transcription is not always up to my standards,” she said.
Should I Choose Google Voice Anyway?
Google Voice will still be worth using for many businesses. The provider has excellent security options, a native integration with Google Workspace, and its starting plan is cheaper than pretty much every other provider’s starting plan, easily beating relatively cheap picks like Dialpad or net2phone.
We’d recommend Google Voice if:
- Your business handles sensitive information like personal, financial, or medical data
- You want to get started with a VoIP system for as little as possible
- Your business makes a lot of international calls
- You’re already subscribed to Google Workspace
However, Google Voice isn’t perfect. It lacks some pretty basic call management features, and provides poor onboarding support for starters. Its entry price of $10 per month doesn’t factor in the cost of a Google Workspace subscription, either, making its value offering slightly poorer than it initially seems.
We wouldn’t recommend Google Voice if:
- You make a high volume of outbound calls to other countries, since only outbound calls to the US are free
- You don’t want to pay $7 per month extra for Google Workspace
- You want a VoIP platform that grows alongside your business
- You recruit new staff often, and want useful onboarding and training features to match
The voicemail interface in Google Voice includes an auto-transcription functionality. Source: Tech.co testing
Google Voice vs Google Meet
Communicating with Google services has become quite popular in recent years, particularly with the pandemic spurring the remote work boom that had everyone signing into video chats to stay in touch with their team. As a result, you may be thinking that Google Meet could be a good alternative to Google Voice, as it provides an affordable way to talk to others.
However, the reality is that Google Voice and Google Meet serve very different functions. Google Meet is a video conferencing platform at its core, which means you can’t really set it up to replace your business phone system. Yes, it’s a great way to stay in touch with people on your team, but you can’t set it up in a way that could accept outside calls for your business.
In summary, Google Meet is not a suitable Google Voice alternative, which means you’ll have to look at one of the aforementioned competitors above to get your business phone system set up today.
How To Switch From Google Voice
To switch from Google Voice, start by checking what type of account you have. Google Voice has a light version, but only a full account requires you to port or create a telephone number. If switching from a full account, you’ll either need to swap your Google Voice number to a new line or change your telephone number entirely, which a new provider can do for you.
You likely want to port your number to your new provider. First, you’ll have to unlock the number, which is a simple process that is either free or a $3 charge, depending on how your number was set up in the first place. If your new provider requests an account number to complete the porting process, just give them your Google Voice number.
We take our hands-on testing and impartial 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 business phone platforms on the market, we selected 10 top VoIP systems and took a deeper dive into their plans to find out more about the features and functionality on offer.
Based on years of market research, product testing, and user needs analysis, we've established a VoIP system research methodology that scores each product in eight core categories of investigation, which are broken down into 44 further subcategories.
With this framework we cover everything, from internal communication tools and security options to niche training features, and it ensures we can accurately assess each product's value for its price and suitability for different types of businesses.
Our main research categories for VoIP phone systems are:
- Call management features: The presence and quality of call handling features, including basic features such as call forwarding and voicemail, as well as more advanced features like auto-attendant and interactive voice response (IVR).
- Communication channels: Features designed to support communication other than calling, including integrations with websites and social media platforms.
- Training features: The presence and quality of features designed to support onboarding and training, like call barge, call whisper, and performance dashboards.
- Customer support: The assistance and resources provided by the VoIP service provider to customers, including online resources, knowledge bases, and access to customer support representatives and AI chatbots.
- Security options: The measures and features implemented by the VoIP service to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and protection of voice communications and data.
- Pricing factors: The pricing structure associated with the VoIP service, including factors such as monthly subscription fees, domestic and international call rates, setup fees, hardware costs, and extra costs, like add-on features or services.
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.
Learn more about our research testing process.
Verdict: Which Google Voice Alternative Is Best for You?
Zoom Phone is the best Google Voice alternative. The starter plan can be purchased for exactly the same price as Google Voice — $10 per user, per month — but it has significantly more training, team management, and on-call features.
All in all, Zoom Phone is the best VoIP provider in terms of value, and the only one with a pricing structure that matches Google Voice’s affordability.
Not everyone has the cash to fork out for a higher priced alternative, and there’s really no better option for smaller businesses looking for a familiar but functional VoIP system that’s right at the lower end of the market when it comes to pricing.