Zoom Phone is the best hotel phone system in 2026, because of the advanced features available on its US & CA Unlimited plan, such as a virtual receptionist and automated attendants, geared towards automating daily processes like guest check-outs, freeing up tighter teams of hotel staff. Users can also get started for only $15/user/month, meaning it won’t make too much of a dent in your hotel’s budget amidst surging costs.
There are other Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) providers out there, though. In this guide, I’ve broken down the top providers on the market in 2026, based on our own independent research and analysis. To get the best out of our findings, consider using our obligation-free VoIP quotes tool.
Key Takeaways
- Zoom Regional Unlimited is the top recommendation for hotel phone systems in 2026, because of its ability to save costs for hotels at its low start price $15/user/month, as well as time-saving call manegement features such as automated attendants.
- For larger hotels or chain operations, RingCentral Core offers advanced call-handling and multi-location support. Pricing starts at $20 per user, per month, so it’s slightly more expensive than Zoom’s Regional Unlimited plan.
- Other options worth exploring include Dialpad, which has a wide range of AI features able to automate tasks and increase operational efficiency.
- When selecting a hotel phone system, managers should consider the budget they’re working with, the size of their hotel, the features they’ll need, and whether staff will need further training on any new system.
- Ensuring your phone system integrates with software you’re already using is also crucial because it’ll make sure that you won’t have to purchase additional software. Some offer integrations with hotel-specific features, such as in-room calling and interactive voice response (IVR) menus, improving guest satisfaction and ultimately driving profit.
Best Hotel Phone Systems: Research Results
- Zoom Regional Unlimited – Best for Hotels Managing High Call Volumes
- Dialpad Connect Standard – Best for Hotels Wanting to Save Time with AI
- Net2Phone Essentials – Best for Hotels Making International Calls
- RingCentral RingEx Core – Best for Hotels Wanting a No-Fuss Setup
- Nextiva Core – Best for Hotels Prioritizing Customer Communications
Use the links above to jump to our full reviews of each provider.
| Plan | Price | Desk phone compatibility How many desk phone brands is the service compatible with? | 24/7 support | Call queue | Call barge | Our rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEST OVERALL | | | | | ||||
| Zoom Phone | Dialpad | net2phone | RingCentral | Nextiva | ||||
| US & CA Unlimited | Standard | Essentials | Core | Core | ||||
| $15/user/month | $15/user/month | $19.99/user/month | $20/user/month | $15/user/month | ||||
| 7 brands | 4 brands | 2 brands | 4 brands | 6 brands | ||||
| Phone + chat | Add-on | Phone | Phone + chat | Phone, chat + email | ||||
| | | Add-on | | | ||||
| | | | | | ||||
| 4.6 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.6 |
Why Should You Trust Us? Our Research Methodology
For our testing on hotel phone systems, our research team selected the top 10 VoIP systems and tested them against 8 core categories, broken down into a further 44 subcategories. These were determined by our years of market research, product testing, and user needs.
All of our research is conducted in-house, and all of our reviews are written by writers with a wealth of experience understanding business needs and priorities.
You can learn more about our research process for VoIP systems further down the page.
1. Zoom Regional Unlimited – Best for Hotels Managing High Call Volumes
- Price from: $15 per user, per month
- Compatible with: Poly, Cisco, Yealink, Avaya, Grandstream, Mintel, AudioCodes
Zoom Phone’s US & CA Unlimited plan is a top solution for hotels experiencing a high volume of calls, because of its vast selection of call management features, such as customizable call routing and a virtual receptionist. These help automate the process of answering and directing calls, saving your staff time and making up for absences on the desk in the event of critical labor shortages.
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
- US & CA Unlimited: $15/user/month
- Pro Plus: $18.33/user/month
- Business Plus: $22.49/user/month
Who do I recommend Zoom Regional Unlimited for?
I’d recommend Zoom Regional Unlimited to smaller hotels like guesthouses, motels, and boutique hotels that are dealing with a high volume of calls, because it has the right amount of features to manage increasing demand and relieve pressure from staff, while offering a budget-friendly entry price.
What are the benefits of Zoom Regional Unlimited for hotels?
- Useful call management features: Zoom offers plenty of call management features that can provide a quick win for hotels managing a high number of calls. These include call forwarding, call screening, built-in AI-powered call and voicemail transcriptions, and the option to create automated attendants with multi-level menus.
- Plenty of training features: Zoom is well equipped to deal with a rotating group of staff with its highly beneficial onboarding features, including call barge and whisper. Training features can also get new staff up and running quickly, and enables them to have a strong understanding of the business as soon as possible.
- Desk phone compatability: Zoom’s system can help with hotels that favor making calls on traditional phones over software, by providing strong desk phone compatability.
- Strong security protocols: Our research found that Zoom has some of the best VoIP security protocols in the industry, helping hotels keep their phone systems secure and private. Zoom encrypts all calls with end-to-end encryption (E2EE), processes all voicemail records securely in Zoom’s cloud, and automatically identifies irregular patterns to help detect fraudulent activity.
What are the drawbacks of Zoom Regional Unlimited for hotels?
- Limited software integrations: Zoom doesn’t offer a wide range of integration options, which is a barrier for hotels wanting to efficiently control all of their operations from a single platform. Zoom doesn’t integrate with many customer relationship management (CRM), helpdesk, and property management systems (PMS). For a system with plenty of integration choices, our research recommends Nextiva’s Core plan.
- Missing in-room features: Zoom is missing some of the key in-room phone features that are crucial for hotels to make a guest’s stay more convenient and comfortable, and encourage them to return. Zoom also doesn’t offer auto check-in and check-out, providing a critical barrier for managers looking to automate these daily processes.
Our testers highlighted Zoom for its advanced range of call management features, which we deemed an excellent choice for managers looking to take the ease off staff and maximize the efficiency of daily functions, like call forwarding. Images: Tech.co’s testing process
How much does Zoom Regional Unlimited cost for hotels?
Zoom Phone’s Regional Unlimited plan has a starting price of $15 per user, per month for hotels, making it one of the best priced hotel VoIP systems we’ve researched. Here’s how Zoom Phone’s plans line up, with prices paid annually:
- US & CA Metered: $10 per user, per month
- US & CA Unlimited: $15 per user, per month
- Pro Plus: $18.33 per user, per month
- Business Plus: $22.49 per user, per month
Hotel managers should also note that Zoom requires you to pay extra if you’re making calls outside of the US and Canada, putting more pressure on budgets and providing a great risk to relationships with international clientele. In this case, we’d recommend one of Net2Phone’s packages, as the provider offers unlimited international calls.
The US & CA Unlimited plan’s starting price is the same as Dialpad Connect Standard’s ($15/user/month) and Nextiva Core’s ($15/user/month), and is less expensive than options like RingCentral RingEX ($20/user/month).
Plus, the jump from the first to the second Zoom plan is only an extra $3.33/user/month, whereas Dialpad’s second paid tier costs $10 more than its first.
Smaller hotels experiencing high volumes of calls, maybe without the staff to match, can take advantage of Zoom’s low pricing and features targeted towards saving employees time by automating several key processes.
2. Dialpad Connect Standard – Best for Hotels Wanting to Save Time with AI
- Price from: $15 per user, per month
- Compatible with: Polycom, Yealink, Cisco, Mitel
Dialpad Connect’s Standard plan, thanks AI features such as real-time call transcriptions targeted towards enhancing productivity, is a great system for hotels looking to free-up staff by letting AI carry out its day-to-day operations. This will no doubt help managers streamline their hotels ongoings, and enables smaller hotels to keep up with a busy service.
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
- Pro: $25/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom
Who do I recommend Dialpad Connect Standard for?
Dialpad Connect Standard’s vast range of AI features makes it suited to smaller hotels that want to take advantage of time-saving features, particularly if they are dealing with a small team of staff. Overall, Dialpad will free up staff to conduct more specific, targeted duties as it handles day-to-day burdens like transcribing calls.
Plus, smaller lodgings such as motels and B&Bs should take advantage of Dialpad’s budget entry-level price, especially since coupled with its AI tools, the system can save both time and money simultaneously.
What are the benefits of Dialpad Connect Standard for hotels?
- Industry-leading AI features: Our researchers noted that Dialpad Connect is ahead of the competition when it comes to AI, offering tools that can save time for employees and simplify general processes for guests. The provider includes real-time call transcriptions and summaries, AI scorecards that automatically evaluate calls against predefined criteria, and a playbook feature rhat produces sales reps with customizable scripts.
- Flexible domestic call limits: Dialpad provides a solution for hotels that manage high call volumes by providing unlimited domestic calls, ensuring that businesses don’t rack up additional costs when dealing with demand.
- Time-saving tools: Dialpad contains features that will directly save time for staff by helping direct guests to the service or department they need. This includes an interactive voice response (IVR) self-service system, that can cover requests such as room service or booking enquiries. Likewise, a call queue feature lets workers place incoming calls in queues to improve guest satisfaction.
What are the drawbacks of Dialpad Connect Standard for hotels?
- No training features: Our research found that Dialpad does present a barrier if your hotel is frequently onboarding or rotating staff, particularly if the staff is new to using phone systems. The platform doesn’t include training features such as call barge or whisper. If you’re looking for a system that can effectively accomodate new users, we’d go for Zoom’s Regional Unlimited plan.
- Lack of software integrations: Dialpad offers a slim range of software integrations, which impacts hotels wanting to keep an eye on operations from a singular platform. There are no CRM, helpdesk, or PMS software integrations available. We’d recommend Nextiva Core for a hotel wanting to maximize its integrations.
Dialpad Connect had some of the best AI tools out of all the providers we tested, making it particularly effective at automating certain processes including transcribing calls. Images: Tech.co’s testing process
How much does Dialpad Connect Standard cost for hotels?
Hotels will pay at least $15 per user, per month, to get started with Dialpad Connect’s Standard plan. Here’s how all of the paid plans line up, with prices paid annually:
- Standard: $15 per user, per month
- Pro: $25 per user, per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing (contact sales)
Dialpad Connect Standard is on equal terms with Zoom Regional Unlimited ($15/user/month) and Nextiva Core ($15/user/month). Prices can get a touch more expensive on the Pro plan, but for hotels that want to maximize their integrations, you might need to consider the upgrade.
Dialpad Connect Standard includes AI features such as voicemail transcription and real-time analytics and reporting. These features at this price is an excellent choice for smaller hotels on a budget that still want the time-saving perks of AI.
3. Net2Phone Essentials – Best for Hotels Making International Calls
- Price from: $19.99 per user, per month
- Compatible with: Poly, Yealink, Cisco, Mitel
In our research, we found that Net2Phone’s Essentials plan offers a vast range of tools tailored towards hotels that manage plenty of calls overseas, including free desk phones and unlimited domestic and international calling to over 40 countries. Prices for international calls can be steep, and so Net2Phone provides an essential money-saving tool for hotels to maintain their international clientele.
Pros
- Excellent call management features
- Video conferencing platform built-in for team communication
- Plenty of AI features to save time and improve productivity
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
- Professional: From $24.99/user/month
- Ultimate: From $29.99/user/month
What are the benefits of Net2Phone Essentials for hotels?
- International calling features: Net2Phone is an excellent money-saving tool for managers who make frequent international calls and want to avoid additional fees from their provider. Net2Phone offers unlimited domestic and international calls to over 40 countries, as well as international number porting capabilities, all on its entry-level plan.
- Customizable IVR menus: Net2Phone can help take certain tasks off the plates of a busy hotel team, ensuring that small teams in particular are not squeezed too tight with day-to-day admin work. Our research found that Net2Phone includes customizable IVR menus that allow guests to seamlessly navigate reservation options, meaning they can do so efficiently and without the supervision of a staff member.
- Multi-location support: Net2Phone has tools that directly support hotel chains by increasing communication between locations. It does this through multi-location support, which centralizes communications to an admin portal and lets staff make free calls to different branches.
- Strong integrations: Net2Phone integrates with a wide range of solutions, particularly, PMS providers, which are a significant benefit for businesses looking to automate daily operations and boost operational efficiency. In total, Net2Phone has compatability with over 85 different PMS services. This is also beneficial for hotels looking to give guests the customized experience they want in 2026, as staff can access the system to understand details about each customer.
What are the drawbacks of Net2Phone Essentials for hotels?
- Limited training features: Net2Phone is lacking key training features, which is a potential hurdle for managers who handle a rotating staff or are frequently onboarding. Net2Phone doesn’t offer a dedicated performance dashboard to help managers track progress over time, but it does have basic call analytics. For a platform that prioritizes training, our research recommends Zoom’s Regional Unlimited plan.
- Limited call barge features: Net2Phone has limited call barge features, making it hard for managers to join ongoing calls and provide assistance in real time.
Net2Phone’s international call features stood out the most to our researchers, offering unlimited calls to over forty countries that will no doubt help managers save when maintaining overseas relationships with customers. Images: Net2Phone
How much does Net2Phone Essentials cost for hotels?
Hotels can expect to pay at least $19.99 per user, per month, for Net2Phone’s Essentials plan. The price of your individual package will depend on the number of users you’re supplying, with the monthly cost changing as you hit certain thresholds.
Here’s how the two plans line up, based on having 25-99 users and with prices paid annually:
- Essentials: $19.99 per user, per month
- Professional: $24.99 per user, per month
- Ultimate: $29.99 per user, per month
In terms of its entry-level price, Net2Phone starts off more expensive than providers like Zoom Regional Unlimited ($15/user/month) and Nextiva Core ($15/user/month).
Likewise, whereas hotels will only have to invest $15 per user, per month to access Dialpad Connect Standard’s advanced AI features, you’ll have to fork out at least $24.99 per user, per month for AI functionality in Net2Phone, as this is only available from the Professional plan.
However, as hotels continue to face surging costs, Net2Phone’s Essentials plan has an unlimited international calls feature that can be seen as an essential money-saving tool for businesses that handle a high volume of international contacts.
4. RingCentral RingEX – Best for Hotels Wanting a No-Fuss Setup
- Price from: $20 per user, per month
- Compatible with: Poly, Mitel, Unify, Yealink, Snom
RingCentral RingEX is ideal for hotels that want to be able to monitor all the core software they use from a single location, because it has the largest library of third-party integrations we researched. Hotel managers who want to keep a regular eye on all aspects of their business can ensure processes are always running smoothly, and RingCentral is a great option for creating a centralized location of operations.
Pros
- Flexible range of pricing plans, with easy scaling for all businesses
- Largest library of third-party integrations across our research
- All-in-one hub for internal and external communication
Cons
- No automatic downloads for video meeting transcripts
- High starting price makes it prohibitive for smaller businesses
- CRM and helpdesk integrations reserved for more expensive plans
- Core plan: $20/user/month
- Advanced plan: $25/user/month
- Ultra plan: $35/user/month
Who do I recommend RingCentral RingEX for?
RingCentral RingEX’s large amount of integration options makes it well suited to hotels wanting to keep an eye on all elements of its operations, in an efficient manner.
I’d also recommend RingCentral to larger hotels and those with seasonal demands, because of the flexible approach it takes towards communication tools and user commitments.
What are the benefits of RingCentral RingEX for hotels?
- Massive app library: RingCentral gives managers the option to keep an eye on all ongoings at their hotels, because it offers the biggest selection of third-party integrations out of all the providers we researched. The provider integrates with Gmail, Salesforce, and PMS platforms such as Buildium and DoorLoop.
- Robust in-room calling features: RingCentral allows hotels to provide their customers with a comfortable and convenient service, through its in-room calling features. Hotels are able to add personalized greetings and call options, and guests can make local, long-distance, and internal calls. Plus, an in-room AI assistant makes it easy to get information 24/7 for guests.
- Multi-location support: RingCentral is able to support hotels with multiple locations or those that are planning on expanding later down the line. It lets you centralize management for multiple properties under one account, and customize call handling based on your specific needs.
- Flexible user options: RingCentral is a great option for hotels that have a fluctuating customer base throughout the season, a highly beneficial tool to ensure managers only spend money on the staff that they need. Our researchers found that RingCentral’s plan lets you add or remove users easily, and the platform doesn’t require long-term commitments for added users.
What are the drawbacks of RingCentral RingEX for hotels?
- Some features only available in higher tiers: RingCentral keeps some advanced features in its higher paid plans, which can be found in the other providers that we researched. For example, the provider is lacking in-room voicemail management, which Zoom does offer on a cheaper plan.
- Few PMS tools available: RingCentral doesn’t integrate with a large amount of PMS systems focused on hospitality. PMS systems are crucial for hotels today that want to free up staff by automating several day-to-day functions, and so a lack of options here could impact a hotel’s overall efficiency.
We were most impressed the vast amount of integration options we found within RingCentral in our research, making it a great option for managers who want to keep a close eye on all hotel ongoings. Images: Tech.co’s testing process
How much does RingCentral RingEX cost for hotels?
RingCentral RingEX’s pricing for hotels starts from $20 per user, per month, for 1-100 users if paid annually. Hotels looking to supply for over 100 staff members should contact RingCentral directly. Otherwise, here’s how the paid plans line up, when paid annually:
- Core: $20 per user, per month
- Advanced: $25 per user, per month
- Ultra: $35 per user, per month
- Customer Engagement Bundle: Custom pricing (contact sales)
RingCentral RingEX’s entry-level plan is more expensive than Zoom Regional Unlimited ($15/user/month), as well as Nextiva Core and Dialpad Connect Standard, which come in at the same price.
That being said, RingCentral offers plenty of advanced features that can justify its price tag, including team messaging, video conferencing, and 24/7 support.
However, smaller hotels looking for a more budget-friendly option can probably get more for a lesser price, from a provider such as Zoom Regional Unlimited.
5. Nextiva Core – Best for Hotels Prioritizing Customer Communications
- Price from: $15 per user, per month
- Compatible with: Polycom, Cisco, Yealink
Nextiva’s Core plan lends itself well to hotels that want to maximize and streamline communications with customers, because of its useful omnichannel communication options which combine customer interactions across voice, email, SMS, chat, and social media into a single interface. In 2026, customers are increasingly turning to hospitality businesses to create a personalized experience, and so a provider like Nextiva is well-positioned to ensure hotels can understand directly what their guests need.
Pros
- Unlimited users on all plans, ideal for large businesses on a budget
- Easy to use and simple set up, which makes it good for beginners
- 24/7 live support + excellent additional support options
- Lots of collaboration features like a team messenger, which is great for hybrid/remote teams
Cons
- Few management features, which means it isn't very scalable
- Poor options for managing sensitive customer info
- Few integrations on the first paid plan, so you won't be able to sync it with your CRM
- Core: $15/user/month
- Engage: $25/user/month
- Power Suite CX: $75/user/month
Who do I recommend Nextiva Core for?
Nextiva’s Core plan is a great option for hotels that want to communicate directly and effectively with customers, thanks to its omnichannel communications options where customers can reach out via email, SMS, social media, and more.
I’d also recommend Nextiva Core to managers who want to make the most of solid customer support options like 24/7 live support and email support, particularly if they want to get the best out of their system.
What are the benefits of Nextiva Core for hotels?
- Omnichannel communication tools: Nextiva effectively allows hotels to communicate with customers on multiple levels, so that staff can prioritize the issues directly affecting them. With Nextiva, staff can communicate using voice, email, SMS, chat, and social media, all through a single interface.
- AI-powered virtual assistant: Nextiva’s AI agents can handle requests and ultimately free up staffing times and reduce call escalations. Nextiva’s intelligent virtual agent (IVA) uses generative AI to provide personalized assistance to guests, reducing the need for staff to deal with several requests. Likewise, it allows hotels to focus on a service that is specific to a customer, overall increasing their satisfaction.
- Solid in-room features: Nextiva provides hotel customers with convenience and comfort, thanks to several in-room calling features such as voicemail-to-email functionality, where voicemail on a guest’s phone can be turned into an audio transcript that is available to email for a quick response from staff.
What are the drawbacks of Nextiva Core for hotels?
- No PMS software integrations: Our research found that Nextiva doesn’t integrate with any PMS software, greatly reducing a hotel’s ability to automate and streamline daily operations.
- Lacking some call management features: Nextiva doesn’t offer a strong suite of call management features, particularly when compared with Zoom Regional Unlimited and Net2Phone. Plus, features such as call monitoring and analytics are only available as paid add-ons, which adds to the risk of hotel managers spending more.
Our research shows that Nextiva can effectively assist managers who want to prioritize communication, because of the various options it gives staff to converse with customers. Images: Nextiva
How much does Nextiva Core cost for hotels?
Hotels will pay at least $15 per user, per month for Nextiva on its Core plan. Here’s how much the other plans cost, when paid annually:
- Core: $15 per user, per month
- Engage: $25 per user, per month
- Power Suite CX: $75 per user, per month
Nextiva’s Core plan is the same as Zoom Regional Unlimited and Dialpad Connect’s, at $15 per user, per month, making it a great option for smaller hotels not wanting to spend too much on phone software.
While this plan does offer 24/7 support and unlimited domestic calls, extra features like call recording and team messaging can only be used on the higher plans, for at least an extra $10 per user, per month.
Therefore, I’d recommend that smaller hotels opt for an option like Dialpad Connect or Zoom Regional Unlimited, because you’ll likely get more features for the same price, including AI functionality and stronger call management tools.
What are the Benefits of Phone Systems for Hotels?
Hotel VoIP systems can offer improved efficiency, lower VoIP costs, and easy expansion for businesses.
They ultimately provide more features compared to a straightforward Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system, including clearer communication lines and integrations with PMS services.
Here are some of the top advantages of VoIP systems for hotels:
- Cost savings: VoIP systems cost much less in terms of setup and maintenance, compared to traditional wired solutions. By paying a low monthly fee, you can avoid all of the wiring and logistics involved, as well as the extra money needed for upkeep and maintenance, Plus, VoIP systems can work with traditional desk phones and softphones (computers and mobile devices), meaning you won’t have to pay for additional hardware when the system is set up, saving your hotel overall installation costs.
- Improved day-to-day efficiency: As costs tighten and labor difficulties sweep the hotel industry, VoIP systems can provide a relief for a small team of staff by automating plenty of day-to-day operations, such as through integrations with PMS software. Similarly, add-ons like CRM and business management software allows staff to manage data, files, booking, and customer information easily – everything will be done automatically.
- Scalability: VoIP makes it easy for hotels to add or remove lines and extensions as they need, because there is no need for additional wiring. This will make it easy for your hotel to expand in the future.
- Convenience: VoIP systems have remote management capabilities, meaning that anyone with an internet connection can monitor a hotel staff’s ongoings, with the correct security clearance, of course.
Looking for an accompanying POS system for your hotel? Check out our dedicated guide on the best hotel POS system.
How Should Hotels Choose The Right Phone System?
Hotel managers should ask themselves what their budget for phone systems are, the kind of features they’d like, the size of their hotel, and the needs of their staff, before investing.
Below I expand on the questions above, and offer some more considerations for managers making this choice.
I’d recommend definitely opting for a system with automation features – no matter your needs. 39% of property managers say they spend more than 20 hours a month handling maintenance requests, suggesting poor communication between systems.
Overall, automated features will greatly save staff time because daily operations, like table reservations, can be completed automatically and without assistance.
Our research found that sometimes suppliers offer free training, so it’s always worth asking at installation.
This includes factors such as checking your porting number is easy, and that a comprehensive action plan is made before you start unplugging phones.
Likewise, in terms of hardware, our research team does recommend that hotels use softphone apps. But, if you’re unable to forego some flexibility, hard phones allow for slightly better call quality. Our top picks for hotels, based on our research, are Polycom VVX 601 and Cisco 7941.
In general, I’d recommend all hotels consider a multi-line option, as it offers separate channels for reservations, payments, and customer concerns. This makes it easier for your customers to get to who they need to speak to quicker, and improves the convenience of their stay.
Looking for more key insights into the hospitality sector? Get business tips, news, and more with the Mint Pillow newsletter.
Methodology: How We Researched The Best Hotel Phone Systems
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: The Best Hotel Phone Systems
Our research shows that Zoom’s Regional Unlimited plan is the best hotel phone system in 2026, because it offers critical time-saving features such as built-in AI powered call and voicemail transcriptions, which will free up time for staff and improve their efficiency. Likewise, it only costs $15/user/month to get started.
As the industry struggles with rising costs and labor difficulties, hotels should gear towards choosing a system that won’t break the bank and investing in features that can automate processes and free up staff from daily operations.
If you’re still on the fence about which system would work best for you, you can check out our handy comparison tool, where you’ll receive tailored, fuss-free quotes from the best VoIP providers.
Traditional PBX systems act as a central hub for incoming and outgoing calls, and is able to mange call routing, voicemail, and call forwarding, among other elements.
However, our researchers recommend that hotels opt for VoIP technology because of the advanced functionality these systems offer, such as voicemail-to-email, call recording, and automated check-in/check out.
Plus, these systems often integrate with Property Management Services (PMS) that offer features such as automated billing, and can therefore ease the burden of daily operations on pressured hotel staff.
Older or specialized PMS systems may sometimes require an Application Programming Interface (API) key or token to create a custom connection between the two systems, but this requires some technical knowledge and setup.
Connecting your VoIP provider is highly beneficial for businesses that want to automate tasks such as call logging and caller identification, freeing up staff from having to manually carry out these tasks.
Instead of a single adapter, I’d recommend larger hotels opt for a VoIP Gateaway with more ports. This will allow you to connect more phones without having to make drastic purchases on new ones.
Likewise, the system should have the capacity to send precise location data to emergency services, relating to the specific room number, floor, or suite. This allows emergencies to be handled swiftly.
Hotel managers should make sure that these requirements are met when considering a phone system, and you can usually find out about a system’s compliance from the provider’s website.
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