Ooma vs Google Voice: Price & Features Comparison 2020

If you want a top VoIP provider for your business, then both Ooma and Google Voice are strong options. However, we've done the research, and can tell you that Ooma is the superior of the two.

So, why have we backed Ooma? Simply put, Ooma offers more features, and better support than Google Voice does. Yes, there are some things that Google Voice does better (mainly involving pricing), but we believe that most business owners will be happy to spend a little more for the better service.

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Ooma vs Google Voice: Which VoIP Service Is Better?

Google Voice and Ooma are both good choices when it comes to VoIP systems, but it's Ooma that has the edge. Google Voice may be cheaper (especially for smaller businesses), but it can't match Ooma for customer support and features.

On this page:

• Which VoIP Service is Better?
• Best for Business
• Best for Value
• Best for Customer Service
• Best for International Calling
• Ooma vs Google Voice Verdict

Best for Business Features – Winner: Ooma

Both Ooma and Google Voice offer a comprehensive list of business features, but as you can see from our list below, its Ooma that has a wider scope. And the list below isn't even exhaustive for Ooma's Enterprise or Call Center solutions. We think Google Voice is a good choice for smaller companies using the Google ecosystem, but it can't compete with the sheer volume of options that Ooma offers.

Integrations

When it comes to features, both Ooma and Google Voice are fairly evenly matched. However, it’s Ooma that wins this round, thanks to its much wider offering when it comes to integrations. Customers will find they have a lot more options when it comes to using Ooma alongside existing platforms, compared to Google Voice.

One of the huge selling points for Google Voice, as you might expect, is its integration with the Google platform. If you’re already invested in the Google infrastructure, then having Google Voice integrate with Meet, Calendar, Gmail and others could be huge boon. However, it doesn’t offer the range of third party integrations that Ooma does, such as compatibility with Zendesk or Microsoft’s suite.

Ooma, meanwhile, fares much better here, with a longer list of integrations. These include Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, Zendesk, Microsoft 365, G-Suite, and ServiceNow, which could make the decision for you if your company uses any of these platforms heavily.

Call Management

Both solutions have a strong set of call management options, matching each other pound for pound here. These options include call transfer, voicemail (including transcripts), call forwarding, and call blocking.

Mobile Apps

Both Ooma and Google Voice offer apps for Android and iOS devices. Both have strong reviews and are clearly liked by their users, with no major complaints. The Google Voice app has more downloads across the platforms, but the Ooma app is more highly rated.

Best for Value – Winner: Ooma

When it comes to price, at first it doesn't seem a fair fight between Ooma and Google Voice. Google Voice starts at $10 – nearly half the price of Ooma’s lowest tier. What's more, its features seem fairly competitive – while Google’s Voice’s Starter tier won’t suit businesses larger than a startup, its Standard tier could do the job, for $3.95 cheaper than Ooma.

However, on closer inspection, it's clear that Google Voice has a ceiling for users. Growing businesses who want a phone system they can stick with and rely on will see the value in paying for Ooma in the long term, with its more wide-ranging features and far stronger support team.

Ooma Office Pro is Tech.co's top pick for small businesses who are serious about improving their communications – plus, it's cheaper than Google Voice's Premier plan.

Ooma Pricing

Ooma offers two tiers of pricing to businesses – Ooma Office, at $19.95, and Ooma Office Pro at $24.95.

Ooma Office comes with plenty of features, including a mobile app, hold music, call transfer options, and more. You also get a virtual receptionist, a feature that Google Voice’s Starter tier doesn’t offer.

Ooma Office Pro offers the above, and also throws in call recording, the desktop app, enhanced call blocking, and voicemail transcripts. Plus, it gives companies higher usage limits for audio conferencing and extension monitoring.

Google Voice Pricing

Google Voice has three tiers of pricing, but there is no free tier for business users. While personal users can access Google Voice for free, this isn’t the case for companies. If you’re on the fence, you could try out the personal service first to get to grips with Google Voice before committing.

The first tier, Starter, is intended as the entry point, and for $10 a month, allows up to 10 users. It offers free domestic calls in the U.S., unlimited SMS, 24/7 support, voicemail, and call forwarding. However, it’s worth noting that this tier doesn’t offer any desk phone support.

Next up is Standard, priced at $16 per month, which offers everything that Starter does, but includes desk phone support – as well as ring groups and a “multi-level” auto attendant. It can cater for an unlimited number of users in an unlimited number of domestic locations.

Lastly, there’s Premier, priced at $30 per month. This one comes with all of the above, and is available to an unlimited number of international locations, as well as offering advanced reporting.

Read our guide to the best Google Voice alternatives

Ooma vs Google Voice Customer Service: Winner – Ooma

Being unable to resolve a technical issue quickly is often worse than the issue itself, which is why strong customer support is so important. Knowing you have a strong support team, should anything go wrong, can give you far more confidence in setting up and running your VoIP system, and avoid many a frustrated hour.

Setup Options

Setting up with Ooma is a simple affair as could be. The company states that it will take around 20 minutes to set up your device and connect to the service. If you get stuck, there’s a customer support assistant on hand too. The video below demonstrates the steps required.

It’s a similar story with Google Voice – you shouldn't have much trouble getting started. If you do get stuck, Google has a handy step by step guide to follow on its site, meaning you shouldn’t go too far wrong.

Support Options

As you’d expect, both Ooma and Google Voice offer good online support. However, it’s Ooma that offers more options, with 24/7 live chat and a setup assistant complementing the written resources – as well as telephone support – making it the clear winner when it comes to customer service.

Google, by contrast, is rather lacking. Yes, it does offer 24/7 support, but it’s based entirely around online forms and tools, with no phone support option.

Ooma offers 24/7 online support, as well as a setup assistant, helpline and more

Best for International Calling: Winner – Google Voice

Both Ooma and Google Voice offer competitive rates when it comes to international calls. As is fairly standard with such services, domestic calls to the U.S. & Canada are included in the package, and both providers offer free calls to Puerto Rico, too. Ooma goes a step further by also including calls to Mexico, free of charge.

For businesses that mainly place calls within North America, there’s a logic to sticking with Ooma and getting these calls for free. If you'll often be calling a range of countries further afield, however, in most cases we found that Google Voice offered cheaper rates, as you can see in our table below.

Ooma includes free calls to Mexico, as well as the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. But if you'll be calling further afield frequently, Google's rates are slightly lower.

Ooma vs Google Voice: Call Quality

VoIP has made such serious technological leaps and bounds in recent years, it's almost hard to distinguish between an internet-based call and a traditional analogue one.

This is of course exactly the scenario you want – while you want the cheaper bills that using VoIP over a landline can provide, you definitely don’t want to skimp on the quality and risk alienating or frustrating your customers.

Call quality is something that Ooma takes seriously, so much so that it regularly sends out its own surveys to customers. In its most recent survey, 76% of Ooma Office users rated its sound quality as an eight or higher on a scale of 1 to 10. Less than three percent of users reported experiencing call quality issues regularly.

Google Voice doesn’t offer similar customer survey data, but a look at review sites shows that customers on the whole are happy with the sound quality. It’s not uncommon to read that its quality is frequently rated highly, with customers praising the HD quality sound.

Verdict: Ooma vs Google Voice

Both Ooma and Google Voice would serve as robust VoIP telephone solutions for any business, but it’s Ooma that comes out on top. Sure, Google Voice may be the cheaper option for those calling outside of the Americas, but it’s Ooma’s longer legacy of VoIP that shines through when you start to drill down into the support and package options.

For a fledgling business with wide international trade, we’d suggest Google Voice, but for everyone else, Ooma is the smart choice.

Ooma & Google Voice FAQs

What's the best option for entrepreneurs and startups?

While we recommend Ooma for most small businesses, if you're just starting up with a team of 5 or less, then you may appreciate the low cost of Google Voice. At $10 per user for its entry tier, it's a very low cost solution for those businesses working to the strictest budget.

Does Ooma or Google Voice support 911 calls?

Both Ooma and Google Voice do support 911 calls. However, it's worth making sure you are set up correctly – including assigning your account to an address – or the emergency service may not work as it should.

Does Google Voice work better with OBi?

Google Voice works with Obihai (now acquired by Polycom), whereas Ooma doesn't.

Is Google Voice free?

Yes, at least for home customers. While residential addresses can use Google Voice for free, there is no such tier for Google Business.

Do Google Voice or Ooma have free trials?

Google Voice does not offer a free trial, but Ooma essentially does. It offers a 30-day money back guarantee, no questions asked.