Best Cheap VoIP Providers for Small Businesses in 2026
Cheap VoIP services help small businesses reduce phone costs while still offering professional calling features such as voicemail, call routing, business texting, video meetings, and mobile apps. The best low-cost VoIP providers balance affordability with reliability, so you are not sacrificing call quality, support, or essential tools just to save a few dollars per user.
After comparing pricing, core features, AI tools, and overall value, Nextiva is my top pick for the best cheap VoIP provider for small businesses. It offers phone, video, messaging, fax, and customer management tools on a single platform, making it a strong value for teams that want more than basic calling.
Below are the best cheap VoIP providers for small businesses:
The Fit Small Business editorial process adheres to strict standards to ensure that our best answers are grounded in accuracy, clarity, authority, objectivity, and accessibility.
Drawing on several years of experience evaluating business VoIP providers, I’ve identified industry-leading phone systems and popular choices among business professionals, thoroughly assessing each through in-depth reviews.
Review my full methodology to learn more about my evaluation process and criteria.
Lead Writer, VoIP at Fit Small Business
Best cheap VoIP services compared
Which cheap VoIP service is right for you?
Nextiva: Best for customer management
Pros
- Connect with customers through multiple digital channels
- Customer support is very responsive
- Video and chat capabilities on the base plan
Cons
- Small business pricing comes with contract lock-in
- Most integrations come with a monthly fee
- Toll-free numbers come at an extra fee for base plan subscribers
My expert opinion
I chose Nextiva as the overall best cheap VoIP service because it delivers an all-in-one platform for business communication, collaboration, and customer management. Its robust feature set centralizes customer interactions, allowing you to respond to inquiries faster, automate surveys, and reduce costs by reducing reliance on third-party apps.
Comparable to RingCentral in unified communications (UC) capabilities, Nextiva combines a business phone system with video conferencing, team messaging, and online faxing. However, if you find Nextiva’s monthly plans on the higher side, Zoom Phone is my top budget-friendly alternative, starting at just $10.50 per user for metered calling (when billed annually).
Nextiva offers three monthly plans starting at $23 per user, when billed annually.
- Host meetings with up to nine participants using a dedicated conference line.
- Send and receive faxes without limits.
- Manage incoming calls by placing callers in a queue until the next available agent.
Nextiva delivers in-depth call center metrics to help businesses monitor agent productivity and improve customer service. (Source: Nextiva)
RingCentral: Best for all-in-one communication hub
Pros
- Has the most feature-rich entry-level plans
- Utilizes AI across communication channels
- Extensive integrations with business apps
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to rich feature set
- Relatively low SMS credits
- Vanity numbers have a $30 one-time fee
My expert opinion
RingCentral’s $30-per-user starting price is higher than many budget VoIP options, but its entry-level plan offers excellent value. It includes advanced features like interactive voice response (IVR), caller ID, call queues, and on-demand call recording, plus a full suite of video conferencing and messaging capabilities that many competitors reserve for higher tiers.
The main limitation is texting, as plans only include a set number of SMS credits per user each month. If your business depends on frequent client communication via text, I recommend Grasshopper, which offers unlimited business texting and customizable SMS tools like instant response.
RingCentral has three subscription plans priced from $30 to $45 per user, with a 33% discount available for annual subscriptions.
- Create shared contact lists and a company-wide directory accessible to all employees.
- Collaborate through instant messaging and file sharing without using your phone number.
- Display your availability status to indicate if you’re online, offline, busy, or in a meeting.
RingCentral lets users customize call handling and voicemail settings to match their business workflow. (Source: RingCentral)
Grasshopper: Best for sharing phone numbers
Pros
- Pay a monthly flat-rate fee for unlimited users
- No extra fee for toll-free vanity numbers
- Works with Ruby Receptionist for live answering
Cons
- Limited to inbound faxing only
- Feature set not ideal for high call volume
- No collaboration tools
My expert opinion
Grasshopper is my top choice for sharing numbers at an affordable price, starting at $18 and dropping to $14 with annual prepayment. Its higher-tier plans provide multiple phone numbers and unlimited users, making it ideal for teams that share lines. Unlike most VoIP providers that charge per user, Grasshopper uses a fixed-rate model, so you can grow your team without added monthly costs.
Every plan includes a full suite of call management tools, giving small teams the essentials for daily communication. However, these features may fall short for handling high call volumes, whereas alternatives like RingCentral offer stronger performance.
Grasshopper has three subscription plans ranging from $18 to $70 per user each month, with savings of up to 17% when billed annually.
- Send automated SMS responses to missed calls from new contacts.
- Receive voicemail transcriptions right from your email inbox.
- Make calls over the internet when the cell signal is weak.
Grasshopper organizes call history in one place, allowing users to quickly access details for better follow-up and client communication. (Source: Grasshopper)
Zoom Phone: Best for flexible call patterns
Pros
- Easy to set up and use without onboarding
- AI-powered call features are included at no cost
- All plans include the same set of call management features
Cons
- Analytics and reporting are too basic
- Pay extra to integrate Zoom Phone with video meetings
- Built-in features are not ideal for handling high call volumes
My expert opinion
Of all my recommendations, Zoom Phone is the cheapest VoIP service, starting at just $10.50 per user per month. What I particularly like about it is that its basic plan includes essential call management tools such as an auto-attendant, call routing, call monitoring, and call recording.
For businesses with international clients, its top-tier plan offers unlimited domestic calling in one of 48 supported countries, along with metered international calling. Despite its competitive pricing, Zoom Phone lacks a built-in virtual fax feature. Businesses that regularly send confidential documents may prefer Ooma or RingCentral, which offer internet fax as part of their plans.
Zoom Phone has flexible monthly pricing per user, starting at $12 for metered calling, $18 for unlimited regional calls, and $25 for unlimited calls to one of 48 supported countries.
- Call recording, with transcription and playback, makes it easy to review calls.
- Instantly switch a phone call into a fully featured Zoom Meeting.
- Give group members direct access to a group’s phone number and voicemail.
Zoom Phone enhances calls with AI-generated summaries, helping teams capture key points and action items instantly. (Source: Zoom Phone)
CallHippo: Best for agent-focused features
Pros
- Free plan supports basic VoIP use
- Unlimited minutes support mobile and landline calling
- Local numbers in 50+ countries
Cons
- Limited app integration
- Inconsistent customer support
- Too many add-on features can quickly lead to higher costs
My expert opinion
CallHippo differentiates itself from competitors by offering call center tools for sales and support teams. Beyond standard calling features, it includes campaign management, outbound dialers, gamification, and call feedback to boost agent performance. The platform offers add-on services like speech analytics, call tracking, and voice broadcasting, making it a versatile choice for both inbound and outbound campaigns.
While CallHippo has a free plan, its paid tiers may be expensive for smaller teams. Businesses seeking a more affordable option without sacrificing functionality might consider Phone.com, which delivers over 50 standard voice features starting at just $18 per user each month.
CallHippo provides a free plan, while its four paid tiers range from $25 to $55 per user per month, with custom pricing available. Discounts are offered for teams with more than 50 users.
- Tailored greetings and on-hold music give your business a polished, professional image.
- Users can set up call forwarding to multiple phones for greater flexibility.
- The Global Connect feature lets you check the best time to reach international clients.
CallHippo provides a clear view of user activity and call trends, helping teams track performance and manage communication efficiently. (Source: CallHippo)
Ooma: Best for clear call management
Pros
- Provides Ooma-branded desk phones
- Up to 50 phone features on the base plan
- Gather up to 100 people in a conference call
Cons
- Charges a $49.95 set-up fee for Ooma office
- Interface looks somewhat outdated
- Limited transparency around security measures
My expert opinion
Ooma focuses on core call management features, making it a good fit for businesses with moderate call volumes. Its emphasis on phone and voicemail capabilities provides a no-frills alternative to feature-heavy competitors like RingCentral, which can overwhelm smaller teams with enterprise-grade tools such as business analytics and AI meetings.
It’s also one of the best VoIP systems for home offices, with its free home phone service. By purchasing the Ooma Telo device for $99.99, users get unlimited access to US calling. While Ooma does offer video conferencing, its capabilities are less robust than those of full-scale platforms. For a more comprehensive VoIP and video conferencing solution, Zoom Phone is a stronger choice.
Ooma has three monthly subscription plans, priced from $19.95 to $29.95, as well as Enterprise calling plans.
- Customize your on-hold messages with your business hours, location information, or even your own phone greetings.
- Toll-free numbers include 500 toll-free minutes of inbound calls each month.
- Send and receive faxes with the Ooma Office app.
Ooma streamlines contact management by centralizing calls, chats, and faxes for quick and efficient communication. (Source: Ooma)
Talkroute: Best for shared phone w/o per-user fee
Pros
- Extensive inventory of vanity numbers
- Unlimited inbound & outbound calling in the US and Canada
- One plan supports multiple users
Cons
- No international calling
- Relies on Zapier connectors to sync tools
- MMS is only for images
My expert opinion
Unlike most VoIP providers that bill per user, Talkroute keeps costs low by offering plans to cover multiple users. For example, the Plus plan supports 3 users for $39 per month, while the Pro plan supports up to 10 users for $59 per month. This provides small teams access to a range of call management features and unlimited local calling. As your business grows, you can add additional users for as low as $5 each.
While its predictable pricing is a plus, I find that the lack of international calling may be a drawback for businesses with overseas clients or partners. In that case, Zoom Phone is a better fit, offering unlimited international calling for a minimal monthly fee.
Talkroute’s monthly plans start at $19 for a single user and go up to $59 for 10 users, with custom rates available for Enterprise accounts.
- Pay only $5 per month for every additional user, voicemail box, or phone number.
- Route all your calls to one phone, whether it’s a cell, landline, or VoIP softphone.
- Reply to text messages through the online dashboard, email, desktop app, mobile app, or web app.
Talkroute tracks user activity and call volume trends, making it easier to manage team communication and performance. (Source: Talkroute)
Phone.com: Best for business with international clients
Pros
- Has up to 50 phone features on base plan
- Basic plan doesn’t allow outbound SMS
- Compatible with eSIM mobility
Cons
- No longer supports mixing of metered and unlimited call plans
- Video meeting functionality is too basic
- Very limited app integrations
My expert opinion
Phone.com is the most budget-friendly VoIP service for businesses looking to expand internationally, offering phone numbers in over 50 countries for just $4.99 per month, the standard rate for local numbers. Bulk purchases bring even bigger savings, with rates dropping to $2.99 per month for 50 or more numbers and $1.99 per month for 100 or more numbers.
While it’s an excellent choice for building a local presence abroad, Phone.com offers limited integrations with third-party apps and CRMs. For businesses that depend on a broader range of customer-facing tools, this limitation could be a drawback. Nextiva is a better fit, offering built-in customer management features and CRM integrations for small businesses.
Phone.com offers three monthly plans priced between $18 and $40 per user, with a 17% discount available for annual billing.
- Pay US local rates to landline numbers in Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Puerto Rico, and the UK.
- Features all types of virtual phone numbers: local, toll-free, vanity, and international.
- Provides add-on services for live receptionist and AI answering solutions.
Phone.com simplifies voicemail handling with an easy-to-navigate interface for listening, reading, and managing messages. (Source: Phone.com)
eVoice: Best for solo professionals
Pros
- One plan includes 3 numbers
- Offers voice talents for phone greetings
- Multiple extensions per account
Cons
- Basic VoIP features are add-ons
- Charges monthly for voicemail-to-text
- Unlimited messaging is only available for Elite Plus users
My expert opinion
eVoice’s single-tier subscription makes it a great VoIP solution for freelancers or small business owners who have no plans of scaling soon. Its Elite plan focuses on core calling and texting features and includes three phone numbers, ideal for creating the appearance of multiple departments. Then, the Elite Plus plan adds unlimited messaging within the US & Canada.
However, its feature set is intentionally limited, making it less suitable for enterprise-level needs that require greater flexibility and customization. For a more comprehensive phone system that can scale with businesses of any size, I would choose RingCentral.
eVoice has two pricing plans, starting at $14 per user per month or $12 per user per month when you pay annually in advance.
- Create multiple routing schedules for different days of the week.
- Merge up to 94 callers within a single call.
- Add a live receptionist plan to your VoIP service.
eVoice makes it easy to manage voicemails with both audio playback and text transcription for quick message review. (Source: eVoice)
My methodology
To find the best cheap VoIP services, I used a weighted scoring rubric to rate each provider on key factors most important to small business owners. Each factor was evaluated based on real-world usability, value for money, and its ability to meet the needs of budget-conscious teams.
- Pricing (15%): I compared free trials, entry-level pricing, and cost per user across multiple tiers to determine overall affordability. Services with flexible plans priced between $25 and $40 per user scored higher for offering better long-term value.
- General features (25%): The evaluation included core VoIP functions like call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID, and mobile apps. Providers that delivered a well-rounded feature set in their base plans earned stronger ratings.
- Niche features (20%): I looked at higher-end tools such as call analytics, CRM integrations, auto-attendants, and call recording. Platforms that included these without steep upgrades scored better for delivering extra functionality at a low price point.
- Customer support (15%): Each provider’s customer service was reviewed for availability, channels, and responsiveness. Higher scores were given to services offering 24/7 support via multiple channels, such as phone, chat, and email.
- Ease of use (10%): I assessed the setup process, dashboard navigation, and user interface design. Platforms with quick onboarding, clear menus for setting up a phone tree, and minimal learning curves ranked highest in this category.
- Expert score (15%): Finally, I factored in my hands-on testing and industry experience to give an expert score. This helped weigh subjective elements such as reliability, flexibility, and overall business value.
Free & SIP-based VoIP alternatives
Free and SIP-based VoIP services give you basic calling features without the recurring fees of traditional VoIP providers. These options use the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) to connect calls over the internet, making them flexible and often compatible with a wide range of devices and software. While they may lack advanced features like integrated analytics or call management, they can be a great fit for startups or small teams with limited budgets.
Here’s a comparison of VoIP services available:
A study shows that investing in advanced communication technology can result in cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved customer satisfaction, so pairing a free SIP service with the right hardware or add-ons can still deliver strong business results. These platforms often allow you to customize your setup with third-party apps, which gives you more control over features and spending.
For budget-conscious businesses, free and SIP-based solutions offer a practical starting point without locking you into long-term contracts.
How to choose a cheap VoIP service
Choosing a cheap VoIP service isn’t just about finding the lowest price. It’s also about balancing cost with features, usability, and reliability. By knowing what to look for, you can get a budget-friendly solution that still meets your business needs.
- Pricing
Look for transparent pricing with no hidden fees, and compare the cost per user or per line. Some small business VoIP service providers offer discounted annual rates or bundled minutes that can help you save more over time. - Feature inclusions
A low-cost plan should still include essentials like call forwarding, voicemail, and auto-attendant. Check if the provider offers unlimited calling or any usage caps that might impact your team’s work. - UCaaS integrations
Many modern VoIP phone systems integrate with unified communications tools like video meetings and team chat. They also connect natively with ecommerce and CRM systems like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zendesk to allow data to flow seamlessly between the CRM and the phone system. This makes it easier to manage all communication channels from one platform without paying for separate tools. - Usability
A cheap VoIP service should still be easy to set up and navigate, even for non-technical users. Look for mobile and desktop apps that allow you to manage calls from anywhere. - Security
Even cheap VoIP services should include encryption and security features to protect your calls and data. Ask about measures like encryption in transit and at rest, account authentication, and regular security updates.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
An example of the cheapest VoIP service is Zoom Phone, with plans starting at just $10.50 per user per month, billed annually. Even at this low price, it includes essential call handling features and flexible call plans.
Yes. CallHippo offers a completely free VoIP service that includes an omnichannel inbox, real-time analytics, and 100 SMS messages.
In terms of reliability and popularity, Ooma is a top choice for home VoIP. Its free residential phone plan is included with a one-time purchase of the Ooma Telo device, offering free US calling and an answering machine. You can also upgrade to the Premium plan for advanced call blocking and enhanced voicemail features.
Bottom line
The best cheap VoIP provider should lower your phone costs without forcing you to give up the features your business needs to serve customers. While the cheapest plans are useful for basic calling, small businesses should also compare call routing, texting, video meetings, mobile apps, support, security, and add-on fees before choosing a provider.
Based on my evaluation, Nextiva is the best cheap VoIP provider for small businesses because it combines customer management, calling, video meetings, team messaging, and responsive support in one platform. However, the right choice depends on your budget and workflow. Zoom Phone is the most affordable option for flexible calling, Grasshopper and Talkroute work well for shared phone numbers, and eVoice is a simple fit for solo professionals.
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