The Best VoIP for Small Businesses in 2026
Every month, I search the internet for the best voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) phone system for small business owners that offers cloud-based communication features not found in traditional landlines, all at a low cost. While I prefer providers with advanced features and artificial intelligence tools, various services cater to different business needs.
Specifically, the best VoIP for small businesses goes beyond standard voice calls; it provides a centralized platform for advanced call management, video conferencing, messaging, and seamless app integrations. Check out the list below for my top picks, with monthly fees starting at $10 per user for the most affordable plans:
Why you can trust us
The writers and editors at Fit Small Business (FSB) take pride in being a trusted source of technology advice for small business owners. We are committed to maintaining a rigorous editorial policy that emphasizes producing content that is accurate, objective, and accessible to diverse audiences.
To uphold these standards, each article is thoroughly researched, striking a balance between expertise and hands-on experience. If you want to learn more about how I selected the best VoIP for small business owners, scroll down to the end of the article and read the methodology section, which includes a chart and an overview of each criterion.
Lead Writer, VoIP at Fit Small Business
Comparing the best small business VoIP services
Which small business VoIP service is right for you?
RingCentral: Best overall VoIP phone system for small business
Pros
- Has an advanced call management system
- Integrates with over 300 third-party apps
- Leverages AI across communication channels
Cons
- Limits SMS credits per plan
- Lacks CRM integrations on the base plan
- Can be overwhelming because of its extensive feature set
My expert opinion
When it comes to small business VoIP services, RingCentral is always an industry leader. What sets it apart is its robust call management system, which streamlines the handling of both inbound and outbound calls with exceptional efficiency. Even with its base plan, you receive a range of essential features for effective call distribution.
It also secured a spot on our list of the best business cell phone plans due to its essential call features, including call forwarding, call transfer, and answering rules. But if you find RingCentral’s features and integrations a little overwhelming for your needs, consider a straightforward alternative like Ooma. This provider prioritizes call quality and ease of use, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking simplicity.
- Multilevel IVR: Set up routing menus with a visual IVR editor and route calls to voicemail, extensions, and external phone numbers. Each account supports up to 250 voice menus and submenus.
- Multisite management: Support the unique needs of all of your branch offices within a single account. Each site has its own outbound caller ID, call handling rules, user roles, and auto-receptionist.
- AI assistant: Paired with call recording, the AI features provide transcriptions, summaries, and notes that offer virtual assistance and feedback during business calls.
Use the AI assistant to create call summaries and notes. (Source: RingCentral)
Nextiva: Best for customer communications
Pros
- Streamlines team and customer interactions
- Review management and unified communication tools
- Works seamlessly with top CRMs
Cons
- Toll-free minutes aren’t included with the base plan
- Limited SMS messaging credits
- More expensive plans than competing providers
My expert opinion
When it comes to customer experience (CX), Nextiva stands out as my go-to choice. If you’ve had the chance to attend a Nextiva event, you know the company offers deep insights and reports that show how to elevate VoIP phone systems into a powerful multichannel customer experience platform.
But even with its wide array of features, Nextiva limits SMS messaging credits on its small-business plans. If business messaging is key to your customer experience, then consider Grasshopper. It’s one of our top picks for cheap VoIP services due to its unlimited business messaging across plans.
- Call pop: This feature displays the caller’s details before you pick up the call. Customize it to display whatever customer information you need, such as sentiment or account value.
- Automation tools: Enhance service efficiency with automation features like automated surveys, real-time suggestions, and automatic follow-ups.
- Call flip: This feature transfers an ongoing call between devices without interruption. This feature works on desk phones, computers, and mobile phones.
Automate customer feedback with post-call surveys. (Source: Nextiva)
Zoom Phone: Best for affordability
Pros
- Charges a relatively low monthly fee
- Allows mixing of metered and unmetered call plans in one account
- Provides international calling across plans
Cons
- Accessing AI features for team chat requires an add-on service
- SMS and MMS messaging are only available on the highest tier plans
- Has a limited number of CRM integrations
My expert opinion
Before audio conferencing became the staple of remote work, Zoom was already making waves as a pioneer in video conferencing technology. But here’s something you might not know. Beyond its popular Workspace plans, Zoom Phone offers a range of calling options specifically designed for small business owners, featuring both metered and unmetered plans at affordable prices.
Unfortunately, Zoom Phone does not provide vanity numbers for businesses seeking to create a memorable impression with their customers. A great alternative is Grasshopper, our top virtual phone system provider, which offers toll-free number bundles and vanity numbers at no extra cost.
- Call quality dashboards: View the overall quality of phone calls and filter voice data for a specific user. It includes usage reports that display phone usage data for a specific user or call queue.
- Shared line groups: Share a phone number and extension with common area phones or a group of phone users. You can set routing rules and apply custom business hours.
- Call delegation: Assign a phone user to make and receive calls on behalf of another user. Both users can view the status of the shared lines and access the delegator’s direct phone numbers.
Select from shared lines to delegate calls in your phone system. (Source: Zoom Phone)
Phone.com: Best for changing call patterns
Pros
- Offers metered and unmetered call plans
- Unlimited calling minutes and inbound text messages
- Has a live receptionist service
Cons
- CRM integrations are only available on the highest tier plan
- Lacks team chat capabilities
- Charges a monthly $8 fee for call recording (non-Pro accounts)
My expert opinion
Starting a new business comes with its own set of challenges, and selecting the right phone plan can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure about call volumes or your clients’ needs. That’s exactly why I chose Phone.com as one of the top choices for a VoIP phone system. Phone.com offers flexible plans that are tailored for small businesses with low or seasonal call volumes.
At the same time, Phone.com has relatively few integrations, limiting its ability to connect with third-party apps. If you’re looking for a VoIP solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing app stack, consider RingCentral. It features a dedicated app gallery with over 300 business solutions for automation, CRM, and productivity.
- Call handling: Create rules to route incoming callers to the right destination. Options include forwarding, auto-attendant, dial-by-name directory, and scheduled routing.
- Live receptionist: Add live answering services to your Phone.com account. With a monthly starting fee of $125, you get professional phone operators to answer your business calls.
- Voice tagging: This feature announces which menu option the caller selected before answering the call. It is helpful for businesses with multiple auto-attendant options that ring to the same number.
Configure voice tagging in the call screening settings. (Source: Phone.com)
GoTo Connect: Best for international calling
Pros
- International calling to over 50 countries across plans
- Supports unlimited ring groups and recorded greetings
- Offers an intuitive call flow designer
Cons
- Only has a single plan option for its phone system
- Advanced integrations are only available on the highest tier plans
- Lacks transparent pricing
My expert opinion
Gone are the days when an international phone call could significantly impact your budget, making it challenging for businesses to tap into global markets. With GoTo Connect, you can enjoy unlimited calls to over 50 countries for a single monthly subscription. Unlike other providers, which limit access to business phone numbers, GoTo Connect offers toll-free and vanity phone numbers tailored to your business needs.
Additionally, it provides number porting services, helping you save time and money when transferring an existing phone number. But, as much as I enjoy GoTo Connect’s AI features and unified communications system, it still cannot outperform RingCentral, which excels with its powerful analytics, popular integrations, and superior call handling, making it my recommendation for growing businesses.
- Custom auto-attendants: Record unlimited customized messages and voicemail greetings with the GoTo Connect desktop or web app. Use it to share important updates and keep callers engaged while they wait in a queue.
- Team messaging: GoTo Connect enables you to send files and messages to team members, facilitating communication and collaboration on projects.
- Customized call flows: The drag-and-drop interface is an intuitive admin tool that enables you to edit, update, and modify call flows. It also allows you to set up multiple auto-attendants and track how calls are routed to extensions or departments.
Use the call flow editor to route calls to extensions or voicemail. (Source: GoTo Connect)
Grasshopper: Best for business messaging
Pros
- Supports unlimited users, business texting, and calling
- Has add-on services for live receptionist and professional greetings
- Doesn’t charge for vanity numbers
Cons
- Call recording isn’t available on the base plan
- Limited integrations with third-party applications
- Lacks unified communication tools, like video meetings and team chats
My expert opinion
Among all the providers on this list, Grasshopper stands out as a top choice for small business owners. Specifically, Grasshopper has always stood out to me for its dedication to creating business phone plans designed for solopreneurs. To further enhance a business’s professional image, Grasshopper offers toll-free vanity numbers at no cost, solidifying its reputation as one of the best free VoIP services.
While most VoIP providers charge a one-time setup fee for vanity numbers in addition to the monthly rate, Grasshopper allows you to choose a local or toll-free vanity number when you subscribe to a monthly plan. However, Grasshopper lacks features like video meetings and team chat. For businesses that require these tools for effective team collaboration, Nextiva is a better choice due to its comprehensive unified communications features.
- Call transfer: Grasshopper offers two call transfer options — blind or supervised. Blind lets you automatically transfer calls to another user, while supervised lets you speak with the receiving party first.
- Virtual receptionist service: Adding Ruby to your Grasshopper account gives you a professional phone answering service that will handle calls on behalf of your business.
- Custom greetings: You can record phone greetings or have a professional voice actor record your script in Grasshopper’s voice studio. Pricing starts at $75 per order.
Create custom greetings and away messages with Grasshopper. (Source: Grasshopper)
Ooma: Best for call quality and reliability
Pros
- Offers 50-plus phone features on the base plan
- Includes free 500 call minutes on toll-free numbers
- Unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
Cons
- Virtual receptionist is only customizable on the highest tier plan
- Charges a one-time activation fee of $49.95 upon setup
- Doesn’t support desktop calling for Ooma Essentials users
My expert opinion
While some business owners thrive on a comprehensive suite of features, others simply need a dependable service that delivers exceptional call quality. That’s why I chose Ooma. The platform emphasizes essential functions, including call forwarding, voicemail, automated routing, hold music, and ring groups. Although it has limited collaboration tools and integration options, it is ideal for smaller teams looking to manage call traffic through an app.
Additionally, this platform earned a spot on our list of the best VoIP services for home offices, primarily for its free home phone service. But, even with its video conferencing capabilities, Ooma’s collaboration tools are not as advanced as those provided by other VoIP services. For a more robust solution, I recommend Zoom Phone, which offers all the benefits of a business phone system, along with access to a suite of unified communication tools.
- Multidevice ring: This call forwarding type allows you to receive calls on any device and enables multiple devices to ring simultaneously when an Ooma user is called.
- Extension monitoring: This feature enables a user or receptionist to monitor the status of other phone extensions and perform various actions, such as call transfer or three-way calling.
- Distinctive ringtones: Add a unique ringtone to a call queue or ring group to notify team members about the nature of the incoming call.
Access Ooma’s call forwarding features from the mobile app. (Source: Ooma)
Talkroute: Best call forwarding service
Pros
- Supports multiple users within a single plan
- Offers unlimited toll-free minutes in the US and Canada
- Professional voice-over services to create call greetings and away messages
Cons
- Doesn’t support international outgoing calls
- Limited native integrations
- Doesn’t offer virtual faxing
My expert opinion
Among all the VoIP providers on the market, Talkroute is one of my top picks. Its user-friendly apps make managing call forwarding seamless. With features such as simultaneous ring, live call transfer, and a sophisticated multilevel auto-attendant, you can tailor your call handling to your needs. Plus, the ability to customize a call forwarding schedule for different devices adds an extra layer of convenience.
At the same time, Talkroute may not be the best choice for businesses that operate outside the US, as it does not support international outgoing calls. Companies aiming to conduct business overseas should consider a provider with unlimited international calling capabilities, such as GoTo Connect.
- Call stacking: Simultaneously place multiple callers on hold to manage a complex forwarding system with call queues and routing to various devices.
- Hours of operation: Set specific days and time ranges for when your business is available to take calls. You can play a closing-time message or set an after-hours destination.
- Caller ID name: Customize your caller ID to make your outgoing calls appear more professional. If you have multiple phone numbers, Talkroute will display any of your business numbers when making outbound calls.
Set up incoming caller ID names in Talkroute’s advanced settings. (Source: Talkroute)
How I evaluated the best small business VoIP service
The best VoIP service for small businesses offers various tools for efficiently handling both incoming and outgoing calls, while supporting a wide range of budget requirements. For this guide, I compared eight well-known providers of VoIP and unified communications solutions. Then, I analyzed them based on cost, key features, and performance.
To learn more about the evaluation process for each provider, explore the tabs below:
25% of Overall Score
Small businesses have unique budget considerations when selecting a VoIP service provider. To evaluate the costs of various VoIP solutions, I looked into factors such as the availability of free trials, discounts, and lower annual pricing. I assigned higher scores to providers with more affordable options compared to their more expensive counterparts.
25% of Overall Score
Every provider offering VoIP services should include essential calling features to help users manage inbound and outbound calls. I reviewed a range of VoIP features, including visual voicemail, business texting, and call management capabilities. Additionally, I investigated whether each platform offers a desktop or mobile app.
15% of Overall Score
I awarded points to providers that offered additional key features, including AI-powered tools, IVR, real-time analytics, and video conferencing. I also evaluated which systems support international calling.
10% of Overall Score
I assessed the usability of each VoIP provider by evaluating the technical expertise needed to set up and operate their phone systems. I examined whether the platforms offered an intuitive interface and user-friendly admin settings.
10% of Overall Score
In this evaluation, I looked at the various customer support channels offered by each provider. These channels include live chat, phone, and email support. I awarded more points to providers that offer 24/7 support, while those available only during business hours received partial points.
15% of Overall Score
Based on my firsthand experiences with each provider, I created an expert score by evaluating their unique features and ease of use. Additionally, I took into account user reviews to assess the popularity and value for money of the best VoIP services for small businesses.
*Percentages of overall score
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Yes, VoIP is a valuable investment for small businesses seeking an efficient and affordable way to communicate with employees and customers. It offers excellent call quality, advanced call features, and the flexibility to work from anywhere without incurring high costs.
The first step in setting up a VoIP system is to identify business needs, assess bandwidth requirements, and evaluate the budget. The remaining steps are to select a VoIP provider, transfer or obtain a business phone number, and set up your new VoIP system.
Yes. However, VoIP has less extensive hardware requirements than traditional analog phone setups. Since VoIP is software-based, it can be installed on any device that connects to the internet, including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, or an internet protocol (IP) phone.
Bottom line
It’s no secret that remote work is here to stay, and this shift has sparked a revolution in how businesses communicate. More companies are investing in the advantages of VoIP services, including substantial cost savings, robust features, and the flexibility to work from anywhere. In response to these shifts in the modern workplace, RingCentral often emerges as the go-to VoIP provider for small businesses poised to thrive in the digital age.
With its robust call management features, RingCentral benefits companies with high call volumes and assists small businesses that want to scale their phone solutions or enhance team collaboration features over time. To learn more, visit RingCentral for a free demo or sign up for a 14-day free trial.
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