VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a communications protocol that allows people to make phone calls over the internet. It’s an alternative to traditional landline phones, which use dedicated copper wires to make calls.
The main advantage of VoIP is cost: You can typically talk for hours without racking up a large phone bill. VoIP also gives you access to advanced features like virtual extensions and voicemail-to-email forwarding that traditional phones don’t have.
There are several different types of VoIP services, but the main ones are either hosted or on-premise VoIP. Hosted VoIP means you use a third party provider’s servers to route your calls.
On-premise VoIP requires your own equipment and software, but it gives you more control over your system and how it works. To help you choose the best VoIP service for your business, we’ve researched dozens of providers and compared their cost, features, support, plans, and more.
Here are the best one for 2021:
1 RingCentral. 2 Nextiva.
3 8×8. 4 Jive.
5 Vonage Business. 6 Grasshopper.
Best VoIP Providers
What Are VoIP Providers
VoIP is the abbreviation for Voice over Internet Protocol, which is a digital technology that enables users to make phone calls using their computer or mobile device. It is currently being used by more than 200 million people worldwide.
There are several different types of VoIP providers, but they all have one thing in common: they allow you to make inexpensive international calls with no monthly fees or contracts.
The best VoIP service providers offer unlimited calling minutes and low international rates, making it possible for anyone to enjoy the convenience of calling home or abroad without breaking the bank.
Best VoIP Providers – Introduction
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is the technology that allows you to make phone calls over the internet. There are many benefits to using Voice over IP for your business, but it is not for everyone.
To see whether or not you should consider VoIP for your company, read on!
VoIP has a lot of uses, so we will focus on three of them here:
1.VoIP on a Home Telephone Line You can use VoIP with a traditional home telephone line. The benefit is that you do not have to run a separate line, which saves money and is easier to get installed.
- You also do not have to buy a phone (in most cases), which saves even more money. And if you do need a phone, there are many VoIP providers that provide inexpensive phones without contract.
- VoIP on Your Business Telephone System If you have an existing business phone system, using the same technology can help reduce costs and simplify your management. Plus, if you are already using it, installing new equipment and training staff will be much easier than if you use a different technology like Vonage or other VoIP service providers.
- Using Smartphones to Make Calls There are smartphones available now that allow you.
What Are the Best VoIP Providers?
VoIP, or voice over Internet protocol, is one of the newest technologies on the market. The service allows users to make phone calls to anywhere in the world, no matter where they are located.
In order to use VoIP, users must have a broadband connection and a computer. They can also use an adapter that connects their analog phone directly to the broadband connection for a more traditional feel when using the service.
There are many different VoIP providers in existence today. Which one works best for your needs?
Some of the top VoIP providers include: Vonage – Vonage is one of the leaders in VoIP technology and services.
They have been around since 2001, and offer both residential and business services. The company offers services in 49 states and Canada, as well as many other countries around the world.
Skype – Skype is one of the most popular VoIP providers in existence today. This provider offers free calls between users, including free video calls as well.
Skype also has a service known as Skype-In that allows users all over the world to call the user’s computer, which will then ring through to their Skype software on their computer or other device. Magic Jack – Magic Jack is another great provider of VoIP
1. Ooma
What is the deal with Ooma? You might know Ooma as a free phone system, but its services are more than just that.
The Palo Alto, California-based company also offers voice-over-IP (VoIP) Internet calling and a free app that allows you to make and receive calls on your smartphone.
How much does Ooma cost? The Ooma Telo, which is the hardware that powers the service, costs $99.99. It is currently on sale for $89.99 on Ooma’s website.
Other than buying the hardware, there are no monthly or set up fees. You will have to pay taxes and regulatory fees depending on where you live, but those can be less than $5 per month in most states.
What about a phone number? You can either port your existing phone number to Ooma or choose a new one. Porting your existing number costs $39.99 and takes about 10 business days to complete.
Choosing a new number is free, and it takes two minutes to activate once you have signed up for Ooma service. Should I buy an Ooma Telo?
If you do not want to pay for phone service or if you are looking to replace your home’s
Features
Features Ooma’s home phone service provides crystal-clear call quality and reliability. Choosing Ooma as your home phone provider means no more overpaying for features you do not actually need Ooma PureVoice™ HD technology for superior voice quality.
Free local and long distance calling in the U.S. with no monthly fees after purchase.
Voicemail, caller-ID, call waiting and 911 calling included. Compatibility with hearing aids and other devices for people with disabilities.
Pros
Ooma is a great option for anyone who wants to save money on their home phone service. The initial hardware investment is more expensive than most other VoIP services, but the savings you will see each month on your phone bill will quickly offset any upfront costs you incur.
Ooma’s features are impressive, especially in comparison with other services that are as inexpensive as Ooma. The company offers two plans: Ooma Basic and Ooma Premier.
For just $9.99 per month, you can get unlimited calling within the United States and Canada, caller ID, call waiting, 911 emergency location services and more. Ooma Premier offers even more features for just $19.95 per month, including the ability to create a blacklist of phone numbers and block calls from those numbers.
This feature is ideal for anyone who receives regular spam calls and wants to stop them once and for all. Ooma’s customer service is also top-notch, with online chat support readily available on the company’s website and a toll-free number you can call 24/7 to speak with a customer service representative directly.
2. Nextiva
Nextiva is a cloud communication company that provides small and medium-sized businesses with extraordinary communication solutions. As a next-generation business communications provider, we have revolutionized the industry by offering our customers an affordable, effective alternative to traditional telephone systems.
In 2016, our unmatched customer service approach earned us the J.D. Power Certified Customer Service Program Award, and we are the only business VoIP provider to ever receive this prestigious honor.
Our NextOS platform was created to provide businesses with everything necessary to run their operations smoothly and efficiently. Nextiva Communications is at the heart of our product suite – providing voice, video calling, instant messaging, presence, mobility features and more – all in one application.
The NextOS platform also includes a full set of management tools for users and administrators alike. This includes features like call center management, auto attendant (virtual receptionist), contact center solutions and much more!
Nextiva Office makes it easy for businesses to get up and running with a modern communications solution.
Our fully featured phone system comes with all of the features you need to ensure your business will run smoothly on day one. Best of all, you will not have to worry about extra equipment or lengthy installation processes.
All you need is an internet connection to start using
Features
Nextiva is a cloud-based business phone system that includes advanced features for small businesses.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a type of technology that allows users to make and receive telephone calls using an Internet connection instead of traditional phone lines. This guide will help you determine if Nextiva is the right choice for your business.
Nextiva Overview Nextiva offers “amenities” for companies of all sizes. It is a full-featured unified communication system that incorporates VoIP, video conferencing, instant messaging, fax and more with the core business phone features of call forwarding, call waiting, call transfer, voicemail and caller ID.
The company was founded in 2006 and is based in Scottsdale, Arizona It has won multiple awards over the years.
With Nextiva Office Pro, businesses get unlimited calling within the U.S., Mexico and Canada as well as free local and long distance calling within the U.S.
It also offers toll-free numbers with no monthly fees or per-minute charges. Other features include a conference bridge, auto attendant, music on hold, call recording and more. Nextiva also provides each user with their own mobile app that they can use to take calls
Pros
You can add up to six additional phone lines for just $4.95/mo each. You get great call clarity and excellent call quality with HD Voice technology.
The Nextiva mobile app for iPhone and Android lets you use your phone extension from any smartphone. Nextiva’s lower-cost plans are still feature-rich, especially if you do not need a lot of phone lines or calling minutes.
Features include: Auto attendant, voicemail to email, unlimited conference calls, call forwarding and transfer, call screening, caller ID, call park, intercom messaging, music on hold and much more.
Nextiva is a Connected Communications company that helps businesses grow faster. It lets people work smarter using its business VoIP phone service, video conferencing, text messaging, and CRM software.
3. Grasshopper
You can do it in your underwear and no one will know, even when you do it with others. Just the thought of getting all that done without putting pants on is exciting enough to make you want to dance around in your underwear.
The best part? There is no stigma when you have to call yourself out for a nap or give yourself a mental health day.
You are your own boss, which means there is no one who can tell you what to do — or not to do! The right phone number can help you stay connected with customers.
Get a real phone number for your business and direct calls to any device at low per-minute rates. Try Grasshopper free for 7 days.
No credit card required.
Get Started You have questions. We have answers, plus all the tools you need to start and grow your business.
Our mission is to help you make your entrepreneurial dreams come true. If that sounds like a good fit for you, let us chat!
We are here to help you make your entrepreneurial dreams come true.
Contact us via phone, email or chat! 1 (800) 721-3946**
Features
Grasshopper Forwarding Phone Numbers Call forwarding lets you redirect calls to any of the numbers you have on your account — including mobile and landline numbers. You can also choose which incoming calls you want forwarded and when you want those calls forwarded, making it easy to separate personal calls from business calls.
Grasshopper Virtual Phone System With a virtual phone system, customers call your main number and then press a personalized extension to be connected directly with the employee they need. With Grasshopper’s virtual phone system, you can create as many extensions as you like; plus, Grasshopper automatically forwards all missed calls to your voicemail so no one gets left hanging.
Grasshopper Voicemail Transcription With Grasshopper’s voicemail transcription service, the days of having to listen to endless voicemails are over. For every voicemail you receive, Grasshopper will automatically send a text message with a transcription of the message in real time, so that you can read your voicemails instead of listening to them.
Pros
Grasshopper is a great tool for small businesses, especially startups and solopreneurs who do not have any other means to get a local number or toll-free number.
The features offered by Grasshopper are outstanding. They offer a lot more than many other virtual phone systems do.
You can use it to send text messages, make conference calls, check voicemail from your email inbox, etc. The system is very easy to use and understand.
If you are used to using a smartphone, you will not have any problem using Grasshopper.
Also, their customer support is excellent.Grasshopper has been around since 2003 and is one of the oldest players in this space.
This also means that they have a strong customer base and well developed infrastructure.
So, you can expect high quality service from them when compared with newer players like MightyCall or PhoneWagon. Grasshopper offers many advanced features like extensions, custom greetings, voicemail transcription, call routing rules etc., that are not
Grasshopper is a visual programming language and environment that runs within the Rhinoceros 3D computer-aided design (CAD) application.
4. RingCentral
RingCentral is the leading all-in-one voice, video, SMS, fax, and conferencing solution. It is cloud communications for the modern workplace—from startup to enterprise.
Solutions for every business: RingCentral Office® delivers phone and team messaging, video meetings, and contact center solutions for businesses of all sizes. RingCentral Glip® is a free messaging app that makes work simpler and more efficient.
RingCentral Fax® is the global leader in internet fax services with over 300,000 customers worldwide.
Features
RingCentral offers a complete cloud PBX system which allows your employees to utilize business telephone features and functions through their computers or mobile devices. RingCentral comes with a wide range of features, including voicemail-to-email transcription, call forwarding, call screening, caller ID, mute, hold and 3-way calling.
It also offers a number of advanced features like call recording, conference calling, auto-receptionist and dial-by-name directory. RingCentral has all the standard PBX features you would expect from a high-quality service provider.
The one feature that truly sets RingCentral apart from its competition is the RingMe button. The button can be added to any web page, letting users initiate calls directly to your business with the click of a mouse.
This feature is especially useful for businesses that rely on website traffic for new leads. Another interesting service offered by RingCentral is free Faxing over Internet Protocol (FoIP).
By connecting RingCentral’s fax solution to an office scanner or multifunction printer, you can scan and send documents as emails or faxes right from your office.
Pros
- Reliable call quality. The basic service is cheap, but you get what you pay for. The call quality isn’t great.
- Easy to set up. This may be the easiest VOIP system to set up that we have ever used. Great Customer ServiceRingCentral is always there when I need them. Their customer service reps are very helpful and courteous.
- They fix issues quickly and efficiently, and they do not hesitate to go the extra mile when it comes to getting problems resolved. Excellent features and affordable pricing RingCentral’s business phone system has all the features a small or growing business needs for internal communication, customer service, and collaboration with remote employees or partners.
- On top of that, it is priced competitively for businesses of any size.
All-inclusive desktop solution with a softphone, fax, messaging, conferencing, and more. Included with RingCentral for Desktop is your RingCentral softphone, which enables high quality VoIP calling and transforms your PC or Mac into a sophisticated call controller with an array of features and options.
5. CloudTalk
I wanted to write a post about our vision for CloudTalk.io from the beginning and I am happy that I have time to do it now. We have been working on CloudTalk.io since January 2015 and we are almost done with the first version.
We are launching in May and will be available for everyone looking for a new online phone system and CRM solution. The idea behind CloudTalk is to create a modern phone system which will help medium and large companies to communicate easier and more effectively.
We have done a lot of research before starting to develop CloudTalk.io and we know that there are many other companies creating similar products but none of them is offering the same set of features as we do. CloudTalk is an online phone system with integrated CRM that can be used by any company which is using sales, support or marketing teams.
It can be used by small teams with just a few users (3-5) up to medium and larger companies with hundreds of users. Most of the product features will be available from day one, but some features (like integration with other systems or advanced call center features) will not be available until late this year (2016).
We decided to design CloudTalk as a mobile first application because we know that most of
Features
CloudTalk CloudTalk is a new way to call. Instead of using your phone, you can make calls online with CloudTalk.
Make calls from any browser and any device. Let us take a look: WebRTC technology CloudTalk uses WebRTC technology, which means that you do not have to download or install anything.
The only thing you need is a browser. You can use any device – smartphone, tablet, desktop or laptop.
Video calling: Make video calls with your customers and have a face-to-face conversation with them. Video calling is especially helpful for technical support or customer education.
Call recording: Record every incoming and outgoing call and listen to them later to improve the quality of your customer service. You can also use recorded calls as training material for new employees.
Screen sharing: Sometimes your customer needs help but does not know how to explain it to you over the phone. Use screen sharing to see what they are seeing and guide them through the process step by step.
You will save time on both sides of the conversation!
Pros
CloudTalk is a great tool for small businesses and startups that need a reliable and feature-rich phone system. It gives you the power of an enterprise-grade phone system without all the complicated setup, maintenance, and costs.
Here are our favorite features in CloudTalk: Pay as you go calling plans – You can get started with CloudTalk call plans starting at $10 per month. If you go over your plan limit, you will be charged per minute only for the minutes used above the plan limit.
Auto dialer – Auto dialer helps you to make many calls at once. You can simply upload a list of contacts and CloudTalk will dial them automatically for you.
Call recording and transcription – You can record your calls with a single click and listen to them later. Call transcription is also available if you want to read your recorded conversations instead of listening to them.
CloudTalk is a contact center management solution that enables businesses to streamline communications with teams and customers using virtual call systems. It allows executives to manage inbound/outbound calls, extract interaction history from various sources and provide personalized support to clients.
6. Dialpad
Dialpad.com is a popular service for setting up or managing forwarding and virtual phone numbers. You can call it a virtual business phone number service, or a DBA or DID (virtual business phone) number service.
If you have a business, chances are that you do not have your own dedicated office phone line. Some of you may not even have a landline at all.
If this is the case, then Dialpad can be an invaluable tool to help your business continue to operate while still maintaining a presence on the web. Dialpad can cost as little as $7-$10 per month, depending on which package you choose.
You may also want to consider including email address forwarding for those who do use your physical address for online interactions with your business.
Features
With Screen Sharing, Video Conferencing, and Call Controls.
Call Controls: Mute/Unmute, Hold/Unhold, Transfer, Call Record*, Call Forwarding*, Do Not Disturb*.
Screen Sharing: Share your screen or an active window with a caller*.
Video Conferencing: Face-to-face conversations with high definition video*.
One-Click Conference Calling: Instantly add more people to the conversation right from the call.
Call Logs & History: See all your inbound, outbound and missed calls in one place to ensure you never miss a beat.Easily search for missed calls from the search field.
Keyboard Shortcuts: Handle calls with ease by using simple keyboard shortcuts like Alt+Shift+R to record a call or Alt+Shift+C to create a conference call.
Pros
1.All-in-one communication: Dialpad is an all-in-one cloud phone service that offers a business number, unlimited calling and texting, and advanced functionality like call recording and forwarding. All of these features are included in the basic plan.
2.Dialpad apps: Dialpad has several apps to improve your communications experience. The UberConference app is free for all users, while the Talk app is free for mobile devices and $10 per month for desktop computers.
3.Simple setup: Setting up Dialpad only takes minutes thanks to their streamlined interface and simple setup requirements. If you need help, the customer support team is available 24/7 by phone or email to walk you through the process.
A unified communications platform that connects your teams through voice, video, messages, and online meetings
7. Bitrix24
Bitrix24 is a free (for small businesses) social enterprise platform. It is a united workspace which handles the many aspects of daily operations and tasks. Create your own social intranet in minutes!
Bitrix24 is a free (for small businesses) social enterprise platform. It is a united workspace which handles the many aspects of daily operations and tasks.
Create your own social intranet in minutes!
Bitrix24 is a free (for small businesses) social enterprise platform. It is a united workspace which handles the many aspects of daily operations and tasks.
Bitrix24 is a free (for small businesses) social enterprise platform. It is a united workspace which handles the many aspects of daily operations and tasks.
Features
Cloud or Self-hosted: Self-hosted, on-premise (available via Cloud & On-Premise plans) Price: Free for up to 12 users, paid plans start at $99/mo. Bitrix24 comes with over 30 free tools, including CRM, file sharing, project management, calendar, HR, time tracking and more. Plus you get 5GB worth of document storage space and unlimited client portal and extranet users.
Pros
Bitrix24 is a well-known free collaboration suite that offers private cloud, on-premise and hybrid deployment options. Bitrix24 is free for companies with up to 12 users.
The free plan includes 5GB of online storage, 5 projects and a file size limit of 100MB. Features and functionality Bitrix24’s core functionality is available in all plans, including the free version.
This makes it much more affordable than other collaboration suites that offer more in terms of functionality but have very limited free plans. What is more, Bitrix24 includes features that are not offered by any other collaboration suite in this review: features like telephony, call center software, video conferencing and even a CRM system.
Bitrix24 offers a wide range of task management capabilities. It supports project templates (though they are not always easy to find), Kanban boards, Gantt charts and the ability to assign tasks directly from email.
In the Personal dashboard you can see all the tasks assigned to you, while the Project dashboard shows tasks assigned to everyone involved in a particular project. Overall, Bitrix24’s task management capabilities are quite impressive and on par with those offered by other collaboration suites in this
Bitrix24 is a business software platform with wide functionality and a number of free tools covering all sides of the business. By using it a company can improve its performance rapidly and secure all processes. There are five major modules – CRM, Contact Center, Task and Projects, Collaboration and Websites.
8. Verizon VoIP
Verizon VoIP: What You Need to Know about Verizon Phone Service for Business. The benefits of VoIP phone systems over landline phone service are well-known.
VoIP systems offer a flexible and affordable alternative to landlines and mobile phones without sacrificing call quality.
Phone system providers like Verizon offer VoIP phone services that are designed to meet the needs of businesses in 2019. But with so many options on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you.
What is Verizon VoIP? Verizon offers a variety of VoIP phone services, including hosted PBX, SIP trunking and cloud-based business phone service.
They also have landline and wireless business phone plans if you do not want to switch over to an internet-based phone system.
How Does Verizon VoIP Work? Like other internet-based phone services, Verizon’s VoIP plans work by routing calls through your existing internet connection instead of a traditional landline connection.
This saves you money on service fees and long-distance calls and gives you more control over your system’s features.
Verizon Internet-Based Phone Services: Hosted PBX, SIP Trunking & More Like other major providers, Verizon offers two types of business
Features
Verizon VoIP with the latest IP standards, Verizon VoIP is a flexible, feature-rich service that offers a variety of ways to simplify your communications management and help control costs.
Call Forwarding: Divert calls to other phones at pre-assigned numbers or on an individual call basis.
Caller ID: Identifies the calling party’s phone number.
Calling Name: Displays the name of the caller on Caller ID compatible equipment.
Voicemail: Stores incoming calls in a personal mailbox for retrieval at any time from anywhere.
Email: Callers can leave you a voice message which is converted to an .WAV file and sent as an attachment to your email address. You will have access to your voicemails from wherever you have email access – even on your smartphone or tablet!
Conferencing: Conduct up to six-party telephone conferences using standard touch tone telephones.
Simultaneous Ring: Allows incoming calls to ring at up to five designated phone numbers simultaneously, giving you greater flexibility in managing your calls.
Extension Dialing: Allows users to call other extensions by dialing four digits instead of dialing the entire 10 digit phone number.
Pros
There are many good providers of VoIP services and Verizon has proved to be one of the best. With their affordable tariffs, great features and reliable services, it is no wonder that Verizon has become one of the most popular choices for VoIP services.
Let us take a look at some of the pros for Verizon VoIP:
Voice Mail: Verizon VoIP allows you to record voice mails for your customers who may have called when you were busy or unavailable. These voice mails can then be retrieved from anywhere across the world which means that you never miss an important call from a client ever again.
Caller ID: The phone system allows you to identify your callers by displaying their name and number on your screen. This way you know who is calling and if the call is important enough for you to answer it right away.
Call Forwarding: If you are stuck in a meeting or busy with some other task, then you can forward all your calls to your mobile phone or any other landline so that they do not go unanswered. This way you do not have to worry about missing an important call as everything will be taken care of by Verizon VoIP service.
Address Book: The address book software lets you store numbers of your friends, family
Download the Verizon One Talk app from the App Store or Google Play™ Store . The One Talk app is supported on the following operating systems: iOS 10.3 and above.
9. SIP.US
SIP.US is a small business incubator for start-ups. It provides seed funding, marketing and technical support to entrepreneurs who have a good idea but little venture capital or experience.
SIP.US is based in New York State, and has since expanded to other states in the U.S., as well as Canada, Africa, Europe and Australia. The organization’s mission is “to make it easy for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses.”
The SIP.US website has been around for seven years and has helped thousands of small businesses with its free resources.
The SIP.US. ecommerce platform was built to help online retailers build and market their products quickly, effectively and at a minimal cost. The SIP.US. tools can be used to help you find targeted consumers, get the most out of your website, manage inventory and more.
SIP.US. has worked with thousands of ecommerce stores across the web and has helped businesses in multiple industries grow their sales and profits by attracting new customers and sales in a low-cost, low-maintenance manner.
SIP.US.’s toolbox allows you to import your sales data from Google Analytics or other tracking solutions into one central system that automates many of the processes involved in growing sales for your business.
Features
SIP.US. Features: – Unlimited calls between all SIP.US. users (worldwide). – Inbound/outbound call routing.
– Custom interfaces to control your phone service. – Send and receive faxes online.
– 9-1-1 service included in all accounts (U.S.). – Call forwarding, call waiting, caller ID, 3 way calling, conference calling, and many more features!.
Pros
Best, cheapest and fastest way to get your own phone number for internet calls (VoIP calls) with flexible and easy to use interface. You can get your own phone number from any location in the world – we have numbers from more than 60 countries!
Here is more information about our services: You can make calls from your internet browser (Chrome or Firefox) without installing anything – a web based interface is available on our website which works on all computers, tablets and smartphones.
You can also use our mobile app for Android or iOS or desktop app for Mac OSX and Windows. We offer free test credits so you can try all features before paying. If you register today we will give you $2 free credit that you can spend on calling anywhere in the world!
SIP.US is a cloud-based business VoIP solution that provides SIP trunking services for IP-PBX systems and analog and digital telephone adapters.
10. AVOXI Genius
AVOXI Genius is a cloud-based call center solution that provides businesses with a wide range of communication tools. It offers features for inbound and outbound calling, SMS, emailing and faxing.
AVOXI Genius enables users to make and receive calls with VoIP, toll-free or local numbers. Its predictive dialer supports preview, progressive and power modes to enable users to automatically make or receive multiple calls simultaneously by uploading phone lists into the software.
Additionally, it lets users create voice and IVR menus as well as forwarding calls to an operator or voicemail. AVOXI Genius comes with an analytics feature which provides insights into agent performance as well as customer satisfaction levels.
It also allows users to view campaign reports and customize them based on requirements.
The software includes a live dashboard that displays call volume, average handling time, abandoned calls and more. It also provides integration with various third-party applications such as Salesforce, Zendesk and Shopify AVOXI Genius offers 24/7 support via phone or email.
Pricing is per month and not based on number of users.
Features
As a customer you will be able to view all your call records, order new phone numbers, edit your phone features and settings and much more. If you are a manager you will be able to create different user roles with customized permissions, easily manage your users and check their call records.
As an administrator you will be able to manage your entire account, including the users and their roles, billing details, order new numbers and many more. Billing is based on the minutes used by the end user.
If the end user makes or receives a call, the minutes will be added to your monthly bill.
Pros
Online Sales, Call Center, & Customer Support: Professionals AVOXI Genius is a powerful resource for customer service & sales professionals. We know the importance of having a reliable and easy to use system.
We offer tons of helpful information from our community of experts. Here are some of the most popular AVOXI Genius articles: How to Use Call Tracking in Real Estate Marketing 6 Tips to Create an Effective Call Center Script How to Develop a Great Sales Script The Best Ways to Respond to Voicemail Greetings.
AVOXI Genius is a cloud-based call center solution that helps small to large enterprises streamline customer service operations and manage business communications.
12. Freshcaller
Freshcaller is a business phone system tailor-made for modern customer support teams and their managers. As a cloud-based system, Freshcaller is incredibly easy to set up and use.
It includes all of the features you would expect in an enterprise-level phone system, including call queues, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), and call recording. In addition, it is also easy to customize these features to suit your unique needs.
You can use Freshcaller as a stand-alone phone system or integrate it directly with your existing help desk platform such as Zendesk, Salesforce, HubSpot and more. This allows you to manage your entire support operations from one centralized place.
Plus, there is no need to worry about any complicated setup — Freshcaller’s integration with these platforms are built with end-users in mind. Freshcaller is a cloud-based phone system for modern businesses.
It allows you to provision real numbers in any country, have your own IVR, automatic call distribution, call recording, and more – all without having to set up or maintain any hardware.
Features
Freshcaller is a cloud-based call center software that helps modern businesses provide exceptional support to their customers. It offers a comprehensive set of features that allows businesses to set up a call center in less than 10 minutes.
Over the past few years, we have added several features such as IVR, call queuing, skills-based routing, and more. Some of these features were built based on your feedback and suggestions.
However, there are many more features that we are excited to share with you. We have picked 5 awesome features that are sure to make you smile —
Allow customers to schedule a callback: Customers can easily request a callback through the web widget or via SMS. This can be done without having to wait on hold! The scheduler also gives them an option to choose the date and time for their callback and select their preferred agent based on the language, time zone, and skill set.
Configurable IVR: You can customize your IVR menu based on your business needs. With Freshcaller’s IVR editor, you can simply drag and drop the steps you need.
And what is more? You can also add custom greetings for each IVR step! For instance, when customers
Pros
Freshcaller. Pros Freshcaller is a cloud-based phone system built for modern businesses. It is specially designed for customer support, sales, and marketing teams.
It offers an auto-attendant feature and customizable call routing options to make it easy to manage multiple lines and calls. Incoming calls can be routed to the right agents based on their skills or availability.
You can also route them to specific extensions or departments based on the caller’s input. Additionally, you can set up time-based routing to send calls to different teams during different hours of the day.
Freshcaller has an interactive voice response (IVR) system that allows callers to choose from a list of options using their keypad, so they will be directed to the right team quickly.
The system also allows you to create custom greetings with music and messages in any language you want, so you can give your customers a personalized experience. When an incoming call comes in, Freshcaller sends a notification through SMS or email so the person who is receiving it knows who is calling before answering.
All calls are recorded by default for quality assurance purposes, but you can turn off call recording if you do not need it. Call recordings are stored securely in Freshcaller’s cloud
Freshcaller is a modern phone system that allows businesses to connect and collaborate quickly and at cost-effective prices.
13. 3CX
3CX is an open standards IP PBX that offers complete Unified Communications, out of the box. Suitable for any business size or industry 3CX can accommodate to your every need; from mobility and status to advanced contact center features and more, at a fraction of the cost.
3CX makes installation, management and maintenance of your PBX so easy that you can effortlessly manage it yourself, whether on-premise on an appliance or server, or in the cloud. Forget about license fees forever! With 3CX you can work from anywhere with our client for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
3CX offers integration with popular CRMs such as Salesforce and SugarCRM. VoIP phone calls are encrypted using SRTP & TLS for security.
Deployed on-premise, 3CX can be integrated into existing infrastructure as well as hosted in your datacenter, the cloud with Microsoft Azure or Amazon AWS. In addition to traditional phone system features like auto attendant / digital receptionist, IVR / voice menus / call trees, queues with skills based routing and voicemail, 3CX provides advanced unified communications features such as web conferencing and presence out of the box.
The softphone comes with advanced Video & Web
Features
3CX is a software-based IP PBX that offers all the features of a traditional PBX and more. Get rid of PRI lines, hardware PBXs and other equipment, and enjoy easy management via a web-based control panel.
3CX is an open standards communications solution that offers complete Unified Communications, out of the box. Unified Communications made easy!
Easy to install & manage: install on-premise or choose an auto-provisioned cloud service; auto-configuration wizards set up extensions, phone lines & trunks with a few simple clicks; centralized Web management console makes administration and call management a breeze.
Flexible & scalable: connect remote offices & workers with the same extension numbers as in the office; use your existing SIP phones or our free softphones for Windows, Mac & Android; add or remove phone lines easily as your company grows; add new features with just one click.
Cost effective: cut telephone costs with VoIP providers; reduce mobile phone bills by using extension dialing via 3CX Tunnel app; eliminate PBX maintenance costs; minimize power consumption with efficient SIP communication.
Mobility: work remotely & stay connected to your office at all times by using 3CX
Pros
Ability to use the same software on multiple sites and devices. Free updates, free tech support and free training – no ongoing costs.
No licensing fees – all extensions are free. No expensive proprietary hardware needed – use with any standard SIP phone or IP phone.
Works with any SIP trunk, VoIP gateway or PSTN card. Low TCO – switch to 3CX and save up to 80% on your phone bills.
14. MessageBird
What is MessageBird? MessageBird is a cloud communications platform that enables businesses to connect with their customers anywhere, using voice, SMS and chat apps.
Our company has grown rapidly since its foundation in 2011; we now have a team of over 200 people spread across offices in Amsterdam, San Francisco, Singapore, Sydney and Shanghai.
Our mission is to modernize and simplify the overcomplicated space of customer communication. We believe it is time for every company who provides a service to their customers to be able to communicate with them in real-time, through the medium they prefer.
Our goal is to enable this for every company in the world – from the corner shop around the corner to the biggest company worldwide. MessageBird is the world’s leading cloud communications platform that empowers over 15,000 enterprises to build, scale and operate communications within their business applications to connect with their customers better.
The company offers one platform for all your communication needs: SMS, Voice, Chat and Video – delivered via a single API. MessageBird’s infrastructure processes millions of messages and calls every day, connecting enterprises with over 900 mobile networks in more than 220 countries.
Features
Reach customers faster, cheaper and more personally than ever before. Use our intuitive web interface or powerful APIs to send SMS messages with ease. Delivery reports.
We keep you updated every step of the way when your message is sent, delivered and read by your customers. Global coverage:Our carrier-grade infrastructure ensures that your messages are routed quickly and securely to over 900 mobile networks in over 200 countries.
Two-way messaging:Allow customers to text a keyword to your dedicated long number and get automated responses from your business instantly.
Pros
MessageBird provides a unique cloud communication platform that lets developers and businesses integrate their own user-friendly interfaces with real-time communication tools, like SMS (text), Voice, and Chat.
You can access the MessageBird API to send messages to mobile devices, landlines, and even multiple channels at once.
Here are some of the benefits of using MessageBird: No vendor lock-in – With MessageBird, you can migrate your communications infrastructure at any time without having to worry about getting locked into a rigid contract or service.
This includes being able to leave your existing provider without losing any of your previous data. It is easy to set up – All it takes is one simple integration and you can start sending messages across the globe from day one.
The process is simple and straightforward, and it will not take more than just a few minutes of your time. Lets you scale quickly – With MessageBird’s globally distributed cloud infrastructure, you can build without worrying about scalability issues later on.
Simply put, as your business grows your communications will grow with it. Provides insights into all your messaging activity – The dashboard gives you complete control over every aspect of your messaging activity, including sending messages.
MessageBird is a cloud-based SMS marketing platform designed to help businesses engage with customers across a variety of channels including WhatsApp, voice, live chat and more.
15. ZoiPer
ZoiPer is a business phone system designed to reduce costs, provide flexibility and mobility, and improve communication. The cloud-based platform offers features designed to help businesses of all sizes streamline their operations.
ZoiPer is offered in three different packages: Basic, Pro, and Enterprise. There is a 30-day free trial for each of the plans, which includes unlimited users.
The Basic package includes all the necessary ZoiPer features at $15 per month. It allows up to 5 users with a local number and one toll-free or vanity number.
It also comes with unlimited SIP Trunks, voicemail transcription, and call recording. The Pro package includes the same features as well as an additional local or toll-free number at $25 per month.
The Enterprise package includes additional features like full branding capability and priority support at $50 per month.
Users can activate their accounts by using their existing phone numbers or getting new ones from ZoiPer. The service provider’s solution can be used on any device that runs on Android and iOS operating systems like smartphones, tablets, computers, and desktops.
ZoiPer also supports Softphones for Windows and OSX operating systems. ZoiPer is equipped with video conferencing capabilities.
Features
ZoiPer is a fully featured business phone system that you can run on your own, right out of the box. ZoiPer includes everything you need, including a PBX, SIP Trunking, Smartphone and Desktop Clients, CRM Integration and more! ZoiPer comes in three versions: Free, Pro and Enterprise.
With ZoiPer Free you can get started with one user and four extensions for free. You can upgrade or downgrade at any time to fit your needs.
What is included with ZoiPer? PBX – The heart of your phone system allows you to manage all of your users, extensions, call routing and settings from the web-based control panel. SIP Trunking – We offer a cost effective and reliable SIP trunking solution for connecting your PBX to the world.
You can choose between two different plans depending on how many concurrent calls you expect to make or receive at any given time. Smartphone App – Have all of your communications tools in one app with our free smartphone app available on Android and iOS (iPhone/iPad).
Our smartphone app has an easy to use interface that supports both voice and video calling as well as advanced functionality like IM/Chat, Presence & Availability
Pros
1.Easy to use. 2. User friendly interface.Useful for business and personal use as well as for fun and entertainment. Customizable ringtones, themes and contact icons. 3.Secure calls with end-to-end encryption. Cloud syncing of contacts and messages across multiple devices using the same account. 4.Group chat functionality with 100 participants in a single group chat. Conference calling feature allows up to 4 parties in a single call (VoIP-to-VoIP or VoIP-to-landline). 5.Supports a variety of call types: video, audio, group, text, and file transfer calls. Available on multiple platforms including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad mobile devices; also available on desk phones and web browsers through a browser extension or web RTC client.
It aggregates contacts from various sources such as Outlook, Windows, Android, iOS and all incoming calls to create an address book.
16. Weave
Weave is a communication platform for small businesses. We offer a comprehensive suite of business solutions that help you reach and engage your customers through text messaging, voice calls, email and social media.
Connect with customers in their favorite channels. Weave offers a complete set of communication apps to help you reach your customers anywhere, anytime.
Easily send one-on-one text messages or group messages from the Weave app on your phone, or use our texting software to manage thousands of texts at once from your computer.
Ask patients to confirm appointments by sending automated appointment reminders via text, email or voice message. Automatically send follow-up surveys to every missed appointment.
Engage with two-way communication. Interact with your patients using two-way messaging in the Weave app or via the KeyPad – an innovative feature that lets patients confirm appointments, sign up for notifications and provide payment information over the phone without requiring any additional hardware.
Customers can also call directly into your office from any webpage and speak with someone on staff at the moment, or leave a voicemail for you to return later. This eliminates the need for staff to spend hours cold calling new patients, chasing them down for no-shows and rescheduling missed appointments.
Features
A website so simple, a hairstylist can use it. Weaveprovides a website that is easy to set up and maintain, with all the features you need to help you run your business smoothly. Book appointments online Customers can book appointments online 24/7 through your branded Weave. site, which means they do not have to call you or come in to make an appointment.
You can even see their appointment requests in real time.Automatically sync with other calendars
Once you have booked something into your Weavecalendar, it will automatically show up on Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook and more — and vice versa. No double bookings or “oops!” moments.*
Accept payments online. Your clients can pay for their services right on your website with any of the major credit cards.*
Pros
Weave integrates with a variety of different software packages, from dental practice management and electronic health records to marketing automation and customer relationship management. This means that you can leverage your existing software investments and keep your team on the same page.
Weave is used by thousands of clients across the United States. It has been featured in prominent publications such as Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and Dental Economics.
Weave has an app for both Android and iOS so you can take it with you wherever you go. You can also access Weave through any web browser if you need to be able to use it on a PC or laptop.
Weave offers many features that are designed specifically for dentists and their practices, including patient reminders and recall features, call logging capabilities, a team feature that makes it easy to contact other staff members, and more.
The company has also developed a voice-activated tool called Alexa for Business that is designed specifically for its business customers.
17. Unified Communications Manager By Cisco
Unified Communications Unified Communications is the integration of real-time communication services, such as instant messaging (chat), presence information, voice (including IP telephony), video conferencing, and call control and session management.
The Cisco Unified Communications Manager System is the software based call-processing component of the Cisco Unified Communications solution.
It resides on a server in your enterprise data center.
All calls that pass through a Cisco Unified Communications Manager are processed by its software. Cisco Unified Communications Manager provides an administrative interface that allows you to manage users, devices, gateways, trunks, and other system components.
In addition to call processing support for traditional IP phones, it also supports third-party SIP devices (such as SIP phones) and applications (such as Cisco Unified Personal Communicator), which you can configure in the same way as native devices.
Unified Communications Manager provides advanced features such as voice messaging and presence services.
Voice messaging systems such as Cisco Unity Connection provide users with access to their messages from a variety of sources: email inboxes, web portals, mobile devices, enterprise social networking tools like Jabber Facebook, and so on.
Presence services inform people about the availability of colleagues or business partners with whom they wish to communicate.
Features
Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) is the heart of the Cisco Unified Communications solution that extends enterprise telephony features and functions to packet telephony network devices such as IP phones, media processing devices, voice-over-IP (VoIP) gateways, and multimedia applications.
Unified Communications Manager provides call processing and call control for traditional circuit-switched and VoIP networks.
Call Processing Features: Provides the functionality to deliver an enterprise-grade telephony system that includes features such as PSTN access, extension mobility, call forwarding, music on hold, conference calling, and shared line appearance.
Pros
Unified Communications Manager By Cisco. Pros Cisco Unified Communications Manager (Unified CM), previously known as Cisco Unified CallManager, is the call processing component of the Unified Communications system. It can be deployed on premise, in a virtualized environment, or in a cloud-based model.
The Cisco UCM software is available for download from your account’s software center. Unified Communications Manager By Cisco. Pros:
– High Availability. – Security. – Scalability.
Cisco Unified Communications Manager is an enterprise call control and session management platform that connects people anywhere, using any device.
18. JustCall
JustCall is an online phone system that provides you with a phone number and a cloud based phone system. You can use the JustCall phone number to receive calls and send/receive SMS right inside CRM.
JustCall’s Call & SMS widget helps your team to make/receive calls, send/receive SMS in context. JustCall also makes it easy for you to track call logs, call recordings and SMS conversations in CRM directly against the contact or lead record.
This way your sales reps have all the information they need at one place. JustCall is a cloud phone system designed for your sales and support teams.
It provides you with a dedicated phone number which can be used to make and receive calls from any where in the world. JustCall logs and records all your call data and helps you in taking notes, setting call status, assigning calls to your team members, scheduling followup tasks and integrating with your favorite CRM like Pipedrive, HubSpot, Zendesk etc.
Features
JustCall phone system provides a complete set of features that you need to manage your business calls. Caller Identification – JustCall displays the identity of the caller before you pick up the call irrespective of whether the number is saved on your contact list or not.
Call Recording – Record all your incoming and outgoing calls with just a click. All recordings are stored in Dropbox and are instantly accessible from any device.
Voicemail – Receive voicemail messages as recordings in your email inbox or get them sent to Slack.
Live Call Transfers – Transfer calls while they are in progress to other team members without having to disconnect the caller. Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) – JustCall’s ACD intelligently distributes incoming calls amongst teams based on their availability and load automatically.
Ring Groups – Set up Ring Groups for different departments, teams or locations and have all incoming calls ring to them simultaneously. Time Based Routing – Route incoming calls to your team members based on timezones, language, skillset etc (Coming soon).
Auto Attendants/IVR – Set up Interactive Voice Response menu for your business to route calls automatically based on caller’s response (Coming Soon).
Pros
JustCall is a cloud phone system that works with your existing mobile and landline phones. It helps you to manage all your calls from anywhere in the world.
Setup takes just minutes, and you’ll be ready to use your new business phone number. It’s easy to get started on Justcall with our sleek dashboard, hassle-free setup, and intuitive set of features.
You can instantly make and receive calls with your existing mobile or landline. Make & Receive Calls Use our web interface or app to make calls to any number.
You can also answer incoming calls right from your desktop or phone app. Share Phone Numbers Share a number with a team member, add multiple lines, set up call routing rules, or assign different numbers based on departments or locations.
Call History & Recordings Get instant access to call history across the team and download recordings of every conversation for quality control purposes or other business needs.
Local Presence Choose a local area code for your business and make it look like you have a physical presence in any country. This helps you build trust with customers who are familiar with local businesses.
JustCall is a cloud-based phone system designed to help businesses get phone numbers (in 58 countries) and make, receive and track calls from a web app, mobile apps, or desktop apps.
What is a VoIP Provider?
V oIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP providers offer internet-based phone service at a lower cost than traditional phone companies.
Despite the fact that they use very different technology, VoIP and standard landline phones sound and act almost exactly the same. The main difference is that VoIp calls travel over your home’s broadband internet connection rather than the copper phone lines from the phone company.
Of course, there are a few differences. For example, most VoIP providers give you a bunch of extra features such as call waiting, caller ID and voicemail.
And if you’re calling other people who also have a VoIP plan, you can talk as long as you want without paying for minutes. But for most people, it’s all about the money. When you cut out the middleman — in this case, your local telephone company — you save big bucks on phone service.
Hanging up on old-school landlines can help put hundreds or even thousands of dollars back into your budget each year
What Should You Look for in a VoIP Provider?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a system that enables telephone calls to be made via an internet connection rather than through a traditional phone line. VoIP has proven to be an incredibly useful and cost-effective phone system for businesses, especially small businesses.
The benefits of VoIP are numerous. The biggest one is the money you can save on your business phone bill.
Most VoIP providers offer unlimited talk time, which means no matter how many incoming or outgoing calls you make, you won’t have to worry about extra charges. You’ll also enjoy more features with a VoIP provider than you would with a traditional landline phone service.
These features include voicemail and email integration, video conferences and instant messaging, among others. If you’re thinking about switching from a landline to VoIP, here’s what you should look for in your new VoIP provider:
VoIP Providers – Frequently Asked Questions
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. In most cases, VoIP is the same as a digital phone service that is provided by your internet provider.
If you have an internet connection and a phone, then you are ready to start making calls with VoIP. VoIP technology converts analog audio signals into digital data and sends them over IP networks.
In other words, it allows users to make voice calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of conventional telephone service. What is VoIP and how does it work?
VoIP uses the Internet Protocol (IP) to send voice or media over the Internet, instead of public switched telephone networks (PSTNs). VoIP transmits voice signals in digital format through your network and converts them back into analog when they reach their destination.
The use of VoIP eliminates the need for phone lines because it uses existing broadband connections to transmit voice signals, saving you time and money on costly installation fees. What are some advantages of having VoIP phone service? No matter what size business you have, having a reliable phone system is critical to its success.
There are many benefits to using VoIP services for your business phone systems: VOICE QUALITY: Quality varies with VoIP providers but most provide high quality audio that
Best VoIP Providers – Wrap Up
The Best VoIP Providers for 2018 VoIP service has become increasingly common over recent years, with many of the biggest names in internet service now offering it, but which one is the best? While each service has its own unique features, we spent over 100 hours researching and testing to find the best VoIP providers. Here’s what we found: Best Overall: Vonage Business With modern VoIP services, Vonage offers a range of features that make it easy to use, including an auto attendant and call forwarding.
It also offers an unlimited number of extensions and can handle calls from multiple locations at once. Best Small Business VoIP: RingCentral RingCentral is designed specifically for small businesses and offers a wide range of features at an affordable price.
It also comes with video meetings and web conferencing capabilities and integrates with popular apps like Salesforce and Google G Suite. Best Conference Call VoIP: Ooma Office Pro Though Ooma Office Pro lacks some of the more sophisticated features offered by other providers like Vonage, it still provides custom options for managing your phone system.