Managing client calls, conducting conference calls, tracking call durations, and sending online faxes and text messages bulk daily needs a stable connection. The best Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) providers can help you make these tasks easier and more reliable.
However, there are myriad things to consider while selecting a VOIP service provider. While one provider may be suitable for a remote work setting, it may need help to bear the heavy traffic of an office interface.
Here are some of the best VOIP services that offer excellent management and usage features.
1. Nextiva
Nextiva is the perfect solution if you are considering a cloud-based communication path for your employees. Nextiva has a bag full of features making sharing and communicating a breeze. For starters, it offers unlimited calls to the USA or Canada and lets you see the contacts currently available. Nextiva also maintains call queues on busy days.
Why Nextiva?
The service platform also helps with central management of communication and data and ensures client feedback. You can obtain all the customer details when they call, get a real-time view, and can track the quality of interactions. Along with call routing and forwarding, the platform supports online fax and SMS features and lets you record professional greetings. Monthly plans for the service start at $1.99/mo and include a 30-day free trial.
Nextiva Pros & Cons
Pros
- Value for money
- User-friendly
- Numerous features in basic plans
- Cloud-based services
Cons
- Video conferencing not available in the basic plan or free trial.
- Developer platforms are hard to access.
2. GotoConnect
GotoConnect combines the PBX system, GoToMeeting, and LastPass hosted by Jive. The platform provides messaging, virtual voicemail, a support center, and video meeting features. It also offers free international calls and sees up to 25 video feeds. The platform allows a reliable conference meet setup that can last for an indefinite amount of time.
Why GotoConnect?
The service platform guarantees 99% uptime SLAs and includes customizable dial plans. You also get drag-and-drop features for routing calls and call flows to build visual patterns for after-call hours. The capabilities include call analytics and allows you to port numbers and transfer calls to other devices. Plans start at $12/mo with a 14-day free trial call.
GotoConnect Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers end-to-end encryption
- Features remain the same in all plans
- Integrate with third-party solutions like Slack, Marketo, and Microsoft Teams.
Cons
- The platform is not cloud-based.
3. RingCentral
RingCentral MVP, formerly known as RingCentral Office, is a fantastic all-arounder for all types of businesses across industries. It is a cloud-based PBX platform that covers all the features rigorously used by growing organizations, like video software, collaboration tools, and even AI capabilities.
Why RingCentral?
RingCentral has one of the best basic plans and is popular among small and mid-sized businesses, offering unlimited video and voice calls, free local and toll-free numbers, and 1500 toll-free minutes.
The service platform offers countless advanced features for office phone settings. You can forward calls, host 100+ participants during online meets, share files online, manage inflows and outflows of faxes online and get 24/7 client support. The cherry on top, you will enjoy HD-quality video calls, mobile responsive VoIP, and 99% uptime. Subscriptions start at $29.99/mo with a 15-day trial period.
RingCentral Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy to use
- Numerous to accommodate varied needs of businesses
- CRM integration
Cons
Nothing! It’s an excellent VoIP solution.
4. Grasshopper
Grasshopper is a great VoIP service for small and mid-sized businesses that may not have higher resources to invest in VoIP hardware. You can easily access a PBX software setup with Grasshopper that links extensions to current phone numbers. Businesses merely require a working phone number, handsets, and a steady internet connection.
Why Grasshopper?
Additionally, the platform allows you to view business interactions across channels and receive calls using a desktop. You can convert voice mails into text, record professional greetings, reply through a text message using a business number, forward or route calls, send faxes as PDF attachments over emails, and much more. Subscriptions start at $26/mo with a 7-day free trial.
Grasshopper Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy installation
- Affordable billing structure
Cons
- Doesn’t include any modern features as mentioned for the other ones
- No analytics available
5. Vonage
Vonage is a stalwart for both commercial and residential VoIP segments. Because of its extensive industry experience, it has had the potential to develop and improve multiple attributes that new players are still trying to master.
Why Vonage?
Vonage provides a wide range of third-party software interfaces, most notably Salesforce, and even supports businesses wishing to create custom apps that integrate with the platform. Moreover, you enjoy a 99.999% global reliability along with advanced features like connecting virtually from desktop or mobile apps, and so on. Subscriptions start at $13/mo with a 14-day free trial.
Vonage Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lots of features for users and admins
- Schedules video meetings from calendars
- Allows unlimited team text sharing
- AI-based virtual receptionist
- Integrates with Salesforce, Office 365, ZohoCRM, Microsoft Team, G Suite, Microsoft Dynamics, etc
Cons
- Needs numerous steps to import contacts
- Extra costs for add-on features
Things To Consider When Searching for VoIP Services
Selecting the best VoIP service for your expanding business is one of the steps to setting up a workplace. But the question is, what should you note down while evaluating a VoIP service provider, and how can you go about it?
Here are a few checkbox items for you;
1. Understand Your Business Needs
Choosing the best VOIP services depends very much on your business needs. Do you need multiple and advanced features like CRM integration and call analytics? Or do you need affordable plans with regular features? This will help you reach a conclusion.
2. Decide if You Need VoIP Hardware With Your VoIP Service
VoIP services come at monthly subscription rates, but this does not typically include the necessary hardware. That's not a problem if you have VoIP-ready equipment. If not, be prepared to fork out extra to purchase or loan the equipment needed.
3. List the Features You Want Versus Those You Need
Start by making a quick note of the VoIP capabilities you need. It can include functionalities to streamline day-to-day business communication requirements. Or it can be digital voicemail, audio-to-text feature for hands-free working, virtual receptionist, and so on. Also, make sure to compare your budget against special employee VoIP requirements. The good thing about wireless VoIP phones is that it gives your company more flexibility.
4. Compare VoIP Offerings
Always compare service providers. You mustn't rush your decision and end up selecting an unsuitable VoIP service for your company. Additionally, comparison shopping can help save your precious dollars.
5. Check the Security Level of VoIP Services
With continuous data inflows and outflows throughout the day, a single data reach can bring down your entire business. It’s imperative to ensure that the VoIP service you choose has top-notch security and privacy features. Steer clear of VoIP phone services that have a poor security and privacy track record.
6. Check Customer Service
If you join up with a VoIP company that boasts fantastic services but has subpar customer service, you'll soon grow annoyed. You'll have a hard time getting the answers you need, whether you have a question about invoicing, want to report a problem, or need help onboarding new staff.
Key Takeaways: Go For a Reputable VoIP service
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when VoIP providers, with so many service providers offering innumerable business capabilities. These days, numerous VoIP services are available for small-sized businesses, but unfortunately, not all providers are reliable. Therefore, making an informed choice of your business VoIP provider is critical.
Additionally, some services demand exorbitant rates for limited capabilities, are challenging to use, or set privacy at risk. Make sure you select a trusted and highly rated provider to make the VoIP service the best fit for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions About VoIP Service
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a phone system enabling online communication. You can use these apps to deliver an online fax, a text message, an SMS, and more.
VoIP creates digital signals from incoming or outgoing calls. Then, it transforms that signal to reach users not using VoIP. This cloud-based infrastructure allows accepting calls from VoIP phones, any handset with a VoIP adapter, a mobile hotspot, and computers.
Private Branch Exchange, or PBX, refers to private telephone networks used only within a business. It enables you to interact internally and externally via channels such as Voice over IP or ISDN.
