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Best Google Voice Alternatives Of 2025

Audited & Verified: Jul 31, 2025, 8:49am
Written By
Staff Writer
Reviewed
Staff Editor
& 1 other
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

Google Voice is one of the most cost-effective cloud phone systems, with unlimited calling and a user-friendly interface. However, it lacks the analytics and integrations that competitors offer, and its Starter plan has a restrictive 10-user limit.

Thankfully, several alternatives fill these gaps. In this article, weโ€™ll break down the top Google Voice alternatives of 2025, which I hand-selected based on my top VoIP services and testing experience.

Read more

Compare the Best Google Voice Alternatives

3.2
Read Forbes' Review
Superlative
Most Cost-Effective
Starting Monthly Price
$10 per user
Pros
Low starting cost
Cons
10-user limit on Starter plan
Expert Take
A simple, low-cost phone system for unlimited calling and SMS
4.4
On RingCentral's Website
Superlative
Better for Unified Communications
Starting Monthly Price
$30 per user
Pros
Team collaboration and call routing
Cons
More expensive
Expert Take
A great option for team collaboration at a decent price
4.2
Read Forbes' Review
Superlative
Better for AI Features
Starting Monthly Price
$35 per user
Pros
AI call transcription and real-time analytics
Cons
Monthly SMS limitations
Expert Take
Feature-rich unified communications software with strong analytics and AI
3.7
Read Forbes' Review
Superlative
Better for Multichannel Customer Service
Starting Monthly Price
$23 per user
Pros
Unique customer service channels
Cons
Steep learning curve
Expert Take
A multichannel customer service platform that feels like a contact center
3.0
On Grasshopper's Website
Superlative
Better Option for Shared Phone Numbers
Starting Monthly Price
$18 per account
Pros
Unlimited voice and SMS
Cons
Very limited features
Expert Take
A simple VoIP phone system that enables you to share numbers between multiple users

Best Google Voice Alternatives Of 2025


Better for Unified Communications

RingCentral

RingCentral
4.4
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Cost

$30 monthly per user

Communication Channels

Voice, SMS, team chat, video conferencing

Monthly SMS Limitations

25 to 200 per user, depending on the plan

RingCentral
Learn More Arrow

On RingCentral's Website

$30 monthly per user

Voice, SMS, team chat, video conferencing

25 to 200 per user, depending on the plan

Expert Take

While Google Voice focuses exclusively on calling and texting, RingCentral is more of a unified communications (UCaaS) software. Googleโ€™s team chat feature feels too removed from its calling interface, making it a poor team collaboration option. RingCentral, on the other hand, integrates video, team chat and voice seamlessly into one dashboard on desktop or mobile.

RingCentral also offers a more complex and feature-rich phone system than Google Voice. Google Voiceโ€™s Starter plan has no advanced features, while its Standard plan adds ring groups and IVR menus. By comparison, RingCentral includes these features on all plans, plus real-time business analytics and hundreds of native software integrations.

If cost is your main objective and you only need basic routing features, go with Google Voice. But if you want to integrate with a CRM system, communicate internally and customize a more robust phone system, go with RingCentral.

Learn more: Read our full RingCentral review and our best RingCentral alternatives list.

Google Voice SMS vs. RingCentral messaging
Google Voice (left) only offers SMS and calling, while RingCentral (right) enables internal team messaging.

Better for AI Features

Dialpad

Dialpad
4.2
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Cost

$35 monthly per user

Communication Channels

Voice, SMS, team chat, video conferencing

Monthly SMS Limitations

250 per user

Dialpad
Learn More Arrow

Read Forbes' Review

$35 monthly per user

Voice, SMS, team chat, video conferencing

250 per user

Expert Take

Dialpadโ€™s VoIP phone system has more advanced AI capabilities and user-friendly analytics than Google Voice. Each Dialpad plan includes live call transcription, providing agents and supervisors with a record of all calls. While using Google Voice, I found its BigQuery analytics to be overly complex, as they require coding to set up. On the other hand, Dialpadโ€™s analytics dashboards are premade, customizable and visually appealing, with various graphs, charts and other visual display styles to customize and drill down into the data you want to see.

Dialpadโ€™s main downside is that its cheapest plan costs almost three times as much as Google Voiceโ€™s pricing. Further, Google allows for unlimited SMS in the U.S., while Dialpad limits users to 250 monthly texts. If you plan to text your customers, Google is a better choice.

Learn more: Read our full Dialpad review.

Google Voice voicemail vs. Dialpad AI
Google Voice (left) offers voicemail transcription, but Dialpad (right) transcribes call audio live, with AI-based post-call summaries.

Better for Multichannel Customer Service

Nextiva

Nextiva
3.7
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Cost

$23 monthly per user

Communication Channels

Voice, SMS, team chat, video, live chat and chatbots, social media, review sites, email

Monthly SMS Limitations

0 to unlimited per user, depending on the plan

Nextiva
Learn More Arrow

Read Forbes' Review

$23 monthly per user

Voice, SMS, team chat, video, live chat and chatbots, social media, review sites, email

0 to unlimited per user, depending on the plan

Expert Take

While Google Voice only includes calling and SMS, Nextiva offers an impressive selection of customer service channels: live chat, automated chatbots, social media, email and review sites. You can embed a live chat widget directly into your website or mobile app and answer emails from the same inbox where you handle calls. You can interact with customers on social media sites such as X (Twitter) and Instagram and comment on reviews that customers leave for your company.

Most business phone systems, including Google Voice, donโ€™t include any of these channelsโ€”and most contact center software charges almost double Nextivaโ€™s rates. If you want to integrate live chat and social media as a customer-service strategy alongside your phone system, Nextiva boasts incredible value.

Learn more: Read our full Nextiva review.

Google Voice SMS vs. Nextiva live chat
Google Voice (left) supports SMS texting, while Nextiva (right) lets you embed live chat into your website.

Better Option for Shared Phone Number

Grasshopper

Grasshopper
3.0
Our ratings take into account a product's cost, features, ease of use, customer service and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Starting Cost

$18 monthly per user

Communication Channels

Voice, SMS

Monthly SMS Limitations

Unlimited in the U.S.

Grasshopper
Learn More Arrow

On Grasshopper's Website

$18 monthly per user

Voice, SMS

Unlimited in the U.S.

Expert Take

Grasshopper and Google Voice are two of the simplest VoIP phone systems available in terms of features and communication channels. Both platforms offer unlimited calling and SMS in the U.S. without team chat. However, Google Voiceโ€™s interface feels much more modern, while Grasshopperโ€™s feels outdated and visually unappealing. Further, Google Voice includes ring groups and IVR menus for call routing, while Grasshopper has no call routing tools. If you want to set up different departments and offer your callers an automated menu, go with Google.

Googleโ€™s Starter plan is cheaper than Grasshopperโ€™s low-tier True Solo plan. However, Grasshopperโ€™s pricing is unique because it charges per account, not per user, and lets you use extensions to share phone numbers between multiple users. If your company has basic calling and texting needs and doesnโ€™t mind sharing phone numbers between multiple users, Grasshopper could offer a lower per-user cost than Google.

Learn more: Read our full Grasshopper review and our Grasshopper vs. Google Voice comparison.

Google Voice interface vs. Grasshopper interface
Both Google Voice (left) and Grasshopper (right) offer spacious phone-system dashboards.

What Google Voice Does Well

Most notably, Google Voice stands out from alternative cloud phone systems as the cheapest option available for small teams. However, businesses will also appreciate its unlimited calling and texting and easy-to-use dashboard on desktop and mobile.

Low Cost

Starting at $10 monthly per user, Google Voiceโ€™s Starter plan is the cheapest VoIP system Iโ€™ve ever seen. For teams of 10 or fewer users that want unlimited calling and texting without advanced features, you wonโ€™t find a better value than Google Voice. Unfortunately, teams of more than 10 are forced to upgrade to the $20 Standard plan, which is still a good deal but not as exceptional.

Unlimited Calling and Texting

Google Voice offers unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada, or within Europe. This offering is special in a couple of ways. For one, unlimited SMS texting is surprisingly rare for VoIP systems. Many competitors, such as Nextiva and RingCentral, limit your monthly text allotment to as few as 100 texts per user. So, if you plan to text customers frequently, for marketing or conversational purposes, Google Voice is a solid option.

And while nearly all VoIP alternatives match Google Voiceโ€™s offering for unlimited calling in the U.S., the unlimited calling within Europe is a standout capability. Teams based in Europe will likely not find a better value than Google Voice.

User-Friendly Interface

Whether youโ€™re using the web portal or mobile app, Google Voice has a simple, modern and clean interface. All the essentialsโ€”SMS, calling, contacts and virtual number managementโ€”are organized in a cohesive dashboard and side panel menu. Itโ€™s a great option for companies that are new to VoIP telephony and want something without a steep learning curve.


Where Google Voice Falls Short

Google Voiceโ€™s main shortcoming is its lack of advanced VoIP features. Specifically, it lacks prebuilt analytics and AI tools, and its integration library is virtually nonexistent.

Lack of User-Friendly Analytics

Google Voiceโ€™s low-tier plans donโ€™t include any reporting or analytics, which provide insights about your daily call volume and messaging usage. While the Premier plan includes BigQuery analytics, this option requires programming knowledge to build reports, making it a less user-friendly option and out of reach for many teams.

If youโ€™d like insights about your companyโ€™s call history, Dialpadโ€™s real-time analytics dashboard is fantastic.

10-User Limit on Starter Plan

While Google Voiceโ€™s Starter plan is cheap, it only supports up to 10 users. Teams of more than ten must upgrade to the Standard plan, which is twice the price. If your team is larger than 10 users and looking for a cost-effective solution, Grasshopper is a great choice. Grasshopperโ€™s Small Business plan supports unlimited users and is a good value for teams of 10 to 15, even if you need to purchase additional phone numbers for $9 each.

Minimal Integrations

Third-party integrations allow you to connect your VoIP system to other software you use, such as CRM platforms, data systems, and marketing apps. These integrations can sync data and actions across platforms, making your day more efficient. Google Voice only integrates with two productsโ€”Google Meet and Google Calendar. On the other hand, platforms like RingCentral integrate with over 100 third-party apps, enabling you to use your call data for additional business purposes.


What To Look For in a Google Voice Alternative

When choosing a Google Voice alternative, look for a platform that offers the features and channels you plan to use, with a minimum of โ€œextrasโ€ that you wonโ€™t. Make sure your chosen software supports unlimited calling, and if you plan to text customers frequently, choose a plan with unlimited SMS.

Hereโ€™s what to look for when choosing a Google Voice alternative.

  • Channel offerings. Choose a provider and plan that offers only the channels you plan to use. You may want voice only with a provider such as Grasshopper, or you may want to offer multichannel customer service through live chat, email and social media.
  • Call routing features. Google Voice offers ring groups and call queues, which are important capabilities for handling inbound calls. If you want even stronger call routing features, look for a provider with call queueing or advanced call distribution rules.
  • Low cost. While Google Voiceโ€™s Starter plan already boasts a low cost, if you want a more feature-rich alternative, look for one under $25 monthly per user. Zoom Phone, OpenPhone and Grasshopper are cost-effective options.
  • User-friendly dashboard and interface. Before making your final choice, see if you can access a free trial or YouTube tutorial for the platform you plan to use. This way, you can test the app dashboard and ensure it feels comfortable for your users.
  • Real-time analytics. One of Google Voiceโ€™s major shortcomings is that its BigQuery analytics is difficult to use and only comes with the $30 plan. When choosing an alternative, look for one that includes real-time analytics such as Dialpad or RingCentral.

Iโ€™d consider options that offer better scalability, integrations with customer relationship tools and more robust call analytics to help understand and optimize customer interactions.

 

โ€”Whitney Duenas Richardson, Google Voice user and founder of Global Sprouts, a childrenโ€™s education brand.

If youโ€™re questioning whether Google Voice is the right choice for your small business, there are plenty of Google Voice alternatives available. It all depends on which gap in its service offerings you want or need to fill to better suit your business communication needs.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Are there any free VoIP services?

There are two free VoIP servicesโ€”Google Voiceโ€™s personal phone plans and TextNow. However, both of these services are intended for personal use, rather than a business phone system. I recommend that small businesses use a low-cost VoIP system instead, such as Google Voice, Zoom Phone or Grasshopper.

Is Google discontinuing Google Voice?

No. Google Voice continues to offer VoIP phone service. Google has continually updated the software interface and feature offering for Google Voice, ensuring that it works well with the rest of Google Workspace.

Why would someone use a Google Voice number?

A Google Voice virtual number allows you to establish a business presence in a U.S. area code of your choosing. You can separate your business number from your personal number while taking the business number with you wherever you go, on a mobile device or computer. Google Voice numbers also give you easily manageable business phone features, such as IVR menus.


Next Up In VoIP


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