11 best VoIP providers in Canada for 2025

After some research, you’ve likely noticed dozens of different Canadian VoIP providers. When your business depends on reliable communication, identifying the best phone provider can feel overwhelming.

If your business is based in Canada — or you’re looking to expand to the Great White North by getting a Canadian number — this in-depth guide covers the 11 best Canadian business VoIP providers of 2025, including their prices, features, and limitations.

The best VoIP services in Canada overview

Here’s how the 11 best VoIP apps compare:

Let’s look at the best providers offering service in Canada in more detail, starting with the number one solution for teams.

1. OpenPhone: Best Canadian VoIP provider for growing teams

Pros

• Unlimited calls to the US and Canada
• Unlimited SMS and MMS to the US and Canada
• Shared phone numbers
• Single-view inbox for all calls, texts, and voice messages with a contact
• Snippets, auto-replies, and scheduled messages

Cons

• No two-factor authentication*

*Nearly all virtual phone numbers share this problem. For safety reasons, companies like Facebook, Instagram, and Google rarely let you authenticate accounts through a virtual phone number.

OpenPhone is a modern business phone service designed to scale as your company grows. All you need is an internet connection to start taking calls from your computer, smartphone, or tablet.

With OpenPhone, you can get as many Canadian numbers as you want on our Starter plan ($15 USD per user per month). Then, just add more phone numbers as your team expands. Each user on your plan comes with one free North American, Canadian, or US toll-free number. Any additional numbers with OpenPhone cost $5 USD per number per month.

Every OpenPhone plan comes with unlimited calling and texting to Canada and the US. You can assign team members to their own number or work together from a shared number. With shared numbers, every member of your team can review the same inbox, see the same contacts, and split responsibility for incoming calls. You can also collaborate with team members using internal threads and mentions, making it easier to delegate tasks and follow up with customers.

OpenPhone can help you save time while texting and personalize your touchpoints with customers. For example:

• Scheduled text messages help you send at the best possible time based on your customer’s time zone. This means your US contacts won’t get texts in the middle of the night (and you won’t have to stay up until 11 PM to manually press send).
• Speaking of not having to stay glued to your phone, tools like auto-replies instantly connect with customers while you’re off the clock. Every missed call on your US or Canadian number triggers an automatic message with a short text letting customers know you got their message.
• If you spend a lot of time answering similar messages, you can create message templates with snippets and save them for future responses (such as ‘Thanks for reaching out to our Canadian text hotline’). It’s easy to personalize canned responses and save yourself the trouble of typing the same thing a dozen times.
• If you want to follow up faster with customers, you can use AI call summaries and transcripts on our Business plan ($23 per user per month). You can instantly get transcripts of past interactions, then use a list of potential follow-ups to share with your team.
• You can also use the OpenPhone API to automate your messaging workflow. For example, when someone fills out a sales form, you can automatically send a welcome message — no manual typing or sending texts needed.
• OpenPhone’s AI agent, Sona, can talk to customers on your behalf at any time, even outside business hours. It answers common questions using your business info, collects lead details like names and service needs, and logs each call with a summary and transcript so your team can follow up quickly.

Thousands of brands use OpenPhone to connect with their Canadian prospects and clients. We’re listed as the #1 business phone solution on G2 — and our customer reviews speak for themselves:

“OpenPhone was super easy to set up, and they ported my Canadian number from Koodo quickly and FOR FREE! I love that I can access my account both on the website and on the app, and every single verification code via both phone call and text sent to my phone number has come through, which was my main reason for making the decision to port my number to an online platform. Well, that and the astronomical cost of phone plans in Canada – I travel most of the year and ain’t nobody got time to be paying roaming fees! I know there are so many features I haven’t even learned about yet, but so far I love OpenPhone!” – G2

“Customer service is great! I live in [the] USA and [OpenPhone] works very well for my business in Canada. I can text and call from my different phone numbers without a problem.” – G2

Key features of OpenPhone

• Local or toll-free Canadian phone numbers
• Free calling and texting in Canada and the US
• AI message responses, transcripts, and summaries
• Integrations with HubSpot, Zapier, Make, Salesforce, Slack, Google Contacts, and more, along with the OpenPhone API
• Shared phone numbers
• Internal threads and mentions
• Call tags

OpenPhone pricing

Canadian businesses can choose from three OpenPhone plans:

• Starter: $15 USD per user per month for call recording, voicemail to text, and one new local or toll-free Canadian or US number per user
• Business: $23 USD per user per month for call transfers, phone menus (IVR), AI call summaries, analytics and reporting, and our HubSpot and Salesforce integrations
• Scale: $35 per user per month for AI call tags, dedicated onboarding, and priority chat and email support

How to get a VoIP number with OpenPhone in Canada

Getting a new phone number from almost anywhere in the world is a simple process when you choose OpenPhone as your virtual phone number provider. Follow these three steps:

1. 1. Create an account with OpenPhone (when you sign up, you get a free, seven-day trial).

1. 1. During signup, select your city or area code in Canada to pick your local phone number.

1. 1. Complete the signup process, and the Canadian number you selected is yours!

Once you’ve confirmed OpenPhone is a good fit, you can also port over an existing Canadian phone number to OpenPhone for free. Simply fill out a porting form in your OpenPhone workspace, and we’ll take care of the rest.

2. RingCentral: Best Canadian VoIP for video conferencing

Pros

• Unlimited calls to the US and Canada
• Offers video conferencing

Cons

• Major texting limits
• Only includes 100 toll-free minutes per month on the base plan
• Unlimited call recording storage requires an upgrade

RingCentral is a cloud-based phone system offering video, chat, and calling tools. It’s now one of the oldest VoIP solutions that still offers dedicated desk phone rentals.

You can use RingCentral to make unlimited calls in the US and Canada. You can also tap into their voicemail transcriptions to quickly find who said what and video meetings to provide a more personable experience.

Unfortunately, RingCentral’s platform has several limitations. When you look closer at the service and its features, you may notice some frustrating restrictions:

• You can only send 25 texts per user per month on the Core plan. And since the platform only stores 5,000 texts per user, past messages with customers may disappear over time.
• Toll-free numbers have just 100 pooled minutes if you purchase the base plan. The most expensive plan ($45 CAD per user per month) unlocks the maximum allotted (10,000 pooled minutes per month).
• RingCentral only offers recording storage for up to 90 days unless you upgrade to the Ultra plan ($45 CAD per user per month). Plus, each user on your plan only has 1 GB of free data storage on the Advanced plan. 

If you want a VoIP software platform with fewer limitations on phone calls, text messages, and media storage, look for a RingCentral alternative.

Key features of RingCentral

• SMS support
• Local and toll-free Canadian numbers
• Voicemail to text
• Automatic call recording (requires upgrade)
• Call log reports

RingCentral pricing

RingCentral’s pricing offers three different plans for you to choose from:

• Core: $30 CAD ($20 USD) per user per month for unlimited calls in the US and Canada, business SMS (25 messages per user per month), visual voicemail, and IVR
• Advanced: $35 CAD ($25 USD) per user per month for internet fax, automatic call recording, and CRM integrations
• Ultra: $45 CAD ($35 USD) per user per month for unlimited storage for files and recordings and device analytics

3. Ooma: Best Canadian VoIP for unlimited calling in Mexico and Puerto Rico

Pros

• Unlimited calling in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
• Texting (SMS only) in the US and Canada

Cons

• Call recording requires an upgrade 
• Texting is not available on the base plan (no unlimited options)
• Voicemail transcriptions require an upgrade

Ooma is a legacy cloud communications company serving two separate audiences: home phone owners and small businesses. Their business line, Ooma Office, is available in the US and Canada. You can also make unlimited calls to Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Ooma offers the basic features you’d expect from a VoIP phone system. The base plan comes with a mobile app and an auto-attendant (IVR) so callers can route themselves to the right team member or department. You can also forward calls to another number or device, which is helpful if you need to take your work on the road and won’t have internet access.

That said, Ooma’s Canadian platform has significant differences from the US version. If you live in Canada and want to buy a Canadian number, for example, you can only send 100 text messages per month unless you upgrade — a major problem as your business scales.

Plus, many of the basic features you get with Ooma don’t make sense for distributed teams. You may not need overhead paging, analog fax machine support, or intercom systems, but you still have to pay for them.

Some of Ooma’s best features are locked behind paywalls. For example, you can’t make calls using the desktop app or access CRM integrations unless you pay for the Pro plan ($29.95 CAD per user per month). This means if you’re on a lower-tier plan, you’ll need to copy details like who you spoke to, when they called, and what was discussed — and then paste that information into your CRM by hand.

As you can see, Ooma is an expensive softphone solution that requires you to upgrade to access its best features. No matter how much you pay, it doesn’t provide unlimited text messaging on a Canadian VoIP number, unlimited toll-free minutes, or other key features.

Key features of Ooma

• Ring groups
• Music on hold
• Digital fax
• Call transferring
• Voicemail transcriptions (requires upgrade)

Ooma pricing

Ooma’s pricing depends on where you’re located. If you’re buying a Canadian number while based in the US or Canada, here’s what you can expect to pay:

• Essentials: $24.95 CAD ($19.95 USD) per user per month for virtual receptionists, simultaneous ring groups, and unlimited calling in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
• Pro: $29.95 CAD ($24.95 USD) per user per month for access to the desktop app, call recording, and call analytics
• Pro Plus: $34.95 CAD ($29.95 USD) per user per month for call queuing, hot desking, and integrations with Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365

Keep in mind there’s a one-time activation fee ($49.95 USD) required for all phone numbers.

4. 8×8: Best Canadian VoIP for international calls

Pros

• Unlimited calls to select countries and numbers
• Unlimited SMS in the US and Canada

Cons

• Clunky user interface
• No transparent pricing is available
• Limited storage for call recordings unless you upgrade
• Must contact their sales team for pricing

8×8 is another cloud-based VoIP provider in Canada tailored to call centers and larger companies. Its Unified Communications plan offers unlimited calling to select countries  and basic integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams. In addition, you’ll get access to AI insights and summaries, which means you won’t have to listen to long call recordings to find important pieces of information.

With 8×8, call recordings only stick around for 30 days unless you pay for the media cold storage add-on. Even then, this upgrade only stores files for a maximum of 10 years. There’s no way to unlock unlimited storage, which could be an issue when storing context from past interactions.

Other texting limitations with 8×8 include:

• No SMS support on toll-free Canadian numbers and shared virtual numbers
• No support for group texting with customers
• No international text support (you can receive international messages from outside the US and Canada, but you can’t respond to them)

If any of this is a dealbreaker, you might want to consider some 8×8 alternatives.

Key features of 8×8

• Unlimited calls in Canada and the US
• Auto-attendants
• Hot desking
• Unlimited internet fax
• In-app team chat

8×8 pricing

8×8’s pricing is no longer listed online. The only way to get accurate pricing as of April 2025 is to request a quote. 

5. GoTo Connect: Best Canadian VoIP for unlimited phone number extensions

Pros

• Unlimited calling to the US and Canada
• Integrations with Salesforce and Zendesk (requires upgrade)
• Unlimited phone number extensions

Cons

• Standout features require upgrades (including shared inboxes)
• SMS limits on the base plan
• No unlimited toll-free minutes
• No transparent pricing

GoTo Connect is a VoIP service provider available to businesses in Canada. You can use the platform to create an unlimited number of phone number extensions and set up virtual meetings using video conferencing tools.

There are a few other standout features. For example, GoTo Connect supports real-time predictive analytics so you can generate insights about customer interactions (including chat conversations and calls). You can also tap into shared inboxes and custom reporting dashboards, although these are only available with an upgrade.

As you may have noticed, GoTo Connect is somewhat limited compared to other business VoIP phone services. The platform offers just 1,000 pooled toll-free minutes per month shared between users (no matter how much you upgrade).

Plus, you can’t text customers outside the US or Canada. Each user also gets a limited number of message credits per month, but the exact amount isn’t shared publicly and depends on your region. After you’ve used up your credits, each additional message costs $0.00715 CAD.

And since GoTo Connect doesn’t provide the cost of its pricing plans, you can’t estimate your monthly costs unless you contact their team for a quote.

Key features of GoTo Connect

• Local, vanity, and toll-free Canadian numbers
• Unlimited extensions
• Additional numbers
• Auto-replies (to callers who aren’t saved as a contact)
• Desktop app and mobile app

GoTo Connect pricing

Like 8×8, GoTo Connect’s prices are no longer publicly listed. The only way to get an up-to-date quote is to contact customer support.

6. Dialpad: Best for large enterprises

Pros

• Unlimited calls in your country, the US, and Canada
• AI coaching tools on the base plan

Cons

• Must upgrade to Pro to have multiple phone numbers
• SMS and MMS are only available in the US and Canada
• International texting requires an upgrade

Dialpad is a business VoIP service designed for contact centers and large enterprises. It comes with features like a Coaches Leaderboard dashboard, which helps supervisors make better decisions about training, especially with metrics like average scorecard grade and average hold time.’

The biggest benefit of having a Canadian number with Dialpad is unlimited phone calls in Canada and the US. However, several necessary features are missing from the standard plan.

With Dialpad, you can’t:

• Add additional numbers unless you upgrade to the Pro plan ($30 CAD per user per month), which also requires a three-user minimum
• Integrate with tools outside of Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 unless you pay for the Pro plan 
• Send SMS or MMS if you’re outside the US or Canada 
• Text internationally without upgrading to the Pro plan
• Guarantee 99.9% uptime unless you pay for the most expensive plan (custom price)

Dialpad’s inability to guarantee your uptime could be a major problem as your business expands. Since even a 1% loss in uptime could cost thousands of dollars, Dialpad may be a more expensive and less reliable option than other Canadian VoIP providers.

Key features of Dialpad

• SMS and MMS support (international texting requires an upgrade) 
• Unlimited calling in Canada and the US
• Video conferencing tools
• Voicemail transcriptions
• Call recording

Dialpad pricing

Dialpad pricing includes three different options:

• Standard: $20 CAD ($15 USD) per user per month for unlimited calling to US and Canadian numbers, auto-attendants, and voicemail transcriptions
• Pro: $30 CAD ($25 USD) per user per month (three-user minimum) for multiple numbers, most integrations, and international text messaging
• Enterprise: Inquire for a quote (100-user minimum) for 99.9% uptime, unlimited ring groups, and dial-by extensions

7. CallHippo: Best Canadian VoIP for call centers

Pros

• Unlimited calling in Canada and the US
• International phone numbers from 100 countries

Cons

• Call transcription requires an upgrade
• Call recording is only available on higher tiers
• Limited SMS credits

CallHippo is a VoIP solution built to accommodate call centers with global markets. It offers more than 100 international numbers for your business, as well as unlimited calling to 48 countries. If you’re a smaller business just looking for the basics, they offer standard features like business hours, voicemail, and call forwarding.

But CallHippo may not be a scalable option for businesses finding their feet. The base plan offers just 100 SMS messages per user per month, and its ‘unlimited’ calls and texts to the US and Canada don’t include premium, mobile, and toll-free numbers.

Many of CallHippo’s better features are hidden behind more expensive pricing plans. Voicemail transcriptions and IVR, for example, require an upgrade to the Professional plan ($42 CAD per user per month). Interestingly, you’ll also find basic calling features locked behind the Ultimate plan, including custom third-party integrations, holiday call routing, and call blocking.

CallHippo’s Enterprise plan also comes with a 20-user minimum. So if your team’s smaller, you won’t be able to access features like calling 48 countries, even if your business needs them.

Key features of CallHippo

• Unlimited calls in Canada and the US
• Webhooks
• Shared inbox
• Set business hours
• Desktop, web, and mobile phone apps

CallHippo pricing

CallHippo’s pricing gives you four different plans to choose from:

• Starter: $25 CAD ($18 USD) per user per month for one local Canadian number, unlimited calls in the US and Canada, and 100 SMS per user per month
• Professional: $42 CAD ($30 USD) per user per month for call recording, Multilingual IVR, and 500 SMS per user per month
• Ultimate: $58 CAD ($42 USD) per user per month for a dedicated account manager, customizable integrations, and 1,000 SMS per user per month 
• Enterprise: Custom quote for priority support and custom onboarding
  

8. net2phone Canada: Best for live support

Pros

• Unlimited calling to Canada
• Phone, chat, and email support

Cons

• Some users mention poor call quality
• Call recordings are only available as a paid add-on
• Limited integrations

net2phone Canada is a VoIP provider located in Ottawa, Ontario. They offer live customer support through phone, chat, and email so you can troubleshoot issues as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, many users suggest there are consistent problems with net2phone Canada, including poor billing and call quality issues. Reviewers mention a lot of downtime, which may prevent you from addressing customer questions quickly.

Other limitations of net2phone Canada include:

• Call recording requires a paid add-on across all plans 
• No integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, and Zoho unless you upgrade to the Business Select plan ($39.99 CAD per user per month)
• Pricey additional toll-free minutes once you exceed the allotment on your plan (starting at $0.05 per minute)

While net2phone Canada may be a good bare-bones service, it’s not a robust business phone solution for growing brands.

Key features of net2phone Canada

• Unlimited calls nationwide
• Auto attendants
• Call forwarding
• Ring groups
• Integrations with Salesforce, Zoho, Zendesk, and more (requires upgrade)

net2phone Canada pricing

net2phone Canada can get expensive for small teams. The fewer users you have, the more you pay per month.

If you have one to five users and are searching for a small business plan, you’ll have to pay for the ‘Starter Kit’ plan, which costs $134.99 CAD per month and doesn’t include toll-free minutes. You also have to pay a $60 CAD one-time activation fee per user plus tax.

If you have six users, you can choose from one of three plans:

• Business Lite: $29.99 CAD ($22 USD) per user per month for unlimited calling to Canada, complementary phone rental (on 3+ year contracts), and unlimited auto attendants
• Business Select: $39.99 CAD ($29 USD) per user per month for video conferencing, 2,000 toll-free minutes, and SaaS integrations
• Business Premier: $49.99 CAD ($37 USD) per user per month for 5,000 toll-free minutes and upgraded phone rentals

9. Callture: Best for desk phone systems

Pros

• Unlimited outgoing and incoming calls in Canada
• Simple pricing model

Cons

• Confusing user interface
• Users report hard-to-reach support
• Bare-bones features that make it difficult to scale

Callture is located in the GTA, and offers business VoIP services with a simple pricing model. All plans offer the same basic features — IVR, multiple extensions, on-hold music, and more. You can also set up extensions for every rep or department, and each can deliver a different message to your customers.

Since Callture works with PBX phone systems, users have many hardware options. There’s also a mobile app available (though a bit outdated).

Unfortunately, the term ‘outdated’ describes a great deal of Callture’s platform, including its clunky UI. It doesn’t have many features for team collaboration or offer advanced features like auto-replies or AI message templates.

Unless you already use a PBX system, Callture is likely not the best option for your business.

Key features of Callture

• Unlimited inbound and outbound calls from Canada
• Dial-by-name directory
• Custom voicemail
• Conference calling (10 people maximum)
• HD voice

Callture pricing

Callture charges the same price per user per month ($26.50 CAD) across all its pricing plans.

Each tier comes with the same basic features:

• Unlimited outgoing calls
• Unlimited incoming calls
• Includes internet fax number
• First month free (60-minute limit)
• Free tech support

Once you pay for two users or more, you’ll get a toll-free number.

10. Aircall: Best for cold calling

Pros

• Unlimited calls in the US and Canada
• Purchase international local numbers

Cons

• No MMS support for non-US or Canadian numbers
• Expensive pricing compared to competitors
• Call recordings are only accessible for up to one year without an upgrade

Aircall is a communications platform that integrates with tools like Slack, Salesforce, and Zendesk and comes with an API and webhooks for additional customization. You can also set up a power dialer for cold calling.

But Aircall falls short when it comes to business texting, especially outbound messaging. You get unlimited inbound SMS on all plans but just 250 outbound SMS per user per month in the US and Canada. You also can’t send any MMS messages through non-US, Australian, or Canadian numbers.

Want to store recorded calls for training or legal purposes? Aircall’s Essentials plan only offers one year of call recording storage. If you want unlimited storage, you need to upgrade to the Professional plan ($50 USD per user per month). At a three-user minimum, that’s $60 more per month.

Key features of Aircall

• Unlimited calls to the US and Canada
• Smart call routing (requires upgrade)
• Ring groups
• Call recording
• Conference calling

Aircall pricing

All Aircall plans come with a set user minimum, which means if you’re a solopreneur, you’re not paying the listed price per month. Instead, you’re paying for additional users you don’t yet have — or swallowing the cost to get the features you need.

Your options include:

• Essentials: $30 USD per user per month for IVR, business hours, call recording, and up to one year of call recording storage (three-user minimum)
• Professional: $50 USD per user per month for unlimited access to call recording storage, queue callback, Salesforce integrations, and the Power Dialer (three-user minimum)
• Custom: Get a custom quote for unlimited worldwide calls, access to API developer support, and custom analytics (25-user minimum)

11. VoIP.ms: Best for Microsoft Teams integration

Pros

• Microsoft Teams integration
• Ring groups

Cons

• Charges for incoming calls
• Charges for call and voicemail transcriptions
• No free SMS — each message costs extra

VoIP.ms is a Montreal-based VoIP provider that’s been around since 2007. It’s one of the older options on this list, and that shows with its traditional feature set.

You’ll get access to standard VoIP features like three-way calling, call forwarding, and virtual fax. If you just need a basic setup, it can check those boxes.

Where VoIP.ms stands out is with its Microsoft Teams integration. For example, you can connect your VoIP.ms account directly to Teams so you can place and receive calls right inside the Microsoft Teams app — no need to juggle different tools.

That said, there are a few trade-offs you’ll want to keep in mind.

If your business is based in Canada, it will cost you $0.0052 CAD per minute to receive local calls and $0.009 CAD per minute to make them. That can add up fast if you’re a small business with a high call volume. Want to record calls? That’s an extra $0.0025 CAD per minute. And if you’re hoping to transcribe calls or voicemails, you’ll pay $0.05 CAD per minute for that.

You can send SMS messages through VoIP.ms, but each one costs $0.0075 CAD, even if it’s just a short reply.

Plus, if your team uses ring groups to handle incoming calls together, each group can only include up to 12 members. That might be a big limitation if you have a larger support or sales team.

Key features of VoIP.ms

• Call forwarding
• Call conferencing
• Call recording
• Ring groups
• Transcriptions

VoIP.ms pricing 

VoIP.ms doesn’t charge a monthly fee per user.

Instead, it uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, where you’re billed for what you use, including phone numbers, text messages, and incoming and outgoing calls.

No matter how much you spend, you’ll get access to the same features. This means if your team is regularly on the phone, your usage fees can add up fast.

How much does a VoIP provider in Canada cost?

A VoIP provider in Canada can cost anywhere from $15 to $80 per month.

For example, OpenPhone’s small business friendly pricing includes a Starter plan that is $15 per user per month.

How we rated the best Canadian VoIP providers

Our team took a deep dive into the most popular and top-rated VoIP phone systems available in Canada. After evaluating all the features businesses need from their phone service, we landed on our top 11 VoIP providers based on these eight factors:

1. Customer support: How easily can you get the answers you need? How helpful are the support reps?
2. Cost-effectiveness: Money is something small businesses need to consider. That’s why we only listed business platforms with cost-effective, scalable prices.
3. Features: We looked at VoIP services that offer (or don’t) the tools your business needs to grow. Then, we selected the best of the best to include in our final lineup.
4. Integrations: We chose platforms with third-party integrations your business uses now or in the future. This includes several popular tools (like CRMs, webhooks, and APIs).
5. Customer reviews: What are current or past customers saying? We combed through reviews to see how satisfied customers were with the provider and its reliability. 
6. Scalability: You don’t want to spend resources switching VoIP providers once your business starts to grow. How scalable is the business phone system, and can you unlock more advanced features as you grow?
7. Security: Security is important to prevent hackers from listening to customer conversations and gaining access to confidential information. The best communications platforms offer multiple forms of security so you can rest easy knowing your data is safe.
8. Ease of use: We analyzed which platforms are easy to navigate and don’t have a steep learning curve. It should be easy to get started with a communications solution and quickly get the rest of your team up to speed.

8 key features to look for in a Canadian VoIP phone service

There are a lot of different Canadian VoIP providers to choose from, but only a few provide the tools and features modern businesses need.

Here are eight  you should look for while narrowing down your list:

1. Shared numbers

Everyone on your team needs to work together to tackle your daily to-do list. Shared numbers make this easy.

With shared numbers, all members of your team can split responsibility for incoming calls and messages. Everyone on the shared number can collaborate in-platform and delegate tasks when they run into problems. Plus, your managers have clear oversight into all the conversations between your team and your contacts.

If your Canadian VoIP provider doesn’t offer shared numbers, consider crossing them off the list.

2. Call routing options 

Your VoIP provider in Canada should help callers get where they need to go. This means offering plenty of VoIP call routing options like:

• Shared numbers for specific teams or departments
• Round-robin calling features that ring multiple devices with an incoming call until someone picks it up
• Self-service phone menus that help customers reach the right department (like ‘Press three for billing)
• Call transferring tools that help you send live calls to a teammate

3. Voicemail transcriptions 

Gone are the days of calling a number to listen to audio-only voicemails. Today, you can partner with a Canadian VoIP service to get written transcripts of your voicemails without having to playback an audio file.

With OpenPhone, you can easily review a voicemail transcription in the context of your entire conversation history. Plus, you can push your transcriptions to apps already in your tech stack and keep everyone in the loop about updates.

Keep in mind that some providers lock voicemail transcriptions behind premium plans to force you to upgrade prematurely. Watch out for phrases like ‘add-ons’ or ‘with upgrade,’ then ask for more details before signing any contracts.

4. Free calling to the US and Canada

Your business needs to reach US and Canadian customers without paying extra for inbound or outbound calls. But as you can see in the guide above, not all VoIP providers in Canada offer free unlimited calling.

Paying extra to reach these countries should be a dealbreaker. You shouldn’t have to deal with overage fees, hard minute limits, or unnecessary red tape. If you don’t want to bloat your phone bills, look for a provider with free calling to the US and Canada.

5. SMS and MMS support

Customers expect businesses to meet their needs faster than ever before. And if you can’t send texts or messages with rich media, you’re already falling behind.

The best Canadian VoIP providers offer both SMS and MMS for your business. They should also offer texting features on local and toll-free numbers since not all companies support messaging on both types.

6. Automated texting options

Automation is a great way to save time for your team, especially when it comes to SMS and MMS. Not only can you focus more on complex tasks, but you can also look professional to customers and show that you care about their experience.

Canadian VoIP services like OpenPhone offer texting automations on every plan. Depending on what your business needs, you can:

• Send auto-replies to let customers know when your team is out of the office
• Schedule text messages to contacts outside your time zone
• Use AI-generated responses to avoid writer’s block
• Automate specific touchpoints (such as appointment reminder texts) and keep customers in the loop

7. Call recordings 

Call recordings are an essential component of small business success. If you can’t look back on past recordings to get context, coaching, or quality assurance, you may struggle to answer questions quickly or help your new agents get up to speed.

The Canadian VoIP provider you choose should offer call recording features on every plan. You should also get unlimited storage for all your media without retention periods or time-based limitations. With the best business phone solutions like OpenPhone, you can save time reviewing any recorded call with AI-generated call transcriptions and summaries. 

8. Conversation threads

You shouldn’t need to flip between different apps just to send messages to coworkers. You need to connect with your team immediately if something comes up or if you need more clarification.

Platforms like OpenPhone help you collaborate with your team without hopping between different tools. All call recordings, texts, and voice messages stay in a single thread so everyone knows where to look for past conversations.

If you need a second pair of eyes while answering a question, you can tag other team members to help you review and follow up faster. You can also comment on any call recording, message, or voicemail so reps can easily stay up-to-date and keep track of issues as they’re resolved.

Get a number that supports your presence in Canada with OpenPhone

There’s a lot to consider before buying a Canadian number — and dozens of factors to weigh while picking the right phone service. But if you’re looking for a competitive VoIP provider with flexible plans and a user-friendly interface, OpenPhone ranks at the top of the list.

We’ve helped companies big and small build better relationships with their customers through automations, third-party integrations, caller ID, voicemail to email, SMS API, and shared numbers. You can buy as many Canadian numbers as your team needs, then delight your customers with the help of our platform.

Start a seven-day free trial to see why thousands of brands use OpenPhone for their business phone communications in Canada.

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