Skip to content

6 top AT&T Office@Hand alternatives for 2024

AT&T Office@Hand alternatives

Ready to move on from AT&T Office@Hand? This guide covers six of the best Office@Hand alternatives so you can make an informed decision for your team.

If you’re looking at using Office@Hand, you can see all the reasons businesses switch from the service at the bottom of this guide.

Now, let’s dive into everything you should know about the six best AT&T Office@Hand alternatives.

The top AT&T Office@Hand alternatives compared

Here’s a quick list of the six best Office@Hand alternatives:

ProviderPriceUnlimited calling to US & CanadaFree SMS & MMS to US & CanadaShared numbersAdditional numbers
AT&T Office@HandStarts at $10 per user per month (requires 100 user minimum)
OpenPhoneStarts at $15 per user per month$5 per number per month
CloudtalkStarts at $25 per user per monthUS & Canadian customers onlyRequires upgradeRing groups onlyRegion-specific pricing
Phone.comStarts at $11.99 per user per monthx$5 per month$15.99 per number per month
Zoom PhoneStarts at $10 per user per monthXUS & Canadian numbers only$250 per user per year$5 per number per month
Comcast for BusinessStarts at $29.95 per user per monthx$29.95 one-time activation fee per line
AircallStarts at $30 per user per monthSMS only$6 per number per month

The 6 top AT&T Office@Hand alternatives: who wins out?

Office@Hand is a traditional business phone system with some VoIP features tacked on. Thankfully, it’s not the only business VoIP on the market — and other cloud-based services can help you build better relationships with your customers.

Let’s look at some of the best alternatives to AT&T Office@Hand, starting with the platform with the highest customer satisfaction ratings on G2. 

1. OpenPhone

Pros

  • Works on the devices you’re already using
  • Reach customers from almost anywhere with a WiFi connection
  • Comes with iPhone and Android apps, a web app, and a desktop app
  • Shared numbers help team members collaborate faster
  • 5,000+ integrations with tools you’re already using

Cons

  • Can’t use virtual phone numbers for two-factor authentication *

* This isn’t exclusive to OpenPhone. Most major providers offering two-factor authentication (like Facebook, Uber, and Google) don’t allow you to authenticate your account through VoIP numbers.

AT&T Office@Hand alternatives: OpenPhone

OpenPhone is a virtual business phone system you can use remotely or in a hybrid work environment. Each user on your plan comes with one local US, Canadian, or toll-free number, although you can always get additional phone numbers whenever you’re ready ($5 per number per month). All OpenPhone numbers are accessible on the devices you’re already using — including your computer, tablet, and smartphone.

How to get a virtual number with OpenPhone

Get a Virtual Phone Number with OpenPhone

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. Create an account with OpenPhone (when you sign up, you get a free, seven-day trial).
  2. During signup, choose your city or area code in the US to select your preferred phone number.
  3. Once the signup process is complete, you’re all set to use your new virtual phone number!

With OpenPhone, you can access the features most small businesses need right from our Starter plan (starting at $15 per user per month). You can start using call recordings, voicemail transcriptions, and auto-replies as a team in 15 minutes or less.

Speaking of working together, you can use OpenPhone’s shared number feature to respond to calls and texts as a team. Unlike many alternatives to AT&T Office@Hand and AT&T’s platform, everyone can work from the same inbox, with all voicemails, calls, and texts housed under a single view. You don’t need to waste time hunting for the right context between separate folders since everything is conveniently kept in a single conversation.

But clear conversation histories aren’t the only way your team can save time with OpenPhone. We offer dozens of ways to give you hours back on specific touchpoints through text, including scheduled messages, snippets, and our Zapier integration. Need to confirm an appointment with a customer but don’t want to manually draft a text? You can connect your number to 5,000+ other apps in Zap to send out messages automatically.

OpenPhone is one of the most flexible business communications tools for growing small businesses — and our pricing structure proves it. You never have to upgrade until you’re 100% ready and can access bigger and better features when you do. Our Business plan ($23 per user per month) lets you access even more tools to save time and collaborate further, including CRM integrations, call analytics, and phone menus.

If you’re ready to try OpenPhone for yourself, sign up for our seven-day free trial and get your team members onboarded today.

OpenPhone key features

  • Unlimited calls in the US and Canada
  • Free SMS and MMS support to any US or Canadian number
  • Voicemail to text transcriptions
  • Each user comes with one local US, Canadian, or North American toll-free phone number 
  • Collaboration tools like threads, mentions, and shared phone numbers

OpenPhone pricing

OpenPhone pricing
  • Starter: $15 per user per month for calling and messaging to US and Canada, voicemail transcriptions, and call recording
  • Business: $23 per user per month for CRM integrations, phone menus (IVR), and analytics and reporting
  • Enterprise: Custom solutions for a custom price (comes with a dedicated account manager and priority support)

2. CloudTalk

Pros

  • Free intracompany calls
  • No minimum or maximum user count

Cons

  • Have to pay for outbound minutes
  • No unlimited SMS (priced per message)
  • Most of the best features are paywalled
  • Issues reported with calling features
AT&T Office@Hand alternatives: CloudTalk

CloudTalk offers software tailored to call centers. Although the company specializes in healthcare and finance, it also services eCommerce brands and other online retailers.

With CloudTalk, you can purchase a standard local number to make unlimited inbound and intracompany calls. However, you must pay per minute for outbound calls no matter how much you upgrade. Plus, if you purchase a number in what CloudTalk deems to be a “high-cost country,” you may also have to pay extra for inbound calls.

CloudTalk’s cheapest user license is extremely restricted and unusable in most situations. For example, you’re limited to just one month of storage for your call recordings unless you upgrade to the Essential plan ($30 per user per month). You can’t even send SMS messages without upgrading — and even then, you have to pay per message.

But once you’ve purchased these “upgraded” features, there’s no guarantee they’ll work as intended. Recent reviews cite buggy interfaces and slow customer service responses, which can be frustrating when you have callers on the line.

Just check out this recent review:

“The concept is great — an internet based call center and phone management system is a fantastic idea on paper. But CloudTalk is an absolute joke of a service and there is not a day that goes by without an issue:

– dropped calls

– missed calls

– phone doesn’t ring sometimes despite customers repeatedly calling

– the phone sometimes rings and even after clicking answer it won’t pick up or it will disengage the call

– the phone rings and freezes when you attempt to open the app on your phone or computer

– CloudTalk support are not helpful at all, basically blaming their bad service on us

Buy cheap, buy twice is what they say I suppose.” — G2

CloudTalk key features

  • Unlimited intracompany calls
  • Click to call
  • Automatic call distribution
  • Call queuing
  • Mobile app

CloudTalk pricing

CloudTalk pricing
  • Starter: $25 per user per month for automatic call distribution, click-to-call, and access to the mobile app
  • Essential: $30 per user per month for SMS messages, call analytics, and CloudTalk’s API
  • Expert: $50 per user per month for the Salesforce integration, call monitoring, and unlimited concurrent calls
  • Custom: Custom quote for developer support, custom reporting, and enterprise-level security

3. Phone.com

Pros

  • You can mix and match user types
  • Access UCaaS features from one softphone

Cons

  • Limited to 500 minutes and 1,000 text segments per user without upgrading
  • No texting automations (like auto-replies and snippets)
  • No call recordings or voicemail transcriptions unless you upgrade
AT&T Office@Hand alternatives: Phone.com

Phone.com is a VoIP service offering unified communications (aka UCaaS) to small business owners. The platform combines phone calls, text messaging, fax, and video conferencing tools all on the same plan — as long as you’re willing to pay up.

With Phone.com, you can mix and match user licenses to meet team members’ specific needs. That said, the basic license ($11.99 per user per month) is extremely bare-bones for any small business looking to grow. You can only use 500 pooled minutes per user on your account, and business text messaging isn’t available unless you upgrade your license. Other critical features, including call recording and voicemail transcriptions, are locked behind their higher-tier plan. You can’t even buy more than one phone number per user unless you upgrade your team to Plus users ($15.99 per user per month).

But these aren’t the only limitations of Phone.com. No matter how much you upgrade, you can’t access basic business features that come standard on other phone systems, including:

  • MMS support for toll-free numbers
  • Auto-replies
  • Snippets

Phone.com key features

  • Video conferencing (10 user max for Basic users)
  • Mobile and web apps
  • Auto-receptionists
  • Voicemail
  • HIPAA compliance

Phone.com pricing

Phone.com pricing

You don’t have to pay for a specific plan from Phone.com. Instead, you purchase user licenses for each member of your team. You can mix and match different types to give different features to your coworkers, which means you don’t have to lock your whole team on the same pricing tier.

There are three user types:

  • Basic: $11.99 per user per month for 500 minutes and 1,000 text segments, one number per account, and voicemail to email
  • Plus: $15.99 per user per month for unlimited minutes and conversational texting, one number per user, and voicemail transcriptions
  • Pro: $23.99 per user per month for call recording, call analytics, and CRM integrations

4. Zoom Phone

Pros

  • Relatively cheap
  • Available internationally

Cons

  • No unlimited outbound calls (have to pay per minute or upgrade)
  • SMS and MMS requires upgrade
  • Missing business features like auto-replies and HubSpot phone integrations
  • Requires upgrade if you want other Zoom features
AT&T Office@Hand alternatives: Zoom Phone

Zoom Phone is the business phone branch of the video conferencing tool you’re likely familiar with. With Zoom Phone, you can purchase a US or Canadian number to call and text contacts through your internet connection.

But Zoom Phone doesn’t offer unlimited calls on its basic plan ($10 per user per month). You either have to pay per minute (starting at $0.0318 for calls in the US) or upgrade to a more expensive plan ($15 per user per month). The option to send SMS and MMS messages are also locked behind more expensive plans. 

Keep in mind you can’t access Zoom’s other features (like shared numbers) on the basic Zoom Phone plan. You’d have to purchase Zoom One Plus on top of your Zoom Phone subscription, which starts at $250 per user per year.

You may notice Zoom Phone is one of the cheapest alternatives on this list. That said, you get what you pay for. Zoom Phone doesn’t come with the basic features most business owners need, including auto-replies, call whispering, and a HubSpot integration. Speaking of integrations, Zoom Phone only connects with 10 other third-party apps, which pales in comparison to most other VoIP providers.

The bottom line: Zoom Phone is a comparably priced AT&T Office@Hand alternative, although it comes with far lighter features as a tradeoff. If you’re looking for more out-of-the-box solutions including unlimited outbound calls on the basic plan, you should look for a Zoom Phone alternative.

Zoom Phone key features

  • Desktop and mobile apps
  • SMS and MMS support in the US and Canada (requires upgrade)
  • Unlimited internal calls
  • Auto-attendants
  • Voicemail transcriptions

Zoom Phone pricing

Zoom Phone pricing

If you’re buying Zoom Phone as a standalone service, here’s what you can expect to pay:

  • US and Canada Metered: $120 per user per year ($10 per user per month) for voicemail transcriptions, unlimited inbound calls, and unlimited concurrent calling (make calls together at the same time)
  • US and Canada Unlimited: $180 per user per year ($15 per user per month) for SMS and MMS support, unlimited outbound calls, and phone extension numbers.
  • Pro Global Select: $240 per user per year ($20 per user per month) for unlimited domestic calling in 40+ countries and territories and direct dial numbers (you lose access to SMS and MMS support on this plan)

Don’t forget about Zoom Phone’s add-ons, including:

  • Toll-free numbers: Starting at $60 per number per year
  • International calling: Starting at $120 per year
  • Additional numbers: Starting at $60 per number per year
  • Leasing hardware (like desk phones): Starting at $5.99 per device per month

5. Comcast for Business

Pros

  • Can buy or lease phones if needed
  • Route calls from your landline to your cell phone

Cons

  • Expensive plans with hidden fees
  • Requires bundling for best prices
  • No transparent pricing (have to request a quote)
  • May require a two-year contract (depending on your quote)
AT&T Office@Hand alternatives: Comcast for Business

Comcast for Business is a traditional business phone provider with two distinct plans: Voice Mobility and Business VoiceEdge.

With Voice Mobility, you can forward incoming calls from your desk or IP phone directly to your cell phone. You can also forward calls to up to 24 other lines so everyone in your business can stay connected. However, keep in mind Voice Mobility doesn’t give you a separate business line — it’s just a way to take business phone calls from your landline on your cell phone. You also won’t be able to call or text using your computer. 

Business VoiceEdge is designed for slightly larger businesses. Although it’s not directly listed on the website, you can choose between one of two plans: VoiceEdge Select and VoiceEdge Business. While VoiceEdge is intended for teams of eight users or fewer, VoiceEdge Business can have up to 5,000 users. You can download apps for either plan to your mobile phone or purchase IP desk phones to use from your office.

Both of Comcast’s business phone solutions are significantly more expensive than other VoIPs. Voice Mobility starts at $29.95 per user per month. VoiceEdge Select costs $39.95 per user per month (not counting the $18.45 modem fee), while VoiceEdge Business costs a different amount depending on the amount of users on your plan. For example:

  • Five to nine users: $44.95 per user per month
  • 10 to 19 users: $39.95 per user per month
  • 20+ users: $34.95 per user per month

You should take these prices with a grain of salt. Comcast doesn’t offer direct pricing online and requires you to get a quote for more accurate pricing. You may also be tied to a two-year contract if you want the most competitive prices from Comcast. 

When you tack on all the headaches and unexpected price tags, Comcast for Business can add up fast — and it can be more than you’re comfortable spending as a small business owner. 

Comcast for Business key features

If you opt for Voice Mobility, you can access:

  • Call forwarding
  • Call transfer
  • Call history
  • Hunt groups
  • Caller ID

If you want to use business VoiceEdge:

  • One-touch call hold
  • Call park
  • Auto-attendants
  • Call waiting
  • Hunt groups

Comcast for Business pricing

As mentioned, Comcast doesn’t list any prices for its business phone solutions. However, after some additional research on our part, we found the following ballpark numbers:

  • Voice Mobility: Starts at $29.95 per user per month
  • VoiceEdge Select: Starts at $39.95 per user per month (don’t forget the $18.45 modem fee)
  • VoiceEdge Business: Starts at $44.95 for five to nine users

We recommend reaching out to Comcast directly if you want a more personalized quote.

6. Aircall

Pros

  • Great for mass communications
  • Can bring your own mobile devices

Cons

  • Fairly restrictive SMS limits
  • No MMS support
  • No texting automations
  • Expensive plans with user minimums
  • Requires upgrades for best features
AT&T Office@Hand alternatives: Aircall

Aircall is a VoIP business solution for contact centers and support teams. Although the platform was built for larger enterprises, you can still use a smaller plan for teams of at least three users.

Noticed we said ‘at least’ here. Unfortunately, Aircall doesn’t let you add fewer than three users on any of its plans. This means the Essentials plan ($30 per user per month) actually costs a minimum of $90 per month, meaning you may be spending more than you need for licenses you may not use.

Many of Aircall’s features focus on reaching thousands of customers per day — although even then, you have to unlock many others. You can’t access the PowerDialer (calling multiple numbers on a list with no interruption) unless you upgrade to the Professional plan ($50 per user per month), and you can’t use custom analytics until you upgrade to a Custom plan (contact for quote).

Don’t want to use Aircall for mass communications? You may still run into limitations. For example, you only have access to 4,000 SMS messages per user per month — there’s no MMS support at all. You also can’t save time texting like you can with other alternatives. You can’t use auto-replies, snippets, or scheduled messaging tools at all.

Aircall key features

  • Unlimited phone calls in the US and Canada
  • Integrations with 100+ third-party apps
  • Call recording
  • Click to dial
  • IVR

Aircall pricing

Aircall pricing
  • Essentials: $30 per user per month for SMS support, auto-attendants, and click to dial (three user minimum)
  • Professional: $50 per user per month for Salesforce integration, call tagging, and the Power Dialer (three user minimum)
  • Custom: Custom quote for unlimited international calls, custom analytics, and prioritized customer support (10 user minimum)

Why businesses switch to an AT&T Office@Hand alternative

AT&T Office@Hand desktop app

Office@Hand is an AT&T service only available to customers in the US. Unfortunately, as you’ve already discovered, there are several limitations that can keep you from building better relationships with customers.

First, you should know AT&T Office@Hand isn’t a unique phone solution. Instead, the platform uses RingCentral for all its operations, meaning it automatically comes with several of RingCentral’s primary drawbacks. For example:

  • You have limited storage for team messaging and file sharing. Even if you upgrade for ‘unlimited storage,’ messages still get deleted after a certain amount of time
  • You’re limited to a set number of text messages per user per month — no matter how many times you want to upgrade
  • All calls, voicemails, texts, faxes, and call recordings are separated into different inboxes, which makes it hard for team members to follow up quickly

But AT&T Office@Hand has limitations in its own right — especially when it comes to pricing. Although the website lists $10 per user per month as the basic starting point, the fine print explains this is based on a 100-user minimum — and not the average small business size of one to four people. You can’t even use the Office@Hand app on your phone without upgrading to the Standard plan ($27 per user per month with a 100-user minimum). Since there’s no way to see what the program costs for fewer users, you’re forced to contact AT&T for a quote.

Looking to bring your own device to Office@Hand? Although it’s technically possible, it isn’t recommended. Unfortunately, AT&T doesn’t provide help desk support for non-AT&T-purchased equipment. If you try to onboard to Office@Hand with your existing smartphone, you may have to troubleshoot problems alone.

Potentially even if you do purchase new phones to access AT&T’s technical support, you may be disappointed by the level of service you receive. Hundreds of reviews cite poor services and limited support when reaching out.

Just read a few reviews for yourself:

“Customer service is non-existent. Setup was painful. Online account access is horrible, and most of the time doesn’t work. As an admin of the system, I require four different logins just to manage my team. We’ve been on the system for five months, and I have never been able to pay my bill online. Plus, online account management just doesn’t exist.”TrustRadius

“My assigned customer service rep seems to be lacking with follow-up, follow-through, knowledge of the product, and just seems to not care. When I get his boss, I usually get some resolution — but only some — before I’m pushed by her back to him. Believe nothing they say and carve out hours to deal with them on the phone or by email.”TrustRadius

OpenPhone is the best alternative to AT&T Office@Hand for small businesses

OpenPhone web and desktop app

While there are multiple platforms available as alternatives, there’s only one that can help you develop better relationships with your customers.

OpenPhone is trusted by thousands of business owners looking to make communications easier for their teams and customers. We can easily scale alongside your business by working on the devices you’re already using. You can make and take calls with your team anywhere with a WiFi connection and collaborate on conversations in real-time to delight your customers. Since you can automatically push critical data to the tools you already use, you never have to worry about information falling through the cracks.

See why OpenPhone is ranked the #1 business phone solution on G2. Sign up for our seven-day trial to try out OpenPhone for yourself.

5/5 - (2 votes)