Ready to buy a small business phone plan for your company but not sure which one to choose? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all your options, especially if you’ve never purchased a business phone plan.
We’re here to help you make an informed decision. In this guide, we’ve collected eight of the best business phone plans and packages of 2024. We also explain:
- Six key features of a great small business phone plan
- How much you should expect to pay for a phone plan
- The differences between VoIP systems and traditional cell phone carriers
If you’re on the fence about whether to go with a VoIP provider or a traditional cellular carrier, we’d recommend VoIP as the better option for your business. Keep reading to find out why.
The 8 best small business phone plans
These eight business phone plans cover a range of different communication options for your team across different price points. Here’s a high-level overview before we dive into each provider in detail:
The best small business phone plans compared
Provider | Price | Unlimited calling to US & Canada | Unlimited SMS, MMS to US & Canada | Shared phone numbers | Additional phone numbers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OpenPhone | $15 per user per month | ✓ | X | ✓ | $5 per number per month |
Google Voice | $16 per month per user | Unlimited calls to Canada from US only | Unlimited text in US only | Requires upgrade (ring groups only) | X |
RingCentral | $20 per user per month | ✓ | 25 messages per user per month | ✓ | $4.99 per number per month |
Verizon | $30 per month (pricing for five numbers) | ✓ | ✓ | X | Starts at $30 per line per month (with five lines) |
AT&T Business | $40 per user per month (pricing for three numbers) | ✓ | ✓ | X | Varies depending on your plan |
T-Mobile | $25 per month (pricing for six numbers) | ✓ | ✓ | X | Starts at $25 per line per month (with six lines) |
Grasshopper | $14 per month | ✓ | Local numbers only | X | Requires upgrade |
Ooma | $19.95 per user per month | ✓ | Requires upgrade | ✓ | $9.95 per number per month |
Which of these phone plans is right for your business? It depends on how you’d like your team to work together. Scroll down to learn what each of these providers can offer your business.
1. OpenPhone: The best VoIP plan provider for small businesses
Pros
- Unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada
- Shared numbers to split responsibility for incoming calls and texts
- AI features for call transcriptions, summaries, and action items
- Integrations with 5,000+ third-party apps, including HubSpot and Salesforce
- Affordable per-user pricing starting at $15
Cons
- No verification through two-factor authentication*
*Nearly all virtual phone numbers share this problem. Companies like Facebook, Uber, and Google rarely let you authenticate accounts through a virtual phone number.
OpenPhone is a VoIP solution built with small business owners in mind. No specific devices, internet bundles, or data usage plans are needed to get started — all you need is a smartphone (iPhone or Android) and a WiFi connection.
Our small business phone plans start at $15 per user per month and come with free calling and texting to anyone in the US and Canada. You also have the option to call and text from your computer with OpenPhone using your new phone number.
Every new user on your OpenPhone plan comes with a US, Canadian, or toll-free number. If you need any additional numbers beyond that, each number is just $5 per month. That way, you never need to worry about user or number limits and can keep scaling your phone plan as your team grows.
With OpenPhone, you can also create shared numbers. With shared numbers, you can assign multiple users to a single number so they can manage conversations together. All calls, texts, and voice messages with a specific contact are in a single thread, saving you time following up on any conversation.
Speaking of saving time, you can also use OpenPhone to:
- Save templated snippets to quickly answer frequently asked questions.
- Schedule text messages and reach customers at a future time.
- Set up an auto-reply to set expectations with customers regarding when they can hear back from you.
- Integrate with thousands of third-party tools to automate specific touchpoints (such as an appointment confirmation text).
- Use internal threads to assign action items and tag coworkers.
See why OpenPhone is the #1 rated small business phone solution on G2 by starting a seven-day free trial.
OpenPhone key features
- Free calls and texts in the US and Canada
- Local US, Canadian, and North American toll-free numbers
- Shared phone numbers
- Group calling (also known as three-way calling) with warm transfer and hold options
- 5,000+ integrations via Zapier
- Call recordings
- Auto attendants (IVR)
- Voicemail to text
- Texting automations (auto-replies, scheduled messages, and snippets)
- Business hours
- Threads and mentions
OpenPhone pricing
- Starter: $15 per user per month for unlimited calls in the US and Canada, voicemail transcripts, shared phone numbers, and more
- Business: $23 per user per month for phone menus, AI call summaries and transcripts, group calling, and more
- Scale: $35 per user per month for AI call tags, dedicated onboarding, and priority chat and email support
2. Google Voice: Best phone plans for Google Workspace users
Pros
- Unlimited calling and texting in the US
- Offers free numbers
Cons
- Requires a Google Workspace subscription
- Lacks features for team collaboration
- No toll-free numbers
- Difficult to manage contacts
Google Voice is a VoIP service for both personal and business use. Although the personal app is free to use, business owners need to upgrade to a paid plan to access many of the features companies need to serve their customers.
You can use Google Voice to make unlimited calls and texts in the US. However, text messaging is only available to US users. And if your business is located outside the US, you may not be able to purchase Google Voice at all. Google Voice is available in only 14 countries, so if you sell internationally, it might be an obstacle to your growth.
Even if you qualify for Google Voice for Google Workspace, there are additional limitations. For example, toll-free phone numbers aren’t available, and you can’t port them in if you have a pre-existing number. You must also have an active Google Workspace subscription (starting at $6 per user per month) before you have the option to get Google Voice for business. Plus, Google Voice only integrates with other Google apps, like Calendar, Gmail, or Chat.
If you’re already using other platforms and want to connect them to your phone system, you may want to look for a Google Voice alternative.
Google Voice key features
- Call forwarding
- Android and iOS apps
- Unlimited calls in the US and Canada
- Unlimited texts in the US
- Integrations with Google Workspace apps
Google Voice pricing
- Starter: $10 per user per month (max 10 users) for calls in the US and Canada, call forwarding, voicemail transcriptions, and more
- Standard: $20 per user per month for multi-level auto-attendants, ring groups, and ad-hoc call recording
- Premier: $30 per user per month for automatic call recording and advanced reporting
Keep in mind every Google Voice plan requires a Google Workspace subscription, which means you’re paying a minimum of $16 per user per month.
3. RingCentral: Best plans for desk phone rental options
Pros
- Low-cost desk phone rentals
Cons
- Limits on SMS
- Limits on toll-free numbers
- No true unlimited storage option
RingCentral is a digital unified communications platform, meaning it combines calls, texts, and video tools into a single plan. If you need additional landlines for your office, you can also rent out old-school desk phones.
With RingCentral’s small business suite (also called RingEX), you get one local or toll-free number and unlimited calls in the US and Canada. However, you’re limited to just 25 texts per month, 100 pooled toll-free minutes, and limited RingCentral call recording storage unless you upgrade to a more expensive plan.
Limited storage can be a major issue for your business, especially if you don’t want conversations to fall through the cracks. But even if you upgrade to RingCentral’s Ultra pricing plan, you still technically won’t have unlimited storage — there are still time-based deletion policies that take effect after 90 to 180 days.
Fortunately, this is an exception rather than the rule. Most VoIP phone providers, including OpenPhone, offer unlimited storage on every plan.
RingCentral key features
- Team messaging
- Local or toll-free numbers
- SMS and MMS support
- Voicemail to text
- Document sharing
RingCentral pricing
- Core: $20 per user per month for unlimited domestic calling, SMS and MMS, visual voicemail, and more
- Advanced: $25 per user per month for unlimited internet fax, automatic call recording, and CRM integrations (think Salesforce and HubSpot)
- Ultra: $35 per user per month for unlimited storage, unlimited AI video meetings, and custom analytics and alerts
4. Verizon: Best for cellular plans
Pros
- Unlimited calls and texts in the US and Canada
Cons
- No shared numbers
- No third-party integrations
- No auto-replies, scheduled messages, or snippets
Verizon Business Unlimited is a traditional business phone plan that bundles with existing Verizon services (like broadband internet). You can bring your own device to shave a few hundred dollars off your plan, but you should know not every device is compatible with Verizon’s network. If you don’t have a make or model that meets Verizon’s criteria, you may need to purchase a tablet, desk phone, or mobile device straight from the company.
Every Verizon Business Unlimited plan comes with unlimited texts, calls, and data use in the US, Canada, and Mexico. However, if more than 50% of your phone plan usage is in Canada or Mexico during a 60-day period, Verizon may limit or remove your service to those countries completely.
Verizon Business Unlimited doesn’t come with VoIP functionality. Meaning:
- You won’t be able to work from a dedicated desktop app
- You can’t integrate with the tools you’re already using
- You can’t make and take calls or text messages with an internet connection
Plus, Verizon Business Unlimited only makes sense if you need individual phone numbers for your team. You can’t create shared numbers at all or access conversations they’re having with customers. If you manage a customer support team or a large contact center, Verizon Business Unlimited could prevent your team from building better relationships with customers.
Business Unlimited isn’t Verizon’s only phone plan for business customers. You can also access an add-on VoIP service called One Talk, which works on mobile phones, native devices, and desktop computers.
With the Verizon One Talk app, you can access VoIP calling features like simultaneous ring, group calling, and business hours. That’s about it. You won’t find texting features like auto-replies and snippets or third-party integrations with your CRM.
There are a few other limitations of Verizon One Talk:
- You have to buy a compatible device if your current phone or desktop doesn’t support the system
- One Talk’s features vary between native devices (smartphones and desk phones with built-in access to One Talk) and the mobile app (devices you’re already using)
- You can’t have all of One Talk’s features unless you own both an Android and iOS device
Verizon key features
- Unlimited texting, calling, and data use
- Access to Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G network
- Unlimited mobile hotspot data
- Call filters with spam blockers
- Available on smartphones and compatible tablets
Verizon pricing
- Start 5G: $30 per number per month for access to unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data, unlimited talk and text, and call filtering
- Plus 5G: $40 per number per month for access to 100GB premium smartphone data per line per month and security features like Mobile Device Management
- Pro 5G: $45 per number per month for access to unlimited premium network access and video streaming up to 4K.
One Talk is a paid add-on that costs $15 per number per month in addition to these plans. Curious to learn more about Verizon One Talk? Check out our guides to Verizon One Talk alternatives and Verizon One Talk pricing and plans.
5. AT&T Business: Best for large enterprise teams with physical offices
Pros
- Unlimited calls and texts in the US and Canada
Cons
- No shared numbers
- No third-party integrations
- No auto-replies, scheduled messages, or snippets
AT&T offers two company phone plans: Unlimited Your Way for Business and Office@Hand.
Unlimited Your Way for Business plans offer a digital phone solution accessible from new and existing smartphones. The base plan unlocks unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data, as well as unlimited calls to Canada, Mexico, and the US.
But with Unlimited Your Way for Business, users have complained that costs and fees rack up quickly. They also complain that customer service is slow to respond — neither of which is ideal in small business settings.
If you want a digital phone solution that works on business mobile devices, AT&T also has Office@Hand — an enterprise cloud-based system with calling, texting, and video tools. This solution was built on top of RingCentral, which we’ve already covered here. However, AT&T provides far fewer tools than the platform on which it’s based.
The biggest deal breaker for small businesses: it’s expensive. Pricing starts at $34.19 per user per month, which is a far cry from premium pricing offered by most VoIP phone systems.
Unfortunately, Office@Hand isn’t highly reviewed. Past users say the platform was hard to set up and tough to navigate intuitively. Plus, all calls and messages live in separate inboxes, which can make it more difficult to follow up with your customers.
AT&T Business key features
AT&T’s business phone plans come with different key features:
Phone for Business
- Unlimited talk and text
- High-speed data
- 5GB of hotspot data per line
- Unlimited international text (in 200 countries)
Office@Hand
- Call routing
- Multi-level IVR
- Analytics portal
- Single sign-on (SSO)
AT&T Business pricing
AT&T Business provides variable pricing depending on the number of lines you need. For a team of three people, here are the prices they offer:
- Unlimited Standard: $40 per month per line for unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data, 5GB of hotspot data per line, and unlimited text from the US to 200+ countries
- Unlimited Advanced: $45 per month per line for access to 100GB of hotspot data per line and 1080p video streaming
- Unlimited Premium: $55 per month per line for access to 200GB of hotspot data per line, HD and 4K UHD video streaming, and unlimited talk, text, and high-speed data in 20 Latin American countries
Office@Hand comes with three different plans:
- Standard: $34.19 per user per month for access to unlimited calling and SMS, 1000 toll-free minutes per month, and more
- Premium: $47.48 per user per month for access to automatic call recording, third-party integrations, up to 200 video meeting participants, and more
- Enterprise: Custom pricing to access everything in Premium, plus additional toll-free minutes
6. T-Mobile: Best for large contact centers
Pros
- Both VoIP and cellular offerings are available
Cons
- Key features like Slack and Zapier integrations and auto-replies are locked behind more expensive tiers
- More expensive tiers require user minimums
T-Mobile is a traditional service carrier offering VoIP and cellular support. The cellular plan, called Business Unlimited, comes with unlimited talk and text, hotspot data, 5G and 4G LTE data, and international texting and data.
T-Mobile also partnered with Dialpad to provide VoIP service on top of their cell plans. Each plan comes with calling and texting features, as well as Dialpad’s tools like video streaming, business texting, and conference calling. Just keep in mind you won’t have a different experience using Dialpad through T-Mobile — it’s simply an easier way for existing T-Mobile customers to use a Dialpad account.
There are several Dialpad cons to consider. For example, Dialpad locks its key features (including Slack and Zapier integrations) behind more expensive tiers. To access those tiers, you need a minimum of three users, which could make your upgrade cost more than you might expect.
Bottom line: T-Mobile’s small business phone plans may offer both cellular functionality and VoIP tools, but with limited features and a user minimum, it may not offer the best bang for your buck.
T-Mobile key features
- Unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data
- Unlimited talk and texting in the US, Canada, and Mexico
- Unlimited data for mobile hotspots
- Bring Your Own Device support
- International call and text support
T-Mobile pricing
T-Mobile’s prices depend on the number of lines on your plan. The best prices start at six lines per month. If you need 12 lines or more, you’ll need to speak with the sales team.
Here’s what T-Mobile’s Business prices look like if you’re paying for six lines per month:
- Business Unlimited Select: $25 per number per month ($60 per line per month for one line with AutoPay) for 50 GB of premium data, 5 GB of high-speed hotspot data, and advanced caller ID
- Business Unlimited Advanced: $30 per number per month ($70 per line per month for one line with AutoPay) for 100 GB of premium data, 50 GB of high-speed hotspot data, and WiFi on airlines
- Business Unlimited Ultimate: $40 per number per month ($85 per line per month for one line with AutoPay) for unlimited premium data, 100 GB of high-speed hotspot data, and voicemail to text
- Business Unlimited Edge: $45 per number per month ($90 per line per month for one line with AutoPay) for unlimited premium data, 200 GB of high-speed hotspot data, Scam Shield Premium, and more
Want to pair your plan with T-Mobile’s VoIP services? You’ll pay $15 per line per month on top of your Business Unlimited plan (a minimum of $165 per month for six lines).
7. Grasshopper: Best for VoIP multi-digit extensions
Pros
- Unlimited calls and texts in the US and Canada
Cons
- No shared numbers
- No Slack, Zapier, or CRM integrations
- No call recording, call summaries, or transcripts
Grasshopper is a virtual phone provider developed in 2003 designed to route calls through your existing device. Each plan comes with at least one multi-digit extension so you can forward incoming calls to different numbers.
Unfortunately, Grasshopper’s basic features aren’t enough to sustain a fast-growing small business. Since you can’t work together from a shared inbox, it can be tough to get up to speed on conversations your coworkers are having with customers. If you need help with a customer response, you can’t tag your team members either; you’ll have to juggle multiple apps to coordinate with your team.
Plus, Grasshopper doesn’t integrate with any third-party apps. No matter how much you pay, you can’t build custom workflows or automate specific touchpoints.
Trying to keep your team on the same page? Be prepared for roadblocks. You won’t have access to collaborative features like internal threads, call recording, or AI call summaries.
Grasshopper key features
- Call forwarding
- Virtual faxing
- Instant response (auto-replies)
- Virtual receptionist
- Professional greetings
Grasshopper pricing
- True Solo: $14 per month for one user, one phone number, and one extension
- Solo Plus: $25 per month for unlimited users, one number, and three extensions
- Small business: $55 per month for unlimited users, four numbers, and unlimited extensions
*Additional numbers cost $9 per month.
8. Ooma: Best for legacy features like analog fax and overhead paging
Pros
- Unlimited calls and texts in the US and Canada
- Analog fax, overhead paging, and desk phone rentals are available
Cons
- Limited SMS features
- Desktop app calling features require an upgrade
- CRM integrations are only available on the most expensive plan
Ooma is a legacy phone platform that serves residential and business customers. It’s primarily targeted at physical offices that need old-school features such as analog faxing and overhead paging.
You can use Ooma’s virtual phone service to make or take calls on desk phones and mobile devices. However, you need to upgrade to unlock calling on your computer as well as access to basic features like texting, call recording, and the desktop app. Need to connect with third-party tools? CRM integrations are only available on their most expensive plan ($29.95 per user per month).
Upgrading plans for Ooma’s key business features may come with unnecessary add-ons. For example, spending extra for business texting also unlocks user leaderboards, which might not make sense for your team. Plus, upgrading to CRM integrations also comes with hot desking, which only applies if you’re currently using desk phones.
Ooma key features
- Call forwarding
- Ring groups
- Music on hold
- Virtual fax
- Extension dialing (for desk phones)
Ooma pricing
Ooma pricing
- Essentials: $19.95 per user per month for ring groups, virtual receptionists, email audio attachments, and more
- Pro: $24.95 per user per month for video conferencing, SMS support, the desktop app (with calling enabled), caller ID, and more
- Pro Plus: $29.95 per user per month for call queuing, hotdesking, HubSpot integration, and more
6 key features to look for with a small business phone plan
Not all small business phone systems are created equal. Some seem relatively advanced on the surface, but a closer look may show you a different picture.
You should look for these six key features in every phone system you consider:
- Shared numbers: With shared numbers, anyone with access to the number can answer calls, make text messages, and respond to customers at the same time (and from any device). You don’t have to carry your phone all day and can rest easy knowing your customers always have a point of contact.
- Automated texting: Third-party integrations aren’t the only automations you need in a small business phone plan. You should also be able to automate your SMS and MMS messages with time-saving tools such as auto-replies, scheduled texts, and snippets.
- Call recording, summaries, and transcriptions: Call recordings can help teams follow up on customer requests. You can also coach your team by reviewing calls using call summaries and transcripts, generated in seconds with AI.
- Third-party integrations: Customer conversations shouldn’t happen in a silo, so you should prioritize phone platforms that integrate with your CRM. Plus, tools like Slack, HubSpot, and Salesforce let you stay connected with your team and automate repetitive tasks.
- Internal threads: Collaborative features are a must in a small business phone system. Look for solutions offering internal threads, tagging, and mentions.
- Multi-device access: Small business phones should be accessible on any device from anywhere. That’s why you should prioritize plans that offer desktop,mobile, and web apps.
OpenPhone: The only small business phone plan you need
Picking the right small business phone plan can unlock your ability to build stronger relationships with your customers. And if you want your team to bring their own device, work together with shared numbers, or work from any computer or smartphone, OpenPhone is a sure bet. You can port your existing number for free and start calling customers within minutes of getting set up. Plus, you don’t have to guesstimate your monthly costs — everything you need to know is on our pricing page.
Don’t just take our word for it, though. Carry, a same-day delivery service based in New York, used to write manual text messages to every customer regarding their order status. Using their traditional service provider, Carry racked up a $935 bill — and still lacked the tools they needed to scale.
Carry’s co-founder and COO Jason Ovryn needed a better solution. After switching to OpenPhone and creating shared numbers and automation workflows, his entire team now saves over two hours per day.
OpenPhone is a small business phone system built to grow as you do. Sign up for a free trial and get going in 10 minutes or less.
FAQs
VoIP systems and traditional carrier plans are as different as night and day. Here are some of the more important ones to keep in mind:
VoIP systems offer shared numbers, while carrier plans don’t. You and your team can make calls and send messages from the same number, simultaneously. Carrier plans offer different numbers to each user, which siloes your customer conversations.
VoIP systems offer advanced messaging features like auto-replies, scheduled messages, and automated text flows. Traditional carrier plans offer SMS and MMS messaging, but no other advanced messaging features.
You can use a VoIP system on any device — a laptop, iPad or your phone. Traditional carrier plans offer desk phones or basic softphone apps, but that’s it.
Finally, VoIP systems offer dozens of modern communication features that you just won’t find in a traditional carrier plan, including third-party integrations, automatic call recording, AI call summaries and transcriptions, and collaborative features like internal threads.
A starting plan for VoIP phone systems costs as low as $15 to $25 per user per month. For VoIP phone solutions that include CRM integrations, you can expect to pay between $25 to $50 per user per month.
If you want a cellular phone plan for your business, you’ll pay more:y $35-$50 per number per month.
Older phone solutions, such as on-premises PBX systems, can cost up to $1,000 per user. Analog PBX phone systems can be up to $2,000 for a two-line desk phone setup.
Check out our article to learn more about business phone system costs.
For remote teams, small businesses should choose a business cellphone plan with wide coverage, unlimited communication, and remote work features like shared numbers and tool integrations.
Here are some tips to determine the best business phone contract for your company’s needs:
• Monthly vs annual pricing: Prioritize providers that offer a monthly plan for their business phone solution. This gives you the flexibility to try out a solution before signing an annual contract with them.
• Per user pricing: Some providers only offer monthly pricing for a batch of numbers while others offer per user. Make sure to go with per user pricing so you only pay for the numbers you need.
• Shared numbers: Providers that offer shared numbers give you more flexibility with how you use each of your numbers. You aren’t limited by individual numbers allocated to each member of your team.