Do you use a Mac to manage your business? With the right VoIP softphone, you can also use it to manage your business communications.
Softphones for Macs let you turn your computer into a landline so you can keep up with conversations without feeling glued to your phone. You can make and receive calls, send text messages, and click-to-call contacts directly from your CRM.
Let’s take a closer look at VoIP softphones, including 10 of the world’s best softphone apps for macOS.
What is a VoIP softphone?
VoIP softphones, sometimes referred to as cloud telephony, are software telephones that allow users to make phone calls and text via the internet. They’re cheaper than traditional business phone systems and compatible with third-party apps.
Softphones are the perfect solution for small business owners who need to text and call customers without spending a fortune. They allow you to access a full communication suite without purchasing hardware or expensive add-ons.
Comparing the best softphones for Mac
How do the best software providers for Mac compare?
We broke it down in this comprehensive chart:
| Provider | Starting price | Unlimited calling to US & Canada | SMS/MMS to US & Canada | Shared phone numbers | Additional phone numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenPhone | $15 per user per month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $5 per number per month |
| Bria | $2.95 per user per month | ✓ | Requires upgrade | X | X |
| Zoiper | Starts with a free plan | Requires upgrade | Requires upgrade | Requires a VoIP provider or PBX | Requires a VoIP provider or PBX |
| Linphone | Contact for a quote | Requires upgrade | Requires upgrade | Requires upgrade | Requires upgrade |
| GoTo Connect | Contact for a quote | X | Only available in the US & Canada | Requires upgrade | Contact for a quote |
| RingCentral | $20 per user per month | ✓ (limited toll-free minutes) | 25 messages per user per month | ✓ | $4.99 per number per month |
| Telephone | Starts with a free plan | ✓ | X | X | X |
| CloudTalk | $25 per user per month | US & Canadian customers only | Requires upgrade | Ring groups only | $6 per number per month |
| Phone.com | $12.74 per user per month | Requires upgrade | Requires upgrade | X | $4.99 per number per month |
| 8X8 | Contact for a quote | ✓ | X | ✓ | Contact for a quote |
Top 10 softphone VoIP services for Mac
Choosing the right VoIP phone service for your Mac is no easy task, but we’re here to make it easier. These softphone apps work great on Apple products, although many are also compatible with Microsoft Windows and Android products (and yes, sometimes Linux).
1. OpenPhone: Best for growing businesses
Pros
- Unlimited calls in the US and Canada
- Integrations with more than 7,000 third-party apps like Salesforce and HubSpot
- Transparent international calling and texting rates
- Manual and automatic call recording
- Shared numbers
Cons
- No verification through two-factor authentication*
*Nearly all virtual phone numbers share this problem. For safety reasons, companies like Facebook, Uber, and Google rarely let you authenticate accounts through a virtual phone number.
With OpenPhone, you can call and text anyone in the US or Canada for free. This means you won’t have to pay extra to reach customers in North America.
You can also set up a shared number so your team can manage conversations from anywhere. Rest easy knowing your calls won’t fall through the cracks and customers get their issues resolved quickly.
There are three reasons OpenPhone customers voted us the #1 business phone solution on G2:
- Easily scale based on your needs: OpenPhone offers flexible and transparent pricing that lets you easily add team members as your business scales, and upgrade when you require additional features.
- Work from almost anywhere: OpenPhone is available on your desktop, browser, and smartphone. We make it easy to manage business phone calls on any device with instant messaging, call recording, and shared phone numbers.
- Save time: OpenPhone integrates with over 7,000 of the world’s most-used business apps via Zapier, along with direct integrations to Gmail, Slack, and HubSpot.
OpenPhone is the best business phone system offering compatibility with your Mac. See for yourself by signing up for a free seven-day trial.
Key features of OpenPhone
- Shared numbers
- Phone menus
- Group calling
- Call recording
- Salesforce integration
- Texting tools (snippets, scheduling, auto-replies)
- AI features (message responses, call summaries, contact suggestions)
OpenPhone pricing
- Starter: $15 per user per month for voicemail transcriptions, shared phone numbers, unlimited calls and texts in the US and Canada, one new local or toll-free number per user, and more
- Business: $23 per user per month for call transferring, CRM integrations (Salesforce and HubSpot), analytics, auto-attendant (IVR), and more
- Enterprise: Get a custom price for audit logs, priority support, a dedicated account manager, and more
How to get an OpenPhone number in three steps
Getting a new phone number from almost anywhere in the world is a simple process when you choose OpenPhone as your softphone provider. Follow these three steps:
- Create an account with OpenPhone (when you sign up, you get a free, seven-day trial).
- During signup, choose your city or area code in the US to select your preferred phone number.
- Once the signup process is complete, you’re all set to use your new virtual phone number!
2. Bria: Best for teams that need minimal features
Pros
- Free plan for personal use
Cons
- No shared numbers
- No toll-free numbers
Bria by CounterPath is a legacy software service designed to transition businesses from a PBX to a VoIP phone system.
Bria is compatible with desktop, tablet, and mobile devices, which can be helpful for teams using multiple devices to communicate with customers. However, this product isn’t the most intuitive or up-to-date — many reviewers cite problems with speed and performance.
Bria offers basic softphone features, including:
- Call forwarding
- Call history
- Call transfer
But if you want any features beyond the basics — including SMS messaging and video conferencing — you’ll need to upgrade to the Bria Teams plan (which costs $4.95 per user per month). You can’t even access analytics without upgrading, which is a standard feature of other softphone providers.
The biggest limitation is no shared numbers, which can be a problem for teams needing multiple reps to text and call customers from the same phone number.
But if you’re content to stay with a limited softphone program, Bria may be a decent fit.
Key features of Bria
- Call transfer
- Call blocking
- Call recording
- Click-to-dial
- HD audio and video
Bria pricing
- Bria Solo: $2.95 per user per month for standard audio and video, call recording, third-party integrations, and up to three supported devices
- Bria Teams: $4.95 per user per month for team voice and video services, text messaging, file transfers, and up to three supported devices
- Bria Business: Contact sales for remote SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) call control, active directories, priority support, and up to four supported devices
3. Zoiper: Best for private branch exchange (PBX) systems
Pros
- Click-to-dial CRM integration
- Compatible with most PBX phone systems
Cons
- Clunky and outdated interface
Zoiper is a softphone for Mac designed to connect your CRM to your softphone system. You can use this platform to forward business calls, sync up with your Mac’s Contacts, and tap into white-label customization tools so you can use your logo and brand name instead of Zoiper’s.
Compatible with many PBX systems, you can use Zoiper to make calls or texts from your on-premise phone system.
One of Zoiper’s biggest claims to fame is its TLS (Transport Layer Security) for incoming calls, texts, and videos. It’s also written in old-school C/C++ and Assembly to reduce memory and CPU usage, which can be helpful when using click-to-dial in your CRM.
However, Zoiper lacks the bare necessities for building better customer relationships. You won’t have access to automation tools, for example, which means you can’t set up auto-replies that respond to customers outside of business hours.
Zoiper also won’t provide you with a VoIP phone number, so you can’t get started unless you port an existing number. When you consider its complex configuration and clunky, outdated interface, Zoiper may not be the best option for reaching customers through your Mac.
Key features of Zoiper
- Voice calls (up to two simultaneously)
- Call forwarding
- Auto-answer
- Call recordings
- Voicemail
- SMS
Zoiper pricing
Zoiper has two plans: a free softphone for personal use and a paid softphone for business use.
The business plan, Zoiper 5 PRO, requires a one-time fee of $49.95 per user (for one to 99 users). If you have 100 or more users to onboard, you may be eligible for a volume discount.
4. Linphone: Best for businesses seeking open-source software
Pros
- Share different types of content, like video and audio files, documents, pictures, and more
Cons
- Support requires upgrade
- Interface appears outdated
Linphone is a softphone provider that works with preexisting SIPs or its proprietary SIP service. macOS desktops and laptops are compatible with Linphone, and you’ll see instructions about the installation process on their website.
Among other things, Linphone provides:
- Group chats
- File sharing
- Video calls
Linphone allows you to set up advanced push notifications that instantly notify you of incoming text messages and calls (even if you’re not using the Linphone app). Frequently make calls during late nights or early mornings? Use Linphone’s dark mode to reduce eye strain working after hours.
The open-source version of Linphone is free, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t limitations to consider. Some users report slow customer service and an outdated interface. You also have to upgrade for better customer support — which is not ideal for fast-moving business owners.
If you’re seeking a softphone for business that helps to modernize your workflow, Linphone may not be the right fit for you.
Key features of Linphone
- Voice and video calls
- Instant messages
- Push notifications
- Dark mode
- File sharing
- Free open-source license
- Works via web browsers
Linphone pricing
Linphone’s open-source application is free, but you need a proprietary license for closed-source applications for commercial use.
Closed-source pricing is a one-time fee that comes with six months of onboarding support. You can also purchase separate add-ons for technical assistance, branding support, and Flexisip installation.
Just keep in mind you won’t find Linphone’s pricing online. You’ll have to contact their sales department for a quote.
5. GoTo Connect: Best for contact centers
Pros
- 50+ countries for international calling
Cons
- No transparent pricing
- Texting is only available in the US and Canada
GoTo Connect is a cloud-based PBX system, meaning you have the option to connect desk phones if you choose. Their platform also lets you call or text more than 50 countries and integrates with tools like Salesforce and Zendesk so you don’t have to switch between platforms or spend time on administrative tasks.
Although GoTo Connect is fairly comprehensive, several limitations could be deal breakers for your business:
- You can only use texting features if you’re based in the US and Canada. This could be a major issue if you have lots of customers outside North America.
- GoTo Connect comes with limited toll-free minutes — just 1,000 pooled minutes if you’re paying for the base plan.
- You’ll only have 80 SMS credits per seat per month without upgrading. Because of this, some users say they felt forced to upgrade before they were ready.
The most frustrating limitation? GoTo Connect’s prices aren’t available online. You won’t know the cost of their system or be able to try their product unless you contact sales for a quote.
Key features of GoTo Connect
- Auto attendants
- Customizable hours
- Voicemail to email
- Custom greetings
- International calls
GoTo Connect pricing
As mentioned earlier, GoTo Connect’s pricing plans aren’t publicly available. The only way to get a quote is to contact their sales team.
6. RingCentral: Best for desk phone rental options
Pros
- Unlimited calls to the US and Canada
- Google and Microsoft integrations
Cons
- Texting is limited to 25 texts per month
RingCentral is one of the oldest VoIP softphone providers on this list. They’re best known for their desk phone rental options, which are ideal for businesses still using legacy systems.
The minimum requirements for running RingCentral on a Mac are:
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later
- 8 GB of RAM
- 4-core processor
- A minimum clock speed of 2.3 GHz per core
RingCentral does offer some business functionality, from document sharing to voicemail transcriptions. However, it costs more than RingCentral alternatives — and many of their best features (like call recordings) are only stored for a limited time unless you upgrade to their higher-tier plans.
Plus, the base RingCentral plan is extremely limited, even for smaller businesses. You’ll have just 25 texts and 100 toll-free minutes per user per month, which isn’t ideal as your business grows.
Key features of RingCentral
- SMS and MMS (25 texts per month per user)
- Video conferencing
- CRM integrations (requires upgrade)
- Visual voicemail
- AI meeting transcriptions
RingCentral pricing
- Core: $20 per user per month for API access, IVR phone menus, visual voicemail, and more
- Advanced: $25 per user per month for call monitoring, unlimited internet fax, automatic call recordings, and more
- Ultra: $35 per user per month for device analytics, unlimited storage for files and recordings, and more
7. Telephone: Best for solopreneurs
Pros
- Call transfers
- Put callers on hold
Cons
- Limited features for business
Telephone is a softphone program that allows you to make calls through any laptop supported by a SIP provider. Telephone Pro, its paid subscription plan, unlocks additional features such as your full conversation history with a customer and up to 30 simultaneous calls.
The base Telephone app is completely free (with paid upgrades available). Unfortunately, it doesn’t offer anything special — not even a secondary phone number you can use on your mobile device.
If you’re looking for softphone capabilities for a one-off project, the Telephone app might facilitate that for you. But if you’re looking to scale your business or split responsibilities with your team, you won’t have many features to delight your customers.
Key features of Telephone
- Auto-complete contacts
- Call history (requires paid plan)
- Call transfers
- Call waiting
- Click-to-call
Telephone pricing
Telephone for personal use is 100% free.
Telephone Pro, the paid subscription, costs $2.99 per month (or $29.99 per year).
8. CloudTalk: Best for non-US and Canadian numbers
Pros
- Offers local numbers in over 160 countries
- Supports ring groups
Cons
- Advanced support requires an upgrade
CloudTalk is a VoIP system designed for customer service and sales teams. It’s also a great fit for international numbers — you can purchase local phone numbers in more than 160 countries.
With CloudTalk, you can use advanced real-time analytics to check your support rep’s performance and spot opportunities to help them improve. You can also tap into its skill-based routing feature, which lets you transfer customers to the rep that will solve their issues the fastest.
Unfortunately, CloudTalk also comes with several limitations. For example:
- Each plan comes with user minimums. For example, you can’t upgrade to the Expert plan without paying for at least three licenses.
- You won’t have access to SMS and MMS without upgrading. Most softphones for Mac offer these features on their base plan.
- AI features like sentiment analysis and automatic summaries require a separate add-on, which costs $19 per user per month.
Keep in mind that better customer support requires a more expensive plan. If you want phone support, live agents, or priority support, be prepared to spend up to $50 per user per month (or more).
Key features of CloudTalk
- International numbers
- Call recording
- Advanced real-time analytics
- Automatic call distribution
- Skill-based routing
CloudTalk pricing
- Starter: $25 per user per month for one month of recordings storage, call recording, international numbers, and more (one-user minimum)
- Essential: $30 per user per month for real-time analytics, third-party integrations, IVR, global SMS and MMS, workflow automations, and more (one-user minimum)
- Expert: $50 per user per month for the WhatsApp integration, 24/7 live agent support, mandatory call tagging, live call monitoring, and more (three-user minimum)
- Custom: Custom price for unlimited worldwide call packages, developer support, custom reporting, and more (10-user minimum)
Want a deeper dive? Check out our full guide to CloudTalk pricing and plans.
9. Phone.com: Best for HIPAA-compliant call centers
Pros
- 24/7 customer support
- All plans offer call routing
Cons
- Integrations require an upgrade
Phone.com is an older HIPAA-compliant softphone for Mac offering 50+ features to larger call centers. Each plan comes with call routing, call forwarding, and click-to-call. There’s also a call log feature that lets you track incoming, outgoing, and missed calls so you can easily identify customer patterns.
There’s also a built-in call blocker available through Phone.com, which allows you to block callers while on a call or after a call has ended. This prevents disruptive customers from repeatedly calling your business, ensuring you provide the highest-quality service without unnecessary distractions.
All that said, Phone.com wasn’t built for growing businesses — and scaling your softphone could get expensive fast. For example, you can’t purchase additional numbers without upgrading, and you’ll only have 500 pooled minutes to share unless you pay for the Plus plan ($18.69 per user per month).
You should also know Phone.com locks most of its basic features behind higher price tiers. Voicemail transcriptions, third-party integrations, and call recording require you to upgrade to the highest tier ($27.19 per user per month).
If you’re a solopreneur not planning on scaling your business, Phone.com could be a decent softphone for your Mac. But if you’re growing a small business serving an increasingly large customer base, Phone.com won’t leave you much room to expand.
Key features of Phone.com
- Call routing
- Call recording (requires add-on or upgrade)
- Voicemail transcriptions (requires upgrade)
- Call forwarding
- Address book
Phone.com pricing
Phone.com’s pricing is on a sliding scale, so the more users you have, the less you pay. Here are the starting prices:
- Basic: $12.74 per user per month for 500 pooled minutes, 10 video conferencing participants, an iOS app, and more
- Plus: $18.69 per user per month for unlimited minutes, voicemail transcriptions, video whiteboards, 25 video conferencing participants, SMS support, and more
- Pro: $27.19 per user per month for unlimited minutes, 100 video conferencing participants, call recording (at no extra cost), third-party integrations, and more
10. 8×8: Best for omnichannel service
Pros
- International calls in 14 countries
Cons
- Texting is available only to US and Canadian customers
- Skills-based routing
8×8 is a VoIP system offering unlimited voice calling to 48 countries. It’s often an attractive solution for international businesses that want to keep costs down while making overseas calls and texts.
There are a few stand-out features worth mentioning here. Hold music, for example, can provide customers with a better on-hold experience. 8×8’s omnichannel service features — including SMS, social media, email, video, and more — can help larger contact centers maintain speed and consistency.
Unfortunately, 8×8 still falls short for most small business owners, especially because its best features are trapped behind more expensive plans. Skills-based routing and call recordings require upgrading to higher-tier plans.
There’s also no public pricing and no free trial for 8×8, which means you can’t test the platform before purchasing a plan first. As a smaller business with limited resources, you shouldn’t have to gamble on whether 8×8 will work for you.
Key features of 8×8
- Team messaging
- Auto-attendants
- Supervisor analytics (requires upgrade)
- Voicemail transcriptions
- International calls in 14 countries
8×8 pricing
8×8’s pricing isn’t publicly listed. Like GoTo Connect, you’ll have to contact their sales team for a customized quote.
How to choose the best VoIP softphones for Mac
Here’s what to keep in mind when selecting a softphone for your Mac.
- Features: What features are a priority for your business? Do team members need to split responsibility for calls? Is call forwarding a priority?
- Budget: Does a platform’s pricing fall within your budget?
- Reliability: Some softphones for Mac have better uptime than others.
- Integrations: Do you need to integrate third-party tools to streamline your workflow?
- Ease of use: Your VoIP provider should be easy to use so your team doesn’t need a lot of time to get up and running smoothly.
- Support: You’re likely to spot a user error or software bug at some point. How quickly can your VoIP provider fix the issue? How easily can you get in touch with support?
OpenPhone is the clear winner in softphones for Mac
While there are many softphone providers on the market today, few can contend against OpenPhone.
Some providers like Telephone don’t have a lot of business features. Others, including RingCentral, are just plain expensive. Still others lack the features small business owners actually need, failing to provide any room for long-term growth.
Alternative: OpenPhone offers features your business needs to run smoothly, offers affordable plans, and helps you build better customer relationships.
Want to make and receive calls directly from your Mac? Try OpenPhone free for seven days.
Here’s how to install a softphone on your Mac, using OpenPhone as an example:
1. Start by downloading the OpenPhone Mac app.
2. Using the Applications menu, open up FaceTime.
3. Select Preferences.
4. Click to open the Default For Calls dropdown menu, then select OpenPhone.
VoIP softphones allow you to make calls from your computer, which can boost your productivity and allow you to work from anywhere. You can place calls in your web browser, send text messages from your desktop app, and split responsibility for incoming calls without your cell phone.
We may be biased, but the best softphone app for Mac is OpenPhone. We make it easy to turn your desktop into a phone line with business-friendly features such as business hours, auto-replies, shared phone numbers, and more.
Yes, you can integrate a Mac softphone into your business’s CRM system. With OpenPhone, you can tap into more than 7,000 third-party integrations with the tools you already use via Zapier. We also have native connections to popular CRMs such as HubSpot and Salesforce.
A softphone is an application that allows you to make or receive calls and texts through your internet connection. This requires you to use a VoIP service provider like OpenPhone.
Some softphones leave out mission-critical business tools such as shared numbers, text messaging, call recording, and more. Thankfully, platforms like OpenPhone offer all this and more on their base plan. We’re compatible with desktop computers, phones, and tablets so you can take your work on the go.
