15 Best Google Voice Alternatives

The telecommunications landscape has drastically changed over the past 20 years, and it may be a bit tough to try to coordinate older systems with new technology. After all, change is challenging, whether it is a personal or a business phone system.

Although Google Voice has been the leader for voice systems replacing land-based lines and old tech, other free or paid alternatives are on the market, providing features better suited for your needs.

Those who aren’t familiar with all the emerging tech may find it daunting to look at alternatives. It is easy to stay in your comfort zone; even if that includes an outdated landline, you just can’t give up.

Hope comes in a comparison of the top systems in the market today. Here is a look at the 15 Best Google Voice alternatives.

Skype

Skype is one of the most recognized alternatives to Google Voice because it has been around for a while. 

It was also one of the first to offer video calling and is available in many countries, making it an excellent option for use with global contacts. 

It is an excellent system to use for personal use as well as business use.

The Skype app allows free online calls for up to 50 people. You can talk by voice or video chat on a range of devices, including mobile, computers, or tables. Skype allows you to record calls and has encryption.

Some other features include:

• Being able to call those not online
• It is highly functional and allows you to react to messages
• It is excellent for sharing a presentation or doing face-to-face interviews

Grasshopper

Small businesses love grasshopper because it has one professional telephone number that can be used on any phone device, whether they are cell phones or landlines. Grasshopper gives you a full spectrum of all your business calls across channels.

It allows you to handle calls on either a mobile app or desktop, and it has a tool that translates voicemail to text so you can read it rather than listen to it. 

It has three tiers of paid plans and doesn’t include international numbers or call recordings, but it does offer unlimited extensions.

Other features include:

• It allows you to record a message to welcome clients
• You can reply with a text message from your office number
• You can send a PDF or fax from your email

Ooma

Ooma is a low-cost paid service that works well with small businesses. That’s because there are no contracts and you can keep your number. Plus, you can work from anywhere with Ooma since it allows international calling and recording. 

It also allows more than 20 extensions.

There are three payment tiers. Even though it is a business cloud system, there isn’t any required software to install or use it. 

It is integrated with a business app and cloud voice.

Some other features include:

• The ability to manage phone calls from your smartphone
•  A toll-free and local number of your choice
• Virtual fax service

Telzio

Telzio costs a little more than some other Google Voice alternatives, but the rate is a flat monthly rate rather than a tiered rate. It is perfect for those who have low call volume and want to pay for minutes rather than users.

This simple phone service for businesses assists in call transfers and is considered one of the best Google Voice alternatives because it shows live call data that allows you to track real-time call center activity. 

Some of its features include:

• The ability to set up queues for incoming calls 
• The ability to set up a dedicated conference line easily
• Voice mails are converted to text
• Phone options for both office and remote workers

GoToConnect

Those who want a low-cost alternative that includes video calling will find what they are looking for in GoToConnect. This service is available through a purpose-built cloud that uses proprietary technology. 

This option is right for those who want to focus on video and work well for those utilizing webinars. 

Some of its features include:

• Computer mode and cloud recording making it easy to hold video meetings at any time in any place. 
• Free trial option

Nextiva

This VoIP provider is good for both small and large companies. Companies can use the cloud contact center for both inbound and outbound calling. 

A couple of excellent features with this system include presenting you with the customer’s information when they call and tools that get automatic client feedback. 

Some other features include:

• Tools to manage all your communication from a central system.
• The ability to track your customers’ interactions with your business.

Ring Central

Ring Central is in a league of its own because it is one of the most recognized and largest VoIP systems globally. 

Several different cost packages are available to fit a variety businesses, but this system is designed for the established business.

RingCentral has integrations with all the big tech software applications like Microsoft and Google ad CRM platforms. It also has hardware options. RingCentral also has Glip, a competitor to Zoom. 

There is a free tier that offers a 24-hour time for a meeting for up to 100 people.

Some of its features include:

• Voice, SMC, fax, and HD meetings
• Group Calling, call queue, and auto attendant
• Easy setup and scalability

ConXhub

ConXhub is incredibly user-friendly for a business phone system. It is one of the more advanced technologies as it allows people to create different numbers and profiles for departments.

Some of its features include:

• High-quality HD calls are better than many other systems
• The ability to forward calls to both VoIP, landlines, or cell phones around the world
• A local, toll-free, or international number is included from any country of your choice

YouMail

This virtual phone service provider is a superb choice for those who work from home, independent contractors, or who started a business. 

The core feature of this service is you can block both custom calls and automatically block robocalls.

Some other features include:

• Customized voicemail greetings
• Visual voicemail
• A second phone number to protect privacy
• Automatic replies to missed calls
• It has the ability for you to make a conference call

Aircall

Aircall is high on the list of competitors to Google Voice because it is an all-in-one app with Cloud Telephone Integrations (CTI) that includes CRM and Helpdesk software. 

That means it works well with most computer systems and has a way for you and employees to address any issues with customers or employees using the system.

This phone system and call center is cloud-based and is a free alternative that allows you to create numbers globally in more than 100 countries. That makes it a great choice for someone trying to grow their business internationally.

Aircall has built up a solid reputation for quality calls, putting it in the top ranks for business phone systems. That is especially true when comparing it to Google Voice.

It also has other features that help gather and share important information that allows you and your team better meet customers’ needs.

Some of its other features include:

• A graphical view of those on the call.
• A smart director that moves callers to the correct team.
• Call conferencing
• Sharable team content
• Customized calling schedules

Jive

Jive is extraordinary in effectiveness as it serves callers with an automated answering system that prompts and routes calls. Effective answering and routing calls is a proven way to keep customers happy and increase business.

It is one alternative that allows monitoring of every call coming in or going out of the system. That means you can see what is happening to every call and ensure all customers are getting responses.

This is an excellent system for small to medium businesses with several employees in different departments and multiple extensions.

Some of its other features include:

• Dialed extensions using employee’s name
• Configuration of time-based call routing
• A tool where you can monitor calls on any extension
• Ability to host larger conference calls of more than ten people
• Call distribution by call times and durations

OpenPhone

OpenPhone is popular with businesses because it weeds out spam calls. That allows you to showcase your business number publicly on social media and websites. 

No one wants to waste their time dealing with robocalls when they have important business or personal tasks to do.

However, this system has many more features than blocking spam calls. OpenPhone can show you whether the call is a business or personal call, making it so much easier to answer each call with the appropriate greeting.

It also allows you to text through the app from your business phone. That keeps your personal number separated from your business, allowing for more privacy.

Some of the other features include:

• Setting your business hours where you don’t get calls after hours
• The ability to have five local phone numbers
• You can port your current number from any carrier

Monster VoIP

Monster VoIP is another free app that is a solid choice as an alternative to Google Voice because it can be used for either small business or personal use. 

One of the best features of this system is that it is incredibly adaptable. You won’t need to change your number, your computer system, or your mobile devices.

The fact that it’s easy to implement and use makes it an excellent choice for a Google Voice alternative.

 Monster VoIP allows you to easily port your current phone number to the app, and you can use Apple IOS, Windows desktop, Android, or macOS to make and receive calls. 

Other features include:

• Personalized setup
• Complete 24/7 support

Mitel

Mitel is one of the more advanced software systems that make for a great Google Voice alternative. This all-in-one system offers notifications, alerts, invitations, and advanced customer analytics. 

This makes Mitel a great choice for someone who is constantly on the move between clients and needs to know how customers respond to their communications. 

Those using Mitel won’t miss an important call with the alerts and notifications available in this system.

This system also has features including:

• Audio conferencing
• Automatic call routing to specific extensions
• Incoming call identification
• Automatic on-screen display of caller’s account information.

Iplum

The neat core feature of Iplum is the ability to add a virtual receptionist. This one added feature adds a sense of professionalism for yourself or your business without adding the extra cost of staffing.

 It is a feature many don’t offer in their alternative voice systems, making it a plum feature in this system.

Iplum has data encryption built-in, so there is plenty of security for you and your customers.

This system also allows you to create many extensions, so it is one voice alternative that will grow with your company and won’t limit you.

One of the more unusual features is that you can port both landline and cell numbers to the software. 

This means you don’t have to completely change out everything at once and allows you to keep phones that you are comfortable using now.

Other features include:

• Messaging
• Call recording for customer’s responses
• Forwarding voice to someone’s email
• The app can be used either with Wi-Fi or with a carrier signal

Conclusion

Some basic things must be considered whether you bring on a paid communication service or a free service. While cost is a factor, anyone considering an alternative to Google Voice should also consider phone quality and functionality.

It won’t serve your business well or meet your personal phone needs if you can’t hear callers or if the service is hard to use.

Many of the features of the new services are specific to tasks, so figure out which tasks will be most needed in the future so your phone system won’t need to be changed out as you grow. It is best to have a system that can change and expand with you and your business.