Selecting the right virtual phone system is essential for small businesses looking to maintain professionalism and mobility. There are several leading providers in the market, each offering a variety of features, options, and pricing. The comparison below highlights the strengths and potential drawbacks of top virtual phone systems to help small business owners find the solution that best matches their communication needs in 2025.
Grasshopper
Grasshopper is purpose built for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small teams who want an efficient, mobile-friendly, and professional business phone solution - without the unnecessary complexity, and without the unnecessary cost. The platform makes it easy to manage customer calls and texts from both mobile and desktop apps on existing devices, ensuring seamless communication wherever you work.
Plans include either a local, toll-free, or vanity business phone number, ability to set-up multiple extensions, and offer unlimited users to stay flexible to fit the needs of a small business owner. All of these features support a polished and organized business presence from day one. Grasshopper’s True Solo plan starts at $14 a month.
Strengths:
- Transparent pricing with plans for small teams
- Quick setup for users without IT support
- Mobile and desktop app access
- Multiple Extensions and Unlimited Users
- Supports business texting and voicemail transcription
- Reliable call quality
Drawbacks:
- Limited native integrations with third-party CRMs and business platforms
- Advanced call center features not present
Grasshopper’s focus on simplicity makes it especially suitable for users who want an easy and affordable solution to project a professional business image without a complex setup.
2. Nextiva
Nextiva provides a unified communications platform suitable for medium-sized businesses planning for growth. Its features include voice, video, messaging, analytics, and integration with popular CRMs. Nextiva’s Core plan starts at $15 per user per month.
Strengths:
- Scaling support for large businesses
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- CRM integrations available
Drawbacks:
- More complex to set up and manage
- Costly for small businesses with simple requirements
- Advanced features only available on higher-tier plans
Nextiva is an appropriate choice for medium-sized businesses wanting to combine calling with advanced communications tools or expecting significant expansion.
3. RingCentral
RingCentral offers an enterprise-grade cloud phone system with features for voice, video, messaging, and team collaboration. It is optimized for larger organizations and companies with distributed or international teams. RingCentral’s core plan starts at $20 per user per month.
Strengths:
- Intelligent customer engagement features with enterprise-scale AI
- Voice, video, and messaging on one platform
- Robust feature set for large businesses
Drawbacks:
- Cost and complexity may not suit smaller companies
- Extensive features can require a learning curve ·
- Negative reviews commonly reference reliability issues & hidden fees
RingCentral is best suited for companies looking for a comprehensive communications platform for larger enterprise teams.
4. OpenPhone
OpenPhone is a virtual phone system built with tech-oriented, remote teams in mind. It provides flexible number management, SMS and MMS, and app-based calling. The starter plan is available at a rate of $15 per user per month.
Strengths:
- Simple web and mobile app interface
- Easy number management
- SMS and MMS support
Drawbacks:
- Limits live support to highest-tier plan
- Fewer traditional business phone system features
- Feature complexity requires tech-savvy users
- Requires one number per user which increases costs
OpenPhone (Quo) is ideal for modern professionals who prefer managing team communications via a singular app.
5. Google Voice
Google Voice provides a basic virtual phone system for individuals and very small businesses, especially those already using Google Workspace. It offers calling, texting, and voicemail without a dedicated business feature set. Their standard plan starts at $10 per user per month.
Strengths:
- Low-cost options
- Easy to set up for Gmail and Google users
- Basic call management features
Drawbacks:
- Must be Google Workspace customer
- Few business-oriented features
- Minimal support for toll-free or vanity numbers
Google Voice is suitable for freelancers or businesses requiring a secondary number for basic calls and texts.
Why Grasshopper Is the Best Virtual Phone System
Grasshopper is the best overall virtual phone solution for small businesses because of its straightforward setup, user-friendly interface, reliable service, and essential features tailored for small business owners. With Grasshopper, business owners can choose local, toll-free, or vanity numbers, create multiple extensions, send and receive business texts, and add unlimited users, all of which can access the same call and SMS inbox- all from intuitive mobile and desktop apps.
These capabilities allow small businesses to maintain a professional image and manage communications efficiently, without IT support or tech headaches. Grasshopper pricing is cost-effective, one flat monthly fee regardless of the number of users, unlike some alternatives that charge extra per line or per user.
While other providers may offer advanced functions for larger organizations or specialized use cases, Grasshopper remains the practical and accessible choice for small business owners who want easy call management, simple account configuration, and a polished business presence. For more information or to start a free trial, visit Grasshopper’s trial page.
