The best phone services for small businesses

Do you want to go straight to the answer? The best phone service for most small businesses is undoubtedly Nextiva or RingCentral.

Telephone services for businesses have come a long way.

Good services allow you to get toll-free numbers, easy routing, and unlimited SMS for a low monthly fee.

VoIP telephone services for businesses have become much more popular than traditional phone lines. They are easier to set up, manage, and cheaper.

Below, we present the best professional telephone services on the market. Later, we will delve into the reasons why you need it and how exactly a VoIP service works.

The best business phone service providers for 2020

• Nextiva

• RingCentral– Le service de téléphonie VoIP le plus populaire pour les petites entreprises.

• Ooma– Il est préférable d’utiliser des téléphones de bureau dans un environnement de bureau traditionnel.

• Phone.com– Les meilleurs plans de services téléphoniques pour les petites entreprises.
  

• Sauterelle– Le meilleur service téléphonique pour les entrepreneurs individuels.
  

• Vonage– Pionnier dans le secteur de la téléphonie VoIP.
  

• Jive – Des prix échelonnés avec des fonctions tout compris.
  

• 1-VoIP– Une tarification au compteur souple et rentable pour les petites entreprises disposant d’un budget.

Below, compare the prices, plans, and features of each of them in order to determine which one is best suited for your small business.

Nextiva - The most affordable business plans

Starting from $19.95 per month

Nextiva is a leader in the field of business telephony. Brands like YMCA, Buffalo Bills, and Taco Bell trust Nextiva for their telephony solutions.

It's great if you want a reliable phone system for your business at a good price. You will have everything you need

• A telephone for your office

• Téléphones pour les salles de conférence

• Une application pour gérer les appels téléphoniques, les SMS et les courriels par l’intermédiaire de votre ordinateur

• Une application mobile pour votre téléphone portable

• Intégrations avec les principaux CRM comme Salesforce et Hubspot

According to Gartner, 94% of customers are satisfied with Nextiva. People love the service - and for good reasons. They have a 99.999% uptime and no outages were reported in 2019 and 2020. Rest assured that your phone service will not be interrupted by their data centers.

You will have the choice between three simple plans. The price depends on the number of users and the duration of your contract. There are plans for businesses of all shapes and sizes, with options for companies with 1 to 4 users, up to over 100 users.

Here are the starting rates for each plan, per user, for an annual contract:

• Basic

• Pro – 20,95 $ par mois

• Entreprise – 27,95 $ par mois

These are the most affordable business plans we have seen so far.

Here are some other key highlights of Nextiva's phone service for small businesses:

• Unlimited calls

• La file d’attente des appels

• Renvoi automatique des appels

• Musique d’attente

• Fax gratuit en ligne

• Numéro local et gratuit

Some desired features are not included in the basic plan. If you want to use the Nextiva application, benefit from unlimited conference calls, pre-recorded greetings, and text messages, you will need to upgrade to the pro plan.

Call recording, voice analysis, and transcribing voicemails to text are only available on the enterprise plan.

RingCentral - The most popular VoIP phone service for small businesses

Starting from $19.99 per month

With over 350,000 businesses using RingCentral for VoIP telephony services, it is one of the most popular solutions in the industry.

RingCentral stands out for offering plans specifically designed for small businesses. It is reliable, secure, easy to use, and provides high-quality voice for crystal-clear calls.

RingCentral is also affordable. You can save over 30% if you sign up and pay in advance with an annual plan rather than a monthly contract.

Here is a brief overview of the plans and pricing:

The essentials

• Starting at $19.99 per month per user

• Jusqu’à 20 utilisateurs

• 100 minutes gratuites par mois

• Enregistrement des appels à la demande

• Appels illimités aux États-Unis et au Canada

Standard

• Starting from $24.99 per month per user

• 1 000 minutes gratuites par mois

• Télécopie Internet illimitée

• Réunions audio illimitées

• Vidéoconférence illimitée (jusqu’à 4 personnes par réunion)

• Enregistrement des appels à la demande

• Développement et déploiement d’applications personnalisées

Premium

• Starting from $34.99 per month per user

• 2 500 minutes gratuites par mois

• Vidéoconférence illimitée (jusqu’à 100 personnes par réunion)

• Enregistrement automatique des appels

• Soutien multi-sites

• Intégration de Salesforce et Zendesk

Ultimate

• Starting from $49.99 per month per user

• 10 000 minutes gratuites par mois

• Vidéoconférence illimitée (jusqu’à 200 personnes par réunion)

• Enregistrement automatique des appels

There is practically a plan for everyone. However, I don't think most businesses will need more than the Standard plan, which offers many features and all the essential elements that a business may need.

You can also customize your plan to pay extra fees for things like additional toll-free numbers, vanity numbers, international numbers, and free international calls.

All packages come with basic features such as unlimited professional SMS and MMS, mobile apps for iOS and Android, high-definition voice, team collaboration, call log reports, and 24/7 customer support.

The plan you choose will largely depend on the number of free minutes you plan to use as well as the number of users on board.

Ooma - Ideal for traditional office settings with desk phones.

$19.95 per month package

Ooma offers VoIP phone plans specially designed for small businesses. It is an ideal solution for businesses with traditional offices that need desk phones.

They have a very attractive pricing structure for new businesses. You simply pay a flat rate of $19.95 per user per month. There is no contract and you can cancel at any time.

But there's a catch. Monthly rates do not include equipment fees.

If you compare them to similar equipment offered by other providers, you will see that Ooma is definitely at the higher end of the spectrum. This offsets the lower monthly rates.

Ooma has a mobile application that allows you and your staff to make calls on the go from your smartphones. In theory, you can choose to only use your mobile phone and not pay for equipment costs.

Although I do not recommend it. There are better options if you are looking for a professional VoIP phone service without hardware.

So stick with Ooma if you want simple rates for your office phone. For those of you with a growing team, Ooma can grow with you. It's easy to add users and devices, and manage everything yourself.

Your package will include unlimited calls, a toll-free number, reduced international rates, and a virtual receptionist. Ooma also offers exceptional customer support service if you encounter difficulties setting up the equipment or managing your service.

Phone.com

Starting from $9.99 per month

Phone.com offers some of the simplest and most straightforward VoIP business phone plans you can find. Simplicity is one of the main reasons why their rates are so affordable.

You can sign up and get started in just a few minutes. Building and managing your entire professional phone system from the intuitive dashboard is easy for everyone, regardless of their level of technical expertise.

Phone.com has over 50 standard features, including:

• Fax to email

• Messagerie SMS

• Numérotation internationale

• Conférences HD

• Filtrage et blocage des appels

• Acheminement des appels

• La file d’attente des appels

• Préposé aux voitures

You will also benefit from E911 numbering, which is not offered by all VoIP providers. Premium features such as caller analysis, call recording, video conferencing, and CRM integration are available at an additional cost.

Phone.com is compliant with HIPAA and HITECH standards, which means it can be used safely if your business is in the medical field.

Compared to other professional phone services we have seen, Phone.com offers a unique pricing structure.

They have standard packages with unlimited minutes starting at $24.99, $32.99, and $49.99 per month with an annual contract. Each level includes additional numbers and text messages, as well as extra features that you can expect from the increased prices

However, Phone.com also offers minute plans starting at $9.99 per month. This is the lowest monthly rate you will find from a reputable VoIP service provider. These plans are ideal for businesses that do not need a lot of minutes. The minute plans offer 300, 500, and 1,000 minutes per month, respectively.

Therefore, if your calls are relatively short and infrequent, you can certainly save money with one of these budget plans.

Grasshopper - The best phone service for individual entrepreneurs

Starting from $26 per month

The grasshopper is another popular option, designed for both small businesses and entrepreneurs.

More than 135,000 users trust Grasshopper as a professional phone service. The provider is responsible for over 140 million calls per year.

Grasshopper allows you to easily find toll-free numbers, vanity numbers, 800 numbers, local numbers, etc. This simple solution is a great way to add professionalism to your business.

Here is a brief description of the plans and prices:

• Alone

• Partenaire – A partir de 44 $ par mois (3 numéros, 6 extensions)

• Petites entreprises – À partir de 80 $ par mois (5 numéros, extensions illimitées)

The solo plan is the best option for an entrepreneur with a small secondary business. You will want to upgrade to the partner plan if you have a small group of up to three employees working for you. For any other reason, you will need a small business plan tailored to your needs.

All Grasshopper plans come standard with the following features:

• VoIP and Wifi Calls

• Télécopie virtuelle

• Applications mobiles et de bureau

• Textes commerciaux

• Capacité à traiter des appels simultanés

• Signalement des appels

• Renvoi d’appel

• Boîte vocale

• Transferts d’appels

• Extensions

Unlike other professional phone services on the market, Grasshopper has no restrictions on call limits. You also get 24/7 live support.

Grasshopper also gives you the ability to integrate your professional interactions into an easy-to-manage inbox. You can access your emails, texts, professional calls, and contacts all in one place.

Vonage - Pioneer in the VoIP telephony sector

50+ voice & communication features

Vonage is a well-known and recognized name in the telephone industry. They have been in operation for nearly 20 years. In 2003, Vonage became the first VoIP platform for 911 calls.

Although the company has a rich history, it has just started providing commercial solutions.

They offer three different plans, with prices based on the number of lines you need. Here is a brief overview of the plans and costs.

Mobile

This plan allows you to make and receive calls from your mobile device and desktop computer. It is ideal for small businesses that do not need desk phones.

• 1-4 lines - $19.99 per month per line

• 5-19 lignes – 17,99 $ par mois par ligne

• Plus de 20 lignes – 14,99 $ par mois par ligne

Premium

The Premium plan is designed for traditional office teams. It allows for making calls from any device, including desktop phones.

• 1-4 lines - $29.99 per month per line

• 5-19 lignes – 27,99 $ par mois par ligne

• Plus de 20 lignes – 24,99 $ par mois par ligne

Advanced

This is the best option for businesses that need a telephone service for team setup and onboarding.

• 1-4 lines - $39.99 per month per line

• 5-19 lignes – 27,99 $ par mois par ligne

• Plus de 20 lignes – 34,99 $ par mois par ligne

If you want CRM integrations, you will need to subscribe to the Premium or Advanced plan. The Advanced plan also includes on-demand call recording, group calls, and virtual voicemail.

Jive - Tiered Pricing with All-Inclusive Features

Many all-inclusive features

Jive is one of the best VoIP phone services for businesses, for those of you who want to benefit from many all-inclusive features.

I love Jive because it strives to make enterprise-level communication available to small businesses. Their system is very easy to use, no matter the size of your team.

With Jive, you will get basic features such as:

• Call recording

• Préposés à l’automobile

• Surveillance des appels

• Conférences

• Télécopie virtuelle

• Salutation personnalisée

• Musique d’attente personnalisée

• Composer par le nom ou le poste

• Journaux d’appels individuels

Other providers make you pay an additional fee for some of them.

The Jive allows you and your entire team to easily connect to your phone system from any computer or mobile device with an Internet connection. It is perfect for those of you who are not always tied to a traditional office environment

The pricing of these plans is based on users. Here is an overview of Jive's multi-tiered pricing structure.

As you can see, the more users you have, the less you pay per month. But even the entry-level plans are affordable. Taking into account the all-inclusive Premium features, Jive is a more attractive option than some other providers on the market.

Jive phones are extremely easy to set up. All you have to do is plug them in and you'll be ready to make calls in just a few minutes.

1-VoIP - Flexible and cost-effective metered pricing for small businesses with a budget

More than 40 standard features

1-VoIP is cost-effective and flexible. It is an excellent option for small businesses with tight budgets who want a reliable telephone service provider.

With plans starting at $14.97 per month, 1-VoIP does not have the lowest rates we have seen in this guide, but they are very close.

If you don't make calls often, you can take advantage of 1-VoIP's metered pricing structure. Only pay for what you use. In this case, you will only be charged $0.02 per minute.

Unlike other providers on the market, 1-VoIP does not remove basic features if you subscribe to the metered plan. You will retain all the features of other plans, including

• Queues

• Musique d’attente

• Télécopie virtuelle

• Renvoi d’appel numérique

• Enregistrement des appels

• Heures d’ouverture

• Transferts d’extension

• Appel en attente

In total, over 40 features are available as standard.

If you only use 200 minutes per month, the plan with a counter will be your best option. Otherwise, they offer packages starting at $19.97 and $29.97 per month per extension.

The value of a professional phone service

Why do you need a VoIP phone service for businesses?

Most small business owners use traditional landlines or mobile phones to communicate. But landlines can take up a lot of extra space around the office. Also, you can't take them with you when you're on the go.

Most of you may be using your personal cell phone number to handle professional calls. While this system may work for you, it is not as professional.

Of course, you can always get a business plan from a traditional mobile operator. But these plans are expensive, especially when you add lines.

These are some of the key benefits of using a professional telephone service:

• Make and receive calls from multiple devices (computer, mobile phone, desk phone)..

• Suivez l’utilisation, les temps d’attente et la durée des appels.

• Partagez un numéro avec plusieurs utilisateurs.

• Ajoutez de nouveaux employés sans avoir à aller dans un magasin pour acheter un nouveau téléphone.

• Appels locaux et gratuits depuis n’importe quel endroit disposant d’un accès Internet à haut débit.

Most VoIP phone services for businesses also come with features such as call recording, call waiting, call forwarding, and call routing.

Overall, a professional telephone service can add professionalism to any small business or website. It can improve communication internally as well as with your clients.

What is a VoIP telephone service?

The acronym stands for "voice over Internet protocol". In simple terms, it is a telephone service that operates over the internet.

A VoIP creates a digital signal from any incoming or outgoing call. It then converts this signal to also reach any non-VoIP number. This cloud-based solution allows you to receive calls from a computer, a VoIP phone, any phone equipped with a VoIP adapter, or a mobile hotspot. Here is a visual explanation of how it works.

Now that you are more familiar with some of the leading professional telephone services on the market, it is time for you to choose a plan for your small business.

That is why we have outlined the five essential characteristics that a professional phone service needs. You can use the same criteria to find the best professional phone service for you.

Size of companies

The first thing to do is determine the number of lines and users you will need. Some plans are designed for small businesses with only a handful of people, while others are designed for teams of 20, 50 people or more.

In most cases, you will pay less per month and per line if you have more users. Large companies should look for these packages to get the best rate.

But if you have a small team and only need a few lines, it is better to avoid differentiated pricing models. Instead, look for flat-rate offers designed for small businesses.

Price

In addition to the size of your company, the duration of your contract can also have an impact on the price you pay. Some providers try to impose an annual contract on you to lower the monthly rates. But this structure can prove to be expensive initially.

For the sake of simplicity, let's say you subscribe to a $20 per month usage plan, renewed annually... If you have 10 users, this plan will cost you $2,400 at the time of registration.

Make sure you are happy with your provider before entering into long-term agreements. I recommend a service that offers monthly rates. Try it out before considering anything long-term.

Whatever your decision, make sure that your VoIP business phone plan fits your budget. There are cheap packages with fewer features, as well as more expensive packages with many additional benefits.

Reputation

Ensure to choose a reliable provider with a good reputation in the industry. Read online third-party reviews to know what customers are saying about them.

Think of it in the same way as your mobile phone plan. Networks like Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint have a better reputation than some lesser-known brands.

Of course, a smaller or lesser-known carrier may sometimes offer a cheaper alternative. But in many cases, you get what you pay for.

A trusted provider may be a little more expensive, but it's better than having a poor connection and missed calls.

Ease of use

Although the concept of VoIP phone may seem complex, using a professional phone service should not be difficult.

In terms of setup and onboarding, you should look for a service that can be up and running in a few minutes. If you are making calls from a mobile app or desktop computer, you can then start instantly.

For those of you who will be using VoIP desk phones and other hardware, look for providers that offer simple solutions. If the hardware installation takes too long, it's not worth the hassle. Additionally, the more complex the configuration, the more difficult troubleshooting will be.

Taking calls, making calls, transferring calls, recording calls, checking call logs, setting up your voicemail, and everything else should also be simple. If you and your team are having trouble performing these tasks during your first month or free trial, you should look elsewhere for a more user-friendly service.

Free features

Each professional phone service comes standard with basic features that depend on the package you choose. Some of them will be more useful to you than others.

It is up to you to review these features to see which ones you will actually use. Then, find a plan that includes these features for free.

For example, you might be drawn to a plan that has over 50 features, even if you will only benefit from 10. But if this plan does not include a feature that you need, such as call recording, it is not worth paying extra for it if you can get it for free elsewhere.

So, browse the market and compare feature lists to ensure you are getting the best value for your needs.

Summary: The best business phone services for every situation

I made sure that this guide has something for everyone. No matter the size of your team or your budget, you can definitely find a reliable phone service for your small business.

Let's recap the best choice for each situation:

• Nextiva - The most affordable business plans.

• RingCentral – Le service de téléphonie VoIP le plus populaire pour les petites entreprises.

• Ooma – Idéal pour les environnements de bureau traditionnels avec des téléphones de bureau.

• Phone.com – Les meilleurs plans de services téléphoniques bon marché pour les petites entreprises.

• Grasshopper – Le meilleur service téléphonique pour les entrepreneurs individuels.

• Vonage – Pionnier dans le secteur de la téléphonie VoIP.

• Jive – Prix échelonné avec des fonctions tout compris.

• 1-VoIP – Tarification mesurée souple et rentable pour les petites entreprises disposant d’un budget.