Features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and custom greetings, make it a popular choice for teams seeking an easy-to-use and affordable communication solution. Grasshopper’s simplicity, flat-rate pricing, and mobile app accessibility have made it particularly attractive to small businesses.
Why switch from Grasshopper?
Grasshopper may be a reliable tool for basic communication needs, but users often encounter limitations such as a lack of advanced features like call recording, limited integrations with CRMs and other tools, and the odd challenge with customer support.
Plus, its flat-rate pricing is convenient, but isn’t the best or most cost-effective option for businesses with unique needs or smaller teams. For organizations looking to scale or optimize their communication strategy, exploring alternatives can highlight platforms with better functionality, improved support, and scalable pricing models that align with evolving business demands.
Top Alternatives To Grasshopper
| Provider | Key features | Pricing | Pros | Cons |
| 1. Voiso | Omnichannel communication, intuitive workflow builder, AI-predictive dialer, speech analytics, real-time dashboards. | Starts at $49/user/month. | Cost-effective, strong outbound tools, powerful analytics, AI-driven insights. | Limited workforce management tools. |
| 2. Avaya | Robust communication suite, reliable VoIP, and collaboration tools. | Starts at $20/user/month. | Strong for enterprise-level communication, solid reliability. | Higher learning curve, expensive for SMBs. |
| 3. CloudTalk | International calling, call tagging, and performance monitoring. | Starts at $25/user/month. | Easy to use, excellent call quality, great for remote teams. | Limited integrations, fewer advanced features. |
| 4. Aircall | Cloud-based VoIP, user-friendly interface, and team collaboration features. | Starts at $30/user/month. | User-friendly, quick setup, strong integration options . | Limited scalability, higher cost per user. |
| 5. Nextiva | Unified communication tools, reliable VoIP, and excellent customer support. | Starts at $20/user/month. | Comprehensive features, excellent reliability, scalable for growth. | Can feel overly complex for small teams. |
| 6. RingCentral | Video conferencing, messaging, team collaboration, integrations with popular tools. | Starts at $20/user/month. | Feature-rich, reliable, wide integration options . | Premium features drive up cost. |
| 7. Genesys Cloud CX | AI and analytics-driven customer experience, omnichannel support, and scalability. | Starts at $75/user/month. | Highly scalable, advanced AI tools, strong for customer support. | Expensive, overwhelming for small teams. |
| 8. Talkdesk | AI-powered automation, seamless integrations, and omnichannel capabilities. | Starts at $85/user/month. | User-friendly interface, seamless CRM integrations, scalability to accommodate growing businesses. | Pricing can be steep, support quality varies depending on the service tier. |
| 9. Vonage | VoIP, SMS, video calls, API integrations. | Starts at $13.99/user/month. | Flexible API tools, strong for integrations, global coverage. | Pricing can be confusing with add-ons. |
| 10. 8×8 | Global calling, AI analytics, integrations with CRMs. | Starts at $24/user/month. | Budget-friendly, global reach, strong security . | Outdated UI, limited features in basic plans. |
| 11. Dialpad | AI-powered call transcription, integrations, and SMS capabilities. | Starts at $15/user/month for standard plans, or free for video meeting plans. | Excellent AI tools, user-friendly mobile app. | Limited international calling features. |
1. Voiso
Voiso’s cloud-based contact center platform is built to simplify communication for small to medium businesses. With its user-friendly design and rapid setup, it’s the perfect choice for teams who want to get started as soon as possible. Whether it’s customer service, sales, or juggling multiple communication channels at the forefront, Voiso has the tools you need to deliver exceptional customer experiences.
With productivity-boosting AI features like speech analytics and chatbots, your business can optimize workflows and get meaningful insights into customer interactions, enabling smarter, data-driven decisions. Plus, Voiso can automate routine tasks, freeing up agents for more complex tasks.
With its blend of simplicity, cutting-edge technology, and efficiency-driving automation, Voiso is the top choice for businesses looking to scale personalized and effective support.
Key features
Voiso is perfect for both sales and customer support teams, helping them enhance productivity and deliver excellent customer service.
For sales teams
Local caller IDs
Local caller IDs build trust and familiarity with prospects, which results in higher answer rates and conversions. Local numbers feel familiar, which increases the likelihood of prospects answering your call, leading to more sales opportunities and higher revenue.
Automation
Voiso automates the time consuming tasks like manual dialing, call logging, and note-taking, enabling agents to focus on more complex and challenging issues.
Real-time dashboard
With customizable real-time dashboards, managers can have instant, actionable insights into KPIs and operational efficiency on an intuitive interface. They can monitor call volumes, answer rates, agent performance, and operational success in real time, and avoid problems before they have a chance to take root.
For support teams
Flow builder
There’s no better tool for a customer service agent than flow builder. It allows agents to design their own custom workflows, such as IVR menus, communication flows, and skills-based routing queues, tailored to their customer’s individual needs.
Speech analytics
AI-driven speech analytics analyze customer tone of voice, sentiment, keywords, and even emotions to give agents valuable information about customer behavior. It improves training and performance by generating call scores and summaries instantly, providing instant feedback into agent performance and customer experience.
Omnichannel toolkit
Omnichannel communication centralizes customer interactions across web chat, email, phone, messaging apps, and social media, giving agents full access to customer histories across every touchpoint.
Pros vs cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Highly adaptable to complex workflows, making it the ideal solution for multiple industries. | Major CRM integrations only. |
| Strong international support for businesses operating across numerous regions. | Custom pricing may make it difficult to predict costs. |
| A competitive, budget-friendly pricing structure making it a good choice for businesses of all sizes. | |
| Robust call recording enables support teams to review and analyze all past interactions, leading to better ongoing training and improvement. |
Pricing
| Start-up | Pro | Pro+ |
| Great for any team getting started and requiring quick and easy setup. | For larger teams that need enhanced flexibility and advanced features. | Full automation, integrations, multi-channel and unlimited capacity. |
| $49/user/month. | $79/user/month. | $129/user/month. |
What’s included:
|
Everything in Start-up, plus:
|
Everything in Professional, plus:
|
Ideal use cases
Voiso caters to businesses of all sizes, but especially those focused on customization and advanced analytics to improve operational efficiency. Enterprises who manage large call centers with global operations would benefit hugely from Voiso’s local caller IDs and omnichannel support, while businesses looking to optimize their agent performance and customer experience would see massive advantages with speech analytics and flow builder.
2. Avaya
Avaya is a cloud-based contact center tool built primarily for remote teams with powerful video conferencing and instant messaging features. It’s an excellent platform for boosting workplace efficiency by integrating seamlessly with some of the most popular tools on the market, making daily operations smoother and more efficient.
Key features
Omnichannel capabilities
High-quality customer interactions across voice and digital channels in one place.
Workforce optimization
Provides powerful scheduling and performance tracking tools, plus agent productivity monitoring to optimize operational efficiency.
Local and toll-free numbers
Global communications with access to a variety of number types.
AI-driven tools
Virtual assistants, speech analytics, and sentiment analysis are all on offer to improve customer satisfaction.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Comprehensive feature set including omnichannel routing, workforce optimization, and AI-driven customer interactions. | Complex setup and maintenance with a steep learning curve and skilled IT resources needed for setup. |
| Scalability designed to grow with your business, handling both small teams and large enterprises with ease. | Higher pricing compared to alternatives. |
| Strong international presence for businesses operating in multiple regions, with local solutions and support. | Less user-friendly interface designed for large enterprises, which makes it overwhelming for smaller teams. |
| Strong reliability with high uptime and service stability, making it dependable for businesses that require uninterrupted operations. | Limited updates on legacy systems which can be a challenge for businesses using older Avaya systems. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
| Core | $20/user/month | Business phone and toll-free numbers, inbound caller ID, unlimited calls within US/CA, business SMS, voicemail transcription, team messaging, document sharing, 24/7 support, business phone numbers in 100+ countries, SSO, unlimited audio conferencing, video meetings up to 100 people, up to 24 hour meeting duration, AI video meeting summaries, transcripts, and highlights, quality-of-service reports, and popular integrations. |
| Advanced | $25/user/month | Everything in Core plus automatic call recording, multi-site admin and management, unlimited internet fax, up to 8 digit extensions, hot desking, advanced call handling, video meeting up to 200 people, real-time analytics, popular CRM integrations, industry-specific integrations, and developer system and custom integrations. |
| Ultra | $35/user/month | Everything in Advanced plus devise status reports and alerts, and unlimited storage. |
Ideal use cases
Avaya caters to large enterprises and businesses with complex communication needs, high call volumes, or those that need advanced customer interaction features. It’s the perfect solution for organizations with omnichannel contact centers, an international presence, or requiring AI-driven customer engagement. Companies in industries like telecommunications, healthcare, and financial services would benefit most from Avaya’s powerful and customizable solutions.
3. CloudTalk
CloudTalk fits in perfectly at small and medium-sized businesses looking to streamline how they connect with customers. True to its name, CloudTalk’s cloud-based platform stands out for its ease of use and flexibility, making it a breeze for teams to handle inbound and outbound calls, whether for sales, support, or a mix of both. With intuitive features like call routing and seamless integrations, CloudTalk helps businesses boost productivity while delivering standout customer experiences. Whether your team works remotely, in-office, or somewhere in between, CloudTalk adapts effortlessly to any setup.
Key features
Smart call routing
Calls are intelligently directed to the right agent to handle the customer’s specific query, reducing wait times, improving issue resolution, and enhancing customer experience.
Remote first
Thanks to CloudTalk’s international phone numbers and call recording and monitoring, agents can work from anywhere, while managers easily track their performance and keep an eye on quality assurance.
Call analytics
With insights into call metrics thanks to real-time dashboards and detailed reports, managers can gauge agent performance and call quality with ease.
Interactive voice response (IVR)
IVR allows callers to interact with a menu system to route themselves to the correct department or agent based on their query, significantly improving issue resolution and reducing wait times.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| CloudTalk’s intuitive design makes it easy for teams to navigate and manage calls without extensive training. | Mobile app limitations like call drops and glitches can affect on-the-go communication. |
| CloudTalk integrates seamlessly with popular CRMs like HubSpot and Zendesk, keeping customer data centralized. | Some users find outbound call costs higher than expected, especially in certain regions. |
| With support for international numbers in over 160 countries, CloudTalk is ideal for businesses operating across borders. | CloudTalk relies heavily on stable internet connections, which can be a drawback in areas with unreliable connectivity. |
| Advanced call features like smart call routing and IVR enhance call management and provide valuable insights into customer interactions. | Businesses with custom-built CRMs may face integration issues. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
| Starter | $25/user/month | 500 domestic outbound minutes in UK, EU, Iceland & Norway, unlimited inbound and intracompany calls, international numbers in 160+ countries, softphone, call recording, click to call, automated call distribution, unlimited call queueing, and email and chat support. |
| Essential | $29/user/month | Everything in Starter plus unlimited domestic calls in EU, UK, Iceland & Norway, 24/7 live human support, real-time analytics, integrations and API, IVR, skills-based routing, AI smart queueing, global SMS/MMS, unlimited concurrent calls, and workflow automation. |
| Expert | $49/user/month | Everything in Essential plus Salesforce integrations, advanced support features, advanced sales features like power dialer and smart dialer, live call monitoring and wallboards, mandatory call tagging, WhatsApp, and SSO. |
| Custom | Tailor-made price | All Expert features plus unlimited worldwide call packages, custom onboarding and priority support, custom reporting, enterprise-level security, developer support, and SLA. |
Ideal use cases
CloudTalk is best used by small to medium-sized businesses looking to streamline their customer communication. It’s particularly best for sales teams in managing outbound calls with power dialers and call routing, and customer support teams to handle inbound calls efficiently through IVR and smart routing. Plus, thanks to CloudTalk’s international phone numbers and cloud-based accessibility, it’s ideal for teams operating across borders.
4. Aircall
Aircall is a cloud-based phone system primarily built for small to medium-sized businesses who want to enhance their communication abilities. Its variety of features and integrations streamline workflows and improve teamwork with VoIP features and collaboration tools.
Key features
Cloud-based flexibility
With just a stable internet connection, users can work from anywhere thanks to Aircall’s cloud-based system.
Extensive integrations
Aircall integrates with over 100 apps and popular tools, like Slack, HubSpot, and Zendesk.
Advanced telephony features
Aircalls provides IVR, call recording, click-to-dial, and SMS/MMS to enhance communication.
Collaboration tools
Users can make use of shared call inboxes, tagging, and call comments to make it easy for teams to connect and work together from anywhere.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Ease of use and scalability make it ideal for companies looking for a straightforward tool to simplify communication. | Aircall’s costs are higher compared to competitors offering similar features. |
| Strong integrations with tools like HubSpot and Salesforce. | Aircall lacks certain advanced call analytics and customization capabilities. |
| Powerful call management features, ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. | The software has limited functionality with less popular third-party tools. |
| Intuitive interface and user-friendliness. | Some users report slow response times, especially during critical issues. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
| Essentials | $30/license | 100+ integrations and API access, unlimited calls in US/CA, essential telephony features like IVR, call recording, and click-to-dial, SMS/MMS, softphone, and unlimited simultaneous outbound calls. |
| Professional | $50/license | Everything in Essentials plus Salesforce integration, mandatory call tagging, advanced analytics and live monitoring, advanced support features like queue call back and smart routing, and advanced sales features like power dialer and voicemail drop. |
| Custom | Call for details | Everything in Professional plus unlimited worldwide calls, custom onboarding, access to API developer support, SLA, and SSO. |
Ideal use cases
Aircall is a great communication solution for small to medium-sized businesses that want to improve their telephony systems. With its extensive integrations and advanced features, it’s ideal for any organization that wants to improve team productivity.
5. Nextiva
Nextiva caters perfectly to large enterprises and small to medium-sized businesses alike. Its cloud-based telephony platform gives businesses access to easy external and internal communication, and its omnichannel communication capabilities support remote work.
Key features
Advanced call features
Conference calling, voicemail transcription, and multi-level attendant are just a few of the powerful calling features in Nextiva’s toolbox.
Healthcare compliance
Nextiva’s HIPAA-compliant virtual faxing makes it the perfect solution for healthcare professionals as medical employees can share information without having to worry about data breaches.
Round-the-clock support
Nextiva offers 24/7 assistance, so you can always have access to help whenever you need it.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Users can be calling within minutes thanks to Nextiva’s simple and intuitive setup. | Nextiva’s prices may be considered high compared to alternatives, especially for small businesses. |
| All maintenance and updates are handled by Nextiva. | Nextiva is missing certain integrations, like Slack and Zapier, which can be a barrier for some businesses as Zapier enables further connections to VoIP telephony systems. |
Pricing
Small business
| Plan | Price (per user/month) | Includes |
| Digital | $20 | Competitive monitoring, messaging apps, social media channels, review management, and digital service helpdesk. |
| Core | $30 | Everything in Digital, plus inbound & outbound voice, business SMS, video meetings, screenshare & file share, and call routing. |
| Engage | $40 | Everything in Core, plus customer-to-team SMS messaging, toll-free number & minutes, advanced reporting, MS Teams integration, and web chat (both live and bot). |
| Power Suite | $60 | Everything in Engage, plus inbound sales and service call center, priority and skills-based routing, unified team interface, supervisor dashboard, and ACD callback. |
Enterprise
| Plan | Price (per user/month) | Includes |
| Essential | $129 | Inbound & outbound channels, full workflow engine for journey orchestration, workflow automation and APIs, transcription and summarization, and customizable skills-based routing. |
| Professional | $159 | Everything in Essential, plus full customer journey context & history, omnichannel communication, advanced AI bots, real-time supervisor support, and secure payment agent assist. |
| Premium | $199 | Everything in Professional, plus full workforce management, optimized workflows for interaction deflection, and CX analytics for all business functions. |
Ideal use cases
Any sized business that prioritizes reliable, feature-rich communication solutions will benefit from Nextiva. It’s especially useful for small businesses thanks to its affordable and easy-to-use VoIP systems, and customer service teams managing high call volumes with IVR, real-time analytics, and call queueing.
6. RingCentral
RingCentral is one of the leading contact center solutions on the market. Its cloud-based communication platform brings together messaging, video calls, and VoIP phone services, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes, both remote and on-premise. RingCentral’s wide range of features make it a good fit for enterprises thanks to its omnichannel communication, lead qualification tools, and collaboration and performance features.
Key features
Video conferencing
RingCentral’s powerful video conferencing offers tools like whiteboard, screen sharing, breakout rooms, and a top-tier scheduling process.
Team collaboration tools
RingCentral empowers team collaboration with messaging and file sharing, and specific integrations with platforms like Monday.com.
Real-time metrics
Users can monitor their quality of service and enhance team productivity with live updates on agent performance and customer satisfaction. Plus, voicemail transcriptions allow users to find all information instantly, without having to listen back to hundreds of calls.
Comprehensive communication features
RingCentral offers unlimited inbound and outbound calls, business SMS, internal chat options, and international numbers from over 100+ countries.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Centralizes multiple communication tools for streamlined operations. | Many advanced features, like sentiment analytics, speech-to-text, smart dialers, and skills-based routing are locked to higher tier plans, making it a barrier to smaller businesses or those on a budget. |
| Highly scalable, making it suitable for businesses of any size. | Extra charges for certain features like toll-free numbers, even with Premium and Ultimate plans, can make it difficult to estimate overall cost. |
| Excellent video conferencing features for remote collaboration. | Based on scale and complexity, it can take up to 90 days to implement RingCentral, when other alternatives are a lot quicker. |
Pricing
The prices below refer to RingCentral’s Business Phone plans with 1-100 users, but their website includes different pricing models on various plans for contact centers, events, video, and conversation intelligence.
| Plan | Price (per user/month) | Includes |
| Core | $20 | Unlimited domestic calling, SMS and MMS, IVR menu, HD video meetings up to 100 participants, Google and Microsoft integrations, SSO, shared voicemail, real-time analytics, developer platform, custom integrations, and API access. |
| Advanced | $25 | Everything in Core plus auto call recording, advanced call monitoring and handling, multiple site connection, unlimited internet fax, CRM integrations, custom roles and permissions, archiver for cloud storage back-up, and adoption and usage analytics. |
| Ultra | $35 | Everything in Advanced plus customizable analytics and reporting, 12 months of analytics and reporting history, HD video meetings up to 200 participants, device analytics and alerts, and unlimited storage for files and recording. |
Ideal use cases
For any business looking to centralize and streamline their video, voice, and messaging communication, RingCentral is the way to go. It’s an excellent tool for remote teams or businesses spread across various regions thanks to its strong video conferencing capabilities and collaboration tools, and integrates with a number of business software for easier and smoother workflows.
7. Genesys Cloud CX
Genesys is a powerful omnichannel contact center platform designed for businesses who want to optimize customer communication. It has advanced features like campaign management, escalation management, progressive dialers, and real-time chat, and excels in AI-driven tools and omnichannel capabilities.
Key features
Omnichannel communication
Genesys centralizes communication channels on one platform, creating seamless, consistent customer experiences and streamlining agent workflows.
Strong integrations
Seamlessly connects with CRMs, workforce management tools, and existing business systems.
24/7 assistance
Genesys offers round-the-clock support to customers, ensuring there’s always someone there to help when it’s needed.
Advanced AI
AI-powered analytics and predictive engagement helps businesses improve their customer interactions.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Omnichannel engagement across multiple channels helps businesses maintain consistency with customers. | Setup times can take up to 90 days, which can be a turn off for businesses needing a quick fix. |
| AI-powered capabilities like predictive engagement and sentiment analysis improve agent efficiency. | High entry requirements of 20 users minimum make it unsuitable for small teams and startups. |
| Comprehensive analytics can enable businesses to make better, data-driven decisions. | It’s more expensive compared to alternatives, which can be a barrier for budget-conscious teams. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price (per user/month) | Includes |
| Genesys Cloud CX 1 | $75 | Voice channel, call routing, speech-enabled IVR, outbound campaigns, analytics and reporting, unified comms, interaction and screen recording, virtual agents, native voicebot, predictive routing, agent copilot, speech and text analytics, supervisor copilot, and virtual supervisor. |
| Genesys Cloud CX 2 | $115 | Digital channels, voice channel, omnichannel routing, speech-enabled IVR, outbound campaigns, analytics and reporting, unified comms, QA and compliance, knowledge, agent copilot, virtual agents, native bots, predictive engagement and routing, social listening and engagement, speech and text analytics, supervisor copilot, and virtual supervisor. |
| Genesys Cloud CX 3 | $155 | Digital channels, voice channel, omnichannel routing, speech-enabled IVR, outbound campaigns, analytics and reporting, unified comms, employee performance, workforce management, QA and compliance, knowledge, forecasting and scheduling, speech and text analytics, virtual agents, native bots, predictive engagement and routing, social listening and engagement, supervisor copilot, and virtual supervisor. |
| Genesys Cloud CX 4 | $240 | Everything in 3, plus 30 AI experience tokens per agent, and journey management. |
Ideal use cases
Genesys excels in AI-powered tools and omnichannel capabilities, making it a great choice for businesses looking to improve customer engagement across a variety of channels.
8. Talkdesk
Talkdesk is a smart-calling platform that improves the communication capabilities of sales and customer support teams through high-tech automations and reliable call quality. Its innovative contact center platform integrates AI-powered tools and omnichannel support into its cloud-based system, and its advanced automation and analytics ensure that customer issues are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
Key features
Customizable integrations
Seamlessly connects with CRMs and other existing business tools to improve workflows.
Intelligent routing
Customers are automatically routed to the right agent or department based on their query, bringing down wait times and improving customer satisfaction.
Omnichannel support
By bringing together voice, chat, email, phone, and social media, agents have access to full customer interaction histories, improving consistency and efficiency.
AI-powered automation
Agents can be more productive and efficient with powerful tools like virtual agents, predictive insights, and automated workflows.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Talkdesk’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for teams to get up and running quickly. | Talkdesk is a great call center platform, but it doesn’t have video conferencing and messaging, which can be a turn off for certain businesses. |
| Powerful AI features like Virtual Agent and AI insights enhance productivity and provide valuable analytics for customer interactions. | Talkdesk has fewer integrations with CRMs and business tools compared to other VoIP solutions. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price (per user/month) | Includes |
| CX Cloud Digital Essentials | $85/user/month | Talkdesk Ascend AI, digital engagement, studio & routing, connections, API access, real-time dashboards, business intelligence, conversations mobile app, QA, feedback & Guardian. |
| CX Cloud Voice Essentials | $105/user/month | Everything in Cloud Digital, plus voice engagement, studio functions, workspace designer, automation designer.
Also available: Digital access for essentials, 70+ out-of-the-box integrations, 100+ AppConnect marketplace. |
| CX Cloud Elite | $165/user/month | Everything in Digital & Voice, plus, custom reporting, performance management, screen recording, automated notifications, workforce management, proactive outbound engagement. |
| Industry specific cloud editions | $225/user/month | Includes specific plans for financial services, healthcare, retail, and government. |
Ideal use cases
Talkdesk caters more to enterprises and larger-scale businesses with a blend of customer support and internal collaboration. It’s perfect for any business prioritizing high-quality customer service, and its industry-specific workflows and advanced analytics make it the best tool for healthcare and financial service with unique needs.
8. Vonage
Vonage is a cloud communications provider that’s built its reputation on providing reliable and stable business communication solutions. It’s one of the most well-known virtual phone providers in the world, integrating video conferencing, voicemail transcription, desktop sharing, voice calls, and more.
Key features
Unified communication
Vonage offers a comprehensive Unified Communication as a Service (UCaaS) platform that brings together voice, video, messaging, and other collaboration tools, enabling teams to stay connected wherever they are and no matter what divide they’re using.
API integration
Vonage has a highly developed suite of APIs for messaging, voice, video, and verification that allow developers to integrate communication functionalities directly into their apps, enabling customized solutions that are tailored to unique business needs.
Call management features
Vonage keeps call handling smooth and efficient thanks to its strong call management features like call forwarding, call queues, voicemail-to-email, and virtual receptionists that are designed to improve customer experience and allow for easy management of high call volumes.
Global coverage
Vonage offers local and toll-free numbers in over 40 countries that support businesses operating across international borders, allowing companies to establish a local presence from anywhere in the world.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Powerful tools for seamless phone calls and messaging. | Higher prices compared to other suppliers which makes it less accessible for smaller or more budget-conscious businesses. |
| Highly advanced voice and video conferencing capabilities, supporting remote workers and team collaboration. | Many users report hidden fees and unexpected charges that end up inflating the overall cost of using the platform. |
| CRM integrations that centralize customer data, streamlining workflows. | Limited features on basic plans make it a less comprehensive tool for some businesses. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price (billed annually) | Price (per month/extension) | Includes |
| Mobile | $13.99 | $19.99 | Desktop and mobile apps, unlimited domestic calling, SMS and MMS, voicemail. |
| Premium | $20.99 | $29.99 | All mobile features plus VoIP desk phone support, unlimited video meeting with 200 participants, team messaging, VBC App Center, SSO. |
| Advanced | $27.99 | $39.99 | All premium features plus 15 hours of on-demand call recording per month, visual voicemail with transcriptions, call groups. |
Ideal use cases
Vonage is a versatile solution ideal for businesses of all sizes that prioritize seamless communication and global reach. It’s ideal for customer-facing teams who need advanced call management, remote or hybrid workplaces, and any developers integrating APIs into custom apps. Plus, any business operating across international borders will benefit from Vonage’s global yet local phone numbers.
9. 8×8
8×8 is a telephony solution focusing strongly on integrations, analytics, and streamlined business communication. It caters to businesses of all sizes with multiple plans to suit different organizational needs.
Key features
Voice, video, and messaging integration
8×8 provides a fully integrated suite of communication channels, combining voice, video conferencing, and team messaging, ensuring seamless collaboration across the business.
Advanced analytics and reporting
With real-time dashboards and in-depth analytics, 8×8 is the ideal tool for businesses to have a clear view of call performance, customer interactions, and agent productivity, allowing for easy trend identification, optimized workflows, and data-driven decision making.
Global connectivity
8×8 supports international operations with both local and toll-free numbers in over 120 countries, allowing businesses to maintain a local presence while operating from all over the world.
AI-powered call features
8×8 incorporates AI tools like speech analytics and predictive call routing to streamline operations and improve CX by analyzing customer sentiment, improving response times, delivering personalized support, and boosting overall customer satisfaction.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Comprehensive and unified communications reduce the need for multiple tools and centralize customer data. | Extensive international calling is only available on higher-tier plans. |
| Ideal for businesses operating internationally thanks to its local and toll-free numbers. | Business SMS and MMS are available in both plans, primarily in the US, but international SMS can be limited. |
| 8×8’s affordable pricing makes it a valuable solution for small to medium-sized businesses looking for robust communication solutions that don’t break the bank. | Some advanced features like multi-level auto-attendant and call analytics are only included in higher-tier plans. |
Pricing
| Plan | Price (per user/month) | Includes |
| X2 | $24 (billed annually) | Unlimited calling to 14 countries, video meetings with up to 500 participants, SMS/MMS, team chat, integrations with Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, and more. |
| X4 | $44 (billed annually) | Unlimited calling to 48 countries, advanced call management features including supervisor analytics, call monitoring, whisper, barge, and extended call recording storage. |
Ideal use cases
8×8 is the perfect tool for businesses seeking unified communication and a strong contact center solution. It’s well-suited for companies operating globally thanks to its reliable connectivity, and for small to medium-sized businesses looking for affordable and easy-to-use software.
11. Dialpad
Dialpad has made a name for itself as a modern, AI-driven, cloud-based phone system for companies looking for streamlined communication, powerful features, and seamless integrations. It’s intuitive and flexible, easily scales with your business, and leverages advanced analytics and AI-powered tools to maximize customer support operations.
Key features
Global calling
Offers free calls to the US and Canada from anywhere in the world, as well as unlimited inbound and outbound calling within your business’s country, ideal for companies operating in multiple regions.
Integrations
Connects with multiple tools like G Suite, Microsoft 365, and Slack to improve workflow management.
Voice Intelligence (VI)
Transcribes calls in real-time with AI, provides sentiment analysis, and generates actionable insights to improve data-driven decision making.
SMS and MMS support
Enables text communication as well as voice, improving accessibility for customers.
Pros vs cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Top-tier AI tools that improve efficiency and accuracy. | Limited international calling features compared to competitors. |
| Easy to use interface, enabling quick setup. | Some advanced features are only available in premium plans. |
| Affordable pricing plans make it accessible to smaller teams. |
Pricing
These prices are included in Dialpad’s Connect package. Check out their website for more information on their Meetings, Support, and Sell packages with varying pricing models.
| Plan | Price | Includes |
| Standard | $27/user/month ($15 with annual billing) | Unlimited calling, unlimited AI meetings up to 150 people, SMS, MMS & team messaging, AI-powered call & voicemail transcriptions, Google Workspace & Microsoft 365 integrations, real-time analytics & reporting, and web & chat support. |
| Pro | $35/user/month ($25 with annual billing) | Everything in Standard, plus 24/7 support, CRM & Microsoft Teams integrations, 10 office locations, multiple phone numbers per account, open APIs & Webhooks, global SMS, local numbers in 70+ countries, and 25 ring groups. |
| Enterprise | Contact sales for a custom quote. | Everything in Pro plus 99.9% uptime, unlimited office locations and ring groups, dial-by-extension, integrations with leading SSO providers, Azure AD SSO integration, data retention policies, and priority live agent support. |
Ideal use cases
Dialpad would suit any business looking to modernize their operations with AI-driven features and high reliability. It’s a strong player in the VoIP market for tech-savvy businesses and those needing cost-effective communication tools to improve record-keeping and call analysis.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Cloud Phone Solution
Choosing the right cloud-based solution for your business can mean all the difference when it comes to optimized communication, better customer experience, and supporting your business’s growth. There are a few critical factors to consider before you make your decision:
Features and functionality
The core features and functionality of any cloud-based phone solution ultimately determine its usability and value for your team and business as a whole. When looking for the ideal solution, evaluate options based on the specific needs of your business. Consider the most essential features to include, and some more advanced ones:
Essential features
- VoIP calling: Clear and reliable voice communication is fundamental for any cloud phone system.
- SMS/MMS: Allows businesses to engage customers via text or multimedia messaging, which has extremely high open rates.
- IVR: Helps route callers to the right agent or department to reduce wait times and improve resolution rates.
- Call recording: Enables better quality assurance, compliance, and training.
- Call analytics: Provides insights into agent performance, allowing for workflow optimization.
- Voicemail: Essential for capturing missed calls and ensuring follow-ups.
- Conference calling: Facilitates group collaboration and team meetings, especially important for remote-based teams.
Advanced
- Automatic call distribution (ACD): Automatically routes calls to the most appropriate agent based on skills or availability.
- Predictive dialers: Automates outbound dialing to improve agent efficiency and reduce idle time.
- Omnichannel support: Combines voice, email, and chat for seamless communication.
Integration capabilities
Modern businesses rely on multiple tools to enhance productivity, and any cloud-based phone system should integrate perfectly with your existing tech stack, otherwise it’ll just cause more problems than it solves. Consider the following essential integrations:
CRM and helpdesk
- Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zendesk: Allows agents to access customer data, track interactions, and log calls directly within the CRM or helpdesk.
- Ticketing and workflow automation: Syncing phone systems and CRMs automates ticket creation and lead update processes.
Productivity tools
- Slack and Microsoft Teams: Supports internal team communication with message notifications for calls or voicemails.
- Google Workspace (G Suite): Ensures native integration with Gmail, Calendar, and Drive for scheduling and sharing.
- Other APIs: Many providers offer custom integrations for industry-specific software.
Pricing and value
Affordability, budget-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and transparency are all important factors to consider when looking for communication tools. Take into account the following when shopping around for providers:
Billing models
- Per user/month plans: Fixed cost per user that offers predictability for budgeting.
- Pay-as-you-go: Flexible billing based on usage, ideal for seasonal businesses.
- Bundled plans: Combines voices, video, and messaging features into one package for added value.
Hidden costs to watch out for
- Setup fees: Initial installation and configuration might come with extra charges.
- Add-ons: Features like more phone numbers, advanced analytics, or integrations might not be included in the base pricing package.
- Scalability costs: Check whether adding new users or features will dramatically increase costs.
Scalability and reliability
The main benefit of a cloud-based software is its scalability. The chosen software should be able to grow with your business while maintaining consistent performance, and support the following:
Scalability
- Adding users: Make sure the chosen platform supports quick and easy onboarding of new agents without significant downtime or dramatic cost increases.
- Additional numbers or features: Expanding businesses may need access to international numbers or enhanced IVR as their operations scale.
Reliability
- Uptime guarantees: Look for providers that offer at least 99.9% uptime to minimize service disruptions.
- Disaster recovery: Check for redundancy measures like failover systems or geo-redundant data centers to maintain reliability during outages.
Customer support and onboarding
Strong customer support and onboarding resources are the mark of a great company, and can make a huge difference in adoption and ongoing satisfaction. Look for solutions that offer the following:
Training resources
- Tutorials and documentation: Comprehensive guides to help teams quickly get familiar with the system.
- Live demos: Interactive demo and Q&A sessions for personalized training and feature demonstrations.
Support channels
- Phone, email, chat: Multiple support channels ensure any issue can be resolved quickly and efficiently.
- Responsiveness: Evaluate response times and customer satisfaction reviews for the provider’s support team.
- 24/7 support: Make sure the provider has round-the-clock support in case of outages or issues outside traditional working hours.
Security and compliance
As the world becomes increasingly digital, concerns about data privacy and cyber threats are more prevalent than ever. Any software provider should offer security and compliance, such as:
Regulatory compliance
- GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA: Ensure the solution complies with the relevant regulations based on your industry and location.
- Audit trails: Systems should maintain detailed records for compliance purposes to avoid legal trouble.
Data security
- Encryption: End-to-end encryption keeps voice, video, and text communications private.
- Data handling policies: Providers should have clearly outlined policies on how customer data is stored, processed, accessed, and protected.
- Regular updates: The software should be regularly updated to patch any potential vulnerabilities and enhance security.
FAQs
What are the main reasons to look for Grasshopper alternatives?
People look for Grasshopper alternatives due to its limited advanced features, lack of integrations, and occasional issues with call quality or support.
Is it difficult to migrate from Grasshopper to another provider?
Migrating from Grasshopper to another provider is usually straightforward, with many alternatives offering migration assistance.
How do pricing models typically differ between Grasshopper and its alternatives?
Grasshopper’s flat-rate pricing may be more economical for larger teams, while alternatives often use per-user models that may better suit smaller teams with advanced needs.
Which Grasshopper alternative is the easiest to set up and use?
Alternatives like Voiso or RingCentral are often considered among the easiest to set up and use.
Do these Grasshopper alternatives offer the same integrations with CRMs and other tools?
Many Grasshopper alternatives offer robust integrations with CRMs and other business tools, which Grasshopper may lack.
Are there features offered by other platforms that Grasshopper doesn’t have?
Some platforms provide advanced features such as call recording, analytics, and automated dialing that Grasshopper doesn’t include.
Is Voiso better than Grasshopper?
Whether Voiso is better than Grasshopper depends on your needs, as Voiso excels in call center features, while Grasshopper is simpler and more cost-effective for basic use.
How reliable are Grasshopper alternatives in terms of call quality and uptime?
Grasshopper alternatives are generally reliable, with many offering excellent call quality and uptime through robust infrastructures.
No More Grasshopper? Go For Voiso
Grasshopper is a solid choice for small businesses, but exploring alternatives can reveal solutions that better address specific pain points, such as limited advanced features, integration gaps, or support challenges.
When choosing a phone system, it’s crucial to evaluate options based on key criteria like features, pricing models, support reliability, and scalability to ensure the platform aligns with your organization’s unique needs.
By considering both current requirements and future growth, you can confidently select a communication solution that enhances efficiency, supports your team, and grows with your business.
Don’t want to look too far? Reach out to us today to discover how our cloud-based contact center software can revolutionize your business, and make your life so much easier.
