6 Best Cheap VoIP Phone Services for Small Businesses in 2024

Exploring the top affordable VoIP phone services for small businesses in 2024 reveals options that balance cost and essential features for effective communication and growth.

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21 min read
Eric Carriere
Eric Carriere
Cheapest Voip Services

Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) is typically more affordable and scalable than traditional landlines. It's also ready to accommodate remote workers. VoIP services offer advanced features beyond what’s possible with a landline, like voicemail transcription or video conferencing.

However, cost and capabilities vary between providers. A hastily made decision might result in an unsustainable monthly rate.

Small businesses need an affordable, feature-rich VoIP solution that lays the groundwork for lasting growth. The best cheap VoIP service enables internal collaboration and professional external communication.

That's why it's crucial to take your time and weigh all the low-cost options. The best cheap VoIP service gives you everything you need without heavily increasing your operational costs. We've compiled a comprehensive breakdown of the six contenders for the best cheap VoIP service for small businesses.

The Best Cheap VoIP Phone Services: A Visual Comparison

Grasshopper 8x8 Google Voice Vonage Phone.com RingCentral
Pricing (Base-Level) $14/mo (billed annually) Not published (quote only) $10/user/mo* $19.99/line/mo $18/user/mo $30/user/mo ($20 annual)
Features Unlimited texting, toll-free number registration, and virtual faxes. Unlimited international calling in all plans, voice/video/text Affordable and fully integrated with Google Workspace. Desktop and mobile app, SMS and MMS support in base-level plan Strong security that meets compliance requirements. Advanced integrations and API access are available with all plans.
Value Added Ideal for solo businesses or small businesses due to its simplified features. Well-rounded features for new and growing businesses. Low-cost plans are available for those already using Workspace or who want to use it. Ideal for SMS marketing and communications with advanced features available. Secure mobile and web apps with HIPAA-compliant video conferencing. Ready to fit into your tech stack with ready-made integrations and API access.
Rating 2.8/5 2.9/5 2.3/5** 2.3/5 4.3/5 1.8/5

*Requires a Google Workspace plan for more than one user

**Rating is for Google overall. A dedicated Google Voice profile exists, but with only 7 reviews it is too small a sample to treat as a rating.

Ratings are Trustpilot scores as of August 10, 2026. Trustpilot weights recent reviews heavily, so treat each score as a snapshot, not a fixed property.

Headline rates only tell part of the story for the best cheap VoIP service contenders. For a four-person team on the cheapest workable plan, billed annually and before taxes, the monthly totals look like this.

Grasshopper runs about $29.50 in total (Solo Plus at $25, one extra extension at $3, and the $1.50 messaging fee, sharing a single number). Phone.com costs about $60, Google Voice about $68, Vonage $72 to $80, and RingCentral $80. 8x8 cannot be computed at all. Its pricing is quote-only.

These services cater to businesses, but individuals have unique needs too. Groundwire offers a robust SIP client for personal use, compatible with various VoIP services. It's like having a Swiss Army knife for your communication needs: versatile, reliable, and always ready when you need it.

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1. Best for Small Teams: Grasshopper

Grasshopper focuses on giving you and your team unique VoIP numbers, which can be localized, vanity, or toll-free. The service primarily uses existing cell service to make and receive calls. At the same time, it still offers VoIP and WiFi calling. That makes it a fully-fledged VoIP service that earns its spot on this list.

Grasshopper’s plans start at $14 per month for one user and one number, billed annually. Unlike other options, the second and third tiers have a flat rate for unlimited users. Solo Plus runs $25 per month with three extensions. The highest plan costs $55 per month and includes four phone numbers, as well as unlimited extensions. Annual plans offer a 20% savings.

Grasshopper treats users differently than other options. That makes it a strong candidate for the best cheap VoIP service for small teams. However, companies that reach the enterprise level will most likely need to change providers at that point.

Grasshopper has a 2.8/5 rating on Trustpilot from 322 reviews, as of August 2026.

Features

Grasshopper’s plans start with a bare-bones True Solo plan for brand-new businesses. You can upgrade to Solo Plus as the business grows. Many businesses will have everything they need at that level. The company’s plans have the following key features:

  • Unlimited texting
  • Toll-free number registration
  • Virtual fax
  • Mobile and desktop apps
  • Additional phone numbers for $9 per month
  • Advanced plans include: Additional extensions
  • Call transfers
  • Simultaneous call handling
  • Unlimited users

Budget for a few add-ons beyond the plan price. Extra extensions cost $3 per month each. Business texting carries a one-time $19.50 registration fee plus a $1.50 monthly messaging fee, and pricing is subject to sales tax. New customers can try Grasshopper free for 7 days with no credit card required.

Primarily Uses Existing Cell Service

Grasshopper’s focus is on letting you register a new number for business use. This makes it ideal for solo operations and small teams. By default, the service uses your own cell service rather than its own. That can be both a benefit and a drawback, depending on your needs.

On the plus side, Grasshopper’s rates are among the lowest available. That can be a great tradeoff for some businesses.

Mobile-First Design

Because Grasshopper uses existing cell service by default, the company has embraced a mobile-first design at every step. The app offers a familiar, seamless design. It also helps you manage business and personal life on one device, keeping the two clearly separate.

A fully-featured desktop app lets users take calls wherever they are. However, if you’re looking for more of a backend service to integrate with existing apps, Grasshopper may not be the best cheap VoIP service for your needs.

How to Get Started with Grasshopper

Grasshopper offers a self-service checkout that bypasses the usual demo. So you can quickly get started with your new number and app. Get started by choosing the right plan for you, downloading the app, and starting to use your new number.

2. Best All-Rounder: 8x8

8x8 was never the least expensive choice on our list. Still, for many small businesses, the well-rounded features can give you everything you need for internal and external communication.

When this guide was first published, 8x8 listed plans from $28 to $57 per user per month, with a 25% savings for annual plans. As of August 2026, 8x8 publishes no per-user pricing. Its plans page leads to a request-quote form, so the cost of any tier can no longer be verified up front.

That opacity, more than any feature gap, is why 8x8 no longer holds the top spot in this best cheap VoIP service roundup.

The service offers everything a company needs from the very beginning to the enterprise level. That said, you may end up paying for more features than you actually use.

8x8 has a 2.9/5 rating on Trustpilot from 619 reviews, as of August 2026, the second-best score in this roundup. Read the recent reviews alongside the number, though. The one-star complaints are commercial, not technical: obstructed cancellations, auto-renewing contracts, termination fees, billing after cancellation, and unreachable support. As one reviewer put it, "Service quality has always been good ... they claim that the contract auto-renewed."

Watch out: the hazard reviewers describe is a notice window inside an auto-renewing annual contract. One reports a $6,729 early termination fee, another a $60,390 lump-sum invoice after a stalled cancellation. If you consider 8x8, confirm the contract end date and the notice period in writing before you sign.

Features

8x8 offers the core features businesses need. You can upgrade to advanced features as the business grows. A few of these key features are:

  • All plans include voice, video, and text chat
  • Unlimited voice calling domestically
  • Unlimited international calling for 14 or 48 countries based on plan
  • Microsoft Teams integration
  • Advanced plans offer features for larger businesses, such as: Call recording CRM
  • IVR
  • Omni-channel support capabilities
  • Speech analytics

International Calling At Every Level

Most VoIP services include unlimited domestic calling. However, fee structures for international calling vary. With 8x8, the base level plan offers unlimited domestic calling, which is typical for VoIP providers. It also includes unlimited international voice calls to 14 countries. The second tier plan expands this to 48 countries.

Small businesses that don’t need international calling may end up paying more for it. In fact, even the base-level plan can cost more than other providers. So make sure you need international calling now or shortly.

Advanced Enterprise-Level Capabilities

The second tier plan and higher include capabilities that may otherwise be out of reach for small businesses. Supervisor analytics, a monitor, and a purpose-built 8x8 front desk for receptionists are all available on the second plan.

Meanwhile, the rest of the plans unlock increasingly advanced capabilities, such as speech and text analytics, omni-channel support, skill-based routing, and call recording. Small businesses that expect to need these features shortly can start on the lower plans and upgrade when necessary.

How to Get Started with 8x8

The company does not offer a self-service setup, as many plans involve custom pricing based on your needs. Instead, explore the different tiers and get started by requesting a quote.

3. Best for Tight Budgets: Google Voice

Google’s seeming omnipresence in tech includes a surprisingly affordable candidate for the best cheap VoIP service. Google Voice is available for consumers and businesses. The business plans have everything you need to get up and running and stay with the service as you grow.

Plans begin at $10 per user per month. The highest tier is $30 per user per month. That makes the service one of the most cost-effective options to explore. However, there is no discount for annual plans.

There is one important caveat for teams. A single user can subscribe to Voice Starter for $10 per month with no Workspace subscription at all. Enabling Voice for more than one user requires a Google Workspace account. Business Starter runs $7 per user per month with a one-year commitment.

Other plans are available. That brings a team’s combined entry cost to about $17 per user per month, closer to the other options here.

Still, Voice is well worth considering for small businesses already using Workspace or those that want to switch to it. For those teams, it's often the best cheap VoIP service on price alone.

Google has a 2.3/5 rating on Trustpilot from 10,214 reviews, as of August 2026. A dedicated Google Voice profile does exist, rated 2.4/5. It carries only 7 reviews in total and 3 in the past twelve months. That is too small a sample to publish as a rating.

Features

Google Voice aims to accommodate small businesses and enterprise users alike. That makes it a strong choice for new businesses ready to grow. Key features of the service include:

  • Compatible with many common headsets and desk phones
  • Workspace integrations for easier meetings, such as Google Calendar
  • Unlimited calls to Canada, the United States, and most European countries with all plans
  • Advanced features include: SIP Link allows you to connect to a PSTN service from Google
  • Auto attended
  • Desk phone and ATA support
  • Advanced reporting

Cheapest Overall VoIP System

If you’re already using Workspace, $10 per user is hard to beat. That price includes integration with other services you use, such as Calendar or Docs. However, the Workspace requirement may be off-putting for other small businesses. It brings costs up to par with many other best cheap VoIP service options.

Consider whether you can replace other platforms with Workspace. Or look for new ways to integrate the platform with your operation.

Seamless Cross-Device Compatibility

Google Voice works anywhere you are. A secure mobile app and web app help your teams make or receive calls. The service also integrates with desk phones. Every plan except the lowest offers API integrations to sidestep or complement the apps.

How to Get Started with Google Voice

For teams, your first step with Google Voice is getting set up with Google Workspace. Once you’ve chosen your plan and moved through the self-service registration, you’re ready to get set up with Google Voice.

Comparing the best cheap VoIP service providers for small businesses

4. Best for Texting: Vonage

Vonage is one of the original VoIP providers. It helped popularize the service and push the technology forward, making it a viable alternative to traditional options. Vonage offers contact center plans along with communications APIs, each with custom pricing based on usage.

The base level of Vonage’s unified communications (UCaaS) platform starts at $19.99 per month per line, plus taxes and fees. The highest plan runs at $39.99. Per-line pricing falls as headcount rises. Mobile runs $19.99 for a single line, $17.99 in the middle bands, and $14.99 at the largest. Premium runs $29.99, $27.99, and $24.99, and Advanced $39.99, $37.99, and $34.99 across the same bands.

Watch out: new Vonage accounts require a minimum one-year contract. The company states that early termination fees can range up to the total price of the service contract. Weigh that commitment against the headline rate before you compare plans.

Vonage for Businesses USA has a 2.3/5 rating on Trustpilot from 1,547 reviews, as of August 2026, and is labelled Poor. The score is recency-weighted: 1,140 of those lifetime reviews are five-star, a mean near 4.1. But only 36 reviews landed in the past twelve months.

Features

Vonage’s basic plan gives you everything you need to get started. However, you'll most likely need to upgrade as the business grows.

  • Desktop and mobile VoIP apps
  • Unlimited domestic calling
  • SMS and MMS support
  • Higher-tiered plans include advanced features, such as: Support for VoIP desk phones
  • VBC App center
  • Single Sign-On
  • Visual voicemail
  • On-demand call recording

Decades of Experience

Vonage remains in the industry today, with several different services for businesses.

Depending on your needs, you may end up paying for capabilities you don’t need and won’t use, even on the lowest-tier plan. That said, for contact centers or other businesses that expect high call volume, Vonage can be the best cheap VoIP service for the job.

Advanced Capabilities as You Grow

You can upgrade your service plan as necessary. Vonage is ready to equip you with advanced capabilities. These can help certain types of businesses reach the next level of growth. The company can be a long-term telecom partner, provided the cost works for you now and in the future.

How to Get Started with Vonage

Getting set up with Vonage begins by booking a demo. That step ensures their services are the right fit for your business before you move through the onboarding process.

5. Best for Security and Compliance: Phone.com

Phone.com is another long-time name in the VoIP industry. It offers affordable plans with a high degree of security. For healthcare and financial services, Phone.com helps protect your compliance standing and prevent cyber attacks.

The company’s basic plan starts at $18 per user per month, or roughly $15 when billed annually. The highest tier costs $32 per user per month. Phone.com offers a 17% savings on annual plans and backs new accounts with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Something unique about Phone.com’s plans is your ability to mix and match user plans. This gives you more control over paying for only what you need.

Phone.com has a 4.3/5 rating on Trustpilot from 197 reviews, as of August 2026, and is labelled Excellent. That makes it the best-reviewed provider in this roundup.

Features

Phone.com has some restrictions compared to other providers, such as a shared number and minutes on the lowest plan. Even so, the service covers the primary features you expect, plus a few advanced capabilities:

  • Mobile and web apps on all plans
  • Standard voice features (transfer, hold, etc)
  • HIPAA-compliant video conferencing, other than the lowest plan
  • Advanced plans offer: Call recording
  • Call analytics
  • CRM integration
  • Video conferencing with live streaming and whiteboards

Secure Communications

The company advertises HIPAA-compliant services at every level. That gives it a significant advantage over other options for healthcare providers. For other industries, this high level of security is still valuable. It’s likely to help safeguard your compliance standing and prevent a successful cyber attack.

Mix and Match Plans

You can choose specific plans for individual users. That gives you a granular level of control over your total bill. Some employees may only need the base-level plan. Meanwhile, managers may require the highest-level plan for its capabilities.

Keep this in mind when making your decision. Other best cheap VoIP service providers don’t offer this utility. For some businesses, that can save a significant amount of money on the monthly bill.

How to Get Started with Phone.com

You can get set up without the need for a demo via Phone.com’s self-service portal. Begin at the pricing page, select how many users you’ll need throughout the available plans, and proceed through the checkout process. Finally, complete the new customer onboarding process. You’ll be ready to start using your new services.

6. Best for Integrations: RingCentral

RingCentral offers advanced capabilities and integrations at the base-level plan. You can easily upgrade to higher-level plans as your business grows. Just double-check available integrations first. Most likely, you’ll be able to integrate the service into other platforms you already use.

Plans begin at $30 per user per month. The highest tier costs $45 per user per month. Those are monthly-billed rates. Paid annually, RingEX runs $20 per user per month for Core, $25 for Advanced, and $35 for Ultra. The annual discount also varies by tier: 33% on Core, 29% on Advanced, and 22% on Ultra. Be aware that once you reach 100 users, RingCentral offers custom pricing.

RingCentral has a 1.8/5 rating on Trustpilot from 1,951 reviews, as of August 2026.

Features

RingEX is the specific service for phone systems. It begins with a feature-rich Core plan, with advanced capabilities available for higher tiers.

  • Unlimited domestic calling
  • SMS and MMS
  • IVR
  • Google and Microsoft Integrations
  • Real-time QoS monitoring
  • Access to integrations and APIs
  • Higher tier plans unlock advanced features: Unlimited internet faxing
  • CRM integrations
  • Auto call recording
  • Unlimited storage for files and recordings

Feature-Filled Services

The company’s services have more advanced features at the base level than other best cheap VoIP service options. Examples include an IVR and real-time QoS monitoring. Stepping up to higher tiers adds even more utilities. Many businesses will appreciate extras like call recording and internet faxing.

When considering costs, though, keep in mind that you may end up paying for capabilities you don’t use.

CRM and Collaboration Tool Integrations

The base-level plan offers integrations with popular collaborative tools like Google and Microsoft. It also includes API access. If you use Teams or Workspace, this plan enables your teams to start working collaboratively.

CRM integration goes far in working with external partners, clients, or customers. From there, you’ll be able to see available data in the CRM. You can call them or jump into video conferences.

How to Get Started with RingCentral

RingCentral has a self-service portal. You can choose the right plan for your organization and get set up immediately. You can also reach out to a sales expert if you have specific questions about the service.

How to Choose the Best Cheap VoIP Service for Your Small Business

We’ve explored several options. There are plenty of other VoIP phone services out there as well. So how can you navigate the maze of options to find the right choice for your business? Let’s break down how to find the best cheap VoIP service by matching your requirements with possible vendors.

Pricing and Plans

Start by focusing on pricing and plans. That way, you'll eliminate options that are simply out of your price range right away.

Most of the best cheap VoIP service providers charge per user per month or per year. Begin by evaluating how many users you’ll need immediately and in the near future. Put more weight on your present needs, because future plans may take longer than you’d like. You don’t want to pay for features you won’t use.

One more caveat on sticker prices: advertised per-user rates exclude telecom taxes and surcharges. RingCentral’s pricing page notes that charges like a Federal Universal Service Recovery Fee, E911 and 911 service fees, and state and local taxes may apply. Vonage and Grasshopper carry equivalent disclaimers. Expect the final bill to land above the advertised rate. Compare providers on that basis.

Essential Features

What specific features are mandatory in the best cheap VoIP service for your team? Make a list of what’s crucial for your business, like HIPAA-compliant services or specific integrations, to start eliminating possible options.

You can safely assume basic voice features will be included. Still, double-check them if they’re mission-critical, like the ability to do warm transfers.

As for advanced features, like call recording, you can quickly eliminate base-level plans and focus on what's available at the higher tiers. From there, return to costs and pick the best cheap VoIP service for what you actually need.

Scalability

Scalability is a balance between costs and capabilities. The most important factor is the number of users you can accommodate. As your business grows, your telecom bill shouldn’t directly limit that growth. A 10x increase in revenue shouldn’t create a 10x increase in telecom costs.

Evaluate how the platform integrates with your tech stack, its costs per user, and other moving pieces unique to your organization. Make sure you can scale effectively. The best cheap VoIP service at five users should still make sense at fifty.

For businesses looking to take their VoIP offerings to the next level, consider a white-label softphone solution. Cloud Softphone allows you to create a branded VoIP experience tailored to your clients' needs. It's not just about scaling. It's about crafting a communication ecosystem that truly represents your brand.

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Customer Support

Even if the best cheap VoIP service looks perfect for your needs on paper, lackluster customer support can turn minor issues into business-impacting problems. 24/7 support and rapid resolutions are critical because they keep you able to communicate with customers, partners, and internally.

How can you gauge support? Reviews can go far in shedding light on experiences you might have. Pay attention to more recent reviews, as things may have changed from years-old reviews.

Treat every score as a snapshot. Trustpilot’s TrustScore is recency-weighted, so check when a rating was last read before relying on it. And don’t write off low scores as an industry artifact.

In the same category, Nextiva scores 4.6, Dialpad 4.0, and Ooma 3.4. A 1.8 or 2.3 is a real signal. For balance, note that Grasshopper is the only provider in this roundup using paid Trustpilot features and business-generated review invitations.

If bad customer service is a recurring theme, it might be worth moving on to the next potential VoIP service provider. The best cheap VoIP service stops being cheap the moment an outage goes unanswered.

Final Words: Take the Time to Fully Evaluate All the Options

A decade ago, there weren’t very many VoIP platforms that could replace traditional options for businesses. Now, there is a wide variety of best cheap VoIP service options well beyond the ones we’ve explored above.

What actually decides it? Usually one constraint. If you already pay for Google Workspace, Google Voice is the cheapest path on this list. Want a flat rate for unlimited users? That’s Grasshopper. And when different employees need different plans, Phone.com is the only option here that lets you mix and match. Find the constraint that matters most to your business, and the best cheap VoIP service tends to name itself.

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About the author
Eric is an experienced B2B SaaS copywriter with over a decade of experience working with tech companies in telecom, AI, cybersecurity, and other leading-edge industries. Eric takes a data-driven approach when creating content for Acrobits — blending his extensive telecom experience with his desire to create trustworthy content that's accurate, sharable, and designed for today's busy professionals.
Eric Carriere

Eric Carriere

@eric-carriere