Compare The Best Cloud Based Phone Systems

Want to jump straight to the answer? The best cloud based phone system for most people is Nextiva or RingCentral.

Cloud phones are the modern solution for business communications. Instead of being tied to a desk with a physical landline, cloud-based phone systems can be used anywhere with internet access.

The Top 6 Best Cloud-Based Phone Systems

Nextiva — Best Overall (For a limited time get 25% off, plus a free phone, when you sign up!)RingCentral — Best All-in-One Business Communication SuiteGrasshopper — Best Cloud Phone System For Microbusinesses8×8 Express — Best Cloud Phone System For Small BusinessDialpad — Best AI-Powered Cloud Phone PlatformFreshdesk Contact Center — Best For Customer Support Teams

After extensive research and testing, I’ve narrowed down the top six cloud-based phone systems on the market today. The following reviews contain information about the features, benefits, pricing, and recommended use cases for each system on the list.

Nextiva — Best Overall

Nextiva is a popular solution in the cloud phone system industry.

The software powers 1+ billion calls from 100,000+ businesses, including Panasonic, Amazon, and Cisco.

Nextiva is extremely versatile. They have a wide range of communication products, including cloud phone systems for small businesses, all-in-one communication suites, sales tools, and more.

But the cloud PBX phone system from Nextiva is the best option for businesses that want a robust and feature-rich phone solution.

Available features include:

Unlimited calling in the US and CanadaFree local and toll-free numbersTeam collaboration toolsUnlimited business SMSAudio and video meetingsCall recordingReal-time voice analyticsScreen sharingVoicemail to email

Nextiva offers 24/7 customer service and exceptional call quality. The data centers are protected with military-grade security.

There are two cloud PBX plans to choose from—Professional and Enterprise. These monthly rates start at $21.95 and $31.95 per user, respectively. If you want advanced features like voice analytics, call recording, and CRM integrations, you’ll need the Enterprise plan. Otherwise, the Professional package will be just fine.

*Nextiva runs special promotions often and so you may can save even more on the plans above. Click here for the current sale prices.

Create an account to try Nextiva free for seven days. Certain businesses might be eligible for more extended trial periods, so reach out to a Nextiva sales rep for a custom quote.

RingCentral Office — Best All-in-One Business Communication Suite

RingCentral has quickly become a global leader in the business communications and collaboration industry. Over 400,000 companies worldwide rely on RingCentral’s cloud solutions.

RingCentral Office is perfect for organizations that want cloud-based phone, video, and messaging software from a single platform.

The cloud phone system makes it easy for businesses to manage and route calls using carrier-grade performance and reliability. RingCentral is easy to use, and you can deploy it in a matter of minutes. Whether you’re adding a single user or onboarding an entire department, RingCentral Office can accommodate your needs.

Cloud voice, video, and messaging can all be managed from the RingCentral mobile app or desktop app.

Here are some of the other reasons why RingCentral Office ranks so high on my list:

Unlimited calls in the US and CanadaSLA and enterprise-grade security24/7 supportKeep your existing numberSwitch live calls between devicesExtensions and shared linesAuto-receptionist

RingCentral integrates with hundreds of business apps, like G Suite, Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Zendesk, and more.

Here’s a quick glance at the plans and prices for RingCentral Office:

Essentials — Starting at $19.99 per user per monthStandard — Starting at $27.99 per user per monthPremium — Starting at $34.99 per user per monthUltimate — Starting at $49.99 per user per month

Whether you have a small team of ten or an enterprise organization with 10,000 users, RingCentral Office should be a top consideration. Try it for free with a 15-day trial.

Grasshopper — Best Cloud Phone System For Microbusinesses

If you’re seeking a cloud phone system for just one or a few phone numbers, look no further than Grasshopper.

It’s a popular choice for entrepreneurs or sole proprietors that want a phone number separate from their personal line. Grasshopper is also suitable for people running a small side-hustle.

Don’t let Grasshopper’s simplicity fool you. It’s still a complete virtual phone solution with features like call handling, extensions, and custom greetings. No additional devices are required, as Grasshopper works seamlessly with your existing phone.

All plans include features like:

Mobile and desktop appsCall transfersIncoming call controlInstant responseBusiness textingVirtual faxCall forwarding

It’s easy to set up, and Grasshoppers offers 24/7 US-based customer support. So, you’re in good hands if you ever run into a problem or have any questions.

There are three different packages to choose from:

Solo — Starts at $26 per monthPartner — Starts at $44 per monthSmall Business — Starts at $80 per month

The Solo plan supports a single phone number and three extensions. The Partner package supports three phone numbers and six extensions. If you need up to five numbers and unlimited extensions, go with the Small Business plan. But with that said, most Grasshopper users choose between the Solo and Partner packages. For those of you in need of more than five phone numbers, you likely find a better deal elsewhere.

Try Grasshopper for free with a seven-day trial.

8×8 Express — Best Cloud Phone System For Small Business

8×8 is another business communication solution with a wide range of products for different needs. They offer tools for contact centers, team chat, video conferencing, and more.

But the business phone solutions from 8×8 is arguably the provider’s most popular service.

I like 8×8 because they have solutions for businesses across every possible industry. They work with retailers, legal businesses, accountants, architects, engineers, and more. 8×8 Express is the cloud phone system designed for small businesses.

Getting started is easy. Whether you’re running a home-based business or a small office, the entire setup can be completed in just a few minutes. 8×8 offers a free phone number or allows you to use your existing one.

You’ll have the ability to add new users at any time, and all of your settings can be managed from the intuitive web-based dashboard.

Let’s take a closer look at the top features and benefits of 8×8 Express:

Unlimited calling in the US and CanadaCall forwardingHold musicHD voice and videoSeparate business and personal callsAuto-attendantIntelligent call routingVoice, video, and messaging from a single app

I like 8×8 Express because it’s so powerful but doesn’t come with an overwhelming amount of features that small businesses won’t need.

The 8×8 Express package starts at $12 per user per month. Try it free for one month and request a quote to get started.

Dialpad — Best AI-Powered Cloud Phone Platform

Dialpad is a bit unique compared to some of the other solutions on the market today. It’s branded as a cloud communication platform powered by artificial intelligence.

The software is trusted by 70,000+ businesses worldwide, including innovative leaders like HubSpot, Uber, WeWork, and Stripe.

The AI-powered voice intelligence automatically takes notes, captures action items, and provides sentiment analysis in real-time. All of this helps improve the quality and productivity of calls.

Dialpad is easy to use and deploy. This makes it a top choice for remote teams, as the software works from anywhere. Whether teams are communicating with each other or with customers, all Dialpad conversations can be managed within a single platform. The software even has built-in messaging.

Other top features include:

Unlimited callingUnlimited SMS and MMSCustom greetingVoicemail transcriptionCall recordingMulti-level auto attendantAbility to switch calls between devicesCall transcriptionsThree-way calling

Some packages even integrate with other business tools, like Zapier, Slack, HubSpot, G Suite, and more. You can add a faxing package to the plans as well.

There are two Dialpad business phone plans to choose from—Standard and Pro. These start at $15 and $25 per user per month, respectively. For organizations seeking 100+ licenses, contact Dialpad for a custom enterprise solution.

To get started, sign up and try Dialpad for free with a 14-day trial.

Freshdesk Contact Center — Best For Customer Support Teams

Freshdesk Contact Center is a cloud-based phone solution and call center software. It can accommodate remote teams and on-premise call centers alike.

More than 40,000 businesses rely on Freshdesk Contact Center’s cloud PBX phone system.

While the software can theoretically be used for any business purpose, it’s definitely geared toward customer support teams. Freshdesk Contact Center has a robust call routing engine that includes interactive voice response and smart escalations.

Agents can transfer calls, add notes, and collaborate with other members of the team directly from the Freshdesk Contact Center platform.

Other top features and benefits of Freshdesk Contact Center include:

Simple number management with phone numbers available in 90+ countriesPre-built and customizable reporting toolsShared linesSpam blockingCustom greetingsWait queuesReal-time call monitoringCall recordingCaller ID

Freshdesk Contact Center also provides agents with a complete interaction history from each customer. This helps those customer service reps resolve issues faster.

Here’s an overview of the Freshdesk Contact Center plans and pricing:

Sprout — $0Blossom — Starts at $15 per agent per monthGarden — Starts at $29 per agent per monthEstate — Starts at $45 per agent per monthForest — Starts at $69 per agent per month

Each package comes with a certain number of free incoming minutes per month, starting at 1,000 with the Blossom package. All outgoing calls are charged by the minute. Rates vary by device and country, but outbound calls in the US start as low as $0.022 per minute.

This pricing structure is perfect for businesses that only want to pay for what they use. Try Freshdesk Contact Center for free with a 21-day trial.

How to Find the Best Cloud-Based Phone System For You

Certain factors must be evaluated as you’re comparing different cloud-based phone systems. There is no “best for everyone” cloud phone solution— what works for me and my business might not be the best for you and yours.

Use the following methodology to weigh the most important factors according to your personal needs.

Additional Communication Tools

In today’s day and age, the term “phone system” often implies more than just a voice solution. This is especially true in the business space.

Most of the best cloud phone systems offer solutions for video, messaging, conference calling, and more. Some of these communication tools are bundled into an all-in-one product suite. Other times they’re offered as a separate add-on.

Evaluate your company’s needs. These all-in-one product suites are certainly useful, especially for larger organizations. But small teams may not be taking full advantage of those added features. So you could probably save some money by going with a standalone voice solution, without extras you’ll never use.

Call Quality and Uptime

One potential downside of using a cloud-based phone system compared to a traditional landline is the call quality. Calls are facilitated through VoIP technology from web apps, mobile apps, and internet browsers.

If the system you’re using has an unstable connection, it can lead to problems. It’s frustrating, inefficient, and unprofessional if calls are dropped or callers can’t hear what your agents are saying.

Some cloud phone systems are undoubtedly better than others. All of the solutions on my list have an outstanding reputation in terms of quality and performance. Certain providers offer uptime guarantees and SLAs to put your mind at ease. The best way to see if you’re happy with the quality of a solution is by taking advantage of free trials.

Setup and New User Onboarding

Cloud phone systems don’t require any additional hardware like physical phones, headsets, or wiring. The setup for most providers should be straightforward. Some have longer setup processes and times than others, depending on how complex or customized your solution is.

Once you’re up and running, you should be able to manage new users with ease. What about when you hire a new employee? Adding users should be as simple as making a few clicks online.

Make sure you check those features out ahead of time because the day will eventually come when you’re going to add lines and onboard new users.

Minute Restrictions

Most of the best cloud phone systems offer unlimited calling. But that’s not the case with every provider.

Some solutions offer pay-as-you-go pricing. In many cases, you might get a certain amount of minutes included with a plan, and then you’ll pay per minute for usage that goes beyond your plan limits.

On the plus side, paying by usage is great for low volume calling. You’ll only pay for what you use. But for businesses with higher call volumes, an unlimited plan with no restrictions will likely be a better option.

The Top Cloud Based Phone Systems in Summary

Using VoIP technology, cloud-based phone systems eliminate outdated and expensive hardware while still allowing users to make and receive calls from anywhere. This is particularly useful in a world where so many people work remotely.

Regardless of your business size, industry, or needs, you can find what you’re looking for using the recommendations in this guide.

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