Best Small Business Phone Systems (2026)
The cheapest per user is Google Voice at $10 a user a month (up to 10 users). Dialpad and Quo start at $15 a user billed annually, Ooma Office at $19.95 with no annual pricing, and Grasshopper is priced per account from $14 a month billed annually, which suits a solo owner. Check whether the entry plan includes a phone menu: Google Voice Starter and Quo Starter do not.
Quick picks
- Lowest price per user: Google Voice Starter at $10 a user a month, up to 10 users (no phone menu on Starter). Details
- One number for a solo owner: Grasshopper, priced per account from $14 a month billed annually, 7-day trial with no card. Details
- Lowest annual price with AI transcripts: Dialpad Connect Standard at $15 a user a month billed annually. Details
- Texting-heavy small teams: Quo: unlimited US and Canada texting on every plan, $15 a user billed annually. Details
- Desk phones and a receptionist menu, billed monthly: Ooma Office from $19.95 a user a month, with a virtual receptionist and a free toll-free number. Details
- Already on Zoom: Zoom Phone from $16 a user a month billed annually. Details
The phone systems compared
| Phone system | Starting price | Free trial | Phone menu (auto attendant) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | $10/user/mo (Starter, up to 10 users) | No Voice trial stated | Standard and Premier only | Lowest price per user |
| Grasshopper | from $14/mo billed annually (per account) | 7 days, no credit card | Phone menu (IVR) | Solo owners who want one business number on their cell |
| Dialpad | $15/user/mo annual; $27 monthly | 14 days | Auto-attendants offered | AI transcripts on the entry plan |
| Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | $15/user/mo annual; $19 monthly | 7 days | Business and Scale only | Small teams that text a lot |
| Zoom Phone | $16/user/mo annual; $18 monthly | Only for existing Zoom Phone customers, per its page | Unlimited auto attendants, all plans | Teams already using Zoom |
| Vonage Business | $13.99/line/mo (12-month promotion); $19.99 regular | Not stated | Virtual receptionist listed | Promotional pricing for the first year |
| Ooma Office | $19.95/user/mo | None found | Virtual receptionist on all plans | Offices that want desk phones and a receptionist menu |
| Nextiva | $15/user/mo (NEXT Core) | No phone-plan trial found | Auto attendant offered | Toll-free minutes and texting bundled in |
| RingCentral RingEX | from $20/user/mo (Core) | 14 days, new subscribers | Auto attendant | Calls, texts, meetings and AI notes in one plan |
| Aircall | $30/license/mo billed annually (3-license minimum) | Free access offered; length not stated | IVR on all plans | Sales and support teams of 3 or more |
Listed roughly from lowest to highest entry price. No company paid for placement.
How we picked
We compared cloud phone systems that publish prices for small businesses. For each one we read its own pricing and product pages on October 22, 2026 and recorded only what those pages state. Some companies show prices without saying whether they are for monthly or annual billing; we mark those "Not labeled" instead of guessing. We did not run call-quality tests. Full method.
What 5 users cost per month
| Phone system | 5 users, annual billing (per month) | 5 users, monthly billing (per month) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | Not stated | $50 Starter or $100 Standard (commitment not stated), plus Google Workspace |
| Grasshopper | Per account, not per user | Per account, not per user |
| Dialpad | $75 | $135 |
| Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | $75 | $95 |
| Zoom Phone | $80 | $90 |
| Vonage Business | $69.95 (12-month promotion) | $99.95 |
| Ooma Office | No annual pricing | $99.75 |
| Nextiva | $75 or $115 (Not labeled) | $75 or $115 (Not labeled) |
| RingCentral RingEX | from $100 (Not labeled) | from $100 (Not labeled) |
| Aircall | $150 | Not published |
Entry plan, list price, before taxes and fees. Google Voice for more than one user also needs Google Workspace, billed separately.
Features side by side
| Phone system | Calling | Texting | Call recording | Toll-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | Calls to the US included; Canada included from US and Canadian numbers | Unlimited US texting | On-demand (Starter, Standard); automatic (Premier) | Not stated |
| Grasshopper | Unlimited calling and texting within the US and Canada | Business texting (SMS/MMS) | Automatic recording on every extension | Local, toll-free or vanity number |
| Dialpad | Unlimited calling in your country, the US and Canada | SMS, MMS and group messages | Offered | Toll-free number support standard |
| Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | Unlimited US and Canada calling, fair usage policy applies | Unlimited US and Canada texting (carrier registration required) | Manual (Starter); automatic (Business, Scale) | One local or toll-free number per user included |
| Zoom Phone | US & CA Unlimited plan: unlimited or metered; Pro Plus and Business Plus: unlimited | Domestic SMS and MMS, all plans | All plans | Included, all plans |
| Vonage Business | Unlimited domestic calling, reasonable usage applies | SMS and MMS | Advanced only (15 hours a month) | Not stated |
| Ooma Office | Unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico | Pro 250 a month; Pro Plus 1,000 | Pro and Pro Plus | One free toll-free number with 500 inbound minutes a month |
| Nextiva | Unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico | Core 100, Engage 500 per user a month; Scale unlimited | Offered | Engage: toll-free number + 2,000 minutes; Scale: + 10,000 |
| RingCentral RingEX | Unlimited calls within the US and Canada | Included on Core and Advanced; not in the trial | Not stated | Not stated |
| Aircall | Unlimited US and Canada calls on Essentials and Professional | Included (14 countries) | All plans | One local or toll-free number included; extra numbers $6 a month |
1. Google Voice: best for lowest price per user
Starting price: $10/user/mo (Starter, up to 10 users). Free trial: No Voice trial stated.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $10/user/mo | Up to 10 users |
| Standard | $20/user/mo | Unlimited users; multi-level auto attendant |
| Premier | $30/user/mo | Automatic call recording; requires a Google Workspace plan billed separately |
Key features
- Calling: Calls to the US included; Canada included from US and Canadian numbers
- Texting: Unlimited US texting
- Phone menu: Standard and Premier only
- Call recording: On-demand (Starter, Standard); automatic (Premier)
- Toll-free: Not stated
Also worth knowing
- Multi-user Voice requires Google Workspace, billed separately.
- Port existing business numbers to Voice.
- Voicemail transcription on all plans; works with desk phones and ATAs.
Watch out for
- Starter has no auto attendant (phone menu).
- Google's page does not say whether prices require a monthly or annual commitment.
Visit Google Voice Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
2. Grasshopper: best for solo owners who want one business number on their cell
Starting price: from $14/mo billed annually (per account). Free trial: 7 days, no credit card.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | $14/mo billed annually | Plan details did not load in the page text we could read |
Key features
- Calling: Unlimited calling and texting within the US and Canada
- Texting: Business texting (SMS/MMS)
- Phone menu: Phone menu (IVR)
- Call recording: Automatic recording on every extension
- Toll-free: Local, toll-free or vanity number
Also worth knowing
- Priced per account; Grasshopper's homepage says you can add unlimited users at no extra cost.
- Free number porting.
- AI call summaries and transcripts; virtual receptionist with AI, live or hybrid options.
Watch out for
- Grasshopper's pricing page did not show its plan cards in the text we could read, so we only list the confirmed starting price.
- Desk phone support is not stated.
Visit Grasshopper Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
3. Dialpad: best for aI transcripts on the entry plan
Starting price: $15/user/mo annual; $27 monthly. Free trial: 14 days.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Connect Standard | $15/user/mo annual, $27 monthly | Real-time transcripts and call summaries |
| Connect Pro | $25/user/mo annual, $35 monthly | |
| Connect Enterprise | Custom |
Key features
- Calling: Unlimited calling in your country, the US and Canada
- Texting: SMS, MMS and group messages
- Phone menu: Auto-attendants offered
- Call recording: Offered
- Toll-free: Toll-free number support standard
Also worth knowing
- Real-time AI transcripts and call summaries from the Standard plan up.
- Port numbers in the online dashboard.
- HD calls and video meetings on Standard.
Watch out for
- Dialpad says the price on its website may differ from your actual price because of regional pricing.
Visit Dialpad Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
4. Quo (formerly OpenPhone): best for small teams that text a lot
Starting price: $15/user/mo annual; $19 monthly. Free trial: 7 days.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $15/user/mo annual, $19 monthly | |
| Business | $23/user/mo annual, $33 monthly | Phone menus, automatic recording, AI call summaries |
| Scale | $35/user/mo annual, $47 monthly |
Key features
- Calling: Unlimited US and Canada calling, fair usage policy applies
- Texting: Unlimited US and Canada texting (carrier registration required)
- Phone menu: Business and Scale only
- Call recording: Manual (Starter); automatic (Business, Scale)
- Toll-free: One local or toll-free number per user included
Also worth knowing
- One local or toll-free number per user included; extra numbers $5 a month.
- Sona AI agent included on all plans with 1,000 credits (10 calls); paid credit tiers $25 to $199 a month.
- Number porting on all plans.
Watch out for
- Starter has no phone menu.
- Desk phone support is not stated.
Visit Quo (formerly OpenPhone) Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
5. Zoom Phone: best for teams already using Zoom
Starting price: $16/user/mo annual; $18 monthly. Free trial: Only for existing Zoom Phone customers, per its page.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US & CA Unlimited | $16/user/mo annual, $18 monthly | Meetings up to 40 min, 100 participants |
| Pro Plus | $20.50/user/mo annual, $24 monthly | Unlimited AI note-taking |
| Business Plus | $24.50/user/mo annual, $29 monthly | Meetings up to 300 participants |
Key features
- Calling: US & CA Unlimited plan: unlimited or metered; Pro Plus and Business Plus: unlimited
- Texting: Domestic SMS and MMS, all plans
- Phone menu: Unlimited auto attendants, all plans
- Call recording: All plans
- Toll-free: Included, all plans
Also worth knowing
- Post-call summaries and voicemail transcription on all plans.
- Port numbers with no hidden fees, per Zoom.
- Works with VoIP desk phones; Zoom sells Mitel, Yealink and Poly phones.
Watch out for
- The entry plan limits AI note-taking to 3 and meetings to 40 minutes.
Visit Zoom Phone Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
6. Vonage Business: best for promotional pricing for the first year
Starting price: $13.99/line/mo (12-month promotion); $19.99 regular. Free trial: Not stated.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | $19.99/line/mo; $13.99 promo | Lower per-extension tiers also shown |
| Premium | $29.99/line/mo; $20.99 promo | Video meetings up to 200; desk phones |
| Advanced | $39.99/line/mo; $27.99 promo | On-demand call recording, 15 hours a month |
Key features
- Calling: Unlimited domestic calling, reasonable usage applies
- Texting: SMS and MMS
- Phone menu: Virtual receptionist listed
- Call recording: Advanced only (15 hours a month)
- Toll-free: Not stated
Also worth knowing
- Main local company number included with online purchases.
- Desk phones supported on Premium and Advanced.
Watch out for
- Taxes and fees are not included in Vonage's prices.
- The promotional price is a 12-month promotion.
Visit Vonage Business Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
7. Ooma Office: best for offices that want desk phones and a receptionist menu
Starting price: $19.95/user/mo. Free trial: None found.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $19.95/user/mo | |
| Pro | $24.95/user/mo | Video meetings up to 25; call recording |
| Pro Plus | $29.95/user/mo | Video meetings up to 100; AI transcriptions |
Key features
- Calling: Unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico
- Texting: Pro 250 a month; Pro Plus 1,000
- Phone menu: Virtual receptionist on all plans
- Call recording: Pro and Pro Plus
- Toll-free: One free toll-free number with 500 inbound minutes a month
Also worth knowing
- Free porting of regular US and Canada numbers.
- Ooma IP phones from $59.99.
- AI receptionist available as an add-on; price not stated.
Watch out for
- No annual pricing and no free trial found on Ooma's plans page.
Visit Ooma Office Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
8. Nextiva: best for toll-free minutes and texting bundled in
Starting price: $15/user/mo (NEXT Core). Free trial: No phone-plan trial found.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NEXT Core | $15/user/mo, shown next to $23 | Unlimited voice and video; AI call transcripts and summaries |
| NEXT Engage | $25/user/mo, shown next to $50 | Toll-free number with 2,000 minutes |
| NEXT Scale | $75/user/mo | Unlimited SMS |
Key features
- Calling: Unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico
- Texting: Core 100, Engage 500 per user a month; Scale unlimited
- Phone menu: Auto attendant offered
- Call recording: Offered
- Toll-free: Engage: toll-free number + 2,000 minutes; Scale: + 10,000
Also worth knowing
- Free number porting with every account.
- Annual small-business pricing applies to new customers with 1 to 100 employees and needs a 12-month or longer term.
- Works with any desk phone.
Watch out for
- Nextiva's page shows two prices per plan without labeling which is monthly and which is annual.
- A "up to 12 months free" promotion is shown without readable terms.
Visit Nextiva Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
9. RingCentral RingEX: best for calls, texts, meetings and AI notes in one plan
Starting price: from $20/user/mo (Core). Free trial: 14 days, new subscribers.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core | from $20/user/mo | Calls, texts, meetings; AI Assistant included |
| Advanced | from $25/user/mo | AI Assistant expanded |
| Ultra | Not shown |
Key features
- Calling: Unlimited calls within the US and Canada
- Texting: Included on Core and Advanced; not in the trial
- Phone menu: Auto attendant
- Call recording: Not stated
- Toll-free: Not stated
Also worth knowing
- RingCentral says you save up to 33% by paying annually.
- AI Receptionist add-on starts at $39.
- Desk phones supported; rental requires a multi-year contract.
Watch out for
- RingCentral's page does not say whether the $20 and $25 prices are for monthly or annual billing.
- Its two trial pages disagree: one says up to 20 lines, the other up to 5 users.
Visit RingCentral RingEX Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
10. Aircall: best for sales and support teams of 3 or more
Starting price: $30/license/mo billed annually (3-license minimum). Free trial: Free access offered; length not stated.
Plans
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | $30/license/mo billed annually | Minimum 3 licenses |
| Professional | from $50/license/mo | Minimum 3 licenses; AI summaries included |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Key features
- Calling: Unlimited US and Canada calls on Essentials and Professional
- Texting: Included (14 countries)
- Phone menu: IVR on all plans
- Call recording: All plans
- Toll-free: One local or toll-free number included; extra numbers $6 a month
Also worth knowing
- Call and voicemail transcription on all plans.
- AI Voice Agents: 50 free minutes a month for all customers, then $0.49 a minute or bundles.
- Paying annually saves 25%, per Aircall.
Watch out for
- Every plan needs at least 3 licenses.
- Aircall does not publish its monthly-billing price.
Visit Aircall Source: official pricing page, checked October 22, 2026.
Phone systems without published prices
- GoTo Connect: Prices load in a script we could not read. Its comparison table lists unlimited auto attendants, SMS on all plans and 1,000 shared toll-free minutes. Pricing page
- 8x8: No public prices; quote only. Pricing page
Pricing by company
- Google Voice pricing
- RingCentral RingEX pricing
- Zoom Phone pricing
- Quo (formerly OpenPhone) pricing
- Dialpad pricing
- Aircall pricing
- Ooma Office pricing
- Nextiva pricing
- Vonage Business pricing
Frequently asked questions
What is the best phone system for a small business?
On published pricing: Google Voice is the cheapest per user ($10), Grasshopper suits a solo owner because it is priced per account, Dialpad and Quo both start at $15 a user billed annually, Ooma Office suits offices that want desk phones on monthly billing, and Zoom Phone fits teams already on Zoom.
How much does a business phone system cost?
Entry plans we found start at $10 a user a month (Google Voice Starter) and $15 a user a month billed annually (Dialpad and Quo). For 5 users that is about $50 to $150 a month on entry plans, before taxes and fees.
Can I keep my existing business number?
Yes with most. Google Voice, Grasshopper, Dialpad, Quo, Zoom Phone, Vonage, Ooma and Nextiva all say you can port numbers; Grasshopper, Ooma and Nextiva say porting is free.
Do I need desk phones?
Not necessarily. If you want them, Ooma, Zoom Phone, Dialpad, Nextiva, RingCentral, Vonage (Premium and Advanced) and Google Voice say they support desk phones. Grasshopper, Quo and Aircall do not say so on the pages we checked.
Which business phone systems include an AI receptionist?
Quo includes its Sona AI agent with 1,000 credits on every plan. RingCentral sells an AI Receptionist add-on from $39, Aircall sells AI Voice Agents from $0.49 a minute after 50 free minutes, and Ooma and Nextiva offer AI receptionist add-ons.