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Small Business Phone Systems

Best Small Business Phone Systems

We narrowed it down to help you choose the best phone system for your business in 2024

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In today’s increasingly competitive marketplace, a small business phone system is not an option. It’s a necessity if you’d like to increase productivity and improve customer experience. To make your search a bit easier, we compiled this list of the best small business phone systems. With our in-depth reviews and expert advice, you can zero in on which option is ideal for your unique business and goals.

Our Top Picks

Small Business Phone System Reviews

We did the research so you don’t have to. Out of 20 popular business phone systems, we handpicked the top six based on important details, from features and pricing transparency to customer support and reputation. Regardless of your industry or size, you’re sure to find a phone system (or a few) that can improve your external and internal communications. Rest assured, our experienced editorial team vetted each option thoroughly.

Looking for more details on how we made our selections? Check out our methodology below.

Vonage

Best for Remote Teams

Vonage offers a robust set of communication services to businesses of all sizes, from small to enterprise. You can enjoy a phone service that offers APIs, unified communications, and contact centers that will help turn conversations into sales. Vonage also boasts a 99.999% uptime reliability, meaning you can rely on stable and engaging calls.

RingCentral

Best for Integrations

RingCentral is a well-known small business phone service that allows businesses to send and receive calls or texts across different devices. It offers unlimited calling throughout the United States and Canada and supports a generous amount of integrations.

Ooma

Best for New VoIP Users

Ooma is a voiceover Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service that offers three plans to meet the business needs of small and mid-sized business owners. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can try it out risk-free.

Nextiva

Best for Medium and Large Teams

Nextiva is a popular voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) service that offers unlimited calling throughout the United States and Canada. Its multiple, flexible plans are designed for businesses, call centers, and contact centers of all sizes.

GoTo Connect

Best for Small Businesses

Part of GoTo, GoTo Connect is a small business phone system that pairs a mobile business VoIP phone system with chat, audio, text, and video conferencing. Its affordable plans make it worth exploring for many businesses.

Grasshopper

Best for Solopreneurs

Grasshopper is a VoIP provider that can make it affordable and convenient to operate in a professional manner from your personal device. You can choose a business phone number from a toll-free number or a local number.

Dialpad

Best for Modern, AI-Powered Features

Dialpad is an AI-powered phone system with a plethora of advanced features you might not find elsewhere. It’s focused on innovation and releases updates on a regular basis. As a Dialpad user, you can reap the benefits of auto-replies, international SMS, shared phone numbers, and more.

On this page:

Compare the best small business phone systems side-by-side

BrandBest forStarting PriceFree Trial
RingCentralIntegrations$20 per user per monthNone
OomaNew VoIP Users$19.95 per user per monthNone
NextivaMedium and Large Teams$23.95 per user per month90 days
GoTo ConnectSmall BusinessesRequest a quoteNone
GrasshopperSolopreneurs$14/monthNone
DialpadModern Features$15 per user per monthNone

What is a small business phone system?

Put simply, a small business phone system is a VoIP, cloud-based solution that allows you to make phone calls, send messages, and sometimes host secure video conferences from a desktop app and mobile devices. It usually comes with a variety of features that allow you to position yourself as a professional business and appear much larger than you are.

Most small business phone service providers are highly scalable, so you can add on features as your business grows.

Types of business phone systems

There are a number of business phone systems, including:

  • Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): VoIP allows you to make phone calls over a wireless connection, so you don’t need any complex equipment. As long as you have a reliable Wi-Fi or internet connection, you’ll be good to go. Common features include click-to-call, instant messaging, video conferencing, and voice-to-text transcription.
  • Multi-line phone systems: These are traditional phone systems that rely on a public switched telephone network (PSTN). They involve several traditional phone lines and are quite outdated, with very limited features. 
  • Private branch exchange systems (PBX systems): PBX systems are centralized telephone networks that connect many people within a business and allow them to send and receive phone calls. While they offer more features than landlines, they typically come with expensive upgrades. 

Our list of the best small business phone systems focuses on VoIP providers. Nextiva, GoTo Connect, Grasshopper, Ooma, RingCentral, and Dialpad are all excellent options for any small business that would like to reap the benefits of VoIP.

Not only are they easy to install, but they are more affordable than more outdated systems, like landlines, and allow for unified communications and scalability. 

How much does a small business phone system cost?

In most cases, small business phone solutions charge a monthly fee per user. Some of them have a flat monthly fee, regardless of the number of users. While many services are transparent about their pricing and include it on their websites, there are a few that require you to contact them for a quote. In general, however, you can expect to pay anywhere between $15 and $50 per user per month. It all depends on the features and level of service that are important to you. 

Here’s a look at pricing for the business phone systems on our list:

BrandStarting Price
Vonage$19.99 per month per extension
RingCentral$20 per user per month
Ooma$19.95 per user per month
Nextiva$23.95 per user per month (when paid annually)
GoTo ConnectRequest a quote
Grasshopper$14/month
Dialpad$15 per user per month

Business phone system features to look for

Several of the most important features of small business phone systems include:

  • Call recording: Call recording is a must if you’re a sales-oriented business and receive a lot of customer questions via phone. Diapad and Grasshopper offer call recording.
  • Voicemail-to-text or voicemail-to-email: This feature can save you the time and hassle of having to listen to and make sense of voicemails. You can find voicemail-to-text with Nextiva and Ooma.
  • Integrations: If you use many other business tools, the system you choose should be able to support them. RingCentral and Ooma allow for hundreds of integrations.
  • Meeting management: Meeting management allows you to set up phone and video calls with your customers. Goto Connect and Nextiva are two options with a meeting management feature.
  • Queue management: Queue management comes with options like routing callers to the right party or entertaining them while they’re on hold. It’s available through Grasshopper and Ooma.
  • SMS and MMS: You should be able to send texts and multimedia messages to your current and prospective customers. GoTo Connect and RingCentral offer SMS.

How to choose the best phone system for your small business

Small business phone systems are not created equal. In fact, there are many differences between them. That’s why it’s a good idea to shop around and compare all your options. As you do so, be sure to consider the following:

  1. Pricing: Are you looking for a bare-bones plan at an affordable price point? Or can you afford to splurge for more advanced features?
  2. Features: Make a list of must-haves and nice-to-have features so you can find a solution that offers most or all of them.
  3. Number of users: If you’re a solopreneur or only work with a small team, you may need a system that can scale with you.
  4. Employee and customer locations: Where is your workforce and customer base? Whether or not you need international call support can help you narrow down your options. 

Business Phone Systems Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which kinds of businesses benefit most from a good phone system?

Businesses in all industries will find a quality phone system useful. Whether you’re in insurance, accounting, consumer goods, automotive, or any other industry, it’s well worth the investment. 

What are the main differences between phone systems for small businesses and phone systems for large businesses?

Phone systems for small businesses are usually more affordable than systems for large businesses. Solutions for larger operations also tend to support more users and come with more advanced features.

When is the best time to invest in a good phone system for your business?

Ideally, you’d purchase a phone system as soon as you have customers. This can help you appear more professional and improve your brand image.

What should I look for in a business phone system?

As you search for a business phone system, prioritize robust, reliable features and an easy-to-use interface. Also, make sure you can comfortably afford it.

What is the best business phone system?

The best business phone system depends on your unique budget and goals. This list of the best small business phone systems is a good starting point. 

Methodology: How we chose the best small business phone systems

We evaluated twenty business phone systems and narrowed down our list to the top six. We weighed important features and specs, such as:

  • Pricing: We gave bonus points to price transparency, free trials and demos, and affordability. 
  • Reputation: Through customer reviews and ratings, we were able to uncover the most reputable solutions. 
  • Features: In addition to must-have features like call recording, meeting management, and queue management, we looked for unique or standout features that could be useful for certain businesses. 
  • Customer support: The systems we chose offer support via phone, email, live chat, and self-service tools like knowledge bases and FAQ pages.

About the Authors

anna baluch headshot

Anna specializes in business insurance and financial software for the NAWBO Expert Reviews team. Her work has appeared on LendingTree, Credit Karma, Business Insider, and other popular media outlets, helping business owners make informed financial decisions.

jamie ostroe headshot

Bringing more than a decade of editorial experience to the NAWBO Expert Reviews Team, Jamie is dedicated to ensuring articles are accurate and helpful. Her experience running a small business inspires her to help others choose the best products for their unique business needs.

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