12 Best Business Phone Services for Small Businesses (2025)

Nextiva is my top choice for business phone services for small businesses. It stands out because it brings everything together into one user-friendly platform—phone, fax, video, and messaging. It’s the service I personally chose for my own business, and for good reason.

Getting Nextiva set up is surprisingly straightforward, even if you’re not tech-savvy. Plus, the call quality has been consistently fantastic, whether we’re using desk phones in the office or the mobile app when we’re out and about. Calls are always crisp and clear, which means reliable communication for my team.

I really love Nextiva’s smart call routing. It uses advanced logic (powered by AI) to quickly figure out who an incoming call is for and sends it to the right person or department right away. Setting up and sharing business phone numbers is also a breeze, helping my team look professional without ever having to give out personal phone numbers.

Nextiva also comes with helpful call analytics. These give you detailed reports on things like call volumes, how long calls last, and even how your team members are performing. Plus, it connects smoothly with popular CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, which is a huge bonus for managing customer interactions.

Now, there are a couple of things to be aware of. Some users have found that the desktop app can sometimes use a lot of your computer’s power (be ‘resource-intensive’), which I’ve occasionally seen too. Usually, just closing other apps you’re not using fixes this, so it’s not a huge deal.

Also, it’s good to know that Nextiva’s unlimited calling only covers the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

RingCentral is my top pick for all-in-one communication for larger teams. It offers a platform that combines phone, video meetings, messaging, and contact center features, all with excellent call quality. Plus, it’s designed to be scalable, which is perfect for businesses that need room to grow.

I put RingCentral to the test to see what it can do. Setting it up was straightforward, and the call routing system was impressive. You can set rules based on departments, business hours, and caller ID to help direct calls where they need to go.

The call analytics and integrations with CRMs and help desk software were also powerful yet easy to set up.

Everyday tasks like adding new users, setting up phone numbers, and managing basic features were quite easy. Once the initial setup was done, managing professional numbers, like getting local or toll-free numbers, was also straightforward.

One small hurdle I found was that setting up SMS (text messaging) was a little trickier compared to some other services.

RingCentral includes extra features like video meetings with screen sharing, team messaging, and integrations with tools like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

However, because it offers so many features, some new users might find it a bit overwhelming to learn everything at first. Also, while their support team is generally knowledgeable, I’ve noticed that wait times to get help can sometimes be longer.

Zoom Phone is an extension of the Zoom platform, which is known for video meetings. I was curious to see if it could offer the same simplicity and reliability as a business phone system.

One of its big draws is that it’s often more affordable than some other top choices, especially for basic needs. Its cloud VoIP phone system still packs in all the essential call features you’d expect. And the best part? You can manage everything right from the Zoom app you might already be using.

Essentially, you get a VoIP phone service, video meetings, and team chat all together. I like that with a simple click, you can turn a phone call into a video conference with Zoom Meetings or transfer a call to a Zoom Room.

While I didn’t choose it for my company’s daily operations, I tested it thoroughly and found the calls were loud and clear. That being said, call quality isn’t as high as what you’d get with Nextiva or RingCentral.

Zoom Phone also provides a solid set of call-routing features. You can set up auto-attendants (a virtual receptionist to greet callers), call queues (to manage calls during busy times), and routing rules based on factors like time of day, specific department, or even the incoming caller ID.

You get a wide array of useful features with Zoom Phone, including call forwarding, call recording, voicemail transcription (voice messages converted to text), auto-attendant, SMS text messaging, user-friendly desktop and mobile apps, and even support for traditional desk phones.

It also integrates with other business tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, among others.

However, it’s not the best option if detailed call analytics are a top priority for your business.

I was really interested in checking out Grasshopper because it’s a business phone service designed squarely for solo entrepreneurs and very small businesses.

Grasshopper really shines when it comes to simplicity and affordability. It’s a fantastic option if you’re a smaller business, especially if you don’t have a physical office, because it works smoothly using your existing cell phones and other devices.

It gives you a professional business phone number (a ‘virtual phone number’) that cleverly forwards incoming calls to any phone or mobile device you already own. To make outbound calls showing your Grasshopper business number, you’ll use their app. During my tests, the call quality was generally good – clear and reliable enough for everyday business conversations.

Its call routing features are straightforward but effective, letting you easily forward calls to different phone numbers or send them to voicemail. Grasshopper is also handy if you’re working solo but want to appear bigger, as you can add extensions (like ‘Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Support’) that can all route to you.

One thing to note: if you make a lot of international calls, Grasshopper might not be the cheapest option, as those usually come with extra costs (including a deposit, as mentioned below). It does offer convenient voicemail and basic business texting, but you won’t find advanced team messaging features or deep CRM integrations here.

Overall, Grasshopper is an excellent choice if you’re not a tech whiz but want a reliable, no-fuss business phone number that just works. If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward solution to give your small operation a professional touch, Grasshopper could be exactly what you need.

Ooma Office is a really solid business phone service, especially if you’re looking for a flexible system that supports both physical desk phones and virtual phone access (like using an app on your computer or smartphone).

One of the first things I noticed is that Ooma Office can be significantly cheaper than sticking with old-school traditional phone lines. That’s a big win, particularly for startups and small businesses keeping a close eye on their budget.

During my tests, I found the call quality to be consistently clear and reliable, whether I was using their desktop app or the mobile app on my phone.

Ooma Office is packed with all the powerful features you’d expect from a modern service. This includes a virtual receptionist (to greet callers and direct calls), extension dialing, music-on-hold, user-friendly mobile apps for calling on the go, and detailed call logs.

It’s also easy to add a toll-free number (like an 800 number) to any Ooma Office plan. They will pre-select one for you to get started quickly, but you also have the option to choose a new one that fits your business.

And one of the best parts? The setup process is super easy. Most users can get it up and running in just a few minutes, which is a huge plus for busy small business owners.

On the downside, I found the Ooma app’s design to be a bit dated compared to some competitors. It also doesn’t offer super in-depth call analytics, and its CRM integration options are somewhat limited. While Ooma is great for many small businesses, if you’re anticipating very rapid, large-scale growth, it’s not quite as scalable as Nextiva.

International calling costs add up quickly when you run a business. That’s why I was impressed with Phone.com‘s approach. Unlike other providers that charge premium rates, it includes several European countries and Canada as local calls.

I found their web and app-based admin panel (where you manage settings) to be super straightforward and easy to use. What really stood out was their smart call routing system. You can set up custom rules based on the time of day, day of the week, or even the caller’s ID to ensure calls get to the right person or department. Setting up an auto-attendant (virtual receptionist) and ring groups (where multiple phones ring at once) is also very simple.

Phone.com offers good value, making it easy to set up local, toll-free, and even memorable vanity numbers. In my tests, while the call quality might not be quite as crystal-clear as top-tier services like Nextiva or RingCentral, it’s perfectly acceptable for most daily business communications.

You also get all the essential features you’d expect, like call forwarding, conference calling, and basic video conferencing included in their plans.

So, the bottom line is: if affordable international calling and flexible call routing are high on your list, Phone.com is definitely worth a look. Just be aware that their customer support response times can sometimes be a bit slower compared to some other providers in this list.

I also spent some time checking out GoToConnect, formerly known as Jive. You probably know it from GoToMeeting video calls, and GoToConnect is its answer to complete business communications. It combines professional video conferencing with a full business phone system.

Since GoToConnect is part of the larger GoTo software family, it seamlessly integrates with its other meeting and webinar software, like GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, GoToTraining, and more. Plus, it has particularly good video conferencing quality.

It offers a wide range of smart call routing options, including auto-attendants (virtual receptionists), call queues to manage high call volumes smoothly, and customizable rules to forward calls to specific individuals or departments. Getting local and toll-free numbers is easy, and assigning them to your employees or teams is straightforward.

It also offers dozens of CRM integrations and other marketing integrations with popular services like Salesforce, Zoho, Microsoft Outlook, Google Workspace, Zendesk, and Slack.

While GoToConnect has a lot to offer, its many advanced features can be tricky to learn at first. It might not be the best pick if you’re completely new to VoIP systems.

Freshcaller (part of the Freshworks suite) really stands out as an affordable cloud-based phone system that’s tailor-made for busy customer support and sales teams. What impressed me most is how it packs powerful call center features into a system that’s surprisingly easy to get started with and use daily.

Its international reach is a big plus – you can get phone numbers from over 90 countries, which is fantastic if you have a global customer base or support team. The setup process is quite straightforward, even if you don’t consider yourself tech-savvy. Plus, its pricing is generally very budget-friendly.

The platform comes with all the essential call center tools you need: call queues, intelligent routing, shared numbers, and comprehensive call monitoring. I especially liked its analytics features, which give you detailed insights into your team’s performance and call patterns.

Its AI features aren’t as advanced as some competitors. Still, it’s an excellent choice for businesses that want powerful customer support features without the complexity of traditional call center systems.

Dialpad is an AI-powered business phone system that offers calling, video conferencing, and messaging in a user-friendly interface. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by its advanced AI features.

These AI-driven features can really help automate tasks and boost communication efficiency. For example, you get things like automatic voicemail transcription, live speech-to-text during calls, real-time call sentiment analysis (understanding caller mood), and insightful post-call summaries.

I was also impressed by Dialpad’s AI live coaching. This provides real-time suggestions and recommendations to your agents during live calls! It’s fantastic for training new team members more quickly and can even help your experienced agents close more sales or resolve issues more effectively.

Plus, Dialpad combines voice, video conferencing, and team messaging into a single platform. This makes communication simple and easy for businesses to manage.

Dialpad also seamlessly integrates with 70+ popular tools and apps, including Google Workspace, Slack, Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and Zendesk.

However, Dialpad’s customer support is only offered through a chatbot system on lower-tier plans. This can be frustrating when trying to fix complex issues.

Vonage Business Communications (VBC) is a well-established name in the VoIP world, offering a powerful platform that’s particularly well-suited for call centers and larger businesses with more complex needs. They’ve been in the game for a long time, so I was keen to see how their current phone service performs.

It offers a wide range of features, from basic phone service to video conferencing and team messaging, all aimed at helping businesses stay connected.

I appreciate that you can add local, toll-free, and international company phone numbers right from the admin dashboard. This makes it super easy to manage your numbers all in one place.

Vonage is a strong contender for call centers, offering features like CRM integrations, auto-dialers, automatic call logging, call recording, and intelligent call routing options (including AI-powered routing). It’s also compatible with a wide range of VoIP desk phones, so you can use traditional office hardware alongside their desktop and mobile apps.

It’s also packed with advanced features like a virtual receptionist, call screening, click-to-dial functionality from your computer. Some plans even offer AI-powered tools like an AI virtual assistant to handle routine interactions, plus much more.

But keep in mind that it’s one of the more expensive options on this list. So, if you’re a startup or a very small business, you may be better off with a different provider.

8×8 is a global cloud-based communication platform designed specifically for international businesses. Aside from phone calls, it offers a variety of features, including HD video and audio conferencing, SMS, and team chat.

I like 8×8’s advanced contact center features, which include call queues, skills-based routing, and a virtual receptionist. These are particularly helpful for businesses with high call volumes or specific customer service needs.

With 8×8, you can easily get local phone numbers, toll-free numbers, and even international numbers from a wide range of countries if your business needs a global presence. Setting up new numbers is generally quick, and you can assign them to different users or teams within your organization without much hassle.

Plus, 8×8 is easy to scale as your business grows. You can start with the basic plan, which includes unlimited calling to 14 countries, and easily upgrade to access more advanced features and unlimited calling to a higher number of countries.

Keep in mind that the user interface can feel a little outdated compared to some newer platforms. And it doesn’t offer the best call reporting and analytics, which is a sore point at this price point.

Verizon is a household name, famous for their extensive network coverage. While Verizon also offers dedicated VoIP and traditional business line services, I wanted to look closely at their mobile solutions.

Overall, I recommend Verizon if unbeatable network reliability on the go is your absolute top priority.

What really makes Verizon stand out is its network reliability and coverage. For many businesses, especially those that rely on consistent connectivity, Verizon has a good reputation for being dependable.

It has an extensive and reliable network that provides strong call quality and fewer service interruptions. This is essential for businesses that need dependable communication.

When using Verizon’s Business Unlimited mobile plans, call management features are typically handled at the device level. For more advanced call routing like auto-attendants or sophisticated call groups, you can pick Verizon’s dedicated One Talk, which is separate from their standard mobile plans.

With Verizon’s Business Unlimited mobile plans, each line comes with its own dedicated phone number. You can manage these lines through your Verizon business account. If you need toll-free numbers or specific local numbers separate from mobile lines, Verizon offers those through their other business services, like One Talk or as add-ons.

Their Business Unlimited mobile plans, as the name suggests, typically offer unlimited talk, text, and data. These plans often come with perks like mobile hotspot data, call filtering capabilities, and some mobile security features.

Plus, Verizon offers bundled packages that combine phone service with internet, mobile, and other business solutions. This can simplify billing and reduce costs for businesses that use these services.