Best VoIP for Startups

Freshcaller carves out a distinctive niche in the VoIP landscape by zeroing in on what it does best: powering modern cloud call centers without the complexity of full-scale unified communications platforms. Built by Freshworks, this system delivers a focused solution for businesses that need robust inbound and outbound calling capabilities without paying for collaboration features they won't use.

What sets Freshcaller apart is its intelligent approach to call handling through AI-powered voice bots and speech-enabled IVR systems that actually understand natural language. These aren't simple press-one-for-sales menus but sophisticated routing tools that can handle common queries autonomously, freeing up agents for complex conversations. The platform's advanced inbound routing ensures calls reach the right person based on customizable criteria, while live dashboards give managers real-time visibility into queue performance and agent availability.

The system excels for small to mid-sized contact centers, customer support teams, and sales organizations that need call center functionality at prices that won't break the budget. Starting at just fifteen dollars per user monthly, Freshcaller competes aggressively on cost while delivering features typically found in enterprise-grade systems. Call recording comes standard, post-call transcripts provide searchable records of conversations, and detailed call-lifecycle information helps teams identify bottlenecks in their processes.

Integration with the broader Freshworks ecosystem creates seamless workflows for teams already using Freshdesk or Freshsales, centralizing customer interactions across channels. The omnichannel capabilities let support teams weave phone conversations into their broader service strategy.

However, businesses seeking a complete unified communications solution with team messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration tools should look elsewhere. Freshcaller deliberately focuses on call center operations, making it powerful for that specific purpose but limited for organizations needing comprehensive communication infrastructure. The fourteen-day trial provides ample opportunity to determine if this specialized approach matches your needs.

Dialpad has positioned itself as the AI-first communications platform in an industry where most providers have simply bolted artificial intelligence onto legacy systems. Built from the ground up with machine learning at its core, Dialpad doesn't just offer voice calls—it transforms conversations into actionable business intelligence.

What sets Dialpad apart is its proprietary Voice Intelligence technology, which transcribes calls in real-time and analyzes conversations to surface insights that would otherwise be lost. Sales teams can review AI-generated recaps instead of listening to hour-long calls, while managers use AI Scorecards to evaluate performance across objective criteria. The AI Live Coach feature provides real-time prompts during calls, helping representatives navigate difficult conversations or remember to mention key talking points. For training purposes, AI Playbooks capture best practices from top performers and make them accessible to the entire team.

The platform targets forward-thinking businesses that view communication data as a strategic asset. Sales organizations particularly benefit from the AI sales assistant, which identifies objections, tracks sentiment, and highlights competitors mentioned during calls. Customer support teams leverage AI transcription to ensure accurate record-keeping and faster issue resolution.

Dialpad's interface feels decidedly modern compared to traditional business phone systems, with exceptional mobile functionality that genuinely rivals the desktop experience. Implementation is straightforward, and the pricing structure starting at fifteen dollars per user makes the basic platform accessible to growing teams.

However, unlocking Dialpad's full AI capabilities requires higher-tier plans that can become expensive, especially for smaller organizations. Some of the more innovative features remain in beta, which means occasional quirks and limitations. For companies prioritizing cutting-edge AI over rock-solid stability, these trade-offs may be worthwhile. For others seeking proven, traditional telephony, more established providers might be safer choices.

Aircall has carved out a distinctive niche in the crowded VoIP market by laser-focusing on what sales and support teams actually need in their daily workflows. Rather than trying to be everything to everyone, this cloud-based phone system doubles down on seamless CRM integration and user-friendly design, making it a go-to choice for customer-facing teams that live and breathe in platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zendesk.

What sets Aircall apart is its philosophy that your phone system should adapt to your existing tech stack, not the other way around. The platform integrates with over 100 business tools, allowing conversation data to flow directly into your CRM records without manual logging. For sales development reps making dozens of calls daily or support agents juggling multiple customer conversations, this automation eliminates busywork and keeps focus where it belongs.

The system includes all the essentials you'd expect—intelligent call routing, customizable IVR menus, voicemail transcription, and configurable business hours—but delivers them through an interface that new team members can master in minutes rather than days. International and toll-free numbers come standard, while the analytics dashboard provides real-time insights into team performance and call patterns.

However, prospective buyers should carefully consider the per-user pricing structure, which ranges from $40 to $70 monthly per seat. For rapidly growing teams, these costs accumulate quickly and may exceed budget expectations. Additionally, organizations seeking robust video conferencing capabilities will find Aircall's offerings limited compared to unified communications platforms.

Aircall truly shines for small to mid-sized companies with dedicated sales or customer support operations who prioritize CRM connectivity and deployment simplicity over feature breadth. The seven-day free trial provides ample opportunity to test whether its focused approach aligns with your team's communication needs.

Ooma Office positions itself as the pragmatic choice for small businesses that need professional phone capabilities without the enterprise price tag or complexity. Born from a consumer VoIP background, the company brings a refreshingly straightforward approach to business communications that resonates particularly well with teams of 5-20 users who want to focus on their work rather than managing telecom infrastructure.

What distinguishes Ooma Office in a crowded market is its plug-and-play philosophy. While competitors tout extensive feature lists requiring IT expertise to configure, Ooma delivers a system that small business owners can literally unbox and activate themselves. The platform includes virtual receptionist capabilities, ring groups, call parking, and mobile apps that transform smartphones into business lines—all accessible through an intuitive interface that doesn't demand a manual to navigate.

The pricing structure reflects this accessibility mindset. At $19.99 to $49.99 per user monthly, Ooma competes aggressively on cost while maintaining reliable call quality that consistently earns praise from its user base of over 875 reviewers who've awarded it a 4.20-star rating. international calling features and remote device management add value for businesses with distributed teams or global clients.

However, this simplicity-first approach comes with tradeoffs. Companies anticipating rapid growth may find Ooma's architecture less accommodating than platforms designed for scalability. The feature set, while solid for core telephony needs, lacks the advanced integrations and customization options that larger organizations or tech-forward companies might require. Professional monitoring and compliance features provide reassurance, but businesses with complex call routing needs or extensive CRM integrations should carefully evaluate whether Ooma's streamlined approach aligns with their workflow requirements.

For the right small business, though, Ooma Office delivers exactly what matters most: reliable communications without the headaches.

Microsoft Teams Phone represents Microsoft's bold move to transform workplace calling by embedding telephony directly into the collaboration hub that millions already use daily. Rather than juggling separate applications for calls, meetings, and messaging, Teams Phone creates a unified communications experience that feels natural for organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

What distinguishes Teams Phone from traditional VoIP providers is its deep integration with Microsoft 365. Employees can initiate calls directly from Outlook contacts, share screens seamlessly mid-conversation, and transition from chat to voice without switching platforms. The AI personal assistant transcribes voicemails and provides real-time captions during calls, while intelligent routing ensures customers reach the right department automatically. This cohesion matters most for enterprises where communication silos harm productivity.

The platform excels in hybrid work environments, offering consistent experiences whether employees are desk-bound, remote, or mobile. Features like collaborative calling let teams handle customer inquiries together, while flexible workspace configurations adapt to hot-desking arrangements. enterprise-grade security, compliance tools, and administrative controls satisfy IT departments managing complex regulatory requirements.

However, Teams Phone isn't universally ideal. Smaller businesses without existing Microsoft 365 subscriptions face additional costs and complexity that standalone VoIP solutions avoid. The setup process can overwhelm organizations lacking dedicated IT resources, and pricing becomes less competitive when factoring in required licenses. Additionally, companies deeply committed to other ecosystems like Google Workspace might find the forced Microsoft dependency restrictive.

Teams Phone ultimately serves best as the natural telephony extension for Microsoft-centric organizations prioritizing integration over flexibility. When your team already lives in Teams, adding phone capabilities feels less like adopting new technology and more like unlocking features that should have existed all along.