Top 15 Best VoIP Software Comparison 2024 (Free & Paid)

Telephones, wow, how they’ve evolved over the years. Nowadays, we can take advantage of VoIP technology for more telephony power. If you want to read about the best VoIP software, then this article is surely going to enlighten you in many ways.

All in all, we’ve tested and reviewed a hell of a lot of VoIP software systems and, in the end, have narrowed it down to the top 15 tools.

So, if you are ready to take your phone game up a level to where the real pros are at, then fix your reading glasses and start learning.

Best VoIP software comparison chart (top 10 highest rated)

Here is a quick table showing you our top ten VoIP platforms. But don’t worry, the full article covers 15 voice over IP systems.

What is VoIP (voice over IP) software? 

VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol, and sometimes it’s also called IP telephony. This is a software system that lets you perform typical telephone tasks using your computer, laptop, or smartphone, and also offers many extra tools and features that a standard telephone doesn’t include.

Call centers are one place where VoIP tools are readily found. This is particularly useful for customer support teams but can also be available for more sales and CRM purposes. 

Some of the main tools you get with VoIP include things like getting new phone numbers that can be toll-free, vanity numbers, or numbers with local area codes. 

You get call transferring, which is great for teamwork. Call forwarding, which can follow certain rules to direct calls to the right extension. Call recording is an ideal tool for group call meetings. There is also advanced voicemail which sometimes includes voice-to-text transcription.

Call holding can come with options to include pre-recorded messages or music. There is sometimes a call monitoring tool that allows managers to supervise their team when on work calls without interfering. This also offers a whisper mode where the manager can talk to one side of the call without the other hearing. 

VoIP regularly includes video features as well. This is perfect for video conferences and often works in tandem with shared workspaces and shared whiteboards. 

Last but not least, many VoIP systems have analytics and reporting options. This can let you know metrics like how long phone calls take, what percentage of calls get rerouted, or which phone reps are performing better than others.

What is the best VoIP software? Here’s our top 15 list:

Well, enough of the preamble. Now let us really look at each single one of our 15 top software systems for voice-over IP technology. We’ll start with the best VoIP software and move downward from there. Of course, you might have different preferences, and that’s fine.

1. Zoom Phone (Best VoIP software overall)

Starting it all off, our number one VoIP solution is none other than Zoom. Many people are already quite familiar with Zoom. It is considered by many industry insiders to be the best VoIP software overall.

It is likely you have used Zoom as a business phone system, specifically for things like video conferencing. However, many people also use this VoIP provider as a personal system for making VoIP calls over the internet, with or without video. 

Zoom has many VoIP service product options. Zoom One is good for virtual meetings, team chats, and a thorough VoIP phone system. Zoom Spaces is ideal for shared conference rooms and workspaces. There is Zoom Phone and Zoom Events too. 

Finally, you get Zoom Contact Center which is cloud-based and offers a virtual agent.

Zoom has many pricing options for its VoIP system. Zoom Phone, for example, has a pay-as-you-go setup and can be as low as $120 per user per year. That gets you a domestic SMS and inbound and outbound calling. 

The more expensive Zoom Phone offers a direct dial phone number, call recording and unlimited calling. There are also mobile apps for iOS and Android for calls on the go.

Zoom Phone is best for:

• Personal use

• Startups

• Small businesses

• Large businesses

• Mobile app

Website: Zoom
 

2. Ekiga (Best free open source VoIP tool)

Coming in at number two is Ekiga. Ekiga is an open source and free VoIP software, meaning developers are free to tweak the phone software to meet their business needs.

Formerly known as GnomeMeeting, Ekiga has transformed into a cloud-based VoIP that does SoftPhone, video conferencing and instant messaging as well. Ekiga takes advantage of more than one form of telephony standards. These include both SIP and H.323. 

Since Ekiga is a free VoIP softphone, it is very popular with startups and small businesses on a budget. It offers great types of VoIP tools like call forwarding, call hold, call transferring, and DTMF. 

If you are seeking to move away from traditional phone systems for a free and open-source VoIP service provider, Ekiga is a leading free VoIP phone to check out.

Ekiga is best for:

• Individuals

• Personal use

• Businesses on a budget

• Making calls for free

Website: Ekiga
 

3. RingCentral (Top VoIP system for large businesses)

RingCentral is the third batter up on our rundown of the best voice over IP phone software solutions. RingCentral is considered by many companies to be a leading option for business communication, and is therefore a top VoIP app for large businesses.

As a business VoIP tool, the RingCentral software gives you many basic features as well as advanced ones. You can embed a softphone as VoIP integrates into all of your platforms, and also do phone calls, chats and even faxes within one app. 

They offer a cloud-based call center solution that is great for contact outreach and customer support. You get call recording, interactive voice response, outbound calls, and phone call interaction analytics. Some RingCentral products let you do advanced call monitoring too.

Compared to other VoIP tools on this list, RingCentral may at first seem pricier. The most affordable business communications plan begins at $20 per user per month billed annually, but there are many other premium options. 

Product name is best for:

• Small and medium-sized businesses

• Large businesses

• Conference calls

• Business analytics

• Call center

Website: RingCentral
 

4. Nextiva (Good VoIP software for ease of use)

Nextiva is the number four tool for virtual calling in this review. It is one of the best VoIP software systems for being very user friendly and can be leveraged to help businesses of all sizes. 

The Nextiva phone system has features like streamlined communication between VoIP, video calling as well as chat. You can integrate this with an online contact center solution, for example, as a help desk tool or sales CRM platform. You get virtual voicemail which is always free, and a toll-free number too. 

As for going mobile, Nextiva offers Android and iOS mobile app options. There is also a desktop business tool to make and receive calls right from your desk phones. Nextiva is a popular communication system for conferences and meetings. For this purpose, there is unlimited audio and video for online conference hosting. 

Pricing with Nextiva depends on the number of users. The cheapest plan is $23.95 per user per month, billed annually, if you have less than four users. As for using Nextiva as an online call center system, there are four plans to choose from, but you will need to contact Nextiva directly for pricing.

Nextiva is best for:

• Ease of use

• Startups

• SMBs

• Contact center management

Website: Nextiva
 

5. Grasshopper (Great premium VoIP tool for phone numbers)

Grasshopper is fifth on the list of the best voice over internet protocol solutions of 2024. This is a lesser-known tool in comparison with bigger cloud-based phone brands like Zoom and Nextiva, but it is a strong contender if you want to add business numbers to your personal existing phone number.

With Grasshopper, you can get new virtual phone numbers which are based on the number you normally use for personal reasons, or you can have brand new ones. 

In other words, this app allows you to place calls and decide beforehand if you want the call to show which number is calling. Grasshopper provides phone numbers like toll-free numbers, vanity numbers that are ideal for managing your business brand, and local numbers, regardless if you are anywhere in the world.

You can also port your current number. Other features include business SMS texting, call forwarding, virtual receptionists, and combined VoIP with Wifi calling. It can include call transfers and call volume management. There are desktop, iOS, and Android apps.      

Grasshopper offers three simple pricing packages, beginning at the solo package for $28 per month, billed annually. 

The partner plan offers a more comprehensive call management system with up to 3 phone numbers and six extensions at $46 per use per month billed annually. 

There is finally a small business phone plan with Grasshopper.

Grasshopper is best for:

• Small business

• Medium-to-large business

• New phone numbers

• Business SMS

Website: Grasshopper
 

6. Vonage (Good VoIP if you use Windows)

Vonage is no small player in the business phone, VoIP, and contact center management market. It shows up at the number six spot on our list and is a pretty good VoIP option for Windows and Linux platforms.

The way Vonage works is that it offers a large amount of telephony and VoIP apps that you can subscribe to for the purpose of expanding your phone and softphone abilities. 

The benefits of VoIP with Vonage are straightforward. This is a solid business tool that offers call features you find with most competitors and always ensures good call quality. 

The Vonage business communications platform has apps for desktop, which is great for Windows but also Mac and Linux, as well as mobile apps and desk office phones. This allows you to make video conference calls, gives you call forwarding, simultaneous ringing, voice mail, and do not disturb tools. You can also forward inbound calls, send outbound calls, all with an open SIP protocol.

The Vonage unified communication product comes in three plans. The basic mobile plan is $19.99 per month per phone line. Premium and advanced plans get you added advanced features, including IP desk phone capability and up to 15 hours of call recording.

Vonage is best for:

• SMEs

• Windows users

• Unified communications

• Call center agents

Website: Vonage
 

7. DialPad (Good VoIP if you use MacOS)

DialPad is a top VoIP software solution if you like to use MacOS, but that does not mean it can't be good for PC and Windows users as well. As the number 7 VoIP on our list, DialPad is among the top solutions for call features that leverage AI.

DialPad allows you to make sales calls and service calls over its VoIP system with the added benefit of artificial intelligence to boost your business efficiency. You get unlimited calling, business SMS, voicemail transcripts, as well as unlimited video meetings. 

As a phone system for small and large businesses alike, DialPad can offer local telephone numbers from over 70 countries, as well as multiple numbers per account. DialPad also lets you sign up for a free VoIP PBX, which stands for private branch exchange, in other words, an internal phone system. 

Overall, this VoIP system is great for both audio and video calling and can handle all aspects of your business phone system.  

DialPad pricing for this VoIP solution is pretty basic. There is an essential pricing plan at $15 per user per month billed annually, and a pro plan at $25 per user per month billed annually. For enterprise pricing options you'll need to visit DialPad's website.

DialPad is best for:

• Mac users

• Windows users

• SMBs

• Call recording

• Video conferencing

Website: DialPad
 

8. MagickJack (Top VoIP software for iOS)

MagicJack is next up. This is a great VoIP system if you need to do a lot of international calls. One of the big deals surrounding MagickJack is that you can use this tool with your existing phone number.

MagickJack allows users to make unlimited calls from the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This also includes a free phone number which can be a vanity number, a Canadian number or another custom number. 

If you like to port your existing phone number, you can do so for a fee. There is also a conference calling number, and other VoIP phone features include caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, call waiting, and it even lets you make calls via the 411 system.

MagicJack’s pricing depends on the app, and it is a top VoIP for iOS users, as well as for apps from the Google Play store. The plans are yearly based, with the one-year pricing plan at only $43, and the 3-year plan at $99, and the 5-year plan at $130.

MagickJack is best for:

• International calls

• iOS users

• Android users

• Startups

Website: MagickJack
 

9. 8x8 (Great contact center VoIP)

Number 9 on this list of the top VoIP tools is 8x8. Among many of the 8x8 benefits, this one is an ideal phone system for contact center management. There are other great 8x8 functionalities too.

As a contact center system, 8x8 has inbound and outbound calling, an IVR and a dialer, omnichannel routing and even a virtual agent option. For a business phone, 8x8 offers unlimited calling, texting and faxing, call recording, visual voicemail, and even a music on hold option. 

You get caller ID, blocking, call forwarding and transferring. There is also 3-way calling. Many people also use 8x8 as a video conferencing solution. You can even instantly share a recorded video conference to Youtube.

When it comes to 8x8 pricing, there are a few ways to go. The voice, video and chat platform costs $24 per user per month billed annually, while the advanced package is $44 per user per month billed annually. 

8x8 is best for:

• Small business

• Medium-to-large companies

• Contact center

• Video conferencing

• Business calling

Website: 8x8
 

10. GoTo Connect (Top VoIP system for PC)

At lucky number ten spot, here is GoTo Connect. This is a great cloud-based VoIP system which works with many platforms, but is particularly favorable with PC users, though it is also fine for MacOS.

GoTo Connect is very simple to set up and start using. You can then use this system to make calls from absolutely anywhere in the world. There are top notch video calls with GoTo Connect as well. You can get toll-free numbers, or you can port in your own digits. 

If setting up automated call flows is your thing, GoTo has a great visual drag-and-drop dashboard to let you do this. You can also use GoTo along with your standard sales tools to help increase your customer base with a customer engagement solution and a contact center set of features. 

GoTo has two pricing tiers for their Connect product. The basic is $27 per user per month and the standard is $32 per user per month. 

GoTo Connect is best for:

• SMEs

• Call routing

• Call forwarding

• Multi-site use

• International calling

• PC users

Website: GoTo Connect
 

11. Google Voice (Good VoIP if you use Android)

As we exit the top ten VoIP tools, we come to our number 11 winner. It is Google Voice. Google Voice can be an add-on to your Google Workspace set of apps, which also include Google Meet and Google Calendar.

Google Voice can be way more than a personal voice app but is also very useful as a full-on business tool. You can use this one to make calls from desktops, mobile devices, laptops, and some supported desk phones. 

This platform also leverages Google AI which can help with things like blocking spam calls and transcribing voicemails directly to text. Use Google Voice to get even more outreach capability with SIP links. If you use other Workspace tools, the integration with Voice is seamless.

The Google Voice starter plan costs $10 per user per month, and after that there are two more plans. They go for $20 and $30 per user per month and include extra tools like SIP link, multi-level auto attendants, and ring groups.

Google Voice is best for:

• Google Workspace users

• Android users

• Startups

• Self-employed

• Small teams

• Small business

Website: Google Voice
 

12. OpenPhone (Top VoIP plan for startups)

OpenPhone is the following voice-over internet protocol software solution. If you run a small team, a startup, or a relatively small business, then OpenPhone is a worthy option for you to check out.

OpenPhone offers unlimited calling and texting in the USA and Canada on all of their plans. There are special add-ons for very small fees, like brand registration, campaign vetting, low volume standards and sole prop campaigns. You can port phone numbers from other phone providers too. 

Basic VoIP features include call recording, auto-replies, shared phone numbers, and scheduled messages. At the most premium end of this platform, there is an audit log tool that records all your activities in chronological order.

The Standard OpenPhone pricing plan is $13 per user per month billed annually. Next up is the premium plan, which costs $20 per user per month billed annually. If you are an enterprise and want this app, contact OpenPhone for custom pricing.

OpenPhone is best for:

• Small teams

• Startups

• Small business

• Call center

• Voicemail to text transcription 

Website: OpenPhone
 

13. Aircall (Great gaming VoIP)

Aircall is our lucky number 13 on the best of VoIP countdown. While Aircall was not designed specifically for gaming, it is a very good choice for this purpose. In fact, very few VoIPs are gaming-specific, and Aircall is as good as any.

If you aren’t using Aircall for gaming, this one also happens to be a very good app for sales and CRM purposes, as well as customer support and IT operations. You can easily connect Aircall to all your favorite tools, like Zapier, Slack, and Salesforce. 

Aircall also provides great phone analytics to monitor and keep track of your team’s phone usage in real time. Other standard tools get you IVR, call recording, and click-to-dial. With every plan, you get one toll-free number, and additional numbers are available for a fee.

Aircall has an essentials plan and a professional plan, and they go for $30 per user per month billed annually and $50 per user per month billed annually. If you like, there is a custom plan which is on demand.

Aircall is best for: 

• Startups

• SMBs

• Gaming

• Integrations 

Website: Aircall
 

14. Webex (Good cloud calling VoIP for meetings)

Rounding us off at number 14 is Webex from Cisco systems. Webex is a leading VoIP choice for everything from meetings to messaging and more.

Use Cisco’s Webex for handling phone meetings. Connecting via video is easy and you also get basic workflows to help video conferencing run more efficiently. You get meeting capacities of 100 on the free plan and meeting durations up to 40 minutes. 

If you want more capacity or more time, just upgrade to a paid plan. As for a more simple telephony tool, Webex is ideal for cloud calling and messaging. There are many other auxiliary features with Webex, like a webinar feature, whiteboard, polling and video messaging. 

Webex offers a free version which is a bit rare for this list. The Meet plan is $144 per license per year which comes out to $12 per month. The Suite plan is $270 per license per year.

Webex is best for:

• Small business

• Meetings

• Video conferencing

Website: Webex
 

15. VoIP Discount (Cheap VoIP for personal use)

If you are simply looking for a voice over IP phone software solution that is the best for personal use without breaking the bank, then it might be a good time to look into VoIP Discount. While the look and feel of this softphone may leave you underwhelmed, it does the job as it should.

You can use this to make free internet calls for personal use over the internet. Some other VoIP Discount tools that are on offer here include Wifi SIP for hardware compatibility, phone-to phone calling, as well as making phone calls right from the web browser. 

There is, of course, a mobile app for this one too. You get a local access number, and you can send SMS from the computer. If you want to appear local, there is an area code tool to help out with that.

For most internet-based calling from this service provider, VoIP Discount is free. Otherwise, you can buy credits, and then you pay based on a rate system, depending on which country you are calling. This can be anywhere from $0.02 cents per minute to $1 per minute.

VoIP Discount is best for:

• Individuals

• Personal use

• Local calls

• Cheap international rates

Website: VoIP Discount

Our key takeaways

Every good thing must come to an end, and so does this article about the best VoIP platforms. So, what have we learned? Let’s summarize a bit. 

Maybe it is not surprising that Zoom reigns supreme here. Many people know and love Zoom. But how many of you knew about the free and open-source VoIP called Ekiga, not to mention VoIP Discount? Great substitutes if you want a free IP telephone tool.

Other big names that made it onto our list include RingCentral, Nextiva, and Vonage. Each one of these options offers something very competitive, whether you are a solo entrepreneur, a small business, or an enterprise. 

Some fun new names to show up are Grasshopper, MagickJack, and 8x8. It is likely in due time that you’ll see more and more press about each of these VoIP apps. Finally, let us give a quick mention of Google Voice. 

Everyone knows Google, but few are aware that Google Voice can hold its own against many of the dedicated VoIP systems on this list. It’s just too bad it is not automatically included in Google Workspace.

We hope that this article has educated you and helped you decide which VoIP software is the best for your needs. Remember to check back with us regularly for some more in-detail reviews of individual apps, alternatives to the big names, and side-by-side comparison articles. Ciao!