Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

The Best VoIP Services

What's the Best VOIP Service?

Even in a robust economy, smart businesses and households are constantly managing their recurring expenses. One way to save, potentially, hundreds of dollars each year is to switch from a traditional landline or a modern cell phone carrier to a Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP service. And, you can do so with very little or even no training or additional expense.

All you need to join in on the VoIP calling revolution is to have a high-speed internet connection with a computer. Businesses and most homes have these items so signing up for a VoIP service is typically very simple. Many, but not all, VoIP providers will send a special adapter or phone device that is plugged into the router. Another of the many advantages to switching away from traditional phone service to VoIP is the ability to block unwanted calls like robocalls and telemarketers.

Sunday, March 26th

2023 VoIP Service Reviews

1-VoIP Review Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award 5 Star Rating

1-VoIP

5 Star Rating Top Consumer Reviews Best-In-Class Blue Ribbon Award

1-VoIP offers three systems: Residential, Business, and SIP Trunking (to connect and control your own phone system). Each system is divided into three plans. 1-VoIP claims that each system provides 99.999% uptime. Because of its affordability and overall reliability, 1-VoIP earns our highest recommendation.

Ooma Review 4 Star Rating

Ooma

4 Star Rating

Ooma is a VoIP service that not only offers residential, small business, and enterprise VoIP systems and plans, but also home security and camera packages that run on the system. This is a solid option among providers of VoIP services.

VOIPo Review 3 Star Rating

VOIPo

3 Star Rating

If you're ready to commit to a VoIP system for a whole two years, VOIPo's $6.21 per month rate is really attractive as an option. For those who shy away from multi-year contracts, the monthly price isn't terrible, but it's also not the cheapest.

Phone Power Review 3 Star Rating

Phone Power

3 Star Rating

PhonePower offers two types of VoIP calling: Domestic and International. Domestic plans cover the USA and Canada and the International plans cover between 28 and 87 countries depending on the plan you purchase. Setup is simple with a single device between the Internet router and your phone. Support and reliability are a little on the thin side, but a 30-day guarantee is a good failsafe for this generally solid VoIP service.

AXvoice Review 3 Star Rating

AXvoice

3 Star Rating

AXvoice is a VoIP phone service with a threefold set of plans meant to appeal to residential, business, and international customers. For under $10 per month you can get over 30 features per calling plan for residential and for under $30 per month you can have a home office plan, small business plan, or an international plan. However, customer experiences with this VoIP service are very mixed, and a 15-day money-back guarantee is not much time to see how well it works for you or your business.

Ring Central Review 2.5 Star Rating

Ring Central

2.5 Star Rating

RingCentral is an all-in-one business VoIP system to help you reduce the cost of having multiple services. The monthly pricing includes a lot of options and you get the flexibility to communicate wherever you have an internet connection. Unfortunately, because user complaints have been increasing exponentially over the last few years (largely due to outsourced customer service and deteriorating call quality), RingCentral receives less than stellar marks.

Via:Talk Review 2 Star Rating

Via:Talk

2 Star Rating

Via:talk offers a range of services and features for residential and business Voice over IP (VoIP). Features include voicemail, privacy and security, call control with advanced capabilities such as call record, 3-way calling, Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD), and call broadcasting. Unfortunately, this service has a lackluster track record for quality and service, making it one of the lower-rated VoIP options on the market.

Call Centric Review 2 Star Rating

Call Centric

2 Star Rating

We found CALLCentric to have way too many options to sort through, compared with other VoIP services in their class. The plan breakdowns are complicated to understand and the design of the website makes choosing a plan difficult.

JoiPhone Review 1 Star Rating

JoiPhone

1 Star Rating

JoiPhone appears to be a severely outdated service, and maybe even an abandoned service - no longer relevant in today's more sophisticated market of VoIP services. Buyer beware.

Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Who offers the best VoIP service? All of the VoIP providers in our review include the basic staples of traditional landline and mobile phone services: voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding, online call logs, and much more. But, compare and contrast the VoIP company services before switching up your services by looking at the features of the top available providers.

Some important things to consider include:

  • Fees. Is the VoIP service cost monthly or a one-time charge? Is this going to be a savings opportunity given your personal needs?
  • Services. Is caller id, voicemail, and call waiting available with your VoIP service plan of choice?
  • Equipment. Will you be able to use the equipment you already have with your new VoIP system, or will you need to purchase an adaptor or a special phone to utilize VoIP?

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best VoIP services available today. We hope this information helps you find the right VoIP service for you and your home or business!

The Best VoIP Services Compare VoIP Services Compare VoIP Service Reviews What are the best VoIP Services Best VoIP Service Reviews

VoIP Service FAQ

Voice over Internet Protocol or "VoIP" is a technology that allows phones to make and receive calls digitally over the Internet, without the use of the typical analog phone jacks installed in homes and businesses prior to the era of the Internet. The result is cheaper phone service than with analog phone systems because the "line" is simply whatever Internet connection you currently have. Calls are routed independently through the distributed nature of the Internet rather than through a large phone company. You also get a number of features with VoIP phones that analog phones simply don't provide.
The quality of a VoIP phone call depends on your Internet connection. If you have a slow Internet connection and a poor-quality phone, modem, and router, you'll experience about the same call quality as with a basic analog phone connection. However, if you have a good connection and choose a VoIP vendor that provides high-quality phone and Internet hardware, your calls will be much better than with analog phone systems.
The best VoIP services and phones provide high-quality audio and video calling, call waiting, call forwarding, outbound and inbound faxing, inexpensive international calling. Great VoIP services will also include an app for your mobile phone as well as for your Mac or PC, advanced conference calling features, anonymous call rejection, call blocking via allow and block lists, and on-hold music. You should also look for free shipping of hardware, monthly billing with no contracts, and high-quality, responsive, 24/7 customer support.
The least expensive VoIP services cost under $10 per month in service fees for residential use. Business VoIP services can cost considerably more depending on the number and types of features they offer. Taxes and fees pertaining to your locality also apply. Look for a VoIP service that doesn't charge a high amount for the hardware. Services that provide free calling or free hardware do exist, but are somewhat rare. Avoid contracts whenever possible so you have the option of switching to a new service on your own terms.
Contracts do exist for some VoIP services and systems. Typically, these are non-residential business-class systems that are built, operated, and serviced specifically for small, medium, and large businesses. Residential contract VoIP does exist but is usually not worth the trouble in the event that another service provider comes along that provides better service and lower cost.
One weakness of VoIP phones is that, unlike analog phone systems, when the power goes out, your Internet service typically will also be deactivated. This is due to the fact that VoIP phones rely on Internet routers and modems that are connected to electrical outlets the same way a lamp or TV is connected to power. There is no electrical power coming from a battery or through the cable Internet wires to the phone. On the contrary, analog phone lines receive electricity from the same jack and wire that connect to the phone, so when the local power grid fails, the phone company still delivers backup power to the telephone. That is why it is important to have a backup phone or mobile phone in the event of a power outage, in case you need to call emergency services.
You do not always need a computer to use VoIP systems. VoIP phones are standalone devices that receive their signal from your Wi-Fi router or are plugged directly into your Internet modem. Sometimes you'll want to chain your VoIP phone through your computer to use certain computer-related features, but it's not a requirement for most VoIP phones. To use the "softphone" application some VoIP vendors offer, you will need to install it on your computer and then turn on your computer each time you need to use it.
Yes, most VoIP plans will include the ability to port your existing numbers to their service. Many will do it for free. However, be aware that some providers will apply a fee per line for doing so. It can also take up to four weeks for a number to be ported from one phone system to another. You may be given a temporary phone number to use while the transfer completes.
The Best Reviews of VoIP Services