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Sunday, May 18th
Since launching in Pittsburgh back in 2012, Voiply has grown to serve over 25,000 customers who need VoIP phone service. If you're looking to avoid getting locked into a lengthy agreement, you'll be glad to know they don't require any contracts. But while that freedom might sound appealing, you'll want to keep reading our full review to learn about some concerning issues we've uncovered with their service. (For example, they seem to have a different definition of "unlimited".)
Basic service with some gotchas
At Voiply, you can get a straightforward home VoIP service for $8.95 per month that includes an adapter and basic features. If you opt for their annual plan, your monthly average cost will be just $7.46. While this price is definitely competitive for US-only calling, there's a catch: despite advertising "unlimited” calling all over their website, customers report being charged 15¢ per minute after just 500 minutes. We examined the company's Terms of Service, and it turns out that they reserve the right to charge additional fees of "at least $0.03 per minute for voice calls and/or $.05 per facsimile page” - or terminate service for whatever they consider "excessive" use.
No international calling plan for home VoIP
Be aware that Voiply doesn't offer international calling plans. You'll pay per-minute rates for most international calls, although they do allow you to call landlines in certain countries for free. They provide a list of these countries on their website as well as a rate calculator for the excluded countries.
Add-ons and bundling available
If you're interested in bundling, Voiply offers home phone packages ranging from $84.95 for a handset with a digital answering system to $99.95 for an AT&T bundle with three home phones. (Side note: at the time of our research, Voiply was running a 50% off promotion in exchange for our email address, but it wasn't clear whether this applied to VoIP for home subscriptions or their phone bundles.)
Free shipping and no activation fees
You'll be glad to know there are no setup or activation fees when you start with Voiply, though you should budget for about $7 to $9 in taxes depending on your location. Want to use your own equipment? No problem - you can bring your own compatible devices. Plus, there's a free shipping option. If you're not satisfied, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee on the service charges and taxes, though keep in mind this won't cover rushed shipping costs or any international calls you make.
Spam call defense costs extra
You'll get all the VoIP basics with Voiply's residential plan, including call waiting, caller ID with name display, HD voice, and voicemail-to-email. They also offer enhanced E911 service and claim 99.99% uptime. Optional add-ons include Webroot Antivirus ($2.50/month), Robocall Defender ($2.50/month), and Online Fax ($5/month).
SMS issues with app
The Voiply mobile app lets you make free calls to the US, Canada, and 50+ other countries, plus it can ring both your phone and mobile simultaneously so you never miss a call. You can send and receive unlimited messages from your phone number and get voicemail transcriptions. However, the app has some serious limitations: users report issues with texting functionality, inability to send photos, and problems with message organization. Some customers have even experienced complete app failures requiring reinstallation, which wiped their message history. While these kinds of SMS issues are unfortunately common with VoIP apps, if you're planning to rely heavily on texting or messaging features, Voiply might not be right for you.
Customer support appears to have gone downhill
Voiply's support quality has taken a nosedive recently. Long-time customers report that their once-stellar chat support has been replaced by AI systems that aren't cutting it. When you run into issues like dropped international calls or missing caller ID info, you might find yourself waiting weeks for solutions while getting different excuses each time. The phone service quality itself isn't much better - lately, customers have been mentioning inconsistent voice quality, devices failing, and frequent outages.
Pricing is still competitive
Is Voiply worth your hard-earned money? While we previously rated them a near-perfect 4.5 stars, that was because they were so budget-friendly and had great customer service. While their prices haven't changed since the last time we reviewed them (and they remain competitive in the home VoIP market), the same can't be said for their customer service.
Voiply is recommended, but be aware of customer privacy concerns
Additionally, we're concerned about some of their marketing tactics: while we were reviewing Voiply, we received an abandoned cart email from them "via SafeOpt”. SafeOpt is a marketing tool that uses tracking technology to send you unsolicited emails based on your private browsing data. Right now, SafeOpt is being sued in California for potentially breaking privacy laws. If Voiply is willing to take your information to get an edge over other home VoIP companies, we wonder what they might consider acceptable to do with your other private data - like the content of your phone calls. If privacy is a concern (and it should be), you might want to think twice about trusting Voiply with your phone service and consider using a different provider instead. Otherwise, we would still recommend Voiply, but we'd advise you to proceed with caution and knowledge of the fine print.
If you're looking for a reliable, cost-effective way to make calls from home, a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service might be the perfect solution. Unlike traditional landlines that rely on physical phone lines, VoIP uses your internet connection to make and receive calls. Whether you're a remote worker needing a dedicated line, a budget-conscious household looking to cut the cost of phone bills, or someone who frequently calls internationally, VoIP can offer significant savings and flexibility.
One of the biggest benefits of VoIP is that it eliminates the need for expensive phone service plans from traditional carriers. Many services offer unlimited local and long-distance calling, while others provide pay-as-you-go options that are perfect if you only make occasional calls. Plus, VoIP services often come with features like call forwarding, voicemail-to-email transcription, and even call recording - perks that typically cost extra with traditional phone companies.
However, choosing the right VoIP provider isn't as simple as picking the cheapest option. VoIP services vary widely in their pricing models and equipment requirements. Some providers require a contract, locking you into service for a year or more, while others offer month-to-month or pay-as-you-go plans.
If you're unsure about committing long-term, a contract-free option might be best. Additionally, some VoIP companies include a physical device (like an adapter that connects to your existing phone), while others are BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), meaning you'll need to purchase compatible equipment separately.
Hidden fees can also be a major drawback. Some services advertise low monthly rates but tack on setup fees, service charges, or even cancellation penalties. Some companies will "lease” you equipment and expect you to return it (or pay a $50 fee) when you cancel your service. A few home VoIP services advertise "unlimited” calling minutes despite imposing a cap, after which you'll pay per-minute. Be sure to read the fine print before signing up, so you don't end up paying more than expected.
Here are some things to consider when deciding which VoIP for home is best for you.
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