phone-system-for-small-business

Over 33 million* small businesses in the US alone rely on call center software to cut down support times, speed up sales, and boost productivity. But which solution is right for you?

With tens of possible phone system providers on the market, finding one that fits your business is a time-consuming endeavor, especially when you have to account for pricing, features, integrations, and overall quality. 

Thankfully, there’s no need to do all the legwork yourself. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top affordable phone systems for small businesses in 2025. Keep reading!

Key Takeaways:

  • CloudTalk, RingCentral, and Ooma Office offer some of the best deals for SMBs, balancing affordability with advanced functionality.
  • Compare providers based on whether they integrate with the tools you already use, offer flexible pricing to scale with your business, and include features like automation and analytics to ensure compatibility with your business needs.
  • Look for sought-after features such as IVR, call routing, AI transcriptions, and CRM integrations to enhance productivity and customer service.

Compare Small Business Phone Systems:
Pricing and Features Breakdown

Check out our snapshot of the pricing and features of the top small business phone systems in the table below.

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Feature

Pricing

Click-to-Call

SMS/MMS

Recording

Transcription

Power Dialer

IVR

ACD

CFD

Analytics

AI

Free Trial

Cloudtalk

$25 – $50

14 days free

RingCentral

$20 – $35

14 days free

Nextiva

$20 – $60

14 days free

Dialpad

$15 – $25

14 days free

Grasshopper

$26 – $80

7 days free

8×8

Per Request

30 days free

Vonage

$13.99 – $27.99

14 days free

GoTo Connect

Per Request

14 days free

Ooma Office

$19.95 – $29.95

30 days free

Features to Prioritize in a Phone System

The goal of every savvy business owner is to get their money’s worth. As such, you should keep your eyes open for providers offering advanced automation, AI, and CRM-integrated solutions to save time and boost productivity.

Here are the main features you should look for:

  • Conference calling: Easily collaborate with team members and clients in real-time.
  • Dial-by-name directory: Simplify call routing by letting callers search by name.
  • Call forwarding: Ensure you never miss a call by routing it to the right device.
  • Auto Attendant: Automate call answering with professional greetings and menus.
  • Call routing: Direct incoming calls to the most appropriate department or individual.
  • Real-time transcriptions: Gain instant access to spoken content in text form.
  • Visual voicemail: Quickly scan and prioritize messages without listening.
  • Caller ID: Identify who’s calling before you pick up.
  • Mobile and desktop app: Stay connected from any device, anywhere.
4 Best Business Phone Systems for Small Businesses in 2025

8 Affordable Phone Systems for Small Businesses

Small businesses in 2025 need robust, scalable phone systems. These tools combine affordability, ease of use, and powerful features to keep your team connected and productive.

1. CloudTalk

CloudTalk is the next generation of AI-powered business calling software for SME customer-facing sales and support teams. Since starting in 2016, we’ve helped 4,000+ businesses turn conversations into conversions and make customer experience their biggest competitive advantage. 

Key Features

Integrations

Best For

High-velocity sales teams, customer support centers, and businesses needing scalable, international communication tools.

Pricing

Plans start at $25 per user/month, with advanced analytics and AI features included at $50 per user/month.

2. RingCentral Phone System

RingCentral is a leading cloud communications provider offering VoIP, video conferencing, and team messaging, tailored for businesses of all sizes. Established in 1999, the solution has helped 5,000,000+ businesses create better connections with their customers, apps, and each other. 

Key Features

  • Live Transcriptions & Summaries
  • Team Messaging
  • AI Translations
  • Business SMS
  • Analytics

Integrations

  • Microsoft Teams
  • Google Workspace
  • Salesforce
  • Slack

Pros & cons

Pros:

  • Competitive Pricing: Packages start at just $20 per user/month with basic features.
  • Easy Calling: Intuitive design lets agents start calling immediately with no training.
  • HD Calls: Stable, stutter-free performance for clear customer communication.

Cons:

  • Customer Service: On average, it takes multiple hours to respond to a ticket.
  • Global Reach: Only offers international and toll-free numbers in 100+ countries.
  • App Performance: Slow, unresponsive design and complex troubleshooting.

Best For

Mid-sized businesses seeking a well-rounded communication platform.

Pricing

Plans range from $20 to $35 per user/month for small business needs.

Discover Sales Call Tracking

Messages illustration

3. Nextiva

Nextiva delivers an all-in-one communication platform with VoIP, CRM integration, and collaboration tools designed for seamless customer interactions. Established in 2006, the company has helped 100,000+ businesses work and call smarter with its multichannel features.

Key Features

  • Unlimited Calling in the US & Canada
  • Free Local & Toll-Free Number
  • Voicemail Transcription
  • Auto Attendant
  • SMS & MMS

Integrations

  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot
  • Zoho CRM
  • Microsoft Teams

Pros & cons

Pros:

  • Call-Oriented: Strict focus on call management for optimal performance.
  • Quality Support: Customer support teams are quick to respond with helpful advice.
  • Intuitive UX: Easy to pick up and start using, regardless of technical expertise.

Cons:

  • Global Reach: Doesn’t offer stand-alone international numbers, only foreign calling.
  • App Performance: Slow, unresponsive design and complex troubleshooting.
  • Limited Features: Provides a comparatively barebones experience to other solutions.

Best For

Businesses with a focus on customer service and data-driven insights.

Pricing

Packages start at $20 per user/month, scaling to $60 for advanced features.

4. Dialpad

Dialpad combines AI-powered calling, messaging, and video tools, offering smart communication solutions for remote teams and modern workforces. Established in 2011, the company has helped 70,000+ businesses connect their teams, drive ROI, and support customers. 

Key Features

  • Real-Time Call Transcriptions
  • Multi-Level Auto Attendant
  • Self-Service Automation
  • AI Coaching
  • Analytics

Integrations

  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • Salesforce
  • Zendesk

Pros & cons

Pros:

  • Easy Calling: Intuitive design lets agents start calling immediately with no training.
  • Multilanguage: AI transcriptions allow for easy communication across languages.
  • Quality Support: Customer support teams are quick to respond with helpful advice.

Cons:

  • Call Quality: Frequent delays, choppiness, and dropped calls may impact customers. 
  • Global Reach: Only offers international and toll-free numbers in 25 countries.
  • App Performance: Slow, unresponsive design and complex troubleshooting.

Best For

Small businesses with distributed teams.

Pricing

Starts at $15 per user/month, with upgrades for advanced analytics.

5. Grasshopper

Grasshopper focuses on small businesses, providing a virtual phone system with features like call forwarding and voicemail, all tied to a single number. Founded in 2003, it focuses on providing simple and reliable tools for managing calls and messages.

Key Features

  • Virtual Phone Numbers
  • Voicemail Transcription
  • Simultaneous Call Handling
  • Call Forwarding
  • Custom Greetings

Integrations

  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft Outlook

Pros & cons

Pros:

  • User-Friendly: Easy setup and intuitive interface for non-technical users.
  • Affordable: Budget-friendly pricing for small businesses and startups.
  • Reliable Service: Minimal downtime ensures consistent communication.

Cons:

  • Limited Features: Lacks advanced tools like analytics and AI-powered transcriptions.
  • Scalability: May not be ideal for larger teams or growing businesses.
  • Basic Integrations: Fewer third-party app options compared to competitors.

Best For

Solo entrepreneurs and small teams needing a straightforward phone system.

Pricing

Plans range from $26 to $80 per month, depending on features.

6. 8×8

8×8 offers unified communications and contact center solutions with advanced analytics, global reach, and competitive pricing for growing businesses. Established in 2002, the company has used its long legacy to help 3,000,000+ customers unify their communication channels and drive conversational excellence.

Key Features

  • Intelligent Customer Assistant
  • Media Hot & Cold Storage
  • Interactive Meetings
  • Team Messaging
  • Secure Pay

Integrations

  • Microsoft Teams
  • Salesforce
  • Google Workspace
  • Zendesk

Pros & cons

Pros:

  • In-Depth Analytics: Sophisticated reporting for agent efficiency and caller interactions.
  • Omnichannel Support: Quick and easy access to all channels for a unified experience.
  • Wide Ecosystem: Offer​​s 65+ native integrations for CRMs, Helpdesks, and more.

Cons:

  • Confusing UI: A steep learning curve requires extensive onboarding and training.
  • Global Reach: Only offers international and toll-free numbers in 55 countries.
  • App Performance: Slow, unresponsive design and complex troubleshooting.

Best For

Businesses with global operations.

Pricing

Custom pricing available upon request.

7. Vonage

Vonage specializes in cloud-based business communications, offering VoIP, SMS, and API solutions to enhance connectivity and customer engagement. Established in 2001, it has helped over 1,000,000 users simplify communication with its reliable VoIP solutions.

Key Features

  • Business Phone Numbers
  • Call Forwarding
  • Voicemail to Email
  • Virtual Receptionist
  • Video Conferencing

Integrations

  • Salesforce
  • Microsoft Teams
  • HubSpot

Pros & cons

Pros:

  • Scalability: Flexible plans suitable for growing businesses.
  • Reliable Service: Stable call quality with minimal downtime.
  • User-Friendly: Intuitive dashboard for easy navigation.

Cons:

  • Limited Analytics: Lacks robust reporting tools for performance tracking.
  • International Support: Limited availability of global phone numbers.
  • Pricing Transparency: Custom quotes make comparison harder.

Best For

Growing businesses looking for reliable VoIP solutions.

Pricing

Plans start at $13.99 per user/month, scaling to $27.99 for premium features.

8. GoTo Connect

GoTo Connect combines VoIP, video conferencing, and team chat in an easy-to-use platform, ideal for businesses looking for reliable, unified communications. Established in 2006, it serves thousands of businesses globally with its versatile solutions.

Key Features

  • Cloud PBX
  • Video Conferencing
  • Call Analytics
  • Team Messaging
  • Custom Call Routing

Integrations

  • Microsoft Teams
  • Salesforce
  • Google Workspace

Pros & cons

Pros:

  • User-Friendly: Intuitive interface for seamless navigation.
  • Hybrid Work Ready: Combines tools for remote and in-office teams.
  • Flexible Plans: Scalable features to match team needs.

Cons:

  • Limited Advanced Features: May not suit enterprise-level requirements.
  • App Performance: Occasional lags during peak usage.
  • Pricing Complexity: Custom quotes can complicate cost estimation.

Best For

Hybrid teams requiring reliable communication tools.

Pricing

Custom pricing available upon request.

9. Ooma Office

Ooma provides affordable, scalable VoIP solutions with advanced features like call handling and virtual receptionist for small and growing businesses. Established in 2004, the company has helped over 1,00,000 customers fuel their remote-friendly call operations.

Key Features

  • Unlimited Calling in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico
  • Free Toll-Free Number
  • Virtual Receptionist
  • Voicemail to Email
  • Ring Groups

Integrations

  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft Outlook

Pros & cons

Pros:

  • Intuitive UX: Easy to pick up and start using, regardless of technical expertise.
  • HD Calls: Stable, stutter-free performance for clear customer communication.
  • Call-Oriented: Strict focus on call management for optimal performance.

Cons:

  • App Performance: Slow, unresponsive design and complex troubleshooting.
  • Customer Service: On average, it takes the team multiple hours to respond to a ticket.
  • Narrow Ecosystem: Only offers 50 basic features and 8 CRM integrations.

Best For

Small businesses seeking budget-friendly VoIP solutions.

Pricing

Plans start at $19.95 per user/month.

Discover the Best Affordable Phone System for SMBs

Choosing the right phone system is vital for small businesses in 2025. Focus on solutions that integrate seamlessly with your existing tools and offer scalable features. Whether prioritizing affordability or advanced functionality, these options cater to various needs and budgets. For more tips on selecting a phone system, explore our guide on hosted phone systems.

Sources:

  1. U.S. Small Business Administration
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