8 Best Virtual Business Phone Number Apps In 2024

When starting a new business venture, your earnings will probably be inconsistent and unpredictable. According to Guidant’s annual Small Business Trends report, 35% of small businesses are not currently profitable, highlighting the challenges business owners face when getting started.*

For that reason, it’s important to save money where you can. A free business phone number helps you connect with clients worldwide using almost any internet-connected device. It can also save you a pretty penny while giving your business an air of legitimacy and professionalism.

Whether you’re a small business owner or running a large call center, online phone numbers are becoming more popular by the day, and for good reason. In this article, we’ll explore what a virtual phone number is and its advantages. We’ll also weigh up some of the top free phone number providers on the market today.

Key takeaways:

• Local and toll-free numbers help build a reliable brand presence with a global audience.
  
• VoIP systems are quick and easy to set up and provide unmatched flexibility so your team can work from anywhere with an internet connection. 
  
• CloudTalk offers an extensive range of numbers tailored to various needs alongside a robust platform featuring call routing, recording, and analytics.

*Guidant, 2024

Signs You Need a Business Phone Number App

Virtual phone numbers can save you money, keep your personal and business calls separate, and protect your privacy. 

Still not sure? Here are some surefire signs that you could benefit from a business phone number app:

• You run a small business and are looking to save money: Keeping initial costs low helps pave the way for future growth. Having a dedicated phone number for business use also keeps important work calls separate from personal ones, so you never miss or confuse a client call. 

• You want to reach customers without sacrificing privacy: Many people aren’t comfortable using their personal numbers for business purposes. Virtual phone numbers let you share your number without hesitation while keeping your personal life private. 

• You want to be able to work remotely: With remote and flexible work becoming common for many businesses, having access to virtual communication tools like online phone numbers is an important asset. Virtual phone numbers let you take calls from anywhere at any time, so you don’t need to be tied to one location or device or maintain a strict schedule of business hours. This makes business phone systems a perfect solution for remote teams and professionals who travel frequently.

• You want your phone system to integrate with other apps and tools: Great virtual phone providers integrate with tools like Microsoft 365, Canvas, Salesforce, and Zendesk. These integrations enable seamless communication and follow-ups with clients.

What to Look For in a Free Business Phone Number App

If you’re in the market for a free business phone number, start by assessing your company’s unique needs to find an app that hits the mark. Here are some key features to consider:

1. Call Analytics and Reporting: The platform should offer Call Center Monitoring, including detailed analytics around call volume and duration, giving you insights into the efficiency of your business communications.
   
2. International Numbers: Make and receive calls across different countries. With International Numbers, you can access new markets, expand customer reach, and simplify global communication.
   
3. Real-Time Dashboard: With a Real-Time Dashboard, you can track KPIs, visualize call center metrics, and access insights to improve routing and evenly distribute workload.
   
4. Incoming Call Mapping: Call Flow Designers visually map out how your business phone system will manage incoming calls so you can direct them for the best possible outcomes. 
   
5. Multi-Channel Communication: Holistic communication solutions support more than just voice calls and offer options like SMS, emails, and chats.
   
6. Power Dialer and Smart Dialer: Look for automatic dialing features like a Power Dialer that automatically dials one number after another, eliminating the need for manual dialing and software navigation.

How We Ranked Our List of Top Business Phone Number Apps

When evaluating this breakdown of top business phone number apps, we prioritized features that enhance communication, streamline workflows, and improve user experience. They include:

1. Call Management: Automated call routing, call forwarding, call transfer, auto-reply, and voicemail options help manage calls and improve customer experience.
   
2. Integration Capabilities: Tools with strong CRM, email, and workflow integrations scored higher as they enhance productivity by centralizing communication and data management.
   
3. Scalability: We favored apps that can grow with your business by offering flexible pricing plans, unlimited calling, and support for teams of all sizes.
   
4. Call Analytics and Reporting: Comprehensive Analytics tools that track performance and optimize operations are ideal.
   
5. Ease of Use: A clean, intuitive interface and mobile accessibility for both Android and iOS were top considerations.

The apps that we included on our list share common strengths: Advanced call handling, call center automation, seamless integrations, scalability, and user-friendly interfaces. This makes them an excellent choice for businesses that are looking to streamline their communications and improve call center performance.

8 Best Business Phone Number Apps

Overwhelmed by the sheer amount of business phone number apps on the market? No worries. We’ve done the research and handpicked the best free business phone number providers based on usability, features, and customer feedback for you.

Whether you’re a small business or a growing company, these tools offer advanced call management, integrations, and scalability to keep your team connected. Here are the top eight business phone number apps that strike the perfect balance of features, flexibility, and ease of use.

Cloudtalk (4.5/5)

Key Features:

• Call Recording
• Interactive Voice Response 
• Sentiment Analysis
• Talk/Listen Ratio
• Topics Extraction
• Real-Time Dashboard
• Power Dialer

Pricing:

• Starter: $25 per user/month
• Essential: $30 per user/month
• Expert: $50 per user/month

CallHippo (4.3/5)

Key Features:

• Call Forwarding
• Call Recording
• Voicemail
• Text Messaging

Pricing:

• Basic: $0
• Bronze: $16 /month
• Silver: $24 /month
• Platinum: $40 /month

RingCentral

Key Features:

• Automatic Call Distribution 
• Interactive Voice Response 
• Omnichannel Routing
• Skill Based Routing
• Predictive Dialer
• Call Scripting

Pricing:

• Core: $30 per user/month
• Advanced: $34 per user/month
• Ultra: $45 per user/month

eVoice (3.3/5)

Key Features:

• Call Center Management
• Automated Routing
• Automated Attendant

Pricing:

Base plan: $14/month

Nextiva (4.5/5)

Key Features:

• Auto-Dialer
• Call Logging
• Call Recording
• Performance Metrics

Pricing:

• Core: $21 per user/month
• Engage: $28 per user/month
• Power Suite: $42 per user/month

Google Voice (4.1/5)

Key Features:

• Call Forwarding
• Voicemail Transcription
• Voicemail Greeting Personalization

Pricing:

• Starter: $10 per month
• Standard: $20 per month
• Premier: $30 per month

Grasshopper (4/5)

Key Features:

• Unlimited Free Calls in Canada/US
• Offers Toll-Free Numbers
• Custom Greetings
• Call Forwarding

Pricing:

• Solo: $26
• Partner: $44
• Small Business: $80

FreedomPop (2.5/5)

Key Features:

• VoIP Calling
• Call Routing
• Instant Messaging

Pricing:

• Customize your plan: $2.99
• Unlimited Everything Plan: $42.99

VoIPLine (4/5)

Key Features:

• Call Monitoring
• Call Routing
• Automatic Call Distribution
• Customizable Reports

Pricing:

• Pricing information not publicly available

1. CloudTalk

CloudTalk is a cloud-based business phone service provider that serves companies and contact centers of all sizes. It offers the ability to call abroad at reduced rates or free of charge, with access to 160+ international numbers—the widest range on the market.

With CloudTalk, you can create intuitive and customized call flows that connect your customers with the right agents every time. Plus, you can make real-time adjustments to your automations so you never miss a call again.

Key features: 

• Easy Call Routing and Forwarding: Automatically direct calls to the right team or individual, ensuring that all calls get attended to effectively and improving customer satisfaction.
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR): Create customizable voice menus to guide callers to the appropriate department or information, enhancing self-service options.
• Voicemail to Email: Receive voicemails directly in your email inbox, allowing for easy access and quick responses, even if you’re on the go.
• Call Recording: Record calls for quality assurance, training purposes, or legal compliance, ensuring that you can review and analyze conversations as needed.
• Auto-Attendants: Start incoming calls with custom-branded greetings and direct callers to the right department or agent, depending on their needs. 
• Customizable Dashboard and Analytics: Call center analytics software gives you insight into call metrics and performance. An intuitive Analytics Dashboard helps you track key call center metrics and make data-driven decisions to optimize your communication strategy. 
• Sentiment Analysis: Understand how customers feel when they finish their conversations with Sentiment Analysis. Tailor sales and support conversations to increase satisfaction.
• Talk/Listen Ratio: Uncover talking patterns and Talk/Listen Ratio to make sure reps are striking the right balance with customers.

Best for: 

• Companies of all sizes that want to prioritize excellent call quality and analytics and become a trusted business with a local presence anywhere in the world. 

Most helpful user review:

“Amazing experience” 
★★★★★

“We have recently switched to CloudTalk from another phone system and the change is a breath of fresh air.

We use CloudTalk for all our inbound and outbound calls on a daily basis. All calls are automatically recorded and logged into our CRM, ready for us and our customer support team to refer back to should they require it. The initial setup and the integration into our CRM was smooth and the CloudTalk customer service team was very helpful.”

Front End Web Designer, Small Business (50 or Fewer Employees)

2. CallHippo

CallHippo provides a free trial of virtual phone numbers from over 50 countries, with options to add multiple users and make international calls. Its intuitive interface allows you to set up a call center in just minutes.

Best for: 

• Small businesses that are looking for a cost-effective way to communicate with their customers.

Most helpful user review: 

“It’s best used in our company to contact and send messages to clients all over the world. It has numbers to be bought all over the world, which we use to contact and talk to our clients. Very useful for sales and customer support.”

– Verified User in Computer Software, Enterprise (> 1000 Employees)

3. RingCentral

RingCentral is a VoIP-based business communication solution that specializes in cloud-based services. With 20 years of experience in the market, RingCentral offers businesses of all sizes virtual phone numbers, 800 numbers, and vanity numbers. It also lets users reach clients through video voicemail and respond in the same format for seamless customer service. 

Best for: 

• Call centers that want to maximize their output and improve customer experience and agent engagement.

Most helpful user review: 

“It allows you to make calls from your business line anywhere in the world. I have the app on my laptop and cellphone. If we have issues with our main phones, the app always works, so we never miss a call.”

– Verified User, Director of Operations in the US, Law Practice, 11–50 Employees

4. eVoice

eVoice is a top virtual phone provider that offers international coverage, web conferencing, call queuing, call forwarding, an auto-attendant, and voicemail transcription. You can also get a free local virtual number and forward it to your current phone.

Businesses can customize greeting messages, set up call routing, and receive notifications via email or text. Caller ID helps agents identify, block, transfer, or answer calls efficiently.

Best for: 

• Individuals, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and businesses that want their calls answered and routed professionally without the hassle of an extra employee.

Most helpful user review: 

“You know it’s great when your callers hear the jazz classic “Take Five” when their call is being routed to you. I hear positive comments about my phone system all the time. With eVoice, it’s possible to take a one-person company and make it sound like a big corporation.”

– Verified LinkedIn User

5. Nextiva

Nextiva allows you to manage your virtual phone number on a desktop, mobile app, tablet, or desk phone. It also offers virtual business numbers for different US locations so you can better connect with local businesses. Nextiva handles all software maintenance for you, which is a plus for companies that want to be more hands-off.

Best for: 

• Businesses of all sizes that only need a solution with basic features.

Most helpful user review: 

“Good call quality. Didn’t have any issues with the service of the phone. Did its job for a small company, but [when] growing, [it] didn’t provide the same ease of use.”

– Verified User, President in the US, Financial Services Software, 2–10 Employees

6. Google Voice

Google Voice delivers exceptional call quality at a fraction of the cost of traditional phone services. Its feature-rich plans include unlimited business calls and texts along with powerful management tools for streamlined call handling.

Seamlessly integrating with other Google Workspace apps like Meet and Calendar, Google Voice is a smart addition to your company’s tech stack if you’re already using the Google Business Suite.

Best for: 

• Businesses of all sizes that are already using Google Business Suite, especially lean startups.

Most helpful user review: 

“We started our company with Google Voice and continue to use their suite of business services to supplement our business (e.g. host business email on Gmail and Google Calendars). Ultimately, we felt we grew out of it and moved to a different VOIP service.”

– Verified User, Principal in the US, Architecture and Planning, 2–10 Employees

7. Grasshopper

Grasshopper works with any device, so it doesn’t require any additional phones or special equipment. It offers features for business texting, call routing, call forwarding, VoIP and Wi-Fi calling, virtual fax, voicemail, custom greetings, detailed call reports, and unlimited extensions. You can select from their range of local, vanity, or toll-free numbers, or transfer your existing number to their platform.

Best for: 

• Small businesses and entrepreneurs who want to keep personal and business calls separate.

Most helpful user review: 

“I can’t say I’ve had any problems with the software that wasn’t taken care of immediately by the excellent tech support. I had a little trouble setting up the extensions and recordings, but I never had anything but an old-fashioned phone system before. Considering my lack of experience, the virtual system wasn’t hard to figure out, and it was well worth it!”

– Verified User, PC/Network Technician and Business Owner in the US, Information Technology and Services, 2–10 Employees

8. VoIPLine

VoIPLine is a cloud-based VoIP service provider that offers reliable business phone solutions. It provides features like call routing, virtual numbers, and integrations with popular CRM tools to enhance communication for companies of all sizes. VoIPLine focuses on flexible, scalable plans to suit remote teams and growing enterprises.

Best for: 

• Any organization seeking a reliable, flexible, and cost-effective communication solution.

Most helpful user review: 

“I’ve been using VoIPline for over 4 years now. The support is great. Never had an issue. Just recently moved my mobile number. Works great. I hope [an] outbound SMS feature could be introduced in [the] near future. Recommend to everyone.”

– Rain Media

Choosing the Best Free Business Phone Number for Your Business

Getting an online business phone number is easier than you might think. Most providers, like Google Voice and CloudTalk, let you sign up quickly, offering free local numbers and plenty of upgrade options if needed. Once you’ve chosen a service, you can either port an existing line or select a brand-new one, often with additional features like toll-free or vanity numbers.

Keep in mind that different providers offer different perks, so it’s worth comparing plans to find the best fit for your business and budget. With the right choice, you can enhance your professional communication without breaking the bank.

If you’re looking for a solution that can help you with advanced call routing, voicemail, and integrations, CloudTalk is designed to keep your team connected from anywhere and keep costs low as you scale.