The listings featured on this site are from companies from which this site receives compensation. This influences where, how and in what order such listings appear on this site.
Advertising Disclosure

Best Residential VoIP Providers Of 2023: Find the Best VoIP Home Phone Services

Richard Sutherland Author image
Image - Best Residential VoIP Services of {year}

VoIP phone systems aren’t only for businesses—they’re also useful for residential customers. A residential VoIP system replaces your old phone line, letting you cut the cord and make calls for a fraction of the cost.

Residential VoIP systems also come stacked with dozens of features like voicemail-to-text and virtual fax, and with today’s top residential VoIP providers you don’t have to sacrifice top-quality sound and service. In fact, you won’t even know the call you’ve received is from a VoIP line.

That seems like a win-win situation, but how do you decide which is the best VoIP service to go with? Let’s take a look.

Oops, something went wrong.
Looks like this page needs a second chance.Please try again later.
Show more

Our Top 3 Picks

  • 1
    Grasshopper

    Grasshopper

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • PricingFrom $28/month per account
    • Best forTeams that share phone numbers among multiple users and extensions

    Grasshopper is a VoIP phone system offering voice calling and SMS. The phone system itself, accessible through a mobile and desktop app, is straightforward to use.

    This service's plans support unlimited calling in the US and Canada, and each includes a preset phone number limit you can split among as many agents as needed. Grasshopper's unique payment structure works well for companies that want to share a handful of phone numbers among many extensions. However, all of their available DID numbers have US area codes.

    In the Grasshopper app, agents can make calls and send SMSes anywhere in the world. They can also access their voicemail with transcription and screen, transfer or forward calls. Each agent has the option to set up a personal greeting that can be configured with Grasshopper's phone number extensions to create an auto attendant routing system. These plans support between three and an unlimited number of extensions.

    With this service, you can send texts globally and configure your phone system to dispatch auto-responses to first-time callers, callers that get a busy signal, and more.

    Why we picked Grasshopper: Grasshopper is best suited to those who don't need multiple channels, collaboration, routing, or queueing. Its pricing plans also work well for companies whose agents need to share phone numbers.

    Our experience: We found Grasshopper's app user-friendly and appreciated the texting functionalities. While the IVR was a little confusing to set up, the responsive and knowledgeable customer support team helped us get it done in under 30 minutes.

    Pros
    • Voicemail to email
    • Shared phone numbers
    • Auto attendant routing systems
    Cons
    • Lacks video and chat features
    • No international phone numbers
  • 2
    CloudPhone

    CloudPhone

    • No. of usersUnlimited
    • Pricing$24.99-$34.99
    • Best forSmall businesses of up to 10 people

    CloudPhone is known to be a great business VoIP solution for smaller businesses. Everything from its pricing structure to its features tells us that it is working hard for the little guys in the industry. And it shows. With a CloudPhone unified communications solution, even the smallest businesses can put up a big front, winning the respect and the clients they deserve.

    Some of the great features you can get with a CloudPhone account are toll-free numbers, automatic call distribution, and call recording. Businesses will appreciate the Find Me Follow Me feature, which basically has a call ring to each of the designated phone lines one after another until the caller finds you. So, it’ll ring at your office desk first, then your home phone, then your cell until you finally pick up. It’s a very convenient feature that ensures you won’t miss an important business call because you stepped out for a few minutes or had to leave the country for some reason.

    Pros
    • Unlimited minutes and SMS
    • Integrates with existing devices
    • Lifetime 50% off Small Business plan
    Cons
    • No video conferencing
    • International calling isn’t unlimited
  • 3
    Phone Power

    Phone Power

    PhonePower is one of a handful of VoIP providers that actually specialize in residential VoIP rather than business VoIP. Although PhonePower has many plans, it’s best for calling within the US (including Puerto Rico) and Canada. That’s because it has possibly the cheapest prices in residential VoIP, providing you’re calling solely on local numbers. PhonePower also enables calls abroad, although there are cheaper options such as Vonage if you’re planning on making more than an hour’s worth of calls internationally each month.

    Each PhonePower calling plan includes the following features:

    • 30-day money-back guarantee
    • Keep your current phone number
    • Mobile phone app for taking your home number with you wherever you go
    • Send faxes
    • Free activation and setup
    • Free cloned second line
Breaking Down Our Top 10 Choices: Which Is Best For Your Needs?
text
Grasshopper-Best for ease of use
text
CloudPhone-Best for unlimited calling
text
Phone Power-Best for affordable rates
text
Phone.com-Best for useful features
text
Verizon-Best for clear call quality
text
8x8-Business requiring a unified VoIP cloud solution
text
RingCentral MVP-Best for mobile use
text
Ooma Office-Best for free plan
text
aircall-Best for browser calling
text
GoTo Connect-Best for easy setup
Compare The Best Residential VoIP Providers
1
Grasshopper
2
CloudPhone
3
Phone Power
4
Phone.com
5
Verizon
6
8x8
7
RingCentral MVP
8
Ooma Office
9
aircall
10
GoTo Connect
Price
From $26
per month
From $24.99
per month
From $8.33
per month
From $12.99
per month
From $10.00
per month
$15/user, per month - $44/user per month
$19.99 - $49.99 per month
Free service
premium service starts at $9.99
From $50.00 per month
$24/user/month
Free trial
-
-
-
-
N/A
7 Days
14 days
Money-back guarantee
30-day
30-day
30-day
30-day
2-year price guarantee
N/A
Yes. For accounts with less than 20 users
30-day
N/A
Popular plans
Grasshopper, Grasshopper Connect
Basic, Small Business, Professional
World Plus Calling, Home Phone Services
Base, Plus, Pro
World Plan 500, Unlimited, Per-Minute
Voice, video and chat for teams
Essentials, Standard, Premium, Ultimate
Free and Premium Plans
Essentials, Professional, Custom
Basic, Standard
Activation fee
-
-
-
-
$29.99,
waived for online orders
N/A
Call Features
Voicemail
Call recording
-
-
Premium
-
Call forwarding
Premium
Call blocking
Caller ID
Anonymous call rejection
Premium
3-way calling
Premium
E911
-
-
411 directory assistance
-
-
-
Virtual phone number
Customer Service
Hours
24/7/365
N/A
6am-8pm PT Monday-Friday
24/7/365
8am-9:30pm ET Monday-Saturday
24 / 7 / 365
24 / 7 / 365
Live chat: 5am-5pm PT, Weekends 8am-5pm PT
24 / 7 / 365
24/7
Available support (By instant chat/email/phone)
Live chat, phone, email
Phone, email
Live chat, phone, email
Live chat, phone, email
Phone, email, chat: 8am-9:30pm ET Monday-Saturday
Phone, chat, online form
Phone, Community, Live Chat, Social Media
Live chat, phone, email
Phone, Online Form, Live Chat
24/7 phone, ticket, and live chat support
Online tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VoIP good for home use?+-

Nowadays, VoIP services for home are miles ahead of landline connections. You can make international calls over VoIP for a fraction of the price you’d pay using a traditional landline, too. Residential VoIP gives you so many features that are expensive with traditional landlines, too, like voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling, call blocking, and call forwarding. If you run a business from home, the list of useful VoIP features is even longer, and includes automated attendants, call queuing, call holding, and integration with other software.

How much does residential VoIP cost?+-

You can start using VoIP with basic services like Skype, WhatsApp, and Zoom for free, but a basic residential VoIP system with a dedicated number starts at around $10/month for a set number of minutes. Residential VoIP plans around $20/month are often the sweet spot. At this price point, you’ll often get unlimited calls within the US and Canada, useful features like voicemail-to-text, and the option to use hardware VoIP phones in your home. At around $30/month, you start to see services that offer unlimited calls to 60 or more countries, as well as more business-oriented features.

Can I use VoIP to make international calls?+-

VoIP is arguably the best way to make international calls, as the rates are significantly cheaper than using a landline or mobile phone. And if both caller and recipient are using the same VoIP system, the call is usually entirely free. This is one reason why software like FaceTime, Messenger, and Viber has become so popular.

Can I replace my landline with VoIP?+-

For those who still like to have a home phone number, replacing your landline with a VoIP system is straightforward. If you don’t like the idea of using a computer or mobile phone to make calls, providers like Ooma and Phone Power are a good choice, as you can access all the advantages of VoIP without losing the convenience of physical phones.

What is the cheapest VoIP service?+-

Vonageis currently one of the cheapest VoIP services out there, with a starting price of $14.99. However, VoIP prices depend somewhat on the size of your business and its needs, so finding the most affordable service for you might depend on the variables and needs specific to your business.

Is there a free VoIP service?+-

Though VoIP providers do offer free trials and other incentives, it's difficult to find an entirely free VoIP service. Free services like Skype may be used for VoIP, but they'll likely be barebones and won't have the features and capacities an operating business would need.

Do I need a provider for VoIP?+-

Most of the times, VoIP service requires an internet connection but not a phone provider.

How To Choose the Best Residential VoIP

What Is Residential VoIP? 

With Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), voice data between callers is converted to digital data and transmitted over the internet via a VoIP service provider. If either end of the call is using a traditional landline telephone instead of VoIP, the service provider acts as a seamless exchange between these two systems.

Residential VoIP vs. Landline Connection

The fundamental difference between residential VoIP and landline connections is that with VoIP your voice calls are sent over the internet instead of via a wired-in landline connection.

Arguably, the biggest benefit of choosing residential VoIP over a landline connection is price. The top 10 residential VoIP providers we’ve listed above include examples like PhonePower, which costs just $8.33 per month for unlimited calls in the US and Canada.

In terms of voice quality, the best residential VoIP services in 2023 are good or better than the landline system.

Also, assuming you already have an internet connection in your home, there’s no additional cost for equipment, as VoIP uses your existing internet connection.

How Do I Know If My Internet Is VoIP Capable?

VoIP calls only require around 0.5 Mbps of bandwidth each, a very modest amount, and you need a consistent connection. 

When choosing a VoIP provider and plan, budget a little more speed for those times when you’ll need to make calls while family members use streaming services or play online games.

To test your current internet connection, you can use a speed test tool like Speedtest from Ookla. We recommend downloading the app version of Speedtest, which shows you the most important statistics relevant to VoIP. You can see upload and download speed, but also latency and jitter. Latency (or ping) is the amount of time a data packet takes to get to its destination and back. Jitter is how much this delay varies because of network congestion.

Communications company Cisco recommends a maximum latency of 150 milliseconds and maximum jitter of 30 milliseconds for acceptable VoIP communications. If your internet connection meets these requirements, VoIP call quality should be fine.

Important Features of Residential VoIP You Must Know

Some of the most important residential VoIP features to look out for include:

Call blocking

Call blocking examines incoming calls for certain criteria to determine whether to accept or reject them. It helps you avoid spam callers, telemarketers, and automated calls.

More specific call screening features include number blocking, anonymous call rejection, and private call rejection. 

Call waiting

Call waiting allows you to answer a second call while you’re already on the phone, and switch back and forth between them. The calls are completely independent, so the two callers can’t hear each other.

Caller ID

Caller ID shows a calling party’s name and number on the call recipient’s device, and is set by the party making the call.

Callers who use a VoIP number, the numbers that appear on your call recipients’ screens are under your control, and you are free to change them for different calls you make.

Voicemail

If you’re unwilling or unable to take a phone call at a particular time, it can instead be sent to a remotely accessible voicemail service where the caller can choose to leave you a message.

Even better, many VoIP services offer voicemail-to-email. This means the voicemail is delivered to your email address as a link. Many services also transcribe the voicemail automatically in the body of the email for added convenience. 

Do not disturb

Do not disturb features temporarily prevent all incoming calls from ringing, and forward them straight to voicemail. This allows you to avoid distractions while working on a device that uses a VoIP system.

E911

If you make a 911 call on a traditional landline, the call is routed via a special router called E911, which looks up your physical address and transfers the call to your local 911 operator.

Many VoIP providers also offer this feature. With Dialpad, for instance, making a 911 call from home will send the emergency services the precise address you set up with Dialpad. If you're calling through your mobile, your latest GPS coordinates will be sent instead.

Call forwarding

Call forwarding is a phone system where you redirect calls to an alternative number. For instance, you can set your home phone to redirect calls to your mobile phone when you’re not there.

More complex call forwarding rules can also be set up, such as automatically forwarding calls based on caller ID, time of day, or whether you’re already engaged in a call.

It’s much easier and cheaper to set up these call forwarding rules on a VoIP system than with a traditional landline.

How To Choose a Residential VoIP Service Provider?

To determine the best VoIP service for your home, first, look at the pricing model of the service provider. Do they charge on a per-user, per-line, or per-home basis? If you expect multiple users to make calls at the same time, the best residential VoIP service for you might allow for unlimited simultaneous users.

Some of the cheapest VoIP providers only have software applications, meaning you’ll need to use your computer or mobile device to make and receive calls. If you prefer physical phones, choose a residential VoIP provider that supplies you with phones as part of its package.

You may want to choose one of the larger residential VoIP players on the market, such as Grasshopper or CloudPhone, so you can be sure their service will be reliable. Check residential VoIP reviews to get a good idea of what to expect from each provider.

Finally, consider any extra features each provider offers, like 411 directory assistance or call recording, for instance.

Make Sure You Have the Right Connection

Not every internet connection is VoIP ready, so before you sign up, make sure that your line will provide you with the level of VoIP speed and service you need. You can easily find resources online for checking the speed and call quality of your connection. The quality of your connection can potentially impact the clarity of your calls, so pay close attention. 

Know Your Needs 

Unless you’re running a major business out of your house, chances are you won’t need or be interested in the ability to do video conferencing with dozens of people at the same time. The same goes for an auto attendant and business software integrations. First decide which features are priorities for you (unlimited calling, voicemail-to-email, international calling plans, etc.) and then take a look at what each company offers. After all, there’s no sense in paying for features that you don’t need. 

What’s Your Budget? 

Figure out how much you’re willing to spend on your VoIP and this will help you better hone in on the company that’s right for you. Your residential VoIP should cost less than your current landline, but it’s still smart to do some price comparison and see which companies offer special deals (for instance, many companies will offer you a better rate if you sign up for a year plan rather than a month-to-month plan). Take a look at your monthly phone bill and the features you’re paying for, and compare that side-by-side with what you’d be signing up for with a VoIP plan. 

Is it Flexible? 

Few things in life are set in stone, and the same should be true of your VoIP plan. It’s wise to find a plan that is scalable and which you can easily expand if need be. You’ll want to know if you can break your contract early if you find a better deal elsewhere, or if you can easily switch plans with the same company in order to take advantage of more features, or to get rid of some you don’t need. 

What About the Money-Back Guarantee and Customer Service?

Sometimes things don’t go exactly according to plan and it’s good to have all your bases covered. Check if the company you’re signing with has a money-back guarantee and to what extent they back up their promises. You should also favor one that has multiple avenues for customer service—around the clock if possible—and read online reviews about the customer service the company provides.

Ok, but How Much Can I Actually Save? 

To get a better picture of the savings of VoIP for home use, here's a real life example: Long distance calls with a VoIP provider can be as little as $10 per month, if not less. Major telecommunications corporations typically charge more for such packages, even 2 or 3 times as much. If you look at this over the course of a year, that’s no small change.  

Phone Power gives you real value for money - their plans start at just $8.33 per month Get Deal

For instance, while AT&T offers landlines with unlimited phone calls for $33.99/month, with RingCentral you can get the Essentials plan, which includes unlimited phone calls starting at just $19.99 per person per month, and you can also enjoy a more extensive list of features. On Grasshopper, the introductory plan costs as little as $26/month, but that includes 3 extensions. 

With residential VoIP, you have a bundle of features you couldn't find with traditional landlines. Also, because of technology's continual advancements, the features continue to improve every year without a sharp rise in costs. VoIP for home use makes sense because you derive so much more value than what the traditional phone companies of today are offering.

Not Just Savings - Why Sign up for Residential VoIP?

With a VoIP system you won’t have to deal with the cords and clutter that you may associate with a residential landline. Also, most residential VoIP providers make the system mobile-ready so you can enjoy all the benefits of VoIP no matter where you are. 

What About the Features?

While regular phone companies come with limited options and charge extra for basic features, even the most pedestrian VoIP companies include dozens of standard features in even their introductory plans. 

These include features like voicemail-to-email (and/or fax to email) which will automatically take your voicemail messages and send them as audio files to your email, making you much less likely to miss important messages. Many companies can also provide you with voicemail transcription to text, which will automatically convert the messages to text in an email, saving you even more time. 

Like the rest of us, you probably don't like to get hassled with unwanted phone calls when you’re at home. You can also implement “enhanced call forwarding” to reroute and block the numbers that you specify, without the caller having any idea. You also can set up your phone to block international and directory assistance calls, so they don’t bother you at home. 

VoIP companies can supply you with a toll-free number or a virtual number which allows people to call you for free, and a dedicated fax line which will allow you to send faxes without worrying about tying up the phone line. 

Get started with Grasshopper now, with a super easy setup and 24/7 live support Get Deal

You can also set up your VoIP account to integrate with programs like Microsoft Office, Google, Box, and Salesforce, which can help you stay organized if you’re running a small business out of your home. 

Now, business VoIP companies supply a number of features that you probably don’t need for your home VoIP system—such as the ability to video conference with dozens of people at the same time. 

Nonetheless, for residential users the list of available features is quite impressive, and makes VoIP that much more appealing than the old landline you’ve been using.

Ok, I’m Sold, but How Flexible Are These Plans?

Each VoIP provider is unique, but you should be able to find one that you can get you set up quickly and affordably without requiring a long-term commitment. 

Most residential VoIP providers will allow you to run it through your pre-existing phone number, and no one who calls you should know the difference. 

You’ll also want to take a look at the scalability of your plan. After all, you may want to add more extensions down the road. You may also find that you need international or toll-free minutes, as well as features that at first you didn’t see the need for.

Your Phone Lines - Your Call 

Setting up a residential VoIP system can mean big savings on your phone bill, especially if you make a large number of long distance and international calls. In addition, these systems are mobile-optimized, and provide a wealth of features that may just change the way you think of your home phone service. Take a look at the features you need and the budget you can handle, and make the decision that’s right for you.

Richard Sutherland Author image
Richard Sutherland writes for Top10.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Heriot-Watt University, Scotland, and has worked in the tech sector for over 20 years. Highly skilled in website development, SEO, and marketing, Richard has worked with and developed software for huge brands like Samsung, ASDA, and Prudential Insurance. He has written for an array of popular tech websites, covering topics that include web hosting, consumer and business technology, and SaaS platforms.