The onset of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology in the modern world opened many doors of opportunities for businesses. VoIP has enabled firms to simplify communication because of its virtual nature and zero reliability on hardwired phone lines.
VoIP ensures consistent internal and external communication with HD calls, flexibility, and a plethora of telephony features at your disposal. Such functionalities make it suitable for empowering remote teams. VoIP enables them to operate effortlessly with affordable and best cost-to-value options.
If your business operates remotely, you need a VoIP service provider that smooths your operations and prevents your teams from getting overwhelmed. To help you select the perfect VoIP companion for your remote teams, we’ll look at some of the best affordable VoIP services available.
What is VoIP and how does it work?
VoIP telephony is a form of communication that utilizes internet connections instead of traditional PSTN phone lines. It transforms your regular voice calls into tiny data packets that travel over the internet and are translated back to voice signals on the other end.
This leads to crystal-clear calls, device flexibility, and a plethora of features like video conferencing and instant messaging—all at an affordable price. With VoIP, your remote teams stay connected and collaborative, delivering uninterrupted communication and a better user experience.
Is VoIP better than Landline for remote workers?
VoIP is considered a better-suited companion for most businesses than landlines, especially those with remote teams. Here’s how VoIP empowers them:
- Features such as video conferencing, media file sharing, and instant messaging allow remote teams to collaborate efficiently from distant locations.
- Teams can stay connected and attend calls anytime, anywhere. It minimizes connection disruptions and keeps operations running smoothly.
- Small and mid-sized businesses can save expenses on long-distance calls and expensive hardware and better allocate their resources to core operations.
1. Acefone
Acefone offers exceptional VoIP-based phone services, allowing you to upgrade your communication operations. You get pay-as-you-go plans, giving you the flexibility to scale your VoIP services as your business grows. Acefone offers VoIP phone systems, contact center solutions, virtual phone numbers, 65+ customizable features, and several CRM and API integrations.
With Acefone, you get a dedicated customizable dashboard and support for all devices, allowing your team to connect from anywhere. Acefone’s seamless VoIP services ensure uninterrupted calls, 24×7 assistance, and 99.99% guaranteed uptime for your business’s continuity.
Offerings:
Acefone offers a limited Voip free trial offer on all plans to test their VoIP services before committing. Basic plans start at $14.99 and include unlimited domestic calling, 1 US local number/ user, free multi-level IVR, telephony features, integrations, and volume, as well as annual discounts.
2. Vonage
Vonage provides VoIP services to both business and residential categories. It combines voice, messaging, and video communication into one platform; however, it is popular for its video collaboration tool, which converts voice, SMS, and team messages into video meetings with a button.
Regardless of the plan you choose, Vonage gives you access to a dedicated administrative portal equipped with third-party integrations, VoIP-based features, reports, and analytics. Users can use Vonage’s calling features across all their plans. They also offer volume discounts for 1000+ user accounts.
Offerings:
With standard plans starting at $19.99, Vonage provides its users unlimited SMSs, calls, team messaging, and mobile and desktop app support.
3. Nextiva
Nextiva is a versatile VoIP service provider with annual discounts, making the initial investment for SMBs affordable. Nextiva offers some of the most comprehensive call analytics at such affordable plans.
Nextiva is a key provider of toll-free calling, with 1500 minutes included in its Essential plans. Users also get access to its softphone apps, ideal for remote working teams. Even though it provides affordable plans, some features that VoIP providers offer by default are only available at Nextiva’s superior pricing packages.
Offerings:
Nextiva’s basic plan, beginning at $18.95, gives you access to basic features such as unlimited voice and video calling, voicemail, virtual numbers, and internet faxing. They also have a 7-day free trial available.
4. Zoom
Zoom is one of the most popular calling/ conferencing applications. Surprisingly, very few people know that Zoom also offers VoIP services.
Zoom Phone, the VoIP service provider, offers cost-effective plans with crystal-clear audio and device compatibility. While features like internet faxing and call recording are payable add-ons, Zoom Phone suits remote teams already using Zoom. You and your team members can swiftly switch between video and voice calls without disconnecting and share media files simultaneously.
Offerings:
Basic plans begin at $15.00, offering you US & Canada Numbers and limited domestic and international calling. Zoom Phone also has a mobile application in place for users on the go to maintain business continuity and seamless communication.
5. MightyCall
Like the other VoIP services in this list, MightyCall provides easy-to-use and convenient communication for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers remote access to 30+ features and many CRM integrations, giving new VoIP users a smooth transition to newer technology.
MightyCall’s VoIP solutions specialize in customer services. They offer VoIP phone systems, virtual numbers and features like call recording, live call monitoring, voicemail to email and numerous automations.
Offerings:
MightyCall’s basic plans start at $15 with unlimited calling, messaging, access to APIs and integrations, and business phone numbers.
How to choose the best VoIP service for your remote teams
To ensure you’re making the right decision for your business, we have collated a list of factors to consider before choosing a VoIP service provider.
- Seamless Collaboration: Look for features such as softphone compatibility, video conferencing, instant messaging, and call forwarding/transfer. These VoIP features ensure your remote team stays connected and productive.
- Pricing: Narrow down services offering flexible plans that can adjust with your team’s size. Pay-as-you-go options are ideal for growing teams, while larger teams can benefit the most from volume discounts.
- Ease of Use: A user-friendly interface and dashboard are vital elements for your business’s smooth adoption. VoIP providers like Acefone, Nextiva, and Zoom Phone ensure that professionals from non-technical backgrounds can effortlessly use VoIP solutions.
- Data Security: Data security and end-to-end encryption are critical for protecting your business’s sensitive communication information.
Revisit our five best VoIP service recommendations mentioned earlier and analyze your team’s size, communication requirements, and cost allocation available. Look for personalized demos and free trials to test the VoIP Phone service and filter the providers with the best cost-to-value ratio.
You must also factor in additional features such as international calling rates, call recording capabilities, and integrations with project management tools specific to your industry.
Takeaway
VoIP technology is a game changer for upcoming and remote teams. It enables your business to leverage crystal-clear calls, flexible pricing, advanced telephony features, and more for smoother communication. With this list of the five best VoIP services affordable for remote teams, we hope you get all the information you need to finalize a VoIP service provider.
FAQs
Most VoIP services like Acefone, Nextiva, Zoom, and more offer US local phone numbers with their VoIP plans while signing up. They allow you to pick a number with specific area codes of your preference.
Some of the business types that use VoIP services the most are
- Remote Teams: Helping remote workers engage customers calls using any internet-connected device.
- Virtual Offices: Businesses without physical offices can set up a digital presence using VoIP services.
- Startups and SMBs: VoIP offers scalable plans as compared to traditional phone systems, ideal for growing businesses.
- Customer-Facing Businesses: Companies dealing with customers on the front end can utilize VoIP’s integration with CRM systems and features like call recording and analytics, valuable for sales and support teams.
VoIP has developed a strong grasp on the global market and is continuing to grow. Some of the upcoming trends that we can except soon can be AI-powered features, better security, smoother collaboration tools, and integration.
The VoIP services mentioned earlier can be considered some of the top alternatives for RingCentral. Especially Acefone, known for its simplified VoIP phone system, advanced calling features, detailed reporting and 24×7 customer assistance.
To get your hands on a VoIP system for your remote business, you can get in touch with our experts by submitting your details in the form given below. We aim to help you take your business through a digital revolution and simplify operations simultaneously.