Google Voice is a dependable VoIP service with plans that target individuals and Google Workspace-based companies. I like that the former are highly affordable (or even free) and provide unlimited domestic calling to the US and Canada, but they are somewhat light on features. The Workspace plans, which cost extra on top of existing subscriptions, unlock a more advanced set of features, including auto attendants, call routing, and ring groups, along with a few AI perks, such as call summaries. That said, they still lack some of the tools you get with top competitors and don't support many desk phones. Google Voice could be a worthy option if you need just the absolute basics as a sole proprietor or if your organization is fully entrenched in the Google ecosystem, but Intermedia Unite and RingCentral RingEX remain our Editors' Choice winners for most businesses because they have a few more higher-end capabilities and will likely end up being more affordable. Zoom Phone, another Editors' Choice, combines faxing and video conferencing with unlimited calling for an especially low price.

Pricing: Free for Individuals, Potentially Costly for Businesses

As mentioned, Google Voice has options for individuals and add-on plans for Google Workspace customers. I tested both the free and Premier Workspace versions.

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Starting with the former group, Google Voice is free for personal use. You can get a dedicated number with your area code at no cost, along with basic features, such as call recording (for incoming calls), spam call filtering, and voicemail transcripts. With this tier, you can make unlimited calls to Canada and the US, and text anyone in the US. International calls for all plans require credits. The free version compares favorably with other home VoIP services.

Google also offers a Starter plan ($10 per user per month, billed monthly) for non-Workspace users. It offers everything in the free tier, plus 24/7 support, call transfers, desk phone support, call recording, and three-way calling. International calls still cost extra. This plan is available only to US residents and is suited to sole proprietors.

For Google Workspace users, three add-on plans are available. The Starter plan ($10 per user per month) supports up to 10 users and includes all the features of the non-Workspace Starter plan. It's available in 14 countries. The Standard plan ($20 per user per month), which supports unlimited users, adds typical business VoIP features, such as call routing and ring groups. You get just basic analytics reports, however. The top-end Premier plan ($30 per user per month) introduces more extensive analytics and automatic call recording.

For reference, Google Workspace plans start at $7 per user per month (billed annually) and go up quickly from there. As such, you will need to spend at least $17 per user per month on a Google Voice package if the non-Workspace Standard version doesn't cut it for your business. Of course, Google Workspace is a full business suite with document, email, messaging, and video conferencing capabilities. The closest equivalent is Microsoft 365 Business with the Teams Phone add-on, which might start as high as $60 per user per month, depending on how you configure it.

RingEX (starting at $20 per user per month, billed annually) and Unite (starting at $27.99 per user per month, billed annually) are more strictly VoIP products, but they also offer messaging and video conferencing. They offer more advanced features than Google Voice, including callbacks and skill-based routing. Google Voice offers a Gemini AI-based note-taking feature (currently in alpha) that can generate summaries and action items for calls, but some services, such as 8x8 Work (starting at $15 per user per month), can also gauge call sentiment. Zoom Phone starts at $10.50 per user per month, billed annually for a metered calling plan that includes video conferencing features.

Setup: Simple If You Focus on the Core Calling Features

One of the key points in Google Voice's favor is that it's simple to configure and use. The setup process for individual users primarily involves choosing a phone number for your area code and linking the Google Voice service to your Gmail email address. You also need to adjust settings for greetings, transcriptions, and the voicemail inbox, but that's all straightforward. For Google Workspace, the administration and setup process is similar if you specifically concentrate on the Google Voice settings. It takes a little more work to get going with Ooma Office and RingEX because they have more advanced features. Of course, configuring an entire Google Workspace account will be more time-consuming and complex.

Interface and Ease of Use: A Sparse Look That Could Use Some Color

The Google Voice interface is spacious and intuitive, with a left-hand menu that shows recent calls, messages, and voicemails. You can configure audio permissions (such as mic use) and access other Google services from the upper right, and use a large dialer in the lower right to make calls. You won’t find advanced options in the Settings section for things like call hold music or group chats, like with other business VoIP services. The design reminds me of 8x8 Works in that it's free of frills. I prefer the color and design of RingEX's interface because it makes it easier to find buttons and settings. With Google Voice's mostly white color scheme, you might have to hunt for features since they all look the same.

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You can access Google Voice on the web or download apps for Android and iOS. I tested the experience on all those platforms. No desktop apps are available.

Support: Excellent Coverage for Paid Users

If you use the free version of Google Voice, you must get all your support from community forums. For the non-Workspace Starter plan and all the Workspace tiers, however, you get 24/7 coverage via chat, email, or phone. During a test chat with Google support, I asked about desk phone support, and a rep answered quickly and correctly.

Importing Contacts: A Straightforward Process Via Google Contacts

Importing contacts is easy, but it requires using the separate Google Contacts service, which also ties in with other Google apps, such as Gmail and Meet. An import of 100 contacts with a full set of address, phone number, and job title details took just 10 seconds in testing. The import option is easy to find on the left-hand side of the Google Contacts screen.

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Desk Phones: Not Its Strong Suit

Google Voice works with a select few Poly desk phones. This selection pales in comparison with RingEX, which supports models from dozens of brands, including Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, and Poly. Ooma Office also offers a good range of desk phones.

Integrations: Thousands of Choices for Workspace Subscribers

Neither the free version of Google Voice nor the non-workspace Starter plan supports any integrations outside of those with first-party Google services. However, the full Workspace platform supports thousands of third-party integrations via the Google Workspace Marketplace. Apps here span the creative, CRM, messaging, and help desk categories, among many others. Only Microsoft Teams Phone offers a similar number of integrations within the full Microsoft platform, but RingCentral RingEX comes close.

Calling and Messaging: Reliable Performance, With Relatively Few Frills

Calls via both Google Voice's free and paid plans were remarkably reliable. During dozens of test calls over two months, it didn't drop a call once. I never experienced any issues with buffering or distortion, either. It was also easy to add callers, mute calls, record and transcribe conversations, and transfer calls to another line. Messaging is equally intuitive but basic. You can text contacts, but you don't get extra features like the ability to send emoji.

The call recording and transcription features are somewhat rudimentary, given that Android and iOS already have these capabilities. As mentioned, none of the plans offer skill-based routing, but you can have all phones ring simultaneously or use an auto attendant. For example, I set up a ring group for a specific department. When callers dial in, the auto attendant lets them press a number to reach that department. It’s easy to configure, but it's a bit buried among all the other Google Workspace admin settings.

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Some services, such as Zoom Phone, can provide AI-based sentiment analysis and generate more robust action items and summaries. As mentioned, Google is working on adding a Gemini-based note-taking feature for calls that sends notes from a call to your Gmail. I wish it generated these action items right within the Google Voice interface, but the feature worked well in testing. With Zoom Phone, AI summaries are much easier to access after a call ends.

Analytics and Reporting: Prepare to Pay for Useful Data

As mentioned, the analytics options you get depend on your plan. Neither the free nor the non-Workspace Starter plan offers any data reporting. The Standard plan provides basic analytics on call duration, call quality, and call transcription. The Premier plan unlocks Google's BigQuery service, enabling you to generate more advanced reports, including detailed voice logs that pinpoint quality issues.

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In testing, I easily generated an attractive and helpful report that showed the total number of calls I made. Just keep in mind that Google buries the reporting tools deep in the admin console. I wish this feature set were more immediately accessible.

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Security: Is Google Voice Safe to Use?

Google uses end-to-end encryption for data in transit and at rest, while its privacy policy is extensive and easy to understand. All Google accounts support multi-factor authentication.