Traditional Phone Company vs OpenPhone vs Google Voice
Written by – Nicole Monay
Hey y’all! Today, we’re going to dive into the world of business phone lines, because let’s be honest, communication is the key to success for any business. Now, there are a few different options out there when it comes to setting up a phone line for your company. We’ve got the traditional phone companies, online services like OpenPhone, and even Google Voice. So, let’s break it down, compare these options, and see which one comes out on top.
Let's breakdown all three
Traditional Phone Company:
First up, we have the traditional phone company option. With a business phone line from a company like Business Unlimited, you can expect to pay about $70 per month for just the essentials. That price includes 5G Nationwide/4G LTE, unlimited 4G LTE & 5G Nationwide data, unlimited talk, text & data, and an unlimited mobile hotspot. Keep in mind, though, that taxes, fees, and an Economic Adjustment Charge will be added to that $70 charge.
OpenPhone:
Now, let’s talk about OpenPhone. This online company offers a basic monthly package for just $17 per month. Not only is this significantly cheaper than the traditional option, but OpenPhone also includes features like internal threads, contact notes, business hours (where callers receive an auto-text or are sent to a specific voicemail), call recording, auto-replies, scheduled messages, IVR (auto-attendant), and webhooks.
Google Voice:
Lastly, let’s take a look at Google Voice. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of this service. One of the main reasons is that when you call someone using Google Voice, it says, “Please hold while we connect you.” This can be quite off-putting for your clients and just doesn’t give off a professional vibe.
Managing Business Hours:
Business hours allow you to set specific hours when your business is available to receive calls. Callers who contact you outside of these hours will receive an auto-text or be directed to a specific voicemail.
- OpenPhone: Offers business hours feature.
- Traditional Phone Company: Does not offer business hours feature.
- Google Phone: Does not offer business hours feature.
Call Recording:
Call recording helps you keep track of important conversations by saving an audio record of your calls.
- OpenPhone: Offers call recording.
- Traditional Phone Company: Call recording may be available at an additional cost.
- Google Phone: Does not offer call recording.
Auto-replies:
Auto-replies help you maintain quick response times by automatically sending a pre-written message to incoming texts or calls.
- OpenPhone: Offers auto-replies.
- Traditional Phone Company: Does not offer auto-replies.
- Google Phone: Does not offer auto-replies.
Scheduled Messages:
Scheduled messages allow you to compose a text message and schedule it to be sent at a specific time in the future.
- OpenPhone: Offers scheduled messages.
- Traditional Phone Company: Does not offer scheduled messages.
- Google Phone: Does not offer scheduled messages.
IVR (auto-attendant):
An Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, or auto-attendant, allows callers to navigate through a menu of options to reach the appropriate department or person.
- OpenPhone: Offers IVR.
- Traditional Phone Company: IVR may be available at an additional cost.
- Google Phone: Does not offer IVR.
Webhooks:
Webhooks allow you to integrate your phone system with other applications and services, automating data exchange and streamlining your workflows.
- OpenPhone: Offers webhooks.
- Traditional Phone Company: Does not offer webhooks.
- Google Phone: Does not offer webhooks.
Saving Money
When comparing the three options, OpenPhone comes out as the most cost-effective choice. With a basic monthly package costing just $17, OpenPhone offers a range of features that the Traditional Phone Company and Google Phone lack. The Traditional Phone Company charges around $70 per month for basic services, and features like call recording and IVR may come at an additional cost. Google Phone, while being a more affordable option than the Traditional Phone Company, still lacks many of the features that OpenPhone provides.
Who Won?
So, there you have it, my loves! When it comes down to it, my top pick for a business phone line is OpenPhone. The features, affordability, and ease of use for teams make it a no-brainer in my book. Traditional phone companies and Google Voice just can’t compete with what OpenPhone brings to the table. Now, go on and get your communication game strong, and watch your business thrive! Don’t forget to check out these tips on optimizing your phone system for even better results.
