The VOIP Wars - Your ultimate guide to the cloud based business VOIP solutions
So you’re VoIP curious but feel a little bit lost with so many companies offering this service?
Don’t worry, it’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed with all the options out there, especially when your business is at stake. That is why, in order to help you choose the best option for your company, we decided to review three different brands: Grasshopper, RingCentral and Zadarma.
Grasshopper
Packages
Grasshopper has four different packages to choose from, one of them is a ‘pay as you grow’ option with a $12 monthly fee. Their prices goes from between $24 and $199 per month. This gives clients the opportunity to purchase the system that better fits their budget.
Grasshopper doesn’t have long term contracts and it gives a 30-day money back guarantee. So if you decide to try it and you don’t like, you won’t be wasting your money.
Features
In terms of the features it has available, Grasshopper is the one with the more limited options. Among the most appealing ones is the fax support; caller-ID screening; call transfer, forwarding and blocking; toll-free number; and a mobile app. Grasshopper might be suitable for companies that want to work with a basic package.
RingCentral
Although the website has a modern template, the images it features feel old fashioned. Also, while navigating around the website the pop-up windows that keep appearing can be a little annoying as it distracts the eye. But the ‘plans & pricing’ and 'features’ sections are very user-friendly.
Packages
RingCentral offers clients a 14-day free trial to test the system. It offers 3 different packages with monthly payments starting from $24.99 and the option to add extra numbers at an extra cost.
Features
It offers an extensive range of functions. From video and audio conferencing to mobile and desktop apps, RingCentral can suit different needs. It also offers a voicemail to email function, internet fax, the ability to add extensions, as well as a multi-level interactive voice response (IVR).
RingCentral might be convenient for companies working with remote teams or that have an international presence, as customers will be able to reach them wherever they arelocally, nationally or internationally.
The website isn’t very engaging, but it serves its function. It informs customers about the services if they’re willing to spend a few minutes reading the material it provides.
Packages
Zadarma offers four different packages that adapt to each company’s needs. Registering with them is completely free, plus they’ll give you $0.50 credit when you sign up. So you can try the system with no risks. Incoming calls and texts are free. Fees are always priced according to their lowest rates and they can vary from one country to another.
An unlimited plan is also available for companies that have a demanding call requirement.
Features
Zadarma offers a great number of customizable features, which gives the user the possibility to adapt the system to their needs, which many users with different business needs may find attractive. But it comes with a price: Zadarma system takes a bit of a learning curve to get used to, and a bit of tinkering with the plethora of options to get everything you need out of it.
Zadarma offers a cloud PBX system, free for regular users that continuously top up their account, with a wide variety of functions, like call transfers and recordings; automated fax receiving and welcome messages; call waiting with music options; interactive voice response; and the ability to connect multi-channel virtual numbers anywhere you are.
Overview
Although there are some similarities between the three companies, each one of them has their advantages too. Grasshopper is the easiest to understand and use but it’s the most basic system too. The packages they offer can suit different companies, but the downside is that they don’t offer an unlimited minutes option in any of them, even though one of the packages has a $199 monthly fee.
RingCentral offers more affordable packages than Grasshopper, but as the later one, RingCentral doesn’t have the option of unlimited minutes, although they do offer an unlimited audio conferencing package for companies that need to have a virtual
conference with more than 6 members at a time.
Zadarma is the most affordable one as their fees always match their lowest rates. The system allows for fine configuration it but it might not be suitable for everyone, as the user should spend some time learning the interface. We hope this information helps you to make the right choice. which one of the three systems suits your company’s needs?
