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Business phone systems
Cloud (VoIP) phone systems for small teams: calls, texts and meetings on one number, compared on their entry plans.
Updated Oct 10, 2026
Our top picks
- Top score
#1 RingCentral RingEX
Teams that want all six features we check, call recording included, on the entry plan
9.2/10ExcellentOur scoreVisit RingCentral RingEXOn ringcentral.com #2 Nextiva Business Phone Service
Teams that want 24/7 support by phone, chat and email on every plan
8.5/10Very goodOur scoreVisit Nextiva Business Phone ServiceOn nextiva.com#3 Dialpad
Small teams that want call recording at a $15 entry price, billed annually
7.5/10GoodOur scoreVisit DialpadOn dialpad.com
Our ranking
We scored 7 products on 5 criteria and hold 44 current prices, each with its source and the date we checked it (prices checked Sep 24, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026). Criteria, weights and version history.
- Top scoreRank 1
RingCentral RingEX
Teams that want all six features we check, call recording included, on the entry plan
- Entry plan includes 6 of 6: unlimited us calling, auto attendant, business sms, video meetings, call recording, mobile app.
- Entry-plan support: 24/7 support by phone and 24/7 online chat (24/7 phone and chat).
- Uptime SLA: 99.999%; HIPAA BAA: offered.
9.2/10ExcellentOur score - Rank 2
Nextiva Business Phone Service
Teams that want 24/7 support by phone, chat and email on every plan
- Entry plan (Core) $15.00 per month.
- Entry-plan support: 24/7 in-house support by phone, chat and email on all plans (24/7 phone and chat).
- Entry plan includes 5 of 6: unlimited us calling, auto attendant, business sms, video meetings, mobile app.
8.5/10Very goodOur score - Rank 3
Dialpad
Small teams that want call recording at a $15 entry price, billed annually
- Entry plan (Standard) $15.00 per month.
- Entry plan includes 5 of 6: unlimited us calling, business sms, video meetings, call recording, mobile app.
- The terms charge for leaving early.
7.5/10GoodOur score - Lowest priceRank 4
Zoom Phone
Teams that want online fax and call recording on a metered-calling plan at $10.50 a user, billed annually
- Entry plan (US & CA Metered) $10.50 per month.
- Uptime SLA: 99.999%; HIPAA BAA: offered.
- Entry plan includes 5 of 6: auto attendant, business sms, video meetings, call recording, mobile app.
7.0/10GoodOur score - Rank 5
Ooma Office
Teams that want the lowest price without an annual commitment
- Entry plan (Essentials) $19.95 per month.
- The terms charge for leaving early.
- Entry-plan support: 24x7 customer support; channels not stated (24/7 one channel).
6.7/10FairOur score Teams that work from mobile and desktop apps and don't need desk phones
- Entry plan (Mobile) $19.99 per month.
- The terms charge for leaving early.
6.6/10FairOur score- Rank 7
Aircall
Teams of three or more that want calls logged to their CRM, with 250+ integrations on the entry plan
- Entry plan includes 5 of 6: unlimited us calling, auto attendant, business sms, call recording, mobile app.
5.5/10PoorOur score
Before you choose
Everything below links to the page it comes from, and says when we checked it.
Work out the real monthly cost
Multiply the per-user price by the number of people who need a line, then add what the plan leaves out. The prices in the ranking are entry plans, and the lowest ones assume you pay for a year up front. Costs we found on top of the plan:
- RingCentral adds regulatory and administrative fees to each line; its pricing page does not say how much.
- Dialpad charges $15 a month for a toll-free number on an annual plan, plus 2 cents a minute for incoming calls.
- Ooma Office includes one number per user and charges $9.99 a month for each extra number.
Checked Sep 24, 2026.
Check what the entry plan leaves out
We check six features on each entry plan: unlimited US calling, an auto attendant, business texting, video meetings, call recording and a mobile app.
- RingCentral Core includes all six.
- Nextiva Core includes five; call recording is not on it.
- Dialpad Standard includes five; the auto attendant is not on it.
- Ooma Office Essentials includes three; business texting, video meetings and call recording are not on it.
- Vonage Mobile includes three; the auto attendant, video meetings and call recording are not on it.
If you need a feature an entry plan lacks, compare the price of the plan that has it. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
If you won't commit to a year
Month to month, the entry plans cost Ooma Office Essentials $19.95 a user, Vonage Mobile $19.99, Nextiva Core $23, Dialpad Standard $27 and RingCentral Core $30. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
How the ranking weighs them
Price counts for 30% of the score, included features 25%, and contract terms, reliability and compliance, and support 15% each. If one of these matters more to you than its weight, read the ranking with that in mind. The formula behind each criterion is on how we score business phone systems.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a business phone system cost for a small team?
Entry plans from the five providers we rank cost $15 to $20 a user a month, before taxes and fees:
- Dialpad Standard is $15 billed annually.
- Nextiva Core is $15 billed annually, on a 12-month minimum term.
- Ooma Office Essentials is $19.95, with no contract required.
- Vonage Mobile is $19.99 month to month.
- RingCentral Core is $20 paid annually.
Prices were checked on Sep 24, 2026.
Is paying annually cheaper than paying month to month?
Yes, where both are offered. Dialpad Standard is $15 a user billed annually or $27 month to month. RingCentral Core is $20 or $30. Nextiva Core is $15 or $23. An annual price commits you for the year: see the next question. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
Can I cancel early without paying?
Not on an annual or fixed term. Dialpad, Nextiva and RingCentral charge the rest of the term if you cancel early. Vonage charges an early termination fee on an annual contract, but not on a monthly plan, and a cancelled monthly plan is not refunded. Ooma Office is month to month with no early-termination fee unless you sign a fixed-term order. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
Which providers will sign a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement?
All five say they will: Dialpad, Nextiva, Ooma Office, RingCentral and Vonage. Vonage's terms refer to a Business Associate Agreement signed by Vonage; it has no dedicated BAA page. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
Can I try one before I buy?
- Dialpad offers a 14-day free trial.
- RingCentral offers a free trial to new subscribers, for up to five users and two desk phones.
- Ooma Office has a 30-day risk-free trial.
- Nextiva has no free trial; it offers a free demo.
- We did not find a free trial from Vonage.
Checked Sep 24, 2026.
Which providers offer 24/7 support on the entry plan?
RingCentral offers 24/7 phone and chat. Nextiva offers 24/7 support by phone, chat and email on all plans. Ooma Office says 24x7 support without naming the channels. Vonage lists phone and chat support without stating hours; its 24/7 option is a chatbot. Dialpad offers web and chat support 24/5. Checked Sep 24, 2026.
Do they guarantee uptime?
Only RingCentral publishes an uptime SLA, of 99.999%. Nextiva and Vonage state 99.999% but not as a guarantee. Dialpad mentions 100%, and 99.9% on its Enterprise plan, without an SLA. Ooma Office publishes no uptime guarantee. Checked Sep 24, 2026.