Business phone
Business phone system or virtual phone number: which do you need?
Quick answer
If you want a separate business number on your own mobile or computer, a virtual phone number is enough: entry plans cost $14 to $19 a month, or $10 plus a Google Workspace subscription for Google Voice. If a team needs an auto attendant, video meetings or call recording, choose a business phone system, whose entry plans cost $15 to $20 a user a month.
We rank two kinds of business phone service: business phone systems and virtual phone numbers. They overlap, and one provider, Dialpad, sits in both. The difference is what the entry plan gives you and how the price grows as your team does.
What each one is
A virtual phone number is a business number that rings on the phone or computer you already use, through an app. Calls, texts and voicemail for that number stay separate from your personal line.
A business phone system is a cloud (VoIP) phone service for a team: every person gets a line, and the system adds features the team shares, such as an auto attendant that answers and routes callers.
What the entry plans include
On virtual phone numbers we check five features: business texting, call forwarding, voicemail transcription, business-hours routing and apps. Grasshopper, Dialpad and Quo include all five on their entry plans.
On business phone systems we check six: unlimited US calling, an auto attendant, business texting, video meetings, call recording and a mobile app. Only RingCentral Core includes all six; Nextiva Core and Dialpad Standard include five.
Checked Sep 24, 2026.
What each costs
- Virtual phone numbers, entry plans: Grasshopper True Solo $14 a month billed annually for 1 user and 1 number; Google Voice Starter $10 a user plus a Google Workspace subscription from $8.40; Dialpad Standard and Phone.com Basic $15 a user billed annually; Quo Starter $19 a user billed yearly.
- Business phone systems, entry plans: $15 to $20 a user a month. Dialpad Standard and Nextiva Core are $15 billed annually, Ooma Office Essentials $19.95, Vonage Mobile $19.99 month to month and RingCentral Core $20 billed annually.
Grasshopper was checked on Sep 25, 2026, the others on Sep 24, 2026. Prices exclude taxes and fees.
A virtual number is probably enough if
- you work alone, or a few people answer the same number;
- you want a business line on your own mobile without carrying a second phone;
- you need texting, forwarding and voicemail, but not meetings or call recording.
A team sharing one number does not have to pay per person: Grasshopper Solo Plus covers unlimited users on 1 number with 3 extensions for $25 a month billed annually (checked Sep 25, 2026).
Choose a business phone system if
- callers should reach an auto attendant that routes them to the right person;
- you want video meetings or call recording on the same service;
- several people need their own lines and extensions.
If you are not sure
Start from how many people will answer calls and which of the features above you would miss. Dialpad is ranked in both categories, at the same $15 a user billed annually; we list it among virtual numbers for teams that want their number on the same service as a full phone system. Both rankings show each provider's price, what its entry plan includes and who it suits best.