Best Small Business Phone Systems in Canada (2026)

The best Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system for small businesses is RingCentral Advanced, based on testing 11 providers across 45 criteria.

Costing $35 per user, per month, it offers unlimited calling and texting across Canada and the US, built-in call coaching tools for staff training, and more CRM and software integrations than any other provider we tested.

If RingCentral doesn’t sound like it’s for you, there are other options. For instance, Google Voice, one of the cheapest and quickest systems to set up for Google Workspace users. Meanwhile, Net2Phone’s Business Lite plan will be best for businesses with international customer or client bases since it includes unlimited international calling to 40 countries.

Compare the best VoIP phone systems for small businesses below, including their features, pricing and industry alternatives.

What Are the Best Small Business Phone Systems in Canada in 2026?

The best VoIP phone system for small businesses in Canada is RingCentral Advanced, based on our research and testing, which critically evaluated 11 providers to find out which one was best suited for small businesses.

1. RingCentral Advanced: Best for Integrations

Rising above the rest, RingCentral is our highest-ranked phone system for small businesses in Canada. Namely, its Advanced plan is the best suited to small businesses of its three tiers, offering important features like call recording and advanced call management, including whisper coaching or call takeover (barge), for growing teams.

Best of all, and its major benefit over other providers, in our view, is that RingCentral Advanced allows for integrations with more third-party software than any other provider, including over 110 CRM tools like Salesforce and HubSpot.

So, if you are a small business that uses lots of software and wants all your data integrated and synced between them, RingCentral is the best option for you. Here’s why else it impressed us.

What features does RingCentral Advanced offer for small businesses?

• Transcription and voicemail-to-text
  • Searchable notes after every call
  • Saves wrap-up time for agents
  • Dialpad also leans hard on similar AI extras
• Reliability and security
  • 99.9% uptime, multi-factor authentication (MFA), encryption
  • Meets common SMB compliance needs
  • Comparable to 8×8 and GoTo Connect
• Admin controls and analytics
  • Centralized roles, policies, dashboards
  • Track queues, users, KPIs in one place
  • Deepest analytics on Ultra tier

How does RingCentral Advanced compare with other VoIP providers for small businesses?

RingCentral Advanced has more integrations than other small business phone plans, beating close competitor 8×8. However, 8×8 has an advantage over RingCentral when it comes to domestic calls, since its cheapest plan (previously called X2) offers unlimited calls in 14 countries, while RingCentral Advanced only offers this for domestic calls and calls to the US.

When it comes to scalability, we’d argue RingCentral and 8×8 are top of the pile and are pretty evenly matched between them, both providing various plans for small to large businesses depending on your needs.

For instance, RingCentral’s upgraded Ultra package provides customizable analytics and reporting, improved capacity (200-person) video conferencing, and other additions that may help when your organization needs greater detail and capacity for your operations.

However, RingCentral isn’t the cheapest option on this page. Overall, it’s more expensive than Dialpad and Google Voice, and is the most expensive provider, just ahead of GoTo Connect’s plan.

Good alternatives to RingCentral

• 8×8: Unlimited calling in 14 countries, strong for global-leaning SMBs
• Dialpad Pro: Best-in-class AI summaries/transcripts, lower entry price

2. 8×8 X2: Best for Scalability

8×8 X2 offers a wide menu of subscription options that’ll allow you to scale your business as and when you need to.

You have essential features like ring groups and call queues, and international calling to 14 countries offered at its base subscription plan (previously called X2), meaning your small business will easily be able to deal with large volumes of callers.

And from there, you can expand your package (such as going up to 48 countries or more coaching tools) as and when you need them. That should appeal to businesses that are looking to (or already are) growing fast and want an adaptable system to cater to their needs as they change, especially if that includes operating in multiple countries.

What features does 8×8 X2 offer for small businesses?

• CRM and helpdesk integrations
  • Syncs calling with ticketing and records
  • Faster lookups; fewer app switches
  • Smaller catalog than RingCentral, but solid coverage
• 24/7 phone and chat support
  • Round-the-clock help for distributed teams
  • 99.9% uptime SLA reduces risk
  • Support hours beat Ooma/Google Voice
• Team messaging and file sharing
  • Calls, chat and video under one app
  • Cuts spending on separate chat tools
  • Dialpad leads on AI extras, 8×8 is steadier on scale
• Clear upgrade path
  • Unlock barge/whisper and deeper analytics as you grow
  • Keep users in the same ecosystem
  • Avoid costly rip-and-replace later

How does 8×8 X2 compare with other VoIP plans for small businesses?

8×8’s lowest-priced plan is missing a few call features when compared with RingCentral’s Advanced plan. There’s no call barge or call whisper, for example.

But, it does come with unlimited calls to 14 different countries, while RingCentral Advanced only supports calls to Canada and the US. Still, you can call a larger array of countries without paying extra via GoTo or Net2Phone.

Another downside is that 8×8 also doesn’t publish its pricing anymore, making it far less transparent than its competitors. Based on past pricing, 8×8 is generally more expensive than rivals Google Voice and Dialpad, but it does offer users a broader range of features.

8×8 redeems itself when it comes to customer support and security, offering 24/7 phone support (only matched by RingCentral and Ooma), and password protection rules, user permission, and two-factor authentication on all its plans, making it unrivalled among the providers on this list.

Good alternatives to 8×8 X2

• RingCentral Advanced: 500+ integrations and stronger built-in call coaching
• GoTo Connect Phone System: Unlimited calling to 50+ countries on Standard, powerful visual dial-plan editor

3. Dialpad Pro: Best Conversational AI

Dialpad is best known for its innovative use of conversational AI. It can accurately transcribe your phone calls in real-time, flag whether or not the conversation features happy or frustrated customers, and automate post-call summaries. It can even create notes with tips and advice that appear on the screen when certain keywords or phrases are spoken on a call.

You can also choose to turn off this feature if you’re worried about confidentiality, but it is a superb tool that other phone systems have only begun to replicate in the past year. In other words, for AI smarts, we think Dialpad is the best option on the market. Let’s dive into why else Dialpad could be for you.

Read our Dialpad review to learn more about the provider and its features.

• Integrations you’ll actually use
  • Pro adds Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk
  • One-click logging and contact sync
  • Smaller catalogue than RingCentral
• Actionable analytics
  • Real-time dashboards for voice/SMS
  • Spot trends, coach to KPIs
  • Less customizable than RingCentral Ultra
• Reliability and support
  • 24/7 chat + phone (Pro, Enterprise)
  • Onboarding help available (may cost)
  • Uptime comparable to peers

How does Dialpad Pro compare with other VoIP providers for small businesses?

Dialpad supports fewer ready-made integrations than RingCentral or 8×8. For example, it only supports around 16 CRM integrations, compared with RingCentral’s more than 110.

On the flipside, Dialpad offers strong customer support options, including 24/7 live chat support on its Pro and Enterprise plans. It offers more support choices than the likes of GoTo Connect, Net2Phone and Google Voice.

Lastly, Dialpad has AI-assisted tools on all of its plans, even the cheapest one, Standard, which isn’t the case for most competitors.

Good alternatives to Dialpad

• RingCentral Advanced: More than 500 integrations and deeper coach/monitor features
• 8×8: Unlimited calling to 14 countries and 500-participant meetings on the cheapest plan

4. Ooma Office Pro: Best Value for Money

For the affordable price of $29.95 per user, per month, you get access to Ooma’s scalable features and generous customer support. For that reason, we think it’s a solid value-for-money choice, albeit not the cheapest option of our top-rated providers (that award goes to Google Voice). Learn more about the cheapest VoIP service plans for small businesses.

Businesses that want an appealing balance between price and features, without the complexity of other systems, but paired with 24/7 support, should appreciate what Ooma has to offer. Here’s what exactly you can do for your money.

• 24/7 chat and phone support
  • Help whenever issues pop up
  • Lower learning curve for newcomers
  • Support breadth rivals 8×8 and RingCentral
• Simple admin and easy onboarding
  • Quick number setup and user adds
  • Less time in the dashboard
  • Fewer deep analytics than RingCentral/GoTo

How does Ooma Office Pro compare with other VoIP providers for small businesses?

Ooma costs less than most of its competitors, especially when it comes to its more advanced plans, while still retaining advanced features like ring groups and customizable receptionists.

For instance, the Ooma Office Pro Plus plan, its highest possible tier, is $34.95 per user, per month, which is far less than the comparable plans of the likes of GoTo and 8×8, and cheaper than most other choices, including our leading pick RingCentral.

As mentioned, Google Voice is slightly cheaper than Ooma, starting at $10 per user, per month, but it offers much less functionality.

Although its price point is very alluring, the downside is that you are compromising on external connections. With Ooma Office Pro, you miss out on CRM, helpdesk, web conferencing, external and internal live chat, analytics, API and SSO software integrations.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a Swiss army knife for external connections, we’d recommend looking at RingCentral instead.

Ooma Office Pro also lacks MFA, password rules and granular user permissions, resulting in a lower security score, compared with 8×8.

Good alternatives to Ooma

• RingCentral: Deeper integrations and coaching tools if you outgrow Ooma’s feature set
• Google Voice: Lowest entry price and strong security for Google Workspace teams

5. Google Voice Standard: Best for Google Users

Google Voice is a top player for clients who are already big fans of Google in their workspace. Using Google AI within multiple aspects of its operation, from blocking spam to transcribing voicemails, Google Voice is known for its robust security features and its seamless integration with all other things Google.

Companies already embedded in the Google ecosystem will appreciate how seamlessly it integrates with other Google tools, as well as how cost-effective it is to purchase as an add-on for Workspace compared with other VoIP systems.

But if you aren’t a Google customer, we’d suggest looking elsewhere as its calling features are a little lacking. Here’s what it can offer you.

NB: Google Voice uses USD as the currency for all of its billing, including for its base and calls. Canadian users will be charged in CAD, but the underlying price will be calculated in USD.

What features does Google Voice Standard offer for small businesses?

• Works natively with Google Workspace
  • Single sign-on and Admin Console control
  • Contacts, Calendar and Meet play nicely
  • Fastest setup for teams already on Google
• Security you can trust
  • MFA, granular permissions and encryption from a world-leading source
  • Compliance posture is updated regularly
  • Among the strongest at this price tier
• Spam blocking and transcription
  • Auto-filters junk, fewer agent distractions
  • Voicemail transcribed for quick scan
  • Comparable to RingCentral/Dialpad basics

• Flexible device routing
  • Forward to web, mobile or desk endpoints
  • Choose which devices ring and when
  • Handy for solo founders and hybrid teams
• Reliable operations
  • 99.9% uptime target for peace of mind
  • 24/7 phone support on Standard/Premier
  • Smoothest help path for Google-first orgs

How does Google Voice Standard compare with other VoIP providers for small businesses?

Google Voice has the most limited call features among VoIP systems we tested, lacking call queues, power dialing and advanced routing. If you’re willing to pay more, you’ll get access to better features for a still reasonable price with Ooma. For a full suite of features, we recommend RingCentral or 8×8, if you have the budget for them.

It’s also not a strong contender for businesses that use a lot of third-party software that needs to integrate with their chosen VoIP phone system. Google Voice doesn’t integrate with any non-Google products, unlike the extensive options via 8×8 and RingCentral in particular.

But if you’re already happy with all the Google products that businesses use, the setup will be fairly straightforward and painless.

On the brighter side, and as mentioned, Google Voice excels in its security offerings, including encryption and MFA. Only 8×8 rivals Google Voice when it comes to security features.

Good alternatives to Google Voice

• Ooma Office: Budget-friendly with ring groups and a virtual receptionist, easier path beyond Google-only apps
• RingCentral: More than 500 integrations and deeper call coaching/analytics when you outgrow Voice

6. Net2Phone Business Lite: Best for International Calling

Unlimited international calling to more than 40 countries makes Net2Phone one of the best VoIP systems for global small businesses. This means speaking to clients and teams across the world is completely free, allowing you to maintain and expand your international reach. Better yet, Net2Phone can also give you virtual phone numbers and dial tones in over 50 countries.

That’s the highest availability of calling locations we’ve seen for Canadian businesses per dollar spent. So, if you’d like to establish a presence in places like Europe or Asia for little money, your contact options are easily taken care of. Let’s dive into what else Net2Phone does well and could improve on.

How does Net2Phone compare with other VoIP providers for small businesses?

Net2Phone is generally cheaper than top competitors, RingCentral and 8×8, and offers great value for money with unlimited calling to over 40 countries. For international calling, it’s the best behind GoTo Connect, and beats 8×8’s 14 international countries by a mile. Since it’s cheaper than GoTo Connect, it will be a better value choice for international operations, too.

On the other hand, Net2Phone has very limited integrations, the second worst after Google Voice. With the Business Lite plan, you’ll only be able to integrate with its Chrome Extension and will have to use the open API to integrate anything else. If you need plenty of ready-made third-party integrations, we recommend RingCentral and, failing that, 8×8.

Good alternatives to Net2Phone

• GoTo Connect: Unlimited calling to over 50 countries and a powerful visual dial-plan editor
• 8×8: 14-country unlimited bundle, plus 500-participant meetings and stronger supervisor tools on higher tiers

7. GoTo Connect Phone System: Most Secure System

GoTo Connect is a safe option if you’re looking to get value for your money, promising a seamless onboarding process, using which you can get your cloud phone system working within a day.

Granted, it’s not the cheapest option — in fact, it’s the second most expensive here — but you get a lot of calling features for your money that are likely to be a crucial factors for your small business operations. Let’s discuss exactly what it can offer your team.

• Admin analytics and dashboards
  • Monitor queues, agents and call quality
  • Spot bottlenecks and fix routing fast
  • Less granular than RingCentral Ultra
• Security and trust features
  • TLS/SRTP encryption, roles and permissions
  • STIR/SHAKEN “verified caller” indicator

How does GoTo Connect Phone System compare with other VoIP providers for small businesses?

GoTo Connect’s customer support isn’t quite on par with RingCentral’s, with no 24/7 support on live chat available. So, if you are a new VoIP phone system user, then you may want to look elsewhere.

Still, its streamlined admin portal means you can easily configure call flows with a drag-and-drop dial plan editor and comb through call analytics to identify which team or agent needs improvement, too. We’d say it’s pretty intuitive in that sense, so hopefully you wouldn’t need to make use of its customer support all that often.

However, features you can access on its entry point Phone System subscription are far more advanced than those offered by most competitors’ starting plans.

For example, GoTo Connect gives you free international calling to more than 50 countries, making it a great softphone option for businesses that need this sort of offering. That’s more than any other provider on this page.

Good alternatives to GoTo Connect

• RingCentral: Over 500 integrations and deeper call coaching/analytics
• 8×8: 14-country unlimited calling on its cheapest tier and 500-participant meetings

How Do I Choose a Small Business Phone System?

While researching the needs of small businesses, we found that decision makers considered cost, scalability, security safeguards, remote-friendly VoIP features and compatibility with existing software infrastructure, when choosing a business phone system.

• Cost: Look for low monthly fees, inclusive minutes and bundled features to avoid extra costs. Prioritise reliable support to  minimise downtime, and consider annual plans for better value.
• Integrations: Choose a system that integrates with your existing tools, such as CRM, email, messaging and video conferencing platforms, to keep workflows seamless.
• Scalability: Pick a system that can grow with your business — supporting more users, remote work, and features like call queues and ring groups, while maintaining strong security.
• Remote work features: If your business operates on a hybrid or remote model, choose a VoIP system with mobile and desktop apps so staff can work from anywhere, plus call forwarding and device switching that allow you to move calls seamlessly between devices.
• Security: Select a VoIP system with MFA, data encryption and user permissions to protect sensitive business communications. Look for providers that offer role-based access controls and secure call protocols, for extra security.

How We Rank VoIP Products for Canadian Small Businesses

At Expert Market, I research and compare market-leading VoIP phone systems to identify which ones deliver the best value for small business buyers. For this guide, I looked at 11 VoIP providers available in Canada, assessing them across eight core categories using an in-house ranking framework built around the needs of smaller businesses.

In total, I worked through 45 sub-questions that were most relevant to Canadian buyers. That included testing and comparing tasks such as setting up call flows, moving calls between desktop and mobile, checking messaging and video tools, reviewing call recordings and AI summaries, and assessing how easy each system is to manage, day to day.

Each category was weighted according to how important it is likely to be for the average Canadian small business:

Which VoIP system gives me the best call handling for my business?

Call management features: 25%

This received the highest weighting because strong call handling is still the core reason most small businesses invest in a VoIP system. I looked at features including virtual receptionists, voicemail, call screening, customizable hold music, call queues, ring groups, customizable call routing, local and toll-free numbers, call forwarding, and call flip.

These tools matter because they help smaller teams answer calls professionally, direct customers efficiently and avoid missing opportunities.

Does the system include the training and oversight tools I need as my team grows?

Training features: 20%

I assessed each provider’s call recording, call monitoring, analytics and reporting, call barge, and call whisper tools. Even smaller businesses increasingly want visibility into performance, customer interactions, and coaching opportunities, especially if they are managing sales or service teams.

Providers scored higher here if they gave businesses a practical way to review calls, support staff and improve consistency.

Can my team communicate with customers and colleagues across the channels we actually use?

Communication channels: 15%

I looked at whether each platform supports team messaging, video conferencing, SMS, call conferencing and e-fax.

This was important because many Canadian small businesses no longer want a phone-only system. Instead, they need a platform that supports internal collaboration as well as customer communication across multiple channels, without forcing them to pay for separate tools.

Will the pricing work for my budget now and still make sense as I scale?

Cost factors: 10%

I assessed base pricing, user limits, included inbound minutes, included outbound minutes and number porting support.

While pricing was not the highest-weighted category, it still played an important role because small businesses need predictable costs and a clear sense of what is actually included in each plan.

I also considered whether providers made it easy to keep existing business numbers and avoid unexpected usage limitations.

Will the system fit into the software my business already uses?

Software integrations: 10%

I reviewed whether each provider integrates with key business tools, including CRM platforms, helpdesk software, video conferencing tools, customer-service live chat platforms and calendars.

Good integrations can save time, reduce manual work and make it easier for small teams to manage customer interactions in one place, rather than constantly switching between systems.

What help will I get if I run into problems?

Customer support: 10%

I looked at the availability and quality of each provider’s support, including user forums, knowledge bases, live chat support, email support, phone support, uptime guarantee and onboarding assistance.

Canadian small businesses will find this valuable because they often do not have dedicated IT support in-house, so responsive vendor support can make a real difference during setup, troubleshooting or service disruptions.

Can the system work with the devices my team relies on?

Hardware integrations: 5%

I assessed whether providers offer a mobile app and whether they support compatible desk phones and other hardware setups.

This category had a lower weighting because many smaller businesses are happy to run VoIP through laptops and mobiles alone, but it still matters for buyers who want more flexibility or who need a hybrid setup with physical phones in certain locations.

Will the provider help me protect customer and business data?

Security credentials: 5%

I reviewed each provider’s compliance certifications, multi-factor authentication, password controls and admin permissions.

This also carried a lower weighting than call handling or training features, but it matters because small businesses need confidence that their communications platform is secure and that user access can be managed properly as teams grow.

How we reached our final scores

After assessing each provider across these categories, I combined the weighted results to produce a final score for every system. That approach helped ensure the rankings reflected what matters most to Canadian small business buyers.