The 10 Best Small Business Phone Systems in 2024

By using a small business phone system, you can get your staff to work and collaborate more efficiently. Stanford University reports that 41% of US workers are currently working remotely in some capacity, and a small biz phone system will allow you to implement a strong remote working process.

Our meticulous research tested the best small businesses telephone systems and found that 8×8 X2 is the top system that you can currently get your hands on. However, in a market ripe with choice, choosing a telephone system that fits your small business like a glove can be a tough choice to make.

To help you navigate through all the options, in this article, we review the 10 best small business telephone systems, comparing them against the factors that matter most to small businesses so you can be confident that you are investing in the best solution for you. For even more personalized help, try our free quote-finding tool to get tailored quotes from trusted providers.

What Is A Small Business Phone System?

A small business phone system is a communication solution that gives companies more functionalities in their call system. Normally, these include the ability to queue, transfer, record, and transcribe calls. It can also allow ring groups to be created and automated menus to be set.

The main types of telephone systems for small business are Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and private branch exchange (PBX):

• VoIP phone system: this solution allows your company to make calls through the internet. It normally works through cloud-based apps that you can install on your computer or smartphone, and because of that, requires little initial investment. It tends to be favored by small business due to its economical price tag.
• PBX phone system: this solution is generally based on your company’s office, connecting all your hardware (such as phones and modems) through a set of telephone lines. It requires equipment to be bought and installed, which makes it a more expensive option.

The Top 10 Best Small Business Phone Systems

1. 8×8 X2 – Best Overall Small Business Phone System

What Makes 8×8 X2 A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: starting at the X2 subscription, it is integrable with CRM, Helpdesk, Web Conferencing, external and internal live chats, email, and more. This makes 8×8 a powerful tool that your team can leverage to create a quick and personalized customer experience.
• Onboarding support: provided through 8×8’s Customer Success Managers, although it’s unclear whether this comes at an additional cost.
• Scalability: you and your team can work remotely because 8×8 X2 allows you to sync your internal communications because it’s compatible with platforms like Slack, Telegram, and Teams.. It’s also equipped with call queue, ring groups, analytics, customizable call routing, and call recording, all of which allows you to handle large numbers of callers and gather data to optimize your small business.

How Does 8×8 X2 Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

Awarded a 4.6/5 by our independent researchers – who’ve put 8×8 X2’s features, pricing, and customer support to the test – it ticks off all the boxes on your small business phone system checklist, whether your small business needs a comprehensive, savvy system or you just want the essentials. We believe it stands out due to its flexibility of choice.

We’ve given 8×8 a stellar 5/5 for its pricing, a score that is equalized by other providers like Nextiva, net2phone, Nuacom, Ooma, and Google Voice. This means that the bucks you’re putting down are a worthy investment, thanks to 8×8’s broad range of features. We have also awarded 8×8 a stellar 5/5 for its generous customer support and security, which is unrivaled by all other providers featured here.

2. Zoom Phone Unlimited – Best Small Business Phone System For Features

What Makes Zoom Phone Unlimited A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: Zoom Unlimited has a solid range of software integrations on offer, including CRM, Helpdesk, Web Conferencing, Internal Live Chat, API, Email, Workspace, and SSO integrations. You only miss out on analytics and external live chat integrations.
• Onboarding support: not offered
• Scalability: unlimited number of users, call queue, ring groups, wide range of management features are all offer which makes a solid scalable solution (4.3/5 for scalability in our research)

How Does Zoom Phone Unlimited Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

When it comes to range of features, Zoom Phone Unlimited is practically unrivaled. It scores a 4.2/5 for features in our research, which is the highest score we awarded and is only equalized by Dialpad Pro. This means that if you’re looking for an affordable and highly functional system, then Zoom Phone Unlimited is a great choice for your small business.

Zoom Phone Unlimited is also in the major leagues when it comes to price, scoring a perfect 5/5 in this category in our research. However, this isn’t necessarily a unique selling point for Zoom Phone Unlimited given that 8×8 X2, Nextiva Essential, net2phone Office Pro, Nuacom Unlimited, Ooma Office Pro, and Google Voice Standard were all awarded the same score. Therefore, if you want an affordable system but aren’t convinced by this particular provider, you have plenty of alternatives.

Where Zoom Phone falls significantly behind is for security features. Scoring a poor 2/5 in this category in our research, you’re better off looking at 8×8 X2 if you want to keep your unified communications safe.

3. Nextiva Essential – Best Small Business Phone System For Flexible Set Up

What Makes Nextiva Essential A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: Nextiva Essentials has a really limited offering of software you can sync your VoIP system with. Only offering Outlook email integration and Google Workspace Integrations, you really miss out on a bunch of key software, including CRM, Helpdesk, and Web Conferencing.
• Onboarding support: this is offered to Nextiva Essential subscribers.
• Scalability: Nextiva Essential is not the most scalable solution because of its limited range of management features. If you choose to go for Nextiva, you’ll only have access to customisable routing, call-flow designer, and setting up teams. You could, potentially, also access call monitoring and analytics, but both of these need add-ons that are going to cost you a little extra. The good news is that Nextiva Essential does offer ring groups and team messaging, both of which help with managing large volumes of callers, and working remotely with your team.

How Does Nextiva Essential Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

Compared to some of the best business VoIP phone systems, Nextiva Essential comfortably sits at a 4.5/5 for customer support, placing it above others like Dialpad Pro, Vonage Premium and net2phone. We also think Nextiva is great for what it offers at its price, explaining our 5/5 in this category. This places it on equal standing as 8×8, net2phone, Nuacom, and Ooma Office Pro. However, if you’re gonna go for Nextiva, keep in mind that it’s not fantastic for scalability – scoring a low 2.8/5 in our research. It has a limited offering of management features which might mean you could outgrow the system as your small business grows.

4. RingCentral Ultra – Best Small Business Phone System for External Connections

What Makes RingCentral Ultra A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: You can sync your phone system with over 90 CRM platforms. This includes key Helpdesk integrations like Salesforce and Zendesk, analytics, and other platforms like Slack, WhatsApp, and Facebook. This makes the customer service arm of your business stronger, and it allows you to instantly draw on customer-specific data to provide a frustration-free experience.
• Onboarding support: this is available to RingCentral Ultra subscribers.
• Scalability: RingCentral Ultra has an impressive offer for scalability, equipping you with all the right tools – call queue, ring groups, web conferencing tools, internal live chat, and pretty much all the management features you could ever need as a small business! It also includes multi-factor authentication, password rules, compliance certifications and encryption, which will help shield your operation as you continue to scale up.

How Does RingCentral Ultra Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

Factoring in price, integrability, features, and customer support, our in-depth research has awarded RingCentral a great 3.9/5 for its value as a system for small businesses. With access to key features like call queue and ring groups, you can easily take on a large number of callers. Because of this, we’ve awarded RingCentral a 4.1/5 for features – the second highest score in this category among the providers we’ve looked at!

What’s even more impressive is that, compared to competitors like Vonage and Dialpad, RingCentral is miles ahead in terms of customer service features. In our research, it scores a stellar 5/5 in this category. So, you can be confident you’ll have a whole dashboard of nifty features to power your small business.

5. Dialpad Pro – Best Small Business Phone System For Conversational AI

What Makes Dialpad Pro A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: Dialpad Pro is syncable with CRM, helpdesk, web conferencing, email, workspace, internal live chat and SSO, giving you access to platforms like Salesforce, Zendesk, Hubspot, G Suite, and Slack. However, it does miss out on its own API, and external live chat and analytics integrations.. Overall, it does have a pretty limited offer of syncable platforms, particularly on the CRM front, as your menu only includes three possible CRM platforms.
• Onboarding support: available to Dialpad Pro subscribers.
• Scalability: with access to call queue, ring groups, and a variety of management features like call recording, analytics, and call transcripts, Dialpad Pro offers a good range of tools you can rely on to build up your business. If you choose to keep your operation remote, you can also use internal live chat and web conferencing features to slash costs. However, its security measures do miss out on multi-factor authentication and password rules, making it less secure than other providers like Google Voice and 8×8.

How Does Dialpad Pro Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

Our thorough research at how suitable Dialpad Pro is for small businesses, and it achieves a 3.7/5. This is mostly because it’s pricier than other options, and because it could have a more lush offering of external connections. Despite this, we do know that Dialpad Pro is nifty and futuristic thanks to its conversational AI, which allows you to do a lot of things hands free and focus your attention on other tasks.. Despite its faults, we awarded it a great 4/5 for its customer support, ranking above other providers like Nuacom.

6. net2phone Office Pro – Best Small Business Phone System For International Calling

What Makes net2phone Office Pro A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: overall, net2phone Office Pro has slim pickings when it comes to software integrations. Subscribers only get access to an API, and if you want to integrate it with Zoho or SF to sync your CRM and Helpdesk systems, you need to purchase it at an extra cost of $2 per user per month. All other key integrations, like email and workspace, are not offered, which severely handicaps the quality of your unified business communications.
• Onboarding support: this is offered to net2phone Office Pro subscribers.
• Scalability: our researchers gave net2phone a 3.⅕ for scalability, mostly because it’s missing a bunch of important management features – you only really have access to customizable call routing, setting up teams, and analytics. Even though you have access to ring groups, you miss out on call queue, which can complicate managing a large number of incoming calls. The silver lining, however, is that you do have access to team messaging and video conferencing, which helps with remote working.

How Does net2phone Office Pro Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

Scoring a stellar 5/5 in our research, one of the reasons we love net2phone Office Pro is because of its competitive price. However, there are other providers who are just as competitive because they all occupy the same top spot, including 8×8, Nextiva, Nuacom, Ooma, and Google Voice. So, while not unique, it’s still a really safe bet if you want something that won’t stretch out your wallet. Having said that, net2phone Office Pro is far from perfect. Our research gave it a measly 2.4/5 for external connections because of the limited menu of systems you can sync it with. It also scores a 3/4 for features and security, placing it behind others like Dialpad Pro, RingCentral Premium, and 8×8 X2.

7. Nuacom Unlimited – Best Small Business Phone System For Customer Satisfaction

What Makes Nuacom Unlimited A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: compared to other providers like 8×8 and Vonage, Nuacom has a limited offering of external connections. Although you can sync your telephone system with CRM, Helpdesk, internal live chat and email integration, you can only do so with Hubspot, Slack, and Google Workspace. This means Nuacom is not integrable with Web Conferencing, external live chat, analytics, SSO, and does not offer an open API.
• Onboarding support: it’s offered as a 15-minute onboarding support session.
• Scalability: with a requirement to have at least two users, Nuacom comes equipped with call queue and ring groups, which can help you manage a large call volume. However, this isn’t necessarily the most scalable solution as you’d be missing out on a number of management features, like customizable call routing, call monitoring, call-flow designers, and setting up teams. You also won’t have access to video conferencing, which can complicate keeping your team connected when working remotely

How Does Nuacom Unlimited Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

Our research has given Nuacom a 3.5/5, which places it in the seventh spot on our best telephone systems for small business comparison – right before Ooma. Nuacom’s average customer review score of 4.6/5 places it in the pole position of customer satisfaction, with Ooma and Dialpad racing close behind at 4.4/5. That said, Nuacom scored just 2.6/5 for its features and 2/5 for security, so if you want lots of features and more stringently protected data, 8×8 or Dialpad would be a better phone system for your small business.

8. Ooma Office Pro – Best Small Business Phone System For Value

What Makes Ooma Office Pro A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: similar to net2phone Office Pro, Ooma Office Pro has a very thin offering of software integrations. The only options you to sync it with are Gmail and Outlook for email integrations, and Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 for Workspace integrations. For this reason, we’ve given it a sad ⅖ for external connections. It would be best to look elsewhere if you are in the market for the Swiss army knife of unified small business communications.
• Onboarding support: this is not offered to Ooma Office Pro subscribers.
• Scalability: Ooma Office Pro is quite limited in terms of scalability. Within management features, you only have access to call recording, customisable call routing, and analytics. Although it does offer ring groups and video conferencing, the lack of call queue and team messaging does limit Ooma Office Pro’s usefulness when it comes to dealing with large call volumes and working remotely.

How Does Ooma Office Pro Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

As the provider with one of the cheapest subscription plans for small businesses, Ooma Office Pro comfortably scores a 5/5 in our research, placing it on the same league as 8×8 X2, Nextiva Essential, Nuacom Unlimited, and Google Voice Standard. However, keep in mind that the low upfront cost does come with some setbacks. Our research has given Ooma a 2/5 for external connections because it doesn’t offer a great range of software to sync with. So, if this is make or break for you, you’d be better off choosing RingCentral Premium, which scored 4.3/5 in the same category. Ooma also isn’t great for security, scoring 1/5. Want a safety guarantee? 8×8 X2 and Google Voice are better alternatives because they both score a stellar 5/5.

9. Google Voice Standard – Best Small Business Phone System For Security

What Makes Google Voice Standard A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: although you can sync Google Voice with CRM and helpdesk platforms like Zoho, Copper, Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Hubspot, you’ll have to use flagship Google products for email, web conferencing, and workspace capabilities.
• Onboarding support: this is not available to Google Voice Standard subscribers.
• Scalability: although Google Voice offers the bare minimum of management features — just analytics and customizable call routing — it does have pretty much every single security feature you’d need to feel confident your operation is properly protected. It also includes web conferencing and internal live chat if you’re happy to use Google Meet and Google Chat. Therefore, what it lacks in management features is made up for in terms of security. Keep in mind that this isn’t a golden solution to scale up your business.

How Does Google Voice Standard Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

Our researchers have put the key features offered by Google Voice for small business to the test and have given it a 3.5/5. While it’s a great option for Google users, its limited offer of features gives it a 2.6/5 in this category. In terms of features, it matches Nuacom, but lags far behind others like RingCentral and 8×8. However, what it does excel in is security, which is the reason we gave it an excellent 5/5. Only 8×8 is able to equal Google Voice in security.

10. Vonage Premium – Best Small Business Phone System For Team Collaboration

What Makes Vonage Premium A Top Small Business Phone System?

• Software integrations: although it comes at an additional cost, you can integrate Vonage’s phone system with a wide range of software platforms, including Hubspot, Slack, Office 365, Salesforce, and Zendesk. However, if you want to access web conferencing, you’ll need to use Unytalk, which costs extra.
• Onboarding support: this is only available at an additional cost.
• Scalability: Vonage Premium gives you the right foundations to scale up your business through call queue, ring groups, an unlimited number of users, call recording, call monitoring, and analytics.. It also integrates seamlessly with Slack, which allows you to set up a remote operation that could slash costs.

How Does Vonage Premium Compare To Other Telephone Systems For Small Businesses?

Backed by our thorough research, which considered software integrations, onboarding support, and the scalability of each small business phone system, we gave Vonage a 3.5/5 for small businesses. Although other providers like Google Voice, Ooma, and Nuacom race at the same speed, Vonage strides ahead of them because of its solid offer of scalable features. For this reason, we awarded it a 4.5/5 for scalability.

However, we did give Vonage a 3/5 for security because it’s missing multi-factor authentication and password rules, features provided by competitors like Google Voice, RingCentral, and 8×8.

Should I Switch My Small Business Phone System?

If you already use a small business phone system and is looking to switch, you should consider these two factors.

Switch cost

Signing up with a VoIP provider, like the ones we featured on this list, is very straightforward. If your current contract is running out, you can dive right into your potential providers’ features and choose based on that.

However, if you’re thinking of leaving your current provider early, you do have to check if you’ll incur an early termination fee by doing that.

Take this cost and divide it for the number of months you still have left in your contract. If it’s more than the monthly cost of the provider you’re looking to sign up with, it’s cheaper to wait it out and switch later.

Business plan

You also need to consider your expectations for your next small business phone system and those go hand in hand with your company’s current business plan.

• If cost-cutting and rightsizing are your top priorities at the moment, go for economical providers like Zoom Phone and Ooma Office;
• If you’re aiming to scale up, then providers such as 8×8 and RingCentral will serve you better;
• Or if you’re looking to amp up efficiency with the best technology available, AI-assisted providers like Dialpad can really expand on what a VoIP system can do.

The Best Features Of A Small Business Phone System

As a small business, there’s three main aspects and pain points that you’ll want to be addressed by your new small business phone system.

• Money: you’ll want to find a provider with low up-front monthly fees, inclusive domestic minutes, a provision of multiple communication channels like messenger and video, and solid customer support
• Integrability: at this stage of growth, your business will likely already have an existing IT infrastructure. As such, you’ll want a provider that can seamlessly integrate into your business’s operation like ready-made integrations for CRM, Workspace, email, web conferencing, internal messaging, external messaging, and onboarding support. You’ll also want a system that is compatible with multiple brands of desktop phones.
• Scalability: you want to avoid adopting a system you’ll outgrow with time so you’ll want to go for a provider that offers unlimited amount of users, call queue, ring groups, a solid set of management features to help organize business-wide communications, internal messaging, video conference, and good security features.

How Much Does A Telephone System For A Small Business Cost?

The cost of a phone system for a small business can vary depending on various factors. On average, a small business can expect to spend between $20 and $50 per user per month for a cloud-based VoIP phone system.

Monthly costs vary among providers and are influenced by factors such as the number of lines required, inbound/outbound minutes, international calls, and desired features. For instance, 8×8 offers different pricing tiers starting from $12 per user per month for their X2 plan, which includes unlimited calling within the US. Zoom Phone provides plans starting at $10 per user per month, offering features like domestic and international calling. RingCentral offers different pricing tiers, with their Essentials plan starting at $19.99 per user per month and including features like unlimited calling within the US.

Upfront costs may include purchasing or leasing hardware equipment like desk phones. For example, the cost of desk phones for 8×8 can range from $80 to $500, depending on the model and features.

Training costs depend on the complexity of the system and the level of support provided by the vendor. While some providers offer self-service training materials and resources at no additional cost, others may charge for personalized training sessions or on-site support. It’s essential to consider these potential training expenses when evaluating the overall cost.

Scalability costs come into play as the business grows and additional lines or features are needed. Providers like 8×8, Zoom Phone, and RingCentral offer scalable plans that allow businesses to easily add or remove users and adjust their subscription based on evolving needs. The cost of scaling up the phone system can vary depending on the specific requirements and the provider’s pricing structure.

Methodology: How Did We Compare The Best Phone Systems For Small Businesses?

Our team of independent researchers has conducted an extensive analysis of 11 leading phone system suppliers to identify the top 10 providers for small businesses. We prioritized the key features required by small businesses in a VoIP phone system, focusing on onboarding and management capabilities, as well as ready-made integrations to enhance your operations.

We’ve also aggregated customer reviews from platforms like Trustpilot and Capterra to assure you that our knowledge is not only robust on paper, but also in practice. Regardless of which choice you make to meet the demands of your small business, our research-backed recommendations will match you with the most suitable players in the VoIP market.

We looked at various research areas including:

• Features: including inbound communication, outbound communication, and conversation features.
• Support and security: this looked at whether the provider has features such as 24/7 support, live chat, and a knowledge base.
• Scalability score: this score is based on the system’s ability to scale with business growth.

Each area is scored and combined to produce an overall score for each provider.