The best VoIP service for home use aren’t just far cheaper than traditional landlines — they offer a boatload of additional features that make life easier. Whether it’s blocking scammers or recording calls, these VoIPs do it all — which is why the best residential VoIPs are also a must-have for home offices.
With that said, looking for the best VoIP service for home is no easy task. To help, we’ve ranked the market’s leading residential VoIPs, reviewed them, and even compared them to help you find the one best suited to your individual needs and budget. From their key features to their leading pros and cons, here’s everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
Our Top Pick for the Best Residential VoIP Service 2024: Ooma
While all the other tools on our list are competent enough to give you what you need, Ooma is easily the best residential VoIP phone service. Here are the standout features of Ooma:
The 10 Best VoIP Services for Home 2024
Ooma is a phenomenal home VoIP service, but depending on your particular needs, there’s a variety of options, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are the market’s best residential VoIP services:
- Ooma — The Best Residential VoIP Service Overall | Offers a Whopping 60-Day Free Trial.
- Vonage— Perfect for Voicemail Monitoring | Try it Now Risk-Free with the 14-Day Free Trial!
- RingCentral Office — Ideal for Automated Call Recording | There’s a 15-Day Free Trial.
- Mighty Call — Known for Instant Mobile Screen Sharing | Offers a Short 7-Day Trial.
- Nextiva — Excels in Custom Greeting | Has a Solid Month-Long Free Trial.
- DialPad — Ideal for Diverse Add-Ons | Offers a 2-Week Free Trial.
- Intermedia Unite — Must-Have for Call Parking | Try it with the 30-Day Free Trial.
- 4Com — Impeccable Support and Maintenance with Intuitive Mobile Apps.
- BT — Excels in Remote Working | Offers 24/7 Customer Support.
- 8×8 — Popular for 99.99% Uptime Guarantee.
Need more information before choosing the right VoIP phone service for your home? Read on for our in-depth reviews.
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" "The Best VoIP Service for Home: Top Residential VoIP Reviewed
With our detailed reviews of all 10 VoIP service providers for homes, you’ll learn their best features, pricing, and pros and cons (as expressed by customers) for a good overview of what each one can do for you.
1. Ooma —The Best Residential VoIP Service Overall
Ooma is best known for its diverse range of services and options. With Ooma, you can manage your small business (it is one of the best VoIPs for small businesses), a huge enterprise, or simply cater to your residential needs, all from one tool.
The best thing about Ooma VoIP phones is their smart features and integration capacity. For example, Ooma VoIP phone systems can integrate with Amazon Alexa and take voice commands.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about Ooma, the best free VoIP phone service for home:
- Crystal Clear Audio — The best thing about Ooma is its crystal clear audio. Want to check the difference between an Ooma call and a regular call? Head to Ooma’s website; they have plenty of examples.
- Free Mobile Calling — The users who use the Ooma mobile app can benefit from free mobile minutes for calls made within the USA.
- Voicemail Monitoring — Not sure if you want to take a particular call? Use Ooma’s voicemail monitoring feature to pick up the phone any time you wish while a caller is leaving a voicemail for you.
- Private Device — Not every number is for the world. With Ooma, you can keep a few devices private by assigning a particular number to them using the same account.
More information about Ooma:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Voicemail monitoring | 1. HD-quality audio
2. Free mobile calling 3. Voicemail monitoring |
Starting at $99.99 | iOS and Android | 60-day free trial | 50+ |
Pricing:
Here are the plans offered by Ooma:
- Basic — $99.9 for Ooma Telo White and $0 for their service
- Premiere — $99.9 for Ooma Telo White and $9.99 for their service
Pros:
- HD quality audio
- Backup number
- Free service on the basic plan
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- The interface could be made a little more user-friendly
2. Vonage — Perfect for Voicemail Monitoring
Vonage is a globally renowned VoIP service provider trusted by popular brands like Dominos and Allstate.
The best thing about Vonage is that it offers a carefully curated plan just for your residential needs as well as a professionally designed plan for businesses, even in Canada, making it one of the best VoIP home phone Canada providers. You can choose either of them and get rolling.
Their service covers both local calls as well international numbers. You can also choose to get a new number or simply port your existing one. The flexibility that Vonage offers is simply unparalleled.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about Vonage:
- Unlimited Calls — For all calls made within the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, you get access to Vonage’s unlimited calling feature.
- Free Shipping and Activation —Vonage will bear the shipping charges for your new VoIP phone system and activate it for no extra charge.
- Available in 60+ Countries — Since their services are available in over 60 countries, you get a vast global range for international calling.
- Money-Back Guarantee — Your money is safe with Vonage. In case you don’t like their service, you can avail of their risk-free money-back guarantee.
More information about Vonage:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Unlimited calling | 1. Unlimited Call
2. Free shipping 3. Money-back guarantee |
Starting at $9.99/month | iOS and Android | 14-day trial | 20+ |
Pricing:
Here are the prices offered by Vonage:
- North America (domestic plan) — Starting at $9.99/month
- US and Canada 400 (limited domestic plan) — Starting at $9.99/month
- World Prime (international plan) — Starting at $9.99/month
- US and Canada 400 World Prime 400 (limited international plan) — Starting at $9.99/month
Pros:
- Unlimited calls
- Superior customer support system
- Works for international calls as well
- Covers both residential and personal needs
Cons:
- Complex service cancellation policy
3. RingCentral Office — Ideal for Automated Call Recording
If you are looking for a reliable VoIP service that can work anywhere you need it to, try RingCentral Office. Their service is best known for being reliable and versatile.
The most striking feature of RingCentral Office is that it allows teams (or families if you are using it in your home) to use the same line without paying extra. For instance, even their most basic plan allows up to 20 people to use their service simultaneously.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about RingCentral Office, one of the best residential VoIP providers:
- Automatic Call Recording — RingCentral doesn’t need manual command to start recording your call. Depending on your settings, it can automatically start recording every call you get on.
- Voicemail-to-Text — Don’t have the time to hear every voicemail? No worries. RingCentral’s voicemail transcription feature will tell you the crux of it instantly.
- Document Sharing — Sometimes, calls and video calls aren’t enough. If you’re looking for media and document compatibility, RingCentral Office’s document-sharing feature is all you’ll need.
- 24-Hour Meetings — Tired of your video conferences being cut short every hour? RingCentral Office is one of the few tools that support a 24-hour meeting duration.
More information about RingCentral Office:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Automated call recording | 1. Document sharing
2. 24-hour meeting 3. Voicemail-to-text |
Starting at $19.99/user/month | iOS and Android | 15-day free trial | 200+ |
Pricing:
Here are the plans offered by RingCentral Office:
- Essentials — $19.99/user/month
- Standard — $27.99/user/month
- Premium — $34.99/user/month
- Ultimate — $49.99/user/month
Pros:
- Affordable plans
- 20 to unlimited users per plan
- Unlimited calling and audio conferencing
- 24×7 customer support for every user
Cons:
- Inefficient real-time updates
4. MightyCall — Known for Instant Mobile Screen Sharing
If you are looking for a wireless home phone service that’s not just quick and reliable but also prioritizes customer security over everything else, try MightyCall.
With its fantastic integration capacity, it also gives you the liberty to work from anywhere you want through a device of your choice. This makes it one of the best VoIP providers Australia.
Speaking of security, MightyCall protects its customers and their data with a premium SSL certificate and 265-bit, impenetrable encryption. For additional safety, your data is only stored in Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centres.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about MightyCall:
- Caller ID — Always be aware of who is trying to reach you with MightyCall’s caller ID recognition feature.
- Custom Greeting — Want to make your calls a little more fun? Jazz it up with custom greetings that go with your personality.
- Call Screening — Choose who gets to reach you and who goes straight to voicemail with MightyCall’s smart call screening feature.
- Multi-level IVR — If a single-level IVR with a basic menu isn’t enough for you, try MightCall’s multi-level IVR with multiple redirections and menus for a better user experience.
More information about MightyCall:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Instant screen sharing | 1. Caller ID
2. Call screening 3. Multi-level IVR |
Starting at $12/user/month | iOS and Android | 7-day free trial |
Not revealed. Integrations allowed through API and Zapier |
Pricing:
Here are the plans offered by Mighty Call:
- Small Teams — $12/user/month
- Business — $15/user/month
- Enterprise — $150/month
Pros:
- Cheap plans
- World-class data security
- Adequate device compatibility
- Excellent integration capacity
Cons:
- Inefficient customer support
5. Nextiva — Excels in Custom Greeting
If you are looking for greater flexibility in terms of communication channels, consider trying Nextiva VoIP residential phone service.
Whether you are running a home-based business or using the tool for personal needs, you can reach out to everyone via call, email, text, or even video call.
What we really like about Nextiva is that it provides a unified communication solution with an integrated workflow so that you don’t have to juggle multiple apps at once.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about Nextiva:
- Unlimited Internet Fax — Don’t pay for traditional faxing. Nextiva gives you instant access to unlimited online fax at no extra charge.
- Screen Sharing — Say your caller needs a visual representation of something. In that case, you can use Nextiva’s instant screen-sharing feature.
- Call Recording — Nextiva allows you to record every minute of your conversations, irrespective of who you call or how long you speak to them.
- 40+ Call Participants — Depending on the plan you choose, you can invite 40 to unlimited users to your audio or video conferences.
More information about Nextiva:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Custom greetings | 1. Unlimited internet fax
2. Call recording 3. 40+ call participants |
Starting at $18.95/user/month | iOS and Android | 30-day free trial | At least 23 |
Pricing:
Here are the plans offered by Nextiva:
- Essential — $18.95/user/month
- Professional — $22.95/user/month
- Enterprise — $32.95/user/month
Pros:
- Unlimited calls
- 40 to Unlimited participants
- Unified communication platform
- Works on multiple communication channels
Cons:
- The starting plans are slightly costlier than its competitors
6. DialPad — Ideal for Diverse Add-Ons
The best thing about DialPad VoIP services is they are cloud-based and grow with your needs. Unlike traditional landlines that depend on physical servers, DialPad’s VoIP phone services have cloud access and can move, scale, and evolve with your needs.
Apart from its features, our favorite thing about DialPad as a company is its commitment to keep pushing its limits. Whether it’s integrations or new updates, they are the first ones to launch innovative solutions almost every time.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about DialPad:
- HD Audio — Enjoy crystal-clear call quality and uninterrupted connection for every conversation on DialPad.
- Additional Numbers — Depending on the plan you choose, you can also get additional numbers on top of the primary number you are planning to use.
- International Messaging — With DialPad, you can send instant messages internationally at a minimum cost.
- 5-Hour Meeting Duration — Why rely on video conferencing platforms that disconnect you every hour? DialPad offers an uninterrupted 5-hour connection for every meeting.
More information about DialPad:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Diverse add-ons | 1. Additional numbers
2. International messaging 3. HD Audio |
Starting at $15/user/month | Desktop, iOS, and Android | 14-day free trial | 80+ |
Pricing:
Here are the plans offered by DialPad:
- Standard — $15/user/month
- Pro — $25/user/month
- Enterprise — Custom pricing
Pros:
- Diverse add-ons
- Customizable plans
- Uninterrupted meetings
- Seamless and affordable international communication
Cons:
- Voice transcription has trouble recognizing foreign languages
7. Intermedia Unite: Must-have for Call Parking
Whether its personal conversations or business communication, everyone likes to have the flexibility to choose how their conversation should flow. If this is something you are looking for in your VoIP phone service, try Intermediate Unite.
What makes Intermediate Unite different from all the other VoIP services is its feature diversity. Depending on the plan you choose, they offer up to 90 features that transform your calling and texting experience.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about Intermediate Unite:
- Call Transfer — Transfer or forward your calls to any number of your choice and get the liberty to work remotely.
- Call Blocking — Detect spam callers and stop them from bothering you with Intermediate Unite’s efficient call-blocking feature.
- Mobile Apps — Mobile and desktop apps offer simplified access to Intermediate Unite instead of the usual browser route.
- Call Parking — Call parking is a unique feature that allows you to put a call on hold on one device and then continue from a different device.
More information about Intermedia Unite:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Call parking | 1. Call transfer
2. Call blocking 3. Call parking |
Starting at $27.99 | iOS and Android | 30-day free trial | Not revealed |
Pricing:
Here are the plans offered by Intermedia Unite:
- Unite Pro — $27.99
- Unite Enterprise — $32.99
Pros:
- Easy to use
- A diverse range of features
- Protect from spam
- Excellent for single-use and collaboration
Cons:
- You cannot contact participants who don’t have Intermediate Unite
8. 4Com — Impeccable Support and Maintenance
Our standout feature of 4Com is its seamless and assisted purchasing process. Looking for the perfect VoIP service can be an overwhelming experience, especially if you are unfamiliar with all the technical jargon.
However, the good thing about 4Com is that they assist you in every step. You can reach out through a quick query or call them for sales assistance.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about 4Com:
- Video Support — Home phones are no more limited to voice calling alone. Try 4Com’s VoIP service and its excellent video conferencing service.
- Call Recording — Whoever you might be calling, 4Com gives you the option to record the whole conversation with a click.
- Support and Maintenance — The team is extremely supportive when it comes to problem-solving and maintenance. Whatever you need, 4Com is just a call away.
- Mobile App — You can access all the features of 4Com through their 100% mobile-friendly apps.
More information about 4Com:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Support and Maintenance | 1. Mobile app
2. Call recording 3. Video support |
On request | HiHi3 Connect (iOS and Android) | Not Available | Not revealed |
Pricing:
4Com doesn’t reveal its pricing on its website, meaning you must reach out to them for a custom quote.
Pros:
- Superb sales assistance
- Super-friendly customer support
- Call recording and reporting
- Intuitive mobile apps
Cons:
- Non-transparent pricing
9. BT — Excels in Remote Working
BT is one of the few apps that have a sublime customer-centric approach, which makes it one of the best virtual phone number for business. All their features and services are designed keeping your convenience in mind.
For starters, BT only uses the latest technology and firewall to protect your data. Also, since the device will be hosted on the cloud, you will be saving a lot of money on hardware purchases and maintenance.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about BT:
- Automatic Updates — Every plan by BT includes automated updates to future-proof your phone system.
- Remote Working — Being cloud-based, BT gives you the liberty to work remotely without ever missing a call.
- Inclusive Maintenance — All BT packages are inclusive of periodic maintenance charges. You never have to worry about getting external help.
- 24×7 Support — Depending on the plan you get, you will be entitled to 24×7 support for every issue.
More information about BT:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Remote working | 1. Automatic updates
2. Remote working 3. 24×7 support |
Not revealed | Desktop, iOS, and Android | Not available | Not revealed |
Pricing:
BT reveals its pricing only on requesting a quote.
Pros:
- Automated updates
- Remote access
- Stellar maintenance
- 24×7 customer support
Cons:
- Audio quality might fluctuate sometimes
10. 8×8 — Popular for 99.99% Uptime Guarantee
8×8 has one of the most dominant presences across the globe as far as VoIP phone services are concerned. For starters, 8×8, is one of the best internet phone services, and it boasts over 2 million active users at the moment.
Whether you’re a large enterprise or simply operating from a home office, 8×8 knows precisely what you’ll need.
One of our favorite things about 8×8 is its impeccable integration capacity. No tool can have every feature to support your business, but tools like 8×8 can certainly help you streamline your work by seamlessly integrating with supporting business tools.
Best Features:
Here’s what we love about 8×8:
- Uptime Guarantee — Never lose connectivity with your family or customers with 8×8 because they guarantee you 99.99% uptime.
- Instant Messaging — 8×8 helps you reach out to anyone in the world with their instant 1:1 and group texting feature.
- Meeting Transcription — Lost track of points mentioned in a meeting? Use 8×8’s meeting transcription feature to get all the notes you need.
- Branded Video Conferencing — This one is perfect for your home office. Create a more professional appeal for your business with branded video conferencing, where you get to add your business logo and customize the layout according to your company’s theme.
More information about 8×8:
Best For | Top Benefits | Price | Mobile Application | Free Trial | Integrations |
Uptime guarantee | 1. Instant messaging
2. Uptime guarantee 3. Branded video conferencing |
Starting at $15/user/month | iOS and Android | 30-day free trial | 60 |
Pricing:
Here are the plans offered by 8×8:
- Small business phone system — $15/user/month
- Voice, video, and chat for teams — $24/user/month
- Advance call handling and analytics — $44/user/month
Pros:
- Free trial
- Diverse plans
- Adequate documentation and resources
- Free for the first month (depending on your plan)
Cons:
- The call quality might slightly fluctuate sometimes
Best VoIP Service for Home 2024: Comparison Table
From pricing to free trials, compatibility, and top benefits, here’s an easy head-to-head comparison of the market’s best VoIP home services:
2. Free mobile calling 3. Voicemail monitoring 2. Free shipping 3. Money Back guarantee 2. Uptime guarantee 3. Branded video conferencing 2. 24-hour meeting 3. Voicemail-to-text 2. Call screening 3. Multi-level IVR Not revealed. Integrations allowed through API and Zapier 2. Call recording 3. 40+ call participants 2. International messaging 3. HD Audio 2. Call blocking 3. Call parking 2. Call recording 3. Video support 2. Remote working 3. 24*7 support
Software
Best For
Top Benefits
Price
Mobile Application
Free Trial
Integrations
Ooma
Voicemail monitoring
1. HD-quality audio
Starting at $99.99
iOS and Android
60-day free trial
50+
Vonage
Best overall
1. Unlimited Call
Starting at $9.99/month
iOS and Android
14-day trial
20+
8×8
Uptime guarantee
1. Instant messaging
Starting at $15/user/month
iOS and Android
30-day free trial
60
RingCentral Office
Automated call recording
1. Document sharing
Starting at $19.99/user/month
iOS and Android
15-day free trial
200+
Mighty Call
Instant screen sharing
1. Caller ID
Starting at $12/user/month
iOS and Android
7-day free trial
Nextiva
Custom greetings
1. Unlimited internet fax
Starting at $18.95/user/month
iOS and Android
30-day free trial
At Least 23
DialPad
Diverse add-ons
1. Additional numbers
Starting at $15/user/month
Desktop, iOS, and Android
14-day free trial
80+
Intermediate Unite
Call parking
1. Call transfer
Starting at $27.99
iOS and Android
30-day free trial
Not revealed
4Com
Support and Maintenance
1. Mobile app
On request
HiHi3 Connect (iOS and Android)
Not available
Not revealed
BT
Remote working
1. Automatic updates
Not revealed
Desktop, iOS, and Android
Not available
Not revealed
What Is a Residential VoIP or a VoIP Service for the Home?
VoIP service is excellent for both families and businesses. VoIP services for homes use your internet connection to make and receive calls. You may save money and enjoy VoIP services whether you reside in a small apartment or a three-story house.
The traditional phone providers charge you for everything, including tax, service fees, and occasionally little “hidden” fees. With residential VoIP plans and services, your monthly home phone expense can be decreased by an average of 50% each month.
You can save even more by conducting extra online searches and using sign-up bonuses, coupon websites, and periodic sales. VoIP for homes is a bargain hunter’s fantasy.
How Does a VoIP Service for Home Work?
Voice calls on VoIP phones are converted into digital signals sent through IP networks, such as the internet. VoIP phones can be virtual software installed on a mobile device or computer, or they might be actual phones that employ VoIP technology.
VoIP phones require several networking components to function. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol automatically configures the network and the VoIP parameters and assigns IP addresses to phones.
A domain name system keeps track of the IP addresses to allow devices like IP phones to connect. VoIP phones require many protocols to deliver voice communications over the internet.
The phone needs to be connected to the internet, wired or by wi-fi. Connect the adapter to the phone and turn on the device after that. The VoIP provider needs to turn on the VoIP service.
Once the setup is complete, you will have your home VoIP phone. You must always keep your VoIP adapter turned on for uninterrupted VoIP phone service.
What Are the Differences Between Business and Residential VoIP?
Finding the perfect VoIP provider for your business and home are two different ball games altogether. This is because the costs for residential VoIP are straightforward, but those for corporate VoIP service providers appear to have cryptic categories and pricing lists.
Residential phone services are relatively simple, whereas business demands vary as often as the businesses themselves. Residential VoIP services come with various features and are relatively simple to use. The most notable features include:
- Call blocking
- Caller ID and call waiting
- Do not disturb and e911
- Voicemail
However, a business VoIP system comes with additional capabilities tailored exclusively to enhance business productivity and efficiency. Home VoIP phones are more straightforward and basic, leaving less room for personalized services.
In most cases, you will receive one forwarding number, no extensions, and a low-cost “minutes per month” plan. The number of minutes per month may occasionally be un-metered.
Businesses are a lot more complicated than your typical home, and they almost need a commercial VoIP system that can easily handle 100 calls at once. In contrast, residential VoIP systems are far more affordable and can take three simultaneous calls, the third on hold. .
Obviously, this is an apples-to-oranges comparison rather than an apples-to-apples comparison here. VoIP systems—commercial or residential—aim to displace traditional telephones and PBX phone systems in both your home and the workplace.
What Are the Benefits of Using a VoIP Service at Home?
Perhaps the most striking benefit of a residential VoIP phone system over a traditional residential phone system is that it’s a lot less expensive. That said, residential VoIP systems tag along multiple other features, too, like:
Voicemail
The voicemail-to-email feature notifies you by email, either with or without the attached voicemail message. Some service providers additionally include a voicemail-to-text feature wherein you get a text copy of the voicemail in an email.
3-Way Calling
This allows you to chat to two individuals simultaneously by adding in another caller and adding them into the call, therefore conferencing all parties together.
Call Forwarding
You can forward a voicemail or call to a different phone or cell phone with the help of this feature. The majority of service providers include call forwarding choices including Always Forward, Call Forward No Answer, Call Forward Busy, and Call Forward Selective.
Caller ID
As the name implies, a caller ID tool is an identifying tool used to recognize callers. There are various caller IDs, including outgoing and inbound, each with a number or name.
Address Book
You can import your contacts from an Excel spreadsheet or CSV. Multiple hundred contacts can be instantly stored and searched. This eliminates the need to manually put in numbers and names on the phone by allowing you to dial from your address book.
Call Waiting
This common phone feature enables you to accept another call while still on the line. It is comparable to using two phone lines at once.
Select Your Area Code
With VoIP, you can select an area code that is not associated with your city or state, unlike traditional phones. With this feature, a person or a business owner can call an area code of their choice without being charged for a long-distance call.
HD Voice
VoIP phone systems typically feature excellent sound quality. VoIP with HD Voice offers crisper audio on desktop softphones, mobile, or desk phones.
Number Porting
You don’t have to give up your old landline number if you want to switch to VoIP for your home phone service. Most VoIP services allow you to port (transfer) your phone number.
Mobile App
Most VoIP service providers offer a specific smartphone app, allowing you to use both your existing landlines and mobile phones.
Online Call Log
A residential VoIP maintains a historical record of outgoing and incoming calls, including call lengths, timestamps, and called parties. It is frequently exportable into an Excel or CSV spreadsheet for additional business analysis.
Simultaneous Ring
A PBX function directs incoming calls to many phones simultaneously. It allows you to receive calls on your phone when someone makes a call on your VoIP phone number.
Virtual Second Line
With a virtual second line, you can make and receive calls on your company line from your home mobile phone without the caller knowing.
How Do I Know if My Internet Can Support a VoIP Service at Home?
VoIP calls use a significant amount of bandwidth. This means that maintaining a call requires a reasonably quick and reliable internet connection. We advise using a connection of at least 512Kbps, or 0.512Mbps.
A basic broadband plan should provide this level of speed, but if the network is congested with other users or busy with high-bandwidth activity, your available speed may drop.
To find out how fast your internet connection is, go ahead and use the app provided by the service provider to do an internet speed test. VoIP testing is the method for examining the reliability of your internet connection by analyzing how well it performs under various conditions.
There are two benefits to using the VoIP speed test:
- To check if a current internet connection is capable of supporting VoIP.
- To comprehend what a caller can anticipate from a VoIP experience.
Then, determine your VoIP internet speed by checking these values:
- Download Rate: Any broadband’s initial download rate is 3 to 8 Mbps, the medium rate is 12 to 15 Mbps, and its advanced rate is more than 25 Mbps.
- Upload Speed: Most of the time, people download data instead of uploading it, but to verify that your broadband connection is fast, you must assess your upload speed, which shows how many megabits you can upload in a second.
- Ping Rate: The millisecond-based identification of reaction time is called ping rate. You will have a more responsive and quick connection if your ping rate is high and your millisecond count is low.
What Equipment Do I Need for a Residential VoIP?
A VoIP phone system requires a router or modem, which is already part of your internet setup. Any device with your call software downloaded can place calls. You will only need a softphone, a PC or laptop, and a headset for using residential VoIP.
Here is a list of other VoIP equipment you’ll need to use your service effectively:
- ATA: It enables a regular phone to place calls over an IP network. An IP phone requires an ATA as a critical component of hardware.
- Ethernet Cable: Ethernet cable is needed to connect a VoIP phone to the internet. The cable offers wired internet access.
- IP Phones: These are physical phone systems that use VoIP technology rather than a standard phone line. They are also referred to as VoIP phones.
- VoIP Router: A router directs internet traffic by sending data across the network. Your VoIP-enabled phones connect to the internet through this, ensuring your calls’ connectivity and quality.
- VoIP Headset: These headsets can be used in any VoIP call. They are headphones with a microphone already built-in. Although it’s not an essential factor of your phone system’s technology, this device will let you answer calls hands-free, so we recommend you get it.
The two varieties of VoIP phones are:
- Hard phones have specialized digital gear but are otherwise similar to conventional phones.
- Softphones are web-based programs or applications that you can download on multiple devices.
Which Residential VoIP Plan Do I Need?
You should first and foremost have clarity on the features you want from a residential VoIP. Consider the number of long-distance calls you’ll be making and what else you’ll be using the VoIP service for.
Almost every VoIP system provides essential services like call waiting, caller ID, and forwarding in its basic plan. Depending on your needs, you also have the option to add advanced features like call transcription, call screening, and auto-attendants.
Next, you must decide how much money you are willing to spend on the VoIP system. Calculate your current phone bills and any other costs you have to incur for communication.
Compare your current prices to potential VoIP costs, narrow down your choices, and choose the provider that can meet your needs while staying within your budget.
How Much is a Residential VoIP?
One thing you should be aware of is that most VoIP providers bill on a per-user per-month basis rather than billing you for the total number of minutes you use.
The cost per user per month is typically $25. This often includes toll-free minutes, call forwarding, auto-attendant, caller ID, call screening, and unlimited outbound calling (to the United States and Canada).
With VoIP, the provider is responsible for system management and maintenance. This includes all upgrades and updates, which the provider will provide to all clients simultaneously and automatically. In other words, you won’t have to bear any additional costs.
Let’s explore the factors that drive the price of a VoIP phone system:
- The cost of a new equipment
- Network infrastructures costs
- Phone number migration costs
- Ongoing monthly VoIP phone service costs
How to Choose a VoIP Service for Home: The Features to Look For
As mentioned earlier, even the most basic VoIP subscriptions carry several essential VoIP functions. If you frequently phone abroad, think about getting a package with free minutes to the locations you use the most.
Despite the low international rates offered by VoIP services, purchasing an overseas calling package in advance rather than paying per minute might be worthwhile. Some of the common features to consider include:
Call Pulling
It is the practice of effortlessly transferring a phone call from one device to another. You can switch devices and take conversations with you.
Call Transfer
This is one of the most practical VoIP functions. Make the appropriate crisp introductions or send a rapid cold or warm transfer. You create a seamless link between the caller and the recipient either way.
Transcripts
The ability to produce call transcripts is essentially priceless. You may read the entire conversation in print, saving you the effort of trying to recall what someone said on the phone.
Online Control Panels
You can access and control your VoIP accounts online, meaning you don’t have to call your service providers to inquire about services or chop and change your subscription details.
Online panels and admin boards will allow you to effortlessly access several VoIP capabilities and activate and deactivate services.
Intelligent Call Distribution, Routing, and Forwarding
You can effortlessly forward calls or voicemails to another device, much like with office phones. This enables you to take calls from your home phone while you are away or when you don’t have your landline phone by your side to receive or make urgent calls. This feature is of paramount importance to someone who also works from home.
Portable Number Systems
Say you want to continue using your current phone number. In that case, you can port your existing number to your VoIP phone without any hassle. This is especially helpful if you have an extensive network of contacts and do not want to switch phone numbers.
Area Code Option
Unlike landlines, home VoIP phones allow you to select your area code. This way — if you are a business — your target audience will see an incoming call from the area they live in, giving them more reason to trust you and your business.
As far as residential VoIP systems are concerned, you can pick an area code that corresponds to your relative’s place of residence.
Call Recording
Call recording may be the best option if you want to be confident of everything spoken during a phone discussion.
When listening to a record, you can draw conclusions that would be impossible to deduce from reading about what was said during a call, such as the volume of voices or the duration of pauses.
Besides all this, we also recommend you take the following steps:
Inquire About Uptime
Your system is worthless if it fails regularly. When you call potential providers, enquire about uptime. They ought to exchange historical uptime data. Remember, competent providers will go above and beyond for their clients.
Ensure You Have Enough Bandwidth
Your VoIP solution will use your existing internet connection to provide service. So you must confirm whether your desired system can run on your home network. This entails calculating bandwidth, which can be challenging, but you can expect reasonable assistance from your provider.
Read Reviews
Even the best products fall short when customer service is poor. Once you’ve narrowed your options, seek customer service reviews of different residential VoIP service providers. Talk to their customer support representatives directly as well.
Make sure you can contact someone and expect an immediate response in case a problem arises in the future.
Go Over the Terms and Conditions
Go to the VoIP provider’s site and read the terms and conditions if you are happy with the plans, features, price, and user reviews. These are usually found in the small text towards the bottom of the page and are sometimes referred to as “terms of usage.”
How to Set Up The Best VoIP Service for Home?
Getting set up with one of the best VoIP services in the US is easier than you may think. Plus, with leaders like Ooma, it simply couldn’t get any easier. To help, we’ve compiled a step-by-step guide on getting started with Ooma:
Step 1 — Purchase an Ooma VoIP Router
Visit the Ooma website by clicking the link down below. From there, you’ll want to choose a Business or Residential plan based on your needs. For the sake of this review, we’re going to choose Residential, but the Business process is similar.
From the home page, head on over to the Shop tab at the top of the page and select “Home Phones”. Ooma’s “Telo” service is free to use, plus you can upgrade to “Telo Air” for Wi-Fi connectivity.
The LTE package does require a subscription fee, but it’ll work even through power outages thanks to a battery backup system.
From there, you can pick the Ooma devices that suit your needs, but you’ll need to buy at least one Ooma router to use the service. We recommend you take advantage of their bundled Handset deal, so you have devices to test the service with.
Remember, Ooma comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee!
Purchasing a handset through Ooma is a painless process, all you need to do is choose where you want your Ooma Telo sent to and enter in some basic payment details. Best of all, it’s free shipping!
You can also send the devices back to Ooma if you decide you want to use their 30-day money-back guarantee.
Shipping can take several days, depending on your location, but once you have the Ooma device in your hands, the rest of the process takes minutes to complete.
Step 2 — Register your Ooma device
Before you can use your Ooma device, you’ll need to register it to activate the subscription plan. Ooma is free by default, but you’ll have to enter some basic details about your usage before you can get started.
To register your Ooma device, go to “Login” on the homepage and then select “My Ooma Telo”. You’ll be taken to a login page, from there you’ll have to click “Activate my new account” to get to the registration page.
The activation code is located on the bottom of your Ooma router, which is helpfully pointed out during the activation process.
After this step, you’ll be asked to enter some basic details about your location and billing if you’re going with one of Ooma’s paid plans, but it’s all pretty straightforward.
Step 3 — Figure Out Your Needs and Follow Their Guide
Finally, you’ll want to decide on everything you need to set up based on your plan and business needs. There are hundreds of different options, which would be hard to cover in a single guide.
Once you’re done with the setup phase, all you have to do is add your optional extras, download the mobile app, and you’re ready to get calling!
Since there’s a plethora of different options and systems, you can use Ooma’s comprehensive support section to guide your use of the software. If any part of it confuses you, don’t worry! Ooma has a 24/7 support team on hand who are always ready to help you.
Are There Any Free VoIP Phone Services for Home?
When it comes to finding reliable free VoIP phone providers, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one with the functionality on offer with paid services. However, most of the best home VoIP services have lengthy free trials that you can test before committing to a paid plan.
This will allow you to explore the range of capabilities on offer before deciding whether it is or isn’t best suited to your needs. With pricing as low as $9.99/month with a VoIP service as solid as Ooma, you’re unlikely to find a better solution. We’d highly recommend trying it now.
There’s a risk-free 30-day free trial. Plus, leading competitors like Ooma also offer a free trial that lets you test it for a full 60 days! Why not try them out?
Are VoIPs or Home Phone Providers Secure?
VoIP is a more modern and secure method of making and receiving calls than the conventional phone system. VoIP operates by sending data over the internet. Simply put, it is a phone call placed over digital lines instead of traditional telephone lines.
It’s no secret how unsafe the internet is and the slew of hackers out there. Luckily, your VoIP service provider is well aware of this, too, which is why they take the necessary procedures to stop any data breaches in their system.
Connections set up by reputable, experienced professional service providers are highly safe. Encryption is one of the best ways to ensure that data being carried over the internet cannot be read if intercepted.
So make sure your chosen VoIP service makes use of encryption to make life difficult for hackers.
Conclusion: What is the Best Home VoIP?
Here’s a quick recap of the 10 best residential VoIP providers:
- Ooma — The Best Residential VoIP Service Overall | Offers a Whopping 60-Day Free Trial.
- Vonage— Perfect for Voicemail Monitoring | Try it Now Risk-Free with the 14-Day Free Trial!
- RingCentral Office — Ideal for Automated Call Recording | There’s a 15-Day Free Trial.
- Mighty Call — Known for Instant Mobile Screen Sharing | Offers a Short 7-Day Trial.
- Nextiva — Excels in Custom Greeting | Has a Solid Month-Long Free Trial.
- DialPad — Ideal for Diverse Add-Ons | Offers a 2-Week Free Trial.
- Intermedia Unite — Must-Have for Call Parking | Try it with the 30-Day Free Trial.
- 4Com — Impeccable Support and Maintenance with Intuitive Mobile Apps.
- BT — Excels in Remote Working | Offers 24/7 Customer Support.
- 8×8 — Popular for 99.99% Uptime Guarantee.
After reviewing them all, we crown Ooma as the best of the bunch, primarily due to its comprehensive and flexible set of features that are capable of satiating not only housing communication needs but also those of small to mid-sized businesses.
It’s available in over sixty countries, so availability won’t be an issue. Plus, you get free shipping and activation when you sign up for a home VoIP with Ooma, and a money-back guarantee to safeguard your investment in case you don’t find its services compatible with your needs.
Try it now risk-free with the 30-day free trial!