Google Voice Review

Why are more small businesses and individuals choosing Google Voice over traditional phone services?

Google Voice is known for its top-notch technology and easy integration with other Google tools. It’s a great choice for both work and personal use. Since starting in 2009, it lets users make free calls and send texts in the U.S. It also has affordable rates for calls abroad.

It’s a standout in the VoIP world with features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and showing your Google Voice number on caller ID. This makes it a versatile option.

In this detailed review, we explore how to set up Google Voice, its main features, pricing, and how it stacks up against competitors like RingCentral, Zoom Phone, and Nextiva. Whether you’re a small business or an individual, knowing what Google Voice offers is key.

Key Takeaways

Google Voice was founded in 2009 as a VoIP phone service.
It offers free calling and messaging within the U.S.
Overseas calls require adding credits, costing just a few cents per minute.
Voicemail messages can be accessed and transcribed through the app.
Customizable caller ID settings and multi-device ringing options are available.
Google Voice for business integrates seamlessly with Google Workspace tools.
Pricing starts at $10 per user per month for business plans.

Introduction to Google Voice

Google Voice is a powerful tool that gives you one phone number for calls, texts, and voicemail. It works across many devices, making it great for those who want to communicate easily.

It started as GrandCentral in September 2006 and was bought by Google about two years later for 50 million USD. Now, it’s known as Google Voice. People love it for its easy use, low cost for international calls, free texts, and high-quality sound. It’s also easy to use, which is why many industries like education and marketing use it.

Google Voice is mainly for personal Google Accounts in the US and Google Workspace in some places. Prices start at $10 a month for personal plans and $10 to $20 a month for business plans. It offers call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and text messaging, making it a full communication solution.

Users can send texts from the web and enjoy great voicemail features, especially for customer support. Google Voice is always improving, with plans for number porting and better app integration. With its many features and Google Workspace support, it’s a strong choice for both personal and work communication.

Setting Up Google Voice

Starting with Google Voice is easy and helps you improve your digital communication. You’ll need to create a Google Voice account, pick a phone number, and set up the app on your devices. It’s all simple and designed for users.

Creating a Google Voice Account

First, create a Google Voice account. If you have a Google account, this step is easier. Go to the Google Voice website and sign in with your Google account. Then, follow the instructions to set up your Google Voice account. For businesses, linking it to a paid Google Workspace account gives you more features.

Choosing a Google Voice Number

Google Voice lets you pick your own phone number. You can choose a number with your preferred area code or city. But, remember, Google Voice numbers are getting scarce, especially in big cities. After picking a number, make sure to finish setting it up to keep it.

Setting Up Google Voice Apps

Then, install the Google Voice app on your mobile and desktop devices for a smooth experience. The app works on iOS and Android. During setup, you can choose to make calls over Wi-Fi, mobile data, or your carrier. This lets you keep in touch without worrying about internet quality.

Install the app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Sign in with your Google Voice account details.
Follow the setup prompts to link your contacts and set call settings.

By doing these steps, you make sure your Google Voice setup meets your needs. It’s great for both personal and work use.

Features Overview

Google Voice offers top-notch communication tools with features made for a better user experience. We’ll look into key features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and text messaging. These make Google Voice a great choice.

Call Forwarding

Call forwarding is a key feature of Google Voice. It lets users send calls to different phone numbers. This ensures you never miss an important call. It’s especially useful for small businesses, making communication smooth.

Voicemail Transcription

Voicemail transcription is a favorite among Google Voice users. It turns voicemail into text automatically. This makes reading messages on the go easy. Plus, it works with other Google apps, boosting productivity.

Text Messaging

Google Voice also offers great text messaging. You can send and receive texts across various devices. This keeps your messages in one place, whether on a mobile app or desktop. It makes staying in touch easy and convenient.

Google Voice Pricing and Plans

Google Voice has flexible options for both personal and business use. Let’s look at the plans and pricing.

Personal Plan

The personal plan of Google Voice is free, making it great for freelancers and solo entrepreneurs. With a Google account, users get voicemail transcription, unlimited texts in the U.S., and Google Meet integration. This plan is perfect for those who want affordable communication tools.

Business Plans

Google Voice has three business plans, each for different needs:

Plan	Cost per User/Month	Features
Starter	$10	Basic VoIP service, no ring groups, limited to 10 users
Standard	$20	Advanced VoIP, unlimited users and locations in the U.S. and Canada, auto-attendants
Premier	$30	All Standard features, automatic call recording, unlimited international locations, data export to BigQuery

Google Voice business plans meet the needs of all businesses, from small to large. They offer basic to advanced services.

International Calling Rates

While the personal plan covers calls in the U.S. and Canada, calls to other countries cost extra. Rates vary by country. The Premier plan offers unlimited international calls, great for global businesses. Google sometimes offers discounts or promotions, especially with Google Workspace bundles.

Google Voice for Business

Google Voice for Business is packed with features for companies. It has google workspace integrations, detailed business activity reporting, and advanced enterprise features. These aim to make communication easier and boost productivity.

Integrations with Google Workspace

Google Voice for Business works well with Google Workspace apps like Meet and Calendar. This makes work flow better and helps teams talk smoothly. It’s great for companies already using Google Workspace.

Usage and Activity Reporting

Businesses get a lot from business activity reporting. But, Google Voice for Business doesn’t have deep analytics. This makes it hard for companies to understand caller habits and how agents perform.

Advanced Features for Enterprises

Enterprises get special advanced enterprise features with Google Voice for Business. Features like ring groups and auto-attendants make complex calls easier. But, it doesn’t have toll-free or vanity numbers. This might make it hard for some callers to reach companies, especially in far-off markets.

Feature	Google Voice for Business	Competing Services
Service Availability	United States, Europe, Canada, and select other countries	Ooma and MightyCall offer international reach
Analytics Tools	Basic	Advanced with providers like RingCentral
Automation	Standard auto attendant	Multi-level IVR with MightyCall
Support	No live support	MightyCall offers live support

Ease of Use and Interface

Google Voice stands out for its user-friendly interface. It’s easy for both individuals and small businesses to use. It works well with Google Workspace apps like Google Meet and Gmail. This makes using Google Voice simple for those already using these apps.

Setting up Google Voice is easy, making managing calls hassle-free. Both personal and business plans offer unlimited calls and texts in the U.S. Features like voicemail transcription and call forwarding make the experience better.

Google Voice is great for professionals, especially in Google ecosystems. It’s used by lawyers and those who travel a lot. It’s a reliable choice instead of traditional roaming. Plus, it has a 99.9% uptime guarantee, making it dependable for businesses.

Google Voice is easy to use, especially on iOS devices. Users like how they can easily find features like call recording and message alerts. It’s a big help for sales teams and call centers. Google Voice is more than just a tool; it’s a key to better communication and efficiency.

Pros and Cons

Choosing a communication solution means looking at the good and bad sides. Google Voice has its ups and downs, especially for businesses.

Pros of Google Voice

Google Voice has many benefits that make it a great choice for many:

Flexibility in Communication: It makes calls easy to forward, helping remote teams stay connected.
Integrations with Google Workspace: It works well with Gmail and Google Calendar, improving teamwork and productivity.
Voicemail Transcriptions: Users can read their voicemails, saving time when listening isn’t possible.
Cost-Effectiveness: Starting at $10 per user per month, it’s a budget-friendly option, especially for small teams.
High Security Standards: It scored 5 out of 5 for security, offering strong protection with top certifications and multi-factor authentication.

Cons of Google Voice

Google Voice also has some downsides:

Lack of Tool Integrations: It doesn’t work with many other popular tools, limiting customization.
Limited Media Capabilities: It doesn’t support video, PDF, or easy image sharing.
Organizational Shortfalls: It lacks features like message templates and auto-replies, making it less useful for businesses.
Poor Contact Management: Adding new contacts manually and keeping message threads can be hard.
No Free Trial: You have to pay upfront, with no free trial option.
Pricey Fees for Additional Services: Porting a number costs $3 to port out and $20 to port in, adding up for businesses.

Knowing the good and bad points of Google Voice helps businesses decide if it fits their needs and budget.

Google Voice vs. Competitors

When looking at Google Voice and other VoIP services like RingCentral, Zoom Phone, and Nextiva, several key factors stand out. The google voice comparison shows how these services differ in price, features, and who they’re for.

RingCentral

RingCentral costs $20 per user each month. It’s aimed at businesses like hotels, shops, and customer service teams. It has great features like toll-free numbers and advanced call handling. But, in the google voice comparison, Google Voice is cheaper, especially for those already using Google products.

Zoom Phone

Zoom Phone costs $10 per user each month. It’s a strong competitor to Google Voice, offering similar pricing and more features. The google voice comparison shows Zoom Phone adds value, especially for businesses that need good video calls.

Nextiva

Nextiva starts at $23.95 per user each month. It’s great for professional services. Nextiva has advanced features and can grow with your business. The google voice comparison shows it’s pricier but offers more for businesses needing complex communication tools.

Here’s a quick look at how these services stack up in price and features:

Provider	Starting Price (per user/month)	Key Features	Best For
Google Voice	$10	Works with Google Workspace, basic calls and texts	Those watching their budget, Google users
RingCentral	$20	Toll-free numbers, advanced call handling	Hotels, shops, customer service
Zoom Phone	$10	Great video calls, Unified Communications	Businesses needing video calls
Nextiva	$23.95	Advanced features, grows with your business	Professional services, expanding businesses

User Reviews and Feedback

Google Voice has caught a lot of attention for being affordable and having lots of features. Google Voice user reviews show that 51% of users love the call recording feature, giving it a top score of 9.9 out of 10. Also, 63% of users give message alerts an average rating of 8.0 out of 10, showing they work well for keeping people informed on time.

But, there are areas where Google Voice could do better. For example, 59% of users think the call screening feature is only 7.4 out of 10. And, 49% of users gave the Android app a low rating of 5.1 out of 10, suggesting it could be easier to use.

Google Voice offers three plans: Starter at $10 per user per month, Standard at $20, and Premier at $30. These plans are especially liked by small businesses with 1-50 employees. They find these plans offer great value for their communication needs.

Customers really like the Cloud PBX system, giving it an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. They also appreciate the customizable phone settings, rating them at 8.4 out of 10. The way teams work together using VoIP is another strong point, scoring 8.1 out of 10.

Over 3.5 million users use Google Voice, with many being small businesses. The mobile apps get an average rating of 8.1 out of 10 from users. This shows most people are happy with the service, even suggesting a few areas for improvement.

The service has a strong emotional impact, scoring +92. Users are likely to recommend Google Voice at a rate of 89%. A whopping 97% of users plan to keep using it, showing they’re happy with their experience. The satisfaction with the cost and value is also high, at 88%.

Feature	Rating
Call Recording	9.9/10
Message Alerts	8.0/10
Call Screening	7.4/10
Mobile App (Android)	5.1/10
Cloud PBX System	8.0/10
Customized Phone System Settings	8.4/10
Team Collaboration via VoIP	8.1/10

Overall, user testimonials show that while Google Voice isn’t perfect, it’s a powerful tool for communication for many users and businesses.

Conclusion

Google Voice is a great choice for people and businesses looking for a single way to communicate. It’s perfect for small teams and personal use, starting at just $10 per user each month. It also works well with Google tools like Google Chat, Google Meet, and Gmail for easy teamwork.

Customers really like Google Voice, giving it a 4.4/5 rating. It promises 99.9% uptime and is super secure, just like 8×8. But, it’s not perfect. It gets a 2.6/5 for features, missing some advanced call tracking and complex call setups that big companies might need.

Google Voice lets you use it on many devices and offers free calls in the US and Canada. But, you must be in the US to get a free number and pay for calls to other countries. For businesses needing more advanced options, JustCall might be a better fit. In short, Google Voice is a solid, secure, and dependable way to communicate. It suits small teams and individuals well, but might not meet all the needs of big businesses.

FAQ

What is Google Voice?

Google Voice is a service that lets you make calls, send texts, and get voicemails with one phone number. You can use it on phones, landlines, and the web.

How do I set up a Google Voice account?

First, sign up with your Google account. Then, pick a plan that fits you, like personal or business. Choose a phone number with the area code you like. Finally, download the Google Voice app on your devices for easy use.

Can I choose my own Google Voice number?

Yes, you can pick your own Google Voice number. Just choose an area code that you prefer during setup.

Is Google Voice free?

The personal plans of Google Voice are free, making it great for freelancers and solo entrepreneurs. But, business plans have different costs and options.

What features does Google Voice offer?

Google Voice has cool features like forwarding calls to many numbers, turning voicemails into text, sending texts, and working with Google apps.

How much does Google Voice cost for businesses?

Business plans for Google Voice come in three types, with prices based on how many users, where they are, and extra features like ring groups and reports.

How does Google Voice integrate with Google Workspace?

Google Voice works well with Google Workspace. It connects your calls with apps like Gmail, Calendar, and Drive for better productivity.

Does Google Voice support international calling?

Yes, Google Voice lets you call internationally. Prices change depending on where you’re calling, but calls to Canada are usually free.

Are toll-free numbers available with Google Voice?

No, Google Voice doesn’t offer toll-free numbers.

What are the limitations of Google Voice?

Some downsides include no toll-free numbers, limits on messaging for teams, and no virtual fax. Also, it’s mainly for personal accounts in the US and some Google Workspace accounts in certain places.

How user-friendly is Google Voice?

Google Voice is easy to use, especially if you’re into Google apps. Setting it up and managing calls is simple, making it hassle-free.

How does Google Voice compare to other VoIP providers?

Google Voice is great for its Google service integration and affordable basic plans. But, other providers like RingCentral, Zoom Phone, and Nextiva might offer more features, like toll-free numbers.

What do users say about Google Voice?

Most users like Google Voice for its cheap international calls, easy use, and good call quality. But, some find it lacking in some features and have issues with customer service.