The best VoIP service for home office make it simple and easy to set up and manage a phone system for a home-based business as well as remote working.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems have become an ordinary replacement for land-based phone calling, with the benefit of also providing video conferencing. Additionally, VoIP services are usually much cheaper than landline phone services. With the rise of VoIP phone solutions, anyone with a stable internet connection can access affordable VoIP-based phone services.
However, the sheer number of options on the market can make it quite difficult to choose the best VoIP service for home use. Is the cheapest option good enough? Or should you go for something a little more expensive that provides access to more advanced tools?
In reality, the answers to these questions, and others like them, depends on your exact needs. To help you choose the best VoIP service provider for your personal VoIP home phone, we’ve spent hours analyzing the available options.
Below we list what we think are the best VoIP services for the home office currently available.
We've also featured the best business phone systems.
The best VoIP service for the home office of 2024 in full:
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Best overall
Although RingCentral is primarily targeted at business users, it remains a great option for those who are looking for something a little more powerful than your average residential VoIP service. It comes with a range of features, including messaging, video calling, and a powerful group call interface, but it is a little expensive.
For up to 20 users, an Essentials subscription includes unlimited calls within the USA and Canada, voicemail-to-text features, a powerful messaging interface, and access through advanced mobile apps.
You will have to upgrade to the Standard plan if you want access to the video calling interface. This also gives you unlimited internet fax, audio and video conferencing, and integrations with various other programs.
The Premium and Ultimate plans add even more advanced features, but these aren’t really applicable for home use.
Read our full RingCentral review.
Best for advanced VoIP features
Vonage offers a wide range of residential VoIP solutions for users across the world. Like most of its competitors, it uses a simple plug-and-play device that connects directly to your router. The North America plan includes unlimited calls across the USA, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Canada.
For us, Vonage excels in terms of the features it includes, such as three-way calling, advanced voicemail tools, call forwarding to up to five devices, and selective call blocking.
Don’t let the name fool you, Vonage for Home is a great VoIP option for small businesses. With its affordable rates, simple installation, and impressive list of features, SMBs will find a VoIP platform that ticks all the boxes. The inclusion of the free mobile app, Vonage Extensions, is also a nice bonus, allowing firms to take calls on the go, wherever they are.
Read our full Vonage for Home review.
Best budget
One of the best things about Ooma Telo is that it has extremely low prices. In fact, it claims to provide a free phone service once you’ve purchased one of its hardware devices. This isn’t quite true, but there’s still a lot to like here.
There are three hardware options available. Ooma Telo is designed to be hardwired directly to your internet router, providing clear phone services for residential properties.
Alternatively, go for the Ooma Telo Air which is almost identical to the Ooma Telo but designed for a WiFi connection instead. Or, you might like to go with the Ooma Telo 4G which basically runs on a mobile network.
There is also a Premier plan available if you would like to access more advanced features such as international calling, connected home integrations, and various privacy tools.
Best PAYG
If you’re looking for a budget residential VoIP service provider with low upfront costs, AXvoice could be the perfect option.
Pay-as-you-go service offers outgoing calls billed at 1.5c per minute. A US/Canada 200 subscription gets you 200 minutes of free minutes within the USA and Canada, the USA/Canada Unlimited plan supports unlimited outgoing calls.
All AXvoice residential plans come with free hardware and a suite of powerful features. For example, you will have access to advanced caller ID tools, audio-to-text voicemail, call forwarding, and simultaneous ringing.
And you can even set up a redirection service to ensure your phone remains online if your internet service provider experiences an outage.
Best for international calls
1-VoIP is an extremely popular VoIP service provider offering a selection of home phone solutions. All plans come with free hardware and a suite of premium features, including virtual fax, whitelist/blacklist, on-hold music, and anonymous call rejection.
The Value plan includes unlimited incoming calls, 500 outgoing minutes to North America, and the ability to keep your old number. Upgrading to the US & Canada Unlimited plan unlocks unlimited outgoing calls to North America, while the World Unlimited plan adds unlimited calls to thirty select countries.
Read our full 1-VoIP review.
Best VoIP service for the home office FAQs
Which type of VoIP service for the home office is best for you?
When deciding which of the best VoIP providers to use for a home office, first consider what actual needs you have. For example, someone simply wanting to talk to a handful of people on a casual basis may find a cheaper option is the most cost-effective while providing all of the necessary tools that would be required. However, if you're planning to use a VoIP provider for professional or business purposes, especially with a large number of people and on a regular basis, then you will probably want to look to the higher-end options for the more advanced tools that are included.
How we tested the best VoIP service for the home office
To test for the best VoIP services for the home office we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or as an online service. We then tested the service using a handful of images to see how the software could be used for the editing and development of each image. The aim was to push each VoIP platform to see whether it could simply and easily not just edit a range of content types but also do so faithfully and consistently without introducing formatting issues or similar problems.
Read how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar.
We've also featured the best VoIP phones.
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