Effortlessly Scale Global Calls

Cut costs and grow globally with the Best Phone System for Startups. Enjoy clear calls, reach 160+ markets, and unlock your startup’s true potential.

Trusted by 4,000 companies worldwide

Cut Telephone Lines and Costs in Half

Don’t waste money on expensive telephone lines, set-ups, and call costs. Onboard the best phone system for startups in moments without any coding and take advantage of all the benefits the Internet has to offer.

Thanks to CloudTalk, we managed to greatly improve our team’s cost and efficiency. The script feature allows us to lead the calls in a much more systematic way, as well as all the action buttons to trigger actions directly into our backend.

Yohann Bensadoun, Global Supply Growth at Glovo

Enable Global Growth

With VoIP, the world is your oyster. Choose from 160+ international, local, mobile, and toll-free numbers and explore new markets effortlessly. Work with the world’s best talent, call like a local around the globe, and supercharge your startup’s growth.

CloudTalk has truly been a trusted partner in driving our success across borders, and we highly recommend them to any global business looking for a reliable and hassle-free VoIP solution.

Ibrahim Imam, Co-Founder, Group Co-CEO, CEO MENA & APAC at PlanRadar

13 Best Phone Systems for Startups

Check 13 of the best Next-Gen Providers in 2024 to help you decide which one fits you the most.

CloudTalk | Best Country Coverage

CloudTalk is the perfect phone system for mid-sized companies looking to grow. Typically, it’s used in sales for outbound calls and in customer service for inbound calls.

Cloudtalk’s Benefits

CloudTalk Voice provides high-quality offers, care, and service, all included in our business phone system solution.

Easy Management: Use CloudTalk’s web-based admin interface to manage your call center in real-time, add agents, phone numbers, and set up everything you need at any given moment.

Reduced Operational Costs: With our business phone system, you can significantly reduce your operational costs, as no special skills are required and there’s no need to hire extra IT specialists. CloudTalk can be managed in a user-friendly interface – all you need is an internet connection.

Accessible Anywhere: CloudTalk is a completely cloud-based business phone system – all you need is to set up your CloudTalk account. But don’t worry, if you already have an existing infrastructure, CloudTalk can be easily linked to it. Switch between your laptop and your cell phone easily.

Smarter Calls: Distribute all calls to your team in a smart way and view past customer interactions during the call to enhance customer experience. Native integrations with CRM, helpdesk or other popular apps boost your productivity and take lots of manual tasks out of your workflow.

SLA: A service level agreement can be provided for all CloudTalk PBX business phone systems, guaranteeing a maximum level of reliability and technical support.

Reliable Operation with 24/7 Monitoring: We always make sure your data and voice services are safe. All data (including VoIP itself) are stored in secured locations of Amazon AWS with 24/7 monitoring provided by CloudTalk experts.

Key Features

With CloudTalk advanced features, your phone experience will get to a whole new level.

ACD: Automated smart and efficient queue distribution of inbound calls based on all available data to make sure that callers are always directed to the most qualified agent or agent group.

IVR: Create your multi-level interactive voice response (IVR) menu to guide the caller through different options. Make sure they are always directed to the right department, agent or group of agents and that they are receiving relevant information through customized messages.

Call Queuing: Create customized call queues. Inbound calls are sorted in call queues based on pre-defined rules and steered to available agents within the right group. Personalized messages are available as well.

Call Recording: CloudTalk can automatically make a recording of all calls. Once the call ends, you can listen to it directly from your internet browser anywhere and anytime. Improve customer interactions by monitoring your team’s calls.

International Numbers: Acquire international numbers (with geographic or non-geographic codes) from more than 160 countries. Local phone numbers allow customers from abroad to call you at standard local rates or free of charge.

Real-time Customer Card: Your agents can see all caller information displayed in one place. During the phone call, they can instantly look at the client’s history of interactions, orders, chat, or notes. This allows them to deliver top-notch customer service.

Callback: If there are any unanswered phone calls, CloudTalk can automatically call your customers back. A missed call from a customer is registered in the system, which will later dial the customer’s number until the agent and the customer are successfully connected.

Business Hours: Define your business hours and decide when you are available for receiving calls. Outside of these hours, you can choose a special personalized absence message, redirect calls to a different phone number or answering machine or even use various combinations.

What is CloudTalk Missing?

According to our users, CloudTalk Analytics needed remastering in order to give users more precise data. That is why we launched a new version of Analytics with in-depth insights into your calls, including call steps, reasons for missed calls, and much more.

What Type of Business is It Best For?

CloudTalk is the perfect phone system for mid-sized companies looking to grow. Typically, it’s used in sales for outbound calls and in customer service for inbound calls.

Justcall | Most Seamless Calling Experience

JustCall is a cloud phone system that provides businesses with a seamless calling experience. It’s a VoIP solution that offers advanced features and tools to manage customer communications. The company was founded in 2016 and has since grown to serve over 6,000 customers globally.

JustCall’s benefits

Integrates with multiple CRM and helpdesk platforms, including HubSpot, Zendesk, and Freshdesk.

Provides a dedicated mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.

Offers local phone numbers in over 95 countries and enables you to make calls from anywhere in the world.

Allows you to track your team’s performance with real-time analytics and insights.

Key features

Automatic Call Distribution: Route calls to the right agent or team, based on their skill set and availability.

Call Recording: Keep a record of all incoming and outgoing calls.

Call Masking: Protect your agents’ privacy by using JustCall’s masking feature, which replaces their personal phone numbers with a business number.

International Phone Numbers: Get local phone numbers in over 95 countries worldwide.

Conference Calls: Easily add up to 50 participants to a call with JustCall’s conference calling feature.

What is JustCall Missing?

JustCall doesn’t offer some of the more advanced features, such as auto-attendant, call tagging, or skill-based routing. Additionally, while it does offer some integrations with popular CRM platforms, it doesn’t offer as many as some other competitors.

8×8 | Ideal for Startups Just Starting Out

8×8 is an evergreen telephony solution focusing on integrations and analytics. The provider is well-suited for enterprises, but lower-tier subscriptions also work for smaller organizations. There are many benefits 8×8 can offer its subscribers.

8×8′ benefits

First of all, the provider has done a great job building an Analytics system that can effectively track large-scale business processes. 8×8’s reporting system centralizes all data in a single place, so managers can make their teams more organized and speed up their workflow. You’ll also get real-time reports.

Then, we have the solution’s comprehensive integrations with software like Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and many more. Furthermore, 8×8 users get unlimited calling to 40+ countries. 8×8 telephony software comes with a smart dialer, click-to-call, and call recording.

Key features

Call Center Management

IVR

Contact Management

Analytics & Reporting

Call Monitoring

What is 8×8 missing?

If you own a business that works globally, there are a few things about 8×8 you might want to consider:

A crucial restriction, mainly for big international companies, is that there are regional constraints on unlimited calling. Users with the basic Express plan can only use unlimited calling in the US and Canada.  

MS Office is required: You need an office where you want to call to get a number from there. 

Geographical restrictions for SMS: You can only use the SMS feature within the US, and 8×8 does not cover costs for mobile numbers in Brazil.  

Integrations: 8×8 doesn’t partner with telco companies, so users won’t have native integration with specific solutions like Whatsapp. Non-native integrations must be set up by the tech team.

Features: 8×8 lacks features like call tagging for more efficient calling processes, call masking for protecting your personal information, and API for connecting with the tools you love. Automation tools like IVR, skill-based routing, or automated callback come only with high-tier plans. You have to pay extra to get call recording.

Nextiva | Most User-Friendly

Nextiva is a big player in the VoIP market, providing services to more than 15,000 customers. Nextiva is widely regarded as user-friendly — users can start calling within minutes thanks to a simple and intuitive setup process. Furthermore, the system is hosted by Nextiva, which makes maintenance of the software Nextiva’s responsibility.

Nextiva Benefits

Nextiva offers various advanced features, including conference calling, voicemail transcription, multi-level attendant, and much more. The provider also integrates with solutions like Zendesk, ConnectWise or MS Teams.

Nextiva’s HIPAA-compliant virtual faxing makes it a great solution for healthcare workers. Medical employees can share information without having to worry about data breach. 

Furthermore, 24/7 support means agents are always on hand to assist you.

Key Features:

Unlimited Calling

Video Conference Recordings

Mobile & Desktop Apps

Workflow Optimization

Omnichannel Communications

What is Nextiva Missing?

Although Nextiva is a well-known VoIP solution, there are some issues you should know about when considering this provider:

Integrations: Nextiva is missing certain integrations, like Slack or Zapier. With Zapier, users are able to connect your VoIP telephony system with thousands of non-native systems. 

Prices: Many consider Nextiva’s prices high, especially for small businesses.

What Type of Business Is It Best For?

Businesses that need a robust, secure and reliable enterprise phone system that works across every device and comes with advanced features like video conferencing, mobile app, call recording, and more.

Ooma | Best Small-Scale Customer Service Enablement

Ooma is an ideal solution for smaller companies with up to 500 employees or a home phone service. It is mostly used for call logging, alerts, and escalations.

Ooma Benefits

Simple set-up: you can install the phone system without any technical expertise, and it comes pre-configured.

Feature-rich mobile app that is compatible with both iPhones and Android devices.

Ooma’s Virtual Receptionist is a great option for managing calls for your company. You can program a personalized welcome, direct callers to various extensions, or offer a menu of choices that can direct callers to the appropriate party.

Key Features:

Voicemail-to-email forwarding

Caller ID or video conferencing

Desktop and mobile apps for Android and iPhone

What is Ooma Missing?

Although the set-up is very simple, and you can seek assistance from guides or customer support, there is no in-person training involved. Ooma also doesn’t offer predictive dialers and telemarketing management these features speed up your workflow and make your sales efforts much smoother. Ooma lacks reporting and analytics capabilities.

What Type of Business Is It Best For?

Ooma is best for smaller businesses looking for a basic VoIP service.

Phone.com | Great Value

Phone.com is another virtual phone service you don’t often hear about. It’s slowly but surely making a name for itself, though, by providing reliable, affordable, and easy-to-use communication software to its customers. 

With Phone.com, businesses can easily maintain a professional image and stay connected with customers and colleagues from anywhere.

Phone.com’s Benefits:

Phone.com is a cost-effective solution that allows users to save money on phone bills. Additionally, the provider lets users easily manage their accounts, and quickly add/remove phone numbers or users. Finally, Phone.com offers top-notch customer service and support, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a reliable virtual phone service.

Key Features:

Auto-attendants

Voicemail

Call forwarding

Conference calling

Toll-free numbers

Local Numbers

Call Routing

Unlimited Extension Dialing

Call Analytics

Call Blocking

Notification

Routing

Click-to-call

Caller ID

What is Phone.com Missing?

While Phone.com’s features certainly offer plenty to its customers, there’s a catch. Many of its best features are locked behind a paywall. Furthermore, the software has a limited number of possible integrations, making it perhaps not the first choice for those looking for a centralized call center solution.

To get additional tools, companies must upgrade to high-tier plans. Examples of such tools would be voicemail transcription, online voice transmissions, access controls, permissions, and even unlimited minutes.

RingCentral | Best Omnichannel Experience

When you think about VoIP telephony solutions, RingCentral is probably among the first ones that come to your mind. It’s no wonder the company has been on the market for over 20 years and has built quite a reputation for itself. 

RingCentral’s Benefits

RingCentral has a great variety of features and offers HD-quality voice and video. The provider is a good fit for enterprises since it offers an omnichannel experience and lead qualification tools, as well as management, collaboration, and performance features – all in a single software.

Key Features:

SIP Trunking

IVR

Call Recording

Call Routing

Contact Management

What is RingCentral Missing?

Despite all the positives, RingCentral does lack quite a few essential tools that modern businesses require. 

features like native sentiment analytics, Speech-to-Text transcription, smart dialers or Skill-based routing are only included in Contact Centre Solution. The same goes for some agent management features, like monitoring.

The Call recording tool and Toll-free numbers are only available as add-ons, for an additional cost. 

Furthermore, RingCentral’s implementation can take as much as 90 days and involves an implementation fee. 

RingCentral UI is also not always the friendliest to work with.

What Type of Business Is It Best For?

RingCentral MVP is a flexible cloud-based solution which is ideal for businesses of all sizes.

Google Voice | Best Unified Solution

Google Voice has been on the market since 2009. It offers both free and paid versions to customers. Google Voice has many useful features, such as call forwarding, ring groups, and integrations with Google Meet and Google Calendar. The biggest disadvantage of Google Voice is the lack of a desktop application.

Google Voice Benefits:

The free version of Google Voice offers unlimited calling within the US and Canada, which is ideal for companies with a domestic client-base. The provider also includes Call recording as part of all of their plans. Implementation is fairly simple, too: you can be up and running within minutes. Last but not least, Google Voice’s customer support is there for you 24/7.

Key Features:

SIP Link

Unlimited text messaging in US

Google Meet integration

Google Calendar integration

Voicemail transcription

Call forwarding

Multi level auto attendant

Ring Groups

Advanced reporting (BigQuery)

Ad-hoc user call recording

What is Google Voice Missing?

In order to access Google Voice, you must have a US phone number. 

The platform also lacks popular integrations, like Slack or Zapier

Google Voice also has certain feature limitations. You won’t get Toll-free numbers, Smart dialer, Automated Call Distribution, Call monitoring, Contact management, IVR, nor reporting and analytics.

What Type of Business Is It Best For?

Google Voice is best suited to companies that are just starting out. In fact, the provider is often listed as one of the best virtual phone services for small businesses, but all sizes will find something to benefit from.

eVoice | Most Streamlined Experience

eVoice, or eReceptionist in Europe, is a little-known VoIP solution with quite a limited user base. It focuses on a similar group of entrepreneurs and SMBs like Grasshopper. But can it offer something that the other providers can’t?

eVoice Benefits

What customers value most about eVoice is its fairly affordable price point, value for money, and streamlined design, making it easy for anyone to pick up and use.

Key Features

Calling

Screen sharing

Presentation streaming

Automated routing

What is eVoice missing?

This provider comes with its first significant hurdle right from the start – it’s unavailable for European customers. It lacks advanced features, including smart dialerscaller ID, advanced analytics, and 3rd party integrations.

Grasshopper | Great Operational Efficiency

Grasshopper is often the go-to VoIP solution for smaller businesses looking for call center software to streamline their operations worldwide. But is their business model so SMB-friendly? Let’s see.

Grasshopper’s benefits

Set up is simple and takes just a few clicks — no IT degree required. 

The Solo pricing tier is very affordable, even for companies that are just starting. Furthermore, extensions are unlimited after you reach the Small Business service tier. 

There is no need to purchase pricey new equipment. You can run your business from your personal smartphone while keeping it separate from the rest of your life.

Key Features:

Voicemail transcription

Custom greetings

Simultaneous call handling 

What is Grasshopper missing?

However, Grasshopper’s simplicity has a downside: The solution lacks several core VoIP features users may expect, including:

Furthermore, a few users complain that the app could benefit from deeper reporting features.

OpenPhone | Great Global Communications

OpenPhone helps small to large businesses set up international phone lines to manage internal and external global calls or messages. You can handle all your call center interactions while working from anywhere.

Openphone’s benefits

OpenPhone has an intuitive user interface with applications that work on any platform. Features like call recording, customizable IVR, and extensions make OpenPhone a great solution for customer support teams.

OpenPhone features

API

Automated Attendant

Call Center Management

Call Logging

Call Recording

What is OpenPhone missing?

OpenPhone lacks many features essential for sales teams, such as auto dialers, click-to-call, and open API support that can help users expand the range of available integrations. Customers often complain about the low number of apps the software connects with. Additionally, the Standard option only includes calling and messaging the U.S. and Canada.

GoTo Connect | Best for Scale-Ups

GoTo Connect is a frequent go-to choice for scaling businesses. Let’s take a closer look at this VoIP provider’s offering, examine its strengths and weaknesses, and determine whether it delivers on its promises.

GoTo Connect’s Benefits

Seamless integration with other GoTo products for improved communication.

Provides a unified communication solution for remote teams.

Offers an easy-to-use interface for call management and administration.

Provides scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Excellent customer support.

Key Features:

Voice and video calling: Make and receive calls from anywhere.

Screen sharing: Share screens with others to collaborate on documents and presentations.

Virtual meetings: Host and join virtual meetings from any device.

Call management: Manage calls and voicemails through an intuitive interface.

Mobile app: Access GoTo Connect features from a mobile device.

What is GoTo Connect Missing?

GoTo Connect does not provide advanced call center features such as Automatic Call Distribution (ACD), skill-based routing, or smart dialers. It also does not provide local phone numbers for all countries, which may be a disadvantage for some businesses.

What Type of Business Is It Best For?

GoTo Connect is an ideal solution for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a unified communication solution that can support remote teams. It’s also suitable for businesses that need an easy-to-use interface for call management and administration, as well as excellent customer support.

Dialpad | Best Voice Intelligence 

Unless you’re new to the VoIP telephony market, you’ll surely have heard of Dialpad. It’s a reliable, unified telephony solution with simple built-in AI, and advanced analytics. A live chat, phone hotline, and knowledge base make it a great deal for customer support teams.

Dialpad’s Benefits

Dialpad’s main advantages are voice intelligence and uptime between 99% and 100%. You’ll get conference video calls, sentiment analysis, voicemail transcriptions, call tracking metrics, Speech-to-Text for an automatic call recording, and much more. 

With Dialpad, you can call to the US and Canada for free and from anywhere in the world. Inbound and outbound calling within your country is also free of charge. The provider has a modern, well-organized UI, plenty of training videos and a well-built mobile application.

Key Features:

Call Recording

Machine Learning

Call Analysis

Customer Scoring

Call Routing

What is Dialpad Missing?

While Dialpad does offer a Power dialer, it lacks a Smart dialer and a Predictive dialer. The Power dialer feature is limited, as it only works in conjunction with Salesforce. Unlike the CloudTalk app, the Dialpad app only allows users to only dial phone numbers manually. 

The Preferred agent feature only works through API. 

Dialpad also lacks a visual flow editor for its Call flow designer. Furthermore, you can’t send SMS messages outside of the US and Canada, although this feature will soon become available to those in the UK.

The provider offers a pretty limited integration stack, and Voicemail drop comes only with Dialpad Sell.

What Type of Business Is It Best For?

Any size of sales organization looking to drive agent efficiency and speed up ramp times.

Amplify Human Potential

CloudTalk’s AI-powered insights save you hours of work every week. Automate processes, identify customer preferences and assess the effectiveness of your CX strategies easily. Leverage AI to truly get to know your business.

Amplify Human Potential

CloudTalk’s AI-powered insights save you hours of work every week. Automate processes, identify customer preferences and assess the effectiveness of your CX strategies easily. Leverage AI to truly get to know your business.

Plans worth every dollar

Boost Your Startup’s Performance

Save with VoIP Solutions

Empower remote work, save on call costs and complex installations. Enjoy advanced features and 3rd party integrations for the best customer experience.

Accelerate with Click-to-Call

Dial any number from sites, databases, or CRMs with one click. Our extension makes any phone number clickable, streamlining your communication.

Analyze Operations Easily

Monitor call center activities in real-time. Access crucial info anywhere, ensuring your data is always current across all devices.

FAQs

What business phone system is right for startups?

Choosing the right business phone system is crucial for startups as it sets the foundation for effective communication and customer service. When evaluating phone systems, VoIP, or different solutions for communication for startups, consider the following factors:
1. Scalability: A business phone system that offers scalability is essential for startups as they grow and expand. Look for solutions that can easily accommodate increasing call volumes and adapt to changing business needs.
2. Cost-effectiveness: Startups often have limited budgets, so it’s important to choose a phone system that offers affordable pricing plans and doesn’t require significant upfront investments. Cloud-based phone systems, like CloudTalk, are a popular choice as they offer cost-effective subscription models without compromising on features.
3. Features and functionality: Identify the key features and functionality that are important for your startup’s communication needs. This may include call routing, voicemail, call analytics, CRM integration, and more. CloudTalk offers a wide range of features designed to enhance productivity and customer service.

What is a PBX phone system?

PBX (Private Branch Exchange) phone system is a telephony system used by businesses to manage incoming and outgoing calls. It serves as the central hub for routing and connecting calls within an organization. With a PBX system, businesses can have multiple extensions, transfer calls, set up voicemail, and implement various call handling features.

What is a VoIP phone system?

A VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system is a technology that allows voice communication to be transmitted over the Internet instead of traditional phone lines. It enables businesses to make and receive calls using an internet connection, providing cost savings and flexibility. VoIP phone systems offer a wide range of features, such as call routing, voicemail, call recording, and integration with other business tools. Learn more about the differences between PBX and VoIP.

How much does a VoIP phone system cost for a small business?

The cost of a VoIP phone system for small businesses can vary depending on the features and services offered. A small business can expect to pay between $20 and $50 per user per month for a VoIP phone system. However, it is important to consider the value of features and potential savings compared to a traditional phone system. To learn more about VoIP phone system pricing, read our article.

What should I look for in a small business phone system?

There are several factors to consider when looking for a small business phone system. Look for scalability, flexibility, and call management options. Consider the reliability and customer support offered by the provider and choose the best provider for your needs.

What are PBX systems for small businesses?

A PBX system, or Private Branch Exchange, is a type of phone system that allows businesses to manage incoming and outgoing calls. It includes features such as call forwarding, call waiting, and voicemail and advanced features such as auto-attendants and call recording. What are the benefits for small businesses?

CloudTalk is a data-driven solution for exceptional customer experience and intelligence is a key part of it.

Schedule a demo today and find out for yourself.