2024’s Top 11 Cloud-Based Telephony Solutions: Your Ultimate Guide

82% of businesses reduced costs after moving to the cloud. However, to achieve these savings, you need to carefully choose a cloud-based telephony solution that meets your business needs.

In this article, we’ll help you to make this decision easily by exploring the top providers, their features, pricing, and what makes them stand out.

Key takeaways:

• By understanding the general landscape of cloud-based telephony solutions, you can make informed decisions based on your business needs.
• Selecting the ideal provider involves considering factors like integration capabilities, cost, and security.
• Prioritizing providers that offer scalable solutions and flexible pricing structures ensures long-term viability and minimizes the need for frequent transitions.

Top 11 Cloud-Based Telephony Solution Providers

The VoIP market is projected to grow from $134.86 billion in 2023 to $151.21 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.1%. 

As a result, it’s evident that more solutions are emerging in the market each day, making it challenging to choose the right one. 

Therefore, let’s explore the top 11 cloud-based telephony solution providers, each with unique advantages. We’ll examine their key features, pros, cons, and pricing to help you find the best fit for your business.

#1 Cloudtalk

It has been awarded the G2 Best Software Award 2024 in the “Top 50 Best Customer Service Software” category. Its integrated analytics empower managers, making it a go-to for customer service and sales teams.

Key Features

• 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.
• Call Flow Designer: Customizing your call flow allows you to create a system that perfectly fits your needs. With over 20 routing options, you can design a tailored inbound calling process for your business. 
• Smart Dialer: It lets you scan websites, CRMs, and HelpDesks for phone numbers and add them to your queue with a click.
• Number porting: It allows you to keep your existing numbers and preserve your identity by porting numbers from 50 countries, including local, national, mobile, and toll-free options.

Pros

• Ease of setup and use.
• 24/7 customer support.
• Great call quality.
• Integration with popular CRMs such as Pipedrive, HubSpot, and Salesforce.

Cons 

• Inability to resize window during a call.
• Limited video features, as it primarily focuses on voice calling.

Best For

Mid-sized companies looking to grow

Pricing

Starts at $25/user per month.

#2 RingCentral

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

RingCentral stands out as a VoIP provider due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of setup, and robust feature set. 

Key Features

• Advanced Analytics and Reporting.
• Mobile app.
• Call Recording.
• Call Routing.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use
• Support for mobile and remote workforce.
• HD-quality voice and video.
• Numerous integrations available.

Cons 

• Strict contract policies.
• Lack of customization for conference call greeting messages.
• Limited customer support.
• The system’s flexibility and extensive features can lead to user errors.

Best For

Businesses of all sizes.

Pricing

Starts at $20/user per month.

#3 Vonage

Vonage is among the best-known cloud-based telephony providers in the world. It has been in the business for over twenty years and has established an enviable reputation as a market leader. 

Key Features

• Voicemail to email.
• Auto-attendant.
• Desktop App.
• Voice and video conferencing.

Pros

• Virtual receptionist feature: It automatically forwards calls to different departments.
• High-quality call features.
• Call routing options: For example, callers can use their name or an extension to dial.
• Integration with third-party apps.

Cons 

• It charges significantly more than similar virtual phone software providers.
• Limited support.
• It may not offer the necessary scalability or flexibility.
• Some features, like call queuing and on-demand call recording, require additional fees, which can increase the overall cost of the service.

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses. It is particularly effective for companies with at least 20 users. 

Pricing

Starting at $13.99 per line per month, plus $0.03/minute for outbound calls.

#4 Zoom Phone

Zoom Phone is a cloud-based business phone system offered by Zoom Video Communications that allows users to manage calls on various devices, including desk phones, computers, and mobile phones.

It is a native product within the Zoom platform, integrating with other Zoom tools such as Meetings, Chat, and video conferencing, to provide a unified communications solution.

Key Features

• Zoom Mobile and Desktop App.
• Call recording and transcription.
• Call transfer.
• Call forwarding.

Pros

• It is one of the cheapest VoIP services.
• A solid set of features for inbound and outbound calls.
• HD call quality.
• User-friendly interface and ease of use.

Cons

• Live support access is reserved for the most premium licenses.
• Limited integration capabilities.
• While it’s budget-friendly, certain additional features are expensive (e.g., fax).
• Features are more restricted compared to Zoom meetings. 

Best For

Small businesses and those with limited budgets.

Pricing

Starts at $13,32/user per month (1-9 users). From 10 users, it costs $18,32/user per month.

#5 Dialpad

Since its inception in 2011, Dialpad has provided services to tens of thousands of business teams, Dialpad. It’s a reliable, unified cloud-based calling solution with simple built-in AI and advanced analytics.

Key Features

• Call recording.
• 24/7 customer support.
• Call analysis.
• Fully integrated caller ID.

Pros

• Ease of use.
• Voice intelligence and uptime between 99% and 100%.
• Modern UI, ample training videos, and a robust mobile app.
• Free calls to the US and Canada from anywhere globally.

Cons 

• You can’t send SMS outside the United States, Canada, the UK, and Australia.
• Limited integration stack.
• While Dialpad does offer a Power dialer, it lacks a Smart dialer.
• It also lacks a visual flow editor for its Call flow designer.

Best For

Larger organizations and those with complex call center operations. 

Pricing

Starting at $15 per month.

#6 8×8

8×8 has provided cloud-based business communications and customer experience solutions since 1987. It offers a unified platform integrating contact center capabilities, voice, video, chat, and APIs. 8×8 is known for high-quality, budget-friendly VoIP services.

Key Features

• AI-powered tools, such as automated call routing and voicemail-to-text transcription
• Video conferencing.
• Omni-channel analytics.
• Workforce engagement management.

Pros

• It offers a range of features.
• Excellent customer service.
• User-friendly.
• High-quality video conferencing capabilities.

Cons 

• The Android mobile app has been criticized for its lack of user-friendliness and poor call quality.
• Advanced contact center queue features require advanced licenses.
• Some users have struggled with setting up extensions and navigating the system.

Best For

Businesses of all sizes

Pricing

Not explicit on their website

#7 Aircall

Aircall is an advanced calling solution used by 17,000+ clients. It’s designed to speed up sales processes, boost communication with prospects, and close more deals. You can automatically dial multiple prospects in a back-to-back queue and surface crucial contact information directly within the phone interface.

Key Features

• Automatic Call Distribution.
• Call transfer.
• Call recording. 
• Call monitoring.

Pros

• Easy  VoIP setup for small businesses.
• Integration with other tools.
• High level of customization available, including setting ringtones, and audio playback.
• ​​Users have reported positive experiences with Aircall’s customer support.

Cons

• Lacks some essential video calling features.
• Webinar hosting and screen-sharing capabilities are limited. 
• Some users have noted that the mobile app does not have all the same features as the desktop version.

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses

Pricing

Starting from $30/user per month.

#8 Nextiva

Nextiva is a big player in the VoIP market, providing services to more than 100,000 customers. It 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.

Key Features

• Mobile & Desktop Apps.
• Video Conference Recordings.
• Workflow Optimization.
• Unlimited Calling.

Pros

• 24/7 support.
• It offers advanced features, including conference calling, voicemail transcription, multi-level attendant, etc. 
• Virtual faxing: Ideal for healthcare professionals to share information securely.
• The provider also integrates with solutions like Zendesk, ConnectWise, or MS Teams.

Cons 

• Integration limitations.
• It is missing certain integrations, like Slack or Zapier. 
• Many consider Nextiva’s prices high, especially for small businesses.
• Some users have reported that the implementation process can be time-consuming.

Best For

Small to medium-sized businesses

Pricing

Starts at $18.95/user per month.

#9 Goto Connect

GoTo Connect is a cloud-based telephony solution known for its comprehensive features, scalability, and affordability. It combines voice, video, and messaging into one platform, offering customizable call routing, integration with popular business apps, and advanced video conferencing. 

Key Features

• Unlimited call routing.
• Multi-Level auto attendants.
• Advanced reporting and analytics.
• SMS functionality.

Pros

• Comprehensive set of features and tools.
• 24/7 customer support.
• The admin panel is user-friendly and simplifies back-office processes.

Cons 

• Some users have noted that the experience between the desktop and mobile apps is not consistent.
• The reporting and analytics features of GoTo Connect have been described as basic.
• A couple of users have mentioned that the onboarding process could be improved.

Best For

Small to midsize businesses

Pricing

Not explicit on their website

#10 Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a cloud-based telephony solution designed for small businesses. It allows users to make and receive calls, send and receive texts, and manage voicemail using a desktop or mobile app

Key Features

• Call forwarding to any device.
• Voicemail Transcription.
• Custom Greetings.
• Simultaneous Call Handling.

Pros

• Easy to set up and use.
• There is no need to purchase pricey new equipment. 
• Unlimited calling and texting in North America.

Cons 

• Lacks core features users may expect, including Call Recording, Power Dialers, and even Click-to-call.
• Limited integration.

Best For

Small businesses and solopreneurs

Pricing

Starting at $14/user per month.

#11 Google Voice

Google Voice Google Voice is a cloud-based telephony solution from Google Cloud that provides businesses of all sizes with a user-friendly and scalable way to manage phone communications. It offers a range of features,  and it lets users make domestic and international calls, send SMS messages, and manage voicemail from web browsers and mobile devices.

Key Features

• Call forwarding.
• Multi-Level auto attendant.
• SMS and voicemail management.
• Ring groups.

Pros

• Integration with Google Workspace.
• Competitive rates for international calls.
• Unlimited calling within the US and Canada.

Cons 

• Limited Integration, as it only integrates with other Google apps.
• It is only available in the US and Canada.
• Lack of advanced collaboration features, such as auto-replies and shared access.

Best For

Small and medium-sized businesses.

Pricing

Starting from $10/user per month.

How to Choose the Right Cloud-Based Telephony Solution

With so many choices out there, picking the right cloud-based telephony solution can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry! Consider these key aspects, and you’ll find the perfect fit for your business:

• Integration capabilities: Check if the provider offers seamless integrations with your existing workflow tools and popular CRMs.
• Cost: Review the pricing plans of the different providers to find the one that aligns with your budget. Look for providers that offer scalable programs and reasonable discounts for long-term contracts.
• Reliability and uptime: Analyze the provider’s reputation and customer testimonials to ensure uptime and minimal downtime. Moreover, ensure the provider’s infrastructure is reliable and they perform regular maintenance to avoid any potential issues.
• Security: Choose a provider that offers robust data security measures to prevent data breaches, such as top-notch call encryption for extra security.
• Compliance: Ensure that the provider complies with industry regulations such as STIR/SHAKEN and MAN.
• Support: Evaluate how good the provider’s customer service is, especially when it comes to fixing problems and answering technical questions. Verify if the provider offers continuous support and maintenance to minimize downtime.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as you explore the top cloud-based telephony solutions, remember that each option offers unique features and benefits tailored to various business needs. 

Whether you’re aiming to boost sales, enhance customer satisfaction, or streamline internal communications, there’s an option for you. 

By carefully evaluating factors such as integration capabilities, pricing, and reliability, you can find the solution that best aligns with your business needs and preferences.

Ready to see Cloudtalk in action? Request a demo today.