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The Best 5 OpenPhone Alternatives for Small Businesses

November 28, 2022
phone system for small business
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What is OpenPhone?

OpenPhone is a calling app that is designed for small scale businesses and start-ups. The company was founded in 2018 and is situated in California. OpenPhone is available in both Android and iOS systems. OpenPhone lets their customers get a new number or use their current number. Features like text messaging, call recording, call routing, etc are available on their platform. This VoIP number provider connects through their customers WiFi or mobile data. No additional installation or hardware is required. OpenPhone can be integrated with HubSpot and Zapier and allows their users to make international calls and send group messages among teammates along with sharing and syncing information within the organization.

OpenPhone Pricing

Source : OpenPhone pricing on www.OpenPhone.co on the 11/28/2022

OpenPhone offers 3 monthly plans: a Standard plan priced at $10 per user, a Premium plan priced at $25 per user and a customized Enterprise plan. The Standard plan includes basic features like unlimited calling within the USA and Canada, group messaging and call recording but for features like call transfers and analytics, you will need to upgrade to the Premium plan. International calling is billed additionally at a per minute or per message rate irrespective of the plan. You can also get a second number at an additional fee.

Why move away from OpenPhone?

You need a more complete solution

OpenPhone targets very small businesses and individual entrepreneurs. It defines itself as a viable alternative to Google Voice, which is more geared towards personal use rather than professional. OpenPhone lacks many essential features to effectively manage customer support, even for very small companies calls such as, live call listening, or direct integration with popular CRMs and ecommerce software. There are many alternatives on the market that offer these features for businesses.

Pros: OpenPhone is easy-to-use once installed.

Cons: OpenPhone is not efficient in managing customer calls and lacks most essential features, they aren't really cost-effective.

You need more affordable pricing

At $10 per month per user, OpenPhone is a very attractive option and could be sufficient for some individual entrepreneurs. However, companies should consider an alternative. OpenPhone offers a $25 per month per user plan, which adds some additional features, but they are quite limited in managing customer calls efficiently. Most companies with 2 to 3 employees should choose a package with more features to better manage their customers' calls.

Pros: OpenPhone does provide call distribution for companies

Cons: Business features are only included in the upper plan that can end up being quite expensive with several users. There are other solutions on the market that would offer more comprehensive plans at a similar price.

You need something easy to use and set up

When it comes to business, communications can get easily complicated. However, your business communication system doesn't have to be a complex one. This is why you need to go for an easy to setup calling app.

If you are looking for an easy to setup cloud phone, OpenPhone might not be the phone system for you. For example, configuring the app's auto-attended menu, with its submenus, makes set up unnecessarily complicated.

In addition, their call forwarding options are limited compared to the competitors. The platform only supports call forwarding to the US, Canadian numbers. If you have customers from the European region, you may end up missing callbacks from potential customers.

Do you actually need one phone number per user?

Openphone is designed for teams that require one phone number per user. The system has been designed for internal teams to collaborate and work together in a better way.

Most small and medium companies who are looking for a phone system to manage their customer calls just need one company phone number that routes or forwards calls to the relevant team member. This is where Quicktalk comes to play.

Quicktalk is a phone system designed to manage customer calls. With Quicktalk, you can use the company's phone for outbound calls. That way, when a customer misses your call, the company's number will be displayed for them. When they return the call, they will be calling your landline, not the specific employee or department that tried reaching the customer. This way you can make sure that, even if the employee is not available to attend the line, you won't miss a call.

The advantages of using a phone system provided by a telecommunication operator

Openphone systems, like Aircall and other most business communication system providers are plugged to a third-party operator (like Twilio for instance) that handles calls and all the telecommunication services. In short, Openphone is just a software provider that relies on third-party telecom lines and services.

As opposed to Openphone, Quicktalk is a telecommunication service provider. Unlike other service providers, Quicktalk manages their own global telecommunication network. Quicktalk's infrastructure is directly plugged into the major telecommunication operators like Verizon or Colt without getting any technical third-party operators involved in the process.

You might ask yourself, what difference does it make? Let's find out:

Faster tech support

This means that when you're having a call or a quality issue and notice Openphone tech support, they will not be able to find the problem and fix the issue themselves. They will have to open a ticket with Twilio customer support and wait for their answer. On the other hand, when you report an issue to the Quicktalk's customer support, our technical team can directly check infrastructures and solve problems faster with full transparency.

Better call quality

Being directly plugged with the telecom providers ensures the best possible call quality. Our telecom engineers are working hand in hand with national and international telecommunication operators to provide crystal-clear call quality every day.

Infrastructure's cost is lower

Not using a third-party service provider for telecommunications generates substantial savings on the communications cost. That way, Quicktalk can offer unlimited calling to more destinations at a much lower price.

Portability is managed better

As a telecom service provider, Quicktalk directly provides and manages phone numbers. We have an internal team entirely dedicated to portability to proactively get the administrative process clean and quick. Companies like Openphone can't manage portability procedures themselves, they use third party API to manage phone numbers. They have to make portability requests to their service providers for you and then wait. That way, portability issues happen more often and delays are effectively longer.

Top 5 Alternatives to OpenPhone

Are you looking for a better option than OpenPhone? Compare the other solutions on the market to select the best tool for your small or medium-sized businesses. Below, you will find a review of the competitors in terms of price, features, and ease of use:

Alternative #1: Quicktalk

If you are looking for an alternative to OpenPhone, Quicktalk can be one of best bets. From a basic business phone line to advanced call center features, Quicktalk has got everything you are looking for from a communication solution partner.

The platform is easy to install and is perfect for small and medium-sized businesses. From unlimited calls to a simple call management system, Quicktalk offers everything that you need to improve the caller experience.

The platform offers two packages offering unlimited inbound and outbound calls to 36 countries including:

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Italy
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
  • The United States and more

The all-in-one Quicktalk plans allow you to make unlimited international calls from any local number along with videoconferencing and texting.

Pricing

Quicktalk offers a simple yet all-in-one pricing plan with unlimited calling at 19$/month (up to 3 users).

Why Choose Quicktalk

  • Unlimited calls: Even with the basic package, you get to make unlimited domestic as well as international calls along with text messaging facilities.
  • Easy to set up: Quicktalk is easy to set up on your computers and smartphones. You can also easily integrate the platform with your existing CRM.
  • Centralized phone system: With Quicktalk you can manage calling, texting, videoconferencing using one platform that is designed to meet the communication needs of a small business.

Alternative #2: Grasshopper

A cloud-based business communication platform, Grasshopper allows you to add a business phone line and virtual number to your smart phones and computers. You can have one or more numbers as well as several extensions so that your employees can have their own phone lines.

Grasshopper lets you set customized greetings that help direct the callers to the right department. Their services also include a live virtual receptionist and voice-mail-to-text transcription.

Pricing

They offer three different packages starting from $26 per month. Their premium plan is priced at $80 per month and the plans will be billed annually.

Why Choose Grasshopper

  • Desktop and mobile apps: You can use the app both on your desktop and phone allowing you to take calls from anywhere anytime.
  • Business texting: You can send and receive texts from your business phone
  • Professional greeting: You can set up custom greetings that make your caller feel welcomed.

Alternative #3: Google Voice

Google Voice is a call management software that offers all the functions of a regular phone and more. Like all the cloud-based virtual phone numbers, you can install the application on your phone and computers. The platform comes with features such as voicemail, texting and transcription of voicemails.

Pricing

There are three plans you can choose from starting at $10 per user/per month for up to 10 users. If you need a plan with unlimited domestic calls, choose the one with $20 per user/month. At $30 per user/per month you can avail unlimited domestic as well as international calling features.

Why Choose Google Voice

  • Easy to use: The solution is easy to use and is fit for businesses of any size
  • Block Spammers: The application makes use of an AI to identify and block spam callers
  • Auto-attended: Setup multi level auto-attendants easily

Alternative #4: Skype

Skype is an application that lets you make video calls, send chats and text messages as well as share photos and videos. The application can be installed on phones, laptops and tablets making it easier for users to attend calls anytime anywhere.

Pricing

Skype to Skype calls are absolutely free and you need to pay only if you are planning to make calls to landline or mobile phones. The pricing ranges between $3.59 and $9.59 per month for limited plans depending on the number of minutes and destinations you are planning to call.

Why Choose Skype

  • Free Call: You get to make Skype to Skype calls for absolutely free
  • Use On Multidevice: You can use the app on your smartphones, tablets and computers
  • Screen Sharing: Easily share your screen with other participants in a Skype to Skype call.

Alternative #5: magicJack​​

A VoIP based phone, magicJack allows users to make local and international calls. The international calling destinations include Canada. Using the app you can make conference calls, send eFax and enable DND (Do Not Disturb). Number porting option is also available with magicJack.

Pricing

If you are using just one phone number, magicJack will cost you $39 per year. Additional prepaid calling credits need to be purchased if you wish to make international calls.

Why Choose magicJack?

  • Free magicJack to magicJack calls: No need to pay if you are only using for magicJack to magicJack calls.
  • Do Not Disturb (DND) feature: You can activate the DND feature if you do not wish to receive any calls.
  • Unlimited US and CA Calling: Call any number in the USA and Canada for free.

OpenPhone Alternatives FAQs

How much does OpenPhone cost?

OpenPhone offers 2 VoIP plans: a Standard and a Premium plan priced at $10 and $25 per user per month and an Enterprise plan that can be customized to the organization's needs. The Standard and Premium plans offer a single local or toll-free number, unlimited calls within the USA and Canada, voicemail transcriptions, call recording, auto-replies and slack integration.

Who are the top OpenPhone competitors?

OpenPhone has many other U.S. based competitors that offer cloud communication solutions like business phone systems, call center solutions, video calling, etc. OpenPhone is generally compared to Quicktalk, Skype or magicJack that provide similar features.

Top 5 OpenPhone competitors

1: Quicktalk

2: Grasshopper

3: Google Voice

4: Skype

5: magicJack

What is the best alternative to OpenPhone?

OpenPhone might not be the best option for a small or medium-sized business. Quicktalk's monthly plan may be a better choice. It is all-inclusive and budget-friendly for businesses of all sizes.

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