Ooma vs Grasshopper: Which one is the best for your business?

October 10, 2023

Prepare for an epic clash: Ooma vs. Grasshopper. Determine the supreme communication solution for your business. Let the duel commence!

Say hello to Ooma: Your full-fledged business communication answer. Ooma features VoIP services, communication hardware, and monthly plans with extras like international calling and voice-to-text. Delight in 50+ features, including call forwarding and virtual faxes.

Emerging from the opposing corner, we have Grasshopper: Your economical professional phone choice. Perfect for entrepreneurs and small businesses, it features unlimited USA and Canada calls/texts, call queue management, extensions, and more. Plans structured by phone and extension numbers.

Compare Ooma and Grasshopper plans and features

How many users do you need?

	Ooma	Grasshopper
Pick up plan
Price for users	/month	/month
Channels
Key features
Support Channel
Pros and Cons
Best For

Fewer add-ons but more value for money with Ooma

Priced at $19.95 per user per month, the Ooma Essentials plan gives small businesses the ability to leverage VoIP services and access 50+ features. This includes voicemail, ring groups, virtual receptionists and call forwarding.

The Ooma Pro plan has a monthly subscription of $24.95 per user. This upgrade gives businesses access to all the features of the Essentials plan and other add-on features such as call recording and voicemail transcriptions.

In addition to the features of the Pro plan, businesses can access services like integration to Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 and hot desking by upgrading to the Pro+ plan. This plan is priced at $29.95 per user per month.

Ooma starter plans may look cheaper than Grasshopper but a closer comparison of features is required before making a choice.

Entrepreneurs can benefit from the Grasshopper True Solo and Solo Plus plans. For a mere $16 per month, the True Solo subscription unlocks access to a suite of services via 1 extension (or 3 with Solo Plus).

Businesses requiring more extensions can opt for the Partner plan, which includes 3 phone numbers and 6 extensions.

Selecting the Small Business plan provides subscribers with 5 phone numbers and unlimited extensions.

A step-by-step comparison between Ooma and Grasshopper

To help you find what solution fits best your need between Zoom Phone and Ringcentral, we have conducted an unbiased comparison based on 8 criterias:

#1 Manage your office calls : How will you handle calls while at the office? Can you use computer-based calls or do you require an office phone?

#2 Manage your calls on the go: Does it offer a mobile app with VoIP calls? Do you need to set up call forwarding to your mobile device?

#3 Auto-attendant : Can you easily distribute calls to your team?

#4 Greetings Management : Can you set up company greetings on your own? How easy is it to create and manage announcements?

#5 Call Tracking : How easy is it to monitor your business calls?

#6 Call recording : Can you record and listen to calls?

#7 Call billing : How much does it cost to make and receive calls? Is everything included?

#8 Activation : How easy is it to activate a phone number and set up your phone system?

COMPARE

Manage Your Office Calls
Manage Your Calls On The Go
Auto-attendant
Greetings Management
Call Tracking
Call recording
Call billing
Activation

#1 Manage Your Office Calls

Limited device support for in-office use holds Grasshopper back

Apart from an IP deskphone, Pro and Pro+ subscribers can also use a desktop app to access Ooma services.

On the lines of Ooma plans, all Grasshopper subscribers can access their accounts and handle calls from a desktop app.

#2 Manage Your Calls On The Go

Uninterrupted connectivity with Ooma and Grasshopper mobile apps

Out-of-office calls can be handled through an Ooma app for android and iOS devices.

Mobile connectivity is comparable for Ooma and Grasshopper subscribers.

Users can stay connected through a Grasshopper for Android and iOS devices.

#3 Auto-attendant

Virtual receptionist services available with all Ooma and Grasshopper plans

Incoming calls can be routed through a virtual receptionist. Users can customize multi-level menus as required.

Though Grasshopper does not include the same call routing options as Ooma, alternatives are available. Incoming calls can be greeted and routed by an add-on Ruby receptionist service pack.

#4 Greetings Management

Grasshopper plays more influential role for branding with access to professional voice recording artists

Ooma subscribers can customize virtual receptionist greetings for all incoming calls.

Step 1. Sign in to the Ooma dashboard as admin and navigate to settings.

Step 2. Set your business hours schedule.

Step 3. Type your greetings and select the text to speech option or upload a recording.

Like Ooma subscribers, Grasshopper users can upload a prerecorded greeting to record a new greeting through the phone/ computer. Grasshopper also has an option to get greetings recorded professionally.

#5 Call Tracking

Comparative call management services but Ooma gains a slim lead for easier follow-ups

All Ooma plans include call log reports and voicemail. By reading through individual and team call log reports on their dashboards, supervisors can assess their team’s productivity. If needed, these files can be exported as CSV files. To minimize the risk of missing out on a voicemail, all voicemails are forwarded to email inboxes. Supervisors can also initiate three-way calls with customers. However, typical call monitoring features such as call listening, call whispering and call barges are not included in any Ooma plans.

Pro and Pro+ plan subscribers can access voicemail transcriptions for quicker prioritization.

Ooma and Grasshopper have similar call monitoring capabilities. Grasshopper does not include live call monitoring in any of its plans. Instead, supervisors can assess individual and team productivity through reports on call analytics. This includes data on duration of calls, call types, etc. They can also read transcribed voicemail messages. These messages are accessible from user email inboxes for easier access and quicker responses. In addition, though supervisors cannot initiate joining live calls, agents can forward calls to supervisors.

#6 Call Recording

Absence of call recording facility holds Grasshopper back

Essential plan subscribers cannot record calls. However, Pro and Pro+ subscribers can record all incoming and outgoing calls.

Selective availability of call recording gives Ooma an advantage over Grasshopper. It is not possible to record calls handled by Grasshopper subscribers.

#7 Call Billing

International calling capability puts Grasshopper in the lead

You can make as many calls as you want within the USA. To make international calls, you will need an add-on international calling pack or your calls will be billed at per minute rates.

Unlike Ooma, Grasshopper subscribers do not need add-on packs for international calling.

Grasshopper subscribers can call numbers in most parts of the USA and Canada without additional billing. However international calls are billed additionally. For example, calls to Spanish numbers starting with 34 are billed at a 3¢ per minute rate.

#8 Activation

Marginal differences between Ooma and Grasshopper setup processes

Businesses can get new business numbers or port their existing number to Ooma. This feature is included in all plans. Users can then make and receive calls and access all Ooma services from IP or analog phones, smartphone apps for Android and iOS devices and chrome extensions for laptops and desktops. The Pro and Pro+ plans also include access to a desktop app for MAC and Windows devices. If required, subscribers can buy Wifi and IP phones from the Ooma website.

Like Ooma, creating a Grasshopper account is easy. You can do so online by porting your current number or choosing a new number. Once the account is created, settings can be customized from the dashboard. You can then use these services from a smartphone or desktop app. Your device must have a working internet connection. Supported landlines can also be set up to make and receive calls with a Grasshopper account.