VoIP providers
VoIP providers help you make and receive calls across the Internet – to and from regular mobiles and landlines. This makes it easy for solo entrepreneurs, micro-businesses, and small call-center teams to look professional while keeping costs low.
Below you’ll find a detailed, objective comparison of Sonetel with other leading VoIP providers, so you can choose the service that best fits your needs today and as you grow.
Pricing and Plan Structure
Pricing varies widely across the different VoIP providers. From Sonetel’s pay-as-you-go option at $0 per month to fully featured unified-communications suites that cost $30–$45 per user and month.
- Sonetel
Basic plan costs $0 per user (pay-as-you-go). Premium costs $9.95 /user (annual) and includes free outbound calls to 40+ countries, plus AI summaries. - Zoom Phone
Metered plan costs $10 /user (pay per minute). Unlimited US/Canada plan; $15; Global Select plan; $25 with 48-country unlimited calling. - Google Voice
Starter plan; $10 /user. Premier plan; $30 /user with unlimited domestic calls; international rates are paid per minute. - RingCentral
Core plan; $20+ /user (annual) up to Ultra; $45+ /user; rich PBX and Unified Communications features. - Grasshopper
Flat plans; $31–$89 per account (not per user) with unlimited US/Canada calling. - 8×8 X Series
X2 plan; $24 /user (14-country unlimited); X4 plan; $44 /user (47-country unlimited). - Vonage Business
Mobile plan; $20, Premium; $30, Advanced; $40 /user; minute bundles available for 80+ countries.
VoIP providers: Side-by-Side Feature Overview
| Provider | Pricing | Calling Features | Phone Numbers | Ease of Use | Notable Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonetel | Numbers from $1.79 /mo; Premium $9.95 /user (annual) incl. free calls to 40+ countries; pay-as-you-go possible without a number. | Voice, forwarding, IVR, recording, SMS, AI call & voicemail summaries. | Local & toll-free numbers in 80+ countries; SIP trunking available. | 5-minute signup; iOS, Android & web apps; SIP desk-phone support. | AI follow-up email drafts, sentiment scoring, generous free international minutes. |
| Zoom Phone | $10–$25 /user (metered, US/CA, or 48-country unlimited). | Voice, SMS, recording, auto-attendant, AI Companion summaries. | Local numbers in 40+ countries; BYO carrier. | Uses familiar Zoom desktop & mobile apps. | Tight Zoom Meetings & Chat integration. |
| Google Voice | $10–$30 /user; unlimited domestic, metered intl. | Voice, SMS, voicemail transcription (no auto recording on basic tier). | U.S. plus limited EU numbers (Premier). | Simple web & mobile apps; integrated with Workspace. | Spam filtering, Google AI voicemail transcripts. |
| RingCentral | $20–$45+ /user (annual); multi-level UC platform. | Full PBX, queues, video, chat, AI receptionist. | 100+ countries (local & toll-free). | Robust apps; wide IP-phone ecosystem. | 400+ CRM & help-desk integrations. |
| Grasshopper | $31–$89 / account (US/CA unlimited). | Voice, SMS, forwarding, basic IVR. | US & Canada numbers only. | Easy mobile & desktop apps. | No call recording; very simple set-up. |
| 8×8 X Series | X2 $24 /user; X4 $44 /user (47-country unlimited). | UCaaS + contact center, analytics, HD video. | Numbers in 100+ countries; 40+ native PSTN. | Powerful apps; Teams & IP-phone friendly. | AI conversation intelligence (higher tiers). |
| Vonage Business | $20–$40 /user; intl minute bundles available. | Voice, SMS, video, recording, virtual assistant. | 80+ countries (local & toll-free). | User-friendly apps; BYOD IP-phones. | Large integration library; Vonage API platform. |
Virtual Numbers and International Reach
Need a number in another city or country? Sonetel, RingCentral, and 8×8 offer the broadest coverage (80–100+ countries). Zoom and Vonage cover many regions, while Google Voice and Grasshopper are largely North-America-centric. For entrepreneurs operating internationally—or wanting to appear local to customers abroad—Sonetel’s low-cost global numbers are particularly attractive.
Call Handling and Productivity Features
Every provider here supports call forwarding and voicemail, but depth varies:
- Sonetel
IVR menus, call recording, AI summaries, and suggested follow-up emails—included on the $9.95 plan. - Zoom Phone
Auto-attendants, SMS, call recording, and real-time AI Companion summaries. - RingCentral & 8×8
Full PBX with queues, barge/monitor, analytics, plus video and chat. - Google Voice
Basic business calling with voicemail transcription; auto-attendant only on higher tiers. - Grasshopper
Simple second-line service—no recording or advanced analytics. - Vonage Business
Call recording, spam blocking, AI-based virtual receptionist.
Apps and Device Support
All services provide iOS, Android, and desktop apps. RingCentral, 8×8, Vonage, Sonetel, and Zoom support standard SIP desk phones; Grasshopper does not. If you plan to keep traditional IP handsets on desks—or run a small call center—factor this in.
International Calling Costs
Frequent overseas calling? Sonetel’s Premium plan includes free outbound calls to 40+ destinations, while 8×8’s X4 covers 47 countries. Zoom’s Global plan, Vonage bundles, and RingCentral’s optional packs are solid alternatives. Google Voice and Grasshopper rely on pay-per-minute rates outside their domestic zones.
Integrations and AI-Powered Advantages
RingCentral leads in out-of-the-box integrations (400+), with 8×8 and Vonage close behind. Zoom integrates neatly with Salesforce, HubSpot, and Slack. Sonetel emphasizes a straightforward API and SIP trunking rather than countless pre-built connectors, focusing its R&D on AI-driven productivity: call summaries, action-item extraction, sentiment scores, and drafted follow-up emails—capabilities that would have required expensive contact-center software only a few years ago.
Key Takeaways
- Best overall value for micro-businesses
Sonetel—rock-bottom entry price, global numbers, built-in AI. - Unified communications suite
RingCentral or Zoom Phone. - Simplest second line
Grasshopper. - Rich integrations with minute bundles
Vonage. - International sales or support teams
8×8 X4 for wide unlimited calling coverage.
Where you land ultimately depends on budget, geographic reach, desired integrations, and appetite for advanced features. If you value cost-efficiency and AI assistance—without committing to a number right away—give Sonetel’s free pay-as-you-go option a spin. You can always add that $1.79/month business number when you’re ready.