Both Google Voice and Grasshopper are virtual number providers that give an individual a business mobile number on their phone. Google Voice is a free service and is better suited for solo entrepreneurs who require only one number. However, Grasshopper is not free, and prices start at $28 each month. Grasshopper is excellent for small businesses that need several extensions.
Organizations and teams that need to use services that include a voice menu for callers, a toll-free number, a robust set of phone system features, and more than one extension support should consider checking out Grasshopper. Not only does Grasshopper provide established companies with authoritative extensions and phone numbers, but it also can be used on smartphone devices, desktops through an app, or traditional landlines.
You can click here for a Grasshopper free trial including a $75 discount if you end up purchasing an annual plan.
Google voice is an excellent free option suited for freelancers and solo business owners, who only need a single business number with primary call management to operate. Google voice offers a virtual phone line that is free for clients to use on both landline and mobile phones. It provides calling and voicemail service and come with additional features such as text messaging and call forwarding.
Companies that require a more advanced and complete system with a robust set of features should check out RingCentral. It provides a variety of pricing tiers and comes with additional features such as video conferencing, auto attendants, voicemail-to-text, instant messaging, and much more. It is a complete-featured Voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) platform that has much more to offer compared to either Google Voice or Grasshopper, but it also comes with an additional price tag. Check out more Google Voice alternatives using our guide.
Both Grasshopper and Google Voice present their clients with a regional business phone line and a set of devices to address calls and voicemails messaging. After conducting studies, it has been found out that when it comes to small enterprises, the best virtual phone system is Grasshopper. This is due to the additional features and advanced customer service as compared to Google Voice. However, its cost is higher when compared to Google Voice.
Evaluation of Grasshopper and Google Voice was based on:
When equating Google Voice and Grasshopper, the set of features in Grasshopper makes it a suitable option for enterprises that can procure services like a voice menu and a toll-free number. However, Google Voice is entirely free, which makes it attractive to business owners operating on a budget and who intends to have a phone number set aside for work use only.
You can click here for a Grasshopper free trial including a $75 discount if you end up purchasing an annual plan.
While both Google Voice and Grasshopper offers the fundamental set of functionalities such as call management, local phone numbers, and voicemail functionality. Grasshopper provides its clients with additional features compared to Google Voice but requires monthly payments. However, With the exemptions of charges on calls to specific locations in the United States and international calls, Google Voice is free.
Grasshopper has three main varieties of tiers of service. The Solo tier, which costs $28 monthly, comes with three extensions and a single number. The Partner plan costs $46 per month, provides six extensions and three numbers. There is also the Small Business plan, which comes with five numbers plus unlimited extension at $80 each month. It is worth noting that these plans differ mainly on the number of phone numbers and extensions the customer gets.
Related: Grasshopper Review
Grasshopper features involve call forwarding, unlimited call handling, unlimited dialing to the United States, Voicemail-to-mail, and Wi-Fi calling. However, it does not have massive communication functionality like that of VoIP systems at Nextiva. Yet, it still has the capability to offer effective services to small companies in need of a professional phone presence.
Call management features in Grasshopper include standard functions such as call forwarding, voicemail transfer, and call blocking. It enables the customer to program a call menu that presents callers with a variety of options, like directly going to voicemail or reaching different extensions. Google Voice only provides call screening, voice mail, and call forwarding. Grasshopper is the desirable option for organizations that prefer a more authoritative telephone presence.
Based on the customer’s tier of service, each Grasshopper account presents the client with an option of either a toll-free number or a unique local phone line plus multiple extension. The Small Business tier option offers unlimited extensions and five phone numbers, and the Partner edition comes with six extensions plus three numbers. Last but not least, the Solo choice, which presents the client with three extensions and a single phone number. It is worthy to note that each number comes with endless hours for domestic calls.
Google Voice does not present its users with a toll-free number whatsoever. It only offers local numbers. If it is crucial for a client to have a toll-free number, Grasshopper will save the day.
Using the Virtual Fax feature, Grasshopper enables an entrepreneur to obtain faxes and view them as an email attachment or in the Grasshopper app. All that is required of a company’s client is to send faxes to the company’s Grasshopper number, and the faxes will be forwarded to the company’s/individuals account.
Google Voice does provide the option of viewing faxes in its system. When it comes to companies that often exchange documents back and forth, it is advisable to choose the Grasshopper option instead.
There are several integrations present in Grasshopper. One example is the forwarding of the platforms number into Skype so as to use the famous means of communication for inbound dialing. Using Zapier, it is now possible for a person to configure his/her own integrations with 1,000 or more different apps. One can even send his/her Grasshopper number to a personal Google Voice account.
When it comes to Google Voice, the only integration presented is Google Hangouts. Otherwise, it lacks the potential to link with other solutions. It also does not have Gmail integration, which is somehow ironic, considering that both are products of Google. It would be wise to go with Grasshopper if integrations are paramount to a company.
Google Voice is a virtual phone line that can be used for free. Google Voice free calling services cover almost the entire United States and also Canada. Charges are only applied when calling internationally and particular United States’ locations. Regardless, Google Voice can be utilized without disbursing a penny.
Google Voice involves a small group of standard features like call forwarding, call blocking and voicemail. Calls are primarily sent from an individual's landline or mobile, but the caller's Google Voice number is the one that the other person sees and dials on their caller ID. It differs with Grasshopper in such a way that it doesn’t have a prevailing business phone service provisions such as faxing and toll-free number features.
Google Voice provides features like screening and blocking, and an individual can design personalized greetings that come through voicemail for known callers and look for content on voicemail. However, Google Voice has lesser call management attributes compared to Grasshopper, which contains a Virtual receptionist for routing calls. However, if having a Voice Menu is not necessary for a business/person, then Google Voice is worth checking out.
Accounts in Google Voice contain a single local phone line that can be utilized for dials, messaging, and voicemail. Numbers can be connected to either a traditional landline or mobile device. Google Voice does not have a toll-free number; hence, businesses that need a toll-free number are advised to lean to Grasshopper. Google Voice, however, remains to be a perfect option for clients seeking a standard local number.
If you are having a call with someone significant and that content is to be used later, Google Voice provides you with an option to record the calls. Customers can access the stored contents on the "recorded" menu, which is on the app. Grasshopper does not have features for recording calls whatsoever. Clients needing to record calls for later usage, Google platform is the place to go.
Google Voice enables its users to receive calls text messages in Google Hangouts. The feature is absent with Google work accounts. However, those with personal accounts can receive and send messages from the Hangouts app without the need to switch.
The number of integrations offered by Google Voice do not come close to the number of integrations that are present in Grasshopper. Still, Solo entrepreneurs and freelancers with personal accounts can find the Hangouts integration helpful.
Grasshopper and Google Voice are created to increase the efficiency of communicating on the phone. The process of setting up a Virtual phone line is smooth, and the provider's features should be easy to understand. After various assessments on how smooth it is to set up both services, it was deduced that they are almost equal when it comes to usability.
When it comes to a service that has a setup procedure that is smooth and efficient, Grasshopper proves to be easy to use. It also contains a clean, spotless interface on all applications it owns, and it is also easy to navigate through the software. Using Grasshopper when starting up is not complicated at all.
After getting hold of a Google account, individuals can start receiving and sending calls with a new number instantly. After using Google Voice for some time, people often find it to be incredibly simple. Google Voice holds a slight edge here, regarding the smoothness of use. It only because the setup takes several seconds if the user has a Google account already.
Related: Best Business VoIP Service Providers
Both Grasshopper and Google Voice provide assistance to customers when they want to troubleshoot small issues and obtain explanations on things that they find complicated. However, when equating the two, Grasshopper gives additional live human assistance; hence, it has an advantage here.
Grasshopper provides an online intelligence base that includes text-based information on how to perform basic tasks, how to get started with the platform, and how to troubleshoot and identify common problems. Many people agree that the customer support provided by Grasshopper is excellent. They also volunteer to help customers set up fundamental stuff.
Google Voice offers its customers with a knowledge base online and also a user manual. On top of that, the company also provides a Google Voice forum to canvass on problems and, in addition, Google Product Experts Program, where customers can shoot a question to Google's top customers and contributors. It is useful; however, it does not have a consumer service line to call.
It is quite essential for an individual to hear what various clients think of Grasshopper or Google Voice prior to investing in either of them for his/her business needs. Assessments were carried out regarding multiple users' remarks for each solution to be able to perceive how customers feel regarding these platforms.
Generally, readers hold positive opinions on Grasshopper; currently, Grasshopper has a 2.9 out of five-star rating. According to readers' remarks, the platform is reliable and easy to use. However, users are not satisfied with the low-efficiency levels of the Grasshopper’s customer support avenues. According to reports, representatives are relatively slow in providing assistance when requested.
Related: Grasshopper Alternatives
Google Voice was rated very highly by readers, gaining a rating of 4.5 out of a possible five-star. Specifically, users appreciate the comfort of the platform, and in addition, the calls are reliable and quite good. The service is also free. On the flip side, customer disappointments arise from Google Voice’s lack of integration with other various Google products.
Grasshopper and Google voice provide internet-based mobile phone features like offering their customers/users with local phone numbers and enabling the customers to receive a call, make calls and also to receive voicemails. Integration with a variety of other software products and call management functionality can significantly make these solutions more helpful.
If any individual intends to have an authoritative phone presence that contains a toll-free number and virtual greeting for callers, be sure to check out Grasshopper. The service will require some investment. However, it will be providing much more for businesses than the minimalist Google Voice. Entrepreneurs and those looking to start their own business, visit Grasshopper's website for more information.
