Best VoIP Service for Home | Top 8 VoIP Providers Reviewed and Compared for 2023

The best VoIP service for homes can save you money on your phone bill and give you access to some very useful features — and all you need is a high-speed internet connection to use them, and you’re good to go. However, with ample options, finding one suitable for your home can be difficult.

In this post, we review and compare the best VoIP services for home use to help you find the one perfect for your needs. All 8 providers on our list offer outstanding features at a reasonable price — read on to learn how providers like RingCentral, 8×8, and Nextiva can help you save money and get more out of your home phone service.

Best Residential VoIP Phone Services for 2023 | Shortlist

There are many residential VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service providers. Some work extremely well, while others can be misleading. Our research found that Ooma is the #1 choice among VoIP for residential use, but here’s a quick breakdown of the market’s leading VoIP providers for home:

1. Ooma — The Best No-Monthly-Cost Home VoIP Phone Service | One-Time Fee of $99.95 for the Hardware.
2. RingCentral — The Most Professional Home VoIP Phone Service | Try it for Free and Get 50 Minutes of Domestic Calls.
3. Nextiva — Excellent Residential VoIP Service with Advanced Features | Offers a 30-Day Free Trial + Unlimited Minutes.
4. 8×8 — Your Top VoIP Service for Personalized Area Codes | Offers Auto-Attendants and Unlimited VoIP Minutes.
5. Phone.com — Best Home VoIP Starter Phone Service | Get Your First Month Free.
6. Mighty Call — Easy-to-Use Home VoIP Phone Service | Comes with a 7-Day Free Trial and 40+ Features.
7. VoIPLy — Low-Cost Residential VoIP Service | Make Unlimited Calls to the US and Canada.
8. DialPad — Best Home VoIP Phone Service for International Calling | Offers Free Calling to Over 60 Countries.

Top Residential VoIP Providers | Reviewed

Here, we’ll explore each of our top 8 in some more depth to help you find the one most suitable for your home — from their key offerings to their pricing and leading pros and cons, here you’ll learn all you need to know to make the right decision.

1. Ooma — Zero-Monthly-Cost Home VoIP Phone Service

Ooma Telo is one of the top internet service providers that offer home VoIP calling via broadband. You must hard-wire this equipment to the internet router in order to use it.

The biggest selling point of Ooma is its one-time charge. After paying for the hardware, you’ll never have another VoIP bill again. This can save you a lot of money, especially if you make a lot of international calls.

Ooma also has some of the best features for VoIP calls. For example, number porting or choosing your own area code is available with this service. If you request these features from a traditional VoIP provider, they’ll likely charge you an additional fee, but with Ooma, it’s included in the one-time equipment fee.

Ooma’s HD voice quality is also excellent. This uses wideband audio, which gives you clearer sound during calls. You just need to have a great internet connection to make the most out of this feature.

Pricing:

Basic service is free with Ooma Telo, which includes 911 service, free domestic calling, and voicemail. You need to purchase the hardware, which is a one-time cost. The $99 device will be shipped for free and with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. RingCentral — Best Home VoIP Phone Service Overall

RingCentral is one of our top recommendations whether you plan on using a VoIP service for residential or business purposes as it has, by far, the most comprehensive and customizable VoIP plans we’ve seen. You can add features like call recording, a second phone line, and international calling to your plan for an additional monthly fee.

RingCentral boasts a wide variety of features, many of which are included in even their most basic VoIP plan. For example, its unlimited calls within the United States and Canada is a huge selling point for people who frequently find themselves talking on the phone, and it’s incredibly handy for those with family members living in different parts of the country.

Additionally, all RingCentral plans come with internet faxing, so you can send and receive faxes without ever having to leave your computer. This can be a real time-saver if you have a home business or do a lot of work from home. And if you need more than one phone line, you can add as many as you want to your RingCentral account for a small monthly fee.

Finally, we really appreciate that RingCentral offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with all of its plans. So if you’re not satisfied with the service for any reason, you can cancel within the first month and get your money back—no questions asked.

Pricing:

For only $19.99, you can get the Essentials plan which is an excellent tool for small businesses and residential owners. It comes with unlimited calls to the US and Canada, text messaging, and more. Most of RingCentral’s services are available for a 14-day trial period, and you can cancel anytime without being charged.

3. Nextiva — Excellent Residential VoIP Service with Advanced Features

Nextiva makes setting up your home office as simple as it gets, and the service comes with a wide variety of features to keep you connected. With a long history of providing quality service, Nextiva is undoubtedly one of the most reliable VoIP providers.

Besides reliability in the service itself, the company also has an excellent reputation for customer service, which is important when you’re setting up a residential VoIP for your home office.

Similar to RingCentral, Nextiva offers unlimited calls to the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. What sets them apart is top-notch call quality. The service uses HD Voice technology to provide clear call quality, even when you’re on a VoIP call. A number of features come with the service, including caller ID, voicemail, call forwarding, and more.

Long before UCaaS became popular, Nextiva was ahead of the curve by releasing its unified communications platform, NextOS. This software gives users the ability to manage their VoIP service and features from a single, easy-to-use interface. As a residential user, you’ll appreciate the simplicity of NextOS when setting up and managing your VoIP service.

Nextiva also offers unlimited text messaging with its VoIP service, which is a great way to stay in touch with family and friends. Plus, it’s worth mentioning that the service uses your existing home internet connection, so you don’t need to worry about using your data plan.

Pricing:

Nextiva’s residential VoIP plans start at $18.95 per month, which is a great price for unlimited calling. The plan includes features like call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, and call forwarding. You can also add additional features like faxing and conference calling for an extra fee.

On top of this, Nextiva also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try the service risk-free.

4. 8×8 — Your Choice of VoIP Service for Personalized Area Codes

8×8 is the best option if you want a VoIP service with the ability to pick your area code — In fact, it’s one of the best US virtual phone number providers.

Besides this, 8×8 also offers unlimited calling and a variety of features for a low monthly price. Plus, you can port your current phone number to 8×8, which is a nice perk if you’re switching from a landline or another VoIP service.

What’s most impressive about 8×8 is its reach. The company has servers in over 60 countries, which ensures good call quality no matter where you or your friends and family members live. This is very impressive, given that other VoIP providers often only have servers in a handful of countries.

You may also be interested in number porting, which is the ability to keep your old phone number when you switch services. This can be a very helpful feature if you’ve had your current phone number for a long time and don’t want to give it up. It’s included in its basic plan, which is one of the reasons we recommend 8×8 in our top 3.

Lastly, 8×8 also offers caller ID and directory services, which means you can see the names and numbers of people who are calling you. This is a handy feature to have if you want to screen your calls or if you need to find a number quickly.

If you’re simply looking for the best VoIP service for making calls within the US and Canada, 8×8 is a great option.

Pricing:

The Express plan, priced at $15 per month, is the right fit if you just need basic VoIP features like unlimited calling and caller ID. It’ll work on mobile, desktop, and as a web app.

5. Phone.com — Best Home VoIP Starter Phone Service

Phone.com offers you one of the main perks of using a VoIP home phone service — it saves you tons of money on your phone bill. In fact, while all the providers we’ve reviewed can do that, Phone.com offers one of the cheapest VoIP services. Its plans start at just $9.99/month, and it provides a wide range of features included in that price.

Phone.com has its own app, which you can use to make and receive calls on your iPhone or Android. But it also works with a wide range of VoIP devices, including desk phones, softphones, and even some landlines (if you have an ATA adapter).

But if you’ll be using your VoIP system mainly at home, the best feature Phone.com has to offer is its unlimited calling plan. For just $15.99/month, you can make unlimited calls to the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Besides all this, there are also no long-term contracts or hidden fees, so you can cancel at any time. This is a great deal, despite being a bit more expensive than some of the other providers we’ve reviewed. This is because the voice quality that Phone.com offers is impeccable.

Pricing:

The cheapest plan, at $11.99/month, gives you 500 pooled minutes and one phone number. All necessary voice features like voicemail, caller ID, and call waiting are included. Unfortunately, Phone.com doesn’t offer a free trial, but if you’re using the service at home, the cheapest plan will probably suffice.

6. Mighty Call — Easy-to-Use Home VoIP Phone Service

MightyCall is the best option if you’re looking for an easy-to-use VoIP phone service for your home. MightyCall doesn’t force you to rely on the gear that comes with the conventional PSTN (public switched telephone network) and doesn’t require the labor-intensive and inconvenient physical installation of traditional phone lines.

Using MightyCall doesn’t require you to be a technological prodigy, either. It may be readily configured using a line that connects to your computer and power supply and operates on a plug-and-play basis. You can place calls using a VoIP phone handset, a cheap headset, or speakers on the computer. Alternatively, if you prefer, you may make calls with the same VoIP number by using an app on your smartphone.

MightyCall’s VoIP service offers several features at an affordable price. You may keep your existing phone number or get a new one, and you can make and receive calls from anywhere in the world. MightyCall also provides voicemail, caller ID, call blocking, call forwarding, and three-way calling.

Pricing:

For $15 per month, you’ll get 500 minutes and 100 text messages for two users. MightyCall also offers a 7-day free trial to see how the product works without any risk or obligation.

7. VoIPLy — Low-Cost Residential VoIP Service

VoIPLy is a residential VoIP service that offers low rates and clear call quality. It’s one of the best VoIP providers because it doesn’t have any contracts, so you can cancel anytime. You also get unlimited calling, so you can make as many calls as you want without worrying about overage charges.

VoIPLy’s features include caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, three-way calling, and call forwarding. You can also use VoIPLy’s app to make calls from your smartphone.

VoIPLy will give you a free adapter if you already have the hardware to connect your current phone to their VoIP network. You can also use your old phone number or get a new one from VoIPLy.

VoIPLy certainly ranks among the best residential VoIP services because it’s affordable and it boasts excellent call quality. Although it doesn’t come with a free trial, you can try it risk-free with their 30-day money-back guarantee.

Pricing:

If you commit for an entire year, the service will cost you $7.16 instead of $8.95 monthly. Calling is unlimited in the US, Canada, and roughly 50 other nations. You’ll need to acquire an international phone number for destinations outside those zones, but it just adds $4.95 to your monthly bill. There are no setup costs, and your bridge adapter is free.

8. DialPad — Best Home VoIP Service for International Calling

Another great VoIP service for solo entrepreneurs at home is DialPad. It’s one of the newest VoIP companies, but it’s already making a name for itself. And it’s not hard to see why: the company offers an international calling plan that includes more than 60 countries for just $10 per month.

If you often need to make calls to loved ones who live in another country, this is an excellent and affordable option. DialPad’s international call rates are one of the most affordable we’ve seen. You’ll save money on both domestic and international calls thanks to its unlimited local and long-distance domestic calling plan.

Another plus is that you can choose whether to use your existing phone number or get a new one from DialPad. Just make sure to check if your current phone number can be transferred to VoIP before signing up. This removes the hassle of having to update your contact information with everyone you know.

DialPad’s mobile app is one of the best, too. So if you often travel while working or need to make calls from your cell phone and your home, DialPad has you covered there, too. You can quickly transition between mobile and other applications, unlike with other services.

Pricing:

You’ll get unlimited calls to the US and Canada for only $15/month with DialPad. This plan also includes a multi-level auto-attendant, call recording, voicemail-to-text, transcription, and more. Try it for 14 days with a free trial (no credit card required).

Comparison Table

If you’re still confused about which VoIP provider is best for your home, check out our comparison table. We’ve compiled the top residential VoIP providers and put them side-by-side so you can see which one offers the best features and price points for you:

Why You Need a VoIP Phone Service in 2023

There are many reasons why you should consider a VoIP phone service for your home in 2023. The benefits and features of VoIP are vast, making it a great option for those looking to save money and improve their calling experience. Here are just a few reasons you should make the switch to VoIP in 2023.

Low Cost

With VoIP, you’ll only pay for the calls you make, rather than being charged a monthly fee for a landline. This can save you a lot of money, especially if you don’t make many calls.

International Calling

With VoIP, your phone number isn’t tied to a specific location. This means that you can make and receive calls from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection. This is perfect for those who travel frequently or have friends and family spread out across the globe.

HD Voice Quality

VoIP calls are clear and crisp, with little to no lag or static. This is because VoIP uses your internet connection to make calls, rather than relying on a phone line.

Number Selection

A vanity number is a phone number that spells out a word or phrase. With VoIP, you can choose your own vanity number, which can be a great marketing tool for businesses.

Call Recording

VoIP services allow you to record calls, which can be useful for training purposes or for recording important conversations.

How We Chose the Best Residential VoIP Providers

We evaluated dozens of VoIP providers before deciding on the best ones for residential users. To narrow our list, we looked for companies that offer features that are most important to homeowners.

Price Point

Of course, the monthly price is essential when choosing any service, but it’s especially so with VoIP. Homeowners are already paying for Internet service, so they don’t want to have to pay a lot more for phone service. The providers on our list all have reasonable pricing plans.

Contracts

With most VoIP providers, you don’t have to sign a contract, which is excellent news for people who move frequently or who don’t like being locked into a long-term agreement.

Installation

We looked for VoIP providers that have simple, do-it-yourself installation kits. After all, who wants to pay someone to come over and install a new phone system? We also made sure the providers we chose offer excellent customer support in case you run into any problems.

Ease of Use

We considered how easy it is to use each VoIP service. We looked at the quality of the control panel and whether it was intuitive or not. We also tried the mobile apps, if available, to see how well they worked.

Features

VoIP offers a lot of features that can be very helpful for homeowners. Some of the most important ones are call forwarding, caller ID, voicemail, and call blocking. We made sure the providers we chose offered all these features.

How to Get Started With a VoIP Service at Home

In this section, we’ll be going over how to set up your VoIP service at Home. We’ll be using our number 1 best VoIP provider, Ooma, for this example.

Step 1 — Purchase an Ooma VoIP Router

Visit the Ooma website by clicking the link down below. From there, you’ll want to choose a Business or Residential plan based on your needs. For the sake of this review, we’re going to choose Residential but the Business process is similar.

From the home page, head on over to the Shop tab at the top of the page and select “Home Phones”. Ooma’s “Telo” service is free to use, plus you can upgrade to “Telo Air” for Wi-Fi connectivity. The LTE package does require a subscription fee, but it’ll work even through power outages thanks to a battery backup system.

From there, you can pick the Ooma devices that suit your needs but you’ll need to buy at least one Ooma router to use the service. We recommend you take advantage of their bundled Handset deal so you have devices to test the service with. Remember, Ooma comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Purchasing a handset through Ooma is a painless process, all you need to do is choose where you want your Ooma Telo sent to and enter in some basic payment details. Best of all, it’s free shipping! You can also send the devices back to Ooma if you decide you want to use their 30-day money-back guarantee.

Shipping can take several days depending on your location, but once you have the Ooma device in your hands the rest of the process takes minutes to complete.

Step 2 — Register your Ooma device

Before you can use your Ooma device, you’ll need to register it to activate the subscription plan. Ooma is free by default, but you’ll have to enter some basic details about your usage before you can get started.

To register your Ooma device, go to “Login” on the homepage and then select “My Ooma Telo”. You’ll be taken to a login page, from there you’ll have to click “Activate my new account” to get to the registration page.

The activation code is located on the bottom of your Ooma router, which is helpfully pointed out during the activation process.

After this step, you’ll be asked to enter some basic details about your location and billing if you’re going with one of Ooma’s paid plans, but it’s all pretty straightforward.

Step 3 — Figure Out Your Needs and Follow Their Guide

Finally, you’ll want to decide on everything you need to set up based on your plan and business needs. There’s hundreds of different options, which would be hard to cover in a single guide.

Once you’re done with the setup phase, all you have to do is add your optional extras, download the mobile app, and you’re ready to get calling!

Since there’s a plethora of different options and systems, you can use Ooma’s comprehensive support section to guide your use of the software. If any part of it confuses you, don’t worry! Ooma has a 24/7 support team on hand who are always ready to help you.

Residential VoIP FAQs