SFDIFY
For most small teams, the best cloud phone system comes down to how many people need a line and whether you want everything on one bill. RingCentral's Core plan is listed at "$20" per user per month paid annually ($30 monthly) with unlimited domestic calling [1], and Dialpad's Standard plan is listed at "$15 user/month" [2]. If you only need a professional number and a few extensions, Unitel Voice's Team plan is $19.99 a month for "Unlimited Users" [3].
A cloud phone system, also called a cloud based phone system or cloud PBX, runs your business lines over the internet with apps instead of on-site hardware. The hard part is pricing: some vendors charge per user, some per account, and some bill calls and texts on top of a low subscription. This guide shows what seven popular options charge and who each one fits.
How we chose
We compared seven cloud phone systems small businesses commonly shortlist: two large platforms (RingCentral, Dialpad), three per-user tools with usage-based extras (CallHippo, KrispCall, Calilio), and two number-first services (Unitel Voice, 800.com). For each we read the official homepage and pricing page on November 8, 2026 and noted the entry price, what it includes, and trial or refund terms. We did no hands-on testing and do not score products. Prices change often, so confirm on the vendor page before you buy. SFDIFY earns a commission from some of these vendors (CallHippo, KrispCall, Calilio, Unitel Voice and 800.com). That does not change the order or what we say about them.
Cloud phone systems compared
| Product | Best for | Starting price | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| RingCentral | Teams that want calls, meetings and chat in one app | $20/user/month paid annually, $30 monthly [1] | Unlimited calling limited to US and CA [1] |
| Dialpad | Small teams that want AI call summaries built in | $15 user/month (Standard) [2] | 14-day free trial of Dialpad Connect [2] |
| CallHippo | Teams that want a free starting tier | $0 Basic, pay only for numbers [4] | Basic is free for the first 6 months [4] |
| KrispCall | Small teams calling the US, Canada, UK and Australia | $12/user/month billed annually [5] | No free trial; 14-day money-back guarantee [5] |
| Calilio | Low-volume teams that want low per-user pricing | $12/user/month annually, $15 monthly [6] | Numbers and usage billed separately [6] |
| Unitel Voice | Small offices that want flat pricing per account | $9.99/month Solo, billed monthly [3] | Team plan covers unlimited users [3] |
| 800.com | Businesses that want a toll-free or vanity number | $19/month billed yearly (Startup) [7] | 30-day money-back guarantee [7] |
RingCentral — the full-suite default
RingCentral is the option most buyers already know, and its homepage says more than "600,000 businesses" use the platform [8].
Verified features: The Core plan includes "Unlimited domestic calling", "On-demand call recording", "100 toll-free minutes" and "25 SMS user/month" [1]. The Advanced plan adds "CRM integrations" and "Connect multiple sites" [1].
Pricing: Core is listed at $20 per user per month paid annually, or $30 when paid monthly [1]. Taxes and fees such as the E911 Service Fee "may apply" on top [1].
Strengths: One vendor covers phone, meetings and chat, and higher tiers add multi-site support.
Limitations: The pricing page states "Unlimited phone calls are limited to US and CA markets only" [1]. The monthly price is noticeably higher than the annual one, and CRM integrations start on Advanced, not Core.
Best fit: A team that wants one established platform for internal and customer communication.
Dialpad — AI summaries on every plan
Dialpad describes its product as "Voice, video, messaging, and AI in one app" [9]. The small-business line is Dialpad Connect [2].
Verified features: The Standard plan includes "real-time transcripts and instant call summaries" [2]. Dialpad says it supports "international local numbers in over 50 countries" [2].
Pricing: Standard is listed at $15 user/month and Pro at $25 user/month; Enterprise is quoted [2]. Pro adds "key CRM integrations" and "24/7 customer support" [2]. Check whether a quote is monthly or annual.
Strengths: AI transcription and call recaps come with the entry plan instead of as an add-on, and there is a "14 days" free trial of Dialpad Connect [2].
Limitations: CRM integrations and round-the-clock support require Pro. Dialpad also notes prices can vary by region [2].
Best fit: A small team that wants searchable call transcripts without a separate tool.
CallHippo — a free tier to start
CallHippo is a virtual phone system that offers local, toll-free and mobile numbers "in 150+ countries" [10].
Verified features: Paid plans include "1 Free Phone Number Per User" [4]. Starter includes "1000 calling minutes" within the US and Canada and "100 SMS" [4]. Professional adds "Unlimited calling minutes within US/CA", call recordings, and integrations including HubSpot and Salesforce [4].
Pricing: Basic is "$0" per user per month, billed annually, where you "Pay Only for Numbers" [4]. Starter is listed at $18 and Professional at $30 per user per month, each with a "10-Day Free Trial" [4].
Strengths: The free tier and trial let you set up numbers before committing, and Professional's unlimited US and Canada calling keeps domestic costs predictable.
Limitations: The free plan is temporary: Basic "is provided free of charge for the first 6 months from signup", after which users must upgrade to Starter [4]. Call recording starts on Professional, so the realistic cost for most teams is $30 per user.
Best fit: A growing sales or support team that wants CRM-connected calling.
KrispCall — low entry price, usage on top
KrispCall positions its Starter plan for "solo agents, freelancers, and small teams" [5].
Verified features: Starter includes "1 free US/CA/UK number per user", "200 outbound call mins/user/mo" and "100 SMS segments/user/mo" [5]. KrispCall says it offers virtual numbers in "100+ countries" [5].
Pricing: Starter is $12 per user per month billed annually or $15 monthly, with higher Advance and Max tiers [5]. Starter is "For teams upto 5 users" [5].
Strengths: A low monthly floor for a one- to five-person team.
Limitations: KrispCall "does not currently offer a free trial or free plan", though paid plans include a "14-day money-back guarantee" [5]. Calls and SMS beyond the allowance are "billed separately on a pay-as-you-go basis" [5], so heavy callers should model their usage first.
Best fit: A small team with modest call volume that wants the lowest subscription price.
Calilio — pay-as-you-go flexibility
Calilio pairs a low subscription with a prepaid wallet for calls and texts beyond the included bundle. Its homepage says it offers local, mobile and toll-free numbers "from over 100 countries" [11].
Verified features: The Standard plan includes one free US, UK or Canada number, "200 Outgoing Minutes" and "100 Incoming Minutes" [6].
Pricing: Standard is "$12/user/month annually, $15 monthly" and Premium is "$28/user/month annually, $35 monthly" [6].
Strengths: Pricing tracks actual use, which suits uneven call volume.
Limitations: The subscription "only covers the plan and includes a complimentary $1 credit", and "Phone numbers and call & SMS charges are billed separately" [6]. Bills are harder to predict than on a flat plan.
Best fit: A small team with light or seasonal calling that is comfortable topping up a wallet.
Unitel Voice — flat price per account, not per user
Unitel Voice is the cheap business phone service pick for teams of several people, because its middle plan is priced per account, not per seat.
Verified features: Every plan includes "Unlimited Calling & Texting", "Auto Attendant w/ Custom Greetings" and "Custom Voicemail w/ Transcription" [3]. The Team plan adds "Unlimited Employee & Dept. Extensions" and "Ring Groups w/ Custom Call Routing" [3].
Pricing: Solo is $9.99 for 1 user, Team is $19.99 for unlimited users, and Office is $29.99 with "3 Users Included", each billed monthly; yearly billing costs $84, $168 and $252 [3]. Office users beyond three are "$7.99/User/Mo" [3].
Strengths: Simple, flat pricing and a "30-Day Money-Back Guarantee" [3]. The Office plan adds VoIP desk phones [3].
Limitations: Texting requires carrier registration and fees of "$19.50 one-time + $1.50/month" [3]. Unitel's pricing page does not list CRM integrations or AI transcription of calls, so it is a weaker fit for sales teams that log every call.
Best fit: A small office that needs a main number, extensions and voicemail for several people at a fixed cost.
800.com — for toll-free and vanity numbers
800.com is built around toll-free, local and vanity numbers that forward to phones you already use. The homepage says it is "Trusted by over 45,000 companies" [12].
Verified features: All plans include call forwarding, call tracking, call recording, business texting, voicemail transcription, "API and webhook access" and "CRM Integrations" [7].
Pricing: Startup is $19 a month billed yearly ($23 monthly) with "250 minutes", "1 number" and "1 user"; Small Business is $49 billed yearly ($59 monthly) with "Unlimited minutes*", "3 numbers (toll-free, local or vanity)" and "Unlimited users & extensions" [7]. Unlimited minutes are "Subject to our Fair Usage Policy" [7].
Strengths: Call tracking and analytics on every plan help businesses that advertise a number see which campaign drove each call. Every plan has a "30-day money-back guarantee" [7].
Limitations: Startup's 250 minutes and single user are tight for a team, and the $49 plan costs more than Unitel Voice's Team plan.
Best fit: A local service business or marketer that wants a memorable toll-free or vanity number with call tracking.
How to choose a phone system for small business
Start with headcount and pricing model. Per-user plans (RingCentral, Dialpad, CallHippo, KrispCall, Calilio) cost more with every hire; per-account plans (Unitel Voice, 800.com Small Business) stay flat but offer fewer advanced features.
Next, estimate call volume. Heavy outbound calling is easier to budget on an unlimited domestic plan; a few calls a day can be cheaper on a low subscription plus usage.
Then check integrations: confirm CRM sync is on the plan you are pricing, not one tier up. When off-the-shelf integrations do not fit your process, a custom layer can log calls and route leads; that is work our custom CRM development team does. If you are comparing dialers for an outbound team, see our telemarketing CRM comparison, and if you are moving off a free number, our Google Voice alternatives guide covers the switch.
Finally, use the trial or refund window to test call quality before porting your main number.
FAQ
What is the best cloud phone system for a small business?
It depends on team size and call volume. For an all-in-one platform, RingCentral Core starts at $20 per user per month paid annually [1] and Dialpad Standard at $15 per user per month [2]. For a flat price covering many users, Unitel Voice's Team plan is $19.99 a month for unlimited users [3].
What is the cheapest small business phone service on this list?
By sticker price, CallHippo's Basic plan is $0 per user per month and you pay only for numbers, but it is free only for the first 6 months [4]. Unitel Voice Solo is $9.99 a month for one user [3]. KrispCall and Calilio start at $12 per user per month billed annually, with calls and texts beyond the allowance billed separately [5] [6].
Is a cloud based phone system the same as a cloud PBX phone system?
In practice, yes. Both describe a provider-hosted business phone system used over the internet. Unitel Voice, for example, includes an auto attendant and voicemail with transcription on every plan [3].
Can I keep my existing business number?
Usually. CallHippo lists "Number Porting" as a feature [4], and 800.com includes "Port in your number" on all plans [7].
Do cloud phone systems offer free trials?
Some do. Dialpad offers a 14-day free trial of Dialpad Connect [2] and CallHippo a 10-day free trial [4]. KrispCall has no free trial but offers a 14-day money-back guarantee [5], and Unitel Voice and 800.com both offer 30-day money-back guarantees [3] [7].
Our recommendation
For one platform covering calls, meetings and chat, trial RingCentral or Dialpad on the plan that includes your CRM integration. If cost is the main concern, price CallHippo, KrispCall and Calilio against your real call volume. If you need a main number and extensions for several people at one fixed price, Unitel Voice's Team plan is the simplest choice, and 800.com is the better pick when a toll-free or vanity number and call tracking matter most.
Sources
- RingCentral AI Communications Platform Plans & Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Dialpad Plans & Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Unitel Voice Plans & Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- CallHippo Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- KrispCall Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Calilio Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- 800.com Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- RingCentral: The Voice of Your Business — checked 2026-11-08
- Dialpad: AI Customer Experience Platform — checked 2026-11-08
- CallHippo: VoIP Business Phone System & Virtual Numbers — checked 2026-11-08
- Calilio: Cloud Phone System for Modern Businesses — checked 2026-11-08
- 800.com: Business Numbers, AI Receptionist & Call Tracking — checked 2026-11-08
