SFDIFY
To get a business phone number, pick a number type (local, toll-free or vanity), choose a cloud phone app, then buy a new number or port your existing one and set up call forwarding. The cheapest route for most solo owners is Google Voice, where the individual Starter plan is listed at "$10 / month" [1]. Grasshopper is built for exactly this job, with pricing "starting at just $14/month, billed annually" [2]. Teams that text a lot should look at Quo, KrispCall or CallHippo.
Most small-business owners no longer need a desk phone. They need a second number that rings on the phone they already carry and keeps business calls and texts separate from personal ones. Below are the four steps, then seven services that do it without new hardware.
How we chose
We compared seven virtual phone services that a small business would realistically shortlist: Google Voice, Grasshopper, Quo (formerly OpenPhone), 800.com, KrispCall, CallHippo and RingCentral. Everything below comes from each vendor's own homepage and pricing page, checked on 2026-11-08, not hands-on trials. Confirm prices at checkout, since they depend on billing term and region. Grasshopper, CallHippo, KrispCall and 800.com pay us a commission if you sign up through our links; that did not affect the order, which is by fit for a solo owner or small team that wants a separate line on a mobile phone.
How to get a business phone number in 4 steps
1. Choose the number type. A local number signals that you serve a specific area. A toll-free number gives a national presence; Grasshopper, for example, offers "an 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888, or true 800 number" [3]. A vanity number spells a word, "like 1-800-YOURBIZ" [3]. Vanity numbers take longer: 800.com says they "can take between 1-5 days to be activated" [4].
2. Pick a provider. Match the plan to how you work. A one-person shop mostly needs forwarding, voicemail and texting on a mobile app. A small team needs a shared number, call routing and a menu ("press 1 for sales"). If you already run Google Workspace, Google Voice is the natural first look.
3. Buy a new number or port your existing one. If customers already know your number, port it instead of starting over. Porting is usually supported, but it is not instant: 800.com notes that "average porting time is approximately 2 weeks" [4]. Keep your old service active until the port completes.
4. Set up routing and texting. Record a greeting, set business hours, and decide where calls go after hours. If you plan to text customers from the new number, budget for US carrier registration: Quo lists a Campaign Registry review fee of "$19.50 one-time" [5].
Comparison table
| Product | Best for | Starting price | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | Solo owners and Google Workspace teams | $10/month individual Starter [1] | Basic tier is $0 but needs an existing mobile number [1] |
| Grasshopper | Solo owners who want a simple second line | $14/month billed annually [2] | Toll-free, vanity or local numbers [3] |
| Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | Small teams sharing one number | $15/user/month yearly, $19 monthly [5] | One local or toll-free number per user [5] |
| 800.com | Toll-free and vanity numbers | $19 Startup plan, billed yearly [4] | 30-day money-back guarantee [4] |
| KrispCall | Budget teams up to 5 users | $12/user/month billed annually [6] | 1 free US/CA/UK number per user [6] |
| CallHippo | Teams that need many countries | $19/user/month Starter [7] | Numbers in "150+ countries" [8] |
| RingCentral | Teams that also want video meetings | $20/user/month paid annually [9] | HD meetings for 300 participants on Core [9] |
Google Voice — the low-cost default for Workspace users
Google Voice is Google's cloud phone service for mobile devices, laptops and supported desk phones [1]. It is the obvious first stop if your business email already runs on Google Workspace.
Verified features: Voice blocks spam calls and transcribes voicemails to text [1]. Admins can handle "number assignment, number porting, and billing" and set up ring groups and multi-level auto attendants [1].
Pricing: For individuals, Basic is "$0 / month" and Starter is "$10 / month" [1]. For teams, Starter is "$10 / user per month" for up to 10 users, with Standard and Premier tiers above it [1].
Strengths: The lowest entry price here, and it fits neatly into Gmail.
Limitations: The free Basic tier requires an "Existing mobile number" [1], and the team plans require "a Google Workspace plan billed separately" [1]. Auto attendants for teams start on Standard, not Starter.
Best fit: Solo owners and Workspace-based teams who want a clean second number at the lowest cost.
Grasshopper — a simple second line for solo owners
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system that "separates business calls, messages, and contacts from personal ones" [3], so the business line lives as an app on your existing phone.
Verified features: You can choose a toll-free, vanity or local number, and Grasshopper says you can "Port your number to Grasshopper at no cost" [3].
Pricing: Listed plans are True Solo at $14, Solo Plus at $25 and Small Business at $55 [2]. You can "Try Grasshopper free for 7 days. No credit card required." [2]
Strengths: It is designed for one person or a small group sharing a number, with little setup.
Limitations: The entry plan is narrow: "True Solo allows 1 user/1 extension and does not include call recording" [2]. International calls "are not included at this time" and are billed per minute [2].
Best fit: Freelancers and owner-operators who want a professional number on their cell phone and little else.
Quo (formerly OpenPhone) — shared numbers for small teams
Quo is the new name of OpenPhone; its site describes itself as "Quo (formerly OpenPhone)" and a shared phone system for small businesses [10].
Verified features: Every plan includes "One new or ported phone number (local or toll-free) per user" and calling and messaging to US and Canadian numbers [5]. Quo says its team will "transfer your existing phone number into Quo for free" [5].
Pricing: Starter is $19 per user per month on monthly billing or $15 billed annually, with Business and Scale tiers above it [5]. There is a 7-day risk-free trial [5].
Strengths: Shared inboxes for calls and texts make it a good fit when two or three people answer the same line.
Limitations: Pricing is per user, so it costs more than Grasshopper once several people need access. On Starter, shared numbers are limited to "Up to 10 paid users" [5], and phone menus and auto call recording start on Business [5].
Best fit: Small teams that text customers often and want one shared business number.
800.com — toll-free and vanity numbers
800.com focuses on the number itself: it offers toll-free, local and vanity numbers and lets you "Answer personal and work calls on your existing phone" [11].
Verified features: All plans include desktop and mobile apps, call forwarding, call tracking, call recording, business texting and voicemail transcription [4]. Random toll-free and local numbers "can be activated within 1-2 hours" [4].
Pricing: The Startup plan shows $19 with "Billed yearly" and includes "250 minutes", "1 number" and "1 user" [4]. Small Business shows $49 billed yearly with "Unlimited minutes*" and "3 numbers (toll-free, local or vanity)" [4]. Plans carry a "30-day money-back guarantee" [4].
Strengths: A strong pick when the number is part of your marketing, such as a vanity 1-800 number with call tracking.
Limitations: The Startup plan caps you at 250 minutes. Customer service hours are "9am-6pm (Eastern Time) Monday-Friday" [4]. The page shows two prices per plan, so confirm the billing term.
Best fit: Businesses that advertise a toll-free or vanity number and want to know which ads drive calls.
KrispCall — low per-user price for small teams
KrispCall is a cloud phone system that lists "Coverage in 160+ countries" [6].
Verified features: Each plan includes "1 free US/CA/UK number per user" [6]. Starter adds multi-level IVR for call routing and mobile apps [6].
Pricing: Starter is "$12 /user /month billed annually" "For teams upto 5 users", with 200 outbound call minutes per user per month [6].
Strengths: One of the lowest per-user prices here, with an IVR on the entry plan.
Limitations: Minutes are capped on Starter, and call recording starts on Advance [6]. Numbers outside the US, Canada and UK "require number purchase fees along with carrier-specific document verification" [6]. Rather than a free trial, it offers "14 days refund on subscription only" [6].
Best fit: Very small teams paying annually that want a phone menu without paying for a bigger plan.
CallHippo — wide country coverage
CallHippo lets you get a "local, toll-free, or mobile" virtual number "in 150+ countries" from one dashboard [8].
Verified features: Starter includes "Unlimited Minutes (Includes Both Landline & Mobile Calling)", forward to device and 100 SMS [7]. It works from "Browser, desktop app, iOS, Android" [8].
Pricing: With the US/CA region selected, Basic is free ("Pay Only for Numbers") and Starter is $19 "Per User/Month" [7]. There is a "10-day free trial" with "No credit card needed" [7].
Strengths: A good choice if you need numbers in several countries.
Limitations: Call recordings start on Professional, not Starter [7]. Prices change with the region and team size you select, so check the figure for your setup.
Best fit: Small businesses with customers in more than one country.
RingCentral — phone plus meetings in one app
RingCentral is a broad business communications platform that bundles phone, meetings and chat in one app.
Verified features: The Core plan includes unlimited domestic calling, on-demand call recording, 100 toll-free minutes, 25 SMS per user per month and HD meetings for 300 participants [9].
Pricing: Core is $20 per user per month paid annually or $30 paid monthly, with Advanced and Ultra tiers above it [9].
Strengths: One app for calls, video and team chat.
Limitations: It is more platform than a solo owner needs. The free trial is "limited to a maximum of five users and two desktop phones" and "SMS is not available for trial use" [9].
Best fit: Teams of five or more that want phone, meetings and chat from one vendor.
How to choose a small business phone number service
- Just need a second line on your cell? Google Voice or Grasshopper. Both keep setup close to zero.
- Want a free business phone number? Google Voice Basic is $0 but needs an existing mobile number [1]; CallHippo's Basic plan is free but you pay for numbers [7].
- Need a toll free number for business marketing? 800.com and Grasshopper both sell toll-free and vanity numbers.
- Two or more people answering? Quo or KrispCall for shared numbers; RingCentral if you also want video meetings.
- Plan to text customers? Budget for carrier registration and check SMS limits per plan.
If your phone system needs to feed leads into a CRM or a custom sales workflow, plan that integration early. Our custom CRM development and GTM engineering teams build those connections. For full team phone systems, see our guide to the best cloud phone system for small business.
FAQ
Can I get a free business phone number?
Yes, with limits. Google Voice Basic is listed at $0 per month in the US, but it requires an existing mobile number [1]. CallHippo's Basic plan is free, but you "Pay Only for Numbers" [7].
How do I get a second phone number for my business without a second phone?
Use a virtual phone app. Grasshopper, for example, separates business calls, messages and contacts from personal ones on the device you already own [3], and 800.com lets you answer personal and work calls on your existing phone [11].
How do I get a toll free number for my business?
Sign up with a provider that sells toll-free numbers and pick one during checkout. Grasshopper offers 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888 and true 800 numbers [3]. At 800.com, random toll-free numbers can be activated within 1-2 hours, while vanity numbers take 1-5 days [4].
Can I keep my existing number when I switch?
Usually, yes, by porting it. Grasshopper and Quo both say they port numbers at no cost [3] [5]. Expect it to take time; 800.com puts average porting time at about 2 weeks [4].
Our recommendation
For most solo owners, start with Google Voice if you use Google Workspace, or Grasshopper if you want a dedicated business line app that does not depend on Workspace. Pick Quo for a small team sharing one number, 800.com when the number is part of your marketing, and RingCentral when you also need meetings. KrispCall and CallHippo compete on price and country coverage.
Sources
- Google Voice: Business Phone Number & Systems | Google Workspace — checked 2026-11-08
- Sign Up for Grasshopper - Pricing Starting at $14/month — checked 2026-11-08
- Grasshopper Virtual Phone System — checked 2026-11-08
- 800.com Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Quo Pricing | Get started with a Free Trial — checked 2026-11-08
- KrispCall Pricing | Cloud Phone System Plans — checked 2026-11-08
- CallHippo Pricing Plans — checked 2026-11-08
- CallHippo: VoIP Business Phone System & Virtual Numbers — checked 2026-11-08
- RingCentral AI Communications Platform Plans & Pricing — checked 2026-11-08
- Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | Shared Phone System for Small Businesses — checked 2026-11-08
- Business Numbers, AI Receptionist & Call Tracking | 800.com — checked 2026-11-08
