The Best VoIP Home Phone Services: Top Picks for Clear and Reliable Calling

When it comes to making phone calls at home, some people still prefer the reliability and comfort of a traditional telephone. However, the rise of digital phone lines is changing the game. Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, which allows for calls to be made over the internet, is becoming increasingly popular for both businesses and homes.

In addition to improved call quality and lower costs, VoIP offers a range of features that analog landlines do not. These include voicemail-to-email, call forwarding, caller ID, conference calling, and video calling. Signing up for VoIP service is relatively easy, requiring only a high-speed internet connection and specialized equipment that is usually provided by the service provider. While many ISPs and cable operators offer VoIP phone service as part of a bundle, there are also independent home VoIP providers that may offer more features and value.

1-VoIP Residential

1-VoIP provides residential services at a starting cost of $8.97 per month. The pricing structure is based on the number and location of calls. The service offers a range of features, including softphone compatibility. However, some advanced features, such as virtual numbers and fax-to-email, come at an additional cost.

For those looking for low-cost plans, AXvoice is a good option, with plans starting at $8.25 per month with an annual plan. The service includes over 30 features, such as enhanced voicemail and simultaneous ring, and is available in three tiers. However, it does not offer unlimited worldwide calling.

For those in need of a secondary number, Google Voice offers a free option that forwards incoming calls to an existing landline or mobile number. This feature is particularly useful for small business owners. However, outgoing calls using landline phones are not supported, and Google Voice requires users to make calls via its website or mobile app.

1-VoIP is a good choice for those in need of phone adapters.

Ooma (Residential)

Ooma offers residential plans in addition to its popular small business VoIP solution, Ooma Office. The Basic plan is free, with customers only paying a one-time fee for the hardware, plus applicable monthly taxes and fees, which are far lower than a regular phone bill. However, to access Ooma's full suite of advanced features, customers must pay a monthly charge. Ooma offers three types of phone adapters: wired, one that works over Wi-Fi, and another that works over LTE.

For customers looking for flexible plans, Phone Power's home phone service is divided between US/Canada plans and international plans. The cost of a North American plan depends on whether customers are willing to prepay for a year, want monthly billing with a two-year term, or prefer no contract at all. The international plans offer unlimited global calling, but they're priced based on the number of countries they support. Although it's not the cheapest home VoIP solution, it's certainly well-regarded and mature, with a wide variety of options and capabilities.

Voiply may not be as mature as some other providers, but its pricing shines. Customers receive their phone adapter for free, and there aren't any setup fees. Its monthly pricing (starting at $8.95) is similar to other services, but customers get two months free if they opt for an annual payment plan. One really nice feature is that Voiply offers unlimited calling to 50+ countries at no additional charge. That's a real boon if customers make many overseas calls.

For customers interested in experimental beta features, VoIPo offers a robust list of software-based features, including some experimental beta features like PBX. Customers get 60 international minutes for free each month, which is upgradeable to 1200 minutes if they're willing to double their monthly price. Otherwise, international calling costs extra, so customers should factor that in if they place a lot of calls overseas.

For customers looking for excellent customer support, Ooma and Phone Power both offer extensive customer support options. Ooma provides phone and email support, as well as an online knowledge base. Phone Power offers phone, email, and live chat support, as well as an online knowledge base and community forum.

Vonage (Home)

Vonage is a well-established VoIP provider that offers a range of features starting at $9.99 per month. While it has been focusing more on the business market recently, it still provides excellent customer support and a full complement of VoIP features, including Wi-Fi calling, Caller ID, and Call Waiting. It also offers a mobile softphone app for both Android and iOS.

What Is Residential VoIP?

Residential VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a phone service that transmits voice calls over the Internet rather than traditional phone lines. This means that instead of using copper wires to carry analog voice signals, VoIP converts the voice into digital packets and sends them over the internet. This results in better call quality and a wider range of features than traditional analog phones.

While some cable TV providers and larger residential ISPs offer VoIP as part of a triple-play package, independent VoIP providers generally offer more features and worldwide calling plans. A baseline for any residential VoIP service should include caller ID, voicemail, call waiting, support for emergency services (E911), and three-way calling. Most independent VoIP providers also offer a variety of other features.

Early VoIP systems were mainly aimed at businesses and required special VoIP phones to connect to the network. However, today's residential VoIP providers usually provide adapter devices that allow you to connect any standard phone. This is especially useful if you have a cordless phone system with multiple handsets that you can place in different rooms of your home.

Setting up a residential VoIP service is usually straightforward and requires minimal intervention. You simply plug the adapter device into your internet router or connect it to your Wi-Fi network, and it will automatically find the provider's network. Some providers even offer adapters that connect over LTE, making it even easier to set up.

Overall, residential VoIP offers a more advanced communication device than traditional analog phones. It provides better call quality, more features, and worldwide calling plans. With the rise of independent VoIP providers, it is becoming an increasingly popular choice for home phone service.

Residential VoIP's Advanced Features

While basic VoIP services are great for low-cost phone service, advanced features can take your home phone experience to the next level. Most VoIP providers offer web-based control panels where you can configure the service's settings and enable advanced features.

One such feature is smart call forwarding, which allows you to forward your phone number to one or several other numbers. You can even configure them to ring in a specific order of preference. For example, you might route calls to your home phone first, then your mobile phone, and then your spouse's mobile phone.

Another useful feature is the Always Reject List, which is essentially a blocklist for specific numbers. Your VoIP account will know not to ring your phone when they call.

Virtual phone numbers are also becoming increasingly popular. These are additional numbers attached to your primary VoIP account but separately managed. You can even purchase them through different services than your primary VoIP provider. This feature allows you to have a virtual extension of your home phone line that's located in another area code.

Voicemail routing is another advanced feature that can be very useful. This feature allows you to apply a set of rules to incoming calls that automatically route them to voicemail without even causing a ring. For example, if calls come in with Caller ID blocked, those can be routed directly to voicemail. Or, if you're not in the mood to talk, you can hang a digital Do Not Disturb sign to route all calls to voicemail.

In addition, VoIP services often come with voicemail-to-text and virtual fax capabilities. With voicemail-to-text, you can receive a transcription of your voicemail messages as a text message or email. Virtual fax allows you to send and receive faxes through your VoIP service without needing a physical fax machine.

Overall, residential VoIP services offer a wide range of advanced features that can enhance your home phone experience. By taking advantage of these features, you can customize your phone service to meet your specific needs and preferences.

Do I Need a Softphone for My Home VoIP?

A softphone is a software application that turns your computing device into a phone using your network connection, speakers, and microphone. Softphones are a common feature in business VoIP systems, and some residential VoIP providers offer them as well. If you have a softphone attached to your VoIP account, the software will ring whenever your home phone does, and when you place calls on it, those calls will register as coming from your home phone number.

While business-class softphones offer various features related to online meeting collaboration, call routing, multi-line conference calling, and more, residential VoIP softphones typically offer video conferencing, a voicemail-to-text converter, detailed call records, and user controls for anyone other than yourself using the service. Some services also offer faxing, text chat, and call metering so you can see how much you're spending.

If you're wondering if you need a softphone for your home VoIP, it depends on your needs. A softphone can be particularly useful if you need to make and receive calls on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, Mac, or PC. Additionally, some services, such as Google Voice, support outgoing calls only by softphone, so be aware of that if you want to keep your traditional landline handsets.

In summary, while a softphone is not necessary for a home VoIP system, it can be a useful addition if you need to make and receive calls on multiple devices or if you require the additional features that some softphone applications offer.

What Does VoIP Phone Service Cost?

Price is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a residential VoIP service. The "triple play" sales pitch offered by most regional residential cable companies and internet providers is a popular pricing model. It includes internet, TV, and phone service in one monthly charge, and a technician will hook everything up for you, including your phone and phone adapter.

However, it is important to note that bundled packages often have a limited-time ultra-low price before the actual cost is billed. Unfortunately, many providers do not print the actual cost on their websites, so it is important to ask the salesperson on the phone before signing up.

Independent residential VoIP providers are described in this roundup, which can be used over any broadband internet connection. While their pricing is likely more transparent than in a triple-play scenario, some providers still obscure the actual amount you will pay.

One way this can happen is through a meager or free "basic" or "introductory" tier that lacks features, leading most customers to opt for the higher-priced tier. Another common practice is offering a one- or two-year contract with a lower price compared to a significantly higher-priced month-to-month tier.

Most residential VoIP services offer unlimited calling, but this typically assumes dialing a number within the home country. Calls to other regions often carry additional per-minute charges, as can VoIP calls to mobile phones, although these are generally much cheaper than traditional long-distance rates.

Below is a table showing the starting prices for some of the best residential VoIP providers in 2023.

Provider Starting Price AXvoice $8.25 per month with an annual plan Vonage $9.99 per month Ooma One-time fee of $99.95 for the hardware RingCentral Starts at $10 per user, per month

It is important to note that prices may vary depending on the features and services included in each provider's plan. Therefore, it is crucial to compare the features and pricing of each provider before making a decision.

Should You Make the Leap to VoIP?

Residential VoIP is an attractive option for those who already have a high-speed internet connection. While it may not offer as many features as its business-class version, it still offers more features than traditional phone service. VoIP offers a much lower overall price tag than traditional phone service and features like intelligent call routing and virtual numbers. In most cases, users can even keep their own phone number through a process known as "porting."

One area where a landline offers something VoIP phones cannot is that they are more disaster-resistant. If a house loses power, the landline phone should keep working because it does not rely on the main power grid. However, if the router loses power, the VoIP phone will go dark too. This limitation is less of an issue nowadays as most people have a mobile phone to back up their home phone. That phone will keep working in the event of a power outage, which means emergency calls can still be made. If a user has opted for a mobile smartphone client on their home VoIP account, they can make those calls using their home phone number rather than their mobile number.

When opting for VoIP, users must be aware of E911 requirements. The VoIP provider needs to register the user's street address with emergency services so that they can respond to the right address when called. If a user moves, they will need to ensure their E911 record gets updated with their new address, as it might not be automatic. If a user uses a softphone app from somewhere other than their home, their phone number will not match their actual location.

One last consideration is a user's job. The pandemic has many companies expanding their VoIP services to employees working primarily from home. If a user's company allows remote work, talking to their IT support person before buying a home VoIP service might be a good idea. If an employer wants to send a VoIP phone or manage the installation of VoIP service in a user's home, they can often add a residential deal by simply tacking the home number onto the business phone.

Overall, VoIP is simply the better option for most customers. Dropping the landline means no more hidden fees and no- or low-cost metered long-distance calling charges. Most providers charge for all their features at one low rate, and the user's ability to customize their phone service to exactly what they need is far greater. So unless a user has some highly unique circumstances that somehow mandate a traditional landline, VoIP is simply the better choice.