Both Google Voice and Grasshopper are voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) phone services that allow you to make and receive calls and texts. Each solution also offers advanced call management features that are essential for conducting business.
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Grasshopper and Google Voice are both solid VoIP options. We conducted an in-depth review so you can choose the best provider for your business needs.
What Is Grasshopper?
Grasshopper is a paid VoIP service that comes standard with features like visual voicemail, automated attendants and a toll-free number for your business. While it doesn’t offer a free version like Google Voice, it is still one of the better values in the VoIP space and also offers a modern, intuitive user interface.
What Is Google Voice?
Google Voice exists as either a standalone phone service for individual users or as part of Google’s Workspace suite of company productivity software. The software is exceptionally easy to use and offers useful features like call recording, voicemail transcription and integration with other Google products like Google Meet. The personal version of Google Voice is free of charge while Workspace plans start at $6 per month.
Grasshopper vs. Google Voice: At a Glance
Grasshopper
Pricing
$28 to $80
per month, billed annually
Free Trial
7 day
Options
VoIP and Wi-Fi calling
$28 to $80
per month, billed annually
7 day
VoIP and Wi-Fi calling
- Easy to set up and use
- Affordable plans
- Multiple extensions included on all plans
- Excellent phone call quality
- Full feature suite available in all plans
- Doesn’t scale well for mid- to large-sized businesses
- Limited software integrations
- Video conferencing not available
- Support documentation for extension management could be improved
Google Voice
Pricing
$6 to $18
per month per user
Free Option
Personal plan
Integrations
Fully compatible with Google Workspace apps
$6 to $18
per month per user
Personal plan
Fully compatible with Google Workspace apps
- Intuitive user interface
- Excellent call quality
- Unlimited SMS in the U.S.
- Competitive international call rates
- Voicemail transcription on all plans
- Virtual fax not available
- Limited third-party app integrations
- Toll-free and vanity numbers not available
- Insufficient customer support options
How Grasshopper vs. Google Voice Stack Up
| Grasshopper | Google Voice | |
|---|---|---|
|
Price
|
$28 to $80 per month
|
$6 to $18 per month (free personal plan available)
|
|
Number of Users
|
1 to 5 phone numbers* (3 to unlimited extensions)
|
Unlimited (up to 10 for Starter plan)
|
|
Custom Greetings
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Mobile App
|
iOS and Android
|
iOS and Android
|
|
Voice Mail Transcription
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Call Recording
|
–
|
✔
|
|
Usage and Activity Reporting
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Telephone Number Porting
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Local Numbers
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Vanity Numbers
|
✔
|
–
|
|
Toll-Free Numbers
|
✔
|
–
|
|
Call Transfers
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Call Forwarding
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Automated Attendant
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Virtual Fax
|
✔
|
–
|
|
Instant Response
|
✔
|
–
|
|
International Calls
|
Billed per minute (fee varies by location)
|
Only on the Premier plan; billed per minute (fee varies by location)
|
|
Video Conferencing
|
–
|
Google Meet integration
|
|
Live Virtual Receptionist
|
Ruby add-on service
|
–
|
Top Features
Grasshopper includes all its call handling and management features on every plan. All users have access to call forwarding, VoIP and Wi-Fi calling, incoming call control, call transfers, business texting, virtual fax, simultaneous call handling, custom greetings and reporting. You also get unlimited domestic texts and call minutes; additional fees apply for international calls.
Instant response, which sends a customized text to callers when you’re not available to answer the phone, is another popular Grasshopper feature. Activating Grasshopper’s simultaneous call handling feature will prevent your callers from ever hearing a busy signal when contacting your business.
Grasshopper also offers several add-on features. Voice Studio creates a polished, professional greeting for you for $75 per order. Ruby Receptionists is another add-on that provides live, U.S.-based receptionists who answer your phone; this is a great service for companies that need a receptionist but don’t want the hassle and expense of hiring one.
Google Voice offers many of the same features as Grasshopper, including call forwarding, custom greetings and voicemail transcription. With Google Voice, you get unlimited SMS in the U.S. and free calling to the U.S. from any country, plus free calling to Canada from the U.S. Competitive per-minute fees are assessed for international calls.
Google Voice only offers advanced features such as desk phone support, multilevel auto attendant and advanced reporting to its higher-tier plans. Also, Google Voice does not have several features that Grasshopper offers, including toll-free and vanity numbers, virtual fax and a live virtual receptionist option.
Unlike Google Voice, Grasshopper does not offer call recording. Neither provider offers video conferencing within their plans, though Google Voice integrates with Google Meet, a popular app for conducting virtual meetings.
Pricing Plans
Both Grasshopper and Google Voice have affordable plans that suit nearly any business budget. You’ll find these two providers offer some of the most economical VoIP plans available on the market today.
Grasshopper offers three plans. The chart below shows the differences among the plans.
Grasshopper Plans
| Solo | Partner | Small Business | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price per Month
|
$31
|
$51
|
$89
|
|
Phone Numbers Included
|
$1
|
3*
|
5*
|
|
Extensions Included
|
$3
|
6 |
Unlimited
|
Google Voice offers a free personal plan that comes with unlimited domestic calls and texts, voicemail transcripts, call forwarding and Android and iOS apps. Google’s business plans range from $6 to $18 per user per month. Key features offered in each plan are provided below.
Google Voice Business Plans
| Starter | Standard | Premier | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price per Month per User
|
$6
|
$12
|
$18
|
|
Number of Users
|
Up to 10
|
Unlimited
|
Unlimited
|
|
Domestic Locations
|
Up to 10
|
Unlimited
|
Unlimited
|
|
International Locations
|
None
|
None
|
Unlimited
|
|
Free Calling to U.S. From Any Country
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Unlimited SMS in U.S.
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Voice Mail Transcription
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Usage and Activity Reporting
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Call Forwarding
|
✔
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Multilevel Auto Attendant
|
–
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Desk Phone Support
|
–
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
eDiscovery for Calls, Voice Mail and SMS Records
|
–
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Ring Groups
|
–
|
✔
|
✔
|
|
Advanced Reporting
|
–
|
–
|
✔
|
|
Data Regions (reportedly coming soon)
|
–
|
–
|
✔
|
Ease of Use
Google knows how to make things easy to use, and Google Voice is no exception. Most users report that Voice is extremely easy to set up and intuitive navigation makes it easy to move between frequently accessed features like contacts, texts and voicemail.
Grasshopper tends to score high marks from users for ease of setup and navigation as well.
Customer Support
Grasshopper boasts 24/7/365 sales and support options. Customer service and technical support are offered via online chat, phone, email, Twitter, Facebook and the Grasshopper online support center, which hosts an extensive product knowledge base. Grasshopper also provides new clients with a Customer Care Agent to help with onboarding.
Google Voice’s 24/7 customer service contact methods are not nearly as extensive as Grasshopper’s. Customer support is handled via an online help center and a community forum. You can also reach out to Google Voice for help via online contact forms, though responsiveness to customer queries is not necessarily timely. Google only promises a resolution within ten days.
Bottom Line
In the debate between Grasshopper vs. Google Voice, Forbes Advisor’s choice for the better VoIP solution is Grasshopper. Frankly, it isn’t even a close race. Affordable pricing, multiple customer support options and essential business features like toll-free numbers, virtual fax and phone extensions make Grasshopper a stronger solution for small businesses.
The Google Voice personal plan is a great choice if you need a free VoIP service. Google Voice is perfect for freelancers and solopreneurs who are on a tight budget and want a separate number to conduct business, yet don’t need more sophisticated call management features.
VoIP Alternatives
If a traditional phone system isn’t right for your business, there are other options available to you for keeping in touch with your team remotely. For example, Google’s Workspace suite also includes Google Meet, which is a simple, intuitive video conferencing app that can be used from a computer or mobile device. A video calling platform is an effective substitute for face-to-face communication, and it can be easily used for virtual meetings of all sizes. You can even share your screen to call attendees to share slideshows and other information.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grasshopper a good company?
Grasshopper was founded in 2003 and, since that time, has received largely favorable reviews from users and technical reviewers alike. Forbes Advisor includes Grasshopper on its list of ten best VoIP services.
What is video conferencing?
Video conferencing is a type of virtual, online meeting where two or more people talk through a video and audio call in real time.
How good is the call quality with Google Voice?
Most users report that the audio quality on Google Voice is exceptional. Of course, connection quality with any VoIP service is tied to the internet or cell phone data service you are using.
What is VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is an internet-based technology that uses a broadband connection.
What features should I look for in a VoIP service provider?
Most basic VoIP service providers offer unlimited calling, call recording, custom caller ID, automated attendant, speed dial, call conferencing and standard voicemail while more advanced features you can find include toll-free numbers, voice mail-to-text transfer, call forwarding, hot desking, custom ringback, call whispering, digital faxing, visual voicemail and customer relationship management (CRM) integrations.
