Jacob is an experienced Content Writer with experience in SaaS and tech solutions. He's done reviews on software for sites like Business2Community, TechReport, and Techopedia,…
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The best VoIP service for home can offer you better call quality than traditional analog landlines for around half the price. Any home with a reliable internet connection can benefit from the affordable call and video conferencing capabilities of a VoIP or internet phone service.
To help you with the transition, I’ve tested the market-leading residential VoIP solutions, comparing them on key product criteria such as security and compliance, reliability (call uptime), value for money, and customer support to ensure you pick the best option for your home in 2024.
Top VoIP Internet Phone Services for Home Use Tested By Our Experts
Vonage — The best residential VoIP for international calls
I’ve reviewed the market’s nine best VoIP service providers by looking at their value for money, features, and uptime and reliability to give you an in-depth understanding of what they offer.
1. Vonage Home — Best Home VoIP Service for International Calls
Starting Price
$9.99/month
Free Version
Free trial (dependent on plan)
Key Features
HD video and audio, Custom-built plans, Easy-to use app
Type
Hardware & software
Why We Picked It
While Vonage is a VoIP phone service used by 100,000+ businesses worldwide, during my research I found that it offers specific, dedicated plans for a reliable home phone service.
It boasts 50+ communication features, including video collaboration with Vonage meetings. While the use of ‘meetings’ may sound like corporate jargon, the quality of the calls is outstanding. This is thanks to its HD video and call capabilities, trumping the capabilities of traditional landline phones.
In addition, Vonage’s call networks are connected to major carriers in the US and tier-one networks globally, so call quality is guaranteed for international calling.
Vonage’s video meetings allow up to 16 users, but its higher-tier plans let you host up to 100 people per conference call, which is great for hosting large virtual family get-togethers.
All of Vonage’s plans offer unlimited call and text messaging. This is perfect for families who want to use the platform to communicate with family and friends on multiple devices. It’s also great if you’re running a home-based businesses with multiple users.
It’s worth highlighting that I found the interface of the Vonage app to be clean and user-friendly as all the features are listed on the left-hand side of the platform.
Vonage Home Pricing
Vonage has two pricing plans available for home users:
Plan
Domestic
International
Monthly
$9.99/month
$14.99
Domestic – Unlimited calls to US, Canadam Puerto Rico, and Mexico, shipping and activation of equipment
International – Everything in Domestic, plus unlimited international calling to over 60 countries, +20 mobile numbers
2. Ooma — Best Home VoIP for a Comprehensive Free Plan
Starting Price
$79 (once off)
Free Version
Free Plan
Key Features
No monthly fees, Free domestic VoIP calls, Ooma Pure Voice HD technology
Type
Hardware & software
Why We Picked It
My research shows that Ooma offers the best free comprehensive VoIP phone service while offering a variety of advanced features at an affordable price.
Ooma Telo gives you a free phone service for US calls — only taxes and fees are applicable. This makes staying connected with family and friends easy without worrying about long-distance charges or extra costs. If you want to dial international numbers, you can call over 60 countries for $17.99.
If you opt to go premium with Ooma, you can access a free second phone number from any area code in the US. This is perfect for those who want to keep their business phone and personal phone separate, or simply need an extra line for their home.
Beyond this, Ooma offers Adaptive Redundancy technology that helps ensure clear call quality — even when your internet connection isn’t at its best. This means you don’t have to worry about choppy conversations or garbled words.
Ooma Pricing
Ooma requires users to purchase a device (once-off) and the calls are free (excluding taxes and fees). You can try Ooma risk-free with its 30-day full refund policy.
Plan
Ooma Telo
Ooma Telo Air
Ooma Telo LTE
Device cost
$79.99
$129.99
£129.99
Service cost
Free* plus taxes and fees
Free* plus taxes and fees
$19.99* plus taxes and fees
Ooma Basic Service Plan – Free nationwide calling and low-cost international calls
Ooma Premier Service Plan – Everything in the Basic Plan at an additional $9.99 per month, plus free calling in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and advanced call blocking.
*Basic service plan costs are included with the purchase of Ooma Telo or Ooma Telo Air devices.
3. Nextiva — Best Internet Phone Service for Unlimited Chat Features
Starting Price
$20/user/month
Free Version
14-day trial
Key Features
HD video, Responsive mobile app, Call recording
Type
Hardware
Why We Picked It
Nextiva offers unified communications with VoIP, video, and chat, allowing its users to enjoy unlimited audio and video meetings.
It has an impressive list of call features, including text messaging, voicemail to email processing, call queuing, and unlimited calls within the USA and Canada — making it a top residential VoIP service for Canadians.
Unlike traditional telephone lines, Nextiva also offers a responsive desktop, Android, and iOS app, allowing users to stay connected wherever they are. Using the app, you can organize conference chats, calls, video calls, screen sharing, and even group chats with your family.
In addition to these call features, Nextiva boasts advanced features, which will come in handy if you work from home or have a small home business.
A plus here is that all of your communications through the platform are private with TLS & SRTP Encryption. It also offers 24/7 customer support, which will come in handy should you encounter a problem down the line.
Nextiva Pricing
Nextiva offers four pricing plans. I’ve broken down the pricing and what features each one includes below:
Plan
Digital
Core
Engage
Power Suite
Monthly
$25/user/month
$35/user/month
$50/user/month
$75/user/month
Annual
$20/user/month
$30/user/month
$40/user/month
$60/user/month
Digital – Omnichannel digital customer sales and service, website live chat, messaging apps, social media channels, review management, digital service helpdesk
Core – All Digital features, plus inbound and outbound voice, business SMS, video meetings, screen and file sharing, and call routing
Engage – Everything in Core, plus call center queueing, toll-free number and minutes, advanced reporting, MS teams integrations, and a website chatbot
Power Suite – All Engage features, plus advanced IVR, intelligent routing, unified team interface, supervisor dashboard, transcribe and summarize conversations
4. Phone.com — Best as One of the Cheapest VoIP Phone Services for the Home
Starting Price
$12.74/user/month
Free Version
❌
Key Features
AES-256-bit encryption, HD voice and video, Phone, email, and live chat support
Type
Software
Why We Picked It
Phone.com is a budget-friendly VoIP offering voice, text, and video features. In addition to this, it also includes free mobile and desktop apps. A plus is that the app also filters SMS messages, so you can keep personal and work-related messages separate.
Phone.com offers high-quality HD video and calling capabilities for clear communication during your phone conversations. I also like that most core VoIP features are included with every phone service plan, including:
SMS and voice messaging
Free conference calling
Voicemail to email services
Video meetings
Phone.com offers customer support to all users on all plans, including phone, email, and live chat options.
All communication through Phone.com is protected with state-of-the-art AES 256-bit encryption, which keeps all your communications private and secure.
Phone.com has three pricing plans: Basic, Plus, and Pro, which I found are priced competitively and further increases their value for money. Prices start from as low as $12.74 per user, per month, with premium and free numbers available.
Phone.com Pricing
Phone.com has three pricing tiers to cater to different home user needs:
Plan
Basic
Plus
Pro
Monthly
$14.99/user/month
$21.99/user/month
$31.99/user/month
Annual
$12.74/user/month
$18.69/user/month
$27.19/user/month
Basic – 500 minutes, 1 number per account, video conferencing for 10 people, 50 standard voice features, access to mobile and web apps
Plus – Unlimited calling, 1 number per user, 25-person video conferencing, voicemail transcription
Pro – All Plus features, 100-participant video conferencing, and call recording
5. MightyCall — Best Home VoIP for Easy Set Up and No Hardware
Starting Price
$15/user/month
Free Version
7-day free trial
Key Features
Toll-free and local numbers, International numbers available, Call forwarding
Type
Software
Why We Picked It
MightyCall is well-suited as a residential VoIP service provider because it’s a no-frills communication platform with basic call management features. A plus is that you can even keep your existing phone number when you switch to this VoIP service.
What I like is that it’s cloud-based, so there’s no hardware setup required — which makes it great for families looking to get rid of an expensive landline. It’s also compatible with PCs, Macs, tablets, Android, and iOS devices.
The app is user-friendly, and the UI is simplistic but well-designed, with simplified flow charts so anyone can use the system. A useful feature for home use is that a MightyCall phone number doesn’t need to be registered with a SIM card or individual cell phones.
Both local and international new phone numbers can be added for $10. For those running a small businesses at home, you can use a variety of local and international toll-free phone numbers.
Other handy VoIP home phone features include voicemail, call blocking, caller ID, call forwarding, and unlimited calling and texting. On the whole, MightyCall is a good choice for users looking for an easy-to-use VoIP.
While MightyCall doesn’t offer a specialized residential plan, its basic plan offers the key features users need in a residential VoIP. This same plan is also a solid option if you work or run a business from home.
MightyCall Pricing
MightyCall has four pricing tiers to cater to different user needs:
Plan
Core
Pro
Power
Enterprise
Monthly
$20/user/month*
$30/user/month*
$40/user/month*
$50/user/month**
Annual
$15/user/month*
$23/user/month*
$30/user/month*
$50/user/month**
Core – Unlimited calling, unlimited messages, 2 business phoe numbers, integrations and API access, advanced telephony features
Pro – All Core features, plus a supervisor workspace, live cll monitoring, analytics and reporting
Power – Everything in Pro, plus a preview dialer and a progressive dialer and a dedicated account manager
Enterprise – All Power features, plus a predictive dialer, SIP trunking support, and custom integrations
*It is worth noting that MightyCall has a three-user minimum for its first three plans, which means it should be an option for households of three.
** Its top-tier plan requires a 10-user minimum, which makes it a better option for larger and growing families.
6. RingCentral — The Best Home Internet Phone Service for Great Uptime and Features
Starting Price
$20/user/month
Free Version
14-day free trial
Key Features
Push to talk, Unlimited domestic calling, Free video conferencing
Type
Hardware & software
Why We Picked It
While RingCentral’s phone service may be geared for business use over domestic use, it is the best VoIP service for consistent uptime and great features. RingCentral delivers a guaranteed 99.999% uptime, the best of all providers on this list.
The platform provides a great service for calls on iOS and Android apps, and its features allow for document sharing, logging calls, and group messaging.
I like that you can switch from from desktop to mobile a device during a call. This gives you a large amount of flexibility – so you can go from sitting down to checking on something in another room while staying on the line.
There are also features like call recording and call logs, which can come in handy, allowing you to read written voicemail transcripts in your own time.
In addition, you can run video conferences and share your screen, which can be great for online family get-togethers. I found that the Video Pro plan offers an unlimited number of 50-minute meetings for free, which is great for catch-ups with family.
Features like task scheduling may come in handy for event planning or laying out household chores with multiple active parties. RingCentral is both HIPAA and GDPR-compliant, with a total of 10+ security certifications.
While RingCentral has an impressive list of advanced features, you won’t necessarily make full use of them in a domestic setting — and it has a relatively high price tag. Given this, services like Ooma and Vonage have the upper hand if you need affordable international calling without the bells and whistles.
RingCentral Pricing
You can pay for RingCentral monthly or annually and each plan comes with a 14-day trial for 20 phone lines, which makes it a great option for larger families. RingCentral offers three pricing plans for home users, and I’ve highlighted the pricing and features included in each plan below:
Plan
Core
Advanced
Ultra
Monthly
$30/user/month
$35/user/month
$45/user/month
Annual
$20/user/month
$25/user/month
$35/user/month
Core – Unlimited domestic calling, SMS and MMS, visual voicemail
Advanced – Everything in Core, plus auto call recording, advanced call monitoring, unlimited internet fax
Ultra – All Advanced features, plus unlimited AI-powered meetings, unlimited storage for files and recordings
7. Voiply — Best Home VoIP for Specialized Residential Plans
Starting Price
$7.46/month
Free Version
❌
Key Features
HD audio, Call forwarding, Three-way calling
Type
Hardware + software
Why We Picked It
This phone service is unique as many of the best internet phone services don’t offer specific residential VoIP packages. However, this Voiply’s plan is specifically customized to be used in the home, offering you all the features you’ll require for home use.
The communication platform includes HD audio for clear incoming calls, call forwarding, three-way calling, and voicemail. The service also gives you international calling to over 50 countries, including the US and Canada.
Voiply’s mobile app ensures you can make outgoing calls on the move (as long as you have cellular data or access to Wi-Fi). What I love most is that you can configure it so that incoming calls will ring on your home VoIP phone and through the mobile app, so you’ll never miss a call. A plus is that you can keep your existing home phone number.
Overall, .
Voiply Pricing
You can get started with Voiply for as little as $7.46 per month when billed annually ($89.50), and it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Voiply also sells hardware that can be purchased to make the most out of your home VoIP service.
Plan
Home Phone Service
Monthly
$8.95/month
Annual
$7.46/month
Home Phone Service – Plug and play, keep your existing number, voicemail to email, 24/7 support, free porting, call waiting, simultaneous ring
When you sign up, you can order a Voiply Adapter free of charge (usually $39.99), which connects to your router and allows you to use your current analog phone.
Video calling with up to 500 participants, HD video and audio, Easy-to-use interface
Type
Hardware & software
Why We Picked It
8×8 is an impressive VoIP with over 2 million customers worldwide, and its phone service is supported in over 50 countries. During my in-depth research, I found that the platform is easy to use, offers a clean UI, and has excellent communication and VoIP security features.
You can access 8×8’s features via its mobile app, a desktop app (that’s compatible with Windows and Mac), or via your web browser. It has a variety of plans with various features, while its base plan offers access to unlimited members.
It also allows unlimited calls within the USA and Canada — and all calls and messages are encrypted, ensuring all of your communication is secure.
One of the most impressive 8×8 features is its HD audio and video conferencing capabilities. You can enjoy seamless HD audio and video calls with up to 500 active participants, with screen-sharing capabilities. This is great for families who want to host video calls with multiple family members and friends.
The platform also offers interactive meetings with live emoji reactions and customer support software, such as Zendesk.
8×8 Pricing
8×8 has a wide range of plans, but its pricing is subject to a personal quote. Below I’ve outlined each plan and the relevant home use features:
X2 – Unlimited voice calling to 14 countries, HD video and audio conferencing for up to 500 participants, SMS, and MMS
X4 – Everything in X2, plus unlimited calling to 8 countries; and monitor, whisper and barge.
X6 – All X4 features, skills-based routing, IVR, call recording, choice between metered and unmetered call bundles
X7 – Everything in X6, including chat, email, SMS and video, and co-browsing
X8 – All X7 features, plus quality management and speech and text analytics
9. DialPad — Best Home VoIP Service for Instant Messaging
Starting Price
$15/user/month
Free Version
14-day free trial
Key Features
Call blocking, Multi-ring, Auto call forwarding
Type
Software
Why We Picked It
DialPad may be a newer VoIP on the market, but it’s a great residential VoIP solution, particularly if you enjoy making regular international calls. You can call internationally with all of its plans and there are options for unlimited global calling.
If you’re wanting to save money on your landline bill, every DialPad plan offers unlimited local calls, making it an excellent option for those who call friends and family locally.
The solution also works well through your browser, mobile app, and on your desktop, so you have flexibility over how you use DialPad. You can also keep your existing phone number or get a new one — just check whether your phone number can be transferred to VoIP.
Another standout feature is that DialPad offers instant messaging tools. If you’ve used Slack, then you’ll enjoy the Slack-like messaging features within the platform — a great way to regularly chat with family members or friends.
You can also make high-quality HD video calls through the platform (as long as you access to Wi-Fi or a cellular data connection).
DialPad Pricing
DialPad has three plans available that are great options for residential use. It also offers users a 14-day trial of its service.
Plan
Standard
Pro
Enterprise
Monthly
$27/user/month
$35/user/month
Custom
Annual
$15/user/month
$25/user/month
Custom
Standard – AI call transcription, unlimited calling, SMS and MMS, and web and chat support
Pro – All Standard features, plus 24/7 live agent support, multiple phone numbers per account, global SMS capabilities
Enterprise – All Pro features, plus 100% uptime, and priority support
To help you narrow down your list of options, I’ve compiled the handy table below so you can easily compare the market’s best virtual phone number providers:
We base our recommendations on first-hand testing. All the VoIP products we feature, have been tested based on the following criteria:
Features: We explore the platform’s general call and video conferencing capabilities and unique features like automation, call queuing, call recording, and IVR features.
Integrations: We assess whether it offers integration support for popular business apps such as CRMs, project management platforms, helpdesk software, and others.
Reliability: We test the call quality on offer with the VoIP platform, and we only include services that offer an uptime guarantee of close to 100%.
Security and Compliance: We check whether the platform offers industry-standard encryption, access controls, compliance with regulations like GDPR, and firewalls.
Numbers: We factor in whether the platform offers a variety of number options like local, toll-free, international, and vanity numbers.
Ease of Use: We test the VoIP service on its available platforms to ensure we can give accurate insight into its usability.
Value for Money: After our hands-on testing, we’re able to better analyze whether the price point is fair to offer insight into the feature-to-price value on offer.
Reviews and Reputation: Beyond our hands-on testing, we explore third-party reviews to see if we need to investigate certain aspects of the VoIP service further. This combined allows us to offer a good overview of what our readers can expect from the platform.
What is Residential VoIP?
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology allows you to make and receive telephone calls using the internet instead of a traditional landline, which uses a copper cable.
While these have been predominantly used by businesses, the financial savings and low investment have been a popular choice for homeowners wanting to cut back on call costs.
Many dedicated VoIP providers offer local and international calling plans, with many offering adapters so that you can continue to use your traditional phones. A plus is that many service provider also allow you to port your existing landline over, so you won’t miss any communication when you switch over.
Do I Need a VoIP Home Phone?
With the US Federal Communications Commission choosing to sunset regulations that govern traditional landlines, large networks no longer need to offer traditional landline services from 2025.
Around 40% to 50% of US households have already switched from traditional landlines to VoIP and internet phone services ahead of the phase-out of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
By moving over to a cloud-based service before the switch-off, you’ll gain access to the current competitive pricing, access to a broad range of features on offer, as well as avoiding the possible delays due to a mass migration.
The Benefits of Using a Home VoIP or Internet Phone Service
Traditionally, VoIP technology has been utilized as a communication solution for businesses, but its popularity has increased and more people have switched to a VoIP home phone service. Here are some reasons to make the switch:
Save On Costly Telephone CallsExtra FeaturesConvenience and Quality
A home VoIP service uses your broadband internet connection to make calls instead of analog phone lines, so they’re typically able to offer lower calling rates, resulting in large savings for customers. VoIP providers can also offer customized plans to customers.
For example, many VoIP providers offer a fixed amount of minutes per month or unlimited monthly calling for a fixed price, so customers know the exact amount of money they’ll pay and the number of minutes they can use.
VoIP solutions offer homeowners and families more features than traditional analog phone systems. For example, a home VoIP solution lets users make HD voice and video calls while hosting multiple users on the same call. These features are handy for families and friends wanting to stay in contact.
In addition, most providers offer a range of plans with pricing based on the number of users a customer needs. This can further help people save money using VoIP over a traditional phone system.
Voice over Internet Protocol services are convenient as they can be used anywhere with an internet connection. They will usually include access to an app, giving you access to a broad range of advanced features, such a voicemail to text.
In addition, many residential VoIP providers use HD voice calling and video calling, meaning that as long you are connected to the internet, you’ll have crystal clear communication through voice and video.
How to Choose the Best VoIP Service for Home
After thorough testing and looking at the pain points of home users, these are the factors you should consider when choosing a home VoIP service:
PriceCall and Voice FeaturesSetup and Installation ProcessUser Experience and Ease of Use
Price is one of the main reasons homeowners consider switching from a traditional phone service to VoIP. Fortunately, all the providers we looked at have affordable plans, but make sure the VoIP you choose provides the features you need.
Arguably the most important VoIP features you need to consider are a provider’s call and voice features. The best providers offer HD-quality voice and video calling capabilities.
Many providers also offer unlimited local, national, and international calling within their plans, which is important if you’re calling friends and family locally or abroad.
Consider how complex the installation will be for each VoIP provider on this list. Software-based VoIP providers just require users to download an app and run through the installation instructions to get set up, which is a better option for those who are less tech-savvy.
Other providers offer do-it-yourself installation kits where you pay a one-off price for hardware and then install the VoIP yourself.
Look at each VoIP’s user experience and its ease of use. The best VoIP service providers offer apps that can be used on desktop, mobile phone, and via a web browser.
These apps should be easy to use, have a control panel that clearly lays out the VoIP’s different features, and requires little technical expertise to use effectively.
FAQs
How does VoIP work?
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) works by converting your voice into a digital signal that’s compressed and sent over the Internet. This signal is processed through a VoIP provider and uncompressed into the sound the receiving person hears through their device.
What’s the cheapest VoIP service for home?
The cheapest VoIP service for home is Voiply. Although it don’t offer a free trial, the annual package costs $8.33/month, which is the lowest price we came across out of all the residential VoIPs we reviewed.
What’s the best VoIP to call a landline?
All the VoIPs we’ve reviewed can call landlines — but Voiply and Ooma are well set up to call landlines as they have specialized residential plans.
How much does VoIP phone service cost per month?
The price you pay each month ranges from free to a custom price per month. Your fee will depend on the provider you choose and the type of service you need.
Are there free VoIP services?
Yes, there are free VoIP services available. For example, Ooma has plans that only require you to pay for the hardware and local taxes every month, but there are no monthly subscription fees.
Does VoIP work without Wi-Fi?
VoIP can work without Wi-Fi, but a user will need to use mobile phone data if they don’t have access to a Wi-Fi connection.
Can a landline call a VoIP phone?
Yes, a landline can call a VoIP phone. If a landline phone is connected to a public telephone network, a user will need to enter the VoIP phone’s number to make a call.
Techopedia’s editorial policy is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
Jacob is an experienced Content Writer with experience in SaaS and tech solutions. He's done reviews on software for sites like Business2Community, TechReport, and Techopedia, sharing his expansive knowledge on all things tech-related - from VPNs to password managers and accounting software.
When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
