The 7 Best Cloud Phone Systems for Small Businesses (2026)

So you’re thinking about switching to a cloud phone system to make and receive phone calls more efficiently. The question is, which platform do you choose? And how do you sort the great from the good?

To save you time, we’ve collected the seven best cloud phone systems and compared their prices, features, and video demos. We also explain how to whittle down your shortlist and choose the perfect fit for your business.

Article Overview

• The best cloud phone systems of 2026 are Allo, RingCentral, Dialpad, Zoom Phone, GoTo Connect, 8x8, and Microsoft Teams Phone.
• We evaluated each provider based on their pricing, features, and demos, as well as an extensive research process.
• Allo is the best cloud phone system for growing sales teams looking for an AI-first business phone solution. 

Why You Can Trust Our Research

Our product managers test existing business phone solutions all day, every day. We get our hands on lots of different systems, so before making any verdicts, we run all platforms through an extensive evaluation process.

Here’s a quick version of our methodology at a glance:

• User reviews: We only selected providers with G2 scores above 4.0. We also scoured public forums like Trustpilot and Reddit to get a better idea of the users’ overall sentiment. 
• Feature set: We looked for a robust set of features included specifically on the base plan. We also evaluated whether or not each plan offered more than ‘bare bones’ phone features, like AI receptionists and call summaries. 
• App availability: Many providers offer desk phones and rentals so you can make and receive calls over traditional phone lines. But we specifically focused on more flexible providers letting you handle incoming calls on your laptop, tablet, or cell phone.

Allo

• Best for: Growing sales teams
• G2 Rating: 4.7/5 (200 reviews)
• Key features of Allo: Unlimited calling in the US and Canada, local and toll-free numbers, advanced call management features such as call whispering, voicemail transcriptions, AI-generated post-call summaries, mobile and desktop app, route calls via AI, advanced reporting, business hours, and enterprise-grade reliability
  

What is Allo?

Allo is a cloud-phone system designed for growing sales teams wanting an easier way to manage everyday conversations. Unlike other business phone systems, Allo wasn’t designed for contact centers. Each feature on our platform was designed for SMBs wanting easier ways to scale their business.

Here’s how Allo can improve your bottom line and your customer experience: 

• Local and toll-free business phone numbers so customers can reach you however they need
• Access to AI features like a receptionist, AI call tagging, call summaries, action items, and other items that require automation
• Intuitive mobile apps so you can text, set up phone menus, and direct inbound and outbound calls to specific team members and departments
  

But because Allo was designed for more modern workflows, it doesn’t support features like paging or hot desking. But if you're a remote or hybrid sales team wanting an easier way to close more deals, Allo can help you build relationships, save time, and increase sales.

Who does Allo work best for?

Allo is the cloud-based phone system for sales teams and entrepreneurs who want to manage business communications. Each plan offers advanced features and AI workflows, which let you automate customer touchpoints so you can effortlessly scale. Now, you can spend more time selling and less time fixing issues with phone features, hardware, or call controls. 

You can put this to the test in a seven-day free trial.

Allo pricing

Pick from one of two Allo pricing plans:

• Starter: $18/user/month for unlimited calls and texts in Canada and the US, smart call routing, one local business number, call recording, AI search, personalized greetings, call transfers, an AI receptionist, and AI call tags
• Business: $32/user/month for international calls, third-party integrations, call whispering, ask AI, intelligent call distribution, shared phone numbers, call statistics and insights, personalized onboarding, and user roles/permissions
  

Demo of Allo

RingCentral

• Best for: Businesses seeking a unified communications platform
• G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (2,900 reviews)
• Key features of RingCentral: Instant messaging for teams, visual call flows, auto-attendant, ring groups, apps for desktop and mobile devices, voicemail to email
  

What is RingCentral?

RingCentral is a unified communications provider, which means it supports voice calls, text messaging, and video calls on every plan. But keep in mind you don’t get unlimited amounts: you’re limited to 100 toll-free minutes, 25 text messages, and 200 video call members on the base plan. 

You can use RingCentral’s desktop app or mobile app to route calls manually or automatically, such as sending your callers through a specific ring group. There’s also a built-in team messaging function so you can communicate with co-workers in real time.

But keep in mind you can’t get unlimited storage, no matter how many times you upgrade. The ‘unlimited’ storage option on the highest tier is still subject to time-based deletion policies. 

Who does RingCentral work best for?

RingCentral can help you create an omnichannel presence across multiple business communication channels (think SMS, video meetings, and business calls). It also offers some AI features if all you’re looking for is a slightly smoother customer experience. 

But RingCentral isn’t a fit for AI-driven teams: many of its best features require multiple add-ons. This includes its AI Receptionist, Conversation Intelligence, AI Email Draft Generator, and AI summaries. 

If you want AI features without added costs, an alternative like Allo may be more up your alley. 

RingCentral pricing

RingCentral’s pricing plans start at $20 per month:

• Core: $20/user/month for 25 texts, 100 toll-free minutes, and unlimited interactive voice response (IVR), basic call queues, basic video conferencing with 100 participants, and limited storage for team messaging
• Advanced: $25/user/month for 100 texts, 1,000 toll-free minutes, advanced call routing, automatic call recording, multi-site management, and CRM integrations
• Ultra: $35/user/month for video conferencing with 200 participants, whiteboards, 200 texts, 10,000 toll-free minutes, unlimited storage for files and team messaging, and access to a personal AI assistant for SMS
• Customer Engagement Bundle: Contact for pricing to get add-ons like the Business SMS Booster, the Call Queues Booster, the AI Receptionist, and all Personal AI Assistant features
  

Keep in mind you’ll pay extra to access other RingCentral AI features. This includes: 

• Live reports
• Push-to-talk
• AI receptionists
• RingSense for Sales
• Business analytics Pro
• RingCentral Rooms connectors
• RingSense for AI-powered conversation intelligence
  

Demo of RingCentral

Dialpad

• Best for: Customer support teams 
• G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (3,949 reviews)
• Key features of Dialpad: Custom call routing, contact center add-ons, local and toll-free phone number support, auto-attendants, support for video conferencing, business hours, unlimited voice calls, and advanced features like no-code call flows

What is Dialpad?

Dialpad is a cloud-based VoIP provider that offers proprietary AI on every plan. The base plan offers voicemail, meeting, and real-time call transcriptions, plus features like call summaries without add-on costs. Just keep in mind there are very few automation features (which we’ll cover later on).

One of Dialpad’s biggest claims to fame is its ability to support numbers in more than 50 countries. This makes it an excellent fit for international businesses looking to reach customers overseas.

But these features, among others, require you to upgrade your plan. International numbers are only available on the Pro plan, which costs nearly double the base plan.

Who does Dialpad work best for?

Unlike Allo, which is specifically designed for sales teams, Dialpad was built with support teams in mind. It’s an excellent fit for transcribing support phone calls, capturing action items, and reporting real-time analytics for supervisors. 

But Dialpad isn’t a fit for fast-growing teams wanting more automation in their daily call flows. Automation isn’t the same as AI, after all, and you’ll notice very few features that can help you put customer communications on complete autopilot (think: no auto-replies or AI receptionist).

Thankfully, these are available for no add-on cost with other Dialpad alternatives. 

Dialpad pricing

There are three levels of Dialpad Connect:

• Standard: $15/user/month for unlimited calls in your country plus the US and Canada, a local number, call recording, call forwarding, real-time transcripts, instant call summaries, voicemail transcripts, real-time analytics, and three-ring groups
• Pro: $25/user/month for sign-on (SSO), 25 ring groups, quality-of-service reports, and integrations with Google Workspace
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for phone number extensions, unlimited ring groups, CRM integrations, and more

Keep in mind Platinum Support requires a separate add-on. Plus, plans for Dialpad Sell and Dialpad Support come with separate pricing. 

You can learn about both of these in our deep dive into Dialpad.

Demo of Dialpad

Zoom Phone

• Best for: Businesses already using Zoom
• G2 Rating: 4.6/5 (2,639 reviews)
• Key features of Zoom Phone: Team chat, desktop and mobile app, ring groups, and other business tools like long-distance call support
  

What is Zoom Phone?

You can think of Zoom Phone as the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) branch of Zoom’s video meeting suite. With it, you can make phone calls with your team — and even transform calls into video meetings — without purchasing an entirely different system. But keep in mind this isn’t available on the base plan: you’ll need to upgrade to the Pro Plus plan first.

Zoom Phone also offers an AI Companion that helps you take notes, record action items, and generate documents based on the videos you record. But that’s about all the AI you get with this provider. There are no AI search functions, AI receptionists, or other AI tools that can help take inbound calls. 

Another benefit of Zoom Phone is its support for desk phones and headsets (although keep in mind this may require an upgrade). You’ll need to get in touch with sales for more information about these possible add-ons, as well as integrations. 

Who does Zoom Phone work best for?

Zoom Phone plans make the best sense for businesses already relying on the Zoom ecosystem. If you rely more on video meetings than you do phone calls, and you only need to make a few calls every once in a while, it could be a decent fit. 

But if you rely heavily on third-party integrations, or need more support for incoming calls, you may want to consider a Zoom Phone alternative like Allo.

Zoom Phone pricing

There are now four tiers of Zoom Phone plans:

• US & CA Metered: $10/user/month for metered domestic calling within the US and Canada, domestic text messaging, international calls, call recording, and access to the desktop and mobile apps
• US & CA Unlimited: $15/user/month for everything in Metered, plus unlimited domestic calling within the US and Canada
• Pro Plus: $18.33/user/month for unlimited docs, three editable whiteboards, instant messaging, workflow automations, 10 GB of cloud storage, and free premium Zoom apps for one year
• Business Plus: $22.49/user/month for access to the Zoom scheduler, unlimited whiteboards, and 15 GB of cloud storage

Demo of Zoom Phone

GoTo Connect

• Best for: International calls
• G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (1,386 reviews)
• Key features of GoTo Connect: Instant messaging, video meetings, call controls, call forwarding, automated attendants, and voicemail transcriptions (with upgrade)
  

What is GoTo Connect?

GoTo Connect is an international cloud phone system designed for businesses reaching overseas customers. The base plan offers free calls to 50 countries, plus unlimited auto-attendants, call queues, and video meetings with up to 250 participants. 

But since GoTo Connect doesn’t publicly list its pricing, it may be prohibitively expensive to small and growing brands. It may also impose limits on texting and calling. The only way to know for sure is to contact sales. 

Who does GoTo Connect work best for?

You can use GoTo Connect to reach international clients without paying extra per-minute fees. It also offers video meetings on the base plan, which isn’t always available with other providers. 

But GoTo Connect is not a good fit for businesses requiring heavy teamwork. Shared numbers require upgrades, and the integrated softphone is only available on the most expensive plan.

With Allo, shared numbers and softphone access are available on the Business plan.

GoTo Connect pricing

GoTo Connect no longer lists public pricing. If you want a custom quote, you’ll need to get in touch with sales. 

Demo of GoToConnect

8x8

• Best for: Physical offices
• G2 Rating: 4.2/5 (1,239 reviews)
• Key features of 8x8: Unlimited domestic calling, video conferencing, SMS, payment processing, advanced queue management, and conversational intelligence.
  

What is 8x8?

8x8 is a cloud-based unified communications platform that offers self-service workflows to fast-growing businesses. In addition to payment processing and self-service call flow managers, you can integrate with third-party platforms that reinforce your business’s ability to serve customers autonomously. 

But there are a few drawbacks to keep in mind:

• There is no public pricing, so you’ll have to contact sales for more details 
• There’s no detailed feature comparison, so you can’t tell what you get on which plan
• The setup process may be relatively complex, according to recent user reviews
  

If none of these limitations bother you much, 8x8 could be a fitting cloud phone system for your business. 

Who does 8x8 work best for?

8x8 offers features like overhead paging, intercom, faxing, and desk phone support — ideal for businesses with physical offices or cubicles. You can also overhaul existing PBX phone systems without purchasing new legacy hardware, which ultimately leads to cost savings. 

But these cost savings are heavily dependent on what you pay for 8x8, which as of right now, isn’t publicly listed online. Between the plan itself, setup costs, and possible hidden fees, 8x8 may be an expensive tool for the average SMB.

8x8 pricing

As of January 2026, 8x8 no longer lists public pricing. You’ll need to get in touch with sales for a custom quote.

Demo of 8x8

Microsoft Teams Phone

• Best for: Microsoft ecosystem users
• G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (17,639 reviews)
• Key features of Microsoft Teams Phone: AI personal assistant, collaborative (group) calling, customer engagement software, desktop and mobile apps, PSTN connectivity, and shared numbers

What is Microsoft Teams Phone?

Like Zoom Phone, Microsoft Teams Phone is the telephony arm of your MS Teams subscription. This allows you to easily call anyone within your organization. Just keep in mind the base plan doesn’t allow you to call outside your internal network. If you want to call external users, you’ll need to upgrade your plan multiple times. 

You can also use Zoom Phone to send text messages, set up audio conferences, and schedule video meetings with other members of your team. There are also built-in team chat features if you want to communicate with your coworkers without sending a full email or making a call.

But other than that, Microsoft Teams Phone offers almost no other business phone features. If you want more AI, prepare to pay for Microsoft Copilot. Looking for features like AI call tags and cascade ringing? These aren’t available on Microsoft Teams Phone. 

Who does Microsoft Teams Phone work best for?

As you might imagine, Microsoft Teams Phone makes the most sense for existing Microsoft Teams users. If you have a large or sprawling team, and don’t want to install desk phones on every desk, it’s a viable way to keep all your departments connected.

That said, Microsoft Teams Phone wasn’t expressly designed for external calls. You’ll also need to upgrade multiple times for basic features, like international minutes. 

If you plan on calling customers or clients (including those overseas), it will be cheaper and easier to swap to a Microsoft Teams Phone alternative. 

Microsoft Teams Phone pricing

You can pick from one of four Microsoft Teams Phone plans.

Here are the prices paid annually:

• Standard: $10/user/month for PSTN capabilities, 99.999% uptime SLA, and access to the mobile app. This allows you to make calls through Teams, but you can’t call externally. Instead, you'll need a Microsoft-certified external service provider
• Teams Phone (Pay-As-You-Go): $13/user/month for pay-as-you-go external calling
• Teams Phone (with Calling Plan): $17/user/month for 3,000 outbound domestic calling minutes in the US, UK, and Canada, plus 1,200 outbound domestic calling minutes for the rest of the world
• Teams Phone (Domestic and International Calling): $34/user/month for everything in Teams Phone Calling Plan, plus 600 outbound international calling minutes

Demo of Microsoft Teams Phone

How to Choose the Right Cloud Phone System for Your Business

Now that you’ve whittled down a shortlist of providers, here’s how to select the best cloud phone system for your business:

• Does the pricing offer value? This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the lowest price on your list. For example, how much do you get for what you’re spending? All the basics, plus extra? Or are you paying for things you don’t need and won’t grow into?
• How easy is it to scale? Can you easily upgrade your plan whenever you need more features? Perhaps more importantly, how many add-ons and upgrades do you need for basic features?
• Do they offer all basic features on the base plan? Speaking of paying extra, you shouldn’t have to upgrade multiple times for basic features. Are you required to upgrade for call forwarding, call queues, and auto-attendants? If so, will you be paying for features you don’t yet need (like video conferencing or overhead paging). 
• Can you access truly unlimited features? You should at least have access to unlimited domestic calling in your area. Keep an eye out for other arbitrary limits, like thresholds for SMS messages and toll-free minutes. 
• Does it offer CRM and app integrations? If there aren’t any third-party integrations, or if the platform doesn’t connect to your existing CRM, it may be a basic business phone system. Readjust your selection accordingly. 
• Is there a free trial offered? Or at least a demo? You should be able to try before you buy, or at least without committing to a paid plan up-front. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Cloud Phone Systems

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