Best Business Phone App: Comparison and Features for 2024

Why use a business phone app? When you’re taking business calls and personal calls on the same device, it’s easy to make a mistake. The wrong greeting or slow response can send would-be customers to voicemail or even lose a sale.

That’s where a business phone app comes in.

It helps you manage personal and business calls via a mobile app on a single device. It’s a simple solution that lets you receive incoming calls on a dedicated business phone number without the inconvenience of carrying around two phones.

The best platforms allow you to use your personal phone, VoIP phone, or another internet-connected device like a laptop. But not all phone apps options are created equal. 

We’ve reviewed the top 10 business phone apps to help you pick the right solution for your needs.

1. Nextiva
2. Sideline
3. Unlisted
4. 1-VoIP
5. Banter.io
6. RingDeck
7. GenVoice
8. Phone Wire
9. Netlines
10. Vonix.io

Best Business Phone App: Comparison and Features

Feature	Nextiva	Sideline	Unlisted	1-VoIP	Banter.io
Pricing for business plan	From $30/month per user	From $14.99/month	From $13.99/month per number	From $14.97/month per line	From $9.99/month per line
Numbers available	Local and toll-free	Local	Local	Local	Local and toll-free
Porting of existing number	Yes, including bulk porting	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto attendant	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
CRM integration	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
VoIP technology	Yes	No (VoIP option available)	Yes (non-VoIP option available)	Yes	Yes
Channels available	Phone calls, video conferencing, instant chat, SMS	Phone calls and SMS	Phone calls and SMS	Phone calls, virtual fax	Phone calls, SMS, virtual fax
Additional numbers	Unlimited	One additional	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited

A business phone app can help you manage separate work and personal numbers on the same device and give you the tools you need for a professional phone presence.

Every incoming call is a potential sale, so choosing an app with the right features for your business is important. Integrated features help you streamline the platforms you use and can result in less app fatigue for your team.

A common business phone alternative is Google Voice, but it has limited features. The good news is that a Google Voice number can later be ported to a business phone service like Nextiva.

1. Nextiva

Nextiva’s softphone app allows users to call, text, instant chat, or video conference with a single click. Users can also seamlessly move from the mobile app to the desktop app, making it great for on-the-go calls, working remotely, or from their desktops in the office.

Nextiva contact center provides a suite of business phone features with every plan. These features streamline your communications with one easy-to-use app, making it the best choice for most businesses.

At Nextiva, we’ve handled billions of phone calls for 100,000+ companies and helped countless users connect reliably on every device. In short, we know what small businesses, SMBs, and enterprise teams need in a VoIP phone system.

Nextiva features:

• An interactive voice response (IVR) auto attendant so inbound callers can quickly select which department to speak with using their dial pad.
• Local and toll-free numbers, so customers don’t have to pay a fee when they reach your business. A vanity number also increases the credibility of your business.
• You can use a virtual phone number with Nextiva’s business phone app, which allows users to maintain a professional presence without needing a traditional desk phone and phone line.
• Unlimited HD voice calls with stellar call quality from any computer or mobile phone.
• Record meetings instantly so you can reference later or send to participants who were unable to attend. 
• Custom caller ID, so prospects know who is calling ahead of time, increasing the chances that they’ll pick up the phone. In fact, 76% of calls go unanswered if they’re from unidentified or unfamiliar phone numbers.
• Call forwarding that allows you to redirect calls to another number or extension, based on defined conditions, such as when a call goes unanswered or when you’re busy on the other line. 
• Call routing so inbound callers reach the right department faster, reducing wait times and improving the customer experience.
• Call parking lets you hold incoming calls in the cloud and then easily pick up the conversation from any other desk phone.
• Integration with popular CRM software, including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft.
• Voicemail transcription (voicemail-to-text) so you can save time and read voicemails quickly without needing to listen to them.
• Call analytics makes it easy to measure call center performance and make better decisions with this detailed call data.

Nextiva pros:

• Wide range of features, including virtual meetings, video conferencing, and team collaboration (including creating “rooms” to share ideas with multiple teammates).
• User-friendly interface and easy setup
• Reliable phone call quality and customer support
• Integrations with popular productivity apps like Google, Salesforce, and Zendesk

Nextiva cons:

• Premium features may cost more than plans with cheaper providers
• No free trial

Nextiva pricing:

• Core plan: $30/month
• Engage plan: $40/month
• Power Suite: $60/month

The best business phone app your team needs: Nextiva

Instant setup. No tech hassles. Uncompromising VoIP features. Stay connected with your team and customers with Nextiva.

Check it out

2. Sideline

“It seemed to work well at the beginning and was good for the price, but things deteriorated over time, causing a lot of problems with my not getting back to customers whose messages got lost in Sideline cyberspace.”

~Verified reviewer, Capterra

Sideline strives to organize communication, simplify customer interactions, enhance responsiveness, and boost team collaboration with its “second number” feature that allows users to add a second phone number to their existing phone line.

Sideline features:

• Free phone number so users can use a work and personal number on the same device.
• Business texting so users can text clients and customers for relationship-building beyond a call or a sequence of emails.
• Auto-reply feature to send follow-up text messages to a missed business call.
• Team number, which puts one number on multiple phones to share responsibilities and communication with team members.
• Connects through your service provider instead of over VoIP, which means your virtual phone system doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi or data (but can’t be used on a separate device).

Sideline pros:

• Affordable and cost-effective
• Good call quality and reliable connection
• User-friendly interface and easy to set up

Sideline cons:

• Limited features compared to other VoIP providers
• Some users have reported missing calls and login issues

Sideline pricing:

• $14.99/month

3. Unlisted

“My phone never drops calls or has audio issues. But this app sure does. Worst part is, if I leave a message, no way of knowing if this app shorted out and the person didn’t get it.”

~Mikron88, Apple App Store

Unlisted is an app that lets you add as many additional numbers as you like to your phone. You can make and receive calls from the app for business or personal use and choose a number from any area code.

With Unlisted, you can set your availability and automatically send calls to voicemail when you like. You can also set up automatic messages for any missed calls.

Unlisted features:

• Separate phone numbers are accessible via an app on your mobile device.
• It uses a real phone number with your local or different area code if your business is targeting a certain location or demographic.
• Use Unlisted’s built-in VoIP service or switch to relay calling to dial through your cell service provider.

Unlisted pros:

• Anonymous calling and texting, making it ideal for privacy-conscious businesses
• Discounted annual plan for additional savings
• Unlimited numbers on the same device

Unlisted cons:

• Some users have reported poor call quality and dropped calls
• Some users have reported issues with logging in
• No interactive voice response features, as you’ll find with enterprise platforms

Unlisted pricing:

• Monthly: $13.99/number/month
• Annually: $99.99/number/year

4. 1-VoIP

“This company takes customers of any size and offers some additional perks that few others openly promote. One frustrating aspect of the site is the lookup feature for International calling. Try it very well before buying it.”

~Lissett D., G2

1-VoIP is a residential and business VoIP provider that also offers SIP trunking. While it doesn’t include its own softphone apps, it integrates with other providers to let you make VoIP calls through any internet-connected device.

1-VoIP features:

• Digital call forwarding to additional phone numbers.
• Digital softphone setup so users can make and receive calls from a cell phone or a desktop computer.
• A do-not-disturb mode for when you need to unplug.
• A U.S.-based support team and a 24/7 support center so that someone’s always available should a problem arise.

1-VoIP pros:

• 24/7, U.S.-based support team
• Affordable plans for most small businesses

1-VoIP cons:

• Doesn’t support video conferencing
• Doesn’t integrate with other software like Google or Salesforce
• Some users mention hidden fees that increase the final sale price

1-VoIP pricing:

• Business VoIP: From $14.97/month, plus $0.02/minute
• SIP Trunking: From $29.97/month

5. Banter.io

Banter.io offers a unified voice, text, and fax tool for its users. Its text messaging feature enables businesses to engage in SMS marketing, while its voice and fax tools allow for a more familiar business phone experience. Users get unlimited calls and text capabilities, browser calling, app integrations, and more.

Banter.io features:

• Custom caller ID so prospective customers know who’s calling them ahead of time.
• Call recording for internal training purposes.
• Integrations with over 2,000 apps.
• Extensive business communication features, including contact management, call transfer, and conference calling with up to three people at once.
• Virtual phone system that’s available on an unlimited number of devices simultaneously.

Banter.io pros:

• Integrations with 2000+ major platforms, including Google, HubSpot, Salesforce, and Microsoft Teams
• Easy no-code logic pipelines to help you respond to every call quickly

Banter.io cons:

• Relatively limited knowledge base
• Limited community and few third-party reviews or feedback

Banter.io pricing:

• Standard: $9.99/line/month
• Enterprise: Enterprise calling packages require negotiation with Banter.io’s sales team

6. RingDeck

“Additionally, messaging on the app is very clunky, you have to keep refreshing it to be able to see new messages. Very disappointed.”

~Owen Deen, Google Play Store

RingDeck is a business phone system that allows users to call from anywhere on any device. While it doesn’t have extensive integrations for larger teams, it works well for small business owners who need to keep work and personal numbers separate.

Ring Deck features:

• Local and toll-free numbers as part of each package.
• Manage business calls from a mobile device or desktop computer.
• Add up to 50 extra numbers for $2/number/month.

Ring Deck pros:

• Toll-free numbers included
• Relatively affordable pricing for adding new numbers to any plan

Ring Deck cons:

• Several users report issues with logging into the app
• Per-minute billing can get expensive as your business grows

Ring Deck pricing:

• Local number with 1000 minutes: $20/month
• Local number with 5000 minutes: $30/month
• Local number with 10,000 minutes: $40/month
• Toll-free number: $5/month plus $0.02/minute

The best business phone app your team needs: Nextiva

Instant setup. No tech hassles. Uncompromising VoIP features. Stay connected with your team and customers with Nextiva.

Check it out

7. GenVoice

“GenVoice helped us set up a new cloud business phone system with five users, one Fax to Email and one free conference room. It helps us save a lot. Their technician and customer service teams are always available to handle our requests.”

~William Wood, Google

GenVoice offers a cloud-based VoIP service with over 40 business features, from hold music to call parking. GenVoice has integrations with most major CRMs and offers a softphone app for desktop computers and cell phones.

GenVoice features:

• Toll-free and global business phone number functionality for receiving international calls.
• Business hour functionality to reroute calls during your off-hours.
• Address book and CRM integrations, so your most important contacts are saved automatically.
• Local numbers increase the trustworthiness of your brand or business, even without a standalone office.

GenVoice pros:

• Unlimited extensions on every plan
• Standard VoIP features including call forwarding, call waiting, and call parking
• The ability to add international virtual phone numbers to your plan

GenVoice cons:

• No support for video conferencing
• Limited integrations with major platforms

GenVoice pricing:

• Basic: $20/user/month
• Team: $25/user/month
• Enterprise: $35/user/month

8. Phonewire

Phonewire is a cloud business phone service for Android, iPhone, and desk phones. It offers a hybrid solution for complete VoIP service or integration with your existing landline numbers.

Phonewire features:

• Call queuing so inbound callers know their place “in line” and aren’t waiting on hold aimlessly.
• The option to blacklist and whitelist sets of phone numbers.
• Call-to-email functionality, so if you miss a call, it will be transcribed in an email and sent straight to your inbox.

Phonewire pros:

• Call routing rules to ensure incoming calls go to the correct line
• Hands-on customization and help choosing the right system

Phonewire cons:

• Not the most affordable solution compared to other providers
• Limited geographic location for local installations

Phonewire pricing:

• Phonewire gates their pricing information, which can only be accessed via a contact form.

9. NetLines

“Honestly very disappointed with NetLines. The customer service was not friendly and not helpful. But I will say that it does work and I use it for my business.”

~Verified reviewer, Apple App Store

Netlines is a business phone number app for Apple and Android. It offers more features for a small business phone system than some competitors, including auto attendant (like a virtual receptionist), video conferencing, and call recording.

Netlines features:

• A second business line with the option the port over your existing phone number as well.
• Auto-attendant to route inbound callers to the correct departments via dial pad.
• Call management encompassing call forwarding, screening, recording, and blocking.

Netlines pros:

• One of the cheapest options on the market
• More advanced features than other apps, including auto attendant and conference calling

Netlines cons:

• Some reviewers complain of limited customer support
• Some reviewers complain of bugs in the app

Netlines pricing:

• $9/month if billed annually, plus $4.50/month for each additional user.
• $10/month if billed monthly, plus $5/month for each additional user.

10. Vonix.io

“The quality of the calls is much better than our previous provider. The cost is lower than our previous service provider. It is always a process of changing providers but we were able to schedule a time when it would least impact our office and Vonix was able to get it done within the allotted time.”

~Paul Daley, Google Review

Vonix.io offers cloud voice and messaging for its users, plus features like business texting and team chat to improve internal collaboration. Businesses can post on their social media channels directly from Vonix.io as well, making it a single portal to connect with customers wherever they are.

Vonix.io features:

• Unlimited calling in North America with no extra fees.
• Personal, direct line of contact with its in-house support team.
• Call analytics and reporting to get data about call times, call volume, and other metrics.

Vonix.io pros:

• Affordable plans compared to other vendors
• Reliable and stable phone service
• Customers report helpful, friendly customer service

Vonix.io cons:

• Some customers say the implementation process was less smooth than expected
• Lacks integrations with major platforms like Google or Salesforce

Vonix.io pricing:

• Basic: $19.99 per-user, per-month, plus taxes and fees.
• Pro: $29.99 per-user, per-month, plus taxes and fees.
• Team: $39.99 per-user, per-month, plus taxes and fees.
• Enterprise: If your team needs a more robust plan, speak to a sales representative.

Business Phone App Honorable Mention: Zoiper

Zoiper is a universal VoIP app. It works with many VoIP providers, including Nextiva.

Instead of using proprietary software, you can connect Zoiper with your phone provider or to an SIP trunking provider, which is handy for testing connectivity.

Zoiper is a good option for technical teams that want more control over their VoIP system than what’s provided by default.

Why Should You Go with Nextiva’s Business Phone App?

Having a reliable, flexible, and feature-rich business phone app is important for any growing business, but not just any provider will do.

Over 100,000 businesses across the U.S. choose Nextiva contact center solution as their VoIP provider. With more than 40 features in one easy-to-use, comfortably priced business phone app, Nextiva makes communication with customers seamless and enjoyable.

Nextiva also provides businesses with a virtual phone number that allows companies to manage calls from various devices, including smartphones, laptops, and desktop computers.

If your team is struggling to increase productivity across multiple desktop and mobile apps, don’t worry! Nextiva gives you the tools your team needs to communicate and collaborate on the go, all from a single app.

To get started, visit our pricing page for a complete breakdown of each plan and a transparent view of its features. Nextiva is your all-in-one communication tool.

The best business phone app your team needs: Nextiva

Instant setup. No tech hassles. Uncompromising VoIP features. Stay connected with your team and customers with Nextiva.

Check it out

Related: Top 20 Business Communication Apps for Your Team