Managing business calls from your personal phone number can be inconvenient, and it also compromises your privacy. Not to mention that as you hire more people, it doesn’t scale. As such there are many virtual phone number providers that provide a custom phone number.
A virtual phone number allows you and your team to use the same number across multiple platforms, including mobile and desktop. Rather than using your personal phone number for work, you can use a virtual phone number instead.
There are many VOIP service providers that offer different types of virtual numbers for any kind of business. But after in-depth research, testing, and business reviews, I have listed down some of the best Virtual Phone Number Companies that provide a cost-effective and feature-rich calling experience. Check out the list below.
Best Virtual Phone Number Providers
Grasshopper Recommended
Grasshopper is ideal for solopreneurs and small teams of no more than 15 people.
It can be accessed from any mobile device.
Platform supported are Cloud, SaaS, web, iOS, Android, desk phones.
RingCentral Top Rated
Provides features like video voicemail, video conferencing, and screen sharing.
Platform supported are Cloud, SaaS, web, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac.
Nextiva Best Values
Call quality, system reliability, and its array of features are all top of the line.
Provides non-stop exceptional customer care.
Platform supported are Cloud, SaaS, web, iOS, Android.
8X8 Expert Choice
Offers an advanced set of call-handling features that satisfy the needs of small businesses.
Unlimited calling to 48 countries with a top-tier plan.
Platform supported are Cloud, SaaS, web, iOS, Android, desk phones.
CloudTalk
Call Recording features are available.
You can port your number.
Allows you to mask your call.
Conference Calls option available.
Britix24
Chat And Video Conferencing features are available.
Virtual Presence Indicator
Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Employee Polling
Freshdesk Contact Center (Formerly Freshcaller)
Deflect Calls with Voicebots
Automate Your Call Routing
Freshcaller mobile app
3CX
Integrated Call Center Solution
Business Text Message
Integrated Video Conferencing
JustCall
Call Analytics Dashboard
GDRP Compliant
Call Queue
Record Phone Calls
What Is A Virtual Phone Number?
A virtual phone number is one that is not tied to a specific location. Virtual numbers can be used on any phone, including VoIP desk phones, cell phones, and softphones, to make or receive calls. It’s ideal for office workers as well as those who work from home.
How Does A Virtual Phone Number Works?
A SIM card or a physical address are not required for virtual phone numbers. It makes real phone calls between people using secure internet technology.
Virtual numbers, on the other hand, accept calls via VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). Fundamentally, it’s the same tried-and-true technology that powers iMessage, WhatsApp, Google Voice calls, and other similar VOIP apps for iPhone and Android Mobile Phones.
Because VoIP can provide real-time communication over existing broadband connections, it has grown in popularity. Your phone calls are digitized and connected over the internet and traditional phone networks when you use a cloud communications provider. Over time, more VoIP providers have emerged that provide excellent call quality without consuming excessive data.
In the United States, phone numbers are portable, so you won’t have to change them. The procedure is known as number porting, and it ensures that you can keep your business phone number no matter which VoIP provider you choose.
As a result, taking calls through a virtual phone number does not necessitate a wired Ethernet connection. You can make calls as long as you have a fast and reliable data connection — 4G LTE or Wi-Fi. This is how virtual phone numbers enable you to make and receive calls from your smartphone.
Benefits Of A Virtual Phone Numbers
1. Eliminate expensive add-ons and fees with local phone numbers
People can use your virtual phone system from anywhere in the world and save money on long-distance calls. You can provide a toll-free phone number or a reduced local phone number to international callers.
Consider the following scenario: you’re running marketing campaigns across the United States. Customers can call your toll-free number, which is a virtual phone number that doesn’t charge them extra to call.
By dialing the virtual number you’ve created for their city or country, a Direct Inward Dialing (DID) will direct them to the specific person they need to speak with. Regardless of whether they’re in different countries, they’ll be directed to your sales team. And The best part is that your prospects will not notice a difference.
2. Improve caller satisfaction with auto attendants
Auto attendants are available from virtual phone number providers such as Nextiva. Callers are greeted by an auto-attendant who provides a simple menu to help them find the right person. This feature prevents callers from wasting time explaining their problem to the incorrect person.
If someone calls your virtual number for help with a billing question, for example, their call will be forwarded to a member of your finance team. They won’t have to go through several people to get to the agent who can best assist them.
These powerful call routing features are not available in traditional phone systems. To bounce customers around with legacy phone systems, you may need a costly on-premises PBX, an IT manager, and a lot of legwork. It isn’t enjoyable for anyone.
A Cloud PBX, along with virtual phone numbers, are the way to go.
3. Break free from the office plus a modern voicemail
One desk phone is connected to a traditional phone number. What happens if the person assigned to that desk is absent? You don’t have a choice but to put them on hold. According to some studies, customers will not call you back if they reach your voicemail.
That problem is solved by using virtual numbers. You can disconnect their desk phone and have other agents answer calls on their cell phones or forward calls to another agent who is available. This feature reduces the chances of callers being routed to voicemail and never being heard from again.
But there’s still hope if they end up on a voicemail box. Within seconds, a virtual phone system transcribes the message and emails it to you. Is that a robocaller or your child’s school calling? With voicemail to email, you’ll know.
4. Employees can separate business from their personal phone
A virtual phone number is useful for more than just incoming calls. You can make outgoing calls to your customers or coworkers using the same number. When you do so, it also hides your caller ID.
Virtual phone numbers are ideal for remote workers because of this novel feature. More than 38% of businesses have employees who work remotely, indicating a steady shift away from office work.
Remote employees don’t need to set up a desk phone in their home office, and they can also take business calls on their cell phones. When calling contacts, the virtual phone number hides their caller ID, giving them more control and peace of mind.
Customers don’t need to know your personal phone number, so they don’t have to be concerned. You can choose whether the virtual phone number accepts inbound calls or routes them to voicemail during business hours.
5. Helps establish a professionalism
A small business owner’s worst nightmare is to appear unprofessional. When you use your personal phone, a Gmail account, or anything else, it makes you appear unprofessional. Virtual numbers allow any company to create multiple phone numbers for various purposes such as customer service, mainline, or tech support.
How To Choose the Best Virtual Phone Number Providers?
A virtual phone number is an excellent way to communicate with visitors to your website. You can use it with your cell phone, desktop apps, tablets, and other devices. It allows you to make and receive phone calls from any device or web app, from anywhere. Whether you call from your home or office, the users will always see the same number.
On the market, there are a number of virtual phone number companies. The Best Virtual Phone Number Providers should offer the following features:
- Affordable and easy setup
- Call forwarding, call recording, and call queuing
- Spam filters to block unwanted calls
- Flexibility to add more users
- Toll-free and local numbers
- And more
Conclusion On Best Virtual Number Providers
The best virtual phone number for you will be determined by your specific requirements. For example, Grasshopper is ideal for businesses looking for a great combination of phone features and low prices. JustCall, on the other hand, is best for salespeople who want detailed analytical reports to better understand their call operations.
Nextiva is ideal for entrepreneurs and small business owners looking for an affordable solution that allows them to change their local contact number into a virtual phone number that is accessible from anywhere on the Internet.
The point is that each of these VoIP phone number providers listed above has its own set of benefits. It’s up to you to figure out which virtual phone number offers the features you want. Once you’ve established this, you’ll be able to select the best virtual cell phone number for you.