7 Best Grasshopper Alternatives to Consider in 2026
Grasshopper is the long-running virtual business phone system from GoTo — founded 2003, acquired by Citrix in 2015, spun out as part of GoTo in 2022. It does one thing well: gives a small business a professional second phone number with extensions, voicemail-to-email and a mobile + desktop app, starting at $14 / month. But the small-business phone category has moved on substantially since then. Six platforms now offer more features for similar money: better call analytics, native team messaging, video meetings, CRM integration, AI call summaries, international numbers. Here are the alternatives worth comparing — updated for 2026.
Quick comparison
| Alternative | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| OpenPhone | $19 / user / mo | Modern startups, AI features |
| Google Voice for Workspace | $10 / user / mo | Teams already using Google Workspace |
| Phone.com | $14.99 / user / mo | Cheaper Grasshopper-style replacement |
| RingCentral MVP | $30 / user / mo | Mid-market unified communications |
| Nextiva | $25 / user / mo | Customer-experience focus + analytics |
| Dialpad | $20 / user / mo (Business) | AI voice intelligence at scale |
| Ooma Office | $19.95 / user / mo | Cheapest "real" business phone system |
1. OpenPhone — the modern startup pick
OpenPhone is what most modern startups switched to after Grasshopper started feeling old. Slick iOS / Android / web apps, shared numbers (so multiple people can respond to the same number), team messaging on the same number, native HubSpot / Salesforce / Zapier integrations, AI-generated call summaries (added 2024). Plans from $19 / user / month (Starter) up to $33 / user / month (Business). Best for: small teams that want a "WhatsApp-but-it’s-actually-a-phone-line" experience with built-in AI.
2. Google Voice for Workspace — the cheap-but-good option
Google Voice for Workspace is the business version of free Google Voice. Voicemail transcription, call forwarding to multiple devices, ring groups, integration with Google Calendar / Meet / Workspace Admin. Starts at $10 / user / month on the Starter plan; mid-tier and enterprise plans add international ringing, ports, e911 service in more states. Best for: teams already paying for Google Workspace.
3. Phone.com — the closest Grasshopper-style replacement
Phone.com is the most direct one-for-one replacement — same "virtual business number with extensions, voicemail, mobile app" use case as Grasshopper, but with more international minutes included and a slightly lower entry price ($14.99 / user / month). Best for: 1–3 person businesses that want Grasshopper’s simplicity at a similar price.
4. RingCentral MVP — the mid-market unified comms
RingCentral MVP (formerly RingCentral Office) is the enterprise-grade unified comms platform that scales from 5 to 5,000 users. Voice + video + team messaging + fax + SMS in one stack, with hundreds of integrations including Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, HubSpot, ServiceNow. Plans from $30 / user / month. Best for: mid-market businesses 50–500 employees that need real PBX features.
5. Nextiva — the customer-experience platform
Nextiva sits between RingCentral and OpenPhone — full PBX features (auto-attendant, queues, IVR) plus CRM-style customer view that brings the customer’s call history and email history together. Acquired Thrio (contact-centre AI) in 2024, integrated into the platform through 2025. Plans from $25 / user / month. Best for: SMBs that want phone + customer-experience analytics in one tool.
6. Dialpad — AI voice intelligence
Dialpad was AI-first before AI was a buzzword. Native real-time transcription with sentiment analysis, AI call summaries, AI coaching for sales calls (it tags talk:listen ratio, filler words, objection handling). Plans from $20 / user / month (Business). Best for: sales-led teams that want to make every rep’s calls coachable and reviewable.
7. Ooma Office — the cheapest "real" business phone
Ooma Office is the best balance of cheap and capable at the very low end. $19.95 / user / month for the basic plan covers virtual receptionist, music-on-hold, voicemail-to-email, mobile app, ring groups. Best for: 1–10 person businesses that need PBX features without the RingCentral / Nextiva pricing.
What changed in the small-business phone category since 2020
- AI call summaries became table-stakes in 2024–2025. OpenPhone, Dialpad, RingCentral, Nextiva all auto-generate post-call summaries with action items. Grasshopper added basic transcription but not the AI summary layer.
- Shared numbers + team messaging — multiple teammates can respond to texts and calls on the same business number. OpenPhone made this mainstream; Grasshopper does it but the UX is older.
- CRM-native integrations — native HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive integrations rather than Zapier-only. Most modern alternatives have this; Grasshopper has it but the field coverage is shallower.
- WhatsApp / RCS business messaging — OpenPhone and Dialpad added these in 2025. Grasshopper is still SMS-only.
- International coverage — OpenPhone, Phone.com, Dialpad all ship a wider range of international numbers and per-country call minutes than Grasshopper does.
How to pick a Grasshopper alternative
- Solo / 1–3 person business, want Grasshopper’s simplicity: Phone.com or OpenPhone Starter.
- Already on Google Workspace: Google Voice for Workspace at $10 / user / month is unbeatable.
- 5–50 person team that needs real CRM integration + AI: OpenPhone Business or Dialpad.
- 50+ employees, need full PBX, multi-location, contact-centre features: RingCentral MVP or Nextiva.
- Cheapest decent option: Ooma Office.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grasshopper still worth using in 2026?
It depends on what you need. For a 1–2 person business that wants a virtual second number with extensions and a mobile app at $14 / month, Grasshopper is still fine. For anyone who wants AI call summaries, shared team numbers, deep CRM integration, or WhatsApp / RCS messaging in the same app, OpenPhone or Dialpad have left Grasshopper behind on features at similar price points.
OpenPhone vs Grasshopper — which one?
OpenPhone for any team where multiple people need to respond to the same business number (Grasshopper’s extension model treats each user as separate). OpenPhone for AI call summaries, native HubSpot / Salesforce integrations, modern apps. Grasshopper for true solo use where you just want voicemail + transfers and don’t need any of the modern features. Pricing is similar ($14–$19 / user / month).
What is the cheapest Grasshopper alternative in 2026?
Google Voice for Workspace at $10 / user / month is the cheapest option if you already pay for Google Workspace. Phone.com Basic at $14.99 / month is the cheapest standalone option. Free Google Voice (the consumer / Gmail-attached version) is free for personal use but is not technically supported for business use under Google’s terms.
Does Grasshopper still have an iPhone and Android app?
Yes — iOS and Android apps are still actively maintained as part of the GoTo product family. They handle calls, texts, voicemail and basic extension routing. The UX is dated compared to OpenPhone or Dialpad’s 2024–2026 redesigns, but functional.
Can I port my Grasshopper number to a competitor?
Yes. Number portability is mandatory in the US under FCC rules, and Grasshopper supports outbound porting on request. OpenPhone, RingCentral, Nextiva, Dialpad and Phone.com all support inbound porting. Typical port takes 2–10 business days; during the port window, calls continue routing to your old provider, then switch.
For more SMB phone-system guides, see our best business phone systems roundup and the best auto-dialer software picks.