TL;DR: Google Voice is the best business phone option for small, Google Workspace-native teams that want simple, cheap calling without a full PBX. Setup is trivially easy and the entry price is the lowest we verified, but it needs a paid Workspace subscription underneath and its telephony feature set is thin next to a true unified-communications platform. App Score: 7.6/10.

How we scored Google Voice

Weighted against our business phone systems rubric. Sub-scores out of 10; weight in brackets.

Call quality & reliability (25%)8
Features (AI, messaging, video) (20%)6.5
Integrations (15%)7
Ease of setup & admin (15%)9
Value per user (15%)7.5
Support (10%)7.5
Weighted total7.6/10

Our independent score, from our own weighted rubric and verified pricing, kept separate from any sponsorship. Our methodology.

Google Voice at a glance
Starting price From $10/user/mo
Monthly billing $10/user/mo
Plans Starter $10 / Standard $20 / Premier $30 per user/mo (needs Workspace)
Unlimited calling Unlimited US calling
International Metered
Key features Workspace-native; voicemail transcription; Google Meet; ring groups on higher tiers
Reliability & support Google reliability; Workspace support
Integrations Google Workspace only
Best for Small teams already on Google Workspace
Free trial Varies

Google Voice is a lightweight cloud phone service that plugs straight into Google Workspace. It gives each user a number with call forwarding, voicemail transcription and unlimited domestic US calling and texting, with auto-attendants, ring groups and compliance tooling arriving on the higher tiers for larger teams.

Key Features of Google Voice

  • Cloud phone number: call forwarding across devices, tied to your Google account.
  • Voicemail transcription: Google AI transcribes and emails voicemails.
  • Unlimited US calling and texting: domestic calls and SMS included at base.
  • Auto-attendants and ring groups: on the Standard tier and above.
  • Compliance tooling: eDiscovery and Vault integration on higher tiers.
  • Reporting and SIP Link: BigQuery reporting and existing-hardware support on Premier.

Who Google Voice Is Best For

Google Voice suits small teams and Workspace-native businesses that want an easy, inexpensive business line and already pay for Google Workspace. Teams that need a full contact centre, rich analytics or heavy integrations should look at Dialpad or RingCentral.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Cheapest verified entry point at $10/user/mo
  • Trivially easy to set up for Workspace users
  • Reliable Google infrastructure and voicemail transcription

Cons

  • Requires a paid Google Workspace subscription on top
  • Thin telephony feature set versus true UCaaS
  • Starter tier is capped at 10 users and US-focused

Verdict

Google Voice is the simplest, cheapest way for Google Workspace teams to add a business line, as long as the thin feature set fits. Growing teams will outgrow it. See where it sits in our best business phone systems guide.

Comparing your options? See how Google Voice lines up against the rest of the field in our cheapest VoIP services roundup.

Related guides

Compare more in our cluster: Best Business Phone Systems for Small Business and Cheapest VoIP Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Google Voice cost?

Google Voice for business is $10/user/month (Starter), $20 (Standard) and $30 (Premier), on top of a required paid Google Workspace subscription. The Starter tier is capped at 10 users.

Do I need Google Workspace?

Yes. All Google Voice business plans require an active paid Google Workspace subscription.

Is there a user limit?

The Starter plan caps at 10 users; Standard and Premier are unlimited.

Does it include international calling?

Only the Premier tier includes unlimited international billing locations; the lower tiers are focused on US domestic calling.
See Appscribed first in your AI answers

Add us as a preferred source on Google, and our reviews and picks show up in your Top Stories and AI Overviews.