Google Voice vs Grasshopper: Which Business Line Fits?

Google Voice and Grasshopper both put a business number on your cell phone, but they charge in opposite ways. Google Voice prices per user and, for teams, needs a Google Workspace subscription on top. Grasshopper prices per account, so the bill stays the same as people join. That one difference decides most comparisons.

Google Voice vs Grasshopper at a glance

Google Voice from Google's Voice plans and subscription comparison; Grasshopper from its pricing page and features page. Grasshopper's desk phone status from its product information page.

Cost by team size

Our math: Google Voice for one person is the standalone plan ($10 Starter, or $20 Standard after a 6-month half-price start); for teams it is the Voice plan plus Google Workspace Starter at $7 a user on Google's annual plan, or $8.40 on its flexible plan (Google). Grasshopper is the plan with enough extensions: True Solo has 1, Solo Plus 3, Small Business unlimited. From 4 people up (3 people on Workspace's flexible plan), Google Voice Starter with Workspace costs more each month than Grasshopper's top plan.

Five people do not have to buy Grasshopper's Small Business plan. Solo Plus includes three extensions and sells more at $3 a month each, so five extensions come to $31 a month (the annual plan plus two $3 add-on extensions) (Grasshopper). Small Business adds four numbers, unlimited extensions and multi-user call routing with call tracking (Grasshopper). Grasshopper adds that pricing is subject to sales tax (Grasshopper); Google's Workspace prices exclude tax.

Plan by plan

Year-one cost, including texting fees

Our math: five people can also use Solo Plus with two $3 extensions, $409.50 in year one. Grasshopper's annual-billed monthly price times 12, plus its first-year texting fees ($37.50: $19.50 once and $1.50 a month); Google Voice's monthly price times 12, with no separate texting fee listed. Paying Grasshopper monthly instead costs $48 more a year on True Solo, $84 on Solo Plus and $180 on Small Business. Google says standalone Standard is an automatic monthly charge you can cancel at any time.

Four common situations

Numbers: local, toll-free and vanity

This is the clearest split. Grasshopper lets you choose a local, toll-free or vanity number, and its Small Business plan includes four numbers. Google's subscription comparison covers local phone numbers only, with no toll-free row, and its standalone plans are US only. If you print an 800 number on a van or a website, Grasshopper is the one of the two that offers it. For other ways to get one, see toll-free business numbers.

Texting

Both include unlimited texting, with different strings. Google's table says unlimited SMS, sent only from US numbers. Grasshopper lists unlimited business texting with "Registration Required," a $19.50 one-time registration fee and a $1.50 monthly messaging fee on every plan. Over a first year that is $19.50 plus 12 months of $1.50, or $37.50, on top of the plan.

Call handling: menus, routing and recording

Desk phones or apps only

Google Voice supports HP Poly desk phones that set themselves up from the admin console (Google), though Google notes voicemail and the contact directory are not supported on Poly devices (Google). Grasshopper is built around its apps and sells no desk phones; its FAQ says a VoIP desk phone with an internet connection "should be no issue" (Grasshopper). An office with a reception desk will find Google Voice, or a system on our office phone systems list, a better fit.

Support, 911 and outages

Both list 24/7 support: Google on every paid Voice plan (Google), Grasshopper alongside its money-back guarantee. Google offers emergency calling on paid Voice accounts but not the free plan, and warns that during a power outage, internet loss or Google Voice outage emergency calling will not be available (Google). Grasshopper says calls work over Wi-Fi, VoIP or cellular. Whichever you choose, keep another way to reach 911 if your internet goes down.

International calling

Google includes unlimited domestic and regional calling, with regions including North America and Europe, and bills other international calls at listed rates that depend on both countries (Google). Numbers outside your home country need Premier. Grasshopper sells international calling as an add-on for businesses with global clients or remote teams.

Keeping your current number

Grasshopper lists free number porting. On Google Voice, Workspace Standard can also connect existing phone numbers through SIP Link without porting them (Google). Either way, the FCC says your old company cannot refuse to port your number, even if you owe it money (FCC), and advises keeping the old service until the port is done (FCC).

Trials, guarantees and getting started

Grasshopper offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card and a 7-day money-back guarantee. Google has no Voice trial on its plan page, but standalone Standard starts at half price for six months and Google says you can cancel at any time (Google). Its free Basic plan exists, but Google describes it as for personal, consumer use (Google). Both let you keep an existing number; federal rules require simple ports to be processed in one business day (FCC).

Pros and cons

Which one to choose

One person who already lives in Gmail should start with Google Voice at $10. A small team that wants one shared business line, a toll-free number, or does not use Google Workspace will usually pay less with Grasshopper, and the gap widens with every person added. For deeper detail, read the Google Voice for business review, Google Voice pricing and Google Voice alternatives.

Questions to settle first

1. How many people will answer calls this year, and next?
2. Do you pay for Google Workspace already?
3. Do you need a toll-free or vanity number?
4. Do you need desk phones, or will apps do?
5. Will you text customers, and from which country's numbers?

More on Grasshopper: Grasshopper pricing (every fee) and the Grasshopper review.