Choosing the right VoIP service provider is one of the biggest decisions that your business is going to make. If chosen correctly, your business is going to save a lot of money on the communication solution. If not chosen correctly, the same communication solution will incur so much cost that your business will not be able to survive over a long period.
Therefore, it becomes essential to evaluate all of the options that are available in the market and then choose the right one, which perfectly meets all your business communication needs. And as the speed of communication is at an all-time high, more than ever before, businesses need to find a cost-effective and reliable VoIP service provider.
Ooma
Ooma office solutions are made for small businesses, which can rely on the service provider for delivering effective office phone solutions. Whether you have 2, 20, or 200 employees working inside your office, Ooma can provide reliable communication solutions along with access to features such as music on hold and IVR.
It is perfect for SMBs because Ooma can expand with your business needs as and when your business grows. It has everything to offer that you need with your business phone system. And all of these are available at an affordable pricing structure with absolutely no contracts at all.
The following are some of the pros and cons related to the Ooma VoIP service. Let us discuss those in a bit more detail manner.
Pros
- Pricing
The small business package pricing is kept simple by Ooma. Depending upon the number of lines required by SMBs, the business will have to pay $19.95 per user per month. For the small companies – there is only one pricing and thus nothing confusing in it. However, for the enterprise solutions, the pricing is not available as it is calculated on a company and is based upon the company’s needs.
Since Ooma has only one package for small businesses, all of its features available for small companies can be availed for a single price of $19.95. One plan solution for all small-sized businesses.
- Features
With its small business package, some of the features that you can access include call forwarding, virtual receptionist, 911 service, extension dialing, and an unlimited number of calls in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Besides, a business can also make use of mobile applications to use its services on the go.
For the enterprise version, the features are entirely dependent upon the requirements of the business. And depending upon the features which are needed, the pricing will be calculated per user per month.
- Customer Service
Ooma provides several different ways that can be used to reach out to their customer service team. Some of the options which you can use include live chat that is available 24 x 7, phone support, and online forums to get your questions answered. Though phone support is available, it is not available throughout the day.
- Easy to use
The service offered by Ooma is easy to set up and use. There is no need for your employees to be technically sound. They can start using it with basic knowledge and without any difficulties. The setup process is easy and can be completed quickly.
Cons
- No Free Trial
When it comes to free trial available with Ooma, none can be used by your business to test out their services at first and then become paid customers. Thus, if you want to use their services, you will have to be a paid member of the word go.
Vonage
Since its inception in 2001, Vonage has been delivering quality VoIP service to its customers all over the world. It offers affordable and reliable communication solutions for businesses of all sizes. Thus, regardless of your business size, if you are thinking of making a move towards cloud communication, Vonage has one of the best services to offer in the market.
The services are easy to set up and can get your communication requirements up and running rather quickly. They have flexible pricing plans available, which you can choose from depending upon the exact needs of your business.
The following are some of the pros and cons related to the Vonage VoIP service. Let us discuss those in a bit more detail manner.
Pros
- Pricing
Unlike Ooma, Vonage offers a tier pricing solution that you can choose from depending upon the requirement that your business has. The pricing provided falls into three different categories. These include Mobile, Premium, and Advanced plans. The prices start at $19.99, $29.99, and $39.99 per user per month, respectively.
However, taxes are not included in these prices. Depending upon the plan you choose, you will get access to different features as needed.
- Features
When it comes to feature offerings by Vonage, it has some of the best feature-rich solutions for your business. Some of these features include call log sharing, do not disturb, and web conferencing, screening tools, music on hold, and auto-attendant. Apart from these, there is a mobile application that can be used by Android and iOS users to access the VoIP services on the go.
- Free Trial
Unlike Ooma, Vonage offers a free trial that is available with all of its different packages. Thus, you do not have to pay the fee upfront. You can test out their services for their 14-day trial period and then decide whether you want to continue using their services or shift to some other service provider.
- Customer Support
Vonage also offers a comprehensive customer support solution. You can get in touch with the customer support team by using their phone and email systems. There is a ticketing system that can be used as well to raise tickets and get your queries resolved. In all, the customer support of Ooma and Vonage are the same, with Vonage offering phone support throughout the day.
Cons
- Contract
While using Vonage services, you will be tied up in their annual contracts. Thus, in case if you sign their contract only to realize after a few months that you want to shift with some other service providers, you can be caught in the middle with a contract and heavy penalties.
Comparison – Which is Better?
Both of these service providers offer reliable and quality VoIP services. While one comes with a single pricing structure, Vonage offers three different plans to choose from. In terms of feature offering, there is plenty to offer from both the service provider, including auto-attendant, video conferencing, and music on hold.
That being said, if you do not want to get caught up with the contract limitation, Ooma is the way forward. However, if you believe in using a free trial before committing to your cloud communications provider, Vonage is the best choice. In all, list out all of your requirements and then select one service provider who suits your needs better.
Let us know if you have another suggestion or question through the comment section below. If you have been using one of these services recently, do share your views with our readers.