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Vonage Review and Pricing

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Written by: Chad Brooks, Managing EditorUpdated Apr 29, 2024
Shari Weiss,Senior Editor
Business.com earns commissions from some listed providers. Editorial Guidelines.
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Editors Score:8.4/10
Vonage is our choice for the best business phone service for businesses interested in customization. This unified communications platform has over a dozen add-ons and separate API options, allowing companies to build personalized solutions.
Thumbs Up Pros
  • Premium Vonage business phone services are easy to purchase, access and remove as needed.
  • Companies can link Vonage Business Communications (VBC) Voice to Microsoft Teams and build custom integrations.
  • Vonage offers unlimited, pay-as-you-go and inbound-only extensions.
Thumbs Down Cons
  • Vonage usually requires a one-year contract for new accounts.
  • Vonage has fewer video conferencing and collaboration tools than competitors.
  • Vonage can be more expensive than other VoIP services.
Editor's Rating8.4/10

Seasonal businesses know an extra call queue or extension might be handy during peak times, but maintaining it year-round isn’t always necessary. Other companies want custom low- and no-code unified communications solutions. Vonage meets both use cases thanks to its highly flexible platform, making it the best business phone system for organizations interested in customization. Learn about the system’s many custom options, add-ons and costs, as well as how it compares to rival offerings, to see if Vonage is right for your company’s communications needs.

Vonage Editor's Rating:

8.4 / 10

Pricing/value
7.8/10
Features
7.7/10
Customizations, add-ons and integrations
9/10
Ease of use
8.9/10
Customer support
8/10

Why We Chose Vonage for Customization

Many cloud-based phone systems lock advanced features behind higher-priced tiers, but such rigid pricing models don’t suit every organization. In contrast, Vonage Business Communications (VBC) covers the fundamentals and offers add-on services when your company needs them. In fact, Vonage goes beyond standard business phone system features, offering extensive customization through its application programming interfaces (APIs) and AI Studio. 

With a developer on your team, you can enable conversations almost anywhere using Vonage communications APIs. For example, your company can use voice or text message technology on its e-commerce site or mobile app. We were particularly impressed with the AI Studio, which offers low-code, drag-and-drop solutions that work across voice, social media and short message service (SMS) channels.

Vonage provides flexibility that isn’t often seen in this space, and we experienced this firsthand when testing the platform. We loved that upgrading lines and adding extensions through the online portal was simple. Retailers and distributors can temporarily add call queues or AI-powered assistants as volume increases. Vonage also offers unlimited and pay-as-you-go extensions, which isn’t an option among some competitors, as we detail in our RingCentral and Nextiva comparison.

According to Precedence Research, the unified communications as a service (UCaaS) market is experiencing significant growth: It was valued at $84.90 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $433.29 billion by 2034, with an 18 percent compound annual growth rate. This growth demonstrates the increasing adoption of cloud-based communication solutions like Vonage across various industries. Vonage sets itself apart in the marketplace with the options to modify the phone system as needed, add services and otherwise alter the platform to your liking, making it ideal for businesses seeking a highly customizable unified communications solution.

Did You Know?Did you know
Vonage service plans offer more than 40 features. Administrators can turn these functions on or off for each line and set bulk permissions by user type, while staff can manage their extension settings.
Vonage office phones
Vonage supports office phones and provides desktop and mobile apps. Source: Vonage

Ease of Use

One key advantage of Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) services like Vonage is their ability to work on multiple devices, making your communications system accessible to employees regardless of location. We found Vonage’s desktop app easy to navigate, thanks to its straightforward and uncluttered user interface. We also thought the administration portal was intuitive; it allowed for easy customization of individual or company-wide settings.

The iOS and Android apps receive mixed reviews. We had no issues downloading and using Vonage on our Apple devices. However, our analysis of customer feedback showed that Android phone users experienced problems accessing call controls and receiving notifications.

Vonage dashboard
Admins can customize and manage accounts from a central Vonage dashboard. Source: Vonage

We liked Vonage’s free Suite Browser add-on feature, which works with Firefox, Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Instead of opening an application, users can access contacts, reports and notes from a webpage. Unfortunately, while testing services for this review, the Chrome extension wasn’t functioning.

We were surprised that desk phone functionality isn’t included in Vonage’s base plan when competitors like RingCentral and 8×8 support desk phones on all subscriptions. Moreover, it’s important to note that user experiences may differ depending on your customizations and integrations. Altering the Vonage platform could cause complexities or streamline your operations, depending on the modifications.

FYIDid you know
Like many VoIP phone systems, Vonage is relatively easy to use on internet-connected devices. However, if your company is contemplating switching from landlines to VoIP for the first time and looking for the most user-friendly solution, we recommend Ooma Office. Check out our Ooma Office review to learn why.

Vonage Features

Vonage Business Communications includes voice, video and messaging functionality. We love how companies can personalize the platform as needed with premium services and customer relationship management (CRM) integrations. During our evaluation, we found the following features most appealing for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs).

Premium Add-On Phone Services

We like that Vonage has a monthly option to add call queues, virtual mailboxes or on-demand call recording, allowing for easy scalability. Seasonal businesses experiencing higher call volumes don’t have to upgrade to more expensive plans to gain these features, as they would with many competing solutions. Vonage allows organizations to configure premium services and extensions anytime through its online portal, giving you the freedom to adapt your plan as needs change.

Vonage admin portal
Users can add individual and shared lines instantly through the Vonage admin portal. Source: Vonage

Integrations

Like RingCentral and Zoom, Vonage integrates with Microsoft Teams. We like that the vendor offers the VBC integration for existing Microsoft users with Teams licenses. It adds premium private branch exchange calling features to the Microsoft Teams app. Conversely, if you’re new to Teams, you can select the VBC Voice for Microsoft Teams package, which doesn’t require a Teams Phone license. 

We also appreciate that Vonage connects to some of the best CRM software, including HubSpot, Salesforce and Zoho. You’ll also find native integrations for dozens more applications, including:

  • Amazon Web Services
  • Google Workspace
  • Slack
  • Zendesk
  • Oracle Netsuite

Through Vonage’s API, you can further expand the platform’s functionality with custom-built integrations. For example, you could build a connection with Stripe to tie in payment processing with your communications system. The developer resources are plentiful, giving Vonage an edge for businesses especially interested in customizing their solution.

AI Virtual Assistant

Unlike rival vendor Dialpad, which includes voice intelligence with all plans, Vonage offers AI functionality as a custom option. The conversational AI Virtual Assistant, backed by Vonage AI Studio, is an add-on feature that captures customer sentiment data, facilitates a conversation to understand their needs and executes the appropriate action. However, we believe the monthly cost — which the vendor doesn’t disclose on its website — could be steep for some small business budgets. For alternatives, consider RingCentral and Dialpad, which have integrated, out-of-the-box phone solutions with valuable artificial intelligence features.

TipBottom line
Cutting-edge AI-powered business phone system tools can automate processes, collect communication data and generate insights. Learn more in our review of Dialpad, which uses voice intelligence to capture details from phone conversations.

Fax Services

A Vonage fax line is an add-on service, while most rivals include this feature in base plans. Given that not every business engages in faxing today, we think Vonage’s decision to make this an optional service is sensible. When using the system, we liked the ability to manage faxes, voicemails and emails from the web portal. The platform saves received documents for up to 30 days and provides activity reports. Employees can also set up their email to receive digital faxes electronically.

Vonage faxing
It’s easy to configure Vonage fax lines for individual or shared email accounts. Source: Vonage

Call Management

Like other VoIP vendors, Vonage provides a multilevel auto-attendant on its mid-plan tier or as an add-on feature. This virtual receptionist supports one-time and recurring event schedules and special configurations for temporary business closures, after-hours and lunchtimes. With the entry-level Mobile plan, users can configure call forwarding rules and visual voicemail for up to five devices.

Vonage call log
It’s simple to organize call flows from the Vonage admin dashboard. Source: Vonage

Video Conferencing

Vonage offers standard video conferencing services with its desktop, mobile and web apps. It supports video meetings with up to 200 people, which is higher than Dialpad but less than Zoom and 8×8. We felt that the basic functionality worked well for occasional use. The video platform has waiting rooms, detailed meeting logs and video recording. However, check out our Zoom review if you want more extensive video conferencing capabilities. This vendor is a top pick for companies with video-intensive needs.

Vonage video meeting backgrounds
You can choose blurred or virtual backgrounds to maintain privacy during Vonage video meetings. Source: Vonage

Team Messaging

Many business phone systems offer unlimited team messaging. Vonage users can access an online chat during video conferences or communicate via text through one-on-one or group team messaging services. However, the platform lacks Nextiva’s threaded conversation tools and lags behind RingCentral’s flexible collaboration spaces. We recommend that businesses with remote employees and hybrid teams check out our review of RingCentral to learn why it’s one of the best communications platforms for facilitating workplace collaboration.

Vonage chats
Users can start or join group chats and share files from Vonage’s desktop and mobile apps. Source: Vonage

Security and Compliance

We appreciate that Vonage maintains comprehensive security measures that meet enterprise-grade standards, giving businesses confidence in using the phone system safely and legally. The platform holds multiple compliance certifications, including ISO 27001, PCI-DSS and SOC, which are independently tested and audited by third parties. Vonage offers HIPAA-compliant communications solutions for healthcare organizations with signed Business Associate Agreements (BAA) to ensure protected health information remains secure.

The vendor’s security infrastructure includes documented data classification, retention and destruction policies, along with a dedicated incident response team that coordinates with regulatory bodies when necessary. Vonage also adheres to global privacy standards, including GDPR compliance, making it suitable for international organizations with stringent data protection requirements.

Vonage Pricing Plans and Subscription Costs

Vonage Business Communications plans range from $19.99 to $39.99 per line per month, depending on the number of lines purchased. The vendor offers volume-based discounts and includes a main local company number with online purchases. Online purchasers can also receive a discount of up to 30 percent on the first 99 lines.

Vonage’s online pricing is competitive. The base subscription costs less than most VoIP providers — Zoom has a cheaper option at $10 per user, but it doesn’t include unlimited calling. Still, for a few dollars more a month, Dialpad, RingCentral, Zoom and other vendors offer AI-enabled meetings, voice and messaging, while Vonage largely lacks artificial intelligence capabilities.

Another drawback of Vonage is the one-year contract. Vonage requires new customers to sign up for at least 12 months to secure its lowest rate. If you cancel before the term ends, you may incur a fee equal to the total price of your service contract. Also, any future metered or unlimited extension purchases cost the standard rate, which is higher than alternatives.

Compare Vonage’s packages below:

Service Plans

Price (per line per month)

Key Features

Mobile

$19.99

  • Unlimited domestic calling
  • Mobile and desktop apps 
  • Virtual receptionist
  • Virtual voicemail
  • SMS/MMS
  • Phone number porting

Premium

$29.99

Everything in Mobile, plus: 

  • Desk phone support 
  • Video conferencing 
  • Team messaging 
  • Multi-level auto-attendant 
  • VBC App Center
  • Single sign-on

Advanced

$39.99

Everything in Premium, plus: 

  • On-demand call recording 
  • Voicemail transcription 
  • Advanced call groups

After purchasing your plan, we love that you can select add-ons from the VBC Admin Portal to modify the platform. Options include metered and unlimited extensions, a shared business inbox, call recording and toll-free numbers. The vendor also offers communication APIs, conversational commerce tools and contact center solutions, allowing you to enhance the system’s value. 

Like many VoIP providers, Vonage sells phone equipment. You can purchase handsets, conference phones and VoIP adapters during checkout or from your admin page under “Hardware.” Custom and pay-as-you-go options are available for various use cases, whether you want to increase website engagement or improve support response times.

FYIDid you know
Choosing between full-featured subscriptions and customizable plans like Vonage offers can be challenging. If your company needs meeting and collaboration tools, compare RingCentral and Vonage to see how their features, packages and prices differ.

Implementation and Onboarding

Businesses can deploy Vonage and start accepting business calls within minutes. Setting up call flows and advanced features takes longer, but the process is similar to other VoIP services. We found most functions were self-explanatory during our testing, but the company’s in-depth guides cover admin configuration. 

The Vonage Training Center has quick-start guides and tutorials. Our favorite onboarding feature is the interactive videos for end users and administrators. These video guides let users view the entire application and choose tabs to learn about a specific aspect, such as Vonage Meetings or call recording. You can select different features and learn at your own pace, which is far better than sitting through a whole video if only part of the content is relevant to you.

Another unique implementation and onboarding tool is Vonage’s complimentary live training sessions. Most topics involve three monthly sessions, including end-user training for IP phone models, mobile app features, and settings and call flow setup. Users can attend live meetings to learn about the Salesforce, Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 integrations.

Vonage Customer Support

Vonage offers customer support via phone seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. ET and provides after-hours emergency assistance. Curiously, though, Vonage’s live chat support isn’t available over the weekend. In comparison, competing services Ooma Office and Nextiva have 24/7 customer service.

If you want additional technical support, admins can add Vonage Support PLUS, powered by Asurion, for an extra fee. This service is designed for U.S.-based small businesses and assists with hardware installation, troubleshooting, virus removal and third-party software. Users can press the software’s click-to-chat or click-to-call buttons and receive a response in 60 seconds or less. We love that the company’s tech experts can remotely access your device for quick problem resolution. While we understand businesses may not want to pay for this support, it’s nice that Vonage promises, “There’s no limit to the quantity or duration of support interactions your team will receive.” In other words, the cost might be well worth it if you expect your organization to need a lot of assistance.

Alternatively, account owners can open a help ticket after signing in to their account or report mobile issues within the application. There’s also an online help center, which uses Vee, the vendor’s conversational AI chatbot, to troubleshoot basic phone service issues and assist with setting up phones or accounts. Vonage also has a community forum, where we noticed technical support team members answer most questions promptly. However, this area still needs to be utilized better; companies are better off using the traditional support channels.

Limitations

Vonage is a customizable phone solution that works well for companies that need to scale capabilities up or down seasonally. However, this model can cost more than other phone systems when you add the à la carte features. For example, Vonage doesn’t include toll-free numbers or faxing in its subscription plans. In our Nextiva review, you’ll see that all its packages come with toll-free numbers, minutes and virtual faxing.

Vonage’s one-year contracts may be a turnoff, and its limited AI, video and collaboration features are disappointing. Also, SMBs with advanced call routing needs and an international client base may prefer an alternative platform. Rival 8×8 has unlimited global calling to 14 or 48 countries (depending on the plan), which can save businesses money as they expand. Find out more in our review of 8×8.

Methodology

To assess Vonage, we met with company representatives, spoke with business users and used the application ourselves. Our comprehensive evaluation process included:

  • Testing Vonage desktop and mobile apps across iOS devices
  • Configuring virtual receptionist, auto-attendant and call management features
  • Evaluating video conferencing capabilities
  • Analyzing the premium add-ons, pricing structures and contract requirements
  • Researching integration options
  • Reviewing security certifications and compliance documentation

During our search to identify the best business phone system for businesses prioritizing custom features and flexibility, we compared Vonage’s API functionality and customization options against competitors.

FAQ

No, you don't need equipment for Vonage. Since the phone system works over the internet, no hardware is required; the web, desktop and mobile apps facilitate the calling features. However, you can purchase phone sets if you want a physical setup.
Yes, you can cancel a Vonage business account. However, if you've signed a long-term contract, the company may charge an early termination fee equal to the cost of your remaining agreement.
Vonage will show your business information in the caller ID only if you want it to. Vonage offers dynamic caller ID settings that let users decide what is displayed for outbound calls. You even have the option to show "private" or "unavailable."

Bottom Line

We recommend Vonage for… 

  • Seasonal businesses that need to scale features up or down temporarily.
  • Companies requiring extensive customization through APIs and integrations.
  • Businesses that want flexible add-on options without changing pricing tiers.
  • Organizations needing enterprise-grade security and compliance certifications.

We don’t recommend Vonage for… 

  • Small teams on tight budgets.
  • Companies needing extensive video conferencing and collaboration tools.
  • Organizations requiring advanced international calling capabilities.
  • Businesses that prefer simple, all-inclusive pricing without contracts.
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Written by: Chad Brooks, Managing Editor
Chad Brooks is the author of "How to Start a Home-Based App Development Business," drawing from over a decade of experience to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs in launching, scaling, and sustaining profitable ventures. With a focused dedication to entrepreneurship, he shares his passion for equipping small business owners with effective communication tools, such as unified communications systems, video conferencing solutions and conference call services. As business.com's managing editor, over the years Brooks has covered everything from CRM adoption to HRIS usage to evolving trends like pay transparency, deepfakes, co-working and gig working. A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Brooks has become a respected figure in the business landscape. His insightful contributions have been featured in publications like Huffington Post, CNBC, Fox Business, and Laptop Mag. Continuously staying abreast of evolving trends, Brooks collaborates closely with B2B firms, offering strategic counsel to navigate the dynamic terrain of modern business technology in an increasingly digital era.
Editor's Rating8.4/10