- Virtual business phone numbers (local, toll-free, vanity)
- Call forwarding to personal devices
- Unlimited extensions
- Voicemail transcription
- Business texting (SMS)
- Custom greetings and call routing
- Mobile and desktop apps
- Call screening and reporting
Grasshopper
Simple virtual phone system for small businesses and solopreneurs
Updated March 1, 2026
Grasshopper Overview
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system designed for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses that want a professional business number without complex hardware. It provides call forwarding, voicemail, texting, and custom greetings through desktop and mobile apps.
Grasshopper is best suited for lean teams needing straightforward call management rather than advanced VoIP or call-center functionality.
Key Features
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| True Solo | $14/mo (Billed Annually) / $18/mo (Billed Monthly) |
| Solo Plus | $25/mo (Billed Annually) / $32/mo (Billed Monthly) |
| Small Business | $55/mo (Billed Annually) / $70/mo (Billed Monthly) |
Price details: https://grasshopper.com/pricing
Pros
Competitor |
Pros |
|---|---|
| RingCentral | Compared to RingCentral, Grasshopper is significantly more affordable and simpler to manage, making it ideal for solo entrepreneurs and small teams. It avoids complex enterprise features and setup overhead, offering a faster onboarding experience with unlimited users, straightforward pricing, and essential calling and texting tools without steep learning curves. |
| Nextiva | Grasshopper excels over Nextiva in ease of use and accessibility for non-technical users. While Nextiva focuses on advanced analytics and CRM-style features, Grasshopper delivers a cleaner interface, quicker setup, and lower entry price, which is better suited for small businesses prioritizing professionalism over deep system customization. |
| Google Voice | Unlike Google Voice, Grasshopper is purpose-built for businesses and presents a more polished, professional image. It includes robust call routing, custom greetings, unlimited extensions, and better separation of personal and business communications, making it more suitable for entrepreneurs who rely heavily on phone-based customer interactions. |
| OpenPhone | Grasshopper offers simpler pricing and broader appeal to traditional small businesses compared to OpenPhone’s collaboration-focused model. With unlimited users, no per-seat pricing, and strong call handling features, Grasshopper is often more cost-effective for growing teams that want shared access without escalating monthly fees. |
| Dialpad | Compared to Dialpad, Grasshopper prioritizes affordability and simplicity over AI-driven features. It is easier to deploy, requires less training, and costs less for basic business calling needs, making it a practical choice for entrepreneurs who want reliable virtual phone service without advanced voice intelligence tools. |
Cons
Competitor |
Cons |
|---|---|
| RingCentral | Compared to RingCentral, Grasshopper lacks enterprise-grade capabilities such as advanced analytics, deep integrations, video conferencing, and omnichannel communication. Businesses planning to scale into complex call center operations or requiring extensive third-party integrations may outgrow Grasshopper more quickly. |
| Nextiva | Grasshopper falls short of Nextiva in reporting, CRM features, and customer interaction analytics. Nextiva provides more visibility into call performance and customer behavior, which can be critical for sales-driven teams, whereas Grasshopper keeps reporting relatively lightweight and basic. |
| Google Voice | While more professional than Google Voice, Grasshopper is less tightly integrated into productivity ecosystems like Google Workspace. Teams that rely heavily on Gmail, Google Calendar, and native Google tools may find Google Voice more seamless, despite its more limited business phone functionality. |
| OpenPhone | Grasshopper lacks the modern collaboration features found in OpenPhone, such as shared inboxes with internal comments, advanced team messaging, and deeper CRM-style workflows. Startups that prioritize internal collaboration around customer conversations may prefer OpenPhone’s more contemporary communication design. |
| Dialpad | Compared to Dialpad, Grasshopper does not offer AI-powered call transcription, real-time coaching, or voice intelligence. Sales and support teams that benefit from automated insights, sentiment analysis, and live call assistance may find Grasshopper too basic for performance-driven environments. |
Reviews
- crazyegg.com Review: Grasshopper works well for solopreneurs and small remote teams that need a simple, lightweight virtual phone system for “very basic needs.” The review notes it feels easy and cost‑effective for irregular calling, yet lacks advanced features and scalability compared to options like Nextiva that offer desk phones and video conferencing.
- Trustpilot Review (Rating: 2.2/5): One customer called the platform “entirely too complicated,” said three-way calls are impossible, and struggled with SMS registration due to anti-spam requirements. Others praised Grasshopper for “no interruptions,” low monthly fees, and a responsive customer service team, with one long-term user since 2020 stating they never experienced any issues.
- Software Advice Review (Rating: 4.3/5): A contracting team shared that features like call forwarding, Auto Attendant, and extensions helped ensure client calls “never get missed,” while another user highlighted strong voice quality and phone support over two years of use. Complaints focused on FCC “red tape” that blocked texting on 7‑digit numbers for months and a desire for a cleaner look and feel.
- G2 Review (Rating: 3.9/5): Ease of use and call forwarding receive consistent praise, with users valuing seamless communication without juggling multiple numbers.
- quo.com Review: The write-up questions whether Grasshopper has “kept up with the times,” pointing to clunky mobile and desktop apps and limited integrations beyond Google. It highlights unlimited US and Canada calling and texting plus features like extensions and instant text responses for missed calls, yet notes the service still requires a carrier phone plan and only operates in the US and Canada.
