16 Google Voice Pros and Cons as a Business Phone (2025)
Audrey Xi
Product Analyst
Google Voice for Business: The Full Picture
Google Voice has evolved from a free consumer service to a business product. But is it right for your company? Let's break down the 16 most important pros and cons.
The Pros
1. Free Personal Numbers
Google Voice offers free local phone numbers for individual use, which can help new entrepreneurs get a business phone number without upfront costs.
2. Free Calling to US Numbers
All Google Voice business plans offer free calling to US numbers, which is helpful if your business primarily serves US clients.
3. Affordable International Rates
Google Voice offers affordable calling rates to many countries and allows free texting to Canadian numbers from the US.
4. Ring Groups
Google Voice supports ring groups on the Standard plan ($20/user), which is useful when multiple team members need to answer the same number.
5. Number Porting
Google Voice allows number porting, letting you move your current business phone number from any provider onto their platform.
6. Integration with Google Workspace
If your company already uses Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Meet, Voice integrates seamlessly with these tools.
7. Voicemail Transcription
All plans include automatic voicemail transcription, making it easy to read messages without listening to audio.
8. Spam Filtering
Google's AI powered spam filtering helps reduce unwanted calls and texts.
The Cons
1. Workspace Subscription Required
To use Google Voice for business, you first have to buy into Workspace ($7/user/month), then add a Voice plan on top of it. After your first few hires, those costs add up.
The total cost breaks down like this:
- Starter: $10/user Voice + $7/user Workspace = $17/user total
- Standard: $20/user Voice + $7/user Workspace = $27/user total
- Premier: $30/user Voice + $7/user Workspace = $37/user total
2. Browser Only Desktop App
Google Voice is browser only while most VoIP systems today provide Windows and Mac apps. This can be inconvenient for users who prefer dedicated applications.
3. 10 User Limit on Starter Plan
Google Voice limits the Starter tier to 10 users. To go beyond this, you must upgrade to the $20 plan.
4. No Toll Free Numbers
Each Google Voice business account is limited to local phone numbers. You can't get toll free numbers (800, 888, etc.) with Google Voice.
5. No Shared Team Numbers
Your company contacts are stored in your Google account and mix with personal contacts. Team wide contact sharing is complicated and limited.
6. Call Recording Requires $30 Plan
To enable automatic call recording requires the Premier plan at $30/user/month.
7. Limited MMS Support
Google Voice only supports basic image formats and lacks full MMS support. This is especially a bottleneck for service, repair, and real estate workers who rely on document sharing.
8. No Automation or CRM Integration
Businesses looking for automation will need to choose a different business phone system. Even on the Premier plan, Google Voice doesn't offer integrations with non Google tools.
The Verdict
Google Voice works well for individuals or very small teams already invested in Google Workspace. But for growing businesses, the limitations become apparent:
- No shared team numbers
- No toll free options
- Expensive for teams (total cost with Workspace)
- Limited integrations
This is usually the point where teams compare Google Voice to alternatives like Phone2, Quo (formerly OpenPhone), or Grasshopper and realize those newer platforms often deliver more features at a lower price.
Phone2 vs Google Voice
Here's how the two compare on key features:
- Starting Price: Phone2 $7/user vs Google Voice $17/user (with Workspace)
- Shared Team Numbers: Phone2 Yes vs Google Voice No
- Toll Free Numbers: Phone2 Yes vs Google Voice No
- Call Recording: Phone2 $15/user vs Google Voice $37/user
- User Limit: Phone2 Unlimited vs Google Voice 10 on Starter
- CRM Integrations: Phone2 Yes vs Google Voice No
Try Phone2 Free
If Google Voice isn't meeting your needs, try Phone2 free for 14 days at phone2.io/signup. No credit card required.
Written by Audrey Xi
Product Analyst
Audrey researches business communication tools and helps teams find the right phone system for their needs.