In today’s digital age, having a reliable virtual business phone number app is crucial for any business. These apps provide a cost-effective way to manage your business communications, enhance customer service, and maintain a professional image, all while giving you the flexibility to work from anywhere. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 virtual business phone number apps, highlighting their key features and providing step-by-step guides for setting them up. We’ll break down complex technical jargon into simple, plain English to make it easier for you to understand and optimize your business’s communication tools.
10 Best Virtual Business Phone Number Apps: Features and Step-by-Step Guides
- Google Voice
Key Features:
- Free Phone Number: Google Voice offers a free phone number with voicemail, text messaging, and call forwarding.
- Integration with Gmail: Easily access your voicemails and texts through Gmail.
- Call Screening: Know who’s calling before you pick up.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Sign in to your Google account.
- Visit the Google Voice website.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your virtual phone number.
- Customize your call forwarding and voicemail settings.
Plain English Explanation: Google Voice gives you a free phone number that works alongside your regular email. It lets you see who’s calling you, and you can even check your voicemails in your email inbox. To set it up, just go to the Google Voice website, follow the instructions, and tweak your preferences.
- RingCentral
Key Features:
- Cloud-Based: Access your phone system from anywhere.
- Video Conferencing: Host video meetings with ease.
- Auto-Receptionist: Greet callers professionally with automated messages.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Sign up for a RingCentral account.
- Choose a virtual phone number.
- Customize your auto-receptionist message.
- Install the RingCentral app on your devices.
Plain English Explanation: RingCentral is a phone system that lives on the Internet. You can use it from anywhere and even have video meetings. It also has a virtual receptionist to greet your callers nicely. To set it up, sign up, pick a phone number, make a welcoming message, and download the app.
- Grasshopper
Key Features:
- Toll-Free Numbers: Get a professional toll-free number.
- Mobile App: Stay connected on the go.
- Call Forwarding: Route calls to your mobile or home phone.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Sign up for a Grasshopper account.
- Choose your toll-free number.
- Download the Grasshopper app.
- Set up call forwarding to your phone.
Plain English Explanation: Grasshopper offers toll-free numbers, like the big companies. You can use it on your phone with their app and send calls to your mobile or home phone. Sign up, pick your number, get the app, and set up call forwarding.
- Dialpad
Key Features:
- AI-Powered Voicemail Transcription: Read voicemails as text.
- Unlimited Calling: Make as many calls as you need.
- Integrations: Connect with other business tools.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Sign up for a Dialpad account.
- Customize your voicemail settings.
- Start making calls from the Dialpad app.
- Explore integrations with your other apps.
Plain English Explanation: Dialpad turns your voicemails into text messages using smart computer technology. You can make lots of calls, and it works with other business tools too. Sign up, tweak your voicemail, use the app, and link it to your other apps.
- Sideline
Key Features:
- Second Phone Number: Keep your personal and business calls separate.
- Text Messaging: Send and receive texts from your business number.
- Custom Voicemail: Record a professional greeting.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Download the Sideline app.
- Sign up for an account and choose your business number.
- Record a custom voicemail greeting.
- Start using your new business number for calls and texts.
Plain English Explanation: Sideline gives you a second phone number just for work, so your personal and business calls stay apart. You can also text and have a nice voicemail greeting. To start, get the app, sign up, choose your number, record a message, and use it for calls and texts.
- Line2
Key Features:
- Multiple Numbers: Add extra numbers for different business purposes.
- Call Handling: Set call forwarding and voicemail for each number.
- Conference Calling: Host conference calls with ease.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Install the Line2 app.
- Sign up for Line2 and add your first business number.
- Customize call handling for your number.
- Explore conference calling features.
Plain English Explanation: Line2 lets you have more than one number for different business needs. You can control how calls are handled for each number and even have conference calls. To get started, get the app, sign up, add your first number, set up how calls are managed, and try out conference calling.
- Nextiva
Key Features:
- VoIP Calling: Make calls over the internet for cost savings.
- CRM Integration: Connect with customer relationship management tools.
- Team Collaboration: Collaborate with your team from anywhere.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Create a Nextiva account.
- Set up VoIP calling on your devices.
- Explore CRM integrations.
- Invite team members to collaborate.
Plain English Explanation: Nextiva lets you make calls over the internet, which can save money. It also works with tools that help you manage your customers, and it’s great for teamwork. To start, make an account, set up internet calling, link it to your customer tools, and invite your team.
- Phone.com
Key Features:
- Custom Greetings: Record personalized greetings for your callers.
- Business Texting: Send and receive texts from your business number.
- Call Analytics: Get insights into your call data.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Sign up for a Phone.com account.
- Record custom greetings.
- Start texting from your business number.
- Explore call analytics.
Plain English Explanation: Phone.com lets you make custom greetings for your callers and text them from your business number. It also helps you understand your call data better. To begin, sign up, make your greetings, text your business number, and look at your call info.
- eVoice
Key Features:
- Virtual Receptionist: Guide callers to the right department.
- Voicemail to Email: Get voicemails in your email inbox.
- Call Scheduling: Set when and where your calls go.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Create an eVoice account.
- Customize your virtual receptionist.
- Set up voicemail forwarding to email.
- Try out call scheduling options.
Plain English Explanation: eVoice has a virtual receptionist to help callers find the right person, sends voicemails to your email, and lets you decide when and where calls go. To start, make an account, set up your virtual receptionist, get voicemails in your email, and experiment with call scheduling.
- Talkroute
Key Features:
- Custom Call Routing: Direct calls to specific team members.
- Call Recording: Record important business calls.
- Mobile App: Manage your business calls from anywhere.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Sign up for a Talkroute account.
- Set up custom call routing.
- Enable call recording as needed.
- Download the mobile app for on-the-go management.
Plain English Explanation: Talkroute helps you send calls to the right team members, record important calls, and manage everything from your phone. To begin, create an account, customize call routing, turn on call recording when needed, and get the mobile app for easy control.
Conclusion
These 10 virtual business phone number apps offer a wide range of features to suit different business needs. Whether you need a simple second number for calls and texts or a comprehensive business phone system with advanced features, there’s an app on this list for you. Follow our step-by-step guides to set up your chosen app and unlock the full potential of your business communication tools. With these apps, you can enhance your business’s professionalism, accessibility, and efficiency in a user-friendly way.
