Best Residential VoIP Providers in 2024

What Is Residential VoIP?

Residential VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a virtual home phone service that makes and receives calls over the Internet instead of the wired Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) used by landline phones.

Because residential VoIP is powered by the Internet, there are no extra fees for long-distance telephone calls. Switching from landlines to VoIP means no more hidden costs, exorbitant service charges, or excessive taxes. Users can even bundle VoIP home phone service with cable and Internet to lower their monthly bill by up to 50%. Sign-up bonuses, coupons, and limited-time offers help you save even more.

Residential VoIP offers more value than traditional home phones and gives users access to advanced calling features impossible to get with landline service. These features can include virtual faxing, voicemail-to-email, call forwarding, and simultaneous ringing. While most people don’t need these capabilities for home phone service, switching to VoIP means better overall call quality and fewer dropped calls.

 

VoIP vs Landline Home Phone Service

The biggest difference between VoIP and landline home phone services is that while VoIP calling is powered by a broadband Internet connection, landline calling requires a physical connection to the PSTN and operates via circuit switching. This means that landlines can only be tied to one physical location, whereas VoIP phones can be accessed on any desktop or mobile device, in any location, with Internet access.

Because VoIP calling is completely virtual, unlimited local and long-distance calling are included with every plan–and some VoIP apps even include international calling. VoIP phone service works with your existing devices, meaning you can keep using your existing analog phones or take VoIP calls on desktop computers and mobile devices.

Our complete guide to VoIP vs landline phones offers more detailed insight.

 

Key Residential VoIP Calling Features

Because VoIP phones receive data differently than their circuit-switched counterparts, VoIP subscribers get the benefit of advanced calling features even on the most affordable plans.

Essential VoIP calling features included on residential plans include:

• Unlimited US/Canada Calling: All VoIP subscribers enjoy unlimited local and long-distance calling in the US, Canada, and select countries
• Caller ID: Customize your caller ID, screen incoming calls
• Number Porting: Transfer your existing phone number to your new VoIP provider for free (be wary of providers charging for number porting)
• Call Forwarding: Forward unanswered calls to other phone numbers without ending the current call (send calls to your mobile phone number, office number, etc.)
• Call Waiting: Place callers on hold, add call hold music
• Simultaneous Ring: Rings all home phone lines at once when someone calls your residential VoIP number
• Virtual Faxing: Send, receive, and store faxes via email using your VoIP phone number or a dedicated fax line
• Visual Voicemail: In addition to standard voicemail messages, VoIP subscribers can view written transcripts of voicemails and have those voicemails forwarded to email or SMS

 

How to Choose The Right Residential VoIP Service

Follow the below steps when evaluating residential VoIp providers to ensure you make the right choice:

1. Review existing internet bandwidth: Before you upgrade to a VoIP phone, ensure your home’s internet has a minimum bandwidth of 90-165 kbps. If not, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) directly to upgrade your plan. VoIP must be sent/received at a high rate to provide an HD voice call quality and power its advanced features.
2. Determine hardware needs: Next, decide if you want to continue to use your existing landline phones with your VoIP service. If so, ensure existing phones are VoIP compatible and invest in an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) to empower landlines with VoIP capabilities. Check on the provider’s page to ensure no additional VoIP equipment is needed. Many residential VoIP providers also offer VoIP Phones with color touch screens, a busy lamp signal, built-in noise cancellation technology, and programmable buttons.
3. Compare service providers: Compare at least 3-4 residential VoIP service providers before making a final decision. Read existing customer reviews, check out online forums to see what other users are saying, and evaluate how the provider responds to customer questions/complaints. While some VoIP tools may offer a limited free trial, most include a money-back guarantee instead. Before handing over your credit card details, read through the provider’s Terms and Conditions to find hidden costs, early termination fees, and the cost of additional service charges. Our guide to VoIP taxes fees will help you avoid being taken advantage of by an unscrupulous provider.
4. Review the setup/installation process: VoIP phones are famously easy to set up for softphone users (those who access their VoIP phones only on desktop computers or mobile devices.) However, if you’re using your existing landline, you’ll need to hook it up to an ATA to enable VoIP calling. While the process isn’t complicated, you may choose to purchase a VoIP phone to avoid a longer setup and installation process. When evaluating providers, review each platform’s installation guides and support options.
5. Choose your VoIP phone number: Finally, ensure the provider offers local phone numbers as well as international calling (if needed.) If you run a home-based business, you may be interested in a solution that sells toll-free or vanity VoIP numbers in addition to standard local ones. Our guide to virtual phone numbers offers more details on the different number types available, as well as the pros and cons of each option.