Dialpad vs Grasshopper: Features, Pricing, Pros & Cons

Summary: Dialpad and Grasshopper both offer unlimited VoIP calling and text messaging options, but both platforms serve different use cases. Dialpad offers a more comprehensive unified communications platform complete with video calling and AI-enhanced collaboration tools, while Grasshopper offers a plug-and-play business phone solution with basic voice calling features and SMS support.

While Grasshopper doesn't provide video calling or team chat, it's a more affordable and user-friendly platform than Dialpad–especially for businesses needing multiple phone numbers. Unlike Grasshopper, Dialpad offers real-time call transcription, unlimited ring groups, and advanced AI-powered analytics.

That said, while Dialpad limits features like extensions and CRM integrations to more expensive plans, all Grasshopper plans include the same features with a scalable amount of business phone numbers, extensions, and users per pricing tier. Grasshopper offers a simple easy-to-use mobile and web app interface ideal for first-time VoIP users that don’t want to pay for advanced features they don’t need.

Grasshopper is best for first-time VoIP users that don’t want to pay for advanced features they don’t need, but who want to save money on multiple phone numbers with basic voice calling and SMS capabilities.

Dialpad is best for larger teams looking for an all-in-one, AI-powered unified communications platform with scalable analytics, productivity tools, and video conferencing at a competitive price.

• How We Compared
• Feature Comparison
• Pricing Overview
• Pros and Cons
• Which to You Choose?
• Video Comparison
• FAQs

How We Compared Dialpad and Grasshopper

We used the following criteria to compare Dialpad and Grasshopper:

• Pricing and Plans: We reviewed each provider’s pricing, plans, and add-ons to evaluate overall affordability, scalability, and value
• Voice Calling: We compared included voice calling features like call routing, call queuing, call recording and transcription, IVR and AI-generated call summaries
• Digital Communication Channels: We reviewed each provider’s available digital communication channels, including website chat messaging, automated chatbots, virtual faxing, email, and social media messaging
• Text Messaging Capabilities: We evaluated each providers’ SMS/MMS features, pricing, and availability
• Video Conferencing: We evaluated in-meeting collaboration tools, video meeting participant and time limits, post-meeting summary tools, recording capabilities, and more
• Team Collaboration Tools: We reviewed team chat messaging features and collaboration tools like screen and file sharing, co-editing, and task management
• Analytics: We reviewed real-time and historical reports, AI analytics, and available add-ons
• Third-Party Integrations: We compared available third-party integrations and APIs
• Security+Network Reliability: We evaluated provider uptimes, compliance certifications, and security standards
• Customer Support: We compared customer support channels, availability, and quality

Dialpad vs. Grasshopper: Feature Comparison

Below, we compare Dialpad vs Grasshopper across 5 key features.

Voice Calling Features

Summary: Both Dialpad and Grasshopper offer VoIP calling and virtual numbers in the US, but Dialpad offers more advanced routing and queueing features. Dialpad offers multi-level IVR, live call transcription, a wider unlimited calling area, and DID numbers in over 70 countries. Grasshopper offers call controls, voicemail, and basic call logs.

Shared Features

• Desktop and mobile apps: Both Grasshopper and Dialpad offer mobile and desktop apps that provide access to all calling features. Users can access contact lists, click-to-call, voicemail, and communication channels with a few clicks.
• VoIP calling: Make VoIP calls anywhere directly from the desktop or mobile app, by using the Internet. Both providers support unlimited calling in the US, with per-minute charges for international calls.
• Toll-free or local numbers: Both VoIP providers offer toll-free or local DID numbers throughout the US
• Extensions: Add extensions to a phone number to share it between multiple users
• Voicemail: Access voicemail logs from the VoIP dashboard. Search voicemails by user, listen to voicemail messages, and read the voicemail transcription. Forward voicemails and transcription to email.
• Call controls: Call management features like call hold, call forwarding, and call transfer

• Extensions: Use multiple user extensions to share business phone numbers between multiple teammates

• Custom greeting: Record a custom audio greeting on each phone number

• Call logs: Both platforms record outgoing and incoming calls on a log with caller ID, date, and time. Access call records within the VoIP app and search by contact name or date.

Differences

• Unlimited calling area: Dialpad supports unlimited calling in the US, Canada, and your domestic country–if it’s not the US. Grasshopper supports unlimited calling in the US only.

• Virtual phone number availability: Dialpad’s Pro and Enterprise plans offer virtual phone numbers from over 70 countries around the globe, while Grasshopper only offers phone numbers in the US.
• Call queueing: Dialpad includes call queueing, which organizes inbound calls into hold queues when agents are busy. This is a great feature for companies that handle a lot of inbound calls to various departments.
• Multi-level IVR: Dialpad offers multi-level IVR and custom call routing on all plans. These features provide customers with a self-service menu to route themselves to the right agent or departments, handling inbound calls more efficiently.
• Real-time analytics: Dialpad offers live call analytics that track call center activity, usage, and call quality. These reports include real-time and historical data that admins can customize according to user, department, KPI and metric, and historical timeframe.
• Call transcription: Dialpad provides real-time call transcriptions to support agents during live calls
• Recording: Dialpad supports automatic and on-demand call recording, while Grasshopper does not offer this feature

Messaging and SMS

Summary: Dialpad and Grasshopper both support SMS texting within the US,  but Grasshopper supports unlimited texting while Dialpad has a 250-SMS limit each month before a user incurs charges. However, Dialpad has advanced team messaging features that facilitate collaboration and file sharing.

Shared Features

• SMS texting: Both solutions support SMS texting directly from the desktop or mobile app. Send and receive texts on any internet-connected device, including Android or iPhone

Differences

• Texting limitations: Grasshopper supports unlimited texting throughout the US, while Dialpad includes free texting up to 250 outbound monthly SMS per user. Beyond 250, Dialpad charges $.008 per text message.
• International texting: Grasshopper users can only send and receive texts to US phone numbers, while Dialpad users on the Pro plan can text international numbers
• Team messaging: Dialpad supports internal team messaging with 1:1 chat, group chat, and whole-team chat rooms. Whole-team channels include other collaborative features like file sharing, one-click team huddles and audio conferencing, and emoji responses.
• File sharing: Dialpad users can share files via team chat, storing the files in folders for organization and later retrieval
• Automatic response: Grasshopper users can set an automated text response that instantly replies to new callers when the agent is unable to answer
• Search: Dialpad users can search files and messages
• Availability monitoring: Dialpad users can check teammate availability in the dashboard’s left-hand column, with green, red, and yellow lights indicating user status

Video Conferencing

Summary: Dialpad offers AI video meetings for up to 10 participants, featuring collaborative tools like virtual backgrounds, screen sharing, chat, and whiteboards. Grasshopper does not offer video conferencing.

Dialpad Video Conferencing Features

• Capacity and length: Dialpad meetings hold up to 10 participants and last up to 5 hours
• Accessible on any device: Users and invitees can access Dialpad video meetings on desktop or mobile, using the app or an invite link from a PC, Mac, or iOS system. Invited participants can join meetings by tapping the link, with no download required.
• Recording: Meetings include unlimited audio recordings and a limited number of video recordings. Contact Dialpad for more details about recordings.
• Meeting controls: Each participant can turn their mic or video on or off. Hosts can lock meetings, mute and unmute participants, or kick participants from a meeting.
• Multiple layouts: View meeting participants in multiple arrangements. Dynamic view shows the most recent speakers, Grid view shows everyone, Filmstrip view arranges each participant’s video atop the screen, and Spotlight view highlights the current speaker.
• Chat: Meeting participants can send 1:1 messages or participate in a running group chat during meetings
• Screen sharing: Any participant can share a window or screen with the group, from a desktop or mobile device
• AI transcriptions and summaries: All meetings include artificial intelligence support tools like auto-generated recaps with a summary and action items
• Waiting room: Hosts can choose to hold new attendees in a waiting room before the host lets them in. The host can view the waiting room and select who enters the meeting.
• Virtual backgrounds: Attendees can blur their backgrounds, set a custom image as the background, or choose one of Dialpad’s preset background options
• Scheduling: Schedule meetings directly in Dialpad or in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, syncing meetings between calendars

Reporting and Analytics

Summary: Both Dialpad and Grasshopper offer basic call logs, but Dialpad offers real-time analytics with detailed KPIs and metrics about call volume and user activity. Dialpad’s analytics are significantly more advanced, also including Quality of Service (QoS) reports for call performance.

Shared Features

• Call logs: Both include detailed call logs, which record all inbound and outbound call activity along with basic information like date, time, and caller. Users can search call logs by name or date, and call contacts back with one click.

Differences

• Real-time analytics: Dialpad provides real-time and historical analytics for calls, meetings, and messaging activity. These KPIs and metrics track inbound and outbound call and messaging volume, missed call percentage, queue statistics, and usage rates for all team members. Administrators can sort these visuals and KPIs by user or historical time period.
• Quality of service reports: Dialpad tracks call and meeting quality for all UCaaS and contact center activity. Administrators can trace issues to a particular device, call, or location to drill down into the cause. These reports help companies guarantee strong phone support and customer support.

Dialpad vs. Grasshopper: Pricing and Plans

Summary: Dialpad Business Communications has two paid plans from $15-$25 per user month and up, plus 1 quote-based enterprise plan. Grasshopper has three paid plans from $14-25 a month. All Grasshopper plans include the same features but a scalable amount of numbers, extensions, and users, while Dialpad limits advanced features to top-tier plans. Dialpad offers an AI sales add-on, a video meetings upgrade, and the option to scale to a contact center. Grasshopper offers individual feature add-ons like a virtual receptionist, call blasting, and professional voice studio recordings. Grasshopper is more affordable than Dialpad, but Dialpad offers a greater overall value.

Dialpad Pricing and Plans

Dialpad pricing for AI Voice offers three monthly and annual paid plans from $15-$25+/user/month and a 14-day free trial. Dialpad add-ons include additional conference room lines for $15/number/month, online faxing for $10/number/month, additional international or toll-free numbers for $15/number/month, and additional local numbers for $5/number/month.

• Standard Plan ($15/user/month annually, $23/user/month with monthly billing): Unlimited HD Voice calling, 1 local phone number, 3 ring groups, multi-level auto attendant, visual voicemail, custom call routing, real-time call transcriptions, call recording, spam detection, call flip, 5-hour video meetings for 10 participants, screen sharing, whiteboards, team chat messaging, SMS/MMS; team chat messaging, file sharing, 24/7 live chat support
• Pro Plan ($25/user/month annually, $35/user/month with monthly billing): 3-seat minimum): Adds another local/international phone number, up to 25 ring groups, hold queues, international SMS, QoS reports, high-level third-party integrations, 24/7 live phone/chat support
• Enterprise Plan (Quote-based, 100-seat minimum): Adds extensions, unlimited ring groups, SSO, priority support, dedicated account manager, 100% uptime SLA

Grasshopper Pricing and Plans

Grasshopper’s pricing starts at just $14 per month, based on how many numbers and extensions are used rather than per user. All plans include call forwarding, VoIP/Wi-Fi calling, business texting, and voicemail transcription. Grasshopper add-ons include features like additional phone numbers and minutes for an extra charge.

• True Solo plan ($14/month): 1 phone number, 1 user, 1 extension
• Solo Plus plan ($25/month): 1 phone number, unlimited users, 3 extensions
• Small Business plan ($55/month): 4 phone numbers, unlimited extensions, unlimited users

Dialpad vs. Grasshopper Pros and Cons

Below, we briefly outline Dialpad’s and Grasshopper’s pros and cons.

Which Provider Should You Choose?

Choosing between Dialpad and Grasshopper comes down to your organization's specific needs and use cases, particularly regarding features, team size, and growth goals. Here’s a quick rundown to help you pick the right business phone system:

Dialpad is Best For:

• Remote Teams Seeking Video Calling and Collaboration Tools: Integrated team messaging, video calling, whiteboards, file sharing,  screen sharing, and task management tools connect geographically diverse remote and hybrid teams
• Teams Needing CRM/Help Desk Integrations: Dialpad jacks into major CRM and help desk platforms like Zendesk, Salesforce, and Hubspot enabling teams to sync customer data and insights within a single interface.
• Businesses Looking to Scale: Dialpad lets users scale up from a business phone system to an AI omnichannel contact center, provides an add-on for sales teams with outbound dialers/AI Agent Assist.

Dialpad is Not Right For:

• Businesses Needing Plug-and-Play Calling: Dialpad’s comprehensive feature set could be overkill for businesses who just want basic voice functionality without integrations or analytics.
• Smaller Businesses on a Budget: Dialpad’s user-based pricing is not cost-effective for small teams who don’t need advanced call management features or team collaboration tools

Grasshopper is Best For:

• Organizations Looking for Affordability and Ease of Use: With little to no learning curve and priced at a flat-rate, Grasshopper is a good fit for startups or small teams looking for simplicity and reliability in basic calling services
• Smaller Teams or Solo Entrepreneurs: Grasshopper’s budget-friendly pricing and essential call management capabilities make it ideal for startups or small businesses who just need a phone solution without complexity or unnecessary additional features

Grasshopper is Not Right For:

• Companies Needing Multi-Channel Communication and Collaboration: Grasshopper is solely for voice functionality and SMS messaging, it will not meet any needs for organizations looking to enable video meetings, team messaging, or AI-powered  communication
• Large Businesses with Wide Communication Needs: Grasshopper lacks the feature set and scalability that large businesses might need, including  granular analytics, AI tools, and CRM integrations

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