Choose Grasshopper if you want a toll-free or vanity number, unlimited users on a shared line and extensions, all running as an app on the phone you already own. Choose Google Voice if your business already runs on Google Workspace and you want calls in Gmail, ring groups and admin controls in the same console. One difference decides it for many owners: Google's own help page says Google Voice doesn't offer 1-800 numbers, while Grasshopper sells toll-free numbers including true 800 numbers.
Both of these give you a business number without a desk phone, so they get compared a lot. They're built for different owners, though. I read Grasshopper's home, features and plans pages and Google's Voice product page and setup help to see who each one is really for.
Grasshopper and Google Voice side by side
| Grasshopper | Google Voice | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Small business owners and solopreneurs | Google Workspace businesses, plus a basic personal plan |
| Number types | Local, vanity and toll-free, including true 800 numbers | Local numbers; no 1-800 numbers |
| Users | Unlimited users on its two team plans | Starter for up to 10 users; Standard and Premier unlimited |
| Extensions and routing | Up to unlimited extensions, phone menu, call forwarding | Ring groups and multi-level auto attendants on Standard and up |
| Where it works | iOS, Android and desktop apps on your existing devices | Mobile, laptop, supported desk phones and inside Gmail |
| Countries | Not set out on the pages I read | Starter available in 14 countries; full list on Google's page |
| Free way in | 7-day free trial | A basic plan at no charge, and Workspace trials |
What Grasshopper's plans include
Grasshopper has three plans. True Solo gives one user, one number and one extension. Solo Plus gives unlimited users sharing one number with three extensions. Small Business gives unlimited users, four numbers and unlimited extensions. Grasshopper says it's the only solution on the market to offer unlimited users, which matters if you add staff and don't want the bill to change each time. It also lets you port an existing number in at no charge, and its features page lists voicemail transcription, virtual fax, business texting, call summaries with AI sentiment and 24/7 live support.
One catch on its plans page: business texting needs registration before it works. Build that step into your setup so customers aren't texting a number that can't reply yet. Teams that want calls and texts built into their own software, not a ready-made number, can read Twilio against Plivo.
A good companion to this section is the Google Voice for business guide.
What Google Voice does well
Google Voice shines when you live in Google's tools. Calls and voicemails can arrive in Gmail, working hours in Google Calendar can send calls to voicemail automatically, and spam calls are blocked with Google AI. The Starter plan covers up to 10 users and is available in 14 countries. Standard adds unlimited users, ring groups with call queuing, auto attendants and eDiscovery for calls and texts. Premier adds unlimited international billing locations, automatic call recording and reporting in BigQuery.
Google's help page adds two details owners often miss: Google Voice doesn't offer 1-800 numbers, and when you call from the US almost all calls to the US and Canada carry no charge.
If callers should hear a menu first, our list of IVR software looks at phone menu and voice agent tools.
Pick in four questions
- Do you want a toll-free or vanity number like 1-800-YOURBIZ? Grasshopper offers those; Google Voice doesn't offer 1-800 numbers.
- Is your team already on Google Workspace? Google Voice slots into the same admin console and Gmail.
- Will your team grow? Grasshopper's team plans include unlimited users; Google Voice Starter stops at 10 users.
- Do you need call recording and reporting for compliance? Look at Google Voice Premier, or Grasshopper's call recording on its Small Business plan.
If you're still deciding whether you need a cloud phone at all, start with my guide to cloud-based phone systems, and see how an AI voice agent can answer your business phone once the line is set up.
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My advice on Grasshopper or Google Voice
For a solo founder or a small team that wants a professional number on the phones they already carry, I'd go with Grasshopper, especially if a toll-free number helps you look established. If your business already runs on Google Workspace, Google Voice is the tidier choice because everything sits in one console and one inbox. Don't choose on the app alone. Decide which number type your customers expect to call, then pick the service that offers it. If you lean towards Google, look at whether Google Workspace is free first.
Do you make business phone tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Does Google Voice offer toll-free numbers?
Google's Voice help page says Google Voice doesn't offer 1-800 numbers. Grasshopper sells toll-free numbers, including 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888 and true 800 numbers.
How many users can Grasshopper have?
Grasshopper's Solo Plus and Small Business plans include unlimited users. Its True Solo plan is for one user with one number and one extension.
Is Google Voice free for business?
Google offers a basic plan at no charge, but business use runs on paid Voice plans added to Google Workspace: Starter for up to 10 users, then Standard and Premier.
Can I keep my existing number with Grasshopper?
Yes. Grasshopper says you can port your existing number to it at no charge.
Which countries is Google Voice available in?
Google's product page says the Starter plan is available in 14 countries and links to a full list of countries where Voice is available.
