10 Best Remote Work Phone Systems for Teams [Features and Pricing]

Working remotely brings flexibility, but it also comes with many communication challenges. Traditional phone systems lack mobility, scalability, and integration with modern business tools. This not only affects internal communication but can also impact customer interactions, resulting in frustration, missed opportunities, and poor service delivery.
That’s why it’s important to upgrade to a phone system that helps your remote team stay connected, collaborative, and customer-focused -no matter where they’re located.
In this guide, we’ll explore the 10 best phone systems for remote teams, alongside their key features and pricing plans.
Highlights:
- Remote teams need reliable, secure, and flexible phone systems to ensure seamless communication and collaboration across locations.
- Consider the features like mobile/web access, ease of use, integration with collaboration tools, scalability, security, global connectivity, and cost efficiency when selecting the remote work phone system.
- Calilio, OpenPhone, RingCentral, Nextiva, Google Voice, Dialpad, Vonage, CallHippo, Zoom Phone, and GoToConnect are 10 popular phone systems for remote workers.
What Should You Consider in Phone Systems for Remote Workers?
For remote work setups, a phone system should be easy to use, accessible on both mobile and web platforms, secure, integrate well, scale easily, and be cost-effective.
- VoIP Accessibility: Prioritize cloud-based accessibility to ensure your team can stay connected from anywhere.
- Mobile and Web Access: Look for systems offering mobile and desktop apps, allowing remote teams to stay connected from any device.
- Ease of Use: Ensure the phone system has a user-friendly interface so team members can quickly adapt to the system without extensive training.
- Security Features: Choose a phone system that offers end-to-end encryption and implement robust security measures to protect sensitive business conversations.
- Integration: Look for a phone system that integrates with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams for easier online collaboration.
- Scalability: As your remote team grows, ensure the phone system can scale easily without requiring major upgrades or additional infrastructure.
- Cost Efficiency: Be sure the phone system is cost-effective, especially for a distributed workforce.
- Global Connectivity: Opt for a system that supports international calls at an affordable rate, useful for global remote workers.
Top 10 Remote Work Phone Systems
1. Calilio
Calilio is the leading remote office phone system, designed for easy collaboration for teleworkers. The system utilizes VoIP technology and is accessible through both mobile and web applications, ensuring teams can stay connected regardless of their location or device.
Furthermore, its simple setup process for virtual call center and user-friendly interface help remote members manage business calls effortlessly.
Key Features:
- Call Forwarding: Receive calls on any device, so you never miss important calls, no matter where you are.
- Voicemail-to-Email: Get voicemails as email attachments, making it easy to listen anytime.
- Mobile App Support: Make calls and check voicemails directly from your mobile phone, staying connected wherever you are.
- Internal Message: Direct conversation among team members to improve internal communication.
Pricing (monthly per user):
- Basic Plan: $12
- Business Plan: $28
- Enterprise Plan (custom)
(Above subscription packages are based on annual payment.)
Choose Calilio for Better Calling Experience
Calilio has a user-friendly interface with various call management tools. Take a self-guided interactive tour of the app on your own.
2. Openphone
Openphone is an office phone system for remote workers, popular for its integration capability with various business apps. It easily integrates with popular collaboration tools such as HubSpot, Slack, Salesforce, and more.
The system works well on Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, and web browsers, offering a remote team the ability to stay connected from multiple devices.
Key Features:
- Call Recording: Record calls to ensure the entire team has access to the context of customer conversations for more effective follow-ups.
- Shared Numbers: Share access to calls and messages with team members, making it easier when someone is on vacation or unavailable.
- AI Call Summaries: Quickly understand the key highlights of customer calls without listening to the entire recording.
- Automated Texts: Integrate with Zapier to automatically send texts, like confirming customer inquiries or setting call expectations.
Pricing (user per month):
- Starter: $19
- Business: $33
- Scale: $47
- Enterprise (Custom)
3. RingCentral
Well-known for its scalability and advanced feature set, RingCentral's remote phone system caters to businesses of all sizes, particularly those with digital nomads. It offers a unified experience, ensuring teleworkers can stay connected, share information, and join meetings from any device.
Serving over 400K customers in 100+ countries, RingCentral offers higher reliability with 99.999% uptime.
Key Features:
- Omnichannel Support: Stay connected with customers through voice, SMS, email, chat, and social media, all from one platform.
- Intelligent Routing: Automatically directs customer inquiries to the most available or skilled remote member, ensuring quick response times.
- Real-Time Analytics: Monitor your performance and customer interactions in real-time.
- Workforce Management Tools: Manage your schedule and team remotely, ensuring coverage and efficiency from anywhere.
Pricing (monthly per user):
- Core: $20
- Advanced: $25
- Ultra: $35
4. Nextiva
Nextiva is the best cloud phone system for remote employees, providing communication flexibility via mobile apps or traditional desk phones. This ensures you stay connected with your business number and features, whether working from home or elsewhere.
In addition to connectivity, Nextiva offers dependable customer support, exceptional voice quality, and collaboration tools that enable remote teams to stay productive and professional.
Key Features:
- Conference Calling: Enable easy participation in group calls for discussion and collaborative work.
- File Sharing: Team members can easily share documents and resources within the business, streamlining distributed workflows.
- HD Voice: Ensure clear and professional-sounding calls, even during network fluctuations.
- NextivaONE App: Provide all-in-one communication for work-from-home employees on any device.
Pricing (per user per month)
- Digital: $25
- Core: $36
- Engage: $50
- Power Suite: $75
5. Google Voice
Google Voice is a cost-effective remote work phone solution for individual online workers and small teams, especially those already using Google Workspace. It works well with other tools, such as Gmail and Google Calendar, and provides access to a single number on all devices, simplifying communication.
Additionally, you can also make conference calls using Google Voice, which is essential for remote employees to collaborate in real-time.
Key Features:
- Web Application: Access Google Voice directly from your web browser on any computer.
- Spam Blocking: Filter out unwanted spam calls and messages, reducing distractions for remote workers.
- Ring Groups: Multiple users within an organization share a single phone number and collaboratively answer incoming calls.
- Advanced reporting (BigQuery): Export Google Voice data, such as call logs and usage data, and analyze it within BigQuery.
Pricing (user per month):
- Starter: $10
- Standard: $20
- Premier: $30
6. Dialpad
Dialpad Connect is an AI-powered platform well-suited for enterprises seeking a comprehensive remote phone system. Along with flexibility and scalability, Dialpad also ensures secure communication, which is crucial for telecommuting.
Moreover, with its virtual numbers, online businesses can establish a professional presence without establishing a physical office.
Key Features:
- AI Scorecards: Automatically analyze conversations to assess employee performance and customer satisfaction.
- Real-Time Assist (RTA) Cards: Provide on-screen guidance and information to the mobile workers during conversations without direct supervision.
- AI Recaps: Generate summaries of calls and meetings, saving time on note-taking.
- Noise Cancellation: Echo cancellation makes calls clearer for remote workers by reducing background sound.
Pricing (user/month):
- Standard: $27
- Pro: $35
- Enterprise (custom)
7. Vonage
Vonage is a flexible business VoIP phone solution for a distributed workforce, offering a unified communication interface that facilitates effective communication among virtual teams. With a focus on scalability and flexibility, Vonage enables businesses to maintain efficient communication regardless of their team’s location.
Additionally, its easy integration with other business tools further makes it a powerful option for work-from-home employees.
Key Features:
- Customizable IVR: Set up custom voice menus to direct calls to the right department or individual automatically.
- Call Transfer: Transfer ongoing calls to alternative devices or next persons, providing excellent customer service regardless of employee locations.
- Business Inbox: Combine SMS and social media messages into a single inbox for easier management.
- CRM Integrations: Easily integrate with business applications like Salesforce and Microsoft 365, improving remote workflows.
Pricing (per user per month):
- Mobile: $19.99
- Premium: $29.99
- Advanced: $39.99
8. CallHippo
CallHippo is one of the leading remote phone systems, offering more than just VoIP features. Its Time Zone Intelligence feature helps online employees avoid calling prospects or clients outside of their working hours.
Furthermore, virtual numbers are accessible in over 100 countries, making them ideal for businesses with a distributed workforce.
Key Features:
- Global Connect: Connect online workers and global customers to improve call performance and increase conversation rates.
- Business Hours: Set operating hours to ensure calls are routed appropriately based on the virtual team’s availability.
- Power Dialer: Automatically dial phone numbers from a pre-defined list, one after another, allowing agents to focus on conversations.
Pricing (user per month):
- Starter: $25
- Professional: $40
- Ultimate: $55
- Enterprise (custom)
9. Zoom Phone
Zoom Phone stands out as the best phone system for remote working due to its seamless communication and flexible calling options for virtual collaboration. Moreover, it effortlessly integrates with Zoom’s video and chat tools, making it an ideal extension for organizations already embedded in the Zoom ecosystem.
Key Features:
- Device Switching: Effortlessly move active calls between your phone, computer, or mobile device without interruption as you work remotely.
- Call Park & Retrieve: Place a call on hold on one device and pick it up on another within your virtual work setup.
- Voicemail with Transcription: Quickly read your voicemails as text, allowing for efficient message management from any location.
- Shared Line Appearance/Delegation: Allow a delegate to manage your calls while you work online, enhancing your productivity.
Pricing (user per month):
- US & Canada Metered: $10
- US & Canada Unlimited: $15
- Pro Plus: $18.32
- Business Plus: $22.49
10. GoToConnect
GoToConnect is a top virtual phone system for remote teams, combining voice calls, video meetings, chat, and text messaging into a single, easy-to-use platform. The system integrates both PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and cloud features, ensuring your team has access to all the necessary tools in a single platform.
Moreover, GoToConnect's mobile applications for iOS and Android are full-featured, which allows remote workers to use their smartphones with a business number seamlessly.
Key Features:
- One-Click Meetings: Remote collaboration starts instantly with effortless video meetings that launch from any conversation.
- Virtual Fax: Send and receive essential documents securely from your online workspace without requiring physical fax equipment.
- Advanced Call Flip: Stay connected on the go by seamlessly transferring calls between your devices.
- Mobile application: Its mobile app empowers home-based workers with full business phone functionality on their personal devices.
Pricing (user per month)
- Basic: $27
- Standard: $32
Here’s the comparison of the top remote work business phone systems in the table for quick insights:
Provider’s Name | Mobile App Availability | Integration Options | Pricing (/user/month) | Key Features |
Calilio | Yes | Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft Teams |
|
|
OpenPhone | Yes | Slack, Zapier, Gmail |
|
|
RingCentral | Yes | Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zendesk |
|
|
Nextiva | Yes | Oracle Sales Cloud, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft Outlook, Oracle NetSuite, Bullhorn, Workbooks |
|
|
Google Voice | Yes | Google Workspace |
|
|
Dialpad | Yes | Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Teams |
|
|
Vonage | Yes | Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, Slack |
|
|
CallHippo | Yes | HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, and Zoho |
|
|
Zoom Phone | Yes | Zoom Workspace |
|
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GoToConnect | Yes | HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, Microsoft Outlook |
|
|
Conclusion
If you have remote workers, your phone system needs to do more than just make calls. It should help your team stay connected across locations, reduce communication gaps, and make it easier to collaborate in real time. A good remote phone system should work on any device, support virtual numbers, offer strong security, and easily connect with the tools your team already uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I ensure my remote phone system is secure?
To ensure your remote phone system is secure, look for a phone system with strong encryption, secure login protocols, and two-factor authentication to protect sensitive business data.
How can I set up a phone system for remote employees?
To set up a remote phone system, choose a VoIP provider like Calilio, obtain your number, configure the system to route calls to remote devices, and integrate it with existing communication tools.
Are there free phone systems for remote workers?
Yes, some providers offer a free phone system for remote workers, but with limited features and accessibility.
Can I use my existing phone number with a remote phone system?
Yes, many VoIP providers offer number porting services to transfer your existing phone number to their system. By doing so, you can continue using your existing phone number for a remote business setup.
How much does a remote phone system cost?
The cost of a remote phone system varies based on features and the number of users. Basic plans are generally more affordable, while advanced features such as call routing, CRM integration, and video conferencing are available at higher tiers.
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