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The 5 Best Business Cell Phone Plans of 2023

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *AutoPay Discount included: -$5/mo. per line. Plus taxes & fees.

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Business.org’s 5 best business cell phone plans

At&t: best full-featured plans.

Looking for a broad choice of bells and whistles? As a telecom behemoth, AT&T has plenty of cell phone features and packages to offer a business—around 20 plan variations, small to large. All plans include free US roaming, unlimited talk, and text messages, as well as unlimited texting outside of the country. Basic features like call forwarding, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, and conference calling also come standard with all AT&T business cell phone plans, along with bring-your-own-phone support.

AT&T's business cell phone plans

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

Business Unlimited plan prices start at $35 a month per line, and there is a new perk where unlimited data is included in the unlimited talk and text plan. This means there is no need to worry about overages or data caps. 

 AT&T business plans can also accommodate up to 10 lines per account, and they come fully loaded with perks—like Stream Saver. This feature optimizes streaming video on your phone to 480p so you can watch webinars on-the-go without dealing with a blurry picture.

Each plan also includes a decent array of iOS and Android smartphone options and even a few good ol’ flip phones. A 15% military veteran discount can be applied to the Business Unlimited plans, as well as AT&T-owned DIRECTV services (because, again, telecom behemoth).

Users are eligible for a discount if they elect for autopay and paperless billing but this discount is only applied until after two pay periods. We don't know why the discount cannot be applied earlier in the billing process but we do find it frustrating. 

T-Mobile: Best flexible plans

Not sure exactly what you’ll need in a mobile plan besides future adaptability? T-Mobile, the third-largest wireless service in the US, offers four Magenta® for Business plans, all packed with unique features that set T-Mobile apart from the rest. The German-owned company has also earned a reputation for stellar customer service and was the first to eliminate annual contracts (an idea that stuck—none of the plans reviewed on this page require contracts). In April 2018, the company announced its intention to merge with Sprint under the T-Mobile banner.

T-Mobile's business cell phone plans

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *While using AutoPay.

All of T-Mobile’s Business cell phone plans offer the same basic features:

Unlimited talk and text

Unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data on our network

• Unlimited mobile hotspot
• Scam Shield

Unlimited calling and texting to Mexico & Canada

Unlimited video streaming

In addition, all T-Mobile Business plans include DIGITS, which allows you to access up to five phone numbers on a single device. That means you could answer calls to your work number and your personal number on one device—no more packing two phones in your bag every day. DIGITS also lets you share your phone number across multiple devices, so you can answer on your phone, smartwatch, tablet, or computer.

T-Mobile users with a Business plan can also add the PlusUp add-on and get extra features, like Voicemail to Text, HD streaming, 20 GB of 4G LTE mobile hotspot data, unlimited in-flight Wi-Fi, caller ID, and double the data speed when roaming internationally.

Keep in mind, though, that T-Mobile’s Business plans are available only on plans with two to 13 lines. If you need more than 13 lines, you’ll need to sign up for the 13+ Plan ($285 per month for 13 lines, plus $25 per month for each additional line).

T-Mobile plans also allow bring-your-own-device convenience, or you can buy phones up front with a single payment (there are nearly 40 iOS and Android phones to choose from).

Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have been merged for almost six months, some significant changes have taken effect. T-Mobile’s website is now the only place businesses can sign up for Sprint or T-Mobile business phone accounts.

Sprint still has an active business website for previous users but all new plans will be sold by T-Mobile on its website.

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Verizon: Best growing business plans

Serving over 150 million customers, Verizon isn’t just big, it’s BIG. Such a mobile mammoth might not seem like the obvious choice for a small business, but for what it lacks in a personalized customer service reputation, Verizon more than makes up for by offering every cell phone feature there is, as well as dominant US, and near-dominant global, coverage. Like McDonald’s and Marvel movies, Verizon is everywhere.

Verizon's business cell phone plans

Data as of 12/7/22. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. *With 4+ lines

While business owners can get business cell phone plans with limited data, we recommend choosing an unlimited plan if you have multiple employees (or do a lot of work via cell phone).

Verizon’s Business Unlimited cell phone plans are scalable from four employees up to and over 40. And with plans starting at just $40 per line, Verizon Business Unlimited plans are an attractive option whether you’re running a tiny company with no expansion plans, a medium-sized business with an eye toward growth, or a large enterprise with heavy cell phone requirements.

Verizon Beyond Unlimited plans also include unlimited mobile hotspot use, though your speeds are limited depending on your plan. Plus, you get unlimited calling and texting to Mexico and Canada—not to mention unlimited calling, texting, and data while in those countries. And naturally, you also get unlimited talk and text as part of your Beyond Unlimited package.

Verizon doesn’t skimp on device choices either. There are nearly 100 iOS and Android phones and tablets available—including the Verizon Jetpack, a mobile hotspot device that can connect 10 devices to its 4G LTE network and an additional five to 3G.

If your company requires truly “unlimited” cell phone service and scalability to grow and is in the position to pay for functionality with frills, Verizon Business Unlimited is the way to go. Bare-bones operations, however, might want to look elsewhere.

Each of our recommendations has its strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes the most difficult part about finding a phone system is determining exactly what you need and don't need. The best place to start is separating your needs between installing a new system, replacing a system or expanding system.

If you are having trouble sorting out exactly what your phone needs are, use this tool to help you understand what the best options are for your unique needs. 

MintMobile: Most affordable plans

We are sure you’ve seen the commercials with Ryan Reynolds talking about this new phone carrier business with a fox logo called Mint Mobile. In fact, a lot of Mint customers were drawn to Mint because of Ryan Reynolds Hollywood looks, but that’s not the only thing Mint has to offer. 

Mint is inexpensive and transparent, compared to other cell phone carriers with hidden fees and seemingly random regulations.

MintMobile's business cell phone plans

Data as of 12/7 /22 . Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

T hese are the prices for new customers and will last up to three months. After the third month, you are eligible to sign up for a 6- or 12-month contract on one of the tiered plans, all less than $35/mo/user, which is astronomically less than other providers. 

MintMobile is no fuss, and you really do feel like you must be tricking the rest of the world with its pricing. The only issue is that MintMobile is fairly new, launched in 2015, coverage is not completely everywhere. There are still a couple of coverage gaps in the West, namely Utah, Nebraska, Idaho and Nevada. If you are east of the Rocky Mountains, you are good to go!

Teltik: Best perks plans

If you’re a strapped startup, New Jersey’s Teltik can get you up and running on the cheap. Teltik is a reseller service operating on T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network, meaning it can offer the reliability and reach of a giant provider at smaller-company prices. Teltik also has the advantage of being completely US-based, with 24/7 local customer service that’s not outsourced overseas.

Teltik's business cell phone plans

3 more (non-business) cell phone plans reviewed by business.org.

Teltik appears to have a dozen plans, but they’re mostly just variations of the essential plan that offers all the expected basics. Not coincidentally, the features mirror those of T-Mobile, as they’re on the same network.

The most basic plan starts at $20 a month and includes unlimited calling and texting, mobile hotspot service, and unlimited data—with a 2 GB cap on 4G LTE speeds (meaning your speed gets throttled to 128 Kbps if you use more than 2 GB of data in a month). From there, you can upgrade your plan to include more 4G LTE data and more mobile hotspot data. Upgraded plans cost anywhere from $30 to $40 per month, and they all include one cloud-phone VoIP line—perfect for small businesses looking to save on all their telecommunications needs.

One distinctly entertaining feature (pun intended) of Teltik’s business plans? You get unlimited media streaming from over 40 music services (including Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music) and more than 100 video services (including YouTube, Netflix, and any other channel you can think of). That means you can stream as much TV as you want without it eating into your data. It’s almost as if Teltik doesn’t want you to get any work done.

Another thing you need to know: Teltik doesn’t sell phones. Instead, the company operates on a strict bring-your-own-device basis. Any unlocked phone will work with its network, as will any T-Mobile device, of course. However, you will have to spend $10 plus shipping and handling to buy a new SIM card for each of your devices (unless they’ve already got brand-new, unused T-Mobile SIM cards).

The takeaway

Assess your company’s current cell phone usage, and projected future needs, before diving into any plan. What looks like a great deal could turn out to be more than you actually need—or you may have initially underestimated your business’s cell phone requirements. Also, if your company has both cell phone and regular office phone needs, check into bundling. The larger telecom providers offer both types of phone coverage, and bundling services is an easy way to save money in the long run.

Don’t want to carry around separate phones for work and personal calls? With the right VoIP service, you don’t have to. Check out our favorite business VoIP providers to see which ones offer on-the-go business phone capabilities.

Business cell phone plan FAQs

If you have several employees working outside of the office on a regular basis, desk-bound phones obviously aren’t going to work for them. Some may be only calling and texting while others will be checking email, using GPS navigation, and accessing the internet for work, but a cell phone is a must for employees in the field.

If you’re a one-person operation accountable to only yourself, you could get by with a personal cell plan. Keeping track of multiple employees’ hours, data, and providers, however, would be an extra headache you don’t need. For streamlining and collaboration purposes, a business cell phone plan would be the easier route.

Most of the plans we’ve reviewed here offer unlimited data—domestically, at least—so hitting the data ceiling won’t likely be an issue. But if you want to forecast how much data your business uses every month, providers make data plan estimators available on their websites. Or you could use a third-party calculator app.

BYOD stands for bring your own device . Another common term is BYOP for bring your own phone . These can mean that employees are using their personal phones, tablets, or laptops on their own carrier plans for work or that they’ve put those devices on the company’s plan. The upside? Less expensive than buying devices. The downside? Extra security concerns.

In the annoying absence of Wi-Fi, you can use a cell phone signal to connect a wireless device to the internet by switching on the mobile hotspot option and simply treating it like a Wi-Fi router. For multiple device connections, a dedicated hotspot (such as Verizon’s Jetpack) can provide a faster, and more stable, connection.

Business owners weigh in

Methodology

To find the best business cell phone options, we considered pricing plans, customer support, and data limits. We also looked at the variety of contracts and whether these plans were flexible with discounts. 

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

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Disclaimer: The information featured in this article is based on our best estimates of pricing, package details, contract stipulations, and service available at the time of writing. All information is subject to change. Pricing will vary based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the customer’s location, package chosen, added features and equipment, the purchaser’s credit score, etc. For the most accurate information, please ask your customer service representative. Clarify all fees and contract details before signing a contract or finalizing your purchase.

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Office Technology | Buyer's Guide

6 Best Business Cell Phone Plans of 2024

Published January 18, 2024

Published Jan 18, 2024

REVIEWED BY: Corey McCraw

WRITTEN BY: Sam Dadofalza

This article is part of a larger series on VoIP .

• 1 Best Business Cell Phone Plans Compared
• 2 Verizon: Best for Mobile Hotspot and Premium Data
• 3 RingCentral: Best for Streamlined Call Distribution
• 4 AT&T: Best for Mobile Security
• 5 Nextiva: Best for Toll-free Calling
• 6 T-Mobile: Best for Global Communications
• 7 Google Voice: Best for Budget-conscious Freelancers
• 8 How We Evaluated the Best Business Cell Phone Plans
• 9 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• 10 Bottom Line

The best business cell phone plans offer unlimited calls, texts, and mobile data, support remote work via mobile hotspot access, and enable communications with overseas contacts. They provide robust mobile security through proprietary apps for spam call detection and safe browsing. The plans have valuable add-on features such as subscriptions to streaming services and business tools. In this article, we outlined our top picks for business cell phone plans:

• Verizon : Best for mobile hotspot and premium data
• RingCentral : Best for streamlined call distribution
• AT&T : Best for mobile security
• Nextiva : Best for toll-free calling
• T-Mobile : Best for global communications
• Google Voice : Best for budget-conscious freelancers

Best Business Cell Phone Plans Compared

Verizon: best for mobile hotspot & premium data.

What We Liked

• Unlimited calling and texting in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
• TravelPass offers 24 hours of unlimited talk and text in overseas locations and 2GB of high-speed international data
• Huge discounts on tablets when subscribed to the Unlimited Pro plan

Where It Falls Behind

• Expensive subscription plans, with the entry-level package starting at $70 per line, per month
• Caller ID and personal block list feature are not available in the base-level plan
• Mobile security requires a separate activation fee of $5 per device

Verizon Monthly Pricing*

• Business Unlimited Start 5G: $70 per line for unlimited talk, text, and data, unlimited 5G and 4G LTE data, 5GB of 5G and 4G LTE mobile hotspot data, call filter, and 480p video streaming
• Business Unlimited Plus 5G: $80 per line for 100GB of premium smartphone data and mobile hotspot data, enhanced security features, up to 4K video streaming, and TravelPass for two days (24 hours of unlimited talk and text, 2GB of high-speed international data, and then unlimited data at 3G speeds thereafter)
• Business Unlimited Pro 5G: $85 per line for unlimited premium smartphone data, 200GB of premium mobile hotspot data, TravelPass for four days, and 50% off on tablet plan

*Pay only $35, $45, or $50 per line for the tiered subscription plans when you get five or more lines. Secure $5 savings per month when you sign up for Auto Pay and paper-free billing.

Verizon is our top provider in this list of the best business cell phone plans, offering a generous allotment for mobile hotspot and premium data. This allows on-the-go professionals to have fast access to the internet wherever they are. The provider features 200GB of premium mobile hotspot data in its most expensive plan. While its direct competitor, AT&T, has the same maximum cellular data, Verizon’s mobile throttling speed is more tolerable.

AT&T slows down the speeds to a maximum of 128Kbps when you reach the data usage threshold. Verizon, on the other hand, reduces the speed to 600Kbps for 4G LTE and 5G and 3Mbps for 5G Ultra Wideband. Meanwhile, its premium data has no cap and won’t slow down based on the data used. On top of the excellent data offerings, Verizon has a range of business cell phones for small businesses, carrying top brands like Apple, Samsung, and Google.

The downside of using Verizon is that some of its call filtering features, like caller ID and personal block list, are not available in the entry-level plan. You must upgrade to the second-tier package, which costs $80 per line, monthly, to access those tools. Other business cell phone plans providers have these call filtering capabilities in their base-level subscription packages. You’ll save more with RingCentral , for instance, as it’s priced at $30 per user, per month.

Verizon Features

Block high-risk calls automatically using Verizon’s spam filter. (Source: Verizon )

• Call filter: Screen and block incoming spam calls and those from unwanted numbers. Upgrade to Call Filter Plus to access caller ID for robocall control and total spam protection.
• Business Mobile Secure: Get alerts when a device tries to connect to unsecured Wi-Fi. It protects your phone against phishing and other cybersecurity risks.
• Bring your own device (BYOD) : Verizon allows users to keep their smartphones and numbers when switching to the provider. Simply check your eligibility, bring your smartphone and number, and activate them with one of Verizon’s unlimited business plans.

RingCentral: Best for Streamlined Call Distribution

• Free local and toll-free numbers in all plans
• 99.999% uptime guarantee, which translates to less than six minutes of annual downtime
• Up to 200 video meeting participants
• Only offers up to 200 business texting credits per user
• Phone rentals are only available for those tied to a multi-year contract
• Unlimited storage for files is locked behind the most expensive plan

RingCentral Monthly Pricing*

• Core: $30 per user for unlimited domestic calling, local or toll-free numbers, 100 toll-free minutes, 25 short messaging service (SMS) credits, and multi-level auto-attendant
• Advanced: $35 per user for 1,000 toll-free minutes, 100 SMS credits, advanced call queues, automatic and on-demand call recording, and up to eight-digit phone extensions
• Ultra: $45 per user for 10,000 toll-free minutes, 200 SMS credits, and unlimited storage for files, messaging, and recordings
• Free trial: 14 days

*Save up to 33% by paying annually. Volume discounts for 50-plus users are available.

RingCentral ranks second on our list of the best small business cell phone plans, most suitable for teams wanting to improve call management. Its wide array of voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) features route phone calls to team members more efficiently. For one, the multi-level auto-attendant automatically directs calls to the right departments based on the caller’s key presses. Its call queue accommodates up to 25 waiting calls.

The VoIP phone system supports various call routing modes: round-robin, sequential, and simultaneous. Aside from organizing the flow of inbound calls, these distribution methods ensure you won’t miss important customer queries.

Before choosing RingCentral, note that it only provides a maximum of 200 SMS credits per user. If you frequently send texts for marketing or customer service, explore other best cell phone plans businesses use, like Verizon and AT&T , which offer unlimited texting.

RingCentral Features

Get an overview of all your voicemail messages on RingCentral. (Source: RingCentral )

• Visual voicemail: Access and manage your voicemail through RingCentral’s admin portal. Instead of listening to audio files and playing them repeatedly to get the details of the message, read the voicemails. Users have the option to preview, delete, and forward these messages.
• Team huddle: Let team members hold spontaneous virtual meetings that resemble face-to-face, informal huddles. Easily host audio and video conferences where participants come and go as they please.
• Video conferencing: Host virtual meetings for up to 200 participants. If you get the large meeting add-on, your sessions will be able to accommodate a maximum of 500 attendees.

AT&T: Best for Mobile Security

• Unlimited texting from the U.S. to 200+ countries
• All subscription plans feature mobile app security
• Waived activation fees for new customers who buy plans and devices online
• More expensive subscription plans compared to other providers listed here
• 5G+ is available in limited parts of select cities only
• Hotspot data speed slows to a maximum of 128Kbps when your allotted data is consumed

AT&T Monthly Pricing*

• Standard: $70 per line for unlimited talk, text, and data within and between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, 5G/5G+ access, 5GB of mobile hotspot data, basic ActiveArmor security, and standard-definition video streaming
• Advanced: $80 per line for 100GB of mobile hotspot data, advanced ActiveArmor security, and high-definition 1080p video streaming
• Premium: $90 per line for 200GB mobile hotspot data, high-definition 4K video streaming, and unlimited talk, text, and data in Latin America

*Pay only $40, $45, or $50 for the tiered subscription plans when you get six or more lines. Secure a $10 discount when you sign up for AutoPay and paperless billing.

AT&T is the best cell phone plan for businesses prioritizing the privacy of confidential company information. Among the providers mentioned in this list, it offers the most comprehensive mobile security through the AT&T ActiveArmor app. This app offers spam risk call blocking, safe browsing, public Wi-Fi protection, and identity monitoring. The last one involves tracking the dark web for your personal information.

On top of these key features, you’ll be able to receive data breach alerts, run reverse number lookups, identify unknown caller details, and get information about your Android smartphone if it gets lost or stolen. While AT&T offers excellent mobile security among the best cell phone plans for small businesses listed, its data offering may be a deal-breaker. It slows down the hotspot data to a maximum of 128Kbps when the user hits their data cap.

In contrast, Verizon’s mobile throttling speed is 600Kbps, a more acceptable speed for professionals who need to stay connected. Consider this option if you need internet access when working remotely. The provider offers some valuable mobile security features as well, such as Wi-Fi protection and robocall blocking.

AT&T Features

Turn on data roaming when traveling internationally. (Source: AT&T )

• Video streaming: Watch shows on your smartphone in standard definition, high-definition, or ultra-high definition, depending on your plan. To control data usage, AT&T’s Video Management feature automatically renders streaming video in standard definition.
• International roaming: Call, text, and use mobile data in Latin America with no usage limits. This lets you communicate with colleagues and customers whenever needed, wherever you may be.
• Mobile hotspot: Plug your devices into your hotspot and secure your internet connection instantly. With AT&T’s broad coverage nationwide, you’ll connect and work remotely without the hassle.

Nextiva: Best for Toll-free Calling

• High-definition voice is featured in all subscription plans
• Number porting is free of charge
• Lets users bring their own device
• Only allows a 45-minute duration in video calls
• SMS isn't available in the entry-level plan
• Users must upgrade to the most expensive package to access call recording and voicemail transcription

Nextiva Monthly Pricing*

• Essential: $30.95 per user for free local and toll-free numbers, up to 1,500 toll-free minutes, auto-attendant, and call history
• Professional: $35.95 per user for up to 3,000 toll-free minutes, multi-level auto-attendant, voicemail-to-SMS, and a maximum of 1,000 messages sent and received per user
• Enterprise: $45.95 per user for up to 12,500 toll-free minutes, call recording, a maximum of 2,000 messages sent and received per user, and voicemail transcription

*Save up to 33% by paying annually. Volume discounts are available for more than four users.

Nextiva is included in this list of the best cell phone plans for small businesses, ideal for companies catering to a national client base because of its generous toll-free minute allowance. It offers a maximum of 12,500 toll-free minutes, allowing customers from different parts of the country to reach out to the business without any charge.

The provider’s call management features, specifically the multi-level auto-attendant, call queueing, call park, and five-digit phone extensions, make accommodating several customer queries easier. The threaded conversations, which put all customer interactions from different channels in one interface, help users be more organized in addressing concerns.

One disadvantage you need to know before subscribing to Nextiva is that its video calls only last for 45 minutes. Consider other best cell phone plans for businesses if you frequently go on long video calls for client and team discussions. RingCentral is a good option, as its video meetings have a duration of 24 hours.

Nextiva Features

Set your status on Nextiva to let colleagues know if you’re available for a call. (Source: Nextiva )

• Call recording: Capture phone calls and store the recordings to secure a reliable reference for business deals and agreements. These files may serve as training materials for new customer service representatives in the future.
• Call presence: Know who among colleagues is available for calls. The phone system’s presence displays user status: available, on a call, unavailable (do not disturb), or offline.
• Call pop: See who’s on the other end of the line before answering a call. Refer to the call pop feature to know the customers’ last interaction, account value, and experience score or customer sentiment.

T-Mobile: Best for Global Communications

• Offers valuable productivity tools, like Microsoft 365 license
• Add-ons, like extra high-speed hotspot and high-definition streaming, offer flexibility when users need additional data
• All plans have dedicated customer care services
• Wi-Fi for traveling isn't available in the entry-level plan
• Reverse number lookup tool is only available at the most expensive subscription package
• Netflix subscription is locked behind the Ultimate plan

T-Mobile Monthly Pricing*

• Select: $60 per line for 50GB of premium data, unlimited mobile hotspot with 5GB of data, unlimited international texting and up to 5GB of data in 11 countries, and unlimited calling, texting, and data in Mexico and Canada with up to 5GB of data
• Advanced: $70 per line for 100GB of premium data, unlimited mobile hotspot with 50GB of data, four full-flight Wi-Fi sessions a year, and secure Wi-Fi without additional charge
• Ultimate: $85 per line for unlimited premium data and unlimited mobile hotspot with 100GB of data

*Pay only $25, $30, or $40 per line for the tiered subscription plans when you get six lines.

T-Mobile is our top pick for international communications among the listed small business cell phone plans, given its attractive travel benefits. For one, you’ll have access to in-flight Wi-Fi with streaming on select airlines, namely Alaska, American, Delta, and United. To use the service, you must have your Wi-Fi calling settings enabled. The in-flight solutions cover video streaming, text and picture messaging, visual voicemail, and over-the-top messaging.

On top of that, you have unlimited international texting and data in more than 215 overseas locations. The high-speed data is capped at 5GB per month, and the unlimited data is up to 256Kbps. If you’re traveling to Mexico or Canada, maximize the unlimited talk, text, and data of up to 5GB.

One downside of choosing T-Mobile is that the business cell phone plan has a more expensive subscription when you want to secure unlimited premium data. You must upgrade to its highest-tier package, which costs $85 per line, monthly. Verizon is slightly more affordable at $80 per line.

T-Mobile Features

Block spam calls automatically using T-Mobile’s Scam Shield app. (Source: T-Mobile )

• Microsoft 365 access: Higher T-Mobile plans like the Advanced and Ultimate packages come with a single Microsoft Office license. Access popular productivity tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and collaboration features, such as Microsoft Teams and OneDrive (1TB cloud storage).
• Scam Shield: This feature automatically identifies and prevents spam calls, which may put your security at risk or negatively affect productivity. It features a caller ID that displays callers’ information even on numbers not registered on your contact list. Additionally, it provides a proxy number to keep your real phone number private.
• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Get exclusive access to free offers and attractive deals from different brands on T-Mobile’s app. The perks include prizes and discounts on food, fuel, hotel stays, gadgets, and app subscriptions.

Google Voice: Best for Budget-conscious Freelancers

• Service level agreement (SLA) is offered in all subscription plans
• Offers seamless access to other Google apps, like Calendar and Meet
• Google AI blocks spam calls automatically
• Doesn’t have call recording in the entry-level plan
• Users must subscribe to the most expensive package to access advanced reporting
• Lacks advanced VoIP features other providers offer, like toll-free minutes and call monitoring

Google Voice Monthly Pricing

• Personal: Free for one user, local phone number, unlimited calls and text messages within the United States (U.S.), and voicemail
• Starter: $10 per user for up to 10 users, calls to the U.S., Canada, and most European countries, unlimited text messaging within the U.S., voicemail transcription, and integration with Calendar and Meet
• Standard: $20 per user for unlimited users, multi-level auto-attendant, ring groups, and eDiscovery for calls, voicemails, and text messages
• Premier: $30 per user for unlimited international locations, advanced reporting, and automatic call recording

Google Voice is our top-recommended small business phone plan for budget-conscious freelancers, as it’s the most affordable solution in this list. For only $10, you’ll have unlimited calls within the U.S., Canada, and select European countries and unlimited texts within the U.S. Solopreneurs who only need a second phone number and unlimited domestic calling will benefit from the Personal plan, which is free of charge.

The VoIP provider is likewise an excellent option for freelancers who are already working with other Google products. It seamlessly integrates with Calendar and Meet, so if you need to switch to a longer huddle with colleagues and clients, the video conferencing feature is easily accessible.

But unlike other small business VoIP services , Google Voice doesn’t have advanced VoIP tools like toll-free minutes and call monitoring. RingCentral is your best option if these features are essential to your business communications. It offers up to 10,000 toll-free minutes and call monitoring tools, like whisper, barge, and takeover.

Google Voice Features

Get spam call alerts from Google Voice. (Source: Google Voice )

• Multi-level auto-attendant: Send callers to different departments by letting them choose from a phone menu. Record your greetings using Google Voice’s text-to-speech tool or uploading a professionally recorded audio.
• Enhanced spam protection: The phone system automatically labels spam calls as such using advanced artificial intelligence. On top of this, it marks suspicious text messages on Android and iOS devices.
• Ring groups: Delegate a ring group to a specific Google Voice user. A ring group manager will be able to configure the ring group members, call routing rules, ring duration settings, and working hours.

Manage your VoIP costs better by exploring pay-as-you-go and prepaid VoIP options. Take into account your business and communication priorities as you consider the providers mentioned in our buyer’s guide.

How We Evaluated the Best Business Cell Phone Plans

To assess the providers objectively, we developed a scoring rubric that takes into account companies’ considerations when choosing business cell phone plans. These factors include subscription costs, essential features like unlimited calling, spam call blocking, and international calling, and customer service hours. The popularity of each vendor was likewise a part of our assessment.

Learn how we evaluated the top cell phone plans for business by clicking on the tabs below:

• General Features
• Advanced Features
• Ease of Use
• Customer Support
• Expert Score

20% of Overall Score

To determine if the vendors have an accessible pricing point, we considered the entry-level plan’s fees and the number of subscription packages offered. We assigned higher points to those providing annual and volume discounts and free plans.

25% of Overall Score

The general features we looked at were unlimited calling, call forwarding, and call routing. Similarly, we assessed how robust the third-party integrations are.

The niche features include tools improving security and international communications. We gave more points to those with spam blockers, in-flight texting, and international calling support. Those with video meeting features earned more points as well.

10% of Overall Score

Since not all users are tech-savvy, we considered how easy it is to set up accounts and maximize the features offered by the provider. We checked if the vendors’ proprietary apps’ interfaces are beginner-friendly.

The customer support channels we included in our evaluation were live chat, phone, and email. We considered the schedule of customer service, giving more points to those with 24/7 operations.

15% of Overall Score

The vendors’ standout features and ease of use were part of our expert score. We checked third-party review websites to evaluate their level of popularity among professionals. In addition, we evaluated the feature inclusions for every subscription plan to determine if they provide great value for money.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which is the best cell phone carrier for coverage.

According to the Federal Communications Commission’s national broadband map, AT&T and Verizon have the broadest 4G LTE coverage, covering 56.95% and 55.9% of the country, respectively. Meanwhile, T-Mobile covers 35.3%. AT&T and Verizon are excellent options if you prioritize coverage.

How fast is Verizon’s 4G LTE?

Verizon 4G LTE can accommodate download speeds between 5 and 12Mbps and upload speeds between 2 and 5Mbps.

How do I choose the best cell phone plan?

In a nutshell, these are the factors you must consider when comparing cell phone plans:

• Data and voice coverage: Check the carriers’ coverage maps to see if your business areas are included. Ask contacts as well which providers work well in different locations.
• Device options: If you plan to get a new device, see if your carrier offers your preferred brands and models. Meanwhile, if you plan to stick to your existing phone, ensure your phone plan provider supports BYOD.
• Plan inclusions: Compare the high-speed data limits for each provider’s unlimited data offerings. If you frequently travel for work, check if there’s mobile hotspot access included in the plan. Those traveling overseas should benefit from a package that features international coverage. If you choose VoIP platforms, check if the plan includes a toll-free minute allowance and robust call routing tools.
• Subscription rates: Determine how much you will spend on your mobile plan each month. When comparing quotes, consider the taxes and fees on top of the subscription rates. Note that some providers offer discounts for bulk lines and enrollment in AutoPay and paperless billing. VoIP vendors provide discounted prices for those who choose annual billing.

Bottom Line

Your cell phone plan of choice ultimately depends on your calling and texting habits, travel frequency, and monthly budget. The best providers offer affordable packages, unlimited calling, and essential features like call forwarding and call routing. They offer robust support for remote work and mobile security and make availing new devices easier.

In our evaluation, Verizon reigns supreme over the best business cell phone plans, especially for on-the-go employees who need reliable internet connection wherever they are. With its broad coverage nationwide, premium data offerings, and unlimited talk and text features, you’ll be able to stay connected to your customers and colleagues, regardless of your location.

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About the Author

Sam Dadofalza

Sam is an office tech writer at Fit Small Business, covering various topics including virtual phone systems, contact center platforms, and unified communications tools. She produced content for the digital marketing campaigns of small businesses from different industries and countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, and the Philippines.

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The Top Small Business Cell Phone Plans for 2023

Find out more about the best small business cell phone plans with customer rating, pricing information and frequently asked questions.

Updated on September 21st, 2023

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4.5 out of 5 overall

• Widest U.S. coverage.
• 5G coverage
• Solid network coverage.
• No overages.
• Access to 20M WiFi hotspots.
• Unlimited talk and text.

Business cell phone plans are offered by phone carriers to help small businesses have affordable access to a reliable phone network. Businesses are often eligible for discounts when they add more numbers or opt for additional monthly features.

Best Small Business Phone Systems for 2023

Get information on the top business phone systems, including pricing, reviews, and answers to common questions.

Feb 6, 2023

Why We Chose Verizon, AT&T, and Xfinity Mobile:

Verizon is one of the largest network providers in the United States . With plans for as little as four employees, Verizon offers phone packages suitable for small and large teams. All of Verizon's phone bundles include great unlimited features, including unlimited calling, texting, and data while in Canada and Mexico.

Verizon is ideal for businesses that plan on supplying their employees with handsets . The network provider offers nearly 100 different iOS and Android phones and tablets for teams that are constantly on the go.

All of AT&T's plans offer great unlimited features , including unlimited data and calling in Canada and Mexico, as well as unlimited international texting, domestic calling, and free domestic roaming. AT&T's Business Unlimited Plan comes in three variations: Starter, Performance, and Elite. With all three plans, users also have access to 5G network.

Xfinity Mobile offers a large variety of plans for businesses to choose from , with prices ranging between $30.00 and $240.00 per line. Thanks to its multi-line pricing system, businesses pay less as more lines are added to their plan. Xfinity Mobile also offers 4G LTE and 5G network access, making it great for employees who are always on the move.

Things to Consider When Evaluating Small Business Cell Phone Plans:

• Carefully consider the contract as most plans require business owners to sign up for extended contract periods of one to two years.
• Check coverage and compare it to where your employees live and travel. Some cell companies offer better coverage in rural areas, others offer much less expensive international plans.
• Keeping up with the latest in phone technology could be important to your business, so see how often the contract entitles you to new phones.

Best Business Cell Phone Plans:

How to choose a business cell phone plan:, 1. look at your business's communication needs..

Every business's communication needs will vary. For example, construction companies will require a smartphone with excellent data access for teams that are on the move and working on different sites, while call center teams will only require wireless services and ordinary phones.

International Phone Plans

See our list of top international phone plans, which includes ranking and frequently asked questions.

Sep 19, 2023

Carrier Strengths:

2. choose a plan designed for businesses..

Look for plans with multiple lines and unlimited talk, text, or data options. In addition, your plan should be tailored to fit your specific business. If you won't require talk options, look into business text and email plans.

3. Make good network coverage a priority.

Your plan should have excellent coverage in your area, especially if your business requires strong talk capabilities. Consider sound quality, speed, and network coverage. More importantly, your network coverage should be reliable in urban and remote areas.

Best Network Coverage:

T-Mobile provides the widest network coverage, making it the best fit for businesses that operate in urban areas. Since acquiring Sprint's network in 2020, T-Mobile's network coverage has grown exponentially, narrowly surpassing Verizon's coverage in the U.S.

4. Look for strong security features.

Instead of paying for a separate network security service, look into network providers that include VPNs and encryption with their cell phone plans. Your business's private information is a top priority and with so many open networks, you'll want to ensure your and customer's information is secure.

Best Security Features:

5. purchase hardware..

You can either ask employees to use their own smartphones or you can supply them with hardware. This option should only be considered if your business has off-site teams. Look into the hardware and handsets on offer and compare the plans that offer data and hardware bundles.

Common Cell Phone Plan Offers:

• Reduced costs as the number of lines and devices increase.
• Multiple lines and devices free of charge.
• International coverage.
• Data-only plans.
• Unlimited options for talk, data, and/or text.

More Related Articles:

• Best call tracking software .
• Small business VoIP providers .
• Top business phone systems .
• Best Business Internet Providers .

Who has the best small business cell phone plans?

• Xfinity Mobile .
• RingCentral .
• Cricket Wireless .
• Metro PCS .

What is the average cost of small business cell phone plans?

The cheapest business cell phone plans are usually in the $15.00 to $30.00 per month range, while a complete business cell phone package could cost $60.00 or more per line per month.

What carrier has the best small business smartphone plans?

In terms of cost, Republic Wireless has some of the best cheap business phone plans for smartphones. However, Verizon has the best data coverage and features, meaning you can use your smartphone to access emails and business documents almost anywhere.

Who are the best business phone providers?

What is the best business cell phone plan for companies with less than 10 employees.

It really depends on what features your employees need on their phones, but most businesses with 10 employees or less can find an affordable plan that suits them.

How do I know what the best cell phone plan for my small business is?

The best way to find the best small business mobile phone plans is to do a small business cell phone plan comparison. Compare current offers from several providers to find out who can give you the best deal.

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The best small business cell phone plans

Just as one shoe size can’t fit all, there’s no single cell phone plan that will suit every small company. But there are numerous high-quality plans that are worth considering as they strive to meet the needs of different types of businesses. To settle on the best cell phone plan for your business, you first want to figure out what kind of plan best fits your company.

How to choose a plan

Big four basics.

Business owners generally buy and pay for employee cell phones or plans or both when workers spend at least some part of their time off-site. With employees, you may want to track hours and data. In that case, to streamline operation and collaboration, a specialized business cell phone plan might be optimal. Today, more American businesses are accommodating work-at-home schedules that avoid meetings and travel, but note that quarantines and shelter-in-place orders will not last forever, so it’s a good idea to take the entire spectrum of your business activities into account.

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There are numerous factors to reflect on when choosing a cell phone plan for your small company. Here are some major issues you’ll want to consider.

Business design: Is your proposed plan built for businesses and scaled for business customers? If you’re a solopreneur or an extremely small company with just a handful of employees, you may be able to get away with a personal friends-and-family-type plan, as opposed to a bona fide business plan. But once you have more than a couple of employees, start to think bigger about scalabilities such as multiple lines, unlimited options on talk, text, and data, data-only plans for companies that don’t need talk or text, and discounts for more lines or devices.

Network coverage: Consider sound quality, data speeds, coverage, and overall dependability. Make sure the plan you choose has good coverage in the area where your employees are located or are traveling. If your employees travel internationally, choose from plans that have good rates for the target countries. Also, don’t forget about airline coverage and in-flight texting services.

Security:  Some cell phone business plans offer virtual private networks, encryption, and other features to protect your company’s data. That could be quite valuable, as it relieves you of having to research, choose, and pay for additional services.

Hardware: If you need to supply employees with handsets, consider the kinds of phones offered with the plans you’re considering, or whether employees prefer to use their own smartphones.

Hot spot: Some business environments just don’t have usable Wi-Fi, but you can use a cell phone signal to connect a wireless device to the internet with a mobile hotspot. For multiple device connections, look for a dedicated hotspot with a fast, stable, secure connection, as well as other services like call forwarding, voicemail, call hold, analytics, and call queuing.

Data: Business plans should be generous with data, but unlimited is best — unless you really do not need data to conduct business.

Customer service: Count on problems arising, and when they do, you or your employees will want someone reliable to call before customers and clients get restless.

Price: Price is always a factor, and sometimes the cheapest plans offer just the service and features you’re looking for. But for something as critical as your business communications, do not buy on price alone.

Just in case you’re also looking for the best all-around mobile cellular deals, have a look at our survey of the  best cell phone plans of 2020 and our report on the best prepaid cell phone plans . Meantime, below are some of the business-oriented plans available now.

AT&T offers several variations of its Mobility Rate Plans — Mobile Share Plus, Mobile Select Priority Pooled, and Business Unlimited Elite, plus several in between — tailored to your budget for $50, $55, and $85 per line per month. Designed for small- to medium-sized businesses, the Elite plan offers unlimited data, talk, and text for up to 10 devices. The Pooled plan gives employees a data allowance alongside pooled data within a single account. The Plus plan lets you share data across up to 10 or up to 25 business devices. All plans feature unlimited domestic talk and text and unlimited talk from the U.S. to Mexico and Canada, plus unlimited texts from the U.S. to over 120 countries, along with high definition video streaming. The Elite and Pooled plans also feature 5G . Data speeds may slow down with congestion past certain data points.

Verizon markets the Plan for Business, Business Unlimited, the New Verizon Plan, and the Flexible Business Plan specifically for small companies. The Plan for Business starts at $175 per month for up to 25 lines, with data plans ranging from 25GB to 200GB for various prices and topping out at $1,000 per month. All plans include carryover data, safety mode, calling to and from Mexico and Canada, use of your device in Mexico and Canada, and data boost costing $15 per 1GB. With all business plans, you can turn your device into an internet hotspot and send unlimited messages to more than 200 countries worldwide. Additional smartphones cost $15 per month.

Simple Choice for Business by T-Mobile costs $50 per line per month up to $110 per month for up to five lines. You can add $10 per line per month for 6 to 12 lines and up to 2GB of 4G LTE Data. You can call and text from any Wi-Fi connection, as your unused LTE data (up to 20GB) rolls forward for 12 months. The plan features unlimited calling and texting to and from Mexico and Canada, plus you get up to 5GB of data at 4G LTE speeds. If you’re looking for a more streamlined option, T-Mobile Essentials only costs $30 per month per line for four lines. It offers unlimited 3G mobile hotspot data, unlimited talk, text, 2G data in Mexico and Canada, and unlimited texting and flat-rate calling at 20 cents per minute in over 210 countries. An additional 10GB of high-speed 4G LTE mobile hotspot data will cost you $10 a month. For a more robust plan, the Magenta for Business plan is available for two, four, eight, and 12 lines for $60, $40, and $30 per month per line, respectively. It features 5G service, 3GB of 4G LTE hotspot data, plus unlimited 3G data, in-flight texting and data, unlimited data and texting in over 210 countries, and unlimited talk, text, and data in Canada and Mexico. The included Digits program eliminates the need for separate work and personal phones, allowing you to access up to five numbers on one device and use one number across several devices.

RingCentral

RingCentral is a VoIP system that functions extremely well in an office setting. It supports unlimited calling and conferencing toll-free numbers and a customizable caller ID. Functionality is its primary priority; It supports useful features, like texting, online meetings, and faxing. When you use RingCentral, incoming calls go through the same call-routing system as your office phones. It helps make your office number into a portable communication system. You can call, text, and fax from your business number on any mobile device. The service could be used by two users to 1000 and offers four levels: Essentials, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate for $20, $25, $35, and $50, each with a free trial.

Cricket Wireless

Cricket Wireless is a highly-rated and widely-used prepaid wireless service that prides itself on its affordability. It typically costs users from $30 to $60 per month. With Cricket Wireless, users can build their own custom phone plans. If you prefer a more basic plan with talk and text and no data, that’s manageable. You can build off that basic plan by adding data (2GB, 5GB, or unlimited), unlimited talk and text, picture messages, a mobile hotspot, and SD quality video streaming. If you often travel or need international coverage, that’s also manageable. You can add coverage for Canada and Mexico and unlimited text to 37 countries, HD Voice, and Wi-Fi calling from a compatible phone. Data-only plans of 20GB and 40GB are available for $35 and $50 per month, respectively, with Mexico and Canada coverage in the mix.

Republic Wireless

Consider Republic Wireless for your business if you don’t exactly need a phone network, but you do use a significant amount of Wi-Fi. This plan functions more like a virtual network than other cellular providers. The vendor relies on T-Mobile and Sprint networks when Wi-Fi is unavailable. The base plan is incredibly affordable, starting at $15 a month or $150 a year for unlimited talk and text. At this level, Republic Wireless charges $5 per gigabyte of data, up to 15GB. Fortunately, Republic won’t let a person’s bill skyrocket if they start to use too much data; Instead, the company disables data before you stretch past your limit. Using their data plan, users can also opt to make their smartphone a hotspot. One feature we enjoy about Republic is their Extend Home service. This feature allows people to connect their cell phones with their home phone to access contacts, receive calls, or make calls from one direct number using either of their phones.

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The iPhone 15 is Apple’s current flagship phone, and it’s also one of its most popular phones. It’s come storming out of the gate since its release and has skyrocketed to make our ranks of the best phones. Its popularity can make it difficult to find iPhone 15 deals, but there are some out there. We’ve rounded up the best iPhone 15 deals going on right now, and while most of them entail trading in a device for savings, trade-in value is very high and could land you a free iPhone 15 if you’re trading in the right device. We’ve got all of those details below, so read onward and start saving on a new Apple iPhone 15. Today's best iPhone 15 deals

: Get up to $830 in savings when you trade in a similar device. Also included is 3 free months of Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, and 4 free months of Apple Arcade. : Save up to $830 with device trade-in and inclusion of Verizon Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Ultimate plans. : Save up to $830 via 24 monthly bill credits when you add a line on a qualifying plan and trade in an eligible device. : Save up to $700 when you trade in an eligible device and commit to an AT&T Unlimited plan of more than $76 per month.

There are a lot of phone deals worth shopping right now. Among the best phones you’ll find top names like Apple, Samsung, Google, and Motorola, and you’ll find them among the best phone deals as well. With so many brands and models out there to choose from, we thought we’d round up the best phone deals to shop right now. Reading onward you’ll find some great ways to save on a new phone, as well as a little information on why each phone may be the right one for you. Motorola edge 2023 256GB (Unlocked) -- $350, was $600

The Motorola Edge 2023 is (almost) a Google Pixel 8 killer. It features a unique leather back, which feels great, a gorgeous curved display, and solid day-to-day performance. But most of all, it offers excellent battery life and all in an Android package you're gonna love. The current deal price is one of the best we've seen, making it more accessible than ever.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (left) and Google Pixel 8 Pro Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Smartphones tend to have pretty good camera systems these days, whether you're talking about the very latest Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or the iPhone 14. But even the perfect photo can sometimes need a little additional pizazz. A little extra sparkle can come in the form of a simple color filter, artificially added background blur, or can extend as far as diving into an image's levels and other advanced features. Heck, now that we're in the AI era, it can also include using a tool to transpose yourself into a medieval setting or swapping a face with a friend.

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• Best Small Business Phone Systems of 2024

Small businesses need reliable phone systems, especially when day-to-day operations rely heavily on this form of communication. We looked into all the features that matter most when it comes to small business phone systems, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which all the companies on our list offer. Our top three best small business phone system providers are Intermedia, Nextiva, and Dialpad.

Popular Business Phone Systems

Intermedia »

Nextiva »

Vonage »

RingCentral »

8x8 »

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Our ratings are unbiased. We follow strict editorial guidelines, maintain a separate business team, and have a transparent methodology.

Sources Reviewed

Business Phone Services Considered

Companies Selected

Table of Contents

What Is a Small Business Phone System?

• Rating Details

How Much Do Small Business Phone Systems Cost?

GoodLifeStudio

If you’re a small business owner, you know that your day is full of juggling tasks and that you just don’t have time to add communication issues to your to-do list. The best small business phone systems make communication reliable and affordable so you can focus on running your business. They also rely on VoIP phone technology, allowing you to use an internet connection for your entire business phone system. VoIP phone systems have no special equipment to buy or staff to manage them. You simply need to download a mobile or desktop app to have a fully-featured phone system at your fingertips.

Many VoIP providers have also advanced business phone systems considerably, allowing you to add unified communications features like video conference, team chat, and voicemail-to-email. We’ve researched and rated the plans, pricing, and features of the best small business phone systems to develop a list you can trust choosing from.

Compare Quotes for Business Phone Systems

Fill out this questionnaire to get customized pricing from providers that meet your needs.

Best Small Business Phone Systems in Detail

Not every good business phone system is appropriate for a small company. We sorted through our rating of the Best Business Phone Systems of 2024 to find ones that are affordable, flexible, and easy to use with a mobile device for businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Follow the links in the companies' summaries to find our full reviews, and read our advice on how to choose the best plan for your small business.

Straightforward pricing

Most integrations available with basic plan

Some features require separate add-ons

Video conferencing maxes out at 200 participants

Intermedia Unite is a unified communications (UC) phone system with integrated chat, video, file sharing, and contact center capabilities. Its two plans offer a variety of add-on features, such as resource lines and toll-free numbers. Along with unlimited calling to U.S. and Canadian numbers, all subscriptions include an auto-attendant, call recording, cloud storage, team messaging, and video conferencing. Also, all users can schedule video meetings from Slack, Google Workspace (formerly G-Suite), and Microsoft products, like Outlook and Teams.

Advanced features and additional capacity come with Intermedia Unite Pro and Enterprise packages. For example, Unite Pro adds a virtual assistant to your video meetings, which provides AI-driven transcripts and insights. Enterprise users get 200 GB of cloud storage, Microsoft Exchange email, and video conferencing with up to 200 participants.

Read more in our Intermedia review .

Round-the-clock customer support

Monthly, no-contract plans available

Integrates with existing contact and CRM tools

Some features aren't available on the base plan

Expensive per-user cost for the base plan

Best price requires a three-year commitment

Nextiva’s UC platform offers unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada, an auto-attendant, virtual faxing, and U.S.-based local and toll-free numbers. Regardless of the plan tier, users can host and record 45-minute video meetings with 250 participants. The subscriptions include 1,500 to 12,500 toll-free minutes, team messaging, and voicemail transcriptions. Plus, Nextiva provides several payment options with lower rates for one, two, or three-year contracts and annual billing.

Professional and Enterprise integrate with customer relationship management (CRM) programs , such as SugarCRM , Salesforce , and HubSpot . Higher-tier plans also include one to three professionally recorded greetings. Nextiva recently rolled out NextivaOne, a desktop application that puts your calls, texts, and emails into a single inbox.

Read more in our Nextiva review .

Dialpad »

App integrations available at entry-level

AI-powered call analysis and transcription

APIs provide additional user management functionality

14-day trial period is short

24/7 support not available with all plans

Dialpad Pro and Enterprise plans support U.S.-based and international offices, offering unlimited calling within your country, the U.S., and Canada. The entry-tier version (Standard) provides a robust feature set with tools typically found on higher-tier VoIP packages yet costs $15 per user per month with annual billing. The advanced capabilities include built-in AI and analytics, such as live speech coaching and automated post-call summaries. All subscriptions have multilevel auto-attendants, file sharing, and unlimited texting.

Dialpad users, regardless of the plan, can host five-hour video meetings with 10 attendees. However, Pro and Enterprise users gain international texting, integrations, and local number support in more than 70 countries.

Read more in our Dialpad review .

Base-level Express plan is very inexpensive

Compliant with various privacy standards including HIPAA

Many plans include unlimited international calling

24/7 support is limited to higher plan tiers

Basic plan doesn’t offer as many features as other companies

8x8 stands out with plans catering to very small businesses and global corporations. The competitively-priced 8x8 Express plan supports companies with five or fewer users and includes unlimited calling in the U.S. and Canada, an auto-attendant, video conferencing, and team messaging. 8x8 X-Series offers unlimited calling to 14 or 48 countries, depending on your subscription. These versions work for teams of any size, and you can customize plans to only pay for features each individual needs.

Along with call management features, X-Series business communications plans support 500 video conference participants and live streaming to YouTube. Interactive meeting features like breakout rooms and instant polls keep remote users connected, while CRM integrations can help track customer interactions.

Read more in our 8x8 review .

Designed for office, remote, and mobile employees

Unlimited number of users can be added

Offers secure global PBX services

Essentials plan limited to 20 users

No video conferencing capabilities on the base plan

No 24/7 technical support on the base plan

RingCentral offers three plan options: Core, Advanced, and Ultra. The Core plan begins at $20 per user per month with an annual contract.

All plan levels include:

• Unlimited domestic calling 
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
• Single sign-on
• SMS and MMS
• Analytics for IT administrators

The platform also offers many collaboration tools for remote and hybrid teams, with different capabilities on each plan. For example, users can host 24-hour video meetings with breakout rooms and whiteboard sessions. Upper-tier versions integrate with hundreds of applications, including HubSpot and Salesforce .

Read more in our RingCentral review .

Business phone service providers typically charge a per-user fee that can be paid monthly or annually. Base subscriptions range from $10 to $30 per user per month. The flat price per person generally includes a business telephone number, unlimited or metered calling, and other communication features.

Some other important pricing factors you may encounter include:

• Tiered pricing models: They provide more features on higher-priced plans. 
• Cloud-based tools: These tools generally don’t require onsite servers and, therefore, typically don’t require an installation fee. 
• Hardware: VoIP phones and headsets are optional purchases that depend on your business’s specific needs.

Add-on features: Features such as international calling packages, increased conferencing capacity, and integrations are offered by many companies. For businesses that can benefit from these services, the added cost will be worthwhile, and businesses with simpler requirements can forgo them and save on costs.

What Should I Look For in a Small Business Phone System?

Small businesses can face narrower profit margins, especially in their early years of operation, and trimming costs wherever possible can be essential to success. “Cost is a huge factor for [these companies] in their operations," explains Supradeep Dutta , a Rutgers School of Business–Camden assistant professor and an expert in technology and entrepreneurship. "VoIP is one thing to reduce the cost of communications.”

Cloud VoIP phone solutions are an excellent option for mitigating costs associated with traditional phone services. For example, VoIP means that small companies can not only skip traditional office phones but can also explore remote work options for staff that doesn’t rely on a physical office. With the help of the apps associated with these services, employees can use their own mobile phones or computers to make or receive calls, send texts, or hop onto a video conference call – all from a business number.

Aside from the cost, two of the most important factors to look at in a small business phone system are:

• Ease-of-Use: The simpler and more intuitive the service and associated apps are, the better. Making a phone call or sending a text should be straightforward, and your VoIP service should never make you feel like you need to hire a switchboard operator just to reach the right person. Look for a service that offers features that will make your life easier. Depending on your business, this can mean generating automatic transcripts, offering custom hold music, ensuring reliable voicemail functionality, or employing spam protection.
• Flexibility: For a small business, flexibility is key. The ability for your VoIP service to scale with your business should be clear from the start with easy-to-add lines and transparent pricing. Don’t forget to consider integrations, either. The compatibility of your VoIP service to integrate with a CMS or help desk system is something to note before committing to a provider.

Every small business is unique, and a single feature can’t address every concern. It can be helpful to make a list of the features you need or want most from a phone system, beyond cost. While it might not be at the forefront of your mind, be sure to think about the security needs of your business and if the VoIP provider you’re considering can meet them. And, don’t forget to look into the provider’s customer support.

It’s easy not to think about problems until you have one, but the last thing any business needs is to encounter a technical issue and be unable to reach the right person who can help. Some providers offer 24/7 support and others are more limited. Make sure this availability will work for your operating hours.

Compare the Best Business Phone Systems for Small Business of 2024

How do i choose the best small business phone system.

Buying a business phone service can be an overwhelming process. The choices are vast and you have much to consider, from system types and features to cost and even your customers’ expectations.

The number of providers selling these services has grown as well. “Right now there are over 500 companies selling hosted phone systems in the United States,” says Phillip Sherman, president of Telecom Advisors Group , which helps companies find phone solutions to fit their business needs. “A new one or two pops up just about every day.”

Here are some factors you should consider when making a purchase.

• Number of users: How many employees will be using your phone system? Most providers charge a monthly fee per user, so costs can really add up with the more users you have. A provider that charges a flat monthly fee regardless of the number of users might be a better choice if you’re just looking for a basic office phone system. 
• Video conferencing: Does your company rely heavily on video conferencing with clients or other employees? If so, you’ll want to choose a provider that offers video meetings in its most affordable base plans. Those that offer it in their top-tier plans will drive up your monthly cost per user.
• Automated features: If you expect a high volume of calls, you’ll want a provider that offers many automated call management features. These can include auto-attendant, voicemail-to-email or voicemail-to-text, and hold music. To keep your customers from waiting, you may also want to look into plans that include intelligent call routing, forwarding, flip, and transferring. 
• Remote employees: If you manage many remote employees, you may also need a service with strong team communication tools. These can include an easy-to-use mobile app, team and one-on-one messaging, file sharing, and video conferencing. Just make sure you choose a cloud-based rather than on-premise PBX system that will support these remote features.
• Customer service: If your business relies heavily on your phone system, make sure you choose a business with round-the-clock support. The last thing you’ll want to be doing when your phone system is down is submitting a support ticket. Instead, you’ll want to speak to a real person who can help you solve your problem fast.

How Do Small Business Phone Systems Work?

Business phone systems connect your employees to one another as well as to those outside of your business, like clients or customers. This can happen through voice conversation or through other tools like text or instant messaging. While there are different types of business phone services you can utilize, the ultimate goal should be to streamline communications to help your business run more efficiently.

Types of Business Phone Systems

Business phone systems can be broken down into a few different types. Each has its own benefits, but some are better suited to the needs of a small business. Larger companies may still lean toward the traditional private business exchange (PBX) system or IP-enabled PBX, which are dedicated systems to a specific company and generally based on-premise. On the other hand, small businesses most commonly use cloud-based VoIP systems.

Benefits of Cloud-Based VoIP Systems

When it comes to cloud-based VoIP systems, there are many benefits businesses can reap:

Cost savings: A cloud-based telephone service is not a dedicated system. Instead, it's hosted in the cloud and managed by the service provider. This allows the business phone service to be provided at a lower cost on a subscription basis.

Hardware-free: These types of phone systems don’t require hardware and can instead be accessed through mobile and desktop apps.

Dynamic updates: The hardware-free infrastructure allows the business phone provider to keep the service updated at all times and provides your company with access to UCaaS features, such as messaging tools, video conferencing, and third-party integrations.

Simplified implementation: The relative simplicity of implementing a cloud-based VoIP system makes it the ideal option for most small businesses.

Saves resources: VoIP systems give your company access to all the modern-day business phone system features, without the upfront cost of having to build out a dedicated on-premise system or the required staff to maintain it.

Mobility and flexibility: These systems give your employees the flexibility needed to work from anywhere since they can access your business communications network from an app on their cell phone.

To learn more about the ins and outs of VoIP systems, read our guide, What Is VoIP ?

Choosing the Right Business Phone Service for Your Needs

While cloud-based business phone services have many benefits, this type of system may not meet the specific needs of your company. Consider your options and how your business interacts with a phone system to complete your work in order to make a choice that best fits the way your company is run. Think about your business’s size, budget, and the most important features that you require from your business phone service.

Why Do Small Businesses Need a Business Phone System?

All businesses, small and large, benefit from better communication. For small businesses, however, there may be more specific needs that have to be addressed in finding the right phone system, like tighter budgets. That is why researching business phone systems are so imperative for small businesses.

As a small business owner, you will want to find a system that is the best balance of price and the features you need. To learn more, read our guide on How to Buy a Business Phone .

Cloud-based business phone systems work on your existing devices, such as cell phones and computers. No additional hardware is required. Mobile and desktop apps replace traditional analog telephones, and features like virtual faxing happen in the cloud. However, computer users may want a VoIP headset for call privacy and quality reasons.

If you want to use your current analog devices, including fax machines and conference phones, with VoIP, you will need an analog telephone adaptor (ATA). In addition, many small business phone providers support IP phones, which resemble analog desk phones but connect to the internet instead of a landline.

Yes, you can install your business phone system yourself. The best business phone systems for small businesses are commonly cloud-based telephony services. These services are quick and easy to set up because they do not require hardware to be configured on-site.

Cloud-based VoIP phone systems take a do-it-yourself approach. The system is hosted off-site and managed by the business phone system provider. So you don’t need to go through a complicated process to get your phone system up and running. Simply sign up for an account and pick out your phone numbers. Download the provider’s mobile and desktop apps to gain access to the business phone system. You will still want to set up typical features like voicemail and call routing, but once the app is installed, you are all set to make business phone calls.

You may also opt for IP desktop phones. These act as a more traditional business phone option and might be a good choice for small businesses with an office where employees spend most of their time. IP desktop phones are generally easy to set up with plug-and-play options or some minor configuring.

The average small business will generally require up to 10 phone lines. However, this number can be impacted by a wide range of factors, number of employees being foremost among them. If you are the sole proprietor of your business, you may only need a single. If you are a 50-person operation that fields calls daily across multiple locations and departments, you may require significantly more lines.

Some additional factors to think about include:

• Number of both internal and external calls that occur in your business
• How many employees actually require a line or separate number
• How many locations, offices, and departments will require phone services
• What your budget can comfortably accommodate
• What hardware or equipment will be required to support your operations

Yes, internet-based phone services support employees regardless of where they work. VoIP lets you route or forward calls to employee-owned and company-owned devices. Your teams can answer and transfer calls, even if your physical office is closed. Home users typically have access to the same features provided for in-house staff, including virtual faxing, unlimited calling, and voicemail.

Moreover, many small business phone systems offer collaboration tools, allowing remote and on-site teams to interact in real-time through video and group messaging. These features may include file sharing, whiteboards, screen sharing, and breakout rooms.

Small business phone services often have security and privacy certifications that can help protect your company when communicating with clients over the phone. Secure networks, encryption, and modern internet protocols are among the industry standards for business phone providers. Although most VoIP providers encrypt phone calls, cloud-based tools do have vulnerabilities.

The type of information shared over the phone depends on your small business's industry. While some companies in sensitive information fields need to be more cognizant of these risks, all businesses should consider the inherent risk of using an internet-based business phone system. Robust password management policies, security software, and regular software and hardware updates help keep your business phone system secure.

Companies that handle personal health information (PHI) may need additional security measures, including working with a HIPAA-compliant VoIP vendor. These certifications are generally published on the phone provider's website for your reference. Be sure to find a provider that offers the necessary credentials for the regulations in your industry.

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• How to Buy a Business Phone System
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Your Voice line works on mobile devices, laptops, and supported deskphones so you can stay connected at work, home, or on-the-go.

Voice can be customized to fit your day-to-day workflow. Number assignment, porting, and billing are neatly consolidated in the familiar Google Workspace Admin console.

Voice uses Google AI to help save you time by blocking spam calls and transcribing voicemails to text automatically. Integrations with Google Meet and Calendar help keep the focus on what's important.

Voice can be deployed instantly — and globally — from anywhere, with less administrative work. This feature includes easy set up of multi-level auto attendants and ring groups (also known as hunt groups).

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SIP Link allows customers to connect PSTN services from any carrier to Google Voice through certified Session Border Controllers (SBCs).

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Our sales team now uses Google Voice to call and text customers from their smartphones, tablets, and the web. And because it is considerably more affordable to operate than our legacy VoIP systems, we continue to steadily expand our usage of Google Voice.

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The best business internet service providers

When you're in the market for an internet service provider for your small business, there's a lot more to consider than just download speeds and monthly prices. Reliability is at the absolute top of the list, backed up by service level agreements that clearly spell out what your business has a right to expect. That's followed closely by support, which should be available 24/7 and be knowledgeable enough to quickly handle problems so an outage doesn't take a toll on profits or productivity.

The most difficult part of choosing the best internet provider for your business is figuring out exactly which services are available in your area. For this guide, I've focused on large, well-established internet providers that are available throughout the US. Depending on where your office is located, you might be able to find excellent local and regional options as well. You can and should evaluate those additional providers using the same criteria discussed here.

Also:  The best VPN services

What's the best business internet service provider right now?

After considering all of the well-established internet service providers that cover large parts of the US and have plans dedicated for business use with 24/7 support, my pick for the best business internet service provider is Verizon Business . If that choice seems safe, well, that's the point, isn't it? Your online connection is a critical part of your business infrastructure, and you don't want any surprises that can disrupt your productivity or interrupt your ability to communicate with customers and process transactions. Verizon offers a broad range of services that work for businesses of any size, from sole proprietors to multinational corporations. Read on for the rest of my picks for the best business internet providers available.

The best business internet providers of 2024

Verizon business, best business internet provider overall.

As one of two Tier 1 internet providers in this list (the other is AT&T), Verizon has more control over its network than competitors that have to purchase access from upstream providers. In addition, Verizon boasts that its services are available nationwide, although your location will determine which exact services are available.

Fios Business Internet is Verizon's fastest offering. This fiber-based service is available in nine states, all in the Northeastern US. The company offers four tiers, starting at 200 Mbps and going up to 2048 Mbps, at prices ranging from $69 to $249 per month, with price guarantees that increase with each tier. All plans offer the option of a single digital voice line for your business for $20, and you can get additional discounts for bundling with Verizon Wireless plans for business.

Verizon also offers Internet Dedicated services, at speeds ranging from 1.5 Mbps up to 100 Gbps, with the fastest connection advertised as being suitable for data centers and cloud providers managing multiple simultaneous downloads of very large files. All plans come with strict service level agreements of 100% availability.

If neither of those services is available at your location, you can choose 5G or LTE internet plans. Be aware that these options come with monthly data limits, unlike broadband offerings. 

Unlike some of its competitors, Verizon charges additional fees for equipment and some services, so be sure to include the full list of charges when comparing prices.

AT&T Business Internet

Best customizable business internet provider.

As one of the biggest brands on the internet and a Tier 1 provider, AT&T offers a dizzying array of options, with broadband, wireless, and Dedicated Internet plans available for the choosing. Special terms and pricing are available for government agencies, schools, and libraries.

AT&T Business Fiber is the fastest, most feature-complete option, available in 23 states. (This coverage map  has a full listing, along with an address box to check availability for your business address.) All plans offer equal upload and download speeds, starting at 300 Mbps for $70 per month and maxing out at 5 Gbps for $255 monthly. Additional discounts are available for customers who also have an AT&T wireless plan.

For locations where fiber isn't available, you can choose AT&T Internet Air for Business , which uses the company's 5G and LTE networks. Read the terms of service carefully, as these plans have restrictions that prohibit their use for consumer entertainment, guest Wi-Fi, and web hosting. The Premium plan includes up to 250 GB of high-priority data usage per month for $100 plus fees. 

Dedicated Internet Access offers speeds ranging from 20 Mbps up to 1 Tbps with traffic prioritization over a line not shared with other customers. as well as advanced security options. Although you can start your search online, getting a detailed price quote means filling in an online form or speaking with a sales rep. 

Comcast Business

Best business internet provider for customers with cable infrastructure.

Comcast Business, unlike its consumer cousin, has no data caps, and it offers dedicated, round-the-clock support for business customers. But this is still Comcast, which means many of its products offer upload speeds that are significantly slower than the download speed for that plan. The top-tier Business Internet Gigabit Extra plan, for example, delivers 1.25 Gbps downloads but caps uploads at 200 Mbps, making it less than ideal for use by businesses that need to upload large video or CAD files regularly.

Expect to pay $79 to $210 per month for six different tiers of service, starting at 50 Mbps. Discounts are available for adding mobile service and for signing a two-year agreement.

Comcast offers a slew of add-ons for business customers, including Wi-Fi options to secure your corporate network from the one you allow guests to use. A backup option called Connection Pro provides a 4G LTE modem with battery reserve for up to 8 hours, so you can maintain connectivity in the event of an outage.

If those speeds are too sluggish, you can get Ethernet dedicated internet, with symmetrical download/upload speeds up to 100 Gbps and two permanent IP addresses. Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) router is optional. Be prepared to pay, though.

Spectrum Business

Best business internet provider for low-priced bundles.

As expected from a division of cable giant Charter Communications, Spectrum Business plans are aimed primarily at small, cost-conscious business customers and come with a wide array of prices that vary based on contract length and whether you've bundled phone or TV service with your internet access. Download speeds range from 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps, at prices from $65 to $165 per month with a 12- or 24-month contract. As is typical for cable-based deployments, upload speeds are significantly slower, capped at 35 Mbps for the highest-speed tier.

There are significant discounts for bundling internet service with a mobile line or a TV package. Before signing one of these agreements, be sure to ask what the price will be after the promotional period expires.

All plans include domain name registration and email service for up to 25 accounts, with higher-priced plans bundling voice service as well. Add-ons include a $20-per-month Wireless Internet Backup plan, static IP addresses (1 for $15, up to 29 addresses for $60 monthly), and a variety of Wi-Fi options.

Google Fiber for Business

Best business internet provider for those who want to keep things simple.

Google's Fiber network, which serves home and business customers, operates in over 19 states, mostly in the West and the Southeast. If you live in one of the 38 cities and metro areas that are part of the network, you can expect to pay $100 a month for 1 Gbps service and $250 monthly for the 2 Gbps tier.

On Google Fiber plans, upload and download speeds are identical (equipment permitting) and there are no hidden fees or data caps, nor is a contract required. The monthly price includes installation and required networking equipment, including a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E router, although you're welcome to bring your own router if you prefer.

Because the Google Fiber network is mostly new, it has a reputation for reliability, especially compared with rival cable companies operating over older infrastructure. Support is easy to reach, but don't expect much in the way of hand-holding. If you want to configure additional controls on your Wi-Fi network, for example, Google's support documents suggest that you talk to "your network expert or other IT professional."

What is the best internet service provider for your business?

The most important piece of information you need to answer this question is your business address. Every provider listed here asks you to start by entering this detail, which allows them to determine whether their service is available at your location. For many businesses, only one or two choices are available and should be compared with local service providers.

The following chart is based on off-the-shelf service offerings and does not include Dedicated Internet plans. Note that some high-speed services, including AT&T's 5 Gbps service, are available in limited areas.

Which internet service provider is right for your business?

For most businesses, location is the biggest factor to consider when choosing an internet provider. If your address has access to fiber, it should be at the top of your list, with advantages in speed and reliability. Cable-based providers can also deliver cost-effective high-speed service, while the choice of 5G and LTE wireless networks hinges on whether you can get a consistently strong signal in your business location.

Factors to consider when choosing a business internet provider

Business internet providers offer a feature set that's far richer than what you're likely to get from your local cable company. Not surprisingly, that expanded feature set (and business-class support) typically comes with a higher price than you'd expect with an otherwise comparable consumer service.

Here's what to look for when making your choice:

• Symmetrical transfer speeds:  With this feature active, upload speeds are as fast as download speeds, unlike consumer-based plans that may offer significantly slow upload speeds. This detail matters for any business that routinely uploads or transfers large video and CAD files with online services or remote business partners.
• Dedicated IP addresses: Assigning a fixed address to network devices allows your business to maintain a permanent high-speed connection to a branch office or run your own public-facing server. Neither of those scenarios is possible (or advisable) with a consumer-focused internet plan.
• Security features: A business internet provider might offer a range of add-ons (for an extra cost, naturally) that allow for central management and monitoring of your network to detect and respond to threats in real time. These features are especially valuable for businesses that are subject to strict compliance requirements, such as financial institutions and medical offices.
• Email and phone service: Business internet providers typically offer attractive add-ons like email and phone service for a relatively small surcharge. Don't underestimate the convenience of being able to manage and troubleshoot these features from a single dashboard.

How did I choose these business internet provider services?

For this list, I chose well-established internet service providers that cover large portions of the US. All of them offer plans dedicated for business use, with support staff trained to work with business networks of all sizes. All of these plans include 24/7 support, with options for dedicated IP addresses, email and security add-ons, and symmetrical upload/download speeds.

What type of internet connection is best for businesses?

For most office-based small businesses, a broadband connection over fiber or coaxial cable, with wired Ethernet connections to each PC or Mac in the office, is the best choice; you can easily add wireless connectivity for use in meetings and common spaces. Businesses that are more spread out, with areas that are regularly used by visitors, might prefer an all-wireless option. Be sure to check the terms of service carefully, however, as some providers restrict access to bars, restaurants, hotels, and other establishments that serve the public. If your data needs are especially demanding, with employees routinely transferring large files or doing HD video streaming, a dedicated connection is pricey but probably worth it.

If you work from home, do you need business internet?

Remote employees can use large amounts of data, sometimes enough to exceed data caps that are common with consumer internet plans. But paying for unlimited access is usually still cheaper than signing up for a dedicated business plan. Consider a business plan if you need fast upload speeds (many consumer providers limit uploads to a fraction of download speeds) and a dedicated IP address for persistent connections. A business plan is also appropriate if you need to run your own server, which is prohibited under the terms of service for most consumer plans. Although there are workarounds that allow you to fly under the radar of some consumer providers, you don't want your business-critical server to be unexpectedly cut off from the internet because someone at your ISP discovered its existence.

What internet speed is appropriate for business use?

The service providers in this list offer an extremely wide range of speeds, from as little as 10 Mbps to a blazing 5 Gbps over a dedicated fiber connection.

Each tier of increased speed comes at a higher price, sometimes significantly higher, so it's important to sign up for only as much bandwidth as you need. That calculation is highly dependent on what your business does on a day-to-day basis. In an office with one or two workers doing mostly lightweight tasks (email and basic productivity apps) plus point-of-sale transactions, even the most modest package will probably do. You'll want to expand speeds significantly as you add workers, especially if they routinely transfer large files. Businesses that do intensive work with large files, such as graphic design shops and videographers, should get as much bandwidth as they can afford.

How do you find the best business internet provider for your business?

Start by using the provider's online form to see if service is available at your address. If your business is located in space you rent or lease, you'll need to check with the owner or management company to confirm that you're allowed to do any work required as part of the installation.

We recommend getting a detailed quote that includes all one-time charges as well as a firm estimate of monthly charges, including taxes and fees. If a long-term contract is required, be sure to find out what the monthly charge will be after the contract ends if you stay on a month-to-month basis.

Finally, look at any available add-ons, including business phone service, email, wireless backup, and business Wi-Fi that uses secure authentication rather than a simple password. You might find that those options can provide some extra savings and give you a single point of contact for support. 

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605 highway 12 e, switch to select fios business internet plans with a 2-year term and get up to a $500 visa® prepaid card. businesses who sign up for qualifying fios internet with our mid-tier or high-tier speeds with a two-year agreement will receive a visa prepaid card, with the visa prepaid card amount based on speed tier purchased, as follows: (i) $100 visa prepaid card for fios 500/500 mbps internet; or (ii) $500 visa prepaid card for fios 940/880 mbps internet (gigabit connection) or 2048/2048 mbps internet (2 gigabit connection). may only be combined with select offers. visa prepaid card is issued by pathward®, n.a., member fdic, pursuant to a license from visa u.s.a. inc. no cash access or recurring payments. can be used everywhere visa debit cards are accepted. card valid for up to 12 months, funds do not expire and may be available after card expiration date, fees may apply. terms and conditions apply. this optional offer is not a pathward product or service and pathward neither endorses nor sponsors it. must register for card online and keep qualifying verizon service for 60 days from install, with no past-due balance 65 days from install. card mailed within 90 days of install date. limit one card per account. other card terms and conditions apply. limited time offer..

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you are the Primary Contact or Administrator, or you have View and Pay access, you are able to make payments on up to 10 accounts at the same time when logged in to My Business Wireless .

You can purchase up to 9 lines with Verizon business plan. Learn more by visiting our Devices and Plans page.

You can contact Verizon business customer service by calling 1 (800) 837-4966 .

Yes, Verizon business phone service offers unlimited nationwide calling with Preferred Voice. Check availability and explore business phone plans today.

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