Google Voice vs RingCentral
We give Google Voice a 2.4 GPA and RingCentral a 3.0, out of 4.0. Google Voice grades higher on the free plan. RingCentral grades higher on features, ease of use and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Google Voice
Google's phone number service for calls and texts on any device
RingCentral
Cloud phone system with texting, fax, video meetings and team chat
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAGoogle VoiceFair | 3.0GPARingCentralVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$10 a head for five on the Starter add-on, cheap on its own. But every team plan sits on top of a paid Google Workspace plan billed separately, so unless you already pay for Workspace the real cost per head lands mid-pack. Alone, it's $10. | C$20 a head for a team of five on Core, billed yearly ($30 monthly), which is the price for 1-5 users. That's just past this category's dearer quarter ($19.99), so middle of the road, not cheap. Automatic recording and CRM links need Advanced at $25. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe personal version is free: a US number with unlimited US calls and texts and voicemail transcripts. One person could live on it, but there's no recording or 911, it needs an existing mobile number, and teams get nothing free. | CA 14-day free trial for new subscribers, with texting left out of it. No free plan, and the listing doesn't say whether the trial needs a card. |
| Features | CCalls, texts, transcribed voicemail, spam filtering and Gemini call notes, with auto attendants, ring groups and queues higher up. The gaps: no CRM links beyond Google's own apps, unlimited texting is US only, and team plans need Workspace. | BUnlimited US and Canada calls, phone menus, call queues, fax, 300-person video meetings, team chat and an AI assistant for call notes. That's the whole phone job, though Core's 25 texts a person a month is stingy. |
| Ease of use | C4.26 from about 62,000 App Store ratings, a little behind the other big names here. Team plans are set up through the Workspace admin console. | A4.83 from about 78,000 App Store ratings, which is about as good as it gets for a work phone app. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iPhone, iPad and Android, plus Gmail, Calendar, Meet, Vault and BigQuery. There's no desktop app, and a service that's web and phones only tops out here. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, ServiceNow, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace and Slack on the integrations list. |
| Best for | a free US number, or calling for Workspace teams | calls, texts, fax and meetings in one app |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Google Voice and RingCentral. How we grade
Price against what you get
Google Voice starts at $10 a month for each person and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. RingCentral starts at $20 a month for each person and scores 3.7.
RingCentral scores higher, and starts $10 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other business phone systems on the chart, none scores higher than Google Voice for less, and none scores higher than RingCentral for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Google Voice starts at $10 per month for one user; team plans $10 per user / month plus Workspace. RingCentral starts at $20 per user / month for 1-5 users, billed annually ($30 billed monthly).
- Google Voice has a free plan. RingCentral does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only RingCentral lists macOS and Windows apps.
- RingCentral also covers team chat and video calls.
At a glance
| Google Voice | RingCentral | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $10 per month for one user; team plans $10 per user / month plus Workspace | $20 per user / month for 1-5 users, billed annually ($30 billed monthly) |
| Free plan | Google Voice for personal Gmail accounts, US only: one number, unlimited US calls and texts, and voicemail transcripts. Needs an existing mobile number. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 14-day free trial for new subscribers; texting is not included in the trial |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | RingCentral | |
| Price read from | workspace.google.com | ringcentral.com |
| Checked | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Google Voice
- Individuals in the US who want a free second number
- Teams already paying for Google Workspace
- Businesses that live in Gmail and Google Calendar
RingCentral
- Businesses that want calls, texts, meetings and chat in one app
- Teams spread over several offices or locations
- Companies using Microsoft Teams that want RingCentral calling inside it
Worth knowing
Google Voice
- Team plans are add-ons to a paid Google Workspace plan billed separately; the Starter add-on stops at 10 users.
- The free and single-user plans are US only; team plans offer local numbers in 14 countries, and unlimited texting is US only on every plan.
- The free version needs an existing phone number to verify the account and has no call recording, desk phones or 911 support.
- Auto attendants need Standard, ring groups need the Workspace Standard add-on, and automatic call recording needs Premier.
RingCentral
- The listed prices are for 1-5 users; the page switches to other prices for 6-100 users, and 100+ users must contact sales.
- Automatic call recording and CRM integrations need Advanced; Core records calls on demand only.
- Add-ons are extra: AI Receptionist from $39, Business SMS Booster $25 and Call Queues Booster $35, as shown on the pricing page.
- Texting needs TCR registration, which may carry fees, and is not available during the free trial.
Key features
Google Voice
- One number on every device
- A single number rings on Android, iPhone and iPad apps, on the web and in Gmail, and on supported desk phones from the paid plans up.
- Voicemail transcription and spam blocking
- Voicemails are transcribed to text on every plan, and Google AI filters spam calls. Voicemails and texts can arrive in Gmail.
- Gemini call notes
- From Standard up, Gemini records and transcribes a call and writes notes from it. The notes are available in English.
- Auto attendants and ring groups
- Standard adds multi-level auto attendants; the Workspace Standard and Premier add-ons add ring groups, call queues and call delegation.
- Admin console and eDiscovery
- Workspace admins assign and port numbers, set up devices and handle billing; Vault brings calls, voicemails and texts into eDiscovery.
- SIP Link
- On Standard and Premier, numbers from another carrier can be connected to Google Voice through certified session border controllers.
RingCentral
- Calling and numbers
- Unlimited calling within the US and Canada. The plan includes one company number; each extra local or toll-free number costs $4.99 a month.
- Business texting
- Texts from the business number: 25 per user a month on Core, 100 on Advanced and 200 in the bundles. SMS needs carrier (TCR) registration first.
- Call menus and routing
- Multi-level phone menus, call queues and rules by business hours or availability, managed for several locations from one admin portal.
- Video meetings, chat and fax
- The same app runs video meetings for up to 300 people, team messaging with file sharing, and fax from the business number.
- AI assistant
- Included at no extra cost: real-time call and meeting notes, transcription, meeting summaries, and help writing and translating messages.
- AI Receptionist
- Answers calls around the clock, handles FAQs, books appointments and routes callers to staff. An add-on starting at $39, included in the bundles.
Plans
Google Voice
Google Voice$0
Personal use with a Gmail account, US only. Unlimited US calls and texts and voicemail transcripts; no call recording or 911 support.
Voice Starter (Standalone)$10
per month
One user, US only. Adds call recording, three-way calling and transfers, desk phones, 911 support and 24/7 Voice support.
Voice Standard (Standalone)$20
per month
One user, US only. Adds auto attendants and Gemini call notes. Advertised at $10 a month for the first 6 months.
Voice Starter (Workspace add-on)$10
per user / month, plus a paid Google Workspace plan
Up to 10 users, local numbers in 14 countries, corporate directory contacts and Calendar-based do not disturb.
Voice Standard (Workspace add-on)$20
per user / month, plus a paid Google Workspace plan
Unlimited users, auto attendants, ring groups with call queues, call delegation, Gemini call notes, eDiscovery and SIP Link.
Voice Premier (Workspace add-on)$30
per user / month, plus a paid Google Workspace plan
Adds international billing locations, numbers outside the home country, automatic call recording and BigQuery reporting.
RingCentral
Core$20
per user / month, billed annually ($30 billed monthly)
Price for 1-5 users. Unlimited US and Canada calling, on-demand call recording, 100 toll-free minutes, 25 texts per user a month and 300-person meetings.
Advanced$25
per user / month, billed annually ($35 billed monthly)
Price for 1-5 users. Adds CRM integrations, multiple sites, automatic call recording, reports, 1,000 toll-free minutes and 100 texts per user a month.
AI CE Bundle with AIRCustom
AI Customer Engagement Bundle: adds AI Receptionist, the SMS and call queue boosters, Webinar, 10,000 toll-free minutes and 200 texts per user a month.
AI CE Bundle with AIR and ACECustom
Adds AI Conversation Expert: call scoring, coaching, automatic call summaries and multi-level reporting on top of the bundle above.
Ways to pay less
Google Voice
- Other savings
Voice Standard at half price for 6 months
The single-user Voice Standard plan is $10 a month for the first 6 months of a subscription, then $20 a month.
RingCentral
- Annual discount
Save up to 33% by paying annually
The pricing page lists Core at $20 per user a month billed annually against $30 billed monthly, and Advanced at $25 against $35.
