Sonetel vs Zadarma (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Zadarma grades higher than Sonetel: 3.2 against 2.4 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Zadarma grades higher on value for money, the free plan, features and platforms. They get the same grade on ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Sonetel
Business phone numbers in any country with an app and web app
Zadarma
Cloud PBX and virtual numbers in 110+ countries, free to start
Which one is for you
Pick Sonetel if
- Fits if you want local numbers in a few countries forwarded to your phone
- Works for small teams that want pay-as-you-go calling with no contract
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you stay on Basic, because every number and call is charged and the bill follows the countries you pick
- Skip it if you want your business number shown on app calls without paying, as that needs a paid plan and verified identity
- Watch out: SMS is only available on some types of numbers
- Watch out: prices exclude VAT, and the default yearly rates are per user per month
Pick Zadarma if
- Fits if you run a team of up to 5 and want a PBX without a monthly fee
- Works for businesses that want numbers in many countries on one account
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you need minutes included, because Standard includes none and charges calls and numbers separately
- Watch out: prices depend on the region selector, and the figures here are the page's default World region
- Watch out: annual prices need yearly payment and plans cap users at 5, 10 or 20
- Skip it if you use Linux, since the calling apps page lists no Linux app
How we grade them
| 2.4GPASonetelFair | 3.2GPAZadarmaVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BPremium is $9.95 a user a month on annual billing, inside the cheaper quarter where business-phone tools start at $14. Business is $29.95. | AOffice is $39 a month for 10 users, about $3.90 a user, under half of the $8.40 that is 60% of the $14 where business-phone tools start. The Standard plan itself is $0. |
| Free plan and trial | CBasic has no monthly fee, but you pay for each number from $1.79 a month and for calls, so it is pay as you go, not free to use. | BStandard is $0 a month for up to 5 users with the PBX features, and one person could live on it. Calls, numbers and some extra PBX features are paid for as used. |
| Features | CNumbers in many countries, calls in the app or forwarded, recording and AI notes, voice menu, voicemail, SIP trunking and an API. SMS only works on some number types. | BCloud PBX, numbers in 110+ countries, apps and a webphone, a built-in CRM, AI agent and speech analytics, and an API. Nothing in the listing is missing from a small team's phone job. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. You pick numbers, forwarding and identity checks before it works. | CNo store rating on record. Numbers, extensions and call routing all need setting up. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, iOS and Android, plus SIP trunking and an API; no integrations on record. | AWeb, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android and a browser extension, with 6 integrations and an API. No Linux app listed. |
| Best for | business phone numbers in other countries without a contract | a small team wanting a free cloud phone system |
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: Sonetel and Zadarma. How we grade
Price against what you get
Sonetel starts at $9.95 a month for each person and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Zadarma starts at $39 a month and scores 3.0.
Zadarma scores higher, and starts $29.05 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other business phone systems on the chart, 1 scores higher than Sonetel for less, and 6 score higher than Zadarma 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
- Zadarma also covers AI support agent and call tracking.
At a glance
| Sonetel | Zadarma | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $9.95 per user / month, billed annually ($13.95 billed monthly) | $39 per month for up to 10 users, billed annually ($44 monthly) |
| Free plan | Basic plan has no monthly fee: pay as you go for a number subscription from $1.79 a month and for calls, with SMS-to-email. | Standard plan: $0 a month for up to 5 PBX users, with calls, numbers and extra PBX features paid for separately as used. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Sonetel AB | Zadarma |
| Price read from | sonetel.com | zadarma.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Sonetel
- Basic charges separately for each number and for calls, so cost depends on the numbers and countries chosen.
- Showing your business number on outbound app calls needs a paid plan and verified identity.
- SMS is available only on some types of numbers.
- The page lists prices excluding VAT, and the yearly rates shown by default are per user per month.
Zadarma
- Prices depend on the region selector; the figures here are the page's default World region.
- The Standard plan includes no minutes or numbers, so calls and numbers are charged separately.
- Annual prices apply to yearly payment; the monthly figures are higher, and plans cap users at 5, 10 or 20.
- Linux apps are not listed on the calling-apps page.
Key features
Sonetel
- Numbers in many countries
- Local, national and toll-free numbers can be rented in many countries, with existing numbers ported in. Prices start at $1.79 a month.
- Calls in the app or forwarded
- Calls ring in the iPhone and Android app or the web app, or forward to any phone. SMS works only on some number types.
- Recording and AI call notes
- Premium and Business record calls and add transcripts, written summaries, a 1 to 5 score for customer calls and suggested follow-up emails.
- Voice menu and voicemail
- Voice response menus route callers to people or teams. Voicemail arrives by email on every plan, transcribed and summarised on paid plans.
- SIP trunking and API
- A Communications API and SIP trunking are offered, with the per-minute trunk rate lower on higher plans.
Zadarma
- Free cloud PBX
- Voice menus, call routing, call recording, working-hours rules and extensions for up to 5 users at no monthly charge on the Standard plan.
- Numbers in 110+ countries
- Landline, mobile, national and toll-free virtual numbers can be added, and existing numbers can be ported in.
- Calling apps and webphone
- Apps for Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, a browser webphone using WebRTC, a Chrome plugin and support for SIP phones.
- Teamsale CRM
- A free built-in CRM stores customers and makes or receives calls in the browser, with an auto dialler and bulk email.
- AI agent and speech analytics
- An AI voice agent answers and places calls from a knowledge base, and speech recognition transcribes recorded calls.
- Integrations and API
- The page cites over 20 integrations, including HubSpot, and an API for custom connections.
Plans
Sonetel
Basic$0
No plan fee. Number subscriptions and call charges apply, 1,000 AI credits shared across the account, SMS-to-email, 2 GB of storage.
Premium$9.95
per user / month, billed annually ($13.95 billed monthly)
1 free number per user, free calls to 40+ countries, 40% off other calls, recording, transcripts, summaries, voice menu, 1,000 AI credits.
Business$29.95
per user / month, billed annually ($39.95 billed monthly)
5 free numbers per user, 50% off other calls, extended support, 5,000 AI credits a month and 1 TB of storage per user.
Zadarma
Standard$0
per month for up to 5 users
Free cloud PBX with 4 voice menus, 200 MB of recording storage and 5 concurrent outgoing calls; no included minutes or numbers.
Office$39
per month for up to 10 users, billed annually ($44 billed monthly)
2,500 free outgoing minutes, 1 virtual number, 400 speech recognition minutes, 100 AI agent minutes and 6 voice menus.
Corporation$79
per month for up to 20 users, billed annually ($88 billed monthly)
5,000 free outgoing minutes, 2 virtual numbers, 1,000 speech recognition minutes, 200 AI agent minutes and 12 voice menus.
Ways to pay less
Sonetel
- Annual discount
Yearly billing lowers the monthly rate
Premium is $9.95 a month billed yearly against $13.95 billed monthly, and Business is $29.95 against $39.95, according to the plan data on the pricing page.
Zadarma
- Annual discount
Annual payment lowers plan prices
The pricing page toggle shows Office at $39 and Corporation at $79 a month with annual payment, against $44 and $88 paid monthly.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Sonetel or Zadarma?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Sonetel starts at $9.95 per user / month, billed annually ($13.95 billed monthly), and Zadarma starts at $39 per month for up to 10 users, billed annually ($44 monthly). One is priced for each person and the other is not, so which costs less depends on how many of you use it.
Which has a free plan, Sonetel or Zadarma?
As of Nov 12, 2026, both Sonetel and Zadarma have a free plan.
Which platforms do Sonetel and Zadarma run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Zadarma lists macOS and Windows apps and a browser extension. Both list a web app and iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.