Is there a better option than Google Voice?

Google Voice is a popular voice over internet protocol (VoIP) service from Google that provides users with a free phone number for calls, text messages, and voicemail. Key features of Google Voice include call forwarding, voicemail transcription, conference calling, and international calling. While Google Voice has been widely adopted since its launch in 2009, there are a number of alternative VoIP services that offer similar or more advanced features.

Other major providers in the VoIP space include Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Line, WeChat, Signal, and Wire. These services allow users to make voice and video calls, exchange messages, and share files all within their apps. Many offer capabilities like group chats and video conferencing as well. Each platform has its own advantages and disadvantages compared to Google Voice in areas like cost, call quality, number of users, and supported features.

This article will provide an overview of the top alternative VoIP services and how they compare to Google Voice across key factors like cost, call quality, features, and more. Understanding the differences between Google Voice and other options can help users find the best VoIP solution for their needs.

Skype

Skype offers similar features to Google Voice, including calling, SMS, and voicemail. Skype doesn’t provide a phone number but rather connects via usernames. Its key capabilities include:

Free calls between Skype users
Cheap rates for calls to mobiles and landlines

SMS capability
Voicemail
Video calling

Skype has a range of pricing plans, from a free basic plan up to unlimited plans costing around $10/month. This is more expensive than Google Voice’s free service.

The key pros of Skype compared to Google Voice are its video calling capability and potentially cheaper international rates. However, setting up and using Skype lacks the simplicity and convenience of Google Voice. There are also no native apps across multiple platforms like Google Voice offers.

WhatsApp offers a very good option for a replacement for Google Voice with its ability to make calls and send messages over WiFi worldwide for free. WhatsApp calling and messaging features include:

WiFi based calling, so you can call anywhere in the world for free
Encrypted end-to-end messaging
Read receipts, showing when messages are read

Group chat features with up to 256 participants
Ability to share multimedia like videos, GIFs, documents, and voice messages
Voice over IP (VoIP) calling

640 KB file sharing limit per message

Comparing directly to Google Voice, WhatsApp has some advantages as well as disadvantages:

Pros Compared to Google Voice:

More users worldwide, especially internationally (according to source)
End-to-end encryption for security
Share more media types like videos and documents

Free video calling available

Cons Compared to Google Voice:

WhatsApp business features are more limited than Google Voice

Groups are limited to 256 participants
File sharing limit per message
Cannot port your existing phone number

Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger has several features for calling and messaging including video and audio calls, shareable media and documents, as well as group chats with up to 250 people. Some key pros and cons of Facebook Messenger compared to Google Voice include:

Pros:

End-to-end encryption for more secure messaging

Larger (up to 250 people) group calls and chats
Optional “disappearing messages” that self-delete

Cons:

Does not provide a secondary phone number like Google Voice
Requires a Facebook account, whereas Google Voice does not
SMS capabilities more limited, especially in the U.S.

While Google Voice provides useful features like visual voicemail and a custom phone number for calling and messaging, Facebook Messenger stands out with its strong multimedia messaging and large group chat capabilities. Ultimately the choice depends on a user’s specific needs and priorities.

Viber

Viber is an international calling app that allows users to make VoIP calls for free. Some of Viber’s key features include:

Free calls to other Viber users

Cheap international calling rates through Viber Out
Group chats with up to 250 people
Voice and video calls

Calling over Wi-Fi or mobile data

Viber has some pricing tiers for international calling through Viber Out. Calls start at $0.013 per minute to landlines and mobiles. There are also unlimited calling plans like Viber Unlimited that offers unlimited calling to select countries for a monthly fee.

Compared to Google Voice, some pros of Viber include:

Free calls between Viber users
More affordable international call rates
Calling over Wi-Fi and mobile data

Some downsides to Viber vs Google Voice:

No domestic/local calling options – mainly focused on international
Voice quality can be inconsistent

Fewer call management features compared to Google Voice

According to TrustRadius, “Google Voice has been great for setting up additional phone lines and numbers.” However, Viber may be the preferred choice for affordable international calling and mobility.

Line

Line is a popular communication app originating from Japan with over 215 million users worldwide. Based on sources from https://www.openphone.com/blog/line2-vs-google-voice/, Line provides messaging, calling, and group communication features similar to other apps like WhatsApp or Viber.

Benefits of Line compared to Google Voice as noted by https://www.cloudtalk.io/google-voice-vs-line2/ include:

Available on iOS and Android
Offers multiple phone number options including local, toll-free, and vanity numbers

Call recording functionality
Visual voicemail
Skype integration

Lower monthly costs than Google Voice

Some downsides of Line are that it:

Lacks native desktop apps like Google Voice

Offers fewer routing and call flow features
Has much lower adoption in the US

So while Line provides an alternative to Google Voice, particularly for mobile and international users, it may lack the call management capabilities of Google Voice according to https://www.cloudtalk.io/google-voice-vs-line2/.

WeChat

WeChat, owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent, is the leading messaging app in China with over 1.2 billion monthly active users. ¹ It offers messaging, audio and video calling, group chat, and file sharing features similar to other messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.

One advantage WeChat has over Google Voice is broader calling capabilities like video calls and group calling. However, WeChat operates primarily within China and access is limited outside the country due to government restrictions. WeChat also requires an existing phone number for account verification, which can be challenging if you don’t already have a number or want a separate number for the app.

The main downside to using WeChat over Google Voice for users outside China is limited global functionality and reach. However within China, WeChat dominates adoption and usage, so can still be extremely useful for communications within the domestic Chinese market.

Signal

Signal is a popular privacy-focused messaging and calling app. It offers end-to-end encryption for messages and calls, ensuring only you and the recipient can read or hear them, not even Signal itself (source: https://freedom.press/training/locking-down-signal/).

Signal offers features like messaging, group chats, high-quality voice and video calls. It also has disappearing messages that get deleted automatically after a set amount of time.

Compared to Google Voice, Signal is widely considered more private and secure since it is encrypted end-to-end by default. However, Signal lacks some of the advanced call management features offered by Google Voice.

Pros of Signal over Google Voice:

Truly private messaging and calls with end-to-end encryption
Higher call quality according to some users (source: Reddit)

Cons of Signal vs Google Voice:

Lacks call management features like call screening, voicemail transcription
Only available as mobile and desktop apps, no web interface

Wire

Wire is a secure and private messaging app with end-to-end encryption and group chats for over 1000 people. According to GetApp, Wire is “a self-destruct messaging tool for sharing sensitive information.” Key features include:

End-to-end encryption for calls, messages, and files
Secure group chats for up to 1000 people

Self-destructing messages and screenshots prevention
HD quality voice and video calls

Compared to Google Voice, Wire offers better security and privacy. All communications in Wire are encrypted, whereas Google Voice calls may not be encrypted. Wire also allows self-destructing messages to protect sensitive information.

A downside to Wire is that it lacks some of the advanced calling features of Google Voice like call forwarding, call screening, and voicemail transcription. But users focused on privacy may find Wire’s security features outweigh the extra calling capabilities.

Google Voice Comparison Conclusion

After reviewing some of the top alternatives to Google Voice, a few strong options emerge. Skype stands out given its name recognition, reliability, call quality and advanced features like video calling. WhatsApp is widely used internationally and offers free calling over wifi. For pure messaging, Facebook Messenger and WeChat have very large global user bases.

Overall, while none perfectly replicate Google Voice, Skype appears to be the best single alternative for combined calling, videochat and messaging. WhatsApp also merits strong consideration given its voice call reliability. The choice may depend on your specific communication needs and contacts. For domestic US usage focused on savings, Skype remains a prime option. Internationally, WhatsApp often takes precedence.