eVoice review August 2024: Features, call quality, integrations and more
Toni Matthews-El specializes in writing about small business products and services. In recent years, she’s focused heavily on reviewing cloud-based communication and collaboration solutions for publications that include US News & World Report and Forbes. Toni is a Wilmington University graduate with a Master of Science in Management and Administration of Justice.
Cassie is the business and banking editor at Fortune Recommends. She obtained her degree from Northern Kentucky University and is a certified SCRUM master. Prior to joining the team at Fortune Recommends, Cassie was a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a Central Operations Project Manager at Fit Small Business.
eVoice is a Ziff Davis-owned VoIP service that is cost-effective for businesses. It lets them communicate with clients or engage customers through a cloud-based phone system and secondary business phone setup. Since 2010, the Los Angeles-based brand has built its reputation on affordability and easy customization.
Its plan includes unlimited calls throughout the United States and Canada, an auto attendant, virtual fax, and usage reports. Some items like voicemail transcripts and call recordings are available to purchase separately. We looked closely at eVoice’s service plan, add-ons, pros and cons, and more to determine what businesses would get the most out of it.
Note that all rates and fees are current as of July 2024 and are subject to change.
eVoice
Price: | Starting at $14 per month, billed annually |
Features: | Unlimited calls across the U.S. and Canada, local or toll-free business number, voicemail, call routing, and multiple extensions |
Best add-ons: | Call recording, voicemail transcriptions, call recording, and live receptionist |
Noteworthy integrations: | None |
Pros
- Unlimited calling (U.S. and Canada)
- Low-cost monthly and annual pricing
- No contracts or hardware purchases required
- Mobile app for Android and iOS
Cons
- Lacks third-party app support
- Unlimited messaging must be purchased separately
- Doesn’t support video and chat
eVoice base plan overview
eVoice’s base provides a straightforward and transparent payment option; customers can choose between a $16 month-to-month or $14 per month with an annual agreement. There is no long-term commitment required to sign up for service. As eVoice uses a single-tier pricing structure, no upgrades are necessary for a complete service experience. Please see the table below for a detailed look at eVoice’s core plan.
eVoice Plan
With features like call routing, auto attendant, and the ability to screen calls, eVoice’s base plan has the most essential items for handling calls. It comes with a business number or the ability to port an existing one. Overall, the service is designed to be affordable and is a good fit for new business owners, solopreneurs, and startups working within the limit of a tight budget.
Ultimately, eVoice’s strongest selling point is that it provides a fast and simple solution for anyone new to voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) who needs to establish a distinction between their personal contacts and business communication.
Pros
- Easy to set up and begin using immediately
- A transparent and straightforward plan
- Both monthly and annual pricing are designed to be affordable
- No long-term contracts required
- Good for small business owners and sole proprietors who want to separate personal and business contacts
Cons
- Lacks collaboration tools offered in similarly priced plans by leading competitors
- Doesn’t support video conferencing and chat
- Not good for long-term scalability
We found setting up an eVoice account a relatively simple and fast process. That said, eVoice’s base plan is extremely voice-centric. Unlimited messaging could be purchased as an add-on, but the emphasis on voice means there is no way to rely on eVoice for anything beyond that.
As such, when businesses eventually need more advanced unified-communications-as-a-service (UCaaS) or contact-center-as-a-service (CCaaS) solutions, they will inevitably outgrow eVoice and seek services elsewhere. For this reason, as flexible as eVoice has the potential to be, its base plan and add-ons will probably not work for companies that want a VoIP solution that grows with them in the long term.
Other services eVoice offers
In addition to its standard calling and texting features, eVoice has a few notable add-ons available for purchase. These items include:
- Live receptionist: Hire trained professionals to answer calls, schedule appointments, or handle administrative tasks. The add-on starts at $188.95 per month, per user.
- Professional greetings: Instead of a more general or artificial intelligence (AI)-based greeting, eVoice lets you opt for a more distinct and individualized approach to greeting your customers.
- Second phone line: If one business line isn’t enough, you can purchase a second one starting at $14 per month.
- Call recording: This add-on feature lets you record and store calls, enabling you to listen back at any time or share details with others.
- Voicemail transcriptions: Although the core plan includes voicemail support, you will need to purchase transcriptions separately. Convert files into mp3 or WAV documents for storage or to send out in an email.
The eVoice platform and customer support
While the eVoice website is fairly easy to access, it isn’t always straightforward in guiding you to relative information. For instance, with add-ons, we noted that pricing information wasn’t universally available. Although the pricing page laid out the core features and monthly or annual pricing, some pages mentioned add-on features but didn’t list the price. You will likely need to engage eVoice’s sales team for accurate add-on pricing.
As for customer support, you can reach a live agent by phone, chat, email, or submit a support ticket. Your overall wait time may vary depending on the method used. You may hear from a live team member within a few minutes or wait at least one to two business days for a response.
Is eVoice secure?
We weren’t able to find any details regarding eVoice security measures beyond a statement in its privacy policy that it “implements technical and organizational measures” to protect data against any combination of inappropriate actions and unauthorized access. In the event of a data breach, eVoice may notify you by email or update customers through a public blog post.
eVoice user reviews
There aren’t as many user reviews available for eVoice as other top VoIP providers. However, we were able to locate a few dozen comments from past or current customers. Those who were happy with eVoice cited positive sales team and customer support experiences and having an easy time setting up their specific cloud phone systems. Other satisfied customers mentioned that they appreciated the features and found eVoice easy to use.
However, many users complained about how hard it was to contact customer support. Meanwhile, others frequently complained about billing practices and felt they were overpaying for service.
Compare eVoice alternatives
Is eVoice right for you?
eVoice is a good fit for smaller business owners and sole proprietors who want a fast and simple way to connect with clients or customers. It is also handy for those who want to avoid using personal phone numbers and want to separate private and professional communication. eVoice does lack video meetings and chat support. That aside, it may still be a good option for business owners who need an affordable but professional cloud phone solution and number.
Frequently asked questions
Is eVoice a VoIP provider?
eVoice is a VoIP service that provides small businesses with virtual phone systems and local or toll-free business numbers.
How does eVoice work?
eVoice is a cloud-based service, and so works through an existing Internet connection. You can also use the service via its mobile app.
Is eVoice free?
eVoice is not free to use. You must pay for the base plan, which is as low as $14 monthly. You would also need to purchase any subsequent add-ons.
Where is eVoice located?
The Ziff Davis-owned company is currently headquartered in Los Angeles.
About the contributors
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