RingCentral vs Grasshopper: Features, Pricing & Best Choice

Senior Writer: Rohit Rajpal

Published : December 20, 2021

RingCentral and Grasshopper are two leading business phone systems, each serving over 400,000 customers.

RingCentral provides a comprehensive, unified communications platform with features that go beyond basic telephony. In contrast, Grasshopper offers a straightforward virtual phone system focused on core communication essentials.

If you’re deciding between Grasshopper and RingCentral, you’re in the right place. Let’s compare these solutions across features, pricing, integrations, and user experience to help you make an informed choice for your business.

How We Compared Grasshopper and RingCentral?

Our team conducted a comprehensive three-month evaluation of both platforms, deploying them across a test group of 15 users representing different business roles. Here’s our detailed testing methodology.

Rating	4.3/5	4.3/5
Ease of use	4.3/5	4.4/5
Value for money (pricing details below)	4.1/5	4.3/5
Design quality	4.2/5	4.4/5
Features	• Unlimited domestic calling within the US and Canada • Virtual receptionist • Call menu (IVR) • HD video meetings (100 participants) • Google, Microsoft integrations • Single sign-on	• VoIP/Wi-Fi Calling • Virtual Fax • Business Texting • Call Forwarding • Voicemail Transcription
Head to head Comparison	• Comprehensive unified communications platform • Advanced video conferencing capabilities • Deep integration ecosystem	• Simple, straightforward virtual phone system • Easy setup and management • Focused on core communication features
Pricing range	Monthly plans begin at $20/month, with various add-on options available	Plans start at $14/month for one number and one extension

Note: Ratings taken from Capterra.

Our testing team included certified VoIP specialists, IT administrators, and business consultants with over 20 years of combined experience in business communications.

• Call Management Features: We placed over 500 test calls to assess call quality, routing capabilities, and handling rules. Our team configured various IVR scenarios to stress-test each system’s routing logic and measured response times across different call volumes.
• Mobile Experience: Throughout a 30-day period, we actively used both providers’ mobile apps on 8 different iOS and Android devices. The team tracked app stability, call quality over different network conditions (4G, 5G, and WiFi), and feature accessibility.
• Interface & Usability: Having onboarded three separate teams of five users each, we documented the average time-to-proficiency and collected detailed feedback on navigation paths and feature discovery. 
• Price-to-Value Ratio: Our analysis involved mapping each feature to its actual business value by surveying 50 current users of both platforms. We calculated the effective cost-per-feature and assessed ROI across different business sizes.
• Integration Ecosystem: The technical team spent two weeks testing integration capabilities with popular CRMs and business tools, measuring setup time, reliability, and data synchronization accuracy.

RingCentral vs. Grasshopper Compared

Grasshopper targets small businesses and solopreneurs with essential calling and messaging features. It lets you choose from various toll-free, vanity, and local business phone numbers. You can also port your existing business number to Grasshopper, helping maintain separation between personal and business communications.

RingCentral is a more comprehensive solution suitable for businesses of all sizes. It offers toll-free minutes with every plan (ranging from 100 to 10,000 minutes monthly) and extensive integration capabilities. Beyond basic telephony, it provides collaborative features like team messaging, task management, shared calendars, and document sharing.

Both platforms offer mobile apps for on-the-go business communications and provide unlimited calls within the US and Canada. They also both feature 24/7 customer support regardless of plan level.

However, these similarities are where the common ground ends – RingCentral and Grasshopper differ significantly in their feature sets, integration capabilities, and overall approach to business communications.

RingCentral vs. Grasshopper: Features

As discussed above, RingCentral offers a full unified communications suite while Grasshopper focuses on core telephony features done well.

Here’s how they stack against each other. 

• Core Phone Features: Grasshopper excels at basic telephony with unlimited toll-free minutes and simple call handling. RingCentral takes it further with advanced routing, call monitoring, and multi-site management.
• Team Collaboration: RingCentral shines with built-in video conferencing, document sharing, and team channels. Grasshopper doesn’t offer native collaboration tools, focusing instead on external communication.
• Voicemail & Transcription: Both offer voicemail transcription, but RingCentral adds advanced features like voicemail-to-email, custom greetings per department, and searchable transcripts. Grasshopper keeps it simple with basic transcription and forwarding options.
• Analytics & Reporting: RingCentral provides comprehensive analytics with real-time dashboards, custom KPIs, and trend analysis. Grasshopper offers essential call logs, and usage reports that small teams find sufficient.
• Call Management: Grasshopper’s auto-attendant handles basic call routing with professional greetings. RingCentral’s IVR system enables complex call flows with conditional routing, time-based rules, and skill-based distribution.
• System Integration: RingCentral boasts 300+ integrations with popular business tools. Grasshopper maintains a minimal integration approach, focusing on core phone functionality.

RingCentral Vs. Grasshopper: Plans & Pricing

When comparing RingCentral vs Grasshopper, pricing structure plays a crucial role in decision-making. Let’s break down what each platform offers.

Note: Prices reflect annual billing; monthly rates are higher (As of 14-Nov-2024)

While researching Grasshopper alternatives, RingCentral often comes up as a more feature-rich but expensive option. Conversely, when looking for RingCentral alternatives, Grasshopper stands out for its simplicity and flat-rate pricing without per-user fees.

Recommended Read: : RingCentral Pricing And Plans: A Complete Overview

RingCentral Vs. Grasshopper: International Calling

When evaluating RingCentral vs Grasshopper for international calling needs, pricing becomes crucial. In fact, international calling costs can significantly impact your communication budget. Grasshopper’s international rates start at $0.02 per minute for the UK, while RingCentral’s begin at $0.039 per minute. For calls to Australia, Grasshopper charges $0.03 per minute compared to RingCentral’s $0.039 per minute.

While the difference seems minimal, it can add up substantially for businesses making frequent international calls. Before choosing either platform, it’s worth checking specific rates for countries where you conduct business.

RingCentral Vs. Grasshopper: Customer Support

Phone system issues can halt your business operations instantly. Having reliable support ensures minimal downtime and keeps your communication channels running smoothly.

RingCentral offers multi-channel support:

• 24/7 phone support (1-888-898-4591)
• Live chat
• Online case submission
• Community forums
• Social media assistance
• Extensive knowledge base

Recommended Read: : Top 10 RingCentral Alternatives & Competitors

Grasshopper keeps it simpler but effective:

• 24/7 phone support (800-820-8210)
• Comprehensive knowledge base
• Email support
• Active user community

While RingCentral offers more support channels, customer reviews across third-party platforms suggest Grasshopper’s focused approach often results in quicker issue resolution.

Recommended Read: : 10 Best Grasshopper Alternatives & Competitors

RingCentral Vs. Grasshopper: Integrations

Your business phone system needs to connect with other tools like CRM, help desk, and collaboration platforms to streamline workflows and boost team productivity.

RingCentral stands out with its extensive integration ecosystem.

• 300+ pre-built integrations
• Popular CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Productivity tools (Microsoft 365, Google Workspace)
• Customer service platforms (Zendesk)
• Custom API access for unique integrations

Grasshopper offers limited but essential integrations. 

• Skype
• Google Voice
• Zapier
• LiveChat

The integration difference reflects each platform’s focus: RingCentral aims to be a central hub for all business communications, while Grasshopper concentrates on providing reliable phone services without complex integrations.

Grasshopper vs. RingCentral: Pros and Cons

Choosing between these two VoIP providers requires understanding their core strengths and limitations. While both offer business phone solutions, they target different business needs and scales of operation. Let’s see how RingCentral vs. Grasshopper compare.

Grasshopper

With its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, Grasshopper stands out as an ideal solution for small businesses and solopreneurs who need professional phone capabilities without complexity.

Here’s what users say about Grasshopper (via Capterra)

Diana – Business Co-owner in the US

Comments: It’s been easy to use and has saved us a lot of money by not having someone to staff a phone when there isn’t a need to have a person on site. The cost is very reasonable, and it’s completely transparent to customers.

 Pros: Grasshopper allows us to manage calls with a lot of flexibility. Whether we’re at our business or out and about, the customer never knows. We can assign different people to handle different types of calls, we can accept text inquiries, and we can be available for calls at whatever hours we want, up to 24/7.

Cons: It can take a little longer than I’d like for customers to get through, since they have to wait for Grasshopper to answer, listen to the greeting, put in an extension, and then wait for the call to forward. This is a minimal issue, though in comparison to the alternative.

Matt – Motion Pictures & Film

Comments: Overall experience with Grasshopper is good. I’ve used their service for over 2 years now, and I do still consider other options but always stick with Grasshopper due to their ease of use and competitive price.

 Pros: It’s competitively priced and easy to use. As for functionality, it connects with whatever other phone line you have through forwarding, and it also sends an email with a voice message recording. It’s straightforward and works well.

 Cons: The biggest issue is that when a call comes in on the toll-free number, the phone you’ve got it linked to will show the call as your toll-free number rather than whoever is calling. It would be great to simply have a caller ID. Also, it needs a texting service. Perhaps a toll-free number can’t work with texting but in case it can, then Grasshopper needs to get on board with it.

RingCentral

RingCentral delivers enterprise-grade capabilities that make it a powerful choice for growing businesses and organizations requiring comprehensive communication tools.

Here’s what users say about RingCentral (via Capterra)

Katherine L. – Founding Lawyer in the US

Comments: We have a small office without a live receptionist yet we need to have different call routing for each person. I am able to configure the options for any variable (holidays, vacations, etc.).

Pros: Ring Central is very configurable for many situations. We have a small law office with people working remotely, so we have different call flows for different people. Ring Central can handle the differences. Also, I love having the app so I can check voicemails directly from my cell device.

Cons: Because of the wide range of ways the call routing can be configured, it is somewhat difficult at the start to determine how to do it. However, Ring Central’s customer service is always available and has always been able to help me when I call.

Casey – Office Manager in the US

Comments: Overall, my experience is good with RingCentral, and I have no complaints that outweigh the positive attributes. Ring Central has made it easy for us to work with employees that work remotely as well.

Pros: I like that you can see all the users in the same place and can make changes pretty easily. I like the fact they integrated messages, phone calls, and voicemails to be in one place.

Cons: Sometimes, it’s really hard to find things and user information, and it is overcomplicated in areas it shouldn’t be. I have also found it hard to communicate with customer service.

Which Should You Choose: Grasshopper or RingCentral?

After our thorough analysis of RingCentral vs Grasshopper, it’s clear that each platform serves different business needs. Therefore, the choice between Grasshopper and RingCentral ultimately depends on your business’s specific communication needs, team size, and growth plans. Here’s a straightforward guide to help you decide.

Choose Grasshopper if you:

• Run a small business or work solo
• Need basic phone features done well
• Want predictable, flat-rate pricing
• Prefer simplicity over advanced features
• Don’t require extensive integrations

Choose RingCentral if you:

• Manage a growing or large team
• Need advanced call management features
• Require video conferencing capabilities
• Want detailed analytics and reporting
• Use multiple business tools that need integration

CallHippo – The Perfect Alternative To Grasshopper And RingCentral

If you’re seeking a balance between Grasshopper’s simplicity and RingCentral’s advanced features, CallHippo offers a middle ground with added benefits. CallHippo combines enterprise-grade features with small business affordability, making it suitable for companies looking to scale without the complexity of RingCentral or the limitations of Grasshopper.

Let’s look at what CallHippo has to offer. 

1. Cost-Effective Communication

While RingCentral’s plans start at $20 per user and Grasshopper begins at $14 monthly, CallHippo offers a unique advantage with its forever-free plan for solopreneurs needing basic features. For businesses requiring more capabilities, premium plans start at $18 per user monthly – significantly lower than RingCentral’s equivalent features.

CallHippo’s International calling rates are competitive. Calls from the US to the UK start at $0.019 per minute (compared to Grasshopper’s $0.02 and RingCentral’s $0.039), while calls to Australia cost $0.038 per minute. 

This pricing structure makes CallHippo particularly attractive for growing businesses that need advanced features and global reach but want to avoid the steep costs typically associated with comprehensive VoIP solutions.

2. Feature-Rich Platform

CallHippo combines essential phone features with advanced capabilities, offering a balanced solution for businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small team needing basic call management or a growing company requiring sophisticated tools, CallHippo adapts to your needs. 

• Smart call routing and IVR
• Business SMS and call recording
• Real-time analytics and reporting
• Internal team calling
• Multi-level IVR
• Call monitoring and barging
• Holiday routing
• Webhook integration

3. Global Reach & Accessibility

CallHippo’s presence in over 190 countries allows businesses to establish a local presence anywhere in the world. You can purchase local and toll-free numbers in any of these countries, making your business appear local to your customers while keeping communication costs low. Besides, it works seamlessly across devices – whether you’re using iOS, Android, or desktop or accessing through a web browser.

4. Extensive Integration Ecosystem

With over 85 business tool integrations, CallHippo ensures your phone system works harmoniously with your existing workflow. From popular CRM platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot to help desk solutions like Zendesk, these integrations help automate processes and improve team productivity without switching between multiple applications.

5. Enhanced Security & Compliance

CallHippo prioritizes data security with HIPAA compliance for healthcare businesses and GDPR compliance for data protection. This makes it suitable for industries handling sensitive information, while features like call encryption and detailed audit trails ensure your communications remain secure and documented.

Switch to CallHippo: The Best
RingCentral and Grasshopper Alternative

• Buy Numbers
• Add Users
• Start Calling

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Final Verdict

When comparing RingCentral vs Grasshopper, each platform serves distinct business needs. RingCentral excels with its comprehensive, unified communications suite but at a premium price point. Grasshopper offers simplicity and basic functionality that works well for solopreneurs but may limit growing teams. While searching for Grasshopper alternatives or RingCentral alternatives, businesses often need a middle ground.

This is where CallHippo bridges the gap. It offers a free plan for basic needs, advanced features at mid-range pricing, and enterprise capabilities without enterprise costs. With global accessibility and essential integrations, CallHippo combines the best of both platforms while adding its own advantages in security and cost-effectiveness, making it an ideal choice for businesses looking to scale without complexity.

Updated : December 3, 2024

Rohit Rajpal

Rohit Rajpal is a technical content writer with hands-on experience in the VoIP and telephony space. His expertise comes from closely collaborating with product teams to craft clear, technical documentation and user guides for telecommunication software. Rohit’s deep knowledge of VoIP technology allows him to address complex technical issues and provide insightful solutions.

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