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Senior Writer: Supriya Bajaj
Date: January 25, 2024For businesses, having a reliable and efficient phone system is crucial for maintaining strong connections with customers and clients. Virtual phone numbers have emerged as a popular solution to bridge the gap between businesses and their audience.
In this blog, we will explore how to get a Grasshopper virtual phone number, the limitations of Grasshopper’s business phone service, and how it compares to CallHippo – a smarter phone number solution. We will also take a look at what customers have to say about CallHippo. So let’s dive in!
"When choosing a virtual phone system for your business, consider the long-term scalability and features that align with your growth and operational needs, as the limitations of a system can become a hindrance as your business expands. Opt for a provider that offers competitive pricing, extensive features, and excellent customer support to ensure your communication system remains a valuable asset for your business. "
How to Get a Grasshopper Virtual Phone Number?
Grasshopper is a cloud-based VoIP phone system suitable for all types of businesses. It facilitates users to make incoming and outgoing calls from almost any location. Grasshopper phone system offers affordable tools and services, making it an ideal platform for small businesses to start and thrive.
1. Choose your plan
You have to choose a suitable plan before buying the virtual phone number.
Here are some pricing plans for Grasshopper business phone; you should select the plan that suits your business needs:
True Solo
$14 per month (billed annually)
Features:
- 1 User
- 1 Phone number
- 1 Extension
- 24/7 Support
Solo Plus
$28 per month (billed annually)
Feature:
- Unlimited users
- 1 Phone number
- 3 extensions
- 24/7 Support
Partner
$46 per month (billed annually)
Feature:
- Unlimited Users
- 3 Phone numbers
- 6 Extensions
- 24/7 Support
Small Business
$80 per month (billed annually)
Features:
- Unlimited users
- 5 phone numbers
- Unlimited extensions
- 24/7 Support
2. Choose the type of virtual phone number
After choosing your Grasshopper plan, you’ll encounter three phone number choices:
Toll-free numbers
Toll-free numbers are free for callers within the same country but may charge for international calls. Receiving international calls on a toll-free number doesn’t involve any charges for you.
Local numbers
A local number belongs to a particular region, city, or state. With local numbers, many local businesses are able to advertise their company within the community.
Small businesses can easily get the local virtual numbers with Grasshopper.
Ported numbers
Ported number is the process that allows you to transfer your own phone number with another one you wish for. Grasshopper business phone helps to port the number easily and hassle-free, and you can access all the benefits with your old number.
3. Start a free trial to explore the service
If you are not sure which plan suits your business needs, you can start with the free trial (no credit card required).
The 7-day free trial includes:
- 1 Phone Number (only numbers of specific areas) and 3 extensions.
- 50 Business Talk Minutes
- 100 Business Texts
You will get all the same features of Grasshopper when you get the full version.
Premium numbers and unlimited texting are not included in the 7-day free trial.
4. Download the application
After the free trial, if you are still willing to buy Grasshopper, you can buy it and download the web application and mobile application.
Grasshopper doesn’t have a browser app, meaning you can’t make calls from any device. This might affect your work if you travel or use different devices often.
Grasshopper is not a true VoIP, as the mobile application doesn’t have an automatic default to WiFi calling.
Users can call from anywhere on iOS, Android, or desktop.
If you proceed to activate your Grasshopper account, there’s a requirement to wait until your account is 60 days old. For international calling, a $500 deposit is necessary (except for Alaska or Hawaii, where a five-day-old account is sufficient). Despite the fee, texting to international numbers remains restricted.
You May Also Read : The Best Grasshopper Alternative
Limitations of Grasshopper Business Phone Systems
While Grasshopper offers a convenient solution for businesses to establish a virtual phone system, it comes with some limitations that might make it less suitable for certain companies:
1. Limited Scalability
One of the primary limitations of Grasshopper is its scalability. While it is an excellent choice for small and medium-sized businesses, it may not be the ideal solution for larger enterprises with more extensive communication needs.
As your business line grows, you may find that Grasshopper’s feature set and capacity are insufficient to meet your evolving requirements. This can result in the need to migrate to a more robust and scalable virtual phone system, which can be a time-consuming and potentially costly process.
2. Lack of Advanced Features
Grasshopper offers a straightforward set of features, which may not be sufficient for businesses seeking more advanced and comprehensive phone system functionality. Some of the limitations in this regard include –
- Limited Call Analytics
- Lack of Team Collaboration Tools
- Integration Limitations
3. International Calling Costs
If your business frequently communicates with international clients or has a global presence, Grasshopper’s international calling costs can be a significant limitation. Grasshopper’s international calling rates may not be as competitive as some other virtual phone system providers, and this can lead to higher communication expenses, potentially impacting your budget. For businesses with international operations or clientele, the cost-effectiveness of international calling is a crucial consideration.
4. High Pricing
While Grasshopper offers a valuable service, its pricing can be on the higher side when compared to other virtual phone system providers. Smaller businesses and startups, in particular, may find Grasshopper’s pricing structure less cost-effective. As businesses grow, controlling operational costs becomes increasingly important, making affordability a critical factor in choosing a virtual phone system.
CallHippo vs. Grasshopper: The Smarter Phone Number Solution
CallHippo is an alternative virtual phone system provider that offers a more comprehensive solution for businesses. Let’s take a look at how CallHippo compares to Grasshopper:
1. Scalability
CallHippo is a highly scalable solution that can accommodate businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small business startup or a large enterprise, CallHippo can adapt to your growth and changing communication requirements. You can easily add or remove users, lines, and features as needed.
Grasshopper, while suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, has limitations when it comes to scalability. If your business experiences rapid growth or requires more advanced features, you may find Grasshopper’s capabilities restrictive.
2. Features
CallHippo offers a comprehensive range of features, making it a versatile and powerful communication tool for businesses. These features include call analytics, call recording, call routing, voicemail, call queuing, IVR (Interactive Voice Response), and integrations with popular CRM systems like HubSpot, Salesforce, and more. These features empower businesses to streamline their communication and enhance customer interactions.
Grasshopper’s features, though user-friendly, are relatively basic when compared to CallHippo. It provides core functionalities like call forwarding, voicemail, and basic call management, but it lacks some of the more advanced tools and integrations that businesses often require for efficient operations.
3. Global Reach
CallHippo offers businesses the flexibility to have both local and international virtual phone numbers. Its competitive international calling rates and global coverage make it an excellent choice for companies with a worldwide presence or those frequently communicating with international clients.
Grasshopper primarily focuses on local and toll-free numbers in the United States and Canada. While it does offer international calling, the rates may not be as competitive, potentially leading to higher costs for businesses with a global clientele.
4. Pricing
CallHippo’s pricing plans are designed to be cost-effective and budget-friendly. It provides a range of plans to cater to businesses with different needs and budgets, ensuring that you only pay for what you require. This affordability makes it an attractive option for cost-conscious businesses.
Grasshopper’s pricing, while offering value for smaller businesses, can be on the higher side when compared to other virtual business phone system providers. This cost factor might be a limiting consideration for businesses looking to manage operational expenses carefully.
5. Customer Support
CallHippo places a strong emphasis on customer support and provides a responsive and helpful team that is readily available to assist businesses with their inquiries and technical issues.
Grasshopper also offers customer support, but the level of service might not be as comprehensive as some other providers. Businesses looking for highly responsive and personalized support might find this to be a limitation.
What Customers Say About CallHippo
To understand the real-world experience of businesses using CallHippo, here are a few customer reviews
John D – “CallHippo has been a game-changer for our business. The features and flexibility it offers have allowed us to provide better customer service. Plus, the pricing is much more competitive than our previous phone system.”
Sarah M – “We have clients all over the world, and CallHippo’s international calling rates have saved us a significant amount of money. The setup was a breeze, and the system has been reliable.”
Mark B – “The call analytics provided by CallHippo have given us valuable insights into our customer interactions. We can now make data-driven decisions to improve our services.”
Final Thoughts
Grasshopper provides a straightforward way to get a virtual phone number for your business, but it has some limitations, especially for larger or more complex organizations. CallHippo, on the other hand, offers a more versatile and cost-effective solution with a broader feature set and excellent scalability.
Consider your business’s unique needs and growth potential when choosing a virtual phone system provider to ensure you make the right choice for your company’s communication requirements.
FAQ
How much does the Grasshopper virtual phone cost?
The Grasshopper virtual phone service starts at $14 per month, providing a cost-effective solution for businesses to manage calls and texts with features like call forwarding and voicemail.
Is there a trial period for the Grasshopper virtual phone?
Grasshopper offers a 7-day free trial for its Grasshopper business phone service, allowing users to explore its features before committing.
Supriya is a highly skilled content writer with over 8 years of experience in the SaaS domain. She believes in curating engaging, informative, and SEO-friendly content to simplify highly technical concepts. With an expansive portfolio of long-format blogs, newsletters, whitepapers, and case studies, Supriya is dedicated to staying in touch with emerging SaaS trends to produce relevant and reliable content.
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