Date: June 12, 2024Leading US SIP trunk providers can truly transform your business communication strategy. How? By letting you experience streamlined administrative operations, improved efficiency, unparalleled scalability, and high-cost savings.
40% of customers expect businesses to solve their issues on their preferred channel. SIP trunking fulfills this expectation. We’ll find out how in this guide.
To maintain your competitive edge, we have curated this comprehensive guide on SIP trunking, including the top 7 SIP trunking providers in the US with features, reviews, and pricing. Let’s explore!
"Leveraging SIP trunking will significantly improve your customer experience by catering to your customer’s needs on their preferred channel. Remember to pick a reliable, secure, and scalable US SIP trunk provider to enjoy substantial infrastructure cost savings and efficient integration of voice and data services. "
What is SIP trunking?
SIP trunking refers to a digital connection between the cloud-based VoIP communications and traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). It allows you to place and receive phone calls over the Internet with standard, premise-based business phone systems using application layer protocol.
Although the SIP trunk is a digital version of a phone line, it allows you to access multiple communication channels, such as SMS, video conferencing, and instant messaging.
How SIP Trunking Works?
SIP trunking works by adding edgy cloud-based VoIP features to the internal business phone network, IP PBX, or legacy PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems. Now, PBX systems are of three configurations, namely onsite IP PBX, outdated legacy PBX, and cloud-hosted PBX.
All of them need SIP trunking with different SIP hardware and setups to facilitate UCaaS (Unified communications as a service) and VoIP-based communication. Let’s dive deep into the three major ones right away –
1. Cloud-based PBX
Here, your VoIP provider bridges the gap between PSTN and the Internet as it is responsible for hosting SIP trunks and IP PBX systems on their premises. This way, you enjoy the myriad of benefits of SIP without the need to maintain SIP hardware and PBX.
2. Onsite IP PBX
In this system, you’ve to host and install a SIP-compatible PBX server in your office premises to seamlessly connect your business phone system to the PSTN and the Internet. To add new users and SIP trunk lines, log into your PBX account, select the phone number and SIP trunk, and register the new trunk.
3. Legacy PBX
It is possible to connect your legacy system to the internet and enjoy VoIP features using additional hardware such as a session border controller or VoIP gateway. They securely transmit your data packet between the Internet and the local network.
You May Also Read : VoIP vs. SIP: What’s the Difference and Which is Best?
7 Best USA SIP Trunk Providers
The global SIP trunking is estimated to hit the $43 billion mark by the end of 2031. And you definitely must jump on the bandwagon to remain competitive. The choice of SIP trunk decides the quality of business communications.
| Brand Name | Rating | Key Features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| CallHippo | Call forwarding Call recording Voicemail Text messaging | Basic: $0 Bronze: $16 /month Silver: $24 /month Platinum: $40 /month | |
| Twilio | Call transfer Ticket management Call recording Number portability | Starts at $1 per active user | |
| Nextiva | Auto attendant Hold music Mobile app and desktop app Video conferencing Audio-only conferencing Advanced IVR systems Caller ID | Essentials: $18.95 Professional: $22.95 Enterprise: $32.95 | |
| 8×8 | Unlimited calling in the US and Canada Auto attendant Music on hold Voicemail Team messaging Hot desking Call queues | X2: $24 X4: $44 | |
| RingCentral | Business phone or toll-free numbers Unlimited calling within the US and Canada Business SMS IVR | Core: $20 Advanced: $25 Ultra: $35 | |
| Vonage | AI virtual assistant High-definition call quality Unlimited calling and text messaging on all plans Free video conferencing | Mobile: $14.99 Premium: $24.99 Advanced: $34.99 | |
After extensive research and analysis, we have curated a list of USA SIP Trunk Providers. These softwares are carefully selected based on usability and satisfaction scores, including features, ease of use, customer support, ratings, and reviews from SoftwareSuggest, G2, and Capterra. Our aim is to assist businesses in identifying the most suitable software to streamline their operations.
So, compare the features, pros and cons, and pricing of the given providers to make an informed decision.
1. CallHippo
CallHippo is an excellent and robust USA SIP trunk provider that offers a cloud PBX designed to streamline lead generation, improve day-to-day communications, and save IT resources. This SIP trunk USA not only increases sales but also cuts down on additional operational costs.
Features
- Interactive voice response
- Reporting and analytics
- Call whispering
- Call barging
Pros
- Create and redirect calls to a group of agents so the call is connected to an agent, increasing response times and reducing wait time.
- Record inbound and outbound calls for future reference, process improvement, and employee training.
- Barge into active calls to assist agents in real time, improving customer experience.
Cons
- Users might experience disruptions in service due to internet access outages.
- Additional equipment is required to segment voice and data traffic.
Pricing
- Starter – $18 Per user/Month
- Professional – $30 Per user/Month
- Ultimate – $42 Per user/Month
*Pricing as of 11-06-2024.
2. Twilio
Twilio is one of the best SIP trunking providers that offers maximized agility and global reach at an affordable rate, unlike traditional phone systems. Its elastic SIP trunking service enhances your communication agility by automatically scaling up and down to meet your traffic needs.
Features
- Voice insights
- Twilio interconnect
- Call control
- Global disaster recovery
Pros
- Ensure high-call security by establishing a private connection with Twilio Cloud and top-notch connections with Interconnect.
- Monitor and troubleshoot call performance with issue identification features and voice insight tools so you don’t have to bear losses due to communication interruptions.
- Keep your communications aligned with your changing business needs with on-demand self-service trunk provisioning and innovative cloud features having unlimited scalability.
Cons
- Twilio is difficult to set up.
- Customer support is unsatisfactory.
Pricing
- Local numbers: $1.15 / mo
- Toll-free numbers: $2.15 / mo
3. 8X8
8*8 is a SIP trunking provider that enables you to connect your business globally with wide country coverage and enterprise-grade reliability. With this SIP trunk USA, you can expect built-in security with encryption and regulation compliance.
Features
- Multi-level auto attendant
- Visual voicemail
- Caller ID
- Call parking
Pros
- Seamlessly answer important calls when you’re on another one by putting the active call on hold, making it easier to manage high volumes of calls.
- Inform your colleagues about your availability via pre-defined status indicators, enhancing coordination and collaboration.
- Set a professional voice-over or on-hold music in your auto attendant, voicemail, and telephone prompts to enhance customer experience.
Cons
- Doesn’t send proper voicemail notifications.
- The video conferencing feature is a little glitchy.
Pricing
- X2, X4, X6, X7, X8: Contact sales
4. Zadarma
Zadarma is one of the best VoIP SIP trunk providers in the USA that lets you communicate seamlessly around the world by simply connecting it to your IP system. It is capable of combining multiple offices in one network and setting up a business phone system within 5 minutes.
Features
- Chat ticket system
- Caller ID
- Click to call button
- Auto-response text setup
Pros
- Offers 24/7 customer support via chat, a ticket system, and a phone so your queries are instantly solved, reducing interruptions in communications.
- Utilizes the world's largest VoIP providers and capitalizes on top-notch services with guaranteed CallerID transmission to ensure the highest call quality.
- Offers services at an affordable price as you only have to pay for outgoing calls and phone numbers you buy.
Cons
- The knowledge base is a little unstructured.
- The number configuration in its VoIP software is complex.
Pricing
- Standard: £0 / month
- Office: £29 / month
- Corporation: £59 / month
You May Also Read : Types of VoIP Apps for Internet Calling
5. Nextiva
Nextiva is one of the most excellent VoIP SIP trunk providers that allows you to bring your PBX to the cloud. It requires no equipment and has a highly reliable business voice network. These SIP trunks are ready-to-use so you can deploy it in one day with zero coding.
Features
- Call queues
- Conference calls
- Voicemail transcription
- Call logs
Pros
- Automatically direct calls to another destination with cloud connectivity when your PBX goes offline via automatic failover.
- Seamlessly manage your credentials and direct dial numbers with a web-based admin portal, simplifying administrative tasks and enhancing security.
- Port your voice provider to Nextiva with end-to-end porting assistance.
Cons
- The voicemail has an outdated UI.
- Chat software looks clunky and doesn’t work properly.
Pricing
- Metered: $14.95/month
- Unmetered: $24.95/month
6. RingCentral MVP
RingCentral MVP’s SIP trunking lets you leverage a range of advanced communication capabilities designed to enhance customer experience and optimize workflows. This enterprise-grade solution is an easy win for scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness.
Features
- Voicemail-to-email
- Call handling rules
- Call flows
- Extension dialing
Pros
- Has failsafes and multiple servers as backups to reduce the risk of downtime during unforeseen circumstances.
- Sends your voicemails to an email in the form of a downloadable audio file attachment or transcription to remain updated.
- Organize, prioritize, and streamline communications by placing calls in queues until the agent’s availability to efficiently handle the huge influx of calls.
Cons
- Group messaging has a few bugs.
- It is difficult to set up and navigate.
Pricing
- Core: $20/user/month
- Advanced: $25/user/month
- Ultra: $35/user/month
7. Vonage
Vonage, a SIP trunk provider (USA), instantly connects your existing PBX system to the outside world. It makes going global and saving costs easy with per-second billing. This platform has an advanced roster of features that can potentially make your operations smoother.
Features
- Fraud defender
- Digest authentication
- Dashboard analytics
- Multi-codec support
Pros
- Easily scale and set user permissions to avoid mix-ups and confusion at any level.
- Automatically direct calls to the closest server, ensuring high call quality and reducing connection delays with automatic location-based routing (ALBR).
- Safeguard your brand reputation and revenue with automatic suspicious traffic blocking and real-time alerting.
Cons
- Has an elaborate verification process.
- Sometimes, it disconnects your call automatically.
Pricing
- PSTN Leg (landline): $0.0340/minute
- PSTN Leg (mobile): $0.0231/ minute
- SIP Leg: $0.0044/ minute
SIP vs VoIP: What’s The Difference?
| Basis | SIP | VoIP |
| Meaning | Protocol used to enable calls over the internet | Phone calls made over the internet |
| Scope | Voice and text-based communication through PSTN or internet connection. | Voice calls over the internet through wireless devices such as VoIP app compatible mobile, cell phones, and laptops. |
| Focus | Unified Communications (UCaaS)–multiple channels are managed like voice calls, text messages, and video calls. | Business Phone Service (Business VoIP)–Voice-based communication unless the provider has an extensive roster of features. |
| Technology | Utilizes technology to manage multimedia communication over the internet and trunking to connect with traditional phone lines. | Converts the caller’s audio into data packets, passes it over the internet, and again converts it into audio for the recipient. |
| Inclusions | Always includes VoIP | Doesn’t necessarily include SIP |
SIP Trunking Pros and Cons
SIP trunking comes with a fair share of pros and cons. Let’s understand them in depth –
Pros
1. Cost-effectiveness
With SIP trunking, you don’t need to invest in any costly equipment or pay hefty installation and maintenance fees. VoIP trunk providers facilitate internet-based calls with flexible pricing plans (unlimited monthly minutes or pay-as-you-go, eliminating long-distance charges.
2. High flexibility
SIP trunking uses VoIP to facilitate calls over the internet through any internet-enabled device, making it accessible from anywhere without binding agents to the office. US SIP provider also offers call-forwarding to automatically divert calls to your desired agents when you’re on the go.
3. Advanced VoIP features
SIP trunks offer various in-built and add-on features such as call monitoring, call analytics, and call park. Now, these features help businesses meet their call center needs, establish a professional presence, and improve customer service.
Cons
1. Connectivity and data security
SIP trunks expose your data to security breaches when calls are made via public WiFi. Also, during connectivity issues, you may face interruptions in communication via dropped calls or latency. That’s why you cannot miss out on choosing a reliable provider.
2. Steep learning curve
Agents using traditional phones might find it tough to learn the advanced features, plan call paths, understand insights, and get used to handling calls via desktop or mobile. Prevent this by opting for a provider that makes agent onboarding easy for you.
You May Also Read : Top 10 Free PBX Open Source Software in 2023
How to Choose the Right SIP Trunk Provider?
- Look for a free porting service and a free trial period to gauge if it matches your business needs.
- Select a Tier-1 provider that has control over their network as they are quick in solving issues due to fewer contacting processes involved.
- Identify the kind of technical customer support it offers, such as omnichannel support, support packages, and onboarding assistance. Is it just with higher plans, or is 24/7 support available for all customers?
- Find out the wait time for a support request or service outage.
- Explore the pricing plans and payment terms it offers–bundled pricing, pay-as-you-go, contract requirements, upscale and downscale opportunities.
- Carefully check the level of security they provide by looking at their third-party security certifications and network redundancy. It must offer security against hacks and malware.
- Find out if your existing hardware will blend in with the new SIP trunking or communications equipment.
- Determine the number of simultaneous calls your provider’s service can seamlessly handle.
- Gauge the communication channels your selected provider can support other than voice calling.
- Ensure that your chosen provider is operational in your area or your client’s area if you often need to make international calls or to sporadic locations.
Wrapping Up
SIP trunking solution facilitates seamless multichannel communication, unlike VoIP, which just supports voice calls. It induces flexibility and offers a wide range of VoIP features that can take your business communication to the next level.
But for that, you need to invest in robust SIP trunking services offered by providers in the buyer’s guide above after a careful comparison of their features, reviews, and pricing. Here, you must note that the journey of choosing a cheap SIP trunk provider is extensively tiring.
For an easier and wiser choice, choose the best SIP trunking service provider–CallHippo. Our efficient customer support, HD call quality, zero latency, and edgy SIP trunking features will leave you surprised and satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many calls can a SIP Trunk handle?
The number of calls a SIP trunk can handle varies with US SIP trunk providers, but usually, it can manage at least 20 simultaneous calls.
2. What is required for a SIP Trunk?
To use a SIP trunking service, you just need a stable internet connection, a SIP-enabled network configuration, a bandwidth speed of a minimum of 27 kbps per call, and an IP-enabled PBX system or a SIP Gateway.
3. How does the SIP protocol work?
Regardless of whether the communication happens through instant chat, VoIP voice call, or video meetings, an SIP protocol works by the initiation, maintenance, and termination of real-time IP communication.
4. How do I order a SIP trunk?
To order a new SIP trunk, you just need to log in to your PBX system’s online portal, select a new trunk, add a new phone number, and finally register the SIP trunk.
Supriya Bajaj is a senior content developer with immense experience in the VoIP telephony domain. With a deep knowledge of VoIP systems and emerging technologies in the field, she provides insightful and targeted content. Known for simplifying complex topics and her thought-leadership articles, Supriya delivers actionable content for both technical and non-technical audiences.
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