Published : May 31, 2023Like any other institution, schools, and colleges also require phone systems to manage daily operations. The VoIP phone system helps manage administrative tasks more efficiently and facilitates communication logs with staff, students, and parents.
Not only that, but it also controls access to school premises and ensures school safety from intruders or trespassers. Over 1/3rd of businesses use VoIP phone systems, including schools and other organizations.
While there are several school phone systems, a voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) school phone system is best suited to serve its needs. In this post, we will learn more about VoIP solutions for schools, their advantages, the best phone systems for schools, and factors to consider while choosing a private school VoIP.
How Does A VoIP Solutions For School Work?
Educational systems have unique communication needs that are best served by newer systems that run on an internet connection. Unlike conventional landlines, VoIP phone systems consist of interconnected multiple phone lines, making it easy for administrative staff members to make calls. In fact, it can be easily used on any device, including mobile devices, desk phones, etc.
Hosted PBX and premise-based PBX are two types of VoIP systems. Hosted PBX runs on a cloud server and eliminates the need for on-site servers and hardware maintenance. A premise-based PBX includes providing and installing servers at business premises or schools.
For instance, you might consider flatiron school reviews to understand how educational institutions are adopting advanced communication systems. By examining such case studies, other educational institutions consider similar transitions of VoIP system.
Let us understand why.
"Every school needs a VoIP phone system to streamline processes. You can compare different school phone systems and select the one that best suits your requirements. "
Top 13 VoIP Phone Systems For Schools
Here are some of the best voip solutions for schools:
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Aircall | Unlimited outbound calls 50+ Integrations and API access Access to API developer support Call recording and monitoring | Essentials- $30/user Professional – $50/user Custom Plan | |
| Openphone | Call Recording Call Conference Call Routing Auto-attendant | Standard: $13 Premium: $20 Enterprise: Price on request | |
| RingCentral | Business phone or toll-free numbers Unlimited calling within the US and Canada Business SMS IVR | Core: $20 Advanced: $25 Ultra: $35 | |
| Dialpad | Text, audio, and video calling Speech analytics Caller ID Mobile app and desktop app IVR systems | Standard: $15 Pro: $25 Enterprise: Contact sales | |
| 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 | |
| GoTo Connect | Team chat Unlimited call queues Reporting & analytics Audio conferencing | Basic – $27.00 /month Standard – $32.00 /month Premium – $43.00 /month | |
| 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 | |
| ooma | 24/7 customer service Offers more than 35 calling features Music on hold Call recording | Essentials Plan: $19.95 Pro Plan: $24.95 Pro Plus Plan: $29.95 |
1. CallHippo
CallHippo is one of the most popular VoIP providers famous for offering voip solutions for schools. Its installation process doesn’t take more than three minutes. All you need to do is buy phone numbers, add users, and make calls.
Features
- Voice broadcasting
- Call queuing
- Call transfer
- Option of choosing from 50+ countries’ phone services
CallHippo Pros and Cons
- Ease of use and seamless transition from an older phone system
- Calls are easily connected and don’t end up in spam folders
- Dashboards provide real-time analytics of calls
- Slow customer support is a drawback of CallHippo
- At times, the call connection quality is poor
Pricing
CallHippo has four pricing categories: Basic, Bronze, Silver, and Platinum.
- Basic: Free
- Bronze: $16 per user per month
- Silver: $24 per user per month
- Platinum: $40 per user per month
2. Nextiva
Nextiva is an all-in-one phone system that provides various functionalities such as social media management, contact center, and reputation management. What’s more, Nextiva also provides sales and marketing functionalities, making it a go-to platform for both small and large enterprises.
Features
- Mobileapp
- Conference calling
- Collaboration tool
- Call analytics
Nextiva Pros and Cons
- Create workflows on different channels clients use to make calls
- Assign other flows during different times of school hours
- The platform can be accessed either from the desktop or mobile app
- Slow customer support service and frequent glitches
- At times, the incoming calls feature stops working
Pricing
Nextiva has three pricing plans for its VoIP contact center: Essential, Professional, and Enterprise.
- Essential: Starts from $23.95 per user per month
- Professional: Starts from $27.95 per user per month
- Enterprise: Starts from $37.95 per user per month
You May Also Read : The 10+ Best VoIP Apps for Businesses in 2023
3. Aircall
Aircall is a cloud-based VoIP call center solution that provides customized tools depending on the industry and size of your business.
Aircall is considered among the most preferred platforms for schools due to the availability of tools such as call distribution, the flexibility of organizing workflows, viewing students’ academic history, and delivering personalized learning experiences to students and staff.
Features
- Call monitoring
- Business hours
- IVR
- Integrations with multiple apps
Aircall Pros and Cons
- Allows you to host conference calls with a group of five people for better collaboration
- Simple and user-friendly interface for better communication
- Effective communication tools for seamless experience
- At times, users encounter difficulties such as calls not logging or not being able to hear callers
- Aircall’s mobile app has limited functionality compared to its desktop version
Pricing
Aircall has three pricing models: Essentials, Professional, and Custom.
- Essentials: $40 per month
- Professional: $70 per month
- Custom: Get in touch with Aircall’s sales team directly
4. OpenPhone
OpenPhone is another all-in-one VoIP phone system that boasts an integrated CRM tool. It acts as a database whereby you can access the audio storage to get recording archives when schools require it to submit to the central authorities. Moreover, OpenPhone allows teams to simultaneously use a single number to call and text.
Features
- Call verification
- Round robin
- Call recording
- Number management
Openphone Pros and Cons
- User-friendly and well-organized interface
- Transparent pricing model
- Quick customer support
- OpenPhone can be difficult to adapt owing to slow software upgrades
- The porting process for toll-free numbers is quite slow
Pricing
OpenPhone has three pricing plans: Standard, Premium, and Enterprise.
- Standard: $17 per user per month
- Premium: $25 per user per month
- Enterprise: Contact OpenPhone’s sales team directly
5. RingCentral
RingCentral is a cloud-based contact center platform enabling you to work even when you are moving. The platform can be accessed from your mobile phone or desktop computer. It is also integrated with well-known applications such as Salesforce, Google, and Microsoft.
Features
- Call screening
- Intercom
- Shared lines
- Visual voicemails
Ringcentral Pros and Cons
- User-friendly interface with easy navigation
- Helps easily forward messages or emails to other users
- Records call automatically and review them anytime
- Call settings may sometimes appear complicated, particularly when a call is rejected
- Slow customer service
Pricing
RingCentral has four pricing models: Essentials, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate. You can contact RingCentral’s sales team directly to buy any of these plans.
6. Dialpad
Dialpad is an AI-powered VoIP phone system that enables businesses to communicate with their clients through multiple digital channels and analyze customer behavior using its AI-powered business intelligence tool. It also provides a unified workspace for teams to interact, message, and support customers.
Features
- Digital customer engagement
- Real-time speech analytics
- HD calls
- Toll-free numbers
Dialpad Pros and Cons
- Users can review call recordings along with their transcripts and easily transfer calls between agents
- Allows users to review call histories and texts without losing any information from previous interactions
- Helps create and review reports in real-time
- When there are too many users, Dialpad can be slow to load
- Its features are limited compared to other similar platforms
Pricing
Dialpad has three pricing plans: Standard, Pro, and Enterprise.
- Standard: $23 per user per month
- Pro: $35 per user per month
- Enterprise: Contact Dialpad’s sales team directly to request a quote
7. Vonage
Consider Vonage if you are looking for a VoIP phone system for your school that helps team members operate virtually. Vonage is an all-in-one communications platform that helps you scale your contact center by providing cloud-based solutions to scale rapidly.
Features
- Desktop app
- Video conferencing
- Business inbox
- Virtual receptionist
Vonage Pros and Cons
- Simple interface, easy integration with other devices, and convenience of using the mobile app
- It helps you create images, GIFs, and videos within users’ chats
- Robust API service
- Often, calls made through Vonage are marked as spam and difficult to remove from the blacklist
- The setup process is complicated and can take a lot of time
Pricing
Vonage has three pricing plans: Mobile, Premium, and Advanced.
- Mobile: $19.99 per month
- Premium: $29.99 per month
- Advanced: $39.99 per month.
You May Also Read : 12 VoIP Advantages and Disadvantages You Need To Know
8. GoTo Connect
GoTo Connect is a unified communications tool that provides VoIP calling solutions along with a host of other features that helps remote and hybrid teams operate efficiently. With GoTo Connect, companies can build the right workflows to route calls to the best agents, speed up outbound dialing, and switch seamlessly between voice calls, SMS, chat, and social media.
Features
- Call queuing
- Virtual meetings
- Dial Plan Editor
- Messaging
Go To Connect Pros and Cons
- Helps edit and create adjustments quickly, track phone calls, and listen to all calls made during the day
- Allows users to easily switch between numbers while working with different clients
- Compatible across all devices
- The mobile admin interface needs improvement
- Updates take place too frequently
Pricing
GoTo Connect has two pricing plans: Basic and Standard.
- Basic: Starts from $27 per user per month
- Standard: Starts from $32 per user per month
9. 8X8
8X8 Contact Center is another all-in-one contact center software that provides VoIP calling among its key products. From video conferencing to team chat to text messaging, 8X8 has covered everything. It also empowers customers to respond instantly to their queries through the self-service portal.
Features
- Omnichannel routing
- Agent workspace
- Analytics
- Self-service
8X8 Pros and Cons
- 8X8 Contact Center has a simple yet comprehensive interface that makes finding things quite easy
- Helps easily customize agent availability, grouping, and call queuing
- Reporting systems of 8×8 are easy to use
- Lacks an API feature, making it difficult to onboard or remove users
- Searching for recorded calls is a difficult and time-consuming process
Pricing
8X8 Contact Center has three pricing plans: X6, X7, and X8.
- X6: $85 per user per month
- X7: $110 per user per month
- X8: $140 per user per month
10. Ooma
Ooma Office is a versatile VoIP contact center platform that provides calling services for various business needs. Whether a small business or an established enterprise, Ooma Office caters to all your contact center requirements. Moreover, with Ooma, you can port your existing phone numbers to its platform, saving costs.
Features
- CRM integration
- Call queuing
- Ring groups
- Video conferencing
Ooma Pros and Cons
- Helps team members make and receive calls independently thanks to direct phone lines
- A wide range of features are available at affordable prices
- Allows businesses to change account settings from the mobile app itself
- Ooma Office makes it difficult to delete multiple messages at a time
- Slow customer service leads to bad experience
Pricing
Ooma Office has three pricing plans: Essentials, Pro, and Pro Plus.
- Essentials: $19.95 per user per month
- Pro: $24.95 per user per month
- Pro Plus: $29.95 per user per month
11. Freshcaller
Freshcaller is one of the most cost-effective phone systems for schools and has a wide range of features to enhance customer service. It integrates with over 20+ third-party applications, including Zoho CRM, Salesforce, and HubSpot, to bring all your customer information to one place.
Features
- Multi-level IVR
- Call routing
- Call recording
- Shared lines
Freshcaller Pros and Cons
- Provides comprehensive ticketing features to track queries from creation to resolution
- Agents can work collaboratively by sharing notes and adding comments
- Agents get a unified timeline of all conversations with a customer across channels
- Integration with third-party tools is limited
- Administrative functions have a more complex learning curve
Pricing
Freshcaller has four pricing plans: Free, Growth, Pro, and Enterprise.
- Free: $0 per user per month
- Growth: $15 per user per month
- Pro: $39 per user per month
- Enterprise: $69 per user per month
12. 3CX
3CX is an all-in-one school phone system that allows you to connect with students and parents over the phone, video conferencing, and live chat. What’s more, you can connect and collaborate with your team. Plus, you can choose between cloud-based and self-hosted systems based on your preferences.
Features
- Holiday and business hour routing
- WhatsApp Business Integration
- Ring group and welcome message
- Call queues
3CX Pros and Cons
- It can be deployed on-premise, in the cloud via hosting partners, or in a hybrid model
- 3CX has extensive documentation and support availability across different regions
- You can configure the 3CX softphone to support BYOD environments
- Calls can be choppy at times, affecting communications
- There can be incompatibilities between 3CX and some third-party software
Pricing
3CX offers four plans: Free, Small Business, Professional, and Enterprise.
- Free: $0 forever (for up to 10 users)
- Small Business: $175 annually
- Professional: $145 annually
- Enterprise: $180 annually
13. DialerHQ
DialerHQ is a popular VoIP solution for schools thanks to its advanced features at nominal costs. Its user-friendly interface allows you to get started instantly with minimal training. Its text messaging capabilities let you update parents about their kids’ performance and other important information.
Features
- Voicemail
- SMS
- Call reminder
- Feedback for calls
DialerHQ Pros and Cons
- Set up holiday routing to route calls during vacation
- Integrate with 100+ tools to create better call workflows
- Access voicemail to see who called after working hours
- The mobile app could be improved
- It has basic real-time analytics and lacks more advanced reporting features
Pricing
DialerHQ offers four plans: Basic, Bronze, Silver, and Platinum
- Basic: $0 per user per month
- Bronze: $7.99 per user per month
- Silver: $11.99 per user per month
- Platinum: $19.99 per user per month
Importance Of Having A School Phone System
Studies have shown that adopting a VoIP solution has helped businesses save over 90% on international calls and over 75% on operational costs. In addition, the global market for VoIP services is expected to grow to $102.5 billion by 2026.
Here are a few reasons to consider implementing a VoIP phone system for schools.
1. Affordably Priced
VoIP phones offer highly affordable pricing plans, usually cheaper than conventional landlines. Many platforms boast forever-free plans and provide international calling at rates much lower than telecom networks.
2. Better Productivity
Unlike traditional phone systems, VoIP systems are accompanied by various advanced functionalities. For instance, you can run multiple calls on the same network and improve productivity. It acts as an audio storage and allows call routing, text messaging, etc.
3. Flexible
Many schools are adopting VoIP solutions for their ability to automate various administrative functions. You can easily connect the school system to a user-friendly handset and access it virtually from anywhere with the help of a fiber connection.
4. Highly Secure
VoIP security privileges like two-factor authentication ensure protection from data security breaches, resulting in student safety.
You May Also Read : Top 15 IP Phones for Business: Pricing, Features and Review
How To Choose The Right VoIP Phone System For Schools?
You need to consider several factors while choosing the best VoIP system for your school. Let us have a look at some of them.
1. Features
Ensure that the VoIP system you choose has all the essential features, such as call routing, call forwarding, call recording, voicemail, auto broadcasting, etc.
2. Pricing
Again, price plays a crucial role in choosing a phone system that suits your needs. Include how much funds to allocate in your budget process and compare the subscription plans across all platforms.
3. Customer Service
The software should ideally provide 24/7 customer support or have quick response times while handling inquiries.
4. Security
Before buying a VoIP tool, make sure to check the security and encryption measures added to it. This prevents unauthorized access and keeps user data safe.
5. Interface
The VoIP solution should have an easy to use interface so that it can be easily adapted by first-time users. Besides, the learning curve shouldn’t be high.
Wrap Up
Today, VoIP systems have become a necessity for educational institutions. They lead to effective communication among staff and students and ensure high data protection.
VoIP phone solutions let you send and receive calls and texts and get in touch with people over different communication channels, all from the comfort of your desktop. Choose a VoIP solution that works best for your organization and increases your staff productivity efficiently.
FAQs
1. Do schools use VoIP phones?
Yes, schools use VoIP phone systems to effectively communicate with staff, students, and parents, handle administrative tasks, and ensure protection from on-campus intruders and other safety-related concerns.
2. Is there a free VoIP service?
There are various VoIP solutions for schools that offer a forever-free pricing plan. One such platform is CallHippo, which boasts a Basic Plan that is completely free of cost and includes features like call forwarding, voicemail, click-to-dial, global connect, and text messaging.
3. How much does a school phone system cost?
The cost of a school phone system depends upon the platform you choose and its features. While plans with basic VoIP calling tools are either free or affordable, those with advanced features are priced higher.
4. What are the features to consider when choosing a school phone system?
A good school phone system must have essential features such as call forwarding, call routing, video conferencing, automated group SMS, etc.
Updated : September 18, 2024
Urmi Shah is a content writer who brings business phone systems to life by showcasing their real-world advantages. Her expertise lies in showcasing how VoIP and virtual phone solutions address common communication challenges. Urmi’s writing offers valuable guidance on using these technologies for business efficiency and growth.
Subscribe to our newsletter & never miss our latest news and promotions.
+24K people have already subscribed