Best Grasshopper Alternatives in 2026
By Graham Thomson · Updated October 13, 2026
Short answer
Short answer: Grasshopper adds a business number to your existing cell — $18/mo billed monthly ($14/mo billed annually) on True Solo, with call recording and AI call summaries starting on Solo Plus and an AI receptionist available as a Smith.ai add-on from $95/mo. VeraDial includes a 24/7 AI receptionist that answers your calls and texts, STIR/SHAKEN A-level verified caller ID, and call recording from $14.99/mo per line.
About 60 seconds · no signup · no install
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system that adds a business number to the phone you already carry, with extensions, texting, and voicemail transcription. Call recording, IVR, and AI call summaries start on its Solo Plus plan, and its AI receptionist is a Smith.ai add-on. Here are alternatives that build the AI receptionist into the line.
Common Pain Points
Why people switch from Grasshopper
Rides on your cell plan by default
Grasshopper says it primarily uses your cell provider’s network for calls, with Wi-Fi and VoIP calling available but not the default, and you still need a carrier plan for your phone.
AI is an add-on, not the line itself
Grasshopper’s AI call summaries and call sentiment start on Solo Plus, and its AI receptionist comes through a Smith.ai partnership starting at $95/mo. VeraDial includes the AI receptionist in every plan.
Key features start on the second tier
True Solo is $18/mo billed monthly ($14/mo billed annually) for one user and one extension. Call recording, IVR, and simultaneous call handling start on Solo Plus at $32/mo ($25/mo billed annually).
Best for / Not for
When a Grasshopper alternative is the right fit — and when it is not
Best for
- Solopreneurs who want AI calling instead of basic call forwarding
- A business number signed with STIR/SHAKEN A-level attestation
- Call recording included rather than locked behind a higher tier
- Lower monthly cost with materially more capability
Not for
- Buyers who specifically want Grasshopper’s familiar UI and auto-attendant flow
- Multi-extension phone-tree setups that already work on Grasshopper
- Operators who don’t need any AI features or verified caller ID
- Workflows tied to GoTo’s ecosystem and integrations
Evaluation Criteria
What to look for in a Grasshopper alternative
Call quality & verification
Does the provider use dedicated VoIP infrastructure? Do calls carry STIR/SHAKEN A-level attestation, the strongest identity signal carriers use when labelling calls?
AI & automation
Can the platform make calls on your behalf, or does it only transcribe after the fact? AI that acts is fundamentally different from AI that listens.
Caller ID control
Can you choose what number the recipient sees? For business calling, presenting the right number to the right contact builds trust and professionalism.
Pricing transparency
Watch for per-seat pricing that adds up, required add-ons for basic features like call recording, and long-term contracts. Know the total cost before committing.
Top Picks
The 6 best Grasshopper alternatives
VeraDial
Our PickBusiness line with a 24/7 AI receptionist, verified caller ID, and call recording.
Best for: Solopreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners who want a verified business number with an AI receptionist that answers calls and texts — plus AI that can make calls on their behalf.
Strengths
- Vera answers inbound calls and texts 24/7: 100 receptionist minutes (about 170 calls) on Lite, 300 receptionist minutes (about 500 calls) on Plus
- AI agent makes outbound calls for you with full transcripts (Vera Plus and Vera Business)
- Verified caller ID — register an existing number as your outbound ID (B-level attestation) or use a VeraDial number with A-level attestation
- STIR/SHAKEN A-level attestation on VeraDial numbers; B-level attestation when you verify an existing outbound caller ID
- Call recording on any call, plus voicemail transcription
- Shared business lines with 1 teammate on Vera Plus or up to 3 on Vera Business, included in the plan
Limitations
- Team access requires Vera Plus or Vera Business; no built-in CRM
- No video conferencing or team messaging
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)
Modern team phone system, formerly OpenPhone, with shared numbers and built-in CRM.
Best for: Small teams that need shared numbers, a built-in CRM, and collaborative inboxes.
Strengths
- Shared phone numbers across team members
- Built-in CRM with contact management
- AI call summaries and transcription (Business and Scale plans)
- Clean, modern interface
Limitations
- Per-seat pricing adds up quickly for teams
- No autonomous outbound AI — Sona answers inbound (10 calls/mo included), it doesn’t place calls
- Outbound caller ID limited to numbers on your Quo account
Google Voice
Free second phone number from Google for calling, texting, and voicemail.
Best for: People who want a free second number within the Google ecosystem for personal or light business use.
Strengths
- Free for personal use
- Deep Google ecosystem integration (Calendar, Meet)
- Works across phone, web, and desktop
- Voicemail transcription included
Limitations
- Published plans don’t advertise an AI receptionist or AI that places calls
- Free plan records incoming calls only; outbound recording needs a paid plan
- Requires a Google account
- Free plan is US-only
Sideline
Personal second phone number app with carrier-network calling and web messaging.
Best for: Individuals who want a simple second line without advanced features.
Strengths
- Simple, focused second number experience
- Unlimited calling, SMS, MMS, and group messaging (terms apply)
- Voicemail transcription, auto-replies, and web messaging
- Team Sharing for up to 5 members on one subscription
Limitations
- No AI receptionist or AI calling advertised
- Call recording on iPhone 15 or newer only, not Android
- Positioned for personal rather than business use
Dialpad
Enterprise communication platform with AI transcription and contact center features.
Best for: Scaling teams and contact centers that need AI coaching, sentiment analysis, and enterprise-grade telephony.
Strengths
- Strong AI — real-time transcription, coaching, sentiment analysis
- Video conferencing included
- Contact center capabilities
- Good integrations ecosystem
Limitations
- Overkill for solopreneurs — enterprise-focused features
- Per-seat pricing with admin setup required
- Outbound caller ID limited to numbers on your Dialpad account
- AI Agents answer inbound calls (priced separately); autonomous outbound AI calling isn’t advertised
RingCentral
Full unified communications suite with phone, video, messaging, and fax.
Best for: Mid-market and enterprise organisations that need an all-in-one UCaaS platform with extensive integrations.
Strengths
- Comprehensive — phone, video, messaging, fax in one platform
- Hundreds of integrations (Salesforce, Slack, etc.)
- AI call notes and meeting summaries
- Established market leader with reliability track record
Limitations
- Per-user pricing, with AI Receptionist sold as an add-on
- Admin portal built for multi-user deployments
- More platform than most individual users need
- Outbound caller ID limited to numbers on your RingCentral account
Quick Recommendations
Which Grasshopper alternative is right for you?
Solo professional who wants AI + verified calling
VeraDial
A verified line with the AI receptionist included, call recording, and outbound AI calls on Vera Plus and Business, from $14.99/mo.
Small team needing shared numbers
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)
Modern team phone with CRM, shared numbers, and AI summaries.
Free personal second number
Google Voice
Free tier covers basic calling and texting within the Google ecosystem.
Full business phone system
RingCentral
If you need video, messaging, fax, and phone in one platform, RingCentral is the market leader.
FAQ
Grasshopper alternatives, answered
What’s the cheapest Grasshopper alternative with real VoIP?
VeraDial from $14.99/mo per line (Vera Lite) includes dedicated VoIP infrastructure, 100 AI-receptionist minutes (about 170 calls), 150 calling minutes, STIR/SHAKEN A-level attestation, voicemail transcription, business SMS, and call recording. Vera Plus ($29.99/mo) includes 300 receptionist minutes (about 500 calls), 300 calling minutes, outbound AI calling, and live translation.
Does Grasshopper have AI calling?
Partly. Grasshopper’s published plans list AI call summaries and AI call sentiment on Solo Plus and Small Business, AI voicemail sentiment on every plan, and AI or live receptionists through its Smith.ai partnership (AI receptionist from $95/month). Its published plans don’t include an AI agent that places outbound calls for you. VeraDial includes a 24/7 AI receptionist in every plan, and Vera Plus and Business add goal-based outbound AI calls.
Will switching to VeraDial stop my calls showing as Spam Likely?
No provider can guarantee that. VeraDial signs calls from its numbers with STIR/SHAKEN A-level attestation, the strongest attestation level, but the receiving carrier decides how a call is displayed and also weighs signals such as call patterns and complaints.
Can I keep my Grasshopper number when I switch?
Usually, yes. Most US and Canadian business numbers can be ported between providers, and VeraDial transfers eligible US and Canadian numbers with no VeraDial transfer fee. We handle each transfer personally and confirm the steps and timing for your number, since carrier timing varies. Keep your Grasshopper service active until the transfer completes: calls keep ringing on the old service until cutover, though a brief interruption is possible.
Is OpenPhone or VeraDial the better Grasshopper alternative for solo use?
Depends on what you actually need. OpenPhone is built for teams — shared numbers, threaded inboxes, built-in CRM — and prices from $15/user/mo billed annually ($19 month-to-month). For a solo operator who wants an AI receptionist and a verified outbound line, VeraDial at $14.99/mo per line is the closer match — about the price of a single annual-billed Quo seat, but with a 24/7 AI receptionist included. If you eventually plan to bring on collaborators who share a phone inbox, OpenPhone is the more natural growth path.
Try the #1 Pick
An AI receptionist that gets results.
VeraDial gives you a 24/7 AI receptionist that answers calls and texts, verified caller ID, call recording, and transcription — starting at $14.99/mo with a 7-day free trial.
Hear Vera in action.
Play a short sample call, follow the transcript, and move into a personalized live demo when you're ready.
Information based on publicly available data as of October 2026. Pricing and features may change. We recommend verifying current details on each provider's website.