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iPlum is the best Google Voice alternative for business.
And, in this iPlum vs. Google Voice comparison, we’ll explain in detail. For starters, here are some unique iPlum features:
- Mobile app and web calling
- Business hours with Do-Not-Disturb
- Phone tree with auto-attendant and extensions
- True HIPAA compliance
Getting started with iPlum is straightforward. You can either get a new number or port an existing one to experience iPlum’s feature suite.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into the iPlum vs. Google Voice comparison.
iPlum vs. Google Voice—What Do Users Say?
iPlum and Google Voice have enough online customer reviews that you can use to help you understand what to expect from each provider.
Google Voice Reviews
Some Google Voice users report issues, including spam calls, dropped calls, and limited SMS features.
❌ Spam and robocalls
"Within a few days of getting a Google Voice through a company I work with, I was getting 2 to 4 spam calls/voicemails a week, which was extremely annoying." —K.M., Capterra
❌ SMS limitations for Canada
"Be aware—CANADIAN users—Google Voice doesn't support SMS or text-based features for Canadian phone numbers... we had to move to a competing service." —Ryan T., Capterra
❌ Missed or dropped calls
"Sometimes calls won't come through until after the caller hangs up." —Rebecca S., Capterra
❌ App glitches on iOS
"The Google Voice app on iOS can be a bit buggy at times." —Ryan S., Capterra
❌ Delayed or confusing caller ID
"The name prompt when receiving a call... most of the time callers think it is my voicemail and hang up." —Caitlyn S., Capterra
❌ Call forwarding confusion
"Sometimes it's hard to tell when a call is forwarded to your cell from Google Voice." —Jeff P., Capterra
Still, some love the fact that Google Voice is easy to use.
✔ Easy to use
"It was easy to set up and use." —Lenecca M., Capterra
✔ Works across devices
"I like that it's available on so many platforms (Android, iOS, PC, etc.)" —Ryan S., Capterra
iPlum Reviews
iPlum stands out for its reliable customer service, easy number porting, and innovative features, such as the phone tree.
✔ HIPAA-compliant communication
"I love that it is HIPAA compliant and user-friendly." —Ariyon F., G2
✔ Simple number porting
"Transferring my number was easy. The support team walked me through everything—even text setup." — NL, Trustpilot
✔ Time-saving phone tree
"The phone tree is my favorite, it has saved us time having the call automatically directed to the right place."—Taylor B., G2
✔ Great value for a second line
"Needed a separate business line. iPlum works great and the price is right."— Arash Eskandari, Trustpilot
✔ All-in-one messaging hub
"Love having everything (text, voice, and fax) all in one spot." —Verified User, G2
✔ Responsive technical support
"The porting was super simple and quick. Their technical support is also very quick to respond."—Verified User, G2
✔ Excellent customer service
"They helped me switch from Skype and even fixed a billing issue fast." — David Campbell, Trustpilot
✔ Shared line for teams
"Being able to share a single number across my staff has made things so much easier." — Verified User, Trustpilot
⚠️Slight learning curve
"It's been a little difficult to set up, but overall, it has completed the job we've wanted it for." —Taylor B., G2
It is important to mention that iPlum offers responsive customer service, and you can be sure to get help whenever you need it.
iPlum vs. Google Voice—What to Expect
iPlum and Google Voice are good phone systems. However, there are things that you need to know to help you decide which makes a better pick for your business.
Let’s start with a comparison table.
Business-Grade Calling Experience
A reliable business line should work wherever you are, whether you're in the office, on the road, or dealing with a weak signal. Below is a look at what iPlum and Google Voice offer.
Google Voice
Google Voice operates entirely over the Internet.
Therefore, you need a stable Wi-Fi or mobile data connection to make or receive calls.
And, based on user reviews, Google Voice’s call quality often drops on weak networks. The app also experiences occasional delays in ringing or displaying call notifications, as per the user reviews we came across.
Sure, for basic or casual use, Google Voice can do the job. However, it may not be sufficient for a business that is keen on maintaining consistent call quality and availability.
iPlum
iPlum offers two calling modes: Wi-Fi/data or voice network.
That means you can switch to cellular calling if the internet is unstable, maintaining high call quality.
You can also customize your caller ID with a business name and set specific ring rules during and outside business hours. The app supports voicemail, call logs, and call routing, all in one place.
And, if you miss a call, you can trigger auto-replies or route it to voicemail with transcription. You can also record calls if needed. One more thing—iPlum supports mobile app and web calling.
Learn more about the iPlum cloud phone system
Auto-Attendant with Extensions
Auto-attendants enable your business to present a professional image to clients. Below is an overview of how iPlum and Google Voice handle this.
Google Voice
Google Voice offers a basic phone tree, but only through the Standard and Premier plans, both of which require a paid Google Workspace account.
For solo users or small businesses not using Workspace, this means incurring additional costs. In addition, Google Voice's auto attendant is relatively limited.
For instance, it doesn’t allow you to route calls by time of day or assign different greetings for business hours and weekends. If your call flow requires regular updates or detailed routing, Google Voice likely won’t meet those needs.
iPlum
iPlum offers a built-in auto-attendant on all plans. Plus, you can set up a custom greeting and give callers options, such as “press 1 for scheduling” or “press 2 for billing.”
In addition, each option can route to a different number, voicemail, or virtual extension. You can also adjust routing based on business hours, create separate menus for different days, and record multiple greetings.
The best part is that iPlum allows you to manage everything through the app or web dashboard.
Furthermore, you can enable a shared number, allowing multiple team members to answer and manage calls from a single business number.
The feature is ideal for shared front desks or rotating support staff.
Texting That Works for Business
Business texting involves more than just sending and receiving messages. You also need delivery confirmation, message control, and tools to manage client communication at scale.
Let's see what iPlum and Google Voice offer when it comes to business texting.
Google Voice
Google Voice offers basic SMS. That means you can send and receive one-on-one messages. However, Google Voice users report that group texting is inconsistent.
Furthermore, you can't schedule a message or set auto-replies. Therefore, if a client replies outside of business hours, they may not receive a response until you manually review it.
Moreover, Google Voice also doesn't allow A2P verified texting, which many platforms require for delivery.
Thus, if you're sending appointment reminders or marketing updates, those messages may be blocked or flagged as spam. Besides, you can't add branding to messages, which limits Google Voice's functionality as a business texting tool.
iPlum
iPlum offers a broad suite of business texting features.
With iPlum, you can schedule texts, send group messages, and use templates for standard replies. Furthermore, each message shows its delivery status.
And, yes, iPlum allows you to set auto-responses for off-hours or missed messages. What's more, verified A2P messaging is available with iPlum, ensuring your texts reach clients. This is particularly important when sending links, reminders, or sensitive updates.
In addition, you can assign texting permissions across multiple extensions and manage conversations through the app or web portal.
And because all communication is private and secure, iPlum allows you to use texting as a dependable business channel.
Moreover, combined with shared texting permissions and a shared business number, teams can manage client communication as a group without needing to switch devices or accounts.
Learn more about iPlum’s texting compliance
True HIPAA and Compliance Support
When your work involves protected information—like patient health records or financial data—you need a phone system that meets strict compliance requirements. Luckily, iPlum offers HIPAA compliance out of the box. Google Voice can also be HIPAA compliant, but there are a few key considerations to be aware of.
Google Voice
Google Voice isn’t natively HIPAA compliant. However, you can configure it for HIPAA compliance, but only under the Standard or Premier Google Voice plans, which require a paid Google Workspace account.
Plus, you must go through the process of signing a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with Google. Again, this means more costs and more steps, especially for solo providers or small clinics that aren’t already using Google Workspace.
iPlum
iPlum is HIPAA compliant and comes with a BAA for any user who needs one.
While you need a HIPAA plan, it is significantly more affordable than Google Voice
The package includes encrypted calls, texts, and voicemail. iPlum also meets the requirements of HITECH, Dodd-Frank, and the Consumer Protection Acts. In addition, you can enable access controls, track activity through audit logs, and manage retention policies for sensitive communications.
Learn more about iPlum HIPAA compliance
Data Privacy and No Ads
Phone systems shouldn't trade privacy for convenience. If you're running a business, your communications and client data must remain private. Here's what iPlum and Google Voice offer.
Google Voice
Google Voice is part of the larger Google ecosystem.
That means your activity may be logged and linked to other services, such as Gmail or Chrome. While the platform doesn't display ads within the app, the data it collects can be used to inform Google's advertising systems. And, the system doesn't provide a way to turn this off or review how data is used.
For personal use, this may not be a concern. However, for business, it creates real concerns, especially when managing client information.
iPlum
iPlum does not use your communication data for advertising or profiling purposes. In addition, no part of your call history, text activity, or voicemail is shared or repurposed.
The company does not analyze message content or link activity with outside apps. Furthermore, all data is encrypted and stored in secure cloud servers.
Most importantly, you have complete control over what to keep, archive, or delete, which protects your business and your clients.
iPlum vs. Google Voice—Pricing
iPlum and Google Voice services are packaged differently, as explained in the sections below.
How Much Does iPlum Cost?
iPlum costs $8.99 to $19.99 per user per month, depending on your plan, as follows
Standard Plan – $8.99/user/month
Includes mobile app calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada, voicemail, auto-replies, business hours, and phone tree.
Professional – $14.99/user/month
This plan builds upon the Standard plan, offering web-based calling and texting, secure encrypted texting, voicemail transcription, group and broadcast messaging, text archiving, and HIPAA compliance with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for healthcare.
Premium – $19.99/user/month
Offers everything in the Professional plan, plus call recording and compliance features for finance, insurance, legal, sales, and support sectors.
How Much Does Google Voice Cost?
Google Voice ranges from $10 to $30 per user per month, depending on your plan, as follows:
Starter Plan – $10/user/month
Includes calling and texting in the U.S., voicemail transcription, Google Meet, and Calendar integration.
Standard Plan – $20/user/month
This package adds support for ring groups, desk phone compatibility, and an auto-attendant.
Premier Plan – $30/user/month
The package offers everything in the Standard plan, plus international location support and advanced reporting.
iPlum vs. Google Voice—Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is the Difference Between Google Voice and iPlum?
While the two platforms overlap in some capabilities, such as SMS and calling, iPlum pushes the envelope with dual call reliability, true HIPAA compliance, secure texting, and a collection of over 50 features.
Is There Something Better Than Google Voice?
Yes, there are other services better than Google Voice. iPlum, for instance, offers voice-network calling, secure business texting, auto-attendant, HIPAA compliance, and better control without bending your budget.
What Are the Disadvantages of Google Voice?
According to user reviews, Google Voice's disadvantages include dropped calls on weak networks, limited texting features, a lack of HIPAA compliance by default, basic routing, and poor customer service.
How to Port/Transfer Your Number to iPlum
Porting your number to iPlum is easy and user-friendly. Watch the video below for a detailed guide on how to transfer or port your number into iPlum.
Port Your Exisiting Number to iPlum
Why Choose iPlum Over Google Voice
iPlum is a solid alternative to Google Voice if you're looking for a phone system built for business, not just casual use.
It delivers more control, better call reliability, and secure business texting.
And, unlike Google Voice, iPlum doesn't require bundling with outside services to access features like auto-attendants or HIPAA compliance.
iPlum also includes features built for teams, such as a shared number, auto-attendants, and flexible call handling.
Plus, you get built-in privacy, true regulatory support, and a wide range of professional tools at a lower cost.
If you'd like to experience what iPlum can do, simply click the button below to get started.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes and may not reflect the most current features or capabilities of the products or companies mentioned. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please refer to the official sources of each company.
