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In this iPlum vs. OpenPhone guide, we look at how the two business phone systems' calling and texting capabilities compare.
Before we get into the details, here are some of iPlum’s standout features:
- Dual call reliability to allow you to switch between Wi-Fi and mobile networks for better call quality.
- Robust phone tree with extensions to route callers to the right department or person automatically.
- Mobile app and web calling to make and receive calls from any device, anywhere.
- Secure texting to protect sensitive messages with end-to-end encryption.
- Business hours with Do-Not-Disturb to send calls to voicemail after hours and avoid interruptions.
We’ll start this comparison by going over what customers say about the providers.
iPlum vs. OpenPhone—What Do Users Say?
iPlum and OpenPhone reviews vary on platforms like G2, Trustpilot, and Capterra. Below is a snapshot of some customer feedback.
OpenPhone Reviews
OpenPhone gets praise for its ease of use and simple setup. However, many users report issues with app reliability, call quality, and limited customization, especially when using the mobile app.
❌ App bugs and audio issues
"Occasionally, the app on my phone will act buggy. I've had times where I can hear them but they can't hear me." — Daniel H., G2
❌ Unreliable mobile notifications
"The Android and iOS apps aren’t always reliable for ringing calls or showing message notifications." — Bernhard S., G2
❌ Limited customization
"Some advanced settings and integrations can feel a bit limited or underdeveloped... I wish there were more customization options." — Erik P., G2
❌ Lag during calls
"There is a slight (half of one second) lag on most phone calls... you appear to cut people off during calls." — Matthew C., G2
❌ Call drops on poor Wi-Fi
"Sometimes if you're not on good Wi-Fi, it will drop calls." — Verified User, G2
❌ No holiday scheduling options
"Can’t designate holidays as closed—only manual weekly schedules available." — Joe R., CEO, G2
❌ Group texting capped at ten recipients
"I am unable to send a group text message to more than 10 people at a time." — Verified User in Health Care, G2
On the flipside, OpenPhone customers had this to say:
✔ Easy to use
"What I like best about OpenPhone is how simple and intuitive it is—everything from setup to daily use just works." — Erik P., G2
✔ Call and text in one place
"Texting, calling, and managing contacts all happen in one place... The mobile app is especially convenient." — Frank O., G2
iPlum Reviews
iPlum earns high marks from users for its time-saving texting features, fast setup, and built-in HIPAA compliance.
✔ Support that goes the extra mile
"The porting process was smooth, and their email guidance made setup simple."— NL, Trustpilot
✔Second line for business
"Needed a second line—iPlum delivers with good price and no issues." — Arash Eskandari, Trustpilot
✔ HIPAA-ready and hassle-free
"Great to have something HIPAA-compliant and easy to manage." — KJ, Trustpilot
✔ Reliable and beginner-friendly
"Strong connection, clear calls, and easy even for non-tech users." — J.A., Trustpilot
✔ Perfect for small clinics
"Let me stay HIPAA compliant while using my personal phone."— Dannel M Doyle, Trustpilot
✔ Seamless and secure
"Clean app, clear calls, and ideal for separating work and personal life." — Angela Sanders, Trustpilot
✔ Cheaper and simpler than others
"iPlum is easier to use and costs less." — Brianna Boulanger, Trustpilot
⚠️ Some users have reported that iPlum has a steep learning curve.
However, the platform boasts a minimalist dashboard to enable quick navigation. However, if you encounter any issues, you can always consult our comprehensive help center or contact us directly.
iPlum vs. OpenPhone—An Overview
iPlum and OpenPhone offer a comprehensive suite of features. For this iPlum vs. Openphone comparison, we’ll focus on what the two platforms offer when it comes to calling and texting for business.
Below is a table summarizing the comparison between the two to kick things off.
Calling Capabilities for Business
iPlum and OpenPhone offer adequate calling features to manage your day-to-day workflow. However, iPlum boasts a broader set for configuring call flows, greetings, and professional caller experiences.
OpenPhone
OpenPhone offers several tools for managing incoming calls. You can assign business hours to each number, forward calls, and decide how calls ring—one user at a time, in groups, or all at once.
It’s also possible to transfer live calls or mute specific numbers. And because the platform comes with a shared inbox, you can view the call history, recordings, and voicemails in one place. In addition, OpenPhone allows you to record calls automatically or manually.
iPlum
iPlum overlaps many of OpenPhone’s calling features. But it pushes the envelope with some unique capabilities.
First, it comes with a built-in auto-attendant and phone tree. This allows you to route calls through a greeting and extension menu.
That way calls reach the right person or department without needing to go through a live operator. In addition, you can set up extensions for sales, support, or individual staff members, thereby reducing the likelihood of missed or misrouted calls.
iPlum also has a true caller ID, so when you make outbound calls, your business number displays instead of a personal line. Meanwhile, you can return missed calls with one tap, which speeds up response time and keeps communication tied to the right account.
If you travel or work remotely, iPlum gives you the option to place calls using either your mobile carrier’s voice network, Wi-Fi, or data. That makes calling more reliable, especially when one signal is stronger than the other.
You can also block spam numbers, mute calls during quiet hours, or reactivate a number if you had previously paused it.
And because every setting is managed through the iPlum app or web dashboard, you don’t need to call support to make changes.
iPlum also supports a shared number, allowing multiple team members to make and receive calls using the same business line. This keeps communication streamlined and consistent, especially in client-facing roles.
Last but not least, iPlum supports mobile app and web calling via the platform’s portal.
Business Messaging Tools
iPlum and OpenPhone offer texting features for business communication. However, how they manage message history, secure texting, and collaboration differs.
OpenPhone
You can create message threads that remain hidden from customers with OpenPhone. These allow coworkers to discuss replies before responding.
You can also message a client through a shared inbox, where multiple users collaborate on a single account.
In addition, OpenPhone has message templates (called snippets) for repeated use. Plus, you can schedule messages and cancel them as needed. OpenPhone supports MMS, allowing you to send files, images, audio, and GIFs.
That said, OpenPhone’s texting features primarily focus on internal collaboration.
iPlum
iPlum boasts a wide range of business texting features built around control, recordkeeping, and compliance.
You can schedule messages, pin or archive conversations, and mark texts as unread to respond later.
Moreover, iPlum supports secure texting with encrypted messages and attachments for use in healthcare, legal, and financial settings.
You also get broadcast texting, which allows you to send a message to many recipients as separate conversations. And then there’s group texting, which works with external numbers.
Other messaging features for business include text templates, auto-replies, the ability to receive messages by email, and text signatures. You can also unarchive messages when needed.
Also read —OpenPhone Alternatives and Competitors
Business Numbers
iPlum and OpenPhone let you get a business number separate from your personal line. You can choose between local or toll-free options, but the way each platform handles setup, privacy, and number control varies.
OpenPhone
With OpenPhone, you can pick from a wide selection of U.S., Canadian, and toll-free numbers.
The platform offers filters to help you find a number that fits your brand, including vanity options. Plus, you can set up multiple numbers to cover different departments or locations.
And if your business changes, you can add or remove numbers as needed.
iPlum
iPlum offers local, toll-free, and Canadian numbers built for business use.
You can add a second line to your existing phone without changing your carrier or SIM. Each line comes with its own ringtone, voicemail, and caller ID, which keeps work and personal calls completely separate.
But there’s more.
iPlum’s second number allows you to access all of the platform’s features. You can, for instance, route calls using a phone tree and auto-attendant.
Besides a second mobile line, iPlum also offers vanity numbers, available through the platform’s direct access to the national registry. That gives you more choice when picking a number that matches your business.
Meanwhile, if you want to expand nationally, iPlum’s toll-free numbers let clients call or text you from anywhere in the U.S. or Canada at no charge to them. These numbers support call forwarding to any device, making them useful for remote teams or mobile staff.
iPlum’s business numbers cater to your privacy. Your data isn’t shared, and the platform complies with HIPAA, HITECH, and other data protection standards.
Team Collaboration
iPlum and OpenPhone allow multiple users to manage communication. But iPlum gives admins more control over how users communicate, what they can access, and how calls and messages are managed.
OpenPhone
OpenPhone allows multiple users to share the same business number. However, customers always see a unified line, regardless of who responds.
In addition, the platform’s internal threads enable coworkers to discuss replies before sending them out. That keeps conversations aligned without exposing internal notes to clients.
OpenPhone also keeps a full history of calls and texts in one place, making it easier to track conversations.
iPlum
iPlum offers a master account system that allows you to add users and convert any individual account into a team account. That way, you control who has access and what they can do, like sending texts, forwarding calls, or using voicemail settings.
In addition, you can unify outward-facing communication by setting the main business number as the caller ID for all team members. Furthermore, call and text archives remain under the master account, allowing you to review all interactions without logging into each user’s account.
iPlum also makes it easier for teams to manage calls. It enables you to route incoming calls through an auto-attendant and extensions, automatically directing each caller to the right person or department.
You can set business hours for the whole team. And when someone calls outside those hours, iPlum sends them to voicemail or plays a custom message.
Admins can also manage team permissions from a single location. That way, they can control who uses voice-network calling, who can record calls, and what settings each user has access to.
Moreover, you can assign a shared business number to your team, so everyone can respond from a single line while keeping the communication thread unified.
These tools provide businesses with a reliable way to coordinate team activities while maintaining control in the hands of a single account owner.
HIPAA Compliance
iPlum and OpenPhone handle HIPAA compliance differently. That said, below is what you need to know, especially if you’re planning to use either platform to send and receive sensitive client information.
OpenPhone
According to the information available on its website, OpenPhone is not HIPAA or PHIPA-compliant.
While it uses encryption and adheres to general data privacy frameworks such as GDPR and CCPA, it does not provide a Business Associate Agreement (BAA).
It is worth noting, however, that OpenPhone advises against sharing protected health information on its platform. Sure, the platform encrypts calls and messages in transit. It also stores data securely using AWS and Cloudflare.
However, without HIPAA certification or a signed BAA, OpenPhone is not suitable for clinics, medical providers, or businesses that need to exchange patient information.
iPlum
iPlum is HIPAA-compliant and designed for secure communication. It offers a signed BAA, which is required when dealing with protected health information.
Furthermore, messages and calls use end-to-end encryption, and voicemail is protected under the same standards. In addition, you can control access through secure login and user-level permissions.
iPlum also supports secure texting, voicemail, and calling, all of which are built to meet HIPAA and HITECH standards.
And, for organizations that need to connect systems, iPlum provides API access for integration with EHR and EMR platforms. These safeguards make iPlum a reliable option for users in industries with strict regulatory requirements.
iPlum vs. OpenPhone—Pricing
iPlum and OpenPhone pricing are packaged differently. In this section, we’ll break down what each service costs and what real value you get for the money.
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 OpenPhone Cost?
OpenPhone costs $15 to $35 per user per month, depending on your plan, as follows
Starter – $15 per user per month
Includes mobile calling and texting in the U.S. and Canada, voicemail transcription, and one local or toll-free number per user.
Business – $23 per user per month
Builds on the Starter plan with additional tools, including call summaries, group calling, call transfers, phone menus, analytics, and auto-call recording.
Scale – $35 per user per month
Adds features such as conditional call routing and dedicated onboarding.
How Does iPlum Pricing Compare to OpenPhone’s
iPlum gives you more value for less money. Its plans start at just $8.99 per user per month, compared to $15 per user per month for OpenPhone’s Starter plan.
In addition, iPlum includes features like web-based calling, voicemail transcription, group messaging, call recording, and HIPAA compliance at the $14.99 Professional and $19.99 Premium tiers, many of which OpenPhone locks behind its $23 or $35 plans.
So, for businesses that want full calling and texting features without overspending, iPlum delivers robust functionality at every tier while keeping costs low.
iPlum vs. OpenPhone—Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I Receive Calls on iPlum?
Yes. You can receive calls through the iPlum mobile app or a web browser. It works over Wi-Fi or cellular data, and includes voicemail, business hours, and auto-attendant options.
Is OpenPhone a Good Service?
Yes, OpenPhone is a solid business phone service. However, many features, such as call recording, call summaries, and phone menus, are locked behind higher-tier plans. So, keep that in mind if you're watching costs.
Does iPlum Work Internationally?
Yes. iPlum lets you make and receive calls globally in over 200 countries. You can use your number while traveling, or assign international numbers to team members if needed.
How to Port Your Number to iPlum
Porting your number to iPlum is a simple process, as explained in the video below.
Why Choose iPlum Over OpenPhone
If you're weighing iPlum vs. OpenPhone, iPlum gives you more control, security, and value across the board.
It's not just about pricing, though starting at $8.99 per user, iPlum is significantly more affordable.
The difference lies in what each platform delivers at that price. iPlum offers a complete phone system with call routing, voicemail, secure texting, and HIPAA compliance included in its mid-tier plan.
You also get web and mobile calling, team permissions, shared business number, and a built-in phone tree, features that OpenPhone often reserves for higher tiers.
So, whether you're in a regulated industry or require a robust separation between work and personal calls, iPlum delivers reliability and professional features at a reasonable price.
Click the link below to get started with iPlum
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.
