Do You Need An Existing Phone Service To Use Majic Jack

A name like magicJack can make any business phone user wonder: Is the VoIP service all hocus pocus, or is it really wizardly? 🧙 Much like Snuggies and ShamWow, the magicJack VoIP adapter became a well-hyped hit thanks to infomercials in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Now, magicJack offers a business phone app, too. But when compared to magicJack alternatives, the service may still have some growing up to do.

We'll guide you through all the must-knows about magicJack, then introduce you to five alternatives that could be a better fit for your business needs.

What You Need to Know About magicJack for Business

magicJack for Business is a VoIP service that uses your internet connection to help you manage unlimited calls and voicemails in the U.S. and Canada (except Alaska or the Yukon and Northwest Territories). Whereas the original magicJack device required a physical setup, magicJack for Business just requires an Android or iOS phone or a computer — desk phone connection is optional.

Once you've completed the setup stage, you'll gain access to a features like:

• Call forwarding
• Caller ID
• Call waiting
• Call blocking
• Do not disturb mode
• Extensions

magicJack for Business isn't exactly a thrilling solution. Many of its standard features can be accessed through a regular landline or mobile phone. And its most exciting features are commonly available through other VoIP phone services that offer far more capabilities, like MMS (picture text messaging) and integrations.

magicJack for Business Pricing

magicJack for Business only offers one option for pricing. You'll have to pay $15.99 per month per line. If you want to use desk phones, you'll need to buy them for $54.99 to $219.99 each.

Even after paying these costs, not every magicJack for Business feature is instantly unlocked. For example, you'll need to pay an additional:

• $10 per month for auto-attendant
• $5 per month for virtual fax
• $5 per month for toll-free numbers
• Undisclosed fee for phone number porting (the standard magicJack service charges $19.95)

The Bottom Line for magicJack

magicJack has a complicated pricing structure that's filled with add-on costs. Plus, the business plan fails to fulfill basic business needs like integrations, call recording, and MMS.

5 magicJack Alternatives

Choosing a magicJack alternative may be a good choice if you want access to a more advanced business phone system. These VoIP providers fill many of the gaps that magicJack leaves.

1. OpenPhone

OpenPhone is an intuitive, business phone platform with stellar reviews that's available on smartphones, desktops, and browsers. Use whatever device is most convenient for you! Just invite your team members via email, and they can create an account within minutes.

Each of your team members can receive their own free number (U.S., Canada, or toll-free) or share phone numbers. If you want to offer clients a dedicated customer service or sales support number, instead of relying on extensions and call transfers, you can do so. Any available team member can pick up a call or respond to messages (and you'll see when others are typing, so you'll never double text).

Even with a standard OpenPhone plan, you can access a vast amount of key business features well beyond what magicJack offers, such as:

• Team messaging
• Unlimited calling, SMS, and MMS in the U.S. and Canada
• Auto-attendant (IVR), which is included in the standard plan, unlike magicJack's $10 per month add-on fee
• Voicemail transcriptions
• Call recording
• Business hour settings and do not disturb mode
• Crystal-clear call quality
• Dedicated customer support
• ​Key integrations with email, Slack, and Zapier

OpenPhone Pricing

OpenPhone's three pricing plans make it easy to choose a plan that gives you exactly what your team needs.

Standard

• $10 per user per month
• Low-cost international calling rates (no prepaid credits required)

Premium

• $25 per user per month
• Unlocks call transfer, call analytics, HubSpot CRM integrations (coming soon), and more

Enterprise

• Custom pricing for a built-for-you plan

How to Switch and Port Your Number from magicJack

Want to port your number from magicJack to OpenPhone so you can keep the same phone number? The process is easy (and free)!

1. Create an OpenPhone account.
2. Fill out this 1-minute porting form.
3. That's it! We'll take care of the rest.

How OpenPhone Stacks Up to the Competition

OpenPhone offers robust functionality at highly affordable rates. Get all the features you need to make business simpler. 🙌

2. Ooma

Ooma is a VoIP service provider that offers free calling to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. All you need is internet service and a smartphone or VoIP desk phone — or a computer, if you upgrade to a higher-tier plan. If you stick to the standard plan, you'll get key features like:

• Unlimited SMS in the U.S. and Canada
• Auto-attendant
• Call forwarding

But this magicJack alternative has more bonus features (like overhead paging and video conferencing) than it does core business phone needs (like integrations and analytics). And it doesn't support local numbers outside of the U.S.

Ooma Pricing

Ooma offers two plans for its small business phone system.

Ooma Office

• $19.95 per user per month

Ooma Pro

• $24.95 per user per month
• Unlocks video conferencing, voicemail transcriptions, call recording, and a desktop app

The Bottom Line for Ooma

Ooma gives you a decent amount of bells and whistles, but without a strong foundation. You'll miss out on the features that really help your business perform better. Talk about FOMO. 💔

3. Vonage

Vonage is a well-known VoIP phone company, since it's been on the market since 2001. Like Ooma, it offers free calls to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and free SMS to the U.S. and Canada. Though its basic plan doesn't really offer much else, you can access these features with upgrades:

• Auto-attendant
• CRM integrations
• Call recording

But fees can add up with Vonage. Beyond the necessary upgrade for key features, you also need add-ons to access features like extensions.

Vonage Pricing

There's no transparent pricing for Vonage add-ons, but what's known are the core costs of its three subscription plans.

Mobile

• $19.99 per line per month

Premium

• $29.99 per line per month
• Unlocks auto-attendant and CRM integrations

Advanced

• $39.99 per line per month
• Unlocks call recording (15 hours) and voicemail transcriptions

The Bottom Line for Vonage

Vonage isn't for the faint of heart. Without transparent pricing for anything but its phone lines, you may pay a ton of additional costs after you subscribe, even with the advanced plan.

4. Google Voice

You've probably heard of Google Voice, however that platform is intended for personal calls. Google's business phone offering is Google Voice for Google Workspace.

Upgrading to a basic paid Google Voice by Google Workspace will get you access to these key features:

• Voicemail transcriptions
• Customer support
• Do not disturb mode

However, you're still limited to free calls and texts to the U.S. Free calling to Canada is only available if you're from the U.S. Plus, texting to Canada from wherever you live isn't free.

Google Voice Pricing

You'll first need a Google Workspace plan (which starts at $6 per user per month) to even have the option to subscribe to Google Voice for Google Workspace. Once you do, you'll have three Google Voice for Google Workspace plans to choose from: Starter, Standard, or Premier.

Starter

• $10 per user per month
• Limited to 10 users in the U.S.

Standard

• $20 per user per month
• Unlocks unlimited users, auto-attendant, and desk phone support

Premier

• $30 per user per month
• Unlocks advanced reporting features and support for international users

The Bottom Line for Google Voice

Teams of one may be happy with the minimal features Google Voice provides (minimal even when comparing magicJack vs Google Voice) , but even with upgrades, it can't support teams with advanced needs — especially if your clients are outside of the U.S.

5. Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a magicJack alternative that's grown in popularity among small businesses. You can access all of Grasshopper's features no matter which plan you choose, but it lacks many of the modern features businesses need. The features they offer include:

• Voicemail transcriptions
• Call forwarding
• Extensions

But since there's no feature upgrades available, even paying more won't get you access to a browser app, integrations, shared phone numbers, or call recording.

Grasshopper Pricing

Grasshopper isn't exactly cheap, since every plan includes the cost of all its features.

Solo

• $29 per month
• Includes one phone number and three extensions

Partner

• $49 per month
• Includes three phone numbers and six extensions

Small Business

• $89 per month
• Includes five phone numbers and unlimited extensions

The Bottom Line for Grasshopper

Grasshopper vs. other competitors require you to pay the price for features that many small businesses don't even need. At the same time, it doesn't offer enough to support you throughout your growth.

OpenPhone: The Best magicJack Alternative

If you're looking for a magicJack alternative, look no further than OpenPhone. ✨ Not only is it an affordable option for businesses of all sizes, but it also offers a vast amount of features that let your team collaborate in real time. You can thrive for just $10 per user per month, and when you're ready to grow, we'll grow with you. Advanced plans offer even more integration options, analytics, and other features that even magicJack alternatives don't offer.

Whether you want to use a desktop, browser, or mobile app, you can start managing calls and texts efficiently by logging in from anywhere. Start making VoIP calls today with a free trial of OpenPhone.

Do You Need An Existing Phone Service To Use Majic Jack

Source: https://www.openphone.co/blog/magicjack-alternatives/

Posted by: simpsonprinnexparm.blogspot.com

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