Best software · Communications
9 Best Phone Systems for Remote Teams of 2026
This list is for remote and hybrid teams that need a business number and full calling features on laptops and personal phones instead of desk phones in an office. We compared documented features and published prices for 9 cloud phone systems and looked closely at what remote staff rely on: mobile and desktop apps, texting limits, international numbers, AI call notes and how each plan is billed. Scores weigh features at 40%, ease of use at 30% and value at 30%. Prices were checked on the vendors' own US pricing pages in November 2026.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 12, 2026 · 9 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 12, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Dialpad is our top pick for remote teams: the $15 Standard plan already includes real-time transcripts, AI call summaries and video meetings, it runs on every device a remote worker owns, and Dialpad supports international local numbers in over 50 countries. Quo is the simplest app for small teams that call and text from their own phones, RingCentral is the safer choice for larger companies spread across several sites, and Google Voice is the low-cost option for teams already on Google Workspace.
Top picks
Also great
RingCentral
8.6 / 10
Larger remote and hybrid companies spread across several sites
Read the review →Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Dialpad | Remote teams that want AI call notes on the entry plan | Standard $15 per user per month; Pro $25; Enterprise on quote; 14-day free trial | 8.8 |
| 2 |  Quo | Small remote teams that call and text from their own phones | Starter $15 per user per month billed annually ($19 monthly); Business $23 annually ($33 monthly); Scale $35 annually ($47 monthly); 7-day free trial | 8.7 |
| 3 | RingCentral | Larger remote and hybrid companies spread across several sites | Core $20 per user per month paid annually ($30 monthly); Advanced $25 ($35); Ultra $35 ($45); free trial for up to 5 users | 8.6 |
| 4 |  Google Voice | Remote teams already working in Google Workspace | Starter $10 per user per month for up to 10 users; Standard $20; Premier $30; Voice Only Starter $10 for one user | 8.5 |
| 5 |  Microsoft Teams Phone | Remote teams that already work in Microsoft Teams | Teams Phone Standard $10 per user per month paid yearly; with pay-as-you-go calling $13; with US Calling Plan $17; with domestic and international calling $34; Teams license required | 8.3 |
| 6 |  Nextiva | Remote customer-facing teams that want shared inboxes with calling | NEXT Core $15 per user per month on annual pricing ($23 list); NEXT Engage $25 ($50 list); NEXT Scale $75; contact center from $75 per agent | 8.2 |
| 7 |  Zoom Phone | Remote teams that already use Zoom for meetings | See vendor pricing (USD check pending) | 8.1 |
| 8 |  Aircall | Remote sales and support teams that work in a CRM | Essentials $30 per license per month billed annually; Professional $50; Enterprise custom; minimum 3 licenses; free access to test | 8.0 |
| 9 |  GoTo Connect | Teams with staff in many countries that want quote-based plans | See vendor pricing (USD check pending); plans are sold through sales | 7.7 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Dialpad
A cloud communications platform for calls, messages and meetings with AI transcripts and summaries on every plan.
dialpad.com8.8
out of 10
Best for: Remote teams that want AI call notes on the entry plan
Dialpad fits a distributed team well because the entry plan already does the work remote managers usually pay extra for. Standard is listed at $15 per user per month and includes unlimited calls, AI-powered meetings and built-in messaging, plus real-time transcripts and instant call summaries. Dialpad's FAQ lists real-time transcription, voicemail transcription, AI Recaps with action items and real-time analytics as the AI features in Dialpad Connect, so a teammate who missed a call can read what happened.
The apps cover desktops, laptops, iOS and Android phones, tablets and desk phones, and Dialpad supports international local numbers in over 50 countries, which helps when staff live in different markets. Pro at $25 adds key CRM integrations, 24/7 support and multi-office management, and Enterprise adds SSO and unlimited office locations. The trade-off is that CRM sync is not on the cheapest plan, and Dialpad warns that the price you pay may vary by region. For most remote teams it is the strongest mix of AI features and price on this list.
Standout feature
Real-time transcripts and AI call summaries are included on the $15 Standard plan.
Use cases
A fully remote startup
Give every hire a business line on laptop and phone
Outcome: Personal numbers stay private
A distributed support team
Read AI Recaps of calls a colleague handled
Outcome: Handoffs across time zones without call notes
A company hiring abroad
Add local numbers in other countries
Outcome: Customers call a local number
Key features
- Unlimited calls, AI-powered meetings and built-in messaging on Standard
- Real-time call transcripts and instant call summaries with AI Recaps
- Apps for desktops, laptops, iOS and Android phones, tablets and desk phones
- International local numbers in over 50 countries
- Pro adds CRM integrations, 24/7 support and multi-office management for $25
Pros
- AI transcripts, summaries and action items are included on the $15 plan
- One app covers calls, meetings and messages on every device
- Free 14-day trial of Dialpad Connect
Cons
- CRM integrations and 24/7 support need the $25 Pro plan
- SSO and unlimited office locations need Enterprise pricing
- Dialpad notes that prices can differ by region and currency
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Quo
A business phone app from OpenPhone Technologies for calling and texting from mobile, desktop and the web, with the Sona AI agent included.
quo.com8.7
out of 10
Best for: Small remote teams that call and text from their own phones
Quo, from OpenPhone Technologies, is the easiest system here for a small team that works from personal phones. Every plan includes one new or ported local or toll-free number per user, calling and messaging to US and Canadian numbers, voicemail transcripts, the Quo API and Sona, an AI agent that answers calls using credits. Quo's FAQ says the app works on iOS, Android and desktop and runs over Wi-Fi or data, so it does not use the minutes on an employee's own plan.
Starter costs $15 per user per month billed annually, or $19 monthly. The features a remote team grows into sit on Business at $23 annually or $33 monthly: AI call summaries and transcripts, group calling, custom ring orders, call transfers, phone menus, auto call recording and HubSpot and Salesforce integrations. Each plan includes 1,000 automation credits, about 10 Sona calls, with paid tiers from $25 per month. Teams spread outside North America should note that other countries are billed per minute and per message.
Standout feature
A number per user, US and Canadian texting and the Sona AI agent start at $15 per user billed annually.
Use cases
A remote sales team
Call and text prospects from personal phones
Outcome: One shared business identity
A small agency
Share a main number across the team
Outcome: Shared history of every conversation
Field and home-based staff
Let Sona answer calls nobody can pick up
Outcome: Fewer missed callers
Key features
- One new or ported local or toll-free number per user on every plan
- Calling and messaging to US and Canadian numbers included
- Works on iOS, Android, desktop and the web over Wi-Fi or mobile data
- Sona AI agent with 1,000 free automation credits, about 10 calls, on every plan
- Business plan adds AI call summaries, phone menus, call transfers and auto recording
Pros
- Runs over the internet, so it does not use a personal phone plan's minutes
- Texting is included on every plan
- Quo API and ChatGPT and Claude MCP access on all plans
Cons
- Phone menus, call transfers and group calling need the Business plan
- Calls and texts to numbers outside the US and Canada cost extra per minute and message
- Sona calls beyond the included 1,000 credits cost $1.00 each on the base tier
Rank 3 · Also great
RingCentral
RingEX, a cloud phone, meetings and team chat app, with AI Virtual Assistant included and an AI Receptionist add-on.
ringcentral.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: Larger remote and hybrid companies spread across several sites
RingCentral sells its business phone as RingEX, and for a remote company the selling point is that calls, meetings and chat sit in one app. Core costs $20 per user per month paid annually, or $30 monthly, and includes unlimited domestic calling, on-demand call recording, 100 toll-free minutes, HD meetings for up to 300 participants, LLM plugins and MCP connectors, and the AI Virtual Assistant.
Advanced at $25 annually adds CRM integrations, connects multiple sites, includes core reporting and raises texting to 100 SMS per user, which suits hybrid companies with several offices plus home workers. Ultra at $35 adds 10,000 toll-free minutes, 200 SMS per user, RingCentral Webinar and unlimited storage. The AI Receptionist that answers and routes calls is an add-on starting at $39. The weak point for small teams is texting: 25 SMS per user per month on Core is low if staff message customers. The free trial is limited to five users and two desk phones.
Standout feature
Phone, team chat and HD meetings for 300 participants come together from $20 per user paid annually.
Use cases
A hybrid company with three offices
Connect sites and home workers on one system
Outcome: One directory and extension plan
A remote leadership team
Run all-hands meetings in the phone app
Outcome: No separate meetings license
A growing sales team
Log calls in the CRM on Advanced
Outcome: Complete activity records
Key features
- Calls, meetings and chat in one app on every plan
- Unlimited domestic calling and HD meetings for 300 participants on Core
- AI Virtual Assistant (AVA) included on every plan
- Advanced adds CRM integrations and multiple connected sites
- AI Receptionist add-on from $39
Pros
- Meetings for up to 300 participants are included with the phone plan
- Plans scale from Core to multi-site Advanced and Ultra
- LLM plugins and MCP connectors are listed on Core
Cons
- Core includes only 25 SMS per user per month
- Monthly billing adds $10 per user over the annual price
- Free trial is capped at five users and two desktop phones
Rank 4
Google Voice
Google's business phone service that adds a number for all your devices to Google Workspace accounts.
workspace.google.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: Remote teams already working in Google Workspace
Google Voice is the cheapest way for a remote team on Google Workspace to get proper business numbers. Starter costs $10 per user per month for up to 10 users and gives each person a single phone number for all their devices with call forwarding, unlimited domestic calling, unlimited US texting, voicemail transcription, three-way calling, call transfers, call recording, 24/7 support and desk phone support. Google lists Starter with a Workspace plan as available in 14 countries.
The limit appears when a team grows or needs routing. Standard at $20 per user removes the user cap and adds auto attendants, ring groups, call queuing, unlimited regional billing locations, eDiscovery for calls, voicemails and texts, and SIP Link for existing numbers. Premier at $30 adds unlimited international billing locations, automatic call recording and BigQuery reporting. There are no AI call summaries or CRM features on the plan list, so sales and support teams will find more in Dialpad or Aircall. For a small Google shop that mainly needs numbers and voicemail, it is hard to beat on price.
Standout feature
A business number on every device with unlimited US texting starts at $10 per user per month.
Use cases
A small remote consultancy on Workspace
Give each consultant a business number
Outcome: Calls ring on laptop and phone
A growing remote team
Set up an auto attendant and ring groups on Standard
Outcome: Callers reach the right person
A regulated business
Search calls and texts with eDiscovery
Outcome: Records ready for review
Key features
- A single phone number for all your devices with call forwarding
- Unlimited domestic calling and unlimited US texting on Starter
- Voicemail transcription, three-way calling, call transfers and call recording
- Standard adds auto attendants, ring groups and call queuing for unlimited users
- Premier adds automatic call recording and BigQuery reporting for $30
Pros
- Lowest starting price on this list at $10 per user
- Unlimited US texting listed on Starter
- Starter with a Workspace plan is available in 14 countries
Cons
- Starter is limited to 10 users
- Auto attendants and ring groups need Standard at $20
- The Voice Only plan is for one user in the US
Rank 5
Microsoft Teams Phone
A cloud phone system built into Microsoft Teams, with optional Microsoft calling plans or your own carrier.
microsoft.com8.3
out of 10
Best for: Remote teams that already work in Microsoft Teams
For a remote company that already runs its day inside Microsoft Teams, Teams Phone adds a business line without another app. Teams Phone Standard costs $10 per user per month paid yearly and lets staff make and receive voice and video calls over PSTN or the internet, join calls from different devices and move a call between them, with a 99.999% uptime SLA.
The headline price needs care. Standard does not include a number or minutes, and Microsoft states that a separate Teams license is required. Teams Phone with pay-as-you-go calling costs $13, and Teams Phone with a Calling Plan for the US costs $17 and includes a number with 3,000 outbound domestic minutes. Companies can also connect a carrier through Operator Connect or Direct Routing, which suits teams with staff in several countries, but setup is more involved than an app like Quo. Calling Plans are only sold in specific markets. If Teams is already your hub, this is the most natural choice.
Standout feature
Phone calling inside Microsoft Teams starts at $10 per user per month paid yearly.
Use cases
A Microsoft 365 company with home workers
Add external calling to Teams
Outcome: One app for chat, meetings and phone
A company with staff in several countries
Connect local carriers via Operator Connect
Outcome: Local numbers on one platform
Hybrid office staff
Move a call from desk phone to mobile
Outcome: Calls continue on the way home
Key features
- Voice and video calls over PSTN or the internet inside Teams
- PSTN through Teams Calling Plans, Operator Connect or Direct Routing
- Transfer calls between devices during a call
- US Calling Plan bundle includes a number and 3,000 domestic minutes
- 99.999% uptime SLA
Pros
- Calling lives in the Teams app staff already use
- Option to bring your own carrier through Operator Connect or Direct Routing
- Free one-month trial
Cons
- Needs a separate Microsoft Teams license
- The $10 Standard license has no phone number or calling minutes
- Calling Plans are only available in specific markets
Rank 6
Nextiva
A business communications platform that combines voice, video, texting, shared inboxes and AI in one app.
nextiva.com8.2
out of 10
Best for: Remote customer-facing teams that want shared inboxes with calling
Nextiva is a good fit for remote teams that answer customers by phone, text and chat and want those conversations in shared inboxes. NEXT Core costs $15 per user per month on the annual price, shown against a $23 list price, and includes unlimited voice and video, 100 business text messages per user, team collaboration, skills-based routing, a basic CRM and ticketing system, shared team and personal inboxes and a builder for customer experience flows.
AI is included but metered: NEXT Core comes with 50 AI transcriptions, 50 AI summaries and 50 AI Answer Assist conversations. NEXT Engage at $25 raises those to 200 and adds live chat and a chatbot, 500 texts per user, 2,000 toll-free inbound minutes, virtual faxes and single sign-on with Okta or Microsoft Entra ID. NEXT Scale at $75 removes the AI and texting caps. The XBert AI agent is billed at $1.50 per conversation. It is more of a customer service suite than Dialpad or Quo, which suits support teams but is more than a small internal team needs.
Standout feature
NEXT Core pairs unlimited voice and video with shared inboxes and basic ticketing from $15 per user.
Use cases
A remote customer support team
Handle calls and texts from a shared inbox
Outcome: No customer message gets lost
A growing service business
Route calls by skill on NEXT Core
Outcome: Callers reach the right agent
An IT-managed company
Sign staff in with Okta or Entra ID on NEXT Engage
Outcome: Central access control
Key features
- Unlimited voice and video on NEXT Core
- 100 business text messages per user on NEXT Core, 500 on NEXT Engage
- Shared team and personal inboxes with a basic CRM and ticketing system
- 50 AI transcriptions and 50 AI summaries on NEXT Core
- NEXT Engage adds live chat, a chatbot, virtual faxes and SSO with Okta or Microsoft Entra ID
Pros
- Shared inboxes and ticketing come with the phone system
- Skills-based routing on the entry plan
- Path to a full contact center on the same vendor
Cons
- AI transcriptions and summaries are capped at 50 per user on NEXT Core
- The $15 price is the discounted annual rate against a $23 list price
- XBert AI is billed at $1.50 per conversation
Rank 7
Zoom Phone
A cloud phone system inside Zoom Workplace, with AI call summaries, team SMS and global PSTN coverage.
zoom.com8.1
out of 10
Best for: Remote teams that already use Zoom for meetings
Zoom Phone makes most sense for remote companies that already hold their meetings in Zoom, because calling sits in the same Zoom Workplace app. Zoom lists global PSTN coverage in more than 49 countries, or bring your own carrier for more flexibility, which helps teams with staff in many places. Employees can use their own compatible devices or hardware from Zoom's partners, and admins assign numbers, set calling permissions and update policies in one place.
The AI features cover automated call summaries with key points and action items, voicemail prioritization by ZoomMate and summaries of shared team SMS threads. Shared lines, call queues and Team SMS handle team calling, and online fax works from a Zoom Phone number. Zoom quotes a 99.999% uptime SLA with E911 support and failover. The Customer Engagement Pack with live queue insights costs extra, and Zoom states that the free trial is currently for existing Zoom Phone customers. Its pricing page did not show USD prices from our location, so check the current per-user rate before you buy.
Standout feature
Business calling inside Zoom Workplace with PSTN coverage in 49+ countries.
Use cases
A Zoom-first remote company
Add business calling to Zoom Workplace
Outcome: Meetings, chat and phone in one app
A team with staff in many countries
Use Zoom PSTN or bring a local carrier
Outcome: Local numbers where people work
A front-line support group
Share lines and queues with Team SMS
Outcome: Faster answers for customers
Key features
- Global PSTN coverage in 49+ countries or bring your own carrier
- Automated call summaries with key points and action items
- Shared lines, call queues and Team SMS
- Use leading hardware or employees' own compatible devices
- 99.999% uptime SLA with E911 support and failover options
Pros
- Same app as Zoom meetings and chat
- PSTN in 49+ countries suits teams spread across borders
- Send and receive faxes with a Zoom Phone number
Cons
- Prices did not load as USD from our location
- The Customer Engagement Pack is an additional cost
- Zoom says its free trial is for existing Zoom Phone customers
Rank 8
Aircall
A cloud phone system for sales and support teams, with 250+ integrations and AI Voice Agents on every plan.
aircall.io8.0
out of 10
Best for: Remote sales and support teams that work in a CRM
Aircall is built for sales and support teams, and it works well for remote ones because managers can see and coach calls without sitting next to reps. Essentials costs $30 per license per month billed annually and includes unlimited calls within the US and Canada, SMS and MMS, a shared inbox, call recordings and AI transcripts, IVR with business-hours routing, basic dashboards with six months of data and more than 250 integrations. Every plan includes 50 minutes of AI Voice Agents per month.
Professional at $50 adds AI call summaries with sentiment and key topics, smart routing based on CRM or help desk data, queue callback, a Power Dialer for up to 1,000 numbers, outbound campaigns, call whispering and barge, live monitoring and full API access. Both plans require a minimum of 3 licenses, and extra numbers cost $6 per month. That makes Aircall the most expensive entry point here, so it pays off for teams that live in a CRM rather than for general staff calling.
Standout feature
AI Voice Agents and 250+ integrations are included from the Essentials plan.
Use cases
A remote SDR team
Run a Power Dialer from the CRM on Professional
Outcome: More calls per hour
A distributed support desk
Route callers by account owner with smart routing
Outcome: Callers reach their rep
Sales managers
Whisper and barge into live calls
Outcome: Coaching without being in the room
Key features
- 250+ integrations on Essentials
- Call recordings and AI transcripts, IVR and a shared inbox on Essentials
- 50 minutes of AI Voice Agents per month on every plan
- Professional adds AI call summaries, smart routing, queue callback and a Power Dialer
- Unlimited calls within the US and Canada
Pros
- AI Voice Agents included on every plan
- Strong CRM and help desk sync for sales and support
- Call whispering, barge and live monitoring on Professional
Cons
- Both plans require at least 3 licenses
- Highest entry price on this list at $30 per license
- Additional numbers cost $6 per month each
Rank 9
GoTo Connect
A cloud business phone system from GoTo with built-in meetings, messaging and an optional AI receptionist.
goto.com7.7
out of 10
Best for: Teams with staff in many countries that want quote-based plans
GoTo Connect is a long-standing cloud phone system that suits remote teams calling across borders. The Phone System plan includes free calls to 50 countries, unlimited auto attendants and call queues, customizable dial plans, video meetings with up to 250 participants, mobile and desktop apps and 24/7 support, with 99.999% reliability according to GoTo.
The Phone System plus AI Receptionist plan adds a 24/7 AI virtual receptionist with 100 AIR credits that answers calls, routes callers by name, answers FAQ questions from a knowledge base, captures caller details with email and SMS follow-up and supports several languages. The Customer Experience plans add WhatsApp, social, SMS campaigns, web chat, surveys, a team inbox, AI call summaries and integrations with ServiceNow and Zendesk. The drawback is buying friction: GoTo's pricing page asks you to contact sales for every plan, so you cannot compare costs before a call. We rank it last for that reason, not for missing features.
Standout feature
The Phone System plan includes free calls to 50 countries and meetings for 250 participants.
Use cases
A company with clients in Europe and North America
Call international customers from the app
Outcome: Free calls to 50 countries
A small remote office
Add the AI receptionist plan
Outcome: Calls answered around the clock
A support team on Zendesk
Move to a CX plan with integrations
Outcome: Calls and tickets in one place
Key features
- Free calls to 50 countries on the Phone System plan
- Unlimited auto attendants and call queues
- Video meetings with up to 250 participants
- Mobile and desktop applications
- AI Receptionist plan with 100 AIR credits and 24/7 AI call answering
Pros
- Free calls to 50 countries help international remote teams
- Unlimited auto attendants and call queues on the base plan
- Meetings for up to 250 participants included
Cons
- No published prices: every plan says Contact Sales
- AI call summaries sit on the CX plans
- AI Receptionist use beyond 100 credits costs extra
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best phone system for remote teams?
Dialpad is the best phone system for most remote teams. Its Standard plan, listed at $15 per user per month as of November 2026, includes calls, meetings, messaging and real-time AI transcripts on desktop, mobile and tablet apps. Quo is the simpler pick for small teams that text a lot.
+What is the cheapest business phone system for a remote team?
Google Voice Starter is the cheapest at $10 per user per month for up to 10 users. Microsoft Teams Phone Standard is also $10 per user paid yearly, but it needs a Teams license and has no number or minutes until you add a Calling Plan, which costs $17 per user in the US.
+Can remote employees use a business phone number on their personal cell phone?
Yes. Apps such as Quo, Dialpad, Google Voice and Zoom Phone put a business number on an employee's own phone. Quo says its app runs over Wi-Fi or mobile data, so it does not use the minutes on the employee's own phone plan.
+Which business phone system is best for teams in several countries?
Dialpad, Zoom Phone and GoTo Connect are the strongest for international teams. Dialpad supports local numbers in over 50 countries, Zoom Phone lists PSTN coverage in 49+ countries, and GoTo Connect includes free calls to 50 countries on its Phone System plan.
+Do I need desk phones for a remote team?
No. Every system on this list works through desktop and mobile apps. Desk phones are optional: Dialpad, Google Voice and Zoom Phone all support them for staff who want one at home.
+Which remote phone system includes AI call summaries?
Dialpad includes AI call summaries on its $15 Standard plan. Quo adds AI call summaries and transcripts on its Business plan, $23 per user billed annually, Nextiva NEXT Core includes 50 AI summaries per user, and Aircall Professional adds AI-generated call summaries at $50 per license.
+Is RingCentral or Dialpad better for remote teams?
Dialpad is better for most small and mid-size remote teams because AI transcripts come on its $15 plan. RingCentral fits larger companies that want meetings for 300 participants and multi-site plans, starting at $20 per user paid annually.
About this list
Updated November 12, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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