The Google Voice alternative built for business calls.
Google Voice is a fine personal number. Running a business on it means no toll-free numbers, no AI answering, no CRM — and a Workspace bill on top.
7-day free trial on every plan · No per-minute charges · Google Voice facts verified August 2026
THE QUICK ANSWER
Google Voice's business plans look cheap at $10–$30 per user, but teams also need a paid Google Workspace subscription (from $7/user/mo), the $10 Starter tier caps at 10 users with no auto-attendant, and no plan offers toll-free numbers, CRM integrations, or an AI receptionist — Google's 2026 AI addition is note-taking, not answering. Ody starts at $19/user/mo all-in with a number included, US & Canada calling and texting, IVR on Growth, and a 24/7 AI agent on every plan. If the phone actually rings for your business, Ody answers it; Google Voice takes a message.
SIDE BY SIDE
Ody vs Google Voice, feature by feature.
Google Voice for business facts from their published pricing & docs, verified August 2026.
| Feature | Google Voice for business | Ody |
|---|---|---|
| AI answering | ||
| AI receptionist answers your calls | — | Included — every plan |
| AI note-taking / summaries | Standard+ (Gemini, English only) | Growth+ |
| Turn AI on/off per line & per hour | — | ✓ |
| Phone system | ||
| Toll-free numbers | — | ✓ |
| US & Canada texting | US recipients only; reviewers report spam-filtered sends | US & Canada (10DLC) |
| Auto-attendant / phone menus | Standard+ ($20) | Growth+ |
| Auto call recording | Premier only ($30) | Growth+ |
| Voicemail transcription | ✓ | ✓ |
| Desktop app | Browser only | ✓ |
| Integrations & requirements | ||
| Works without another subscription | Needs Google Workspace for teams | ✓ |
| HubSpot & Salesforce | — | Growth+ |
| ChatGPT / Claude (MCP) | — | ✓ |
| API access | — | ✓ |
| Free trial | None for Voice itself | 7 days, every plan |
PRICING
What you'll actually pay.
Google Voice for business
Team use requires a paid Google Workspace subscription (from $7/user/mo), so the realistic minimum is ~$17/user/mo. No published annual discount. Standalone single-user US-only plans launched July 2026. Free personal tier is unfit for business texting under 10DLC rules.
Ody
Every plan: a number per user, US & Canada calling and texting, the AI agent, and a 7-day free trial. No per-minute surprises.
Try for free →WHY TEAMS SWITCH
Where Ody pulls ahead of Google Voice.
Someone actually answers
Google Voice can transcribe a voicemail after the caller hangs up. Ody's AI agent answers the call, handles the question, captures the details, and hands off to your team when it matters — on every plan.
A real business number setup
No toll-free numbers and US-only texting make Google Voice hard to outgrow. Ody includes local and toll-free numbers, US & Canada calling and texting, and free porting on every plan.
One bill, not two
Google Voice for teams means a Workspace subscription plus a Voice license per user. Ody is one per-user price with the number and the AI included.
AN HONEST TAKE
Which one is right for you?
You're a solo operator or a sub-10-person team already paying for Google Workspace, your call volume is light, you never need toll-free numbers or texting beyond the US, and deep Gmail/Calendar integration matters more than answering every call.
Calls are revenue for your business. You want a system that answers 24/7, texts customers back, plugs into your CRM, and grows past 10 users without a forced tier jump — at a price that includes everything.
SWITCHING IS EASY
Move from Google Voice without missing a call.
Start your free trial
Create your workspace in minutes. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial — you get a live number, calling, texting, and your AI agent from day one.
Port your number free
Porting is free on every plan and your existing line keeps working the whole time — no downtime, no lost calls while the port completes.
Turn on the AI (or don't)
Set your hours and decide exactly when the AI answers — per number, per hour, per team. The rest of the time, it's the best softphone you've used.
FAQ