The Grasshopper alternative that answers when you can't.
Grasshopper forwards calls to your cell and hopes you pick up. Ody answers every call — with AI when you're busy, your team when you're not.
7-day free trial on every plan · No per-minute charges · Grasshopper facts verified August 2026
THE QUICK ANSWER
Grasshopper is a virtual number layered over your personal phone: flat account pricing (True Solo $14/mo annual, Solo Plus $25, Small Business ~$80), solid mobile apps, and that's about it. There's no AI receptionist (partner add-ons like Ruby start around $160/mo), no CRM or Zapier integrations, texting requires a 10DLC registration process that dominates its complaint boards, and cancelling requires a phone call. Ody starts at $19/user/mo with a 24/7 AI agent included, HubSpot and Salesforce on Growth, and self-serve everything. If you just want a second number to forward, Grasshopper works; if you want calls answered and logged, it doesn't.
SIDE BY SIDE
Ody vs Grasshopper, feature by feature.
Grasshopper facts from their published pricing & docs, verified August 2026.
| Feature | Grasshopper | Ody |
|---|---|---|
| AI answering | ||
| AI receptionist answers your calls | Paid partner add-ons only (from ~$160/mo) | Included — every plan |
| AI call summaries & transcripts | — | Growth+ |
| Voicemail transcription | ✓ | ✓ |
| Phone system | ||
| US & Canada calling | ✓ | ✓ |
| Texting setup | 10DLC fees + widely reported verification failures | 10DLC registration handled during onboarding |
| Local, toll-free & vanity numbers | ✓ | Local & toll-free |
| Phone menus (IVR) | Basic extensions | Growth+ |
| Auto call recording | Solo Plus+ only | Growth+ |
| Integrations & account | ||
| HubSpot & Salesforce | — | Growth+ |
| ChatGPT / Claude (MCP) | — | ✓ |
| API / Zapier / any integrations | — | API on every plan |
| Analytics & reporting | Capped at 90 days | Growth+ |
| Cancel online | Phone call required | ✓ |
PRICING
What you'll actually pay.
Grasshopper
Per-account (not per-user) pricing. Extra numbers $9/mo; texting requires 10DLC registration ($19.50 one-time + $1.50/mo, $4.50 per failed verification attempt); live receptionist add-ons from ~$160/mo; international calling needs a $500 deposit. Reviewers report real bills of $35–60/mo on the $14 plan.
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 Grasshopper.
Answered, not just forwarded
Grasshopper routes calls to your cell — miss it and the caller gets voicemail. Ody's AI agent picks up 24/7, answers questions, books the follow-up, and sends you the transcript.
Texting that actually turns on
Grasshopper's most common 2025–2026 complaint is 10DLC registration failing repeatedly — $4.50 per failed attempt while texting stays dark. Ody registers your brand and campaign as part of onboarding.
A system, not a facade
No CRM, no Zapier, no API, 90-day analytics: Grasshopper is a front. Ody logs every call and text, syncs HubSpot and Salesforce on Growth, and exposes an API on every plan.
AN HONEST TAKE
Which one is right for you?
You're a solopreneur who wants the cheapest possible professional number over your personal cell — especially if several people share one line, where Grasshopper's flat account pricing beats any per-user model — and you don't need AI answering, integrations, or heavy texting.
Missed calls cost you money. You want AI answering included, texting that reliably activates, CRM sync, and the ability to manage everything (including cancelling) without calling a retention department.
SWITCHING IS EASY
Move from Grasshopper 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