Looking for a virtual phone solution for your business, but tired of vague promises and endless feature lists? You’re not alone. B2B companies need reliable phone systems that don’t cost a fortune or take weeks to set up. This guide digs into what actually matters—features, usability, and real pricing—for Krispcall and how it stacks up against other contenders like RingCentral, Aircall, and Grasshopper.
Let’s skip the hype and get to what works, what doesn’t, and where you should pay attention (or save your money).
Who This Is For
- Sales, support, or operations leads comparing phone solutions for a small or midsize business
- Folks who want to avoid surprises on the first bill
- Anyone sick of clickbait “top 10” lists with no details
If you need a phone system that just works—and won’t drive your team nuts—read on.
Quick Snapshot: What’s a Virtual Phone System, Anyway?
Let’s keep it simple: a virtual phone system lets your team make and receive calls (sometimes texts or video) from anywhere, using apps or web browsers. No hardware required. Most offer US and international numbers, call routing, voicemail, and some level of integration with business tools.
The big players in the B2B space are:
- Krispcall
- RingCentral
- Aircall
- Grasshopper
- Nextiva
- OpenPhone
There are others, but these are the ones you’ll actually hear about from peers or see in real business use.
The Core Features That Actually Matter
Ignore the endless buzzwords. Here’s what most B2B teams actually need:
- Call quality and reliability
- Easy setup and management
- Number management (local, toll-free, international)
- Call routing and IVR/auto-attendant
- Call recording and logs
- Integrations (CRM, helpdesk, Slack, etc.)
- Mobile and desktop apps
- Transparent pricing (no surprise fees)
Bonus points for SMS/MMS, analytics, or team collaboration features, but most teams survive without the fancy stuff.
Krispcall: What’s Good, What’s Not
Let’s start with Krispcall, since it’s a newer name but popping up more often with B2B teams.
Krispcall (link) is a cloud-based virtual phone system. They pitch themselves as affordable, easy to use, and “all-in-one.” But does that hold up?
Where Krispcall Shines
- Simple, transparent pricing: Plans start at $15/user/month. No setup fees or contracts.
- Quick setup: You can buy a number and be calling in minutes—no IT heroics required.
- Global coverage: Local and toll-free numbers in 100+ countries, which is rare at this price.
- Call center features: IVR, call recording, call notes, voicemail transcription, call analytics. Not just “basic phone” stuff.
- Integrations: Works with HubSpot, Zoho, Pipedrive, Zapier, and a few others. Not the deepest list, but covers the basics.
- Web and mobile apps: Solid performance in browser, iOS, and Android.
Where Krispcall Falls Short
- Integration depth: Compared to heavyweights like RingCentral, Krispcall’s integrations are surface-level (mainly contact sync and call logging).
- No video meetings or team messaging: Strictly voice and SMS/MMS. If you want Slack-in-a-phone, look elsewhere.
- Brand recognition: They’re newer, so your IT team may have questions about long-term reliability or support.
- Call analytics: Useful, but not as granular as what you get from Aircall or Nextiva.
Who Likes Krispcall?
- Small to midsize teams that want affordable international calling.
- Startups or agencies with remote teams.
- Businesses that don’t need deep Salesforce or Microsoft Teams integration.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Krispcall | RingCentral | Aircall | Grasshopper | Nextiva | |------------------------|------------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------| | Starting Price/user/mo | $15 | $30 | $30 | $16 (flat) | $25 | | Local/Intl Numbers | 100+ countries | 40+ countries | 100+ countries | US/Canada only | 40+ countries | | IVR/Auto-attendant | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | | Call Recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | | Integrations | Basic (CRM, Zapier)| Deep (CRM, MS Teams, more) | Deep (CRM, Helpdesk, more) | Very limited | Good (CRM, Slack, more) | | SMS/MMS | Yes (many countries) | Yes (US/CA/UK/others) | Yes (select countries) | Yes (US) | Yes (US/CA) | | Mobile/Desktop Apps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Contracts/Setup Fees | No | Sometimes | No | No | Sometimes |
Prices as of June 2024. Always double-check current pricing and country coverage.
Honest Takes: What Works, What Doesn’t
Krispcall
What works: Global coverage, easy setup, no-nonsense pricing. Good for distributed or global teams that need to get going fast.
What doesn’t: If you need deep integrations (think: automatic ticket creation in Zendesk or advanced Salesforce logging), Krispcall can’t compete with the big guys. Support is responsive, but don’t expect white-glove treatment.
RingCentral
What works: The Swiss Army knife—does everything, integrates with everything. If you’re a bigger org with IT resources, it’s the safe bet.
What doesn’t: Overkill for small teams. Pricing creeps up fast, and setup can get complicated. Beware hidden costs (call rates, add-ons).
Aircall
What works: Built for sales and support teams. Fantastic integrations, clean UI, and strong analytics.
What doesn’t: Pricey. Some features locked behind higher tiers. Not great if you want simple, “just phone calls” service.
Grasshopper
What works: Dead simple. Buy a number, forward calls, basic VoIP. Flat pricing.
What doesn’t: No call recording, limited integrations, no international numbers. Feels dated if you want modern features.
Nextiva
What works: Strong support, good uptime, solid for US-based teams. Good feature balance.
What doesn’t: International coverage is weaker. Interface can feel clunky. Watch out for annual contracts and fees.
Pricing: What You’ll Actually Pay
Let’s talk real money. Ignore the “starting from…” banners and focus on what a B2B team with 10 users might pay for standard features (local number, call routing, recording, SMS, basic integrations).
- Krispcall: $150/month (10 users, $15 each). International numbers cost extra ($2-5/month/number). No setup fees.
- RingCentral: $300/month+ (10 users, $30+ each). Add-ons for international numbers, call recording, or advanced integrations. Contracts common.
- Aircall: $300/month+ (10 users, $30+ each). Stronger integrations, but international calling and numbers cost extra.
- Grasshopper: $80/month (unlimited users, 3 numbers). Limited features. US/Canada only.
- Nextiva: $250/month+ (10 users, $25+ each). Extra for international numbers, contracts likely.
Pro tip: Always check for per-minute rates on outbound calls, especially international. Many “unlimited” plans only cover US/Canada.
How to Choose: A Simple Checklist
If you’re overwhelmed, here’s a no-nonsense way to pick:
- List your must-haves. (e.g., “We need international numbers in the UK and India,” or “We need Salesforce integration.”)
- Decide on a budget. (Don’t forget to factor in setup fees, per-minute rates, and number costs.)
- Test the setup. (Sign up for a free trial or monthly plan. See if your team actually likes using it.)
- Check support. (Open a support ticket or ask a question. How fast do they respond? Are they helpful?)
- Read real reviews. (Not just those cherry-picked for marketing. Check G2, Reddit, or ask peers.)
If you’re a global, remote team with basic CRM needs and want to keep costs low, Krispcall is hard to beat. If you need deep integrations, advanced analytics, or want everything under one roof (including video meetings), you’ll probably want RingCentral or Aircall.
What to Ignore
- “AI-powered” call features (unless you have a specific workflow in mind)
- Dozens of integrations you’ll never use
- Fancy dashboards you never look at
- “Enterprise” features you can’t explain in a sentence
Stick to what your team will actually use daily.
Summary: Keep It Simple
There’s no perfect virtual phone solution—just the one that’s the best fit for your team right now. Don’t get dazzled by endless features or lock yourself into a long contract unless you have to. Start simple, see what works, and don’t be afraid to switch if something better comes along.
The best tool is the one your team actually uses. Stay skeptical, ask questions, and you’ll avoid the biggest headaches.