VOIP Plan Comparisons
VOIP
rocks!
I originally created this unbiased VOIP (Voice Over IP) plan comparison
chart back in December 2004 to display the costs and features of the
most popular consumer VOIP plans. If you're thinking about going with
a VOIP plan, it's a must read.
The chart focuses on unbundled VOIP providers with open systems.
(It currently includes VOIP plans from AT&T, BroadVoice, Earthlink,
Lingo, Packet8, Verizon, VoicePulse, Vonage, VoxFlow, and AOL.) It
does not compare the VOIP bundled offerings from cable operators like
Time-Warner or Comcast, nor does it provide information on exclusively
DSL-bundled services such as Speakeasy. The demise of SunRocket is
a clear sign of the volatile nature of the industry. This round of
consolidation may just be beginning and the old guard may very well
be the ultimate winners.
Since signing up for AT&T's CallVantage VOIP telephone service (in
the summer of 2004), I've never looked back. My overall VOIP call
quality is excellent and my monthly phone bills have been cut by two-thirds.
With unlimited long distance, I can yak to my heart's content without
watching the proverbial egg-timer each time I make a call. Among the
big VOIP players, the most popular features like voice mail, call
waiting, call forwarding, caller ID, and 3-way calling are provided
at no extra charge.
Tell that to your local phone company the next time they try selling
those features to you at extra cost!
While we've come to take free unlimited long distance for granted
with the VOIP plans, some digging has turned up a whole bunch of interesting
options with regard to international calling. How about unlimited
calls to Asia or Europe? It's for real and it's for a whole lot less
than you might think ...
VOIP Plan Comparison Chart - Updated 10/04/2007
| |
Provider |
Plan |
Monthly |
Activation |
Equipment |
Voice Mail |
Call Waiting |
Call Fwd |
Caller ID |
3 Way Calls |
Long
Distance |
Features of Note |
|
  |
| AT&T |
CallVantage
Local Plan |
$19.99 |
$29.99 |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
.04 per minute |
Call Log, Phone Book, Locate
Me, Speed Dial, Do Not Disturb, Safe Forward Number, Fax and Modem
Support, Directory Assistance, Personal Conferencing, E-911 |
| CallVantage
Service Plan |
$24.99 (first month free for online orders) |
$29.99 |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US, Canada & Puerto Rico |
| CallVantage
2-Line Plan |
$49.99 |
$29.99 |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US, Canada & Puerto Rico |
| BroadVoice |
Unlimited In-State |
$9.95 |
$39.95
(Save $30 if you BYOD.) |
$14.95 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited within primary number state, 3.9
per minute to other states |
Anon Call Rejection,
Call Forward (Always, Busy, No Answer, Selective),
Call Hold,
Call Notify,
*69 Call Return
Call Transfer
Call Waiting, Distinctive Ring, Do Not Disturb, Last Number Redial,
Speed Dial,
Voice Mail (Aliases& Dist Lists), Priority Alert, Simultaneous
Ring |
| Unlimited World |
$19.95 |
$39.95
(Save $30 if you BYOD.) |
$14.95 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited within US & 21 countries# |
| Unlimited World Plus |
$24.95 |
$39.95
(Save $30 if you BYOD.) |
$14.95 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited within US & 35 countries## |
Unlimited
Business |
$29.95 |
$39.95
(Save $30 if you BYOD.) |
$14.95 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited within US and Canada |
| EarthLink
trueVoice |
trueVoice
Unlimited |
$29.95
|
Free activation
($29.95 value) |
? |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited withing US |
Call Log, Phone Book, Locate
Me, Speed Dial, Do Not Disturb, Safe Forward Number, Fax and Modem
Support, Directory Assistance, Personal Conferencing, E-911 |
| trueVoice
Basic |
$14.95 |
$29.95 |
? |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
500 minutes included, $.04/minute after |
| Lingo |
Lingo
Link |
$7.95 |
$29.95 |
$9.95 shipping |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
Free to Lingo Subscribers, .03 per minute
US & Canada |
|
| Small
Talk |
$14.95 |
$29.95 |
$9.95 shipping |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
500 minutes US, Canada, & W. Europe |
Anon. Call Rejection, Caller ID
Block, Do Not Disturb, Redial, Speed Dial, 411, Simultaneous Ring,
Universal Number, Simultaneous Ring, Local Number Portability |
| Talk
365 |
$195 per year |
$29.95 |
$9.95 shipping |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US, Canada, & Puerto Rico |
| Chatter
Box |
$21.95 (first month free) |
$29.95 |
$9.95 shipping |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US & Canada. International - See
List of Countries*** |
| Global
Gabber |
$34.95 (first month free) |
$29.95 |
$9.95 shipping |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US & Canada. 300 minutes International
- See List of Countries** |
| Business
Unlimited |
$49.95 (first month free) |
$29.95 |
$9.95 shipping |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US, Canada |
As above, plus free fax line with 500 minutes |
| Packet8 |
Freedom
Annual |
$199.00 per year |
$29.99 |
Free with rebate |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US & Canada |
Caller ID Block, Call Return,
Do Not Disturb, Anon, Call Blocking, Distinctive Ring |
| Freedom
Unlimited |
$24.99 |
$29.99 |
Free with rebate |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US & Canada |
| Freedom
Unlimited Global |
$29.99 |
$29.99 |
Free with rebate |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US, Canada, and Europe +++ |
| Virtual
Office Unlimited Extension |
$39.99 per extension |
$18.95 |
$99.99 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Free - US & Canada |
Auto Attendant, Business Class Voice Mail,
Extension to Extension Dialing |
| Business
2000 |
$34.99 |
$18.95 |
$29.99 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
2000 minutes US and Canada |
Find me/follow-me, Simultaneous ring, 7 digit
local dialing |
| SunRocket
is TOAST. |
Limited Edition |
$9.95 |
- |
- |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
200 minutes US, Puerto
Rico, Canada, and 41 SunSpots### |
Anon. Call
Rejection, *69 Call Return, Speed Dial, Call Logs, Click to Call,
Enhanced Voicemail, Distinctive Rings, Do Not Disturb, Find Me |
Monthly Edition |
$24.95 |
- |
- |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited calling US,
Puerto Rico, and Canada, 2 free directory assistance calls and
$3 International credit each month |
Annual Edition |
$199 per year |
- |
- |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited calling US,
Puerto Rico, and Canada, 2 free directory assistance calls and
$3 International credit each month |
India Edition |
$199 per year |
- |
- |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited calling US,
Puerto Rico, and Canada,$.10 per min calls to India, inc. mobiles.
Earn 20% credit back at end of year for calls made to India. |
SunSpots Edition |
$299 per year |
- |
- |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited calling US,
Puerto Rico, and Canada, 41 SunSpots### |
Global Edition |
$349 per year |
- |
- |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited calling US,
Puerto Rico, and Canada, $20 monthly International credit |
| Verizon |
VoiceWing
500 |
$19.95 |
$19.95 (may be waived)
|
$8.00
(shipping & handling) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
500 minutes of local and long distance calling,
US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, then 4 cents per minute |
Back-Up Number, Caller ID Block,
Do Not Disturb, Voice Portal, Repeat Dial, Speed Dial, Address
Book (w/sync), Call Logs, Enhanced Call Forward, Directory Look-up,
Simultaneous Ring, Click-to-Dial, Call Back, Caller ID Block |
| VoiceWing
Unlimited |
$24.95 |
$19.95 (may be waived)
|
$8.00
(shipping & handling) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited in US, Canada, Puerto Rico |
| VoiceWing
Multi-line |
$44.95 |
$19.95 (may be waived)
|
$8.00
(shipping & handling) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited in US, Canada, Puerto Rico |
| VoicePulse |
America
Unlimited |
$26.49 |
$29.99 |
$49.99 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited in US |
Telemarketer Block, Filters,
Multi-Ring, Scheduled Do Not Disturb, *69 Call Return, # 7-Digit
Dialing,
Contact Lists, Distinctive Ring, Speed Dial, Do Not Disturb, Call
Hunt, Find Me |
Local
Unlimited
+200 |
$15.89 |
$29.99 |
$49.99 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
200 minutes free, then
3.9 per minute |
Business
Unlimited |
$48.75 |
$29.99 |
$49.99 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited in US |
| Vonage |
Basic 500 |
$14.99 |
$29.99 |
$9.95 (shipping) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
US, Canada , Puerto Rico, 500 minutes free,
then
3.9 per minute |
Click-2-Call, Call Return, Caller
ID Block, Repeat Dialing, International Call Block, Ring Lists,
Call Hunt, Vonage V-Forcast |
| Premium Unlimited |
$24.99 |
$29.99 |
$9.95 (shipping) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited US, Canada, Puerto Rico, Italy,
France, Spain, UK and Ireland |
| Small Business Basic |
$39.99 |
$29.99 |
$9.95 (shipping) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
US, Canada, Puerto Rico 1500 minutes free,
then
3.9 per minute |
| Small Business Unlimited |
$49.99 |
$29.99 |
$9.95 (shipping) |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited US, Canada, Puerto Rico Italy,
France, Spain, UK and Ireland |
| VoxFlow |
Residential Class |
$24.95 |
? |
? |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited in US |
Speed dialing, Global Portability |
| Small Business Class (dedicated fax line) |
$48.95 |
? |
? |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited in US |
| Phone System Class |
$48.95 |
? |
? |
Hunt groups available |
X |
X |
X |
Unlimited in US |
NOTE: Some VOIP plans may charge for calls to Hawaii and Alaska.
This list is not the be all, end all ... always check with each provider
for the specific features and benefits of their plans. You can also
expect to pay various pesky little (i.e.: $1-$3) monthly charges for
things like Regulatory Recovery Fees, Universal Service Funds, and
E911. The devil is the the details.
* Lingo's Western European VOIP plan includes: UK, Germany, France,
Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden,
Finland, Austria, Luxembourg, Vatican City, Norway, Portugal, and
Spain plus Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea. However,
this does not include calls to mobile phones, premium and special
service numbers in these areas. US includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands and calls to cellular phones.
** Lingo's Global Gabber VOIP plan includes: Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, San Marino, Singapore,South Korea,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and Vatican
City. Calls to mobile phones, premium and special service numbers
in these areas are not included. U.S. includes AK, HI, PR, USVI and
calls to cellular phones.
*** Lingo's Chatter Box VOIP plan includes: UK, Germany, France,
Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden,
Finland, Austria, Luxembourg, Vatican City, Norway, Portugal, and
Spain plus Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea.
+++ Packet 8's Freedom Unlimited Global plan includes: Austria, Belgium,
Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,
Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Moscow-Central, Moscow-Suburb, St. Petersburg, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Korea,
Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Chile, Sao Paulo, Caracas, Puerto
Rico, Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, and Israel.
# BroadVoice Unlimited World VOIP plan includes: Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland,
Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, and Vatican City. Calls to
mobile numbers outside the US and Canada are not included.
## BroadVoice Unlimited World Plus VOIP plan includes: Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland,
Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States, and Vatican City. Calls to
mobile numbers outside the US and Canada are not included.
### SunRocket's SunSpots include: (Countries) Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany,
Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom, Vatican City. (Cities)
Caracas, Guadalajara, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Lima, Mexico City, Monterrey,
Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, St. Petersburg, São Paulo
Still on the fence? Read the Gnomie
VOIP survey results.
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