Best Reviewed
VoIP
- Best VoIP service overall AT&T CallVantage *Est. $25
- Best voice quality and reliability Cox Communications Digital Telephone *Est. $40
- Most VoIP features Vonage *Est. $25
- Free VoIP software Skype *Est. $0
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Best VoIP service overall
- Good pricing, call quality
- Works with any broadband provider, not just AT&T
- Has 911 service for all
- Fewer features than Vonage
- Recently discontinued
The most credible ratings of VoIPs give high marks to AT&T CallVantage, though usually there is not a huge difference between first place and last place. AT&T CallVantage is the default choice here for Internet phone calls, based on widespread availability, usability with any broadband service (you don't need AT&T's), features and good pricing. However, CallVantage has been dropped by AT&T -- so the only way to get it is to already have it. New enrollments are not being accepted. As an alternative, Vonage (*est. $25 for unlimited calling in U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Italy, Spain, UK, France and Ireland) costs the same and also gets good reviews.
We found the best coverage at Consumer Reports, where nine VoIP and VoIP-like services are ranked in a chart with more traditional phone service as part of a broader report on bundling your Internet, TV and telephone services with one provider. Unfortunately, you'll need a subscription to see the rankings. PC Magazine surveys readers about the quality of tech support (2008) and overall satisfaction (2006). Users rate VoIPs on a slew of factors at DSLReports.com. Some services get little feedback, some get a lot. We found about 150 there on AT&T CallVantage.
Our Sources
1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
This report concerns bundled services, but the subscribers-only ratings chart breaks the services into separate categories and nine VoIP and VoIP-type services are ranked among the standard and cable phone services. AT&T CallVantage is among them.
Review: Internet, TV, Phone: Bundling can cut bills, Editors of Consumer Reports, Feb. 2008
This annual service and reliability survey focuses on tech support, and AT&T CallVantage ranks third among six mainstream VoIP services. Overall scores are very close, though, ranging from 7.5 to 8.3.
Review: The Best (and Worst) Tech Support in America: VoIP, Sascha Segan and Eric Griffith, July 29, 2008
This dated customer-satisfaction poll of PC Magazine readers puts AT&T CallVantage in second place, barely beaten by Cablevision Optimum Voice. AT&T CallVantage does top Optimum in sound quality and non-technical support.
Review: 19th Annual Reader Satisfaction Survey: VoIP, Editors of PC Magazine, Sept. 20, 2006
AT&T CallVantage gets a Gold Award based on its very high ratio of good user reviews compared with bad (about 4:1 based on about 150 user reviews). Its highest scores are for call quality; its lowest for tech support.
Review: AT&T CallVantage Reviews, Editors of and contributors to DSLReports.com
5. CNet.com
This report is a relic - an update of one from 2004 - but some of the more than 60 user reviews are a lot more recent and overall a bit less complimentary than CNet's rating of "very good." Complaints mostly concern customer service and call quality.
Review: AT&T CallVantage Review, Neil Randall, Updated March 22, 2005
Unfortunately, this customer-satisfaction survey mixes VoIP with traditional long-distance services, so it's not specific enough to rank higher here. AT&T doesn't win any region, but fares no worse than average in any.
Review: 2008 Residential Regional Telephone Customer Satisfaction Study, Editors of J.D. Power & Associates, Sept. 10, 2008
