Best Reviewed
VoIP
- Best voice quality and reliability Cable-company VoIP *Est. $12
- Most VoIP features Vonage *Est. $10
- Hardware VoIP with no monthly fee Ooma *Est. $225
- Best Free VoIP Voice Calls from Gmail *Est. $0
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Hardware VoIP with no monthly fee
- No monthly charges (except taxes/fees)
- Good call quality
- Free long distance in U.S.
- Steep hardware cost
- Usage cap 5,000 minutes per month
- Advanced features incur monthly fee
- International calls not the cheapest
Ooma differs from other VoIP services in that it charges only for the initial hardware. The original Ooma Core set (*Est. $225) includes an adapter for one extension. Each additional extension requires an extra adapter (*Est. $70). A newer Ooma Telo model (*Est. $235) promises better call quality and works with Ooma handsets (*Est. $50) instead of adapters. There are no monthly fees for the basic service, except for taxes and fees (about $3.50 per month). Domestic calls are free, so unless you make mostly international calls or need lots of extensions, reviews say this is the most cost-effective VoIP solution. The free service includes basic features such as voice mail and caller ID, plus a virtual second line, so two people can make calls at the same time. Some fancier options, such as three-way calling and voice mail forwarding, require a Premier subscription (*Est. $10 per month). Most reviews praise the call quality, but technical support gets mixed reviews. If you make lots of international calls, consider Vonage (*Est. $10 to $35 per month), which offers free calls to 60 countries with its $35-per-month plan.
We found the most detailed comparison reviews of Ooma at The New York Times and at SpotCoolStuff.com; both reviewers compare Ooma with three other popular VoIP services. Single-product reviews at ComputerWorld.com and EVDOInfo.com provide more detail. While we found the most user-written reviews at Amazon.com, the reviews and ratings at DSLReports.com are better consolidated, with useful comparisons to many more VoIP services. An article at
FierceVoIP.com examines Ooma's business model to evaluate the company's probable longevity -- a crucial factor, since costs to the user are all up front. More recently, a columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle offers a comparison of Ooma and Vonage, while a blogger at CNET tries out the Ooma Telo service.
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Our Sources
This review compares Ooma with Vonage, Skype and MagicJack, concluding that Ooma and Vonage have the best call quality plus easy installation and use.
Review: Talk Is Cheap, if You Ask, Eric A. Taub, April 29, 2009
This detailed review of Ooma compares it with Vonage, MagicJack and Skype -- concluding that for U.S. users who make mostly domestic calls, Ooma is the best choice. Call quality rivals that of Vonage, and Ooma costs the least in the long run -- but international calls are cheaper with Vonage, and Vonage customer service is better.
Review: Is Ooma Worth Your Moola?, Editors of SpotCoolStuff.com, March 19, 2009
This detailed single-product review of Ooma concludes that it can save a lot of money unless you need a lot of extensions or extra options. Call quality is judged adequate but variable -- sometimes hollow, tinny or fuzzy.
Review: Review: Ooma Helps You Save on Your Phone Bills, Preston Gralla, Feb. 25, 2009
This review reports on tests of Ooma on a 3G wireless network (Sprint EVDO) as well as over a high-speed cable broadband connection, even including audio files of sample calls. Call quality on a cable connection is judged excellent, but using Ooma on a 3G network, not surprisingly, requires an excellent signal.
Review: Ooma Core Home Phone System Review, Editors of EVDOInfo.com, April 27, 2009
Ooma earns top ratings here, based on about 40 enthusiastic user-written reviews. Users praise it for call quality and ease of use. Recent reviews also report improvements in technical support.
Review: Ooma, Editors of and Contributors to DSLReports.com
6. Amazon.com
Over 800 owners review Ooma here, resulting in an overall rating of 4.5 stars (out of 5). Most of the complaints relate to inaccessible or poor technical support.
Review: Ooma Core VoIP Phone System, Contributors to Amazon.com
This article explaining Ooma's business model reinforces the probability that Ooma will stay in business despite offering free ongoing service, in part because the company plans to refresh its hardware about every two years.
Review: The Ooma Conspiracy -- or Why Vonage is Ultimately Doomed, Doug Mohney, March 19, 2009
In this short article, David Einstein compares Ooma and Vonage, ultimately recommending the former. He says that while Vonage offers free international calls, Ooma's rates are very low, plus there's no monthly fee.
Review: After Up-Front Cost, Ooma Has Edge over Vonage, David Einstein, Jan. 25, 2010
9. CNET
Rick Broida, who writes The Cheapskate blog for CNET, takes a look at Ooma Telo, comparing it to his current VoIP service, Vonage. He's impressed with Telo's call quality and likes the idea of shedding the monthly bill. Nearly 50 users post responses.
Review: Replace Your Landline with $199 Ooma Telo, Rick Broida, July 12, 2010
VoIP Runners Up:
3 picks including: The New York Times…
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3 picks by top review sites.
