Voice over IP or VoIP is a way to use your Internet service for making phone calls. Phone calls are converted into data and are sent through the Internet just like an e-mail would. It is perfect for people who want to cut the cable and stop being forced into getting bundles from the phone-internet-television monopolies. They almost all require a little box that connects to your home phone to be able to receive Internet but other than that there is no extra installation. We’ve highlighted a few of the higher rated residential services below, but there are a bunch to choose from, you just need to find the right one for you.
Ooma
- Basic Service
- Purchase Ooma Tello – $129.99
- Only pay taxes monthly – $3 to $5
- Keep phone number for $40 or annual subscription to premier service
- Unlimited US calling
- Free Ooma to Ooma calling anywhere
- Free 60 day trial of Premier when you sign up
- International calls starting at 1 cent a minute
- Premier Service
- Purchase Ooma Tello – $129.99
- $9.99 a month
- Unlimited US and Canada calling
- Free Ooma to Ooma calling anywhere
- Keep phone number with annual subscription
- Added features: 3-way calling, second line, call forwarding
Vonage
- Unlimited US and Canada Plan
- Need Vonage Box 79.99, order from the website and get instant rebate so it costs 0 (free shipping with 1 year subscription)
- $9.99 a month for first 3 months, then $24.99 (with 1 year agreement)
- $24.99 a month with no contract
- Low rates internationally
- Free calling to other Vonage home phone service customers
- Keep your current number free
- Vonage World
- Need Vonage Box $79.99, order from the website and get instant rebate so it costs 0 (free shipping with 1 year subscription)
- $9.99 a month for 3 months then $27.99 a month w/ 1 year subscription
- $27.99 a month with no annual contract
- Unlimited international calls to landlines in 60 countries and mobiles in 10 countries
- Unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico
- Free calling to other Vonage home phone service customers
- Keep your current number free
magicJack
- Basic Plan
- magicJackGO for $59.95
- 12 months free local and long distance calling to US and Canada
- $10 credit – use towards keeping number
- Free international calls to magicJack customers
- International calls starting at 1 cent a minute
- Afterwards:
- $5 a month or $35 a year
Skype
- Free
- Video and voice calls to anyone on Skype
- Pay
- Video and voice calls to anyone on Skype
- Pay As You Go, buy credits and use them as you go starting at 2 cents a minute
- Subscriptions, calls is unlimited
- United States and Canada – $2.99/month
- North America – $7.99/month
- World – $13.99/month