Grasshopper phone system & it’s limitations

Considering Grasshopper for your business phone system?

We get it.

Grasshopper has been around for more than two decades and has served thousands of small businesses across the globe.

If you’re here, you’re probably weighing whether it’s the right fit for your team.

We’ve got you covered.

In this breakdown, we’ll walk through what Grasshopper offers, what it doesn’t, and whether it still holds up in 2025. And if it turns out Grasshopper isn’t quite the one, we’ll share a modern alternative that just might be.

What does Grasshopper actually offer?

Grasshopper has been in the game since 2003, making it one of the earliest virtual phone systems on the market.

You can use Grasshopper on both their desktop and mobile apps (iOS and Android), which means you can run your business from pretty much anywhere with an internet connection.

Here’s what’s included in every Grasshopper plan:

• Local U.S., Canadian, or toll-free numbers
• Business texting support
• Unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada
• Call forwarding + call handling
• Custom greetings
• Voicemail transcription
• Virtual fax
• Call reporting
• 24/7 customer support
• Free number porting

So far, so good, right?

But here’s the thing – While that list looks solid on the surface, Grasshopper starts to show its age when you dig deeper.

For starters:

• No third-party integrations – If you’re using tools like HubSpot, Slack, or any ATS/CRM, you’re out of luck.
• No MMS support on toll-free or Canadian numbers – Forget about sending images, videos, or GIFs.
• And perhaps most importantly, many of these features mirror what you’d get with a traditional business landline, just with a fancier app wrapper and a bigger price tag.
• If you’re a modern team looking to scale smartly, Grasshopper might not go the distance.

How much does Grasshopper cost?

Grasshopper’s pricing structure is … a little different.

Unlike most modern VoIP providers that charge per user, Grasshopper flips the script.

Their plans are based on the number of phone numbers you want, not how many people are using them.

Here’s how it breaks down:

True Solo – $18/mo

Perfect if you’re flying solo.

• 1 user
• 1 phone number

Solo Plus – $32/mo

Great for small partnerships or co-founders.

• Unlimited users
• 1 phone number
• 3 extensions

Small Business – $70/mo

Made for growing teams (but not exactly cheap).

• Unlimited users
• 4 phone numbers
• Unlimited extensions

Want more than the included numbers or extensions? Be ready to shell out extra.

Additional phone numbers? $10/mo each

Extra extensions? You’ll need to call support (they don’t list prices)

If you want unique phone numbers for each person (which is pretty standard for most teams), your monthly bill can balloon fast.

Also, here are a few more add-on charges:

• Call blasting (ring multiple team members at once): +$10/month
• Voice Studio (get pro voice recordings for greetings): $75 for 250 words
• Ruby Receptionists (live humans who answer your calls): Starts at $199/month

While the upfront pricing looks quite simple, the moment you require multiple numbers, custom extensions, or professional features, the costs add up quickly.

Reasons Grasshopper might not be the best fit

Before you drop your card and commit to Grasshopper, let’s hit pause for a second. On the surface, it looks like a solid virtual phone system. But dig a little deeper, and the cracks start to show.

1. No useful integrations

Grasshopper does not support integrations.

Whether it’s logging calls in your CRM, triggering texts after form submissions, or syncing contacts automatically, integrations might be the core of your sales and support workflows.

But with Grasshopper? Nada.

The only integration is a Skype forwarding feature (and Skype shut down its operations in 2025)

If your team lives in tools like HubSpot, Salesforce or Slack, don’t expect Grasshopper to be on your side.

2. Very limited auto-reply options

Grasshopper offers limited automation options.

Here’s how it works: if someone calls and you miss it, Grasshopper can send them a one-time “Hey, I’ll get back to you soon!” type of text.

Helpful? Probably.

Here’s where it falls short:

❌ You can’t send different auto-replies after-hours or on weekends

❌ It won’t trigger if the caller doesn’t press an extension or leaves no voicemail

So, if you were hoping for smart, flexible automation that handles texts while you sleep – Grasshopper’s instant response might leave you ghosted.

3. No call transcriptions

Let’s say you want to revisit an important conversation, maybe a candidate shared their availability or a client dropped key details. With most modern VoIP platforms, you’d just check the call transcript.

Easy, right?

Well, not with Grasshopper.

You can get call recordings, but only if you upgrade to a higher-tier plan. And even then, it’s an all-or-nothing deal, you either record all calls or none. There’s no option to just hit “record” for that one make-or-break conversation.

Also, Grasshopper doesn’t offer call transcriptions at all. Not as a built-in feature. Not even as a paid add-on.

And with basically zero integrations, there’s no way to duct-tape a workaround either.

If transcripts are important to your business, it’s probably time to start looking at some Grasshopper alternatives. Your future self will thank you.

4. No international texting

If you’re hoping to text your international clients or candidates? Not going to happen.

Grasshopper doesn’t support international texting. You’re stuck with SMS only within the U.S. and Canada. And even then, there’s a catch.

If you’re using a Canadian or toll-free number?

Say goodbye to sending MMS. That means no photos, no videos, no PDFs, etc. Just plain old text.

If texting is how you stay connected with people across borders, Grasshopper’s not going to cut it.

5. 30 day voicemail storage

Ever need to revisit an old voicemail to double-check a client’s request or dig into what went wrong with a candidate interaction?

That will not be possible with Grasshopper.

All voicemails get auto-deleted after just 30 days.

This makes it tricky to track long-term conversations, especially in staffing or sales cycles that stretch out beyond a few weeks.

If you need to keep better records, this can be a big problem.

6. International calling? It’s expensive

Planning to call clients or teammates abroad? With Grasshopper, that could cost you a lot.

International calling rates can spike up to a whopping $0.95 per minute (subject to change).

Before you even get started, they also ask you to preload your account with $500 just to unlock the feature.

For small teams or businesses scaling globally, this isn’t just pricey, it’s limiting. Whether you’re supporting overseas candidates or managing remote teams, the cost shouldn’t be a barrier to connection.

How iTeleCenter stacks up against Grasshopper

Thinking about switching from Grasshopper? Here’s a side-by-side look at iTeleCenter, which delivers more value, flexibility, and support.

	iTeleCenter	Grasshopper
Price per month	Starts at $19.95 per user per month	Starts at $18 per month
Calling (U.S. & Canada)	✅	✅
SMS, MMS	✅	US numbers only
Voicemail to text	✅	✅
Set business hours	✅	✅
Additional phone numbers	$5 per number	$10 per number
Number porting	✅	✅
Call recording	✅	Need to upgrade
Extensions	✅	✅
Fax	✅	✅
iOS and Android apps	✅	✅
Web-based app	✅	✅

iTeleCenter: A better alternative to Grasshopper

If you’re after a phone system that actually grows with your business, check out iTeleCenter.

Built specifically for modern teams, thousands of businesses have already made the switch from Grasshopper to iTeleCenter.

Want to see what all the hype is about?

Start your 14-day free trial of iTeleCenter today and give your business phone system the upgrade it deserves.