Grasshopper vs RingCentral: A full comparison (2025)

If you’ve been looking around, you’ve probably come across RingCentral and Grasshopper.

Both RingCentral and Grasshopper are quite big in the business phone system world, with over 100,000 customers each.

Although both are designed for businesses of all sizes, from solo founders to large enterprise teams, they go about things in very different ways.

So, if you’re feeling stuck trying to choose between RingCentral and Grasshopper, you’re in the right place.

We’re going to break down what each one offers, how their pricing works and how well they play with the rest of your tools.

Grasshopper vs RingCentral: The showdown

Let’s take a look at how Grasshopper and RingCentral compare across all these areas.

1. RingCentral vs Grasshopper: Pricing

Let’s start with the big question – how much are these going to cost you?

Because let’s face it, you want something that works for your team but doesn’t wreck your budget.

So, which one’s cheaper?

Grasshopper wins this round if you’re a solo user or part of a small team. But hang on, there’s more to it than just sticker price.

Breaking down RingCentral’s pricing

RingCentral has four different plans: Essentials, Standard, Premium, and Ultimate. And the pricing changes based on how many users you’ve got and so on.

If you’re a one-person operation, here’s what you’d be looking at per month:

Core: $30/user/month

Advanced: $35/user/month

Ultra: $45/user/month

Now here’s where it gets tricky. You might think the Core plan is enough, but it misses out on call recording, faxing, integrations, and more. You only get that if you move up to a higher or higher. So, if you’re planning to use your phone system a lot, you’re already looking at the $50-and-up range.

What about Grasshopper?

Grasshopper does things a little differently. Instead of charging per user, they charge based on how many phone numbers you need.

Here’s the breakdown:

Solo plan: $18 per month

Partner plan: $32 per month

Small Business plan: $70 per month

Each plan comes with a set number of phone numbers and extensions. The Solo plan, for example, gives you one number and 1 extension. You also get WiFi calling, business texting, call forwarding and both mobile and desktop apps right out of the gate.

So, while Grasshopper is a better fit for solo founders and tiny teams, it doesn’t scale as well. RingCentral might be pricier upfront, but once your team gets bigger, you’ll probably end up saving money and getting more advanced tools in the process.

Our verdict

If you’re a solo founder or part of a two or three-person team, Grasshopper gives you more value for the price. It’s simple, affordable and gives you the essentials without overcomplicating things.

But if you’re planning to grow or already have a larger team, RingCentral starts to make a bit more sense. It becomes more affordable per user, and you get more tools tied in.

2. Features: Which one gives you more for your money?

Winner: RingCentral

Let’s talk about features now. On the surface, both Grasshopper and RingCentral offer a good list of standard tools you’d expect from a virtual phone system. Whether you’re just getting started or already have a few people on your team, these platforms check a lot of these basic boxes.

Here’s what you’ll find on both:

• Vanity numbers
• Business phone numbers and multiple extensions
• Mobile & Desktop
• Toll-free numbers
• Unlimited calls across the US and Canada
• Business texting
• WiFi calling and voicemail
• Call forwarding

Not bad, right?

But here’s where things get a little more complicated.

Most of the good stuff sits behind a wall (and you’ve got to pay up)

With both Grasshopper and RingCentral, you can’t access the more advanced tools without upgrading your plan.

Take Grasshopper, for example. If you’ve got a few teammates who all need access to your business line, you’re looking at the Small Business plan, which is around $70/month. And while it gets you more extensions and numbers, it doesn’t unlock much beyond the basics.

RingCentral does something similar. If you want things like call recording or third-party integrations, you’ll need to be on the Advanced plan – which runs you $35/month per user.

So yes, RingCentral technically offers more features. But unless you’re willing to pay for a higher-tier plan, a lot of those tools stay out of reach.

Our verdict

If you’re looking strictly at who has more tools, then RingCentral wins, no question. It’s designed for teams that want a full-blown communication platform.

But if you’re a smaller business or just want something lightweight and easy to use, both options start to feel a little limiting unless you’re ready to spend more than you probably need to.

3. Integrations: What can you connect with these systems?

Winner: RingCentral

This one’s not even close. RingCentral takes the win hands down.

If integrations matter to you, RingCentral gives you way more flexibility. It works with popular tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Zendesk, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, and a lot more. That means your calls, customer info and workflows can all live in one place instead of being spread across a dozen tabs.

Grasshopper, on the other hand, doesn’t really offer any real integrations. The only thing it connects to is Skype, and even that’s pretty limited.

The pros and cons of RingCentral

If you’re considering RingCentral, here’s a quick look at where it does well and where it could use some work.

What people like:

• It’s pretty easy to use – Even with all its features, most users say the layout and navigation are simple to figure out.
• Packed with features – Features like video meetings, messaging and smart call routing make it feel like a complete phone system.
• Stable system – Many businesses find it dependable, even when it’s handling lots of calls and activity every day.

What people don’t exactly love:

• Customer support is hit or miss – Some users report that it can take days or even weeks to hear back from the support team and get their issues resolved.
• You pay more to unlock some key features – A lot of what makes RingCentral powerful sits behind higher-tier plans.
• Setup can feel overwhelming – If you’re new to VoIP, getting everything configured might take a bit more time and patience than expected.

The pros and cons of Grasshopper

Now let’s take a look at Grasshopper, especially from the perspective of smaller teams or solo business owners.

What people like:

• Simple but effective features – Grasshopper includes essentials like call forwarding, voicemail transcription and an auto attendant that gets the job done.
• Quite affordable for small teams – A lot of freelancers and startups love the pricing, especially when they don’t need fancy extras.
• Quick and easy to set up – Most users say it’s easy to get started and manage without needing much technical help.
• Reliable for basic use – If you just need calling and texting, Grasshopper tends to deliver with consistent performance.
• Clean, no-fuss interface – Users appreciate the minimal layout without a bunch of clutter or confusing menus.

What people don’t exactly love:

• Number management can be a little tricky – Some users have had issues porting their number or adding new ones without hassle.
• Account and billing issues – There seems to be problems updating billing info or managing their subscription.
• Occasional call quality issues – While it does work well most of the time, some individuals report dropped calls or lag every now and then.
• Customer support can lag – Even though support is available 24/7, response times and help quality don’t always meet expectations.

Why iTeleCenter stands out from RingCentral and Grasshopper

If you’re looking for a phone system that’s simple to use, flexible enough to grow with your team, and won’t blow your budget, iTeleCenter deserves a spot on your list.

Sure, RingCentral is loaded with features and Grasshopper keeps things super simple, but iTeleCenter finds a solid middle ground.

What makes iTeleCenter different?

Here’s a look at the features that really set iTeleCenter apart from the competition:

Call forwarding and routing

You’re not tied to one device. With iTeleCenter , you can forward calls to your mobile or office phone, or even your laptop. You can also choose to ring several devices at once or in a specific order.

Business texting

You can send and receive texts right from your business number, using your phone or desktop. Best part? We handle the 10DLC formalities for you 😊

Custom phone menus and extensions

iTeleCenter makes it easy to guide your callers to the right place with menu options and extensions. You can keep it simple with single-digit routing or go all-in with multi-digit extensions for specific people or departments.

Easy voicemail management

Check your voicemail from your phone, your computer or even your email inbox. Voicemail transcription and unlimited storage help make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Customization without the learning curve

Whether you want to tweak your call routing, update your menu or change your availability hours, iTeleCenter makes it simple. You don’t need to dig through confusing settings to make the system work for you.

iTeleCenter pricing: Built with small businesses in mind

Unlike RingCentral’s more enterprise-focused pricing or Grasshopper’s limited flexibility, iTeleCenter offers plans that balance power and price. Here’s how they break down:

• Basic Plan – $15.96/month

Great for freelancers or solo businesses

• Grow Plan – $31.96/month

Ideal for small teams that need a bit more flexibility

• Pro Plan – $79.96/month

Perfect for growing teams or businesses with more complex needs.

List of iTeleCenter features

• Local, toll free and vanity phone numbers
• Free number porting
• SMS & MMS messaging
• Auto reply by text
• SMS keywords
• Call forwarding
• Call transfer
• Automatic call distribution
• Call blocking
• Call screening and announce
• Virtual receptionist
• Recorded hotlines
• Phone extensions
• Call recording
• Call analytics
• Web and Mobile Apps
• Business voicemail
• Voicemail transcription
• Professional voice studio
• Custom greetings
• Business hours
• Conference calling
• Virtual fax
• Follow me find me
• VoIP + Wi-Fi calling

Try iTeleCenter for free

Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up fast, iTeleCenter gives you room to grow and keeps things simple every step of the way.

Start with a 14-day free trial and see how iTeleCenter fits your team. No stress, no long setup, just a better way to run your business calls, texts and meetings.