Skip to content

13 best IVR systems for small businesses in 2026

best IVR system for small business

Explore this content with AI:

ChatGPT Perplexity Claude Google AI Mode Grok

As your business grows, keeping up with an increasing number of calls gets tough. Customers want quick answers, but a small team can only handle so much. An IVR system helps by letting customers route themselves to the right rep, department, or self-service option.

But choosing the right IVR solution can be an overwhelming task — especially if you’re a small business owner just trying to see what’s out there.

This guide makes it easy to choose the best IVR system for small businesses by comparing the 13 best solutions of 2025.

First, let’s look at what an IVR system actually does.

What are IVR systems?

An IVR system answers your customers’ calls and helps them reach the right person or department. When someone calls your business, they’ll hear menu options like “Press one for sales” or “Press two for support.” Plus, your IVR can handle simple tasks on its own, such as providing business hours or letting customers check their order status.

The top IVR systems for small businesses compared

Here’s a comparison chart of the best business phone solutions with IVR systems based on their prices and features:

ProviderStarting priceUnlimited calling to US & CanadaSMS & MMS to US & CanadaShared phone numbersAdditional phone numbers
OpenPhone$15 per user per month$5 per number per month
Aircall$30 per month$6 per number per month
Nextiva$15 per user per month100 SMS per user per monthShared call appearance onlyUndisclosed fee
CloudTalk$19 per user per monthUS and Canadian customers only, excludes toll-free callsRequires upgradeRing groups only$6 per number per month
RingCentral$20 per user per monthLimited toll-free minutes25 messages per user per monthCalls only$4.99 per number per month
8×8Contact for a quote✔️✔️✔️Contact for a quote
Zoom Phone$10 per user per monthRequires upgradeCalls only$5 per number per month
Dialpad$15 per user per month✔️For US and Canadian customers only✔️Requires upgrade
GoTo ConnectContact for a quoteFor US and Canadian customers onlyShared inbox onlyVaries by country
JustCall$29 per user per month500 segments per user per monthPricing varies based on plan and country
MightyCall$15 per user per month✔️✔️Calls only$5 per number per month
CallHippo$18 per user per month✔️ (limitations on toll-free, premium, and specialty numbers)100 SMS per user per month✔️Cost varies
Talkdesk$85 per user per monthXRing groups onlyContact for a quote

Keep reading as we cover each of these phone solutions in depth below. 

1. Quo (formerly OpenPhone): Best for small and growing businesses

Best IVR system: Quo

Pros

  • Multi-level IVR included on the Business plan
  • Use a new number or port your existing number for free
  • Build different phone menus for during and after-business hours
  • Compatible with devices you already own
  • Offers shared numbers so you can split responsibility for incoming calls and messages

Cons

  • No verification through two-factor authentication*

*Nearly all virtual phone numbers share this problem. Companies like Facebook, Uber, and Google rarely let you authenticate accounts through a virtual phone number.

Quo is the #1 business phone solution as rated by thousands of growing companies on G2. As a small business owner, you can easily scale your business phone system as your team grows. Each user on your plan comes with one local US, Canadian, or North American toll-free number. You can also create shared numbers for your team to split responsibility for incoming calls.

Worried about what might happen to your current business number? Good news — you don’t have to buy a new number from Quo to put IVR on your current business phone number. Since Quo works with VoIP technology, you can port your existing number for free using our two-minute form. Then you can add IVR in a couple of steps and build voice-activated menus in 15 minutes or less.

Quo’s phone menu settings showing IVR options for Sales, Support, and Business hours.

Quo’s multi-level IVR is available on the Business plan that costs $23 per user per month. This means you can build phone menus with multiple levels. For example, a caller might press one for sales, then two to speak to a sales rep in a specific location.

You can also set any of the following as phone menu options:

  • Dial all shared number members simultaneously or in a custom ring group.
  • Forward calls to a different Quo number or a US or Canadian number outside of Quo.
  • Send a call straight to voicemail.
  • Play an audio recording based on frequently asked questions, like your team’s business hours or how to pay an outstanding bill.
  • Route calls through a nested phone menu, like press one for sales or press two for customer service, with submenus included for each option.

If a caller doesn’t select a menu option, the phone menu greeting plays again by default. You can also set the system to forward calls automatically so no customers get lost looking for help. This keeps important conversations from falling through the cracks and customers from moving on to your competitors. 

Plus, you can set up different IVRs for during and after business hours if you need to set up a different call flow when you’re out of the office. For example, you might want to provide business hours or self-service options.

Quo’s multi-level phone menu. Calls follow different paths depending on business hours. Callers can press one for sales, two for support, or three to have Sona answer.

Thousands of small businesses rely on Quo to simplify their daily workflows and build customer relationships — and not just because of our intuitive IVR. Get access to shared numbers, free calling and texting to US and Canadian numbers, automatic call recording, AI call transcriptions and summaries, hundreds of CRM and VoIP integrations, and much more. 

Need help answering calls when your team is away? Sona, Quo’s AI voice agent, can greet callers, take messages, and respond to common questions. This ensures your business stays responsive, even when you can’t pick up the phone.

Key features of Quo

  • One new local or toll-free number per member of your team
  • Free calls and texts in the US and Canada
  • IVR
  • Call recording
  • Integrations with Zapier, Slack, HubSpot, and Salesforce
  • Voicemail-to-text
  • Ring groups
  • Business hours
  • Different call flows for during and after business hours 
  • Text-to-speech options to add your greeting once you have an IVR script in place 
  • Time-saving texting automations, like scheduled messages, snippets, and auto-replies
  • AI call tags to surface positive sentiment and other call trends
  • The new Quo API to automatically log all call activity into your CRM

Quo pricing

OpenPhone Pricing

Quo’s pricing plans offer three tiers to choose from, with IVR available on the Business and Scale plans:

  • Starter: $15 per user per month for unlimited calls in the US and Canada, one free US, Canadian, shared phone number, or toll-free number per user, and more
  • Business: $23 per user per month for IVR, HubSpot and Salesforce integrations, call transfers, and more
  • Scale: $35 per user per month for AI call tags, dedicated onboarding support, and priority live chat and email ticket support
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)

Set up an IVR for your small business

OpenPhone Conversations

2. Aircall: Best for sales centers

Best IVR system: Aircall

Pros

  • Unlimited calls in the US and Canada
  • Stock hold music 

Cons

  • AI-generated call summaries require an expensive add-on 
  • More expensive than other IVR solutions
  • Three-user minimum for the base plan

Aircall is a remote phone system that offers call center software to sales and support teams. Its interactive voice response system uses number and voice recognition to route callers where they need to go. It also lets you:

  • Choose from 15 voice styles and 16 languages if you use its text-to-speech option to create your IVR message.
  • Set up stock hold music.
  • Build your IVR on a visual canvas that lets you know if there are any errors with your menu’s design.

Aircall is much more expensive than the other IVR systems on this list. Aircall’s basic plan costs $30 per user per month and comes with a three-user minimum. This means Aircall’s IVR is a minimum of $90 per month — which might be more than you want to pay as a growing small business. 

If you want an IVR solution at a lower price, you’re better off looking at an Aircall alternative. Keep in mind the platform also puts a cap on texting. Each user only gets 250 SMS and 50 MMS per month. Once you go over, you’ll be charged $0.010 for every additional message.

Key features of Aircall

  • Call recording
  • Click-to-dial
  • Unlimited simultaneous outbound calls
  • Free inbound and outbound calls in the US and Canada
  • Desktop, Android, and iOS apps

Aircall pricing

Aircall provides three different pricing plans that you can pick from.

Aircall’s pricing gives you three different plans to choose from:

  • Essentials: $30 per user per month with a three-user minimum for local, toll-free, or international numbers, call recording, and click-to-call 
  • Professional: $50 per user per month with a three-user minimum for the Power Dialer, mandatory call tagging, and the Salesforce integration
  • Custom: Personalized quote with a 25-user minimum for custom onboarding, API developer support, and unlimited calls worldwide 

3. Nextiva: Best for teams that use Microsoft products

Best IVR system: Nextiva

Pros

  • Simple IVR
  • Integrates with Microsoft products requires an upgrade

Cons

  • Toll-free number and minutes require an upgrade
  • Call recording requires an upgrade
  • Skills-based routing requires an upgrade to the highest plan

Nextiva launched in 2009 as a virtual fax service and has since evolved into a communications platform. 

On Nextiva’s $15 per user per month Core plan, you can access its simple IVR to create basic call flows for customers. Callers can use keypad inputs and voice commands to get where they want to go. 

If you want to prioritize urgent customer calls so they can skip the queue, you’ll have to upgrade to the Power Suite CX plan to access priority-based routing. This will cost your business $75 per user per month. Plus, skill-based routing, which ensures calls are routed to the most qualified reps, is also only available on the highest-tier plan.

Keep in mind Nextiva also has several other limitations. You have to upgrade to access the basic communication features most small businesses need. For example:

  • Shared team texting is only available if you upgrade to the Engage plan. This means your team can’t collaborate on conversations from a shared number unless you pay more.
  • Call recording is locked behind the Engage plan that costs $25 per user per month. This could be a problem if you need to record your calls for legal or contextual purposes and want to keep costs down.
  • Toll-free numbers require an upgrade to the Engage plan. Even then, you’re limited to just 2,000 toll-free minutes. Nextiva doesn’t publicly share the cost of extra minutes, so it’s harder to estimate your total bill.

Key features of Nextiva

  • Basic auto-attendant 
  • Skills-based routing with an upgrade
  • Custom hold music
  • Free number porting
  • Voicemail transcriptions with an upgrade

Nextiva pricing

Nextiva offers three different pricing plans.

Nextiva’s pricing offers three different pricing plans for you to pick from. Let’s break them down:

  • Core: $15 per user per month for messaging apps, social and review management, IVR, and business SMS
  • Engage: $25 per user per month for customer-to-team SMS messaging, toll-free number and minutes, and MS Teams integration
  • Power Suite CX: $75 per user per month for priority and skills-based routing, AI transcriptions and summaries, customizable intelligent and skills-based routing

4. CloudTalk: Best for having an outbound contact center

Best IVR system: CloudTalk

Pros

  • Multi-level IVR
  • International numbers in over 160 countries

Cons

  • IVR is not available on the base plan
  • Speech-to-text requires an upgrade
  • Smart routing requires an add-on

CloudTalk call center software is specifically for outbound call centers. You can use their multi-level auto-attendant to create submenus that have more options. For example, you can create two separate automated phone systems based on location, like’Press one for Seattle or press two for Chicago.’ Then, build separate options within those menus to route callers to the right place, like ‘Press three for the Help Desk.’

You can’t access CloudTalk’s IVR solution on the basic plan. Instead, you have to upgrade to the Essential plan that costs $29 per user per month. 

Even once you’ve upgraded your plan to access CloudTalk’s IVR, you may still need to upgrade once or twice more to unlock specific features. For example:

  • VIP queues that let important customers get through the line faster are available on the Expert plan, which costs $49 per user per month.
  • You can’t access call transcriptions unless you upgrade to Expert and pay an undisclosed add-on cost.
  • You can’t use smart routing to direct a caller to the most suitable rep or department unless you pay an undisclosed add-on fee.

Key features of CloudTalk

  • Multi-level IVR with an upgrade
  • Ring groups for one group only
  • Automatic call distribution with an upgrade
  • Toll-free and international numbers
  • Call recording with one month of storage

CloudTalk pricing

CloudTalk's three different pricing plans.

CloudTalk’s pricing offers four different plans for you to choose from. Keep in mind the base plan doesn’t support IVR.

  • Lite: $19 per user per month for unlimited domestic calling within the US and Canada, one ring group , call flow designer with basic options, and international numbers 
  • Essential: $29 per user per month for IVR, automated call distribution, caller-based routing, and skill-based routing
  • Expert: $49 per user per month for call whispering, VIP queues, and call tags
  • Custom: Personalized quote for unlimited worldwide call packages, custom reports, and enterprise-level security

5. RingCentral: Best for desk phone rentals

Best IVR system: RingCentral

Pros

  • Multi-level auto-attendant is available
  • IVR helps customers complete simple tasks on their own, like checking recent transactions on their accounts

Cons

  • Limited toll-free minutes on every plan
  • Limited storage for recordings and other files without upgrading
  • Base plan only includes 25 texts per user per month

RingCentral is a legacy business phone solution with plans for calls, texts, and video conferencing. You can use the platform to connect your team with up to 250 multi-level phone menus that:

  • Respond to voice commands or keypad entries
  • Provide self-service options that customers can do themselves, like checking updates on their account or recent transactions
  • Accepts payments for bills and fees
  • Identify the rep who can solve a customer’s issue the quickest and route the caller to them

Although you can access RingCentral’s IVR customer service system from any plan, most of its best features are locked behind higher tiers. For example:

  • All files, texts, and call recordings come with limited storage unless you upgrade and pay $35 per user per month.
  • You can only send up to 25 texts per user per month on the base plan and 200 texts per user per month on the highest tier. 
  • Automatic call recording is only available on the Advanced plan, which costs $25 per user per month. This means if you need to review calls for training or compliance, you’ll have to pay extra.

Key features of RingCentral

  • Local or toll-free numbers
  • Unlimited calls in the US and Canada
  • Integrations with Google and Microsoft apps
  • On-demand call recording, but automatic recording requires an upgrade
  • Business SMS includes only 25 texts per user per month on the base plan

RingCentral pricing

RingCentral's three pricing plans.

All of RingCentral’s pricing plans give you access to its IVR. Let’s break them down:

  • Core: $20 per user per month for unlimited domestic calling, IVR, 25 texts per user per month, and integrations with Google and Microsoft apps like Office 365 or Teams
  • Advanced: $25 per user per month for automatic call recording, call whispering, and 300+ other third-party integrations like Salesforce and HubSpot
  • Ultra: $35 per user per month for an AI assistant for SMS, unlimited storage, and device alerts and analytics

6. 8×8: Best solution for omnichannel support 

Best IVR system: 8x8

Pros

  • Multi-level auto-attendants 
  • Ring groups

Cons

  • Unlimited call recording storage costs extra
  • Steep learning curve
  • Pricing isn’t listed publicly

8×8 is a communication platform with tools for all your business channels, including phone calls, social media, and chat. It provides an IVR system across all its plans and other built-in tools for voice, video, and texting.

You can use 8×8’s intelligent call routing system to automate repetitive tasks and boost customer satisfaction. For example, you could set up IVR call flows that:

  • Answer frequently asked questions
  • Help customers pay bills over the phone
  • Route incoming calls based on time zones

Keep in mind, if you need to store call recordings to reference later in case of a legal dispute, they’re only available for a limited time. Plus, users have complained it has a clunky UI and a steep learning curve, which means your reps may need a significant amount of time to figure out how to use the platform.

Key features of 8×8

  • Multi-level auto-attendant
  • Voicemail transcriptions
  • Hot desking
  • Mobile, web, and desktop apps
  • Ring groups

8×8 pricing

8x8's four different pricing plans.

8×8’s pricing plans aren’t listed publicly. To find out how much you’ll pay for their platform, you have to contact the sales team to get a quote.

7. Zoom Phone: Best for teams that use Zoom video conferencing 

Best IVR system: Zoom Phone

Pros

  • Set up unlimited IVR on the base plan
  • Skills-based routing

Cons

  • Unlimited calling within the US and Canada requires an upgrade
  • Confusing pricing
  • Can’t text from shared phone numbers

Zoom Phone is a VoIP phone system that’s an add-on to Zoom Video. It offers features like voicemail transcriptions and call recording that make it easy for your reps to review past conversations. Plus, it provides a multi-level IVR that can route callers to specific reps based on whether they’re a new or returning customer. You can also set up the IVR menu so it supports multiple languages, letting customers choose a language they’re comfortable with when they call. 

Keep in mind that Zoom Phone has some limitations. You can’t send or receive texts from a shared number, making it harder for your team to work together on customer issues. Plus, Zoom Phone only allows four simultaneous calls from a shared number, slowing your team down when call volume is high. 

Key features of Zoom Phone

  • Multi-level IVR
  • Call recording
  • Transcriptions
  • Unlimited calling in the US and Canada with an upgrade
  • Supports toll-free numbers

Zoom Phone pricing

Zoom Phone's three standalone phone plans.

Zoom Phone’s pricing provides five different options for you to choose from. The first three are standalone phone plans:

  • US & Canada Metered: $10 per user per month for metered domestic calling, US and Canadian numbers, IVR, and post-call summaries
  • US & Canada Unlimited: $15 per user per month for unlimited calling within the US and Canada and an optional add-on for unlimited calling to more than 15 countries
  • Global Select: $20 per user per month for a direct dial number for each license and unlimited domestic calling in 40+ countries and territories
Zoom Phone's two bundled plans. These include Zoom Phone and Zoom Workplace.

Zoom Phone also provides two bundled plans that include Zoom Phone and Zoom Workplace:

  • Pro Plus: $18.33 per user per month for everything in Zoom Phone US & Canada Unlimited, but BYOC, 3rd Party PBX, and VDI are excluded, and access to Zoom Workplace Pro 
  • Business Plus: $22.49 per user per month for the features in Zoom Phone US & Canada Unlimited, Zoom Workplace Business, and visitor management

8. Dialpad: Best for HIPAA-compliant IVR systems

Best IVR system: Dialpad

Pros

  • Multi-level IVR on the base plan
  • HIPAA/BAA compliance on the base plan

Cons

  • No scheduled texts or text templates
  • Additional numbers require an upgrade
  • Three ring groups on the base plan

Dialpad is a communications platform that was launched in 2011. It provides a multi-level IVR on all its plans. Once you sign a Business Associate Agreement, your IVR systems will be HIPAA compliant, which is handy if your business is in the healthcare industry. Plus, Dialpad can track which IVR menu options your callers use the most, making it easy to build a call flow that provides the most helpful options to your customers. 

Do you have a large enterprise with multiple call centers? With Dialpad, you can set up multiple IVR systems with different languages to better serve your customers.

While Dialpad offers features like call recording and toll-free number support, it comes with limitations. For example, you’ll need to upgrade your plan to buy extra phone numbers or send international texts. Dialpad also limits you in other ways, with each user only getting 250 outbound texts per month in the US. After that, you’ll be charged for every message sent. 

Keep in mind that if you’re considering its highest-tier plan to access features like unlimited ring groups, you’ll need to pay for a minimum of 100 users.

Key features of Dialpad

Dialpad pricing

Dialpad gives you three different pricing plans that you can choose from.

Dialpad’s pricing provides three different plans:

  • Standard: $15 per user per month for IVR, AI-powered call and voicemail transcriptions, Google Workspace integration, and web and chat support
  • Pro: $25 per user per month for phone support, CRM integrations, and 25 ring groups
  • Enterprise: Custom price for unlimited ring groups, dial-by-extension, and priority live agent support

9. GoTo Connect: Best for auto-queue callback

Best IVR system: GoTo Connect

Pros

  • Build unlimited IVRs
  • Route calls based on the time of day and call duration

Cons

  • Limited texting
  • Shared inboxes require an upgrade
  • Limited toll-free minutes across all plans

GoTo Connect is a cloud-based phone system built for multilocation teams. The base plan lets you create unlimited IVR menus, so callers can reach the right person, location, or department without waiting on hold.

You can also upload recorded greetings to make your menus sound more professional and helpful.

To set everything up, GoTo Connect provides a visual drag-and-drop call flow builder. You can map out where to place your IVRs in the call flow based on predefined criteria, like the duration of the call and the time of day.

Keep in mind, GoTo Connect comes with limitations. For example, the platform places tight limits on texting. Each user can only send 80 texts per month. Once you go over that limit, every additional message costs $0.005 each.

Key features of GoTo Connect

  • Smart call routing
  • Ring groups
  • Call recording
  • Call queues
  • SMS and MMS

GoTo Connect pricing

GoTo Connect provides three different pricing plans.

GoTo Connect’s pricing isn’t public, so you’ll need to contact their sales team for a quote. But here’s what features you can expect to get on each plan:

  • Phone System: Free calls to 50 countries, unlimited auto attendants, dial plans, call routing, and call queues
  • Connect CX: Shared inboxes, enhanced reporting and analytics, and an attendant console 
  • Contact Center: AI chat analysis, supervisor analytics, auto-queue callback, auto dialer, and the ability to monitor and coach agents with co-browsing

10. JustCall: Best for buying local phone numbers 

Best IVR system: JustCall

Pros

  • Single level IVR on the base plan
  • Unlimited calls in the US and Canada

Cons

  • Base is limited to 500 texts per user per month
  • Snippet creation requires a paid add-on
  • Transcription search requires a paid add-on

JustCall is a VoIP provider built for cross-functional teams that manage global sales and customer support. It offers local phone numbers in over 70 countries. This helps your business appear local to customers, no matter where you’re based. Those numbers can also connect to your IVR system, helping callers reach the right person faster. Want to make the experience more comfortable and familiar for callers? You can upload custom IVR messages in MP3 format using a local dialect.

Keep in mind, JustCall doesn’t offer unlimited toll-free minutes, and pricing for toll-free usage isn’t available publicly. SMS is also limited. The base plan includes just 500 segments per user per month for $29.

Some users have also noted IVR limitations in their reviews:

Lack of advanced IVR functionality and analytics.”G2

IVR dashboard could improve, and make it more user-friendly!” — G2

Key features of JustCall

  • Intelligent routing with an upgrade
  • Front desk call routing with an add-on
  • Call queues
  • Concurrent calls
  • Snippet creation with an add-on

JustCall pricing

JustCall's four different pricing plans.

JustCall’s pricing lets you choose from four different plans:

  • Team: $29 per user per month for a local number in 70 countries, IVR, unlimited calls in the US and Canada, 500 message segments, and 100 CRM and data integrations
  • Pro: $49 per user per month for power dialer, bulk SMS campaigns, queue callback, and intelligent call routing
    Pro Plus: $89 per user per month for SMS Co-pilot, AI call scoring, coaching comments, and real-time agent assist
  • Business: Request a quote for single-sign-on, enterprise-grade SLA, and personalized onboarding

11. MightyCall: Best for SIP trunking support

Best IVR system: MightyCall

Pros

  • SIP trunking with an upgrade
  • Multi-level IVR

Cons

  • All plans require a user minimum
  • AI call summaries are only available upon request
  • International phone numbers cost $15 per month

MightyCall is a cloud-based call center platform designed for small businesses that handle a high volume of calls and texts. It’s a solid option if your team needs unlimited calling and texting to US and Canadian numbers since that’s included on every plan.

You can also set up a multi-level IVR to route callers based on language, location, or department. This helps callers reach the right person without

having to be manually transferred by one of your team members.

Another perk? MightyCall supports SIP trunking, which means you can connect the platform to your existing office phone system to make calls using the internet. But to unlock this feature, you’ll need to upgrade to their Enterprise plan.

There are a few other tradeoffs worth noting. All of MightyCall’s plans come with a three-user minimum. So even if you only need one number, you’ll have to pay for three — which adds up to at least $45 per month just to access its IVR. And no matter how much you upgrade, AI call summaries are only available upon request. They aren’t included automatically with any plan.

Key features of MightyCall 

MightyCall pricing

MightyCall's four different pricing plans.

MightyCall’s pricing offers four different plans that you can pick from:

  • Core: $15 per user per month for unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada, multi-level IVR, and call routing
  • Pro: $23 per user per month for the supervisor workspace, live call monitoring, AI call summaries upon request, and advanced reports
  • Power: $30 per user per month for the preview dialer, progressive dialer, priority support, answering machine detection, and a dedicated account manager
  • Enterprise: Contact sales to get a quote for the predictive dialer with 10 lines per rep, SIP trunking support, and custom integrations

12. CallHippo: Best for multilingual IVRs

Best IVR system: CalHippo

Pros

  • Business hours
  • Multilingual IVR with an upgrade

Cons

  • Holiday routing requires an upgrade
  • Capped SMS messages on all plans
  • Multi-level IVR requires an upgrade

CallHippo is a business phone system built for teams that want to manage calls and texts from one platform. One standout feature? Its support for multilingual IVRs. The platform lets you guide callers through your phone menu in the language they’re most comfortable with. However, it’s only available on the Professional plan. That upgrade will cost you $30 per user per month.

CallHippo doesn’t offer unlimited texting on any plan. For example, on the Starter plan, each user only gets 100 outbound texts per month. Once you go over that, you’ll pay between $0.01 and $0.94 per message. 

Unlimited calling also comes with limits. Inbound calls from toll-free numbers cost $0.033 per minute, which can add up quickly if you have customers who prefer to call businesses for free.

The kicker? CallHippo’s multi-level IVR is only available on the Ultimate plan. This costs $42 per user per month and is more expensive than many of the other IVR systems on the list.

Key features of CallHippo

  • Holiday routing with an (requires upgrade
  • Call blocking with an upgrade
  • Multi-level IVR with an upgrade
  • Multilingual IVR with an upgrade
  • Call recording with an upgrade

CallHippo pricing

CallHippo's four different pricing plans.

CallHippo’s pricing offers four different plans you can pick from:

  • Starter: $18 per user per month for unlimited minutes that excludes special and premium numbers, ring all devices, 100 texts, and basic report analytics
  • Professional: $30 per user per month for multilingual IVR, 500 text messages, call distribution, call recordings, and custom greetings
  • Ultimate: $42 per user per month for multi-level IVR, 1,000 text messages, call blocking, and holiday routing
  • Enterprise: Custom price with a 20-user minimum for unlimited calling in 48 countries, custom onboarding, and developer support

13. Talkdesk: Best for customer surveys

Best IVR system: Talkdesk

Pros

  • IVR
  • Customer surveys with an upgrade

Cons

  • Inbound and outbound calls are charged per minute
  • Most expensive provider on the list
  • Outbound texts are charged per text

Talkdesk is a global cloud contact center solution tailored for enterprise businesses. If your team needs IVR support, you’ll get it — but it’ll come at a price.

For example, while the base plan provides you with IVRs, ‌it costs $85 per user per month. That makes Talkdesk the most expensive provider in this guide.

If you want to collect feedback on your IVR system, Talkdesk lets you create and send customer surveys. But this feature is only available on the $105 per user per month CX Cloud Voice Essentials plan. 

You’ll also be charged for all incoming and outgoing calls. And while you can send outbound texts, Talkdesk doesn’t publish its SMS pricing, so you’ll need to reach out to their sales team to get an estimate.

 Key features of Talkdesk

  • 70 integrations with an upgrade
  • IVR
  • Call flow builder
  • API access
  • AI agent

Talkdesk pricing

Talkdesk's three different pricing plans.

Talkdesk provides three different pricing plans that you can pick from:

  • CX Cloud Digital Essentials: $85 per user per month for access to AI agents, IVR, call flow builder, and API access
  • CX Cloud Voice Essentials: $105 per user per month for the ability to design custom interfaces for different roles in your contact center and access to 70 integrations
  • CX Cloud Elite: $165 per user per month for custom reports and dashboards and screen recording

How we ranked the top IVR systems for small businesses

We followed a specific process to narrow down our list of the best IVR services.

First, we looked at the options and disregarded platforms with low ratings and limited features. Then we trialed the remaining platforms and ranked each based on the following factors:

  • Prices: Phone systems that offer better value for the price rank higher on our list. This includes platforms with more features and scalability that most small businesses need compared to competitors.
  • Calling features: IVR isn’t the only feature you need to reach customers. We didn’t list any of the best IVR systems missing call management features like calls to the US and Canada.
  • Third-party integrations: Modern businesses use multiple platforms to connect with customers and leads. This is why partnering with an integration-friendly phone system is important. The higher an entry ranks on our list of the best IVR systems, the more useful its integrations are.
  • Customer support: Can users get support when they need it? Or are there long wait times involved? The best solutions address customer inquiries in real time without them having to wait for callbacks.
  • User experience: It should never be hard to navigate your phone system’s interface — even if a customer hasn’t used it before. Any amount of confusion could lead to downtime for your business and a poor experience for your customers.
  • Advanced features: Your small business won’t stay small forever. You need a scalable phone solution that can offer more features as your business grows. This includes CRM integrations, call metrics, call transfers, AI agents, and automations.

We also took user feedback into account. Our team visited review sites like G2 and Trust Radius to gain the perspective of small business owners. This allowed us to understand what current and past users had to say about a platform so we could rank the top options accordingly.

How to get the right IVR system for your small business

It can feel overwhelming to pick the right IVR software, especially with so many options available. Use this checklist to help you decide:

  1. Make a short list of providers based on your current needs. Consider what else you might need besides IVR, such as shared numbers or call recordings.
  2. Ask yourself questions about scalability and features. How quickly can this system scale? Are advanced features available when you’re ready for them? Read reviews on sites like G2 to learn from real users.
  3. Try the free trial. This helps you see how well the IVR fits your workflow and team setup.
  4. Involve your team in testing. With Quo (formerly OpenPhone), you can add multiple teammates to your trial account so everyone can try it together.
  5. See how easy the system is to use. If setup takes too long or the interface is confusing, it may not be the right fit.
  6. Look for flexibility to grow. Choose a provider that lets you add new features or users without switching platforms later.

Quo: The best IVR system for small businesses

Quo mobile and desktop apps

Choosing the right IVR for your small business can feel like taking a leap in the dark. However, when you compare the prices, features, and integrations of the best programs, you can see that choosing Quo is as clear as night and day for most small businesses.

With Quo (formerly OpenPhone), you can have a dedicated business number or multiple numbers that connect team members, departments, or other groups with a user-friendly IVR. You can easily create self-service phone menus that direct customers where they need to go without the help of live agents. This means you can save more time for your team while delivering a better experience for your customers. And since our phone numbers, calling features, and IVR run directly through VoIP, you can take your business and IVR anywhere with an internet connection.

Thousands of customers rely on Quo’s business phone system to build better relationships with their customers. Try it for yourself with our seven-day free trial and set up an IVR in 15 minutes or less.

FAQs

How much does an IVR system cost?

IVR pricing depends on the IVR service provider you choose. With Quo (formerly OpenPhone), you’ll pay $23 per user per month. Plus, Quo offers business features like unlimited calling within the US and Canada and ring groups.

How do I set up my own IVR?

Once you sign up for a Quo account, you can set up your IVR in a few simple steps. Check out our help article to learn more about the step-by-step instructions on how to set up an IVR in Quo.

What are the disadvantages of an IVR system?

IVR systems can frustrate customers if they’re not set up correctly. Long menus or too many options can lead callers to hang up before reaching the right person. However, you can avoid these issues by keeping your menu simple. Plus, regularly testing your IVR menu helps ensure it’s working well for your callers.

What industries use IVR solutions?

Many growing businesses use IVR systems to manage high call volumes. For example, real estate reps use them to handle property inquiries, while caregiving companies connect families with the person who’s working throughout the night.

Can an IVR system improve customer experience for small businesses?

An IVR system helps your customers reach the right person faster, making it essential for your business communications. When someone calls your business, they can quickly select the department they need or get answers to common questions about your hours and location. Plus, your IVR can help customers handle simple tasks on their own. This includes checking your location details and event schedules or making a payment without speaking to anyone.

If you want to streamline your customer interactions and use software that meets your business and customer needs, IVRs and auto attendants are what you’re looking for.

Are Twilio and Genesys good IVR options for small businesses?

Twilio and Genesys often require coding knowledge to set up and maintain IVR systems. While these platforms work for large companies with development teams, small businesses need something simpler. Instead, you can use Quo’s IVR technology, which lets you set up your phone menu in minutes without requiring technical skills. 

How does IVR software work?

IVR software helps your team save time by answering common questions and routing callers to the right person. You can also use it to share updates like new hours or locations without speaking to every caller. Some systems are multi-level, guiding callers to connect with specific locations or reps on your team that support particular languages.

Why should small businesses use IVR systems?

Wondering if an IVR system is worth it for your small business? Here are a few ways it can save you time and keep callers happy:

Handles repetitive questions: IVR automatically answers FAQs. That way, your team can focus on more important tasks.
Makes call routing easier: Callers press a number to reach the right person without needing to be manually transferred.
Shares updates with every caller: Let people know about new hours, closures, or locations without picking up the phone.
Works around the clock: IVR can collect voicemails or guide callers through next steps when your team is offline.
Supports multiple languages: You can help more people feel understood with a multilingual menu. Think “For English press one, para español oprima el dos.”
Offers layered menus: Multi-level options walk callers through the right steps so they get what they need faster.

4.8/5 - (9 votes)

Explore this content with AI:

ChatGPT Perplexity Claude Google AI Mode Grok