VoIP for government: 8 options + key features and pricing

Millions of small businesses are switching to VoIP phone systems to grow their brands. So why are so many government agencies still tied to legacy landlines?

Considering most government IT systems are between 23 and 60 years old, there’s a good chance you’re managing an outdated phone platform. These can slow your team’s productivity and efficiency, not to mention frustrate callers.

If you work in a government agency, you need to move fast to serve citizen communication needs. A VoIP system can get you there. 

To help you save time, we’ve collected eight of the best VoIPs for government. We explain their pros  and cons, features, pricing, and essential features to look for in a system.

What is VoIP for government?

VoIP phone systems let you make calls over the internet instead of the Plain Old Telephone Service, or POTS. VoIP software works on any device with an internet connection, like your cellphone or computer. That means you can make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection.

Compared to traditional phone services, VoIP systems help government organizations:

• Avoid communication silos: Everyone on your team can access a shared phone number on a VoIP system with the right provider. This helps them access call logs and message context in real time.
• Use modern features: VoIP systems offer several features that help agencies move faster. Record calls automatically, take notes with AI call transcriptions, set business hours, and more. 
• Add local agency branches to a single phone system: Purchase or port numbers for every branch in your agency. You can then set up a phone menu so callers can route themselves to the right department.
• Maintain superior call quality:This is true even with mediocre internet speeds. Think 0.5 Mbps download speed and 100 Kbps of bandwidth per call.

💡 Read more: VoIP vs Landline

How does VoIP for government work?

Once you complete your VoIP installation, you can start taking calls and sending texts within minutes.

Here’s how VoIP works for government organizations:

1. As you speak into your phone or computer, your VoIP system breaks your voice data into digital signals.
2. These signals, known as “data packets,” are compressed into tiny folders of information.
3. Your phone system sends data packets to your recipient through multiple IP addresses.
4. Once the data packets reach the caller, they’re uncompressed and “translated” back into audio.

The person on the other end hears your voice and responds, and the process starts again. VoIP systems can process and transmit voice signals in milliseconds so that you can have conversations without any delays.

8 Best VoIP for government providers to consider

Here’s a quick comparison of how each VoIP provider stacks up:

Provider	Starting price	Shared phone numbers	Best for
Quo, formerly OpenPhone	$15 per user per month	✅	Most government use cases
Nextiva	$15 per user per month	✅	Omnichannel communications
RingCentral	$20 per user per month	Calls only without an add-on fee	Desk phone rentals
GoTo Connect	Contact sales for pricing	✅	Large contact centers
Google Voice	Free	Requires upgrade, ring groups only	Existing Google Workspace users
Zoom Phone	$10 per user per month	✅, calls only	Existing Zoom users
Microsoft Teams Phone	$10 per user per month	✅, calls only	Existing Microsoft Office users
Dialpad	$15 per user per month	✅	AI call coaching

We’ll start with the #1 small business phone solution as rated by G2.

1. Quo, formerly OpenPhone: The best VoIP for government provider

Pros

• Free calling, SMS, and MMS messages in the US and Canada
• Shared inboxes and internal threads
• AI-powered features — call summaries, transcripts, and an AI agent
• On-demand and automatic call recording
• 8,000+ third-party integrations
• SOC II, HIPAA, and GDPR compliant

Cons

• Doesn’t offer full emergency service support*

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

Quo, formerly OpenPhone, is a VoIP system that can scale alongside your government agency. It’s easy to get started in 15 minutes or less. Sign up, create your account, and start making calls alongside your team.

Each plan includes the essentials, including access to shared phone numbers. With a shared number, everyone on your team can split responsibility for incoming calls. They’ll also have access to every contact’s conversation history. This includes past text messages, call recordings, and voicemail transcripts.

With Quo, you can help callers reach the right person or department by setting up call routing with our drag-and-drop call flow builder. When you’re ready, upgrade your plan for more call routing features. When you upgrade to our Business plan, you can easily customize your ring order, build phone menus, and create backup routing options for team members.

Want to handle your call volume efficiently during emergencies? Our AI voice agent Sona can help. Train Sona to handle incoming calls after working hours and take messages from incoming callers. That way, your team doesn’t feel pressured to drop everything and pick up the phone. Plus, callers get immediate customer support even when your team is away.

Quo helps you optimize your team’s work-life balance with features like Do Not Disturb, work schedules, and business hours. Calls only reach team members who are active and available to take them. When they’re on vacation, you can route calls to the rest of your team or to a backup emergency number.

We’re biased, but we genuinely believe Quo is the best government VoIP solution. See why 90,000+ customers have switched over by signing up for a seven-day free trial.

Key features of Quo

• Local and toll-free VoIP numbers
• Auto-attendant with IVR
• Texting automations like auto-replies and scheduled messages 
• Business caller ID
• Warm call transfers
• Call analytics dashboard
• AI call tags

Quo pricing

Quo’s pricing was designed to scale with your government agency::

• Starter: $15 per user per month for unlimited calls and texts, shared numbers, simultaneous ring, internal threads, SMS auto-replies, Zapier integration, and more
• Business: $23 per user per month for IVR phone menus, automatic call recording, AI call summaries and transcriptions, HIPAA compliance, call transfers, analytics, CRM integrations, and more
• Scale: $35 per user per month for AI call tags, dedicated onboarding, inbound phone support, and priority chat and email support

2. Nextiva: Best provider for omnichannel communication

Pros

• Live chat functionality

Cons

• Integrations are only available as an add-on
• Texting has message limits
• Toll-free minutes are limited
• Plans may come with unnecessary features for government agencies

Nextiva lets you manage multiple communication channels in a single interface — like web live chat and self-service AI. With it, you can streamline how quickly you support and connect with citizens. This makes it easier to broadcast emergency notifications in real-time across calls, texts, and emails.

Although it’s a solid option for omnichannel communications, Nextiva comes with several drawbacks:

• Texting is limited in each of its plans. You only get access to 100 texts per month on the base plan. 
• Toll-free calling requires an upgrade. Even after you do so, you’re limited to 2,000 toll-free minutes per month. 
• Third-party CRM integrations are only available as add-ons. If you use Salesforce or HubSpot, you have to pay extra to connect Nextiva to them. 

In addition to paying extra for essential features like texting and toll-free calling, Nextiva might make you pay for features you don’t need. For example, not every government agency needs social media account management. None of them needs ecommerce review management, either. However, they are core features for Nextiva’s platform.

If you’re looking for a VoIP system better suited to government use cases, you may want to look at a few Nextiva alternatives.

Key features of Nextiva

• Social media
• Live chat support
• Third-party integrations, with an add-on

• Toll-free number support, with an upgrade
• Unlimited voice and video conference calling 

Nextiva pricing

Here’s what to expect from Nextiva’s pricing:

• Core: $15 per user per month for voice calls, 100 text messages, team chat, voicemail transcriptions, and access to the mobile app
• Engage: $25 per user per month for 500 SMS messages, 2,000 toll-free minutes, voice analytics, digital fax, call recording, and access to the Microsoft Teams integration
• Power Suite: $75 per user per month for IVR, skills-based routing call transcriptions and summaries, and API integrations, for up to 100 agents

3. RingCentral: Best option for desk phone rentals

Pros

• Buy or rent VoIP hardware
• Unified communications with calls, texts, and video conferencing

Cons

• Limited text messages
• Limited call recording storage
• Limited toll-free minutes
• Shared texting inboxes and text templates are only available as upgrades or add-ons

Government agencies that still rely on desk phones can use legacy platforms like RingCentral. You can buy or rent hardware on any plan, plus access desktop and mobile apps. You’ll also have access to calling, texting, and video conferencing on the base plan.

Unfortunately, RingCentral’s base plan is quite limited. Features that come standard with other communication solutions, including shared inboxes and text templates, require upgrades or add-ons. Plus, you only get 25 SMS messages and 100 toll-free minutes unless you upgrade. There’s limited storage for features like call recording, unless you upgrade to the most expensive plan. Even then, they’re subject to time-based deletion policies.  

If you’re open to a more accessible VoIP system and don’t require desk phones, consider taking a look at a few RingCentral alternatives.

Key features of RingCentral

• IVR
• Visual voicemail
• Video meeting transcriptions
• Desk phone rentals
• Shared texting, with an upgrade

RingCentral pricing

Here’s what to expect from RingCentral’s pricing plans:

• Core: $20 per user per month for unlimited calls in the US and Canada, IVR, visual voicemail, and AI video meeting transcriptions
• Advanced: $25 per user per month for CRM integrations, business analytics, unlimited internet fax, hot desking, and call management tools 
• Ultra: $35 per user per month for unlimited AI video meetings, device analytics/alerts, and unlimited storage for files and records that are subject to time-based deletion policies

If you want more features for customer support reps, you’ll need to purchase RingCentral’s Customer Engagement Bundle. It can quickly get confusing if you’re looking for an all-in-one platform. The reason: there are five other service options outside of RingCentral’s business phone plans.

4. GoTo Connect: Best for large contact centers

Pros

• Free calls to 50 countries with long-distance calls

Cons

• No transparent pricing
• Limited toll-free minutes, texting, and integrations
• AI receptionist requires an add-on

GoTo Connect is a VoIP phone system designed for teams that require a global presence. You can use GoTo Connect to make free calls in more than 50 countries.. You’ll also get unlimited auto-attendants and call queues on the base plan. However, features like shared inboxes, ring order, and SMS/MMS campaigns require teams to upgrade to higher-tier plans. For this reason, GoTo Connect isn’t a fit for most local governments.

Where GoTo Connect falls short is in its limitations on key features. There’s no way to unlock unlimited texts or toll-free minutes, for example. It also has a limited set of integrations since you can’t connect to tools like Zapier or Make.

Most frustratingly, there’s no public pricing. That means you can’t estimate how much you’ll spend, so you’ll have to talk to their sales team. If you don’t need global calling and want more transparent pricing for your phone system, consider looking at a few GoTo Connect alternatives.

Key features of GoTo Connect

• Unlimited auto-attendants
• Call queues
• Video meetings
• Mobile and desktop apps
• Team inbox, with an upgrade

GoTo Connect pricing

GoTo Connect’s pricing isn’t available online. You’ll need to contact the company for a custom quote.

5. Google Voice: Best for existing Google Workspace users

Pros

• Natively integrates with Google Meet and Google Calendar

Cons

• No support for toll-free numbers
• No shared phone numbers or unified inboxes
• No integrations outside of Google Workspace

If your government agency runs on Google Workspace, Google Voice might be a suitable VoIP system. It only integrates with apps in the Google ecosystem. For example, you can add video conferencing from Google Meet and schedule calls and meetings with Google Calendar.

That said, there are many drawbacks to Google Voice compared to other service providers. For example, there are no:

• Shared phone numbers
• Toll-free numbers
• Unified inboxes
• Advanced texting features
• AI-powered features like summaries, transcriptions, and voice agents

You should also know there are separate inboxes for every voicemail, text, or call. This makes it difficult to get context from customer conversations and respond quickly. Google Voice is a good option to get started with VoIP communications, but it doesn’t really scale with your calling and texting needs. If you’re looking for a dedicated phone system built for modern communications, check out Google Voice alternatives.

Key features of Google Voice

• Unlimited domestic calling
• Unlimited US texting, for US-based agencies only
• Three-way calling
• Desk phone support
• Access to BigQuery, with an upgrade

Google Voice pricing

Google Voice for personal use is free, but it’s not intended for professional use.

You can start using Google Voice’s Starter plan by yourself at $10 per user per month. This solo plan includes domestic calling, US texting, voicemail transcription, and three-way calling. It’s only available in the US right now. 

If you want to use  Google Voice for Business with your team, there are three plans to choose from:

• Starter: $10 per user per month for calls to the US from any Google Voice number, unlimited text messaging in the US, and voicemail transcripts, for 10 users max
• Standard: $20 per user per month for phone menus, ring groups, and on-demand call recordings, for unlimited users
• Premier: $30 per user per month for advanced reporting via BigQuery and automatic call recordings

Keep in mind each of these three plans requires a Google Workspace subscription, which starts at $7 per user per month.

6. Zoom Phone: Best for existing Zoom users

Pros

• Connects with Zoom Workplace

Cons

• Texting limitations
• Confusing setup and limited support
• Lack of collaboration features

If your agency uses Zoom for video meetings, you can add Zoom Phone as your VoIP phone service. You can easily switch from phone calls to video meetings without leaving the app interface. Plus, metered calling plans are available if you don’t anticipate high call volumes.

The biggest drawback of Zoom Phone is that it gets expensive fast. There are per-minute fees for every SMS and MMS message, which can get pricey if your organization relies on text messaging. There are also very few collaboration tools outside of instant messaging. For example, you won’t have access to shared numbers on any plan. Past users have also reported issues with a confusing setup process and limited support. Zoom is primarily a videoconferencing tool, and it shows.

If you’re looking for a dedicated VoIP system for your phone communication needs, take a look at a few Zoom Phone alternatives.

Key features of Zoom Phone

• Screen sharing
• Whiteboarding
• SMS and MMS
• Instant messaging
• Unlimited faxing, with an upgrade

Zoom Phone pricing

Zoom Phone’s pricing includes five plans:

• US & CA Metered: $10 per user per month for metered domestic US and Canadian calling, metered international calling, and SMS and MMS
• US & CA Unlimited: $15 per user per month for unlimited domestic US and Canadian calling

• Pro Plus: $18.33 per user per month for instant messaging for teams, unlimited docs, and three whiteboards
• Global Select: $20 per user per month for unlimited domestic calling in 40 countries and territories
• Business Plus: $22.49 per user per month for access to Zoom Scheduler, unlimited whiteboards, and unlimited domestic online fax

There are also a few add-ons to consider:

• Additional Phone Numbers: $5 per number per month for toll-free, local, or international premium numbers
• International Calling: $10 per month for unlimited international calls to 15+ countries and regions
• Zoom Phone Power Pack: $25 per month per license for historical insights and enhanced call queue analytics for call center teams

7. Microsoft Teams Phone: Best for existing Microsoft Office users

Pros

• Make VoIP calls directly from Teams

Cons

• Separate licenses for Microsoft Teams are required
• SMS costs extra
• No third-party integrations outside the Microsoft ecosystem

Similar to Google Voice and Zoom Phone, Microsoft Teams Phone is a VoIP option to consider if you already use Microsoft 365. Microsoft Teams customers who already utilize video meetings can add Teams Phone to make outbound and inbound calls directly from the app. It also connects to other Microsoft apps, like Office, Outlook, and OneDrive.

But keep in mind, these are the only integrations available. Microsoft Teams Phone doesn’t connect with tools outside its ecosystem. There are also no advanced texting features like auto-replies, scheduled texts, or snippets. And Teams Phone doesn’t support toll-free numbers, so you can’t port in 800 numbers. There’s also no unlimited calling or texting on any plan. For cost reasons alone, you might want to consider Microsoft Teams Phone alternatives.

Key features of Microsoft Teams Phone

• Webinar support
• Call handling and transfers
• Instant messaging via Microsoft Teams
• PSTN telephony supported
• AI-generated summaries and insights

Microsoft Teams Phone pricing

There are four tiers of Microsoft Teams Phone pricing:

• Teams Phone Standard: $10 per user per month for access to a cloud-based phone system, plus direct routing, call hold, and blind and safe transfers
• Teams Phone Pay-As-You-Go: $13 per user per month for metered outbound calling, SMS support, and audio conferencing
• Teams Phone Calling Plan: $17 per user per month for 3,000 outbound domestic calling minutes for customers in the US, the UK, and Canada, plus 1,200 outbound domestic calling minutes for every other country
• Teams Phone Domestic and International Calling: $34 per user per month for 3,000 outbound domestic or 600 outbound international calling minutes; non-US, UK, or Canadian users get one phone number with 1,200 outbound domestic or 600 outbound international calling minutes

8. Dialpad: Best for AI coaching

Pros

• AI coaching tools

Cons

• User minimums on higher-tier plans
• Single phone number on the base plan
• International texting requires an upgrade

Dialpad is a VoIP phone designed for large enterprises. Contact center and call center teams use Dialpad to improve their rep performance. You can use Dialpad to set up AI coaching workflows, like AI scorecards that rate your team’s performance. You can also use Dialpad’s real-time AI features like AI battlecards and playbooks to help your departments address caller needs immediately. Just keep in mind they’re only available on Dialpad’s Support and Sales plans.

There are also many drawbacks of Dialpad to consider. You only have a single phone number on the base plan. Want every staff member to have their own number? You’ll need to upgrade to the Pro plan. Other core features, like international texting and auto-replies, also require upgrades.

Key features of Dialpad

• Video conferencing
• Custom call routing
• AI CSAT, on the Sell or Support plans
• Number extensions, with an upgrade
• Additional numbers, with an upgrade

Dialpad pricing

Here’s a breakdown of Dialpad’s pricing:

• Standard: $15 per user per month for one local number per account, calls in the US and Canada, and voicemail transcriptions
• Pro: $25 per user per month for additional numbers, international SMS, 25 ring groups, and CRM integrations, for a three-user minimum
• Enterprise: Call for pricing to receive extensions, unlimited ring groups, and security integrations with Azure, Okta, and OneLogin, for a 100-user minimum

Benefits of VoIP for government agencies

Using VoIP systems to manage government work can help you:

Increase team productivity and efficiency

VoIP systems offer multiple features to help agencies operate more productively and efficiently.

Shared numbers, for example, let everyone on your team answer and respond to calls and texts. You can easily reduce your missed calls and caller wait times. With VoIP texting features like SMS auto-replies, scheduled texts, and snippets, you can reply to texts quickly. Third-party integrations with Zapier and Make can also put your texting workflows on autopilot. For example, you can automatically send a text every time someone fills out a form on your website.

Scale your phone system easily

VoIP platforms are far more scalable than traditional phone systems.

With Quo, new team members can get started in 15 minutes or less. Add new phone numbers to your workspace in seconds. You can choose a specific number based on your city or region. And if you want to offer toll-free calling, you can add a toll-free number just as easily. 

Save thousands of dollars every month

VoIP implementations are vastly more cost-effective than traditional phone systems. That’s because:

• Teams can use their existing devices, so you don’t have to rent or buy desk phones.
• You don’t have to install custom hardware in every office.
• You don’t need to host or manually maintain the software.

VoIP systems also don’t require maintenance or physical repairs. If your desk phone fails, you have to wait for a replacement. VoIP phones work in the cloud, so they’re more reliable than traditional systems. 

Maintain accurate records of every conversation securely

VoIP systems offer features like automatic call recording so you never miss a detail on your calls. Plus, tools like AI transcriptions, summaries, and action items help you read through recordings. No need to listen back on every conversation. 

Finally, push data to the platforms you already use. Third-party integrations powered by Zapier and Make help teams share call and text data in their preferred systems of record.

Essential features to look for in a VoIP for government solution

Here’s how to choose a VoIP provider for government communications:

1. Reliability and security: Ensure callers can reach your agency with little risk of outage. Plus, look for advanced data encryption if your government agency handles sensitive data. Quo supports secure communications with SOC II, HIPAA, and GDPR compliance. We also comply with A2P 10DLC standards for text messaging. 
2. Access to local numbers: Add new numbers in specific cities and regions. Studies show that people are more likely to answer calls from familiar area codes.
3. Shared numbers: Split responsibility for incoming calls and texts with multiple team members at your agency. This helps reduce missed calls and response times, making staff more productive and efficient. 
4. Team collaboration features: Collaborate in one place without toggling between multiple communication tools. Features like internal threads and team chat let you leave messages and delegate tasks in real time.
5. Third-party integrations: Integrate with the tools you already use, including CRMs like Salesforce. Then use Zapier and Make to connect with public sector software, such as grant management platforms.
6. Desktop and mobile apps: Let staff members make and receive calls and texts from anywhere with a WiFi connection. That way, employees can use preferred devices like laptops and mobile phones to communicate with citizens. Even hybrid and remote team members can help answer incoming messages while they’re not in the office.
7. AI-powered automations: Put repetitive tasks on autopilot to make time for other tasks. This includes features like AI call summaries and transcriptions, AI call tags, and AI-suggested contacts.
8. Call and text analytics: See which team members are fielding more calls. Then allocate your resources more efficiently. 
9. 24/7 custom AI answering service: Pick up the phone any time people call your agency. With Sona, Quo’s AI voice agent, you can answer simple questions, route calls, or take down information for follow-ups.

Get started using VoIP for your government agency with Quo

Better communication software leads to better public service. VoIP systems give agencies the tools they need to manage high call volumes, reduce missed calls, and improve response times.

Quo brings all of this together in one easy-to-use platform. We make the transition to VoIP software simple with transparent pricing, AI features, and security features on every plan.

You can try Quo risk-free with a seven-day free trial. Then if you have an existing US, Canadian, or North American toll-free number, you can easily move it over in-app once you’ve confirmed Quo is a great fit.

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