Google Voice vs Hangouts - Which is Best for Your Business?

Google Voice and Hangouts are both messaging services offered by Google. While similar in some aspects, they each have benefits that make them suited to different users. In this post, we’ll explore Google Voice vs Hangouts, and see exactly how they stack up against each other. We’ll also discuss whether either option is best suited for the type of business you run.

Why People Choose Google Hangouts and Google Voice

Many business owners choose these two options because they like the fact they can run their businesses anywhere with WiFi.

Google Voice is best suited for small businesses and individuals who want a phone number assigned to their account that can be used as a business line or forwarded to another number. 

Ideal users include:

• Small business owners
• Sole proprietors, and 
• Anyone else looking for an extra phone line at a low price

Google Voice provides a full suite of messaging services, including voicemail, SMS/MMS messaging, and voicemail transcription.

Google Hangouts is targeted at individuals and small to medium enterprises looking for video chat, virtual meetings, or to provide staff with an easy way to communicate virtually. It’s important to note however, with Google Hangouts you can only invite up to 10 people for a group video chat.

For larger video calls, you’ll need to host a Google meet, and as Google explains, “Anyone with a Google Account can create a video meeting, invite up to 100 participants, and meet for up to 60 minutes per meeting for free.”

It’s also worth noting that Google stated they intend to migrate all Hangout users to Google Meet, and retire Hangouts completely.

Ideal users include business professionals, IT Support staff, and anyone else who spends a lot of time communicating with friends or coworkers on their computer.

Google Voice vs. Google Hangout Features

Google Voice

Google Voice is an excellent choice for individuals or very small businesses who want advanced voicemail features, advanced spam filtering options, and 24/7 support for their messaging needs. Additional features are available with paid plans.

Features Include:

• Google Voice for businesses
• Voicemail transcription (paid plans)
• Spam filtering (paid plans)
• Unlimited text messaging (SMS)
• 24/7 customer service

Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts is ideal for larger organizations that need the ability to conduct virtual meetings or video conferences or allow their staff to communicate with one another outside of the office using messaging services. Video chat is also included at no extra charge. However, video chats are limited to 10 participants.

Features Include:

• video chat
• group video conferences
• online meetings
• messaging services

Price Comparison of Hangouts Vs. Google Voice

As with many things in business though, what will cause most companies to choose one option over another, including Google Hangouts vs Voice, is price.

Google Voice offers a free plan for individuals that includes unlimited text (SMS) messaging and voicemail, as well as 24/7 customer support. The paid plans include features like advanced voicemail transcription, spam filtering, and simultaneous ring.

Individuals (Free): If you have a personal Google account, you will automatically have access to Google Voice for free. No additional sign-up is required. 

Businesses: Companies with Google workspace will be able to sign up for Google Voice plans at either $10, $20, or $30 a month per user, depending on your needs. 

What about Google Hangouts? You gain instant access to Hangouts through your personal account or with your Google Workspace Account. Workspace accounts start at $6 per user, per month.

The catch however, is Google Hangouts weren’t designed to offer individual phone numbers. While they offer two wonderful features, Hangouts was intended to be a collaboration service that comes with texting and file-sharing, but not as an option to call people one on one.

For quick reference, here’s a comparison table that may help you decide between Google Hangouts and Google Voice:

You Need A Service That Offers The Best of Both Worlds

Why choose between Google Voice vs Google Hangouts? Imagine a service that offers all the things you love about both, and for a lower cost than even the cheapest Google Voice plan. The answer is Ring4. With a Ring4 account, you can get instant access to unlimited calls and texts, mobile phone numbers for everyone on your team, voicemail and voicemail transcriptions, video conferences and video chats, and so much more. And, you get all of this for the grand total of $8 per user per month.

You don’t have to shell out a lot of cash for hardware or setup either. Ring4 works with your cell phone. The app can be downloaded in moments and your business lines can be set up in less than 30 seconds. It’s never been easier to get business lines up and running for a business. The good news doesn’t stop there though. The application runs over the internet just like Google Hangouts and Google Voice. This means that if you can connect to WiFi or get online, you can take and make as many business calls as you like.

Who is Ring4 Best Suited For?

Small and big businesses. You can add as many lines as you would like for that same price of $8 per user per month. It’s as simple as adding a new user, installing the app, and just like that you have a new team member all set up to receive and make business calls.

With Ring4 your company can continue growing without needing to install additional phones, add new hardware, or deal with a bunch of wiring. Click here to learn more about Ring4 and its features.