Google Voice (GV) is a well-known cloud phone service for people seeking virtual numbers. But sometimes, a virtual phone number is not enough. If your business is expanding, or you want to provide different numbers for customers in different locations or departments, you may think: Can I have multiple Google Voice numbers or at most one?
The answer is not as simple as you think (or hope). You can have multiple Google Voice numbers, but you can't use the free services that consumers are most familiar with. To set up multiple numbers, you must skip some obstacles. We will check your choice and then provide a better choice for commercial use.
Can I have multiple Google Voice numbers?
Multiple numbers cannot be obtained on a free Google Voice account. Google Voice limits each user to one phone number. You can use two solutions to access multiple numbers through the Google Voice app, but both have some disadvantages.
Option 1: Use Google Voice and Google Fiber Phone
Although you can't have two free Google Voice numbers, you can get a second phone number through Google Fiber Phone, a VoIP phone service designed to replace landline phones. To do this, you must follow some complicated setup processes:
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Create your free G on voice.google.comOogle Voice number.
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Set up your Google fiber phone number, starting at $10 per month.
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Within 90 days after setting up the new phone number on Google Fiber, return to Google Voice and select from the menu"Legacy Google Voice".
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Set up in the old version of Google Voice"Telephone"In the tab, click next to the GV number you originally created"Permanent settings".
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Follow the instructions on the screen to confirm and pay a one-time fee of $20. The only exception to this fee is if you previously ported your existing phone number as your GV number, because you have already paid the fee.
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After completing these steps, you can use Google's optical phone number to make and receive calls and text messages through the Google Voice app or an existing desktop phone.Your old number (the one you created directly through Google Voice) will be available through the limited GV functionThe old version of Google Voice is accessed as an auxiliary phone number.
Lack of business functions
Google Voice and Google Fiber are not designed for enterprises. Google Voice is for personal use, so it only provides basic call, text and voice mail functions. Although Google's optical phone can be used on mobile phones, it is designed to become a home telephone service. You will not be able to collaborate with your team, record calls, or access other key business functions.
More importantly, the only way to have a number on both services is to designate one of them as your auxiliary number. Although you will receive all calls and text messages directed to your auxiliary number,Only your main phone numberYou can make outbound voice calls and text messages. Your auxiliary Google voice number cannot fully provide standard mobile phone functions, such as outbound calls or replying to messages, let alone business functions.😔
Limited availability rate
Although Google Voice is widely used, Google Fiber is only available in a few cities——Mainly metropolitan areas such as San Francisco, Nashville and Chicago. These only include U.S. cities, so you will not be able to get a Canadian phone number.
If you don't live in one of Google Fiber's service areas, you won't be lucky when you use this solution to access multiple numbers on Google Voice.
Option 2: Use Google Voice for Google Workspace
If you want to access multiple Google Voice numbers (no need to subscribe to Fiber or jump between multiple GV accounts), you need to subscribe to Google Voice for Google Workspace. This paid service is a business telephone system, which means that you can get multiple numbers and more work phone functions than a free account or Google fiber phone. But compared to other VoIP services, Voice for Google Workspace lacks many useful functions that modern enterprises need.
There is no call recording
Record phone callsIt is a good way to improve performance. For example, you can record quality assurance, training or recorded calls. Unfortunately, Google Voice does not allow you to record calls on your business account, so you will not be able to answer the phone.
Key functions locked behind higher-level plans
When you choose a VoIP service provider, no matter which plan you choose, you need a virtual phone that can provide standard business functions. However, to have an automatic assistant or multiple team members answer calls from the same number, you need to upgrade the Google Voice for Google Workspace program. VoIP telephone services such as OpenPhone provide these functions in each plan.
Lack of integration
GV enterprise accounts can integrate with Google Calendar and Google Meet, but you will be disappointed if you want to connect a VoIP phone to any other application you use.
Two paid subscriptions are required
Google Voice for Google Workspace offers plans starting at $10 per user per month, but using the service is actually not so affordable, because you also need to have a Google Workspace account. The starting price is $6 per user per month. Double the cost is double the trouble.👎
A better choice: Use OpenPhone to get multiple phone numbers
You don't have to pay multiple subscription fees or go through a complicated setup process to get multiple virtual phone numbers for your business. With OpenPhone, you can register any number of VoIP numbers after completing a simple registration process and access more advanced business phone functions while using it. The following is how OpenPhone is superimposed with Google Voice, Google Fiber Phone and Google Voice for Google Workspace.
Easier access to any number
With OpenPhone, you can easily switch between inboxes to make calls, text messages and view voice mail from any phone number. You only need one application (available on desktop, browser, iPhone and Android phones) to do this.
In contrast, if you pair a free Google Voice number with Google Fiber Phone, you must switch between the standard Google Voice platform and the old version of Google Voice platform to access your number. In addition, you can only have up to two numbers on a mobile phone.
More team functions
OpenPhone is much more powerful than standard mobile phone numbers and provides more business functions than any Google phone service. You can share your company phone number with your team members so that you can have multiple people answer calls or text messages from each of your numbers. In addition, when you share a number, you can:
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Accurately check when your team members are talking or typing so that you can know who is doing what
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Assign the responsibility to respond to queries, whether it is for your sales, support or any other common line
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Mention of teammates for dialogue and collaboration
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More direct pricing
OpenPhone offers a package starting at $10 per user per month, and each user can get a toll-free number. Any additional figure that exceeds your team's total number of users is only $5 per month.
Get more phone numbers and features you need
Using Google Voice to obtain multiple phone numbers can be a hassle for limited business functions and complex pricing. With OpenPhone, you can access an unlimited number of numbers more easily, with more advanced features and a simpler pricing structure.