Google Voice vs. Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Google Voice
Score 8.0 out of 10
N/A
Google Voice is a free IP telephony service that provides users with one phone number that can be forwarded to multiple phones or devices. It includes features such as call forwarding, voicemail translation, text messaging, and voice calls. Fees may apply for international calling.
$10
per month
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Score 7.5 out of 10
N/A
Skype for Business was an online messaging and conferencing tool, now superseded by Microsoft Teams.N/A
Pricing
Google VoiceSkype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Editions & Modules
Starter
$10
per user/per month
Standard
$20
per user/per month
Premier
$30
per user/per month
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Google VoiceSkype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Google VoiceSkype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Considered Both Products
Google Voice
Chose Google Voice
I see Skype for Business as a heavier, enterprise solution needing more backend admin support and training than Google Voice. Google Voice is just plain easy to use.
Chose Google Voice
I chose Google Voice for their seamless integration. Calls and text bundle and email alerts. While Skype had great quality calls a long time ago, I noticed their support team is horrible with many bugs and crashes. The call logs on Skype were not registering and sometimes it …
Chose Google Voice
Google Voice performs similar communication activities compared to many other business service tools. However, one often must integrate other Google apps in order to fully experience the benefits that other platforms experience locally. Voice does have the benefit of merging …
Chose Google Voice
I haven't really used anything else that gives you a whole local phone number, so I can't speak to that, but there are other solutions like Skype or Zoom that can also do calling. These are nicer in a lot of ways but, again, are different tools designed for different purposes.
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams

No answer on this topic

Top Pros
Top Cons
Features
Google VoiceSkype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Cloud PBX
Comparison of Cloud PBX features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
3.9
50 Ratings
71% below category average
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
-
Ratings
Hosted PBX8.423 Ratings00 Ratings
Multi-level Interactive Voice Response (IVR)5.326 Ratings00 Ratings
User templates1.619 Ratings00 Ratings
Call reports2.143 Ratings00 Ratings
Directory of employee names2.025 Ratings00 Ratings
Call Management
Comparison of Call Management features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
5.8
64 Ratings
37% below category average
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
-
Ratings
Answering rules3.943 Ratings00 Ratings
Call recording7.850 Ratings00 Ratings
Call park6.422 Ratings00 Ratings
Call screening7.459 Ratings00 Ratings
Message alerts3.562 Ratings00 Ratings
VoIP system collaboration
Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
7.3
42 Ratings
12% below category average
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
-
Ratings
Video conferencing6.220 Ratings00 Ratings
Audio conferencing8.037 Ratings00 Ratings
Video screen sharing5.613 Ratings00 Ratings
Instant messaging9.326 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile apps
Comparison of Mobile apps features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
6.4
60 Ratings
26% below category average
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
-
Ratings
Mobile app for iOS4.843 Ratings00 Ratings
Mobile app for Android8.048 Ratings00 Ratings
Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
-
Ratings
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
7.5
193 Ratings
7% below category average
High quality audio00 Ratings8.0189 Ratings
High quality video00 Ratings7.7184 Ratings
Low bandwidth requirements00 Ratings6.6181 Ratings
Mobile support00 Ratings7.9145 Ratings
Screen Sharing
Comparison of Screen Sharing features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
-
Ratings
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
8.5
190 Ratings
6% above category average
Desktop sharing00 Ratings8.8190 Ratings
Whiteboards00 Ratings8.3119 Ratings
Online Meetings / Events
Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
-
Ratings
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
7.8
187 Ratings
5% below category average
Calendar integration00 Ratings8.0173 Ratings
Meeting initiation00 Ratings8.1181 Ratings
Integrates with social media00 Ratings7.783 Ratings
Record meetings / events00 Ratings7.6142 Ratings
Slideshows00 Ratings7.7114 Ratings
Online Events Collaboration
Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
-
Ratings
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
8.6
172 Ratings
2% above category average
Live chat00 Ratings9.1170 Ratings
Audience polling00 Ratings8.493 Ratings
Q&A00 Ratings8.193 Ratings
Online Events Security
Comparison of Online Events Security features of Product A and Product B
Google Voice
-
Ratings
Skype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
8.0
155 Ratings
5% below category average
User authentication00 Ratings8.1141 Ratings
Participant roles & permissions00 Ratings7.9147 Ratings
Confidential attendee list00 Ratings8.0109 Ratings
Best Alternatives
Google VoiceSkype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Small Businesses
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 9.5 out of 10
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting
Score 9.4 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
CloudTalk
CloudTalk
Score 9.5 out of 10
ClickMeeting
ClickMeeting
Score 9.4 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Cisco Business Edition 7000 (discontinued)
Score 9.1 out of 10
TeamViewer
TeamViewer
Score 8.3 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Google VoiceSkype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Likelihood to Recommend
3.6
(70 ratings)
8.6
(196 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.3
(7 ratings)
9.0
(7 ratings)
Usability
9.0
(9 ratings)
9.0
(14 ratings)
Support Rating
7.0
(35 ratings)
8.5
(40 ratings)
Implementation Rating
10.0
(2 ratings)
7.0
(2 ratings)
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
7.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
Professional Services
7.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
Google VoiceSkype for Business, now part of Microsoft Teams
Likelihood to Recommend
Google
In the past, I would have happily recommended this for small business use cases. Due to its affordability, versatility, and low barrier to entry as well as its simplicity to use. Google Voice was integrated into the Chrome Browser, it was easily accessed from Gmail, and integrated into Gmail and could even be leveraged in such a way to when phone numbers were clicked on, Google Voice was the tool used. However over the past few years and more, in the past couple of years from 2021 to current, this tool seems to have lost favor with the Alphabet suite of tools. With the lack of integrations, it's becoming less stable, and people are just opting more for Google Meet Voice. The biggest area where this is less appropriate and where opportunity has opened for others is its lack of features, like virtual attendants, call recording, call transcription, SMS, MMS, CRM integration, and other key features even 1 or 2 person business really needs in this day and age
Read full review
Microsoft
Skype is useful for collaborations across distances, including work from home, as well as a more convenient way to communicate with a large group of people. Skype is also useful to communicate with specific parties quickly, rather than relying on cellular service in areas where not as available. Skype is less useful if the team does not use computers , tablets, smartphones, etc in daily workflow as it would rarely be used.
Read full review
Pros
Google
  • Google Voice has been great for setting up additional phone lines and numbers.
  • The voicemail inbox is a great feature and you can see when messages come in online and listen to the messages from your computer.
  • Google Voice allows us to have multiple phone numbers and lines for specific business purposes.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • Instant messaging to anyone who we know only by name/email. Even if they're offline, they get the message in missed convos and a notification automatically goes to them via Outlook mail. All conversations are saved and accessible via Outlook.
  • Video and voice calls are a norm in the WFH scenario, and an average employee has around 4-5 calls a day. Skype gives notifications for upcoming meetings, allows easy scheduling via outlook calendar, and its audio/video quality [is] reasonably good compared to the amount of data it consumes.
  • Status availabilities - in the WFH scenario, you could be off for lunch, out of office, busy, sharing screens - and might not want to be disturbed. Skype allows you to do that, and in case you're off, ensures that you know that you have missed messages.
  • Screen sharing - we have to share screens at least once or twice a day with a coworker when working on some issues/features, and Skype easily lets us do that. One of the best things about Skype is that the screen can be shared without being on a video/voice call - which is of immense advantage because oftentimes, you could prefer sharing the screen, while it [is] too noisy to talk.
Read full review
Cons
Google
  • I think there is room to improve with regards to call forwarding.
  • I wish there were a concise way to know if the call was to your Google Voice number or your personal number before answering the call.
  • when I add a contact to my account on the web it doesn't seem to sync with my phone even though the same email address is logged in.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • Probably the biggest area is the video element as it has historically struggled in this area.
  • The need to be forced to federate with another organisation by providing yours and enabling the other organisation settings is a bit tedious but once done, allows for simple collaboration between third-parties.
  • Functionality wise, as it's an older product and being superseded by MS Teams, it feels as if it's run its course but was very good for what it does/did at the time.
Read full review
Likelihood to Renew
Google
It's user friendly, how to use it is self explanatory, they support all their own options while someone like Phone Booth uses a third party. I can cancel Google Voice anytime and I choose how much I spend with Google Voice
Read full review
Microsoft
The software is simple to install and configure. It is rather simple to explain for correct use. It is possible to profile users for the different functions offered. It is integrated quite completely with Outlook and with Active Directory security. It performs all communication functions well with one or more interlocutors and the possibility of granting control of your computer is convenient.
Read full review
Usability
Google
I haven't had problems with dropped calls, bad reception, lost recordings - everything works the way it should. The iOS app is easy to use, and the process is easy to explain to other people. It's also the cheapest way I've found to call internationally - I've used it to interview people from London and Austraila.
Read full review
Microsoft
Very easy to use. Even though Microsoft Teams has a lot of features and integrations, as a user I feel completely comfortable on finding what I need, getting information about the app extensions and using them. It's a very comprehensive tool, intuitive design and does not make me feel tired to be using it. I am glad with the current experience.
Read full review
Support Rating
Google
They do not offer support unless you have the Business account for Google Voice under G Suite. This is tough, because Google doesn't really have a customer support team for this service, so when it gets shut down for a few hours, we have no choice but to wait it out. But this doesn't happen that often, which is great.
Read full review
Microsoft
I have only had to reach out to the Support team at Skype for Business once with an issue, and I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the quickness and thoroughness of their response. The wait time was short and my question was dealt with politely and clearly, so I would say the support team has it together.
Read full review
Implementation Rating
Google
It is a pretty seamless program to transfer to, even for people who either have little experience with these programs or people who were stuck on Skype
Read full review
Microsoft
Skpe for business is utilized company wide in regards to my company. Everyone not only uses it, but uses it often. It is an effective way of communicating. It also integrates very nicely with outlook and all conversation history is pushed to a folder within the outlook system. We also have it so that if someone misses a message, they are sent an email reminder saying that there is a message that went unread.
Read full review
Alternatives Considered
Google
The integrations of Google Voice with all our devices are flawless, Android, iOS, Windows, Linux and Mac. Also, the call performance is far superior on wifi as well as on mobile data. With Skype, we had several problems with personal accounts, performance issues, and in general, it felt awkward to use it.
Read full review
Microsoft
For the below reason I will always choose this app over its competitors: Better audio and video quality, Little to no disconnections or freezing when on a call/video conference Integrates well with mailbox/ calendar/ one drive, and SharePoint is easy to use
Read full review
Contract Terms and Pricing Model
Google
Google Voice should be also be use to those who have difficulty in speaking English. So the contract term will need to be a little strict as Google Voice is used in navigations as the part of GPRS navigation is personal. The private data need to be in control much more securely and safely.
Read full review
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Professional Services
Google
It help to connect with the products that we use as a part. We need to get in touch with our professional world. It is like a tool that helps us to get in touch with everything from A to Z in our professional careers. So we need to be in touch with everything as linearly as the jpb can be done.
Read full review
Microsoft
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
Google
  • Cost for Google Voice is stellar, starting at $10/mo per user.
  • While it doesn't offer a new Audio/Video conferencing solution it does integrate with GSuite so it makes use of Google Calendar and Hangouts/ Google Meet.
  • Gets the employee's to use their company phone numbers more as texting is easy and deployment is simple.
  • The cell phone app is reliable and easy to deploy.
Read full review
Microsoft
  • We almost lost our biggest client because of the poor performance early on in our implementation...the online meetings were poor quality for audio and bandwidth refreshing
  • Many of the employees in our company disliked the quality so much, they started to sign up for free Cisco WebEx accounts to use instead
  • The majority of employees in our company lost trust in our CTO because of his decision to switch from Cisco WebEx to Skype for Business
Read full review
ScreenShots