Ooma delivers simple and straightforward VoIP solutions that are perfect for those switching from legacy landlines. With easy DIY installation and an experience that mirrors traditional landlines, it blends the best parts of old-school phone systems with modern technology.
What Is Ooma?
Ooma has solutions for business VoIP, home phone systems, enterprises and call centers, POTS line replacement, and home security. You can use these links to jump to a specific section of our review if you’d like.
All of Ooma’s communication tools utilize VoIP technology, which works via an existing internet connection. There’s no need for extra infrastructure, wires, cables, or anything like that.
They also add a new layer of versatility and mobility for modern communications—you can take calls and configure settings in the desktop, web, or mobile apps from anywhere you have internet. No more missing calls because you aren’t at home or your desk. You’ll also be able to connect your new system to smart home software or critical business tools for a more connected experience.
All that paired with the familiarity of the phone(s) you already have, you get a streamlined combination of tech and equipment that doesn’t require hours of video tutorials to install or use.
Ooma Business: A Phone System for Traditional Office Settings with Basic Calling Needs
Just about every VoIP phone service can work well in a traditional office environment. Most work with a range of compatible devices and sell pre-configured phones, too.
However, Ooma makes getting started easier than the rest with its simple implementation process.
Plus, that’s what it was built for.
If you’re hesitant to make the switch from on-premise or landline to the cloud and just need a basic phone system that works, Ooma’s a great option that’ll ease you into the transition.
This is especially true if you don’t have in-house IT resources to lean on.
A solution like Nextiva may be a better fit if you want more innovative features and collaboration capabilities at a similar price point. It’s also far more scalable than Ooma—you’re less likely to outgrow it as your team and needs expand.
That paired with top-tier customer service makes it our favorite business phone system.
Need lightweight call center features but on a tight budget? RingCentral’s phone plans include more call routing features than most in this price range. You’ll get IVR, ACD, recording, call queues, and even a receptionist console on top of video conferencing, texting, and team messaging.
Zoom can come in at a lower per-user cost on certain tiers and bundles, depending on how you buy it and which features you need.
On the other end of the spectrum, Grasshopper, OpenPhone, and Google Voice are simpler alternatives to look into if you need something simple but don’t need physical desk phones.
Ooma for Business: The Good
DIY setup in 15 minutes: There are multiple ways to get started with Ooma—you can use existing phones, purchase phones from Ooma, start via the desktop app (on certain plans), or set it up using an app on your existing mobile phone. It’ll take a few days if you purchase hardware from them, but the other options can be up and running quickly for most businesses. It’s so easy you don’t need any lengthy documentation, IT pros, or professional services to get going. This is true even if you have dozens of users, although it may take a bit longer than 15 minutes.
Simple and streamlined: A lot of VoIP phone systems come packed full of features that get in the way. Ooma, in contrast, is simple and straightforward. You get the essentials you use every day and none of the unnecessary features you’ll never use.
Updated interface: Until recently, the Ooma platform was pretty clunky, so we’re happy to report that the interface has gotten a total revamp. Now it’s on par with competitors in terms of offering an accessible end-user experience.
Free main company number: You can choose between a local and toll-free number for your business at no extra cost. Some providers don’t offer a free number, so it’s nice that Ooma does. Alternatively, you can port an existing phone number if you don’t want to worry about changing to a new one. Porting can take a few days to a few weeks.
A direct-dial number for each user: On top of your main number, each user will get their own number. You won’t have to pay extra for this as it’s included in the price.
Complimentary toll-free minutes: Every plan includes 500 inbound toll-free minutes each month. After you hit the limit, you’ll pay per minute you go over. This is low to average compared to others but it’s nice that you get some for free.
Virtual receptionist on every plan: On the lower two tiers, you’ll be able to use Ooma’s virtual receptionist. With it, callers will be asked a few questions to route them to the right place. On the top tier, you’ll also be able to record custom messages at every stage of the menu, create menus in different languages, and set up multi-level trees that can be as complex as you need.
Online faxing at no extra cost: Aside from purchasing a fax number if you don’t already have one, there are no extra charges to send and receive faxes with Ooma. It comes standard with every plan. In contrast, many providers offer it as an add-on or gate it to higher tiers.
Text messaging included on higher tiers: Ooma includes texting on its Pro and Pro Plus tiers. Pro comes with up to 250 text messages per user account per month, while Pro Plus increases that allowance up to 1,000 text messages per user account per month. After that, you’ll pay per message, and Ooma also offers bulk SMS options.
UCaaS features on higher tiers: The middle tier includes video conferencing with up to 25 participants, screen sharing, and calendar integrations. The top tier expands meeting features and adds team messaging and additional collaboration tools.
Only including these on more expensive plans keeps things simple on the entry-level plan if you don’t need all these extra capabilities.
Useful in-office features: Ooma offers a range of features for traditional offices that many modern VoIP systems skip over, including paging groups, overhead paging, intercom functionality, hot desking, and call parking.
Strong system mobility: Despite being great for traditional offices, Ooma has strong mobility features, like find me/follow me plus a mobile app that lets users take and make calls on the go. Users can also manage everything from the desktop or web app on the Pro tier and above. Everything from texting and calling to faxing, team chat, and video conferencing is accessible from anywhere.
Optional internet services: If you’re unhappy with your existing internet or you need a separate network for your phone system, Ooma offers business internet options in select areas and through select programs. Availability and tiers vary depending on where you’re located.
No contracts: Many providers lock you into one, two, or three year contracts to get the best pricing. Ooma’s advertised rates are for month-to-month, giving you the flexibility to make changes as needed.
Ooma Business VoIP: The Bad
Not much room to grow: Solutions like Nextiva, RingCentral, and Talkdesk come with a range of features for larger businesses with plenty of room to scale. Ooma’s more for straightforward calling and collaboration needs. Ooma Enterprise may provide necessary capabilities, but that’s going to be a jump in cost with a lot of firepower you may not need. Ooma’s cloud-first competitors do a better job of letting you pick and choose key features without having to pay up for an enterprise plan.
Expensive for what you get: Ooma’s entry-level plan is $19.95 per user per month. The top tier, which is the only one that includes team messaging and the full set of Pro Plus features, is $29.95 per user per month.
For around the same price as Ooma’s cheapest plan, you can often find more feature-rich plans from providers like RingCentral, Nextiva, or Dialpad, especially if you’re willing to pay annually. Exact features vary by tier and promotions, but the value gap is real once you start comparing what’s included.
No vanity or international numbers: The types of numbers you can purchase through Ooma Office are primarily local and toll-free. If you need vanity or international numbers, you may have to look at alternative providers that offer those options more broadly.
Limited features on the entry-level plan: If you need things like call recording, video conferencing, texting, team messaging, CRM integrations, or hot desking, you won’t be able to use the cheapest plan. The simplicity may be nice if you’re just looking for a basic phone system that works out of the box. But there are far more feature-rich options out there at a similar (or lower) price point.
Low texting and video limits on Pro: On the middle tier, which is $24.95 per user per month, each user account gets up to 250 texts per month and video meetings are capped at 25 participants. Compared to other providers at a similar price point, these limits can feel restrictive.
There aren’t many integrations: Integrations are primarily a Pro Plus feature, and Ooma’s ecosystem is smaller than many cloud-first competitors. If you need deep CRM coverage, a huge marketplace, or a developer platform and extensive APIs, you’ll likely be happier with a provider that’s built around integrations from day one.
Ooma Residential: A Free Home Phone Service with Optional Upgrades
Ooma’s home phone service is simple, straightforward, and surprisingly feature-rich for a residential service.
That paired with rock-bottom rates that’ll save you a bunch of money compared to a landline and incredibly easy setup, you get a top-tier service at an affordable rate. While it doesn’t have the most affordable up front costs—MagicJack can be cheaper up front depending on the deal, and some providers bundle equipment into higher monthly pricing—Ooma’s low monthly cost and overall quality can make up for it.
Ooma Home Phone: The Good
Low, one-time equipment fee: If you have strong internet, you can choose between a hardwired Ooma Telo device or a wireless option (often sold as Telo Air) that connects over Wi-Fi. Pricing changes with promotions, but expect the wired unit to typically cost less than the Wi-Fi model.
Optional LTE + battery backup option: This is a great option if you don’t have strong internet (learn how to check your internet speed for VoIP, here) or want a backup in case you lose power. Ooma sells an LTE home phone option with battery backup designed to keep you connected during outages and in locations without reliable broadband. It requires an ongoing monthly service fee plus taxes.
There’s a free plan (just have to pay taxes): If you just need a basic phone system with voicemail and a few basic settings, you’ll only have to pay for taxes and fees—no monthly subscription fee required. Taxes and fees vary depending on where you live, but in many areas it’s typically in the single digits each month.
Paid plan is cheaper than a landline: Want more powerful spam blocking, voicemail settings, smart home connections, and call handling options? Ooma’s Premier plan is $9.99 per month plus taxes. Compared to paying upwards of $40 or more for a traditional landline, even the paid plan can be a steal.
Sets up in a few minutes: Getting started is as easy as plugging an ethernet cable into your Telo device or connecting it to your Wi-Fi if you have the wireless version. From there, all that’s left is plugging in your existing phone and activating your service.
You can keep your number: If you don’t want a new number, you can port your existing number to Ooma. If you go this route, you’ll need to keep paying for your current phone service until the process is done. It can take up to a few weeks, so you’ll also get a temporary number to use while you wait.
Very simple and easy to use: Since you can keep using the phones you already have, there’s virtually no learning curve. You’ll be able to keep using it just like you always have. It may take a few minutes to get familiar with using the mobile app and online account tools, but it’s one of the easiest setups out there. You don’t need any tech skills, and support is available if you get stuck.
Manage your account online: Rather than having to call support, you can manage and configure settings online or via the mobile app. You’ll be able to add new devices, update voicemail settings, manage call blocking capabilities, and more.
Mobile app for answering calls on the go: You can use Ooma’s mobile app to take and make calls from anywhere you have internet. This feature depends on your plan and setup, but it adds flexibility you won’t get from a traditional landline. Plus, you don’t have to worry about missing calls when you’re not at home.
E911 supports address-based dispatch: With VoIP E911, emergency calls route to local responders using the service address on your account. Make sure your address is accurate and updated in your settings so dispatch has the right location information right away.
Optional Ooma World Plan: If you do a lot of international calling, you can purchase unlimited international calling with Ooma’s World plans. The World Unlimited plan covers landlines in 60+ countries and mobile phones in a smaller set of countries for $17.99 per month. The World Plus Unlimited plan expands coverage to landlines in 70+ countries and mobile phones in 50+ countries for $25.99 per month.
Caller ID and contact lists: Both the free and paid plans include caller ID and the ability to create your own contact lists. The paid plan includes enhanced caller ID, which can display caller name information even if you don’t have the number saved.
Standard voicemail: Your Telo device works as your voicemail and you can also check voicemail using your online account tools. The voicemail functionality comes complete with notifications so you don’t have to check it to know if you have messages. The Premier plan includes additional voicemail features, like more flexible notifications.
Connects to Alexa, Nest, and other home products: If you set this up, you can use voice commands for certain calling features, listen to voicemails, and more, depending on the devices and integrations you’re using.
Ooma Residential: The Bad
High volume of spam calls unless you upgrade: Advanced call blocking and spam protection features are primarily available on the Premier plan. If you upgrade, you’ll be able to see who’s calling even if they aren’t in your contact list, block anonymous calls, set up your own call blocking rules, and automatically block suspected and known spammers. If you prefer, you can enable contact-only calling so you only get calls from people you know.
Relies on your internet connection: If your internet isn’t the greatest, you may experience poor call quality, dropped calls, or disruptions in your service. You can either upgrade your internet or consider an LTE-based option for backup coverage.
LTE service comes with limits: If you go with an LTE-based option, the cellular connection is designed to keep phone service running and may include limited data for non-phone usage. If you plan to use it for anything beyond home phone reliability, make sure you understand the included allowance and what overages cost.
No texting aside from text alerts: Some home phone services come with basic texting capabilities so you can get text-based confirmations and things like that. Ooma’s home service focuses on calling, with texting generally limited to notifications and alerts rather than full SMS messaging from your home number.
Additional Ooma Products and Services
Business and home phone systems are definitely Ooma’s bread and butter. However, the company also offers a range of other services, too. Here’s a closer look at them.
POTS Line Replacement with Ooma AirDial
Replacing POTS (plain old telephone system) lines is a good idea because legacy copper-based phone infrastructure has been steadily transitioning toward newer technologies.
If you have outdated alarms, safety phone lines, entry systems, or other emergency devices, Ooma offers a straightforward way to replace them with a centralized solution. The service includes the hardware you need to modernize your systems plus the phone service and failover options you need to actually be able to use them.
It comes with full device management and easy account management, too. Aside from being easier to manage, you’ll likely save some money by making the switch.
Home Security
Ooma offers DIY home security systems you can set up on your own. There are a wide range of devices to choose from, including motion sensors, window and door sensors, water sensors, garage sensors, and sirens. There are also home security bundles that include multiple devices to protect your entire home, and some bundles include a Telo device for home phone service.
Ooma offers a free self-monitoring option and paid plans that add features like phone/text/email notifications and professional monitoring. Paid plans start at $5.99 per month, and professional monitoring is available on the $14.99 per month tier.
Enterprise and Call Center Communications
If you’re a larger company, you’re not entirely out of luck with Ooma. While it’s not what they specialize in, they do provide SIP trunking and enterprise-grade communications options if you need to handle higher volumes or are migrating from a hybrid/on-premise solution.
Ooma’s packaging tends to be more straightforward than providers that rely heavily on add-ons, so it can be easier to predict your monthly spend once you’ve chosen the right tier and options.
With that said, we don’t usually recommend Ooma for high volumes.
