Dial-Abroad.org - USA and World Phone Services, Comparisons, Reviews
VOIP Providers

Packet8
Editor's Choice

Packet8 stands slightly ahead of the other VOIP providers in this comparison (although I really like what iConnectHere is doing). It's a well respected company that has been developing and improving it's service for a long time. The basic unlimited plan, at $19.99, is really the best deal on the table. If you live outside the USA, it's not unlimited (you get 1000 included minutes), but that's still a great deal, and the rates are so low that it's no problem if you go over the limit. Packet8 is known for treating customers well, and that's good to know considering the technology is still developing. This was an easy choice for me.


iConnectHere
Editor's Choice

iConnectHere has done a good thing. For just $6.99 per month you get a VOIP phone plan with all the great features and convenience. Then you pay by the minute at super low rates (lower than the rates from Skype and the others here). This is an excellent way to go for so many people who simply don't need unlimited calling plans. All I can say is it's a great deal and sign up!

vonage VOIP

Vonage is another well developed VOIP service, and it's the market leader. The service quality is very good in general. The problem with Vonage is the cost. The unlimited calling plan seems reasonable at $24.99/mth, but Vonage includes an additional $1.50 monthly fee and a 3 percent federal tax in the fine print. That brings the real cost up over $27.00/mth. Vonage also has higher international rates. Vonage is still a good value, but it's not my first or second choice among these options.

Long Distance Carriers

VOIP phone services may help you save a lot of money. But they only make sense if you: a) spend many hours every month calling long distance, or b) drop your local phone company and use VOIP instead. The bottom line is you may actually save more money and be happier using one of these discount long distance carriers (here).

VOIP comparison table

Compare four of the best VOIP providers using the table below: Packet8, iConnectHere, and Vonage. See my summary comments to the right. Click on any provider's name to learn more and sign up securely online.

Service Plans and Costs

 

  

Rating
4.5/5
4.5/5
  
4/5

Plan 1: Home

$19.99 unlimited
$6.99
pay per min
 
$24.99 unlimited

Plan 2:
Budget
$19.99 unlimited

--

  
$14.99
500 min

Plan 3: Outside the USA

$19.99
1000 min
$6.99
pay per min
  
Available worldwide

Plan 4: Business
$39.99 unlimited
-
  
$49.99 unlimited

 

The number of minutes (or "unlimited") refers to calls to the USA and Canada. Only Packet8 and iConnectHere deliver adapters to international addresses. Vonage is available but not encouraged outside the USA.

Packet8 has a 49.99 "global" plan with unlimited min to a long list of countries. iConnectHere has a 24.99 "worldwide" plan with 250 minutes to a list of countries.

Local
USA #

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Non-US Local #

No
Yes
$7.99/mth
  
No

Free Adapter

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Ships Adapter
Free shipping to USA
$4.99 shipping worldwide
 
Paid shipping to USA only

Adapter Type

Uses Packet8 phones and adapters
Linksys PAP2 or Cisco ATA compatible
 
Variety of phones and adapters

Int'l
Rates

Australia 3¢
Brazil 4¢
China 3¢
India 16¢
Japan 4¢
Mexico 5¢
Philippines 19¢
Russia 7¢
Thailand 6¢
Australia 2.3¢
Brazil 4.8¢
China 2¢
India 13.4¢
Japan 3.1¢
Mexico 11.2¢
Philippines 16¢
Russia 4.5¢
Thailand 3.3¢
  
Australia 5¢
Brazil 9¢
China 10¢
India 17¢
Japan 6¢
Mexico 6¢
Philippines 18¢
Russia 12¢
Thailand 12¢

 

 *Some plans from Packet8 include free int'l calling in the monthly fee. iConnectHere has a super low monthly fee and then you pay by the minute (at the lowest rates) Check each provider's website for current rates. Calls to specific cities and cell phones (or premium numbers) may be charged at higher rates.
Special Features
   

Toll Fee Number
Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Toll Free Rates,
Fees

$4.99/mth
4.5¢/min
$6.99
10¢/min
  
$4.99/mth
4.9¢/min

 

 Packet8: 100 min of free incoming calls then 4.5¢/min
iConnectHere: 60 min of free incoming calls then 10¢/min

Fax
Receive

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

 

 Faxing is still considered unreliable with VOIP services, with results depending on the type of fax machine and other factors.

3-Way Calling

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Keep Phone
#

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

 

 You may not be able to keep your current phone number depending on where you live and your local phone company. It may take up to 30 days to transfer your number to the VOIP service.

Add
#'s

Yes
$4.99/mth
No
Yes
$4.99/mth

911

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

e911
Yes
$1.99/mth
Yes
Free
 
Yes
$1.50*

 

911/ E911 services may only be available in specific locations, and VOIP providers really cannot guarantee they will work. You should have an alternative means to call 911. Check with the providers carefully if this is an important issue for you. E911 means that when you dial 911 the operator will see your exact location displayed on a screen. This is very important to increase the response time in an emergency. You must go online and setup the E911 feature for it to work.

*Vonage charges a $1.50/mth "regulatory recovery fee" to cover the cost of E911 and other services. They don't mention this fee upfront, and it's hard to find. I've included it here because this is the most applicable place on this comparison.

Extra Features Included in the Basic Service
   

Call
Other
Users
Free

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

 

 All these providers offer unlimited free calls worldwide to the VOIP phones of other people using the same service.

Voice
Mail

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Call
Forw'd
Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Call
Wait

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Disable Call Wait
Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Caller
ID

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

411
Yes
75¢/call

Yes
79¢/call

  
Yes
79¢/call

Do Not Disturb
Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Block
Call ID

Yes
No
  
Yes

Anon
Call
Block
Yes
No
  
Yes
Account Management, Billing and Payment
   

Mang Acct Online

Yes
Yes
  
Yes

Billing
Auto billing to credit card
Auto billing to credit card
 
Auto billing to credit card

Set Up Fee

$29.99
$29.99
  
$29.99
  *iConnectHere: Gives you a $30 credit on your account at sign up to offset the activation fee.

Cancel Policy

30 day guarantee

30 day
guarantee

 
30 day guarantee

Cancel Fee

No*
No*
  
No*

 

*Packet8: Full refund if you cancel within 30 days and return the hardware in original condition. From 30 days to 12 mths a $59 fee applies for regular service (a higher fee for video phone service). See the "Terms of Service" for details.
*iConnectHere: Full refund paid if you cancel within 30 days with less than 50 minutes of total usage (and no calls exceeding 3 minutes in length). Hardware must be returned in original condition. See the "Terms of Service" for details.
*Vonage: Full refund if you cancel within 30 days with less than 250 min of total usage and return the hardware with authorization number. From 30 days to 12 mths a $39.99 fee applies for regular service (a higher fee for video phone service). See the "Terms of Service" for details.

Sign Up

 

Reviews

  
Important: You are responsible to read each provider's "Terms of Service" and verify information in this VOIP comparison. Rates, terms, and other details are always subject to change, and I cannot guarantee any of the information above will be accurate when you read this page.