Tonet vs Google Voice: Which Is Better for Small Business?
Google Voice lists plans from $10/user/mo, but every business account requires a separate Google Workspace subscription on top. Add that in and you're at $18.40/user/mo minimum before your first call, and still missing call recording, IVR, and AI transcription.
Start with $15The Short Version
Google Voice's real minimum is $18.40/user/mo. Tonet is $15 with everything included.Google Voice's $10 headline price is only half the bill. The required Google Workspace subscription adds $8.40/user/mo at minimum, making the real entry cost $18.40/user/mo. To unlock call recording, you'd need to jump to the Premier plan at $30/user/mo, which runs $38.40/user/mo all-in with Workspace. Tonet is $15/user/mo, includes call recording, IVR, and AI transcription on every account, and bills daily so you only pay for active users.
Pricing Comparison
| Tonet | Google Voice | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $15/user/mo | $10-$30/user/mo + Workspace |
| Billing | Daily (pay only for days used) | Monthly |
| Contracts | None | None |
| Setup Fee | Free | Free |
| Real Cost (with add-ons) | $15/user/mo | $18.40-$38.40/user/mo (with required Workspace) |
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
What Google Voice Doesn't Tell You
- Google Voice's $10 advertised price requires a Google Workspace subscription on top. The real minimum for a business team is $18.40/user/mo, not $10.
- Call recording is locked to the Premier plan at $30/user/mo, which means $38.40/user/mo with the required Workspace add-on. Tonet includes call recording at $15/user/mo.
- Google Voice has no IVR phone menu at any price point. If you need callers to route themselves to sales or support, Google Voice simply doesn't do that. Tonet includes a full IVR system.
- Porting your existing business number into Google Voice costs $20 per number. Tonet includes number porting at no extra charge.
- Auto attendant and ring groups are unavailable on the Starter plan. You'd need to upgrade to Standard, which adds up to $28.40/user/mo with Workspace, just to get basic call routing.
Why Google Voice Costs More Than the Pricing Page Shows
Google Voice offers three business tiers: Starter at $10, Standard at $20, and Premier at $30 per user per month. Those numbers are real, but they're incomplete. Google Voice for business requires a Google Workspace account, which starts at $8.40/user/mo for Business Starter [1]. Google doesn't bundle these or offer a discount for buying both. So the actual minimum cost for a team is $18.40/user/mo, and the Premier plan, which is the only tier with call recording, runs $38.40/user/mo when you factor in Workspace. That's more than two and a half times the advertised starting price.
Beyond the hidden Workspace cost, several features that most businesses treat as standard simply aren't available. Google Voice has no IVR system at any price tier, meaning there's no way to build a phone menu that routes callers between departments [2]. Auto attendant and ring groups are restricted to Standard and above. AI transcription isn't offered. If you're a five-person team that needs call recording for compliance or training, Google Voice would cost you $192/mo with Workspace. Tonet covers the same team, with call recording, IVR, and AI transcription, for $75/mo.
There are also smaller costs that are easy to miss. Porting an existing number into Google Voice costs $20 per number, a one-time fee that applies regardless of which plan you're on [3]. Support is handled through an online form, with response times that can stretch to 10 business days according to user reviews. The platform is also tightly bound to the Google ecosystem, so if your team uses Microsoft 365 or Slack-centric workflows, you're working around the edges of what Google Voice was designed for. For a solo user or a team already deep in Google Workspace who needs a basic secondary number, Google Voice can be a reasonable fit. For businesses that need real call routing, any kind of recording, or a full phone system, the real cost and missing features add up fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Google Voice really require Google Workspace for business use?
Yes, for any multi-user setup. Google Workspace starts at $8.40/user/mo for Business Starter, so the real floor for Google Voice is $18.40/user/mo, not the $10 advertised. There is a limited single-user version that skips the Workspace requirement, but it isn't a practical option for teams.
Does Google Voice include call recording?
Only on the Premier plan at $30/user/mo. With the required Workspace subscription, that comes to $38.40/user/mo per user just to record calls. Tonet includes call recording on every account at $15/user/mo, no upgrade required.
Does Google Voice have an IVR or phone menu system?
No, not at any price tier. Google Voice offers a basic auto attendant on the Standard plan and above, but there is no multi-level IVR, meaning callers can't press 1 for sales or 2 for support. If call routing is important to your business, this is a hard limitation with no workaround inside Google Voice. Tonet includes a full IVR on every account.
Can I switch from Google Voice to Tonet and keep my number?
Yes. You can port your existing Google Voice number to Tonet. Number porting typically takes 7 to 10 business days, sometimes longer depending on your current carrier and your number stays active during the transition, so there's no gap in service. Tonet includes number porting at no extra charge. For reference, Google Voice charges $20 per number to port in, so you'd avoid that fee on the way out too.
Is Tonet really $15/user/month with no extra fees?
Yes. Tonet is $15/user/mo and every feature is included at that price, including call recording, IVR, AI transcription, ring groups, auto attendant, and desk phone support. Billing is daily, so you only pay for days a user is actually active. No annual contracts, no required add-ons.
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