Grasshopper Review 2026 -- Virtual Phone System for Solo and Micro Businesses
Best for Solopreneurs and Micro-Businesses
8.3
Our score / 10
$14 flat
Solo plan / month
5 min
Setup time
Best For
Solo consultants, freelancers, and 1-3 person businesses who just need a professional business number
Not Suitable For
Teams over 5, businesses needing video, CRM integration, call recording, or desk phones
What Grasshopper Actually Is
Grasshopper is a virtual phone number service, not a full VoIP replacement. It adds a business phone number (and optional extensions) that forwards calls to your existing mobile or landline. You keep using your current phone -- Grasshopper just puts a professional business layer on top. This is why setup takes 5 minutes and why the feature set is intentionally limited.
Grasshopper Pricing 2026
| Plan | Monthly Price | Phone Numbers | Extensions | Users |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Solo | $14/mo | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Solo Plus | $25/mo | 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Small Business | $55/mo | 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Key advantage: flat-rate pricing. 3 users on Solo Plus ($25) vs 3 users on Nextiva ($45). For 1-3 users, Grasshopper is cheaper.
What Grasshopper Does Well
Instant setup
Sign up, choose your number, download the app. You are live in under 10 minutes. No porting required, no hardware, no configuration. The fastest path from 'no business number' to 'professional business number'.
Flat-rate value for small teams
For 1-3 users, Grasshopper's flat-rate pricing beats per-user VoIP providers. Three users at $25 per month versus $45 on Nextiva or $60 on RingCentral. The savings are real at this team size.
Personal phone stays private
Your mobile number stays completely hidden. Outbound calls show your Grasshopper business number. You can call back missed calls using the Grasshopper app so customers never see your personal number.
Professional auto-attendant
Even the cheapest plan includes a professional greeting menu with extensions. 'Press 1 for sales, 2 for enquiries, 0 for reception.' This elevates a solo operator to sound like a larger business.
What Grasshopper Lacks
-No video conferencing
-No call recording
-No CRM integration
-No analytics or reporting
-No desk phone support
-No presence / availability indicators
-No ring groups or call queues
-No international SMS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Grasshopper and how is it different from regular VoIP?
Grasshopper is a virtual phone number overlay, not a full VoIP system. When you sign up for Grasshopper, you get a business phone number that rings through to your existing mobile or landline. You are not replacing your current phone -- you are adding a professional business number on top of it. This is different from providers like Nextiva or RingCentral which replace your entire phone system with internet-based calling. Grasshopper's approach means simpler setup (no hardware, no porting required) but fewer features.
How does Grasshopper's flat-rate pricing work?
Grasshopper charges a flat monthly fee regardless of how many people use the main number. The True Solo plan at $14 per month gives one user one phone number with three extensions. The Solo Plus at $25 per month gives three numbers and six extensions. The Small Business plan at $55 per month gives five numbers and unlimited extensions. This flat-rate model is exceptionally good value for solo operators and 2-3 person teams where per-user pricing from other providers would cost more.
Does Grasshopper support desk phones?
No. Grasshopper works through a mobile or desktop app, or by forwarding calls to your existing phone number. It does not support IP desk phones and has no plans to add this. If you want physical desk phones, you need a full VoIP provider like Nextiva, RingCentral, or Ooma. Grasshopper is designed to be a lightweight virtual number solution for people who primarily use their mobile phone.
Is Grasshopper good enough for a growing small business?
Grasshopper works well up to about 3-5 people, but its limitations become frustrating as you grow. There is no video conferencing, no call recording, no CRM integration, no call analytics, and no ability to see whether team members are available or on calls. For a solo consultant, freelancer, or very small service business, it is excellent value. For a 10-person team handling significant call volume, you will quickly find the feature gaps limiting. At that scale, Nextiva at $15 per user is a better investment.