Google Voice vs RingCentral RingEX

Updated November 2026 · AppBreakup editorial

Google Voice

Google's phone number service for calls, texts and voicemail on phones, laptops and desk phones.

Free plan + paid

Visit Google Voice Google Voice profile

RingCentral RingEX

RingCentral's cloud business phone system with team chat, video meetings and SMS in one app.

Paid

Visit RingCentral RingEX RingCentral RingEX profile

The short answer

Google Voice suits US individuals who want a free second number and small teams already on Google Workspace who want simple calling. RingCentral RingEX suits companies, especially with several offices, that want phones, team chat and video meetings from one vendor. The biggest difference is scope: an add-on phone line inside Google's apps versus a full business communications system.

Google Voice or RingCentral RingEX: our take

Google Voice gives you a number that works on a phone, in a laptop browser and on supported desk phones, with transcribed, searchable voicemail and automatic spam filtering. The personal version in the US makes most calls to the US and Canada free. For businesses it is an add-on to Google Workspace, starting at $10 per user/month for the Starter tier, with an admin console, number porting, ring groups, auto attendants, call recording and links to Google Meet and Calendar. It does not offer toll-free numbers, and business plans require a Workspace subscription.

RingEX is RingCentral's main business product. Each user gets a business number with calling, voicemail, call recording and an AI virtual assistant, and the same app includes team messaging and video meetings for up to 300 participants. Admins manage call queues, auto-attendants and multiple office sites from a web portal, and higher plans add CRM integrations, analytics and more toll-free minutes and SMS. Add-ons cover an AI receptionist, contact center and webinars. Pricing starts at $20 per user/month, paid annually, and every plan has unlimited domestic calling. The entry plan's SMS allowance is small, and the free trial is limited to five users.

Google Voice runs on the web, Android and iOS. RingEX adds native Windows and Mac apps alongside iPhone, Android and the browser, and both work with desk phones.

Choose Google Voice if you are an individual wanting a cheap second number, or a small team already living in Gmail, Meet and Calendar that needs straightforward calling. Choose RingEX if you need toll-free numbers, multi-site management, CRM integrations or a path to a contact center, or want chat and meetings bundled with your phone system rather than relying on Google's other apps.

Choose Google Voice if…

US individuals and Google Workspace teams who want a cheap second number across phone and browser
You want a free option (RingCentral RingEX is paid only)
Personal version has almost all US and Canada calls at no cost
Voicemail transcripts land in your inbox and are searchable

Choose RingCentral RingEX if…

Companies with several offices that want phones, chat and video meetings from one vendor
You need Windows and macOS, which Google Voice doesn't list
Phone, team chat and video meetings in a single app
Unlimited domestic calling on every plan

What is Google Voice?

Google Voice gives you a second phone number that works across a phone, a laptop browser and supported desk phones, so calls, texts and voicemail are not tied to one SIM card. Voicemails are transcribed and can be searched like email, and spam calls are filtered automatically. For individuals in the US there is a personal version where most calls to the US and Canada cost nothing, with low per-minute rates for other countries. Businesses buy it as an add-on to Google Workspace in three per-user tiers, which add an admin console, number porting, ring groups, auto attendants and call recording, plus links to Google Meet and Calendar. It runs on the web, Android and iOS. It suits people and small teams already living in Google's apps; anyone needing toll-free numbers, a contact-centre setup or service outside the countries Google supports will look elsewhere.

What is RingCentral RingEX?

RingEX (formerly RingCentral MVP) is RingCentral's main business communications product. It gives each user a business phone number with calling, voicemail, call recording and an AI virtual assistant, and bundles team messaging and video meetings in the same desktop and mobile app. Admins manage numbers, call queues, auto-attendants and multiple office sites from a web portal, and higher plans add CRM integrations, analytics and more toll-free minutes and SMS. Add-ons cover an AI receptionist, conversation intelligence, contact center, webinars and room systems. Pricing is per user per month and drops when paying annually or adding more users; a free trial is available for up to five users. The RingCentral app runs on Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android and the browser, and it works with desk phones too. It suits small to large companies that want one vendor for phones, chat and meetings, especially with several locations.

Side by side

Attribute	Google Voice	RingCentral RingEX
Pricing	Free plan + paid	Paid
Open source	No	No
Self-hostable	No	No
Platforms	Web, iOS, Android	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Best for	US individuals and Google Workspace teams who want a cheap second number across phone and browser	Companies with several offices that want phones, chat and video meetings from one vendor
Status	Active	Active

Verified facts, compared

Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.

Fact	Google Voice	RingCentral RingEX
Platforms	Web, Android, iOS	Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, browser
Starting price	$10 per user/month (Starter)	$20 per user/month billed annually ($30 monthly)