You've narrowed it down to two options — 800.com and Grasshopper — and now you need someone to just tell you which one to go with. Both are solid, well-known virtual phone services for small businesses. But they are built for slightly different purposes, and choosing the wrong one could cost you money and flexibility down the road.
In this detailed comparison, I break down everything that matters: pricing, features, ease of use, SMS capabilities, call analytics, and who each service is actually built for. By the end, you will have a clear answer.
Quick Overview: 800.com vs Grasshopper
Before we go deep, here is the 30-second summary for busy business owners:
⚡ The Short Answer
800.com is the better choice if you need a dedicated toll-free number with built-in fax, SMS campaigns, call recording, and detailed analytics — all at a transparent, straightforward price.
Grasshopper is the better choice if you are a solopreneur or freelancer who primarily wants unlimited call minutes and a simple virtual phone system that works straight out of the box.
For most small business owners who want a toll-free presence with more features per dollar, 800.com is the stronger pick.
Side-by-side comparison overview of 800.com and Grasshopper
What Is 800.com?
800.com is a dedicated toll-free number service provider that has been operating since the early days of internet telephony. Unlike general-purpose virtual phone systems, 800.com is laser-focused on one thing: giving businesses a professional toll-free presence.
It is also a certified Responsible Organization (RespOrg) with the FCC, which means it has direct access to the toll-free number database and can activate numbers quickly — often within 1 to 2 hours for standard numbers.
With 800.com, you get access to every toll-free prefix including 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, and 833. You can also claim vanity numbers. The platform comes with a clean dashboard and a mobile app so you can manage calls, texts, and fax from anywhere.
800.com has a Trustpilot rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on 528 verified customer reviews — a strong signal of real-world satisfaction.
What Is Grasshopper?
Grasshopper has been in the virtual phone system space since 2003, making it one of the oldest players in the market. It is owned by GoTo (formerly LogMeIn) and is marketed squarely at entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small business teams who want a professional phone number without needing any hardware or a dedicated desk phone.
Grasshopper's biggest selling point has always been its flat-rate pricing and unlimited call minutes within the US and Canada. However, its interface has not seen a significant overhaul in years, and it lacks modern features like CRM integrations and AI call summaries that newer platforms offer.
Grasshopper offers a 7-day free trial on all plans — no credit card required. This makes it easy to test before committing to a monthly subscription.
Pricing Comparison: 800.com vs Grasshopper
Pricing is usually the first thing people look at, so let's lay it out clearly.
800.com Pricing (2026)
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Minutes | SMS | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal | $23/mo | $19/mo | 1,000 mins | 120 SMS | 1 toll-free + 1 fax |
| Unlimited | $59/mo | $49/mo | Unlimited | 500 SMS | 1 toll-free + 1 fax |
| Pro | $149/mo | $127/mo | 5,000 mins | 1,000 SMS | 5 toll-free + 1 fax |
Grasshopper Pricing (2026)
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Minutes | Numbers | Extensions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Solo | $18/mo | $14/mo | Unlimited* | 1 number | 1 extension |
| Solo Plus | $32/mo | $25/mo | Unlimited* | 3 numbers | 3 extensions |
| Small Business | $92/mo | $80/mo | Unlimited* | 5 numbers | Unlimited |
*Unlimited calling applies to US and Canada only.
Grasshopper's SMS texting costs an extra $1.50/month per number. Call recording is only available on Solo Plus and above. Professional voice greetings are a one-time $75 fee per recording. These are not included in the base price.
Features Head-to-Head
800.com dashboard showing analytics, SMS, and call routing features
| Feature | 800.com | Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| All Toll-Free Prefixes | ✓ All prefixes | ✓ All prefixes |
| Vanity Numbers | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Fax Number (Free) | ✓ All plans | ✓ Virtual fax |
| Unlimited Call Minutes (US) | ✗ Metered (Personal) | ✓ All plans |
| SMS / Text Messaging | ✓ Included (120–1,000/mo) | ✓ +$1.50/mo extra |
| SMS Campaigns / Bulk Texting | ✓ Built-in, all plans | ✗ Not available |
| Call Recording | ✓ All plans | ✗ Solo Plus+ only |
| Call Analytics / Reporting | ✓ Built-in dashboard | ✓ Basic reporting |
| Mobile App | ✓ iOS & Android | ✓ iOS & Android |
| Free Number Porting | ✓ Free | ✓ Free |
| Money-Back Guarantee | ✓ 30 days | ✓ 7-day free trial |
| Setup Fee | ✓ None | ✓ None |
Pros & Cons of Each Service
800.com — Pros
- All toll-free prefixes available including true 800 numbers
- Built-in SMS campaigns on every plan — great for marketing
- Call recording included on all plans from day one
- Free fax number bundled with every plan
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Certified RespOrg — fast toll-free number activation
- No setup fees and no long-term contracts required
800.com — Cons
- Personal plan has metered minutes (1,000/month)
- Customer support hours limited to Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm ET
- No CRM integrations or third-party app connections
- International calling not supported
Grasshopper — Pros
- Unlimited call minutes on all plans within US and Canada
- 7-day free trial with no credit card required
- Simple, beginner-friendly setup
- 24/7 live customer support available
- Virtual fax included across all plans
Grasshopper — Cons
- SMS texting costs an extra $1.50/month per number — not in base price
- No bulk SMS or campaign texting feature
- Call recording only on Solo Plus and above
- Interface feels dated compared to modern competitors
- No CRM integrations
- International calling requires a $500 deposit
"The right tool isn't the cheapest one — it's the one that makes your business look more professional and converts more callers into customers."
Who Should Use Which Service?
Choose 800.com if you:
- Want a dedicated toll-free number with the true "800" prefix
- Run SMS marketing campaigns and want to text customers from your business number
- Need call recording from day one without upgrading your plan
- Want a business fax number included at no extra cost
- Are setting up a new business and want a clean, professional phone setup quickly
Choose Grasshopper if you:
- Are a solopreneur who needs one professional number with unlimited calls
- Have high call volume and need unlimited minutes without overage charges
- Want to try the service risk-free before spending a dollar
- Need 24/7 live customer support availability
Ready to Get Your Toll-Free Number?
800.com activates standard numbers in as little as 1–2 hours. No setup fee. No contract. 30-day money-back guarantee.
🚀 Get Your 800 Number Today →Our Recommended Pick: 800.com
800.com
The fastest way for small businesses to get a professional toll-free number with SMS, fax, and analytics built in.
After comparing both services head-to-head, 800.com is the stronger choice for most small business owners. The combination of built-in SMS campaigns, free fax, call recording on all plans, and a genuine 800 prefix gives you more business utility per dollar than Grasshopper — without the hidden add-on costs. The 30-day money-back guarantee means there is zero risk to trying it.
- All toll-free prefixes (800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844, 833) including true 800 numbers
- SMS campaigns built into every plan — text your customers at scale
- Call recording, voicemail transcription, and analytics on all plans
- Free fax number bundled with every plan at no extra cost
- Standard numbers activate in 1–2 hours
- No setup fees, no activation fees, no long-term contracts
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- 4.5/5 Trustpilot rating from 528+ verified reviews
* Affiliate link — I may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most small business owners, yes. 800.com offers more features per dollar — including built-in SMS campaigns, call recording on all plans, and a free fax number — without the hidden add-on fees that inflate Grasshopper's actual monthly cost. Grasshopper is better suited for solopreneurs who need unlimited minutes and a simple phone system without worrying about overage charges.
800.com plans start at $23/month ($19/month billed annually) for the Personal plan, which includes 1 toll-free number, 1 fax number, 1,000 minutes, and 120 SMS messages. The Unlimited plan is $59/month. The Pro plan is $149/month with 5 numbers and 5,000 minutes. All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Yes. Grasshopper offers a 7-day free trial on all plans. No credit card is required, giving you full access to test its features before committing to a paid plan.
Yes. 800.com supports free number porting. You can transfer your existing toll-free number to 800.com at no additional cost. The porting process typically takes about 2 weeks. During that time, your old number should remain active with your current provider.
Managing calls, SMS, and fax from the 800.com mobile app
Final Verdict
Both 800.com and Grasshopper are legitimate tools that will give your business a more professional phone presence. Neither is a bad choice — but they are optimized for different things.
Grasshopper wins on unlimited call minutes and its simple, flat-rate structure. It is ideal for the freelancer or solo consultant who just needs to separate business calls from personal calls without overthinking it.
800.com wins on feature depth and value for money when you actually add up what you are paying for. Call recording, SMS campaigns, fax, analytics, and a true 800 number are all included without the surprise add-on charges. The 30-day money-back guarantee also gives you more time to validate it fits your workflow.
Get Your Business Toll-Free Number Today
Plans start at $23/month. No setup fees. No contracts. 30-day money-back guarantee. Activate in as little as 2 hours.
✅ Start with 800.com →
