When you take a look around, you’ll find one thing in common among commercials, billboards, advertisements, storefronts, websites, and business cards. What is it? It’s a toll-free number.
If you are new to the business line, you may wonder what a toll-free number is, how it works, and does your business really needs it. And if your business needs a toll-free number, how will you get it? Well, in this article, we’ve answered all your questions.
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What is a Toll Free Number?
A toll-free number is a telephone number that allows callers to connect with businesses for free. The cost of a toll-free number is borne by the toll-free subscriber and not the callers. When you’ve got a business toll-free number, your customers can reach you more conveniently.
It is generally identified by a dialing prefix, i.e., 1800, 800, 855, 844, 866, etc. These prefixes demonstrate different geographical areas. For example, when you dial a number with a 1-800 prefix, it would reach a different recipient than the one you dial with a 1-888 prefix. However, getting a toll-free number for your business can help boost sales opportunities.
How does a Toll Free Number Work?
Now that we have known what toll-free numbers are, let’s understand how it works.
Toll-free numbers are managed from a central database called SOMOS.
- A customer dials a business toll-free number as advertised on its website, business card, or any sort of advertisement.
- At first, the call is routed to a local telephone company or cloud telephony system provider.
- The local telephone company fetches the routing information (i.e., where to route the call) from SOMOS.
- Once it receives the details, it routes the call to the respective long-distance telephone company.
- On receiving the call, the long-distance telephone company routes it to the destination local telephone company.
- The destination local telephone company then routes the call to the end-user (here, it is a business).
- The end-user receives the call and talks to the customer.
Though this seems like a lengthy process, it takes only three seconds to connect a customer with any business via a toll-free number.
How to Get a Toll Free Number?
Getting a toll-free phone number for your business is a fairly easy thing. All you need to do is filter your search list of toll-free number service providers and choose the one that best fits your needs.
While there are many providers available on the market, here, we have listed the most popular toll-free number providers.
Best Toll Free Number Providers for Your Business
1. RingCentral
RingCentral tops the minds of those who are looking for a business phone system or VoIP solution. With a feature-rich set of calling functionalities and business communication capabilities, RingCentral offers top-tier services to ensure that your phone services are reliable.
RingCentral offers various toll-free numbers so that customers can connect with your business free of charge. You can choose from 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, and 844 numbers. It also lets you create a custom vanity phone number to enhance your brand’s visibility and credibility. For example, if you are a florist, your vanity number can be 1-800-FLOWER. Thus, it remains more comfortable for your customers to remember.
2. CallHippo
CallHippo is one of the leading VoIP service providers that offer business phone solutions for small and expanding businesses. It comes with a plethora of features that help companies connect and communicate with their clients using virtual, local, and toll-free phone numbers, as well as call center software. You can get local phone numbers for more than 50 countries from CallHippo.
With personalized packages and flexible business plans, CallHippo provides you with the right business toll-free number. It offers time-bound and cost-effective toll-free numbers with a whole set of calling functionalities like Call Transfer, Call Conference, Voicemail Transcription, IVR, and more. Besides, it comes with in-built CRM integration that allows you to handle different business operations from a single platform.
3. 8×8
8×8 provides reliable cloud-based communication solutions to small-to-medium-sized businesses. It is known for matching its service plans with your communication needs efficiently. Unlike other service providers, 8×8 has its own in-house platform and many patents. Thus, it is proficient at supporting businesses of any size – small businesses, enterprises, and government-level organizations.
It offers a monthly plan for a toll-free number. It comprises of a fixed number of minutes to place free calls. If you exceed the limit, it will charge per extra minute. Moreover, it also has plans that can help your business have multiple toll-free numbers.
4. MightyCall
MightyCall offers a system that allows companies to accumulate customer queries from different sources – phone calls, emails, and social media channels. It provides you with a central virtual phone system that handles all the calls from your clients via toll-free, vanity, and local phone numbers.
Getting a toll-free phone number from MightyCall aids you in keeping your business and private life separate. Moreover, you can establish a local presence in regions where you don’t have a physical office and attract new clients. You can connect MightyCall to any of your devices – be it a landline or conference number, office device, or your team member’s mobile phone.
5. Vonage
Vonage is also one of the most famous names in the VoIP industry. It caters its services to businesses of any size. Furthermore, it comes with features like unlimited calling, mobile app, SMS, voicemail-to-email, desktop plugins, and more. Though it boasts a simple setup, it is much pricier than its competitors.
Vonage toll-free phone numbers give a professional presence to your company. With a flat monthly rate and no per-minute charges, it offers several plans for your business needs. Thus, your customers can reach you immediately without worrying about incurring long-distance calling costs. Additionally, it also helps you track your marketing campaigns effectively.
6. Avoxi
Avoxi, a well-established business phone system provider, caters to different cloud telephony services. It specializes in providing its clients with solutions that are perfect for their needs, business, budget, and goals. Moreover, it also offers high-class, 24/7 support to its customers.
Avoxi enables you to get a business toll-free number with no contracts and set-up fees. Its international toll-free number services bring along over 20 VoIP features without paying extra. Hence, it helps strengthen your business’ presence and expand your reach. Moreover, you can also take a 30-day free trial for its toll-free number service.
Now that you know getting a toll-free number simply depends on the VoIP service provider you choose, we have made it even easier for you with the above-listed top toll-free number service providers.
A digital marketing and content curator at SoftwareSuggest, a software recommendation platform. I am passionate about Digital Marketing, and all things digital. Also interested in technology and innovation. In my spare time, enjoy playing cricket, and Badminton.
