Which one does missed-call text-back?

Quo builds it in natively under auto-replies. Google Voice has no native missed-call text-back on either tier — it needs a workaround, which is why businesses where missed calls leak revenue usually land on the paid side of this comparison.

Can I take my number with me if I switch?

The number, yes — both port out, Quo's in about 7 business days. Your call and message history mostly doesn't travel on either platform, which is the exit cost nobody's landing page mentions. Full evidence: /wall-check/vendors/openphone/ and /wall-check/vendors/google-voice/.

General

Quo (formerly OpenPhone) vs Google Voice for Small Business

Quo (formerly OpenPhone) vs Google Voice for small business: $15–$47/user/mo by billing term, missed-call text-back — checked 2026-10-21.

Primary recommendation: Quo (formerly OpenPhone)

Monthly cost: $19/$33/$47 per user/mo monthly; $15/$23/~$35 billed annually (checked 2026-10-21) (checked 2026-10-21 — source)

Pros

Missed-call auto-text-back is built in — the feature most appointment businesses actually need
Shared team inbox built for multiple people answering one number
Sona AI receptionist add-on tiers $0–199/mo by call-credit level (checked 2026-10-14)

Cons

No free plan — entry is $15/user/mo billed annually, $19 monthly (checked 2026-10-14), and per-seat math multiplies fast
Business texting requires TCR/A2P registration — a human-reviewed third-party gate, allow days not minutes
Number porting runs about 7 business days and call/message history stays behind on exit

Lean alternative: Google Voice

Monthly cost: Personal Basic $0; business $10–20/user/mo + Workspace for multi-user (checked 2026-10-14 — source)

Pros

A free personal tier — one user, one number, existing US mobile required
Business Starter at $10/user/mo is the lowest-priced business line we've verified (checked 2026-10-14)
Dead simple if you already live in Gmail/Google Calendar

Cons

No native missed-call text-back — the headline feature here requires a workaround
Team features and auto attendants need the $20/user/mo Standard tier (checked 2026-10-14) plus a Workspace subscription
Strict SMS rate limits and A2P registration for business texting; it's a phone line, not an answering layer

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature / Criteria	Quo (formerly OpenPhone) (Primary)	Google Voice (Alternative)
Est. Monthly Cost	$19/$33/$47 per user/mo monthly; $15/$23/~$35 billed annually (checked 2026-10-21) (not independently verified)	Personal Basic $0; business $10–20/user/mo + Workspace for multi-user (not independently verified)
Key Strength	Missed-call auto-text-back is built in — the feature most appointment businesses actually need	A free personal tier — one user, one number, existing US mobile required
Primary Limitation	No free plan — entry is $15/user/mo billed annually, $19 monthly (checked 2026-10-14), and per-seat math multiplies fast	No native missed-call text-back — the headline feature here requires a workaround

Pricing in this comparison has not been independently verified by us unless a check date is shown. Vendor pricing changes without notice — always confirm on the vendor's own pricing page before committing.

Decision Framework: Best For / Not For

Quo (formerly OpenPhone): Best for teams that need Missed-call auto-text-back is built in — the feature most appointment businesses actually need. Not ideal if you are restricted by No free plan — entry is $15/user/mo billed annually, $19 monthly (checked 2026-10-14), and per-seat math multiplies fast.

Google Voice: Best for teams prioritizing A free personal tier — one user, one number, existing US mobile required. Not ideal if you require No native missed-call text-back — the headline feature here requires a workaround.

Verdict

These are different products wearing similar costumes. Google Voice — especially the free personal tier — is a second phone number; Quo is a shared business phone system with auto-replies and an AI add-on. Solo operator needing a business number that isn't your cell: Google Voice at $0 is the obvious answer. Appointment business that needs missed-call text-back or a shared inbox: that feature is Quo's home turf, priced per seat.

In-Depth Operational Analysis & Case Experience

Wall Check Summary

Both tools have been through the five-wall check — pricing, permission, gate, meter, and exit — most recently reviewed in late September 2026.

Wall	Quo (formerly OpenPhone)	Google Voice
Price	No free plan — 7-day trial. $15/user/mo billed annually ($180/yr) or $19 monthly (checked 2026-10-14).	Personal tier $0 (existing US mobile required). Business from $10/user/mo + Workspace license for multi-user (checked 2026-10-14).
Permission	Call analytics, CRM integrations, and auto-recording need Business ($23–33/user/mo, checked 2026-10-14).	Multi-level auto attendants need Standard ($20/user/mo, checked 2026-10-14).
Gate	Number porting ~7 business days; SMS requires TCR/A2P registration — human-reviewed.	Business SMS needs A2P 10DLC registration. Personal tier is lighter but limited.
Meter	Per-user seats + $5/mo per extra number; Sona AI capped at 1,000 credits on entry tier.	Strict SMS rate limits designed to block spam — bulk texting isn't what it's for.
Exit	Number ports out in days; call and message history stays behind.	History exports via Takeout but is messy to import anywhere else.

Wall data checked 2026-09-25/27; pricing figures re-verified on the vendors' own pages 2026-10-14.

The Honest Difference

These aren't really the same product. Google Voice — especially the free personal tier — is a second phone number. Quo is a shared business phone system: team inbox, auto-replies, an AI answering add-on (Sona), call recording, CRM hooks. The question isn't "which is better," it's "am I buying a phone number or a phone system."

If you're solo and just need a business number that isn't your cell: Google Voice Basic at $0 is the obvious answer — nothing else verified on the market is this cheap for the same job.
If missed-call text-back is the point: Quo builds it in natively (auto-replies on missed calls); Google Voice can't do it natively — you'd bolt on a workaround. That's the feature gap that actually matters for appointment businesses.
If you'll ever have 3+ people answering: Quo's shared inbox is built for it; Voice's team features require the Workspace add-on stack, and per-user math closes the gap fast.

The Traps Nobody's Landing Page Mentions

Quo's texting isn't instant-on. A2P/TCR registration is a human-reviewed third-party process — plan for days, not minutes, before business SMS works.
Voice "free" is personal-only. The $0 tier is a consumer product: one user, existing US mobile required, no auto-attendant. The business version ($10–20/user/mo) requires a Google Workspace subscription on top.
Both lock your history. Your number can leave either platform; your call log and message history largely can't. If you're the type to switch tools often, that's the real exit cost.

Full gate-by-gate evidence screenshots live on each vendor's wall-check page: Quo/OpenPhone and Google Voice.

Common questions

Is OpenPhone free?: No — OpenPhone rebranded to Quo in 2025 and offers a 7-day trial only. Entry pricing is $15/user/mo billed annually ($19 monthly), checked 2026-10-14. Google Voice's personal tier at $0 is the actual free option in this pair.
Which one does missed-call text-back?: Quo builds it in natively under auto-replies. Google Voice has no native missed-call text-back on either tier — it needs a workaround, which is why businesses where missed calls leak revenue usually land on the paid side of this comparison.
Can I take my number with me if I switch?: The number, yes — both port out, Quo's in about 7 business days. Your call and message history mostly doesn't travel on either platform, which is the exit cost nobody's landing page mentions. Full evidence: /wall-check/vendors/openphone/ and /wall-check/vendors/google-voice/.

More independent comparisons

We are not paid by any tool listed here. If a cheaper or better option exists, that's what you'll see.

Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Pricing changes — if something here is out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.

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