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Google Voice is the hardest service for me to replace. I don't see any alternatives on this list. I appreciate that they let me seamlessly send and receive call

by aftbit 6y ago

Google Voice is the hardest service for me to replace. I don't see any alternatives on this list. I appreciate that they let me seamlessly send and receive calls and texts from my Android phone or my desktop. I have a hard requirement that my phone should be optional for all parts of my communication workflow.

twicetwice 6y ago
Same. I could probably de-Google pretty quickly—my primary email is on my own domain now—were it not for Google Voice, which I rely on daily. And since I have to rely on it, might as well use the rest of Google's services, since they're so damn convenient.
xnaas 6y ago
You got me curious (I don't use Google Voice, but my dad has for a very long time) and I started to search around. It looks like all the alternatives are either expensive or shitty. :/ Edit: The universally accepted "best" seems to be Grasshopper[1] which is $29/mo or $26/mo billed annually ($312/yr). [1] https://signup.grasshopper.com/plans https://signup.grasshopper.com/plans
Zak 6y ago
Google Voice also works if you have internet access, but not mobile network connectivity, and it works while overseas to provide a fully-functional US phone number (you do have to use a standard paid US mobile number to set it up, but do not need to retain it afterward).
- efreak 6y ago
  > you do have to use a standard paid US mobile number to set it up, but do not need to retain it afterward If someone else registers Google voice with that number, you're going to have a hard time. It'll be removed from your account, and you can't use Google voice without a US phone number.
  - beagle3 6y ago
    Don't know if it is still the case, but for $25 one time fee (much less than one month of average phone bill) you could port your number into Google Voice, and keep it forever, at least until Google shutters Google Voice (which they likely won't, because it's such an incredible spying device).
  - Zak 6y ago
    You can set up Google Voice, then remove the number. You can continue to use it indefinitely without another phone number attached.
miguelrochefort 6y ago
That's an easy one. Just use a VoIP service like https://VoIP.ms https://VoIP.ms.

by aftbit 6y ago

twicetwice 6y ago

Same. I could probably de-Google pretty quickly—my primary email is on my own domain now—were it not for Google Voice, which I rely on daily. And since I have to rely on it, might as well use the rest of Google's services, since they're so damn convenient.

xnaas 6y ago

You got me curious (I don't use Google Voice, but my dad has for a very long time) and I started to search around. It looks like all the alternatives are either expensive or shitty. :/ Edit: The universally accepted "best" seems to be Grasshopper[1] which is $29/mo or $26/mo billed annually ($312/yr). [1] https://signup.grasshopper.com/plans https://signup.grasshopper.com/plans

Zak 6y ago

Google Voice also works if you have internet access, but not mobile network connectivity, and it works while overseas to provide a fully-functional US phone number (you do have to use a standard paid US mobile number to set it up, but do not need to retain it afterward).

efreak 6y ago
> you do have to use a standard paid US mobile number to set it up, but do not need to retain it afterward If someone else registers Google voice with that number, you're going to have a hard time. It'll be removed from your account, and you can't use Google voice without a US phone number.
- beagle3 6y ago
  Don't know if it is still the case, but for $25 one time fee (much less than one month of average phone bill) you could port your number into Google Voice, and keep it forever, at least until Google shutters Google Voice (which they likely won't, because it's such an incredible spying device).
- Zak 6y ago
  You can set up Google Voice, then remove the number. You can continue to use it indefinitely without another phone number attached.

miguelrochefort 6y ago

That's an easy one. Just use a VoIP service like https://VoIP.ms https://VoIP.ms.