With a vanity phone number, you can reinforce your brand. Plus, your customer service number will be memorable and unique. This guide will show you how to buy a vanity phone number for your website.
What is a vanity phone number?
Vanity phone numbers are similar to vanity license plates. To purchase one, you’ll need to pay an extra fee for a specific phone number that is branded by a company. Some of the most popular known brands use this method for marketing.
Vanity phone numbers are typically 800 numbers, but that doesn’t mean any customized number is considered a vanity number.
Some examples of vanity phone numbers you might know:
1-800-PICK-UPS1-800-BUY-MACY1-800-STATE-FA
How to buy a vanity phone number
Calls to and from a vanity landline service can also be made using Voice over Internet Protocols (VoIP). These services allow you to make and receive calls on any device with an internet connection, including video calls. One of the benefits of a VoIP service is that your number will continue to work even if you change your provider or switch devices.
Have you always wanted a vanity phone number? You can purchase one as an add-on to your VoIP plan when you decide to make the switch. They typically cost $20-30.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular VoIP services.
- RingCentral
- UniTel Voice
- Grasshopper
- Phone.com
1. RingCentral (www.ringcentral.com)
You can purchase a vanity phone number from RingCentral. It’s simple, but it’s popular among individuals who want to build their brand or personalize their new number.
RingCentral has been designed with teamwork in mind. With advanced call management features like answering rules, call screening, and call transfers, it’s a great choice for businesses to communicate with one another effectively.
RingCentral has a lot more to offer than just phone service. The base plan includes tools for team messaging, document sharing, and more. A pricier option offers additional tools like video chat and an automated attendant.
Update your RingCentral account by adding a vanity phone number that can be set up in a few minutes. If you have taken too long to activate, but need it soon, contact our support team and they’ll help you get it done!
Features
The following features are available with the RingCentral Essentials plan:
- Business phone or toll-free numbers for up to 20 users
- 100 toll-free minutes
- Unlimited SMS
- Visual voicemail
- Unlimited calling within the US and Canada
- Advanced call management
- Team messaging
- Voicemail to email
- Document sharing
- Mobile apps for Android and iOS
- HD voice
- Call logs
- Phone rental options
- Voicemail to text
RingCentral Pricing: $19.99/month for a basic subscription, or $30 for a vanity phone number. Our pricing page has more information about the tiers of plans available to you, so be sure to check it out for full details!
2. UniTel Voice (www.unitelvoice.com)
UniTel Voice is a browser-based VoIP service that also has iOS and Android apps. The program is easy to use and provides useful call management tools.
UniTel Voice is a network of professional voice talent. They have been recording custom greetings for over three decades, and are the first company that provides this service at no cost. You get the first recording for free with any UniTel Voice plan.
I like the pricing structure of UniTel Voice. It offers flexible costs, with no restrictions based on your plan or number of users. You only pay for what you need, which is a cost-effective way to make sure you can be reachable as many people as possible.
When you’re ready to get your long-distance phone system up and running, you can purchase a vanity toll-free number during the signup process. This costs a one-time setup fee of $15.
Features
The following features are available with the UniTel Voice Start-Up plan:
- One phone number (can be toll-free or local)
- 500 monthly minutes
- Up to three users
- Virtual auto assistant
- Hold music
- Unlimited call handling
- Department and employee extensions (number varies based on plan)
- Call forwarding
- Call scheduling
- Voicemail to email
- Call transferring
- Custom greetings + after-hours greetings
- Call log
- iOS and Android apps
The UniTel Voice minimum plan is $9.99/month, with a one-time setup fee of $15 to use a vanity number. The company also offers three plans for different workloads, including an Unlimited plan (unlimited minutes, unlimited users) for $29.99/month and an Office plan for $49.99/month. You can check out the company’s pricing page for more info about what might be best for your business’s needs.
3. Grasshopper (grasshopper.com)
Grasshopper is a VoIP tool that offers several advanced features for call management. It’s perfect for solopreneurs who want to separate their work line from their personal one, and it allows you to customize your call control protocols.
The major consideration that Grasshopper doesn’t offer is auto-attendant. You can access the Ruby virtual assistant service to listen to messages, take calls, and forward important calls on your behalf with extended business hours. This is purchased as a separate add-on.
Instead of choosing a vanity number, you can also choose to go with unlimited minutes for every plan. This can be a big time saver over time if the phone is an important part of your business.
Features
The following features are available with Grasshopper:
- Unlimited minutes
- Business texting
- Call forwarding
- Virtual fax
- Voicemail transcription
- Incoming call control
- Call transfers
- Simultaneous call handling
- Custom greetings
- Detailed reporting
- iOS and Android apps
For the first 30 days of your subscription (billed annually), you’ll receive a 15% discount for each plan. After that, pricing is as follows: Solo – $26/month / Business – $80/month.
4. Phone (www.phone.com)
Phone.com is the best way to connect with your customers and employees no matter the medium you prefer. With our website, browser-based tools, apps for iPhone and Android, we provide a suite of communication tools that grant you the power to connect in any way you want.
At Phone.com, you’ll have a number of great additional services to choose from! Some of their most popular features include call recording, live receptionists and international calling.
To purchase a vanity or custom number from Phone.com, you’ll need to create an account and then search for one using the “Custom Number” search bar at the top of the page. You’ll be able to specify any relevant words or numbers and will get real-time pricing too. Prices range from $99 for a single number to $3,999 for up to 10 numbers with that combo.
Features
The following features are available on the Basic Users plan of Phone.com:
- 300 call minutes
- Call routing
- Call scheduling
- Audio conferencing
- Call queueing
- Hold music
- Click-to-call capacity
- Dial-by-name directory
- Business SMS
- Video meetings with up to ten participants
- Voicemail to email
- Fax to email
- Auto attendant
- Unlimited extensions
- Call logs
- iOS and Android apps
- Ability to connect with analog phones
Phone.com is super affordable for small- to medium-sized businesses looking for a top-notch phone system. They offer great options, like the Basic Users plan for just $10.99/month, or the Pro plan for $29.99/month, with lot more features and customization options. Read more about Phone.com’s pricing on their website here
