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As technology has evolved, so have the ways we communicate. And with it comes two new options: magicJack and Ooma. Which is better for your small business?
For small teams and solopreneurs, magicJack for Business and Ooma Office are two of the most popular voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) options. Both are cost-effective, with a variety of device choices that allow you to interact from your smartphone, laptop, or desk phone. When comparing magicJack vs Ooma, however, magicJack is the less expensive alternative, while Ooma offers greater functionality and communication channels for growing companies.
- magicJack: Ideal for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small company owners that need a cost-effective and simple-to-use VoIP solution.
- Ooma: For small companies and teams who need a basic business phone system with additional capabilities like video conferencing and text messaging (SMS) services, Ooma is the best option.
When comparing the business versions of magicJack and Ooma, keep in mind that they’re both very simple small company phone systems. You’ll be better off with a full-featured business phone system if you require a contact center, real-time analytics, APIs, and third-party connections.
How We Assessed Magicjack Vs Ooma
When comparing magicJack vs Ooma, you’ll see that they have a lot of similar features and use cases, but when it comes to which phone system is superior, they cater to different kinds of small companies. To assist you to choose the ideal platform for your company, we evaluated price, features, channels, simplicity of use, and more.
30% of the overall score
Although both Jack and Ooma are cost-effective alternatives for small businesses, there are some differences to consider. To determine which option is more reasonable, we looked at the monthly price per user as well as necessary hardware purchases and add-ons.
30% of the overall score
We set out to see which software offered the most comprehensive capabilities while remaining simple and easy to use.
15% of the overall score
Business phone systems must be simple to use for both administrators, agents, and customers, regardless of price or features. To evaluate each product’s usability, we examined user comments and tested the product ourselves (across mobile and desktop applications).
15% of the overall score
Some small companies need international calling capabilities, so we compared the services of magicJack and Ooma to determine whether either has a competitive edge when it comes to international calling.
10% of the overall score
We assessed our personal experience with the applications after analyzing the head-to-head comments. We considered the platforms’ usability, usefulness, and overall experience while using and navigating them. To compare our experiences with others, we looked at user comments on major review sites.
MagicJack is the most cost-effective option
MagicJack for Business is one of the most cost-effective VoIP solutions available. Everything that the service has to offer is included for just $15.99 per line, per month, making it extremely cheap for small businesses and solopreneurs. Even if you just intend to utilize magicJack’s mobile or desktop applications, you must buy a phone with your magicJack phone system subscription.
Ooma Office is available for $19.95 per user, each month. Upgrade to an Ooma Office Pro subscription for only $24.95 per person, per month if you want a desktop app, video conferencing, call recording, or voicemail transcriptions. While buying a phone is required for magicJack, Ooma phones are optional, with prices beginning at $69.99 for two mid-level desk phones.
When it comes to getting the most bang for your buck, magicJack’s one-and-only price plan is almost $4 less per month than Ooma’s entry-level plan. If you don’t intend on utilizing the desk phone, you’ll have to include in the $54.99 sunk cost of the phone, which will take more than a year to recover in monthly savings.
MagicJack’s necessary phone purchase may not be a barrier for company owners considering a VoIP desk phone.
Ooma is the best option for international calling.
Both magicJack and Ooma provide international calling, but you’ll have to pay extra per-minute rates according to the country you’re calling from. Rates vary by country, so compare magicJack and Ooma to discover which offers the best deal for the places your company regularly contacts.
MagicJack and Ooma both provide international calling, but you’ll have to pay-per-minute charges to call any phone number outside of the US or Canada. With somewhat lower international calling costs, Ooma Office edges out magicJack.
Ooma has the best call handling features
Both magicJack and Ooma offer the key call handling capabilities you’ll need to deliver excellent customer service. When comparing magicJack with Ooma, however, Ooma offers everything magicJack provides plus a little bit more.
An intelligent virtual receptionist with numerous menus, personalized recorded messages, business hours, and ring groups are among Ooma’s capabilities. Voicemail transcriptions and call recordings are also included.
With an auto-attendant, music on hold, and call queues, magicJack for Business’s call handling capabilities are competitive and may still be sufficient for your business’s requirements. You may also create custom call routing rules using magicJack’s improved call forwarding:
- A call should always be forwarded.
- Simultaneous call forwarding.
- Call forwarding in a sequential order
Although both Ooma and magicJack have comparable feature sets, Ooma wins out because it offers voicemail transcriptions, call recordings, and personalized recorded messages.
Ooma is the best communication channel
MagicJack focuses on voice communications when it comes to client interaction. Unlimited domestic calling to the United States and Canada is included, however texting is restricted in comparison to rivals. MagicJack may be used to start one-on-one discussions with contacts, but not for SMS advertising campaigns or appointment confirmations. You’ll have to pay an extra $5 per month to add virtual faxing to your membership.
Ooma’s communication methods are more simple and reliable. You receive unlimited domestic calling, SMS text messaging, and virtual faxing with Ooma’s basic Ooma Office package.
You’ll need to subscribe to the more costly Ooma Office Pro subscription to use video conferencing. Ooma’s video conferencing allows up to 25 people to participate through a browser or app. Screen sharing, chat, recurring meetings, and password-protected meetings are just a few of the popular video conference capabilities.
Winner: Ooma is the superior platform for channel flexibility since it offers more versatile SMS message choices, as well as fax and video conferencing features.
MagicJack is the best in terms of user-friendliness
MagicJack and Ooma are very simple to use when compared to other mobile and PC softphone applications. Both systems include easy-to-use navigation and features that make it simple for you and your team to perform any duties you need to.
The desktop version for magicJack is designed to be similar to the mobile app, with a clean and uncomplicated user interface. While magicJack may not have all of the features that Ooma has, it does make things simple for consumers.
The desktop interface of magicJack
The fundamental features of Ooma are simple to use, however, some of the interfaces get cluttered and difficult to use. For example, novice users may find the video conferencing option on the desktop program intimidating at first.
Interface for Ooma video conferencing
Winner: When it comes to user-friendliness, magicJack is the clear winner, owing to the service’s limited capabilities. It’s worth noting, though, that Ooma and magicJack are both simpler to use than full-featured corporate communications systems.
Alternatives to Consider
Even while Ooma and magicJack are great phone systems for small companies and solopreneurs, they may not be the best match for your company. Here are some of the finest alternatives to Ooma and magicJack if you need different functionality, features, or pricing:
- RingCentral: If your small company needs a unified communications system with strong connectors and an open API, RingCentral is a great choice.
- Grasshopper: A great virtual phone number solution for small businesses or teams looking for a second phone number with personalized greetings, quick response, and a virtual receptionist.
Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there a monthly charge with magicJack?
Yes. You’ll have to pay a monthly membership to utilize magicJack in addition to the one-time purchase price for a desk phone.
What’s the difference between Ooma and magicJack’s basic and business versions?
Each plan has its own set of features, hardware, and price, so be sure you choose the one that best suits your needs. The commercial phone systems you need to operate your company are Ooma Office and magicJack for Business. As a consequence, both Ooma Office and magicJack for Business will include features like virtual receptionists, ring groups, and call park.
Conclusion
Both Ooma and magicJack are excellent VoIP phone services for small companies on a budget. Each app has all of the capabilities a small company owner needs without being bloated with extraneous features.
MagicJack for Business is designed for freelancers and small business owners that want to run their phone system on their own and on a tight budget. Ooma Office, on the other hand, is ideal for small businesses seeking to grow and expand with a business phone plan that includes additional services like video conferencing and SMS campaigning.
