Google Voice gives you a virtual phone number that works on multiple devices, including your cell phone, computer and tablet. The service is designed to simplify the management of incoming and outgoing calls, while offering advanced features such as voicemail, message transcription and call recording.
Key features :
- Virtual number : Allows you to have a Google number that can be redirected to your mobile or landline.
- Voicemail and transcription Receive voice messages and read them as text.
- Low-cost international calls : Ideal for international calls, with competitive rates.
- Call filtering You can block certain numbers or filter unwanted calls.
Is Google Voice available in Canada?
The Google Voice business plan is currently only available in Canada for Google Workspace customers. As long as you're a Google Workspace customer, you can sign up for Google Voice and assign Canadian numbers (with the +1 area code) to your Google Voice users.
Can I get a free Google Voice number in Canada?
The free Google Voice plan, for personal use only, is unfortunately not available in Canada.
Although some people have found ways to get a free Google Voice number in Canada, it remains complicated for two main reasons:
- US-based IP address required When registering (on the site or via the Google Voice application for iOS or Android), Google Voice checks the location of your IP address. If you register from a Canadian IP address, registration is automatically blocked.
Although it is possible to use a VPN with a server in the USA, Google Voice may detect such use and restrict access to its service. - US non-VoIP number required During registration, Google Voice asks for a US landline or cell phone number to verify your account and route calls. Even if you use a number from a relative in the U.S. or an SMS verification service, you may be asked to re-verify, which could complicate the management of your account.
What are price of Google Voice to Canada?
Google Voice prices in Canada depend on the plan you choose, and these plans are billed in USD. Here are the options available for Google Workspace in Canada :
- Starter Plan USD 10 per user per month
- Unlimited calls to the U.S. and Canada (from U.S. and Canadian numbers)
- Transcription of incoming voice messages
- Call forwarding
- Standard plan USD 20 per user per month
- All the contents of the Starter plan, plus :
- Ring groups
- Multi-level automatic wizards
- Option to record certain calls
- Plan Premier USD 30 per user per month
- All the contents of the Standard plan, plus :
- Automatic call recording
- Detailed reports via BigQuery
These prices are specifically for Google Voice for Google Workspaceand are not available to individual users or those wishing to use Google Voice for free in Canada, as the free plan is not offered in this country.
How to get a Google Voice number to Canada
Here's a step-by-step guide to signing up for a Google Voice paid plan in Canada.
Step 1: Sign up for a Google Workspace account (if you don't already have one)
Google Workspace offers a range of services for businesses, such as cloud storage and personalized e-mail addresses. The most affordable plan, the "Business Startercosts 9.36 $ CAD per user per month.
Once you've set up Google Workspace for you and your employees who will need business numbers, you can sign up for Google Voice for Google Workspace.
Step 2: Choose a Google Voice plan
Google Voice offers several plans, each with different features. Choose the one that best suits your needs. Please note that all plans are billed in USD :
- Starter 10 USD per user per month, with unlimited calls to the U.S. and Canada (from U.S. and Canadian numbers only), incoming voicemail transcriptions and call forwarding.
- Standard USD 20 per user per month, with additional features such as ringtone groups, multi-level automatic assistants and the ability to record specific calls.
- First USD 30 per user per month, with advanced features such as automatic call recording and detailed reporting via BigQuery.
Step 3: Assign numbers
Once your payment has been processed and your plan activated, you can assign numbers to your team members and integrate Google Voice with your other Google products.
5 main limitations of Google Voice in Canada
Even with a paid Google Voice plan via Google Workspace, there are several restrictions to consider when using Google Voice in Canada:
- No SMS in Canada Text messaging is limited in the USA for all Google Voice plans. If SMS is essential to your business communication, this limitation can be a problem. For a Google Voice personal account, you can send text messages outside the U.S., but you'll need to add credits, as these messages are not included in the free plan.
- No toll-free numbers Google Voice does not offer toll-free numbers (neither Canadian nor international). If you need a toll-free number to encourage customers to call you without long-distance charges, you'll have to look for another solution.
- Limited support for an internationally distributed team Although Google Voice for Google Workspace works in Canada, it only supports 14 countries. If one of your employees is outside these countries, you won't be able to provide them with a business number. In this case, you may need to look for another phone solution that works for a global team.
- No team collaboration features Although Google Voice has plans for the enterprise, it lacks essential features for team collaboration, such as shared numbers, internal discussion threads and call routing. What's more, Google Voice only integrates with Google applications such as Calendar, with no possibility of connecting it to external tools such as CRM, project management or workflow automation software.
- Unable to customize number display name If you're using Google Voice and your company name appears incorrectly - or even as "probable spam" - there's no way to change it. You can only change the number displayed, not the caller's name. If you find yourself in this situation, the best solution is to transfer your number to another VoIP provider that lets you customize the correspondent's name, such as OpenPhone.
Alternatives to Google Voice to Canada
Although Google Voice is an excellent option, there are other virtual telephony services that can suit different needs:
- RingCentral
Complete cloud communications service, ideal for businesses requiring advanced functionality. - TextNow
Offers a Canadian number with free calls and texts using Wi-Fi or mobile data. - Fongo
Canadian virtual number service with free calls within Canada and packages for international calls. - Skype
Although more focused on video calls, Skype also offers virtual numbers and competitive rates for international calls.
Conclusion
Google Voice is an excellent option for Canadians looking to manage their communications flexibly and cost-effectively. With its wide range of features, affordable price and compatibility with many devices, it remains a must-have solution. However, depending on your needs, alternatives such as RingCentral, Fongo or TextNow may also be considered.
