Best Phone System for Shopify Stores

Most Shopify stores in 2026 need a phone number customers can see and tap, not a $20-50/user platform. A dedicated line with voicemail and forwarding usually costs $5-10 a month. Pay-as-you-go US calls start at $0.02/min, and a local number is about $1.99/month. RingCentral-style UCaaS fits a support team. Until you have one, a simple number on the store does the job.

A virtual phone number is how most stores get that line without hardware. Pick one of four: UCaaS, a hosted virtual phone, pay-as-you-go, or a Shopify phone app.

Key points

Most stores need a visible number. A $20-50/user UCaaS seat is for teams.
A basic line is usually $5-10/month. Pay-as-you-go US calling starts at $0.02/min.
Shopify phone apps at $30-100+/month fit a support desk, not a solo founder.
Pick by how many people answer the phone, not by a "best of" list.

What most Shopify stores need

A dedicated number, voicemail, a way to forward calls to your cell, and business hours. A visible number is a trust signal, even if most people never dial it. Auto-attendants, call queues, CRM pop-ups, and recording can wait until you're taking enough calls that missed ones become a daily problem.

Skip the desk phone and the carrier contract. Put the number in the header as a click-to-call link. A large share of Shopify traffic is mobile.

Four options and what they cost

UCaaS sits at $20-50 per user each month, usually on an annual contract. Hosted virtual phones are $10-30. Pay-as-you-go calling starts at $0.02/min. Shopify phone apps often land at $30-100+/month because they bundle a helpdesk. Pay-as-you-go vs a monthly plan covers that billing choice in more detail.

Skype for Consumer shut down in May 2025, so it isn't a live option. GlobCall is the pay-as-you-go example here: browser calling, no seat fees, no monthly calling plan. It isn't a RingCentral replacement. There's no video or team chat bundle. Minutes are billed rounded up, not per second.

Full UCaaS Platforms

RingCentral, 8x8, Vonage Business

$20-50/user/month

1-year minimum

Best for: Teams with 10+ people, call centers, companies that want video and chat bundled with phone

Pros

+ All-in-one platform
+ Advanced features
+ CRM integrations
+ Team management

Cons

- Expensive for solos and small teams
- Annual contracts
- Feature bloat
- Steep learning curve

Overkill for most Shopify stores

Virtual Phone Services

Grasshopper, OpenPhone, Google Voice

$10-30/month

Monthly available

Best for: Solo founders who want a separate business number with basic features

Pros

+ Dedicated business number
+ Mobile app
+ Voicemail transcription
+ Simple setup

Cons

- Limited international rates
- Per-user pricing adds up
- Some require annual for the best rate

Good option for growing stores

Pay-As-You-Go VoIP

GlobCall

From $0.02/min

Number from ~$1.99/mo

Best for: Stores with light or seasonal call volume that still want a dedicated number

Pros

+ No monthly calling plan
+ Pay only for minutes you use
+ Browser-based, no app
+ No seat fees

Cons

- Fewer team features
- No video or chat bundle
- Minutes billed rounded up

Best value for most Shopify stores

Shopify Phone Apps

Reamaze, Gorgias, Aircall

$30-100+/month

Varies

Best for: High-volume stores that need a helpdesk with phone in the same inbox

Pros

+ Direct Shopify integration
+ Order lookup during calls
+ Ticket management
+ Team routing

Cons

- Expensive
- Often bundled with a helpdesk you may not need
- Complex setup

Only when support is already a desk

Which setup fits your store

Match the tool to how many people pick up the phone and how often it rings. Revenue is a loose proxy, not a rule. A busy support inbox can need more than a quiet catalog with one person answering email.

Your situation	Recommendation
Solo founder, a few calls a week Low volume. A monthly seat is mostly unused minutes.	Pay-as-you-go VoIP
Small team (2-3 people), regular but light volume Track minutes for a month, then pick. Either works.	Virtual phone or pay-as-you-go
Growing team that needs a shared line Shared numbers and basic team features start to matter.	Virtual phone service
Dedicated support team, high inbound volume Queues, routing, and order lookup start to pay for themselves.	UCaaS or a Shopify phone app

When a Shopify phone app is worth it

Search "phone" in the Shopify App Store and you'll see tools at $30-150/month that promise order lookup on the call. That helps when an agent already lives in Shopify all day and the queue is busy. If you're answering from your cell between packing boxes, you can pull up the order in ten seconds on another device.

Buy the app when support is a desk: several people, a ticket queue, and enough inbound that looking up the order by hand slows you down. Until then, a standalone number is cheaper and easier to cancel.

A setup that stays cheap

Get a dedicated number, not your personal cell. On GlobCall, a local number is about $1.99/month and there's no seat fee.
Add it to your Shopify header so it's visible on every page.
Make it a tel: link so mobile visitors can tap to call.
Set hours so after-hours calls go to voicemail.
Forward to your cell during the day, or answer in the browser. First call is free.

Setup takes about 15 minutes. Monthly cost is $5-10, or pay-as-you-go if volume stays low. Add a team plan when the phone is someone's job, not before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a phone system for my Shopify store?

You need a phone number on the site. A visible number is a trust signal, even when most visitors never call. A full phone system only matters once volume is high enough that you need queues or a shared inbox. Most early stores do fine with one VoIP line.

What's the difference between UCaaS and simple VoIP?

UCaaS platforms like RingCentral bundle calling, video, messaging, and team tools for $20-50/user/month. Simple VoIP is a number plus calling, usually $5-10/month or pay-as-you-go from $0.02/min. Most Shopify stores don't need the UCaaS bundle.

Can I use my personal phone number?

You can, but a dedicated business line keeps work and personal separate and lets you set hours. A VoIP number can forward to your cell or ring in a browser.

What features do Shopify stores actually need?

A dedicated number, voicemail, forwarding to your cell, and business hours. Auto-attendants and call queues can wait until missed calls are a daily problem.

How many calls will I actually get?

Early stores often get a handful of calls a week. They're usually pre-purchase questions or order status. Volume grows with traffic, but slower than most people expect. Track a month before you buy a team plan.

Should I get a local or toll-free number?

Local numbers with area codes feel closer to the customer. Toll-free (800) numbers read as a larger operation. For most Shopify stores, a local number that matches your main market is the better default.

Do I need a Shopify app for phone?

Usually no. Phone apps in the Shopify store often run $30-100/month and bundle a helpdesk. A standalone VoIP service is cheaper if you only need a number and a way to answer.

What about click-to-call for mobile visitors?

Use it. A large share of Shopify traffic is mobile. Make the number a tel: link so someone can tap to call instead of copying digits.

Keep it simple

Get a business number without a calling plan or a contract. Pay only for calls you make.

Get your number. First call is free