Overview | All Services| Business VoIP | Other VoIP | FAQ | Blog

Vonage

Vonage Review: VoIP

 Compare to Other VoIP Services
Website:
 Visit Website
Rating:
Bottom Line:
 Unlimited calling to 60+ countries, best quality, no set-up fees
Full Review:
 [Editor's Note: Vonage has set up an exclusive 800 number where NextAdvisor.com visitors can speak to a Vonage representative to ask questions and ensure they get the latest and best deal possible. If you are interested in ordering Vonage we recommend that you call the number: 1-888-692-8076.]

Vonage's new Vonage World plan has significantly widened the distance between Vonage and other VoIP providers. At only $14.99 per month for the first 6 months, and then $25.99 per month afterwards* (with 1 year agreement plus fees & taxes), Vonage World includes unlimited calling to anywhere in the U.S. and over 60 other countries (see list at the bottom of this review). Not only that, but they've added some great new features as well.

Vonage's welcome package comes in a very Apple-esque box which unfolds to reveal your Vonage adapter, ethernet cable, power supply, and two guides, one of which is designed to get you up and running quickly. And it really does too. We had no problems with the installation. All the ports on the adapter are color coded and labeled.

The adapter itself is pretty neat. It's a little retro; its black body with orange stripe make it look like it came from the 80s, but it's far and away better than any of the adapters offered by other companies. After a frustrating experience with a competitor's adapter, it was nice to see the Vonage adapter tell us exactly what it was doing in the setup process. Once it's powered on, little LCD icons tell you if there's a phone, Internet, and computer connection. It also provides access to important Network information, should you need to diagnose any problems.

We had no real complaints about Vonage call quality. Everything was pretty clear. When tested with the same phone against the analog line, neither us nor our callers could distinguish any big difference. VoIP, in general, may sound a bit colder than a normal landline, but in an age of cell phones we doubt anyone will really notice.

From a customer service standpoint, Vonage is ok. When calling the billing line there's a voice-recognition system to get you to the appropriate place. It can be a bit of a maze. The support itself is outsourced and a bit scripted, but generally helpful.

The new Vonage World plan also adds some incredibly useful and cool new voicemail features that further cement its position as the VoIP leader. Users of Apple's iPhone will immediately understand the huge benefits of Vonage Visual Voicemail. Rather than having to call up a number and listen to each voicemail individually, users can simply log into their Vonage account and see who called, when and the length of the message. This can be an incredible time-saver for heavy voicemail users. The other extremely useful feature that Vonage World has is free text transcription of all your voicemails. So you can have the text (and of course the audio as well) of any new voicemail emailed to you as soon as it arrives. This service is particularly good for highly mobile people and enables you to get your voicemails in places you normally couldn't. While the transcriptions aren't always perfect, they almost always give you a clear understanding of the message.

Of course, Vonage still provides the highest quality service of any of our recommended providers. Despite the addition of 60 countries and the new voicemail features, the Vonage World plan (which replaces the old Vonage Residential Unlimited plan) is still just $14.99 per month for the first 6 months then only $25.99 per month afterwards. It includes free activation and a free V-Portal adapter with free shipping. With the addition of the free international calling, we believe Vonage World will now save many people not just hundreds, but thousands of dollars a year compared to traditional phone service. Also, Vonage is the only VoIP provider we recommend that does not require you to use a credit card (you can pay from your checking account instead). Vonage still has its 500 minute plan priced at $17.99 per month, but it does not include unlimited calling to the 60+ countries or the new voicemail features, and the set-up fees are not waived. Users of this plan can, however, get a free reconditioned adapter. This plan could still be the best option for low-volume, domestic-only caller, but the Vonage World plan will be a better option for most consumers.

Vonage is free to cancel within 30 days. After that it's a year contract. Even though you pay monthly, if you decide to cancel you'll incur a $39.99 disconnect fee, and an additional $35.00 rebate recovery fee for the adapter. This is actually lower than the rebate recovery fees charged by many of its competitors.

Below is the full alphabetical list of countries included in Vonage World. The ** indicates that calls to mobile phones are also included:

Andorra
Argentina
Australia (excl. External Territories)
Austria
Bahamas**
Bahrain
Belgium
Brazil
Brunei**
Bulgaria
Canada**
Chile
China**
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guam**
Hong Kong**
Hungary
Iceland
India**
Iraq
Ireland
Israel (non Paltel)
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Latvia
Luxembourg
Macau**
Macedonia
Malaysia**
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico**
Romania
Russia
Saipan**
San Marino**
Singapore**
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand**
Turkey
U.S. Virgin Islands**
United Kingdom
Venezuela
Zambia

Disclaimer: Excludes certain call types such as calls to non-geographic and premium numbers. Calls to cell phones may be included depending on destination (they're included if they have a ** in our list). Subject to change.
*With 1-year agreement. Plan is $14.99 for the first 6 months, then only $25.99 per month. Rates exclude Internet service, surcharges, fees and taxes. Limited time offer; new lines only. See Vonage.com for complete details.
High-speed Internet required. Unlimited calling subject to normal residential use. Vonage 911 service operates differently than traditional 911. See www.vonage.com/911 for details. Alarms, TTY and other systems may not be compatible.

Go to Site | Compare to Other VoIP Services

Search our blog archives and frequently asked questions for more information about VoIP


Service Details:

Plans: World Unlimited: $14.99/mo for first 6 months, then $25.99/mo
Setup Fees: None - free activation, shipping & Vonage phone adapter*
$ Back Guarantee & Cancel Policy: Free to cancel within 30 days or $39.99 after 30 days but before 1 year†
Promotions: $14.99/mo. for first 6 months, then $25.99/mo; unlimited to 60+ countries; no set-up fees
Countries Included: Over 60 - see review for full list

†See review for additional charges that may apply to cancelations after guarantee period

NextAdvisor VoIP Services Blog Headlines

Does Vonage require high speed internet to work?
The following is an actual reader submitted question: Q.   Do you need to have high speed internet for Vonage to work?  Can you buy high speed internet from Vonage? A.  Yes, you do need high speed internet in order for Vonage to function.  Vonage uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology which requires a high [...]

Vonage World Savings for the Military and International Calls
We frequently receive user questions about whether their friend/spouse/coworker can make calls to the US using Vonage World.   In a word, the answer is yes.  That means that if you: 1.  Are in the military, deployed overseas OR 2.  Outside of the US, making calls to the US AND you have a high speed internet connection, Vonage World [...]

New Deal: Vonage World only $14.99 a month
You heard it here first readers:  effective today, Vonage has dropped the price on their Vonage World plan to only $14.99 a month for the first 6 months.  After the 6 month period, it's $25.99 a month.  This is a great deal because Vonage World lets you make unlimited local calls AND calls to over [...]

Save money when you travel with Vonage World
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question: Q:  I live in Florida for 6 months of the year and in Canada for the other 6 months.   Can I take VoIP with me and use it wherever I go? A: The nice thing about VoIP services is that they are [...]

If I have magicJack in one of my USB ports can I still use the Vonage system?
Q: If I have magicJack in one of my USB ports can I still use the Vonage system? A: You certainly can. Vonage plugs into your Internet connection, but still allows regular traffic to and from your computer. With magicJack, voice data follows the same route as other Internet traffic that runs through your computer. If you [...]

Will VoIP work with a home security system?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question: Q: I currently subscribe to Comcast for phone, cable and internet and have a land line with Verizon because of my home security system. If I used Vonage to replace my land line service would it work effectively with my [...]

NextAdvisor launches Skype review
Well, we've reviewed Skype. We gave the popular Internet-based service a thorough evaluation. We looked at the Skype Unlimited World plan coupled with a Skype-compatible cordless phone. This is not the free computer-to-computer service, but a monthly subscription plan that allows you to call landlines in over 40 countries (and mobile phones in a few [...]

Can you use VOIP from New Zealand to US on the Vonage Mobile global plan?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question: Q: We are looking for less expensive way to use Blackberry from New Zealand to US.  Can you use  VOIP from New Zealand to US on the Vonage Mobile global plan?  Does it include BBM use? A: Unfortunately, Vonage Mobile is only for [...]

Nextadvisor's magicJack review: VoIP on the cheap
MagicJack has generated a number of questions from NextAdvisor visitors and it's piqued our interest as well. We've seen the little money-saving device on infomercials, and even while in line at the drugstore, leading us to wonder if it's the Snuggie of the VoIP world. It's not exactly a VoIP substitute. The magicJack is like [...]

Do you have VoIP service in Vietnam?
The following post in our Reader Question series is an actual user submitted question: Q: Do you have VoIP service in Vietnam? A: All the VoIP services that we review are sold in the United States or Canada only. However VoIP services are portable and can be used from any broadband connection around the world. For instance, [...]


About Us Blog Contact UsTerms & Privacy PolicyAffiliate ProgramSite map

Copyright© 2006 - NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.