Review Overview
FreedomVoice offers you a local, toll-free, or vanity number for a virtual PBX system that comes with a wide range of options and additional services for each of its three PBX offerings.
The company offers a free trial of its service that includes the auto attendant, call forwarding, voicemails and Internet fax options, which is all-in-all a worthwhile deal. It has good marks for connectivity, call quality, and customer services, so the free trial could be worth using to see if it’s the right fit.
PBX Focus
FreedomVoice runs a virtual PBX platform for the U.S. and Canada at a low cost and with no additional hardware. Your service includes a toll free number that your customers can dial from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada without having to pay long distance, or you can opt for local numbers if your business wants to keep things nearby.
When customers call, they’re greeted by an auto attendant recording, and the virtual assistant can properly direct them while sending the caller ID information along with the call. Your callers will get great hold music while you or your team answer the phone, or choose to have it forwarded to another line or to voicemail.
The company offers three packages— FreedomStart, FreedomEdge, and FreedomSuite —for you to choose from.
The big difference between the different packages comes down to minutes included and the total number of voicemail boxes. While the big graphics on the FreedomVoice website will tout “Unlimited Voicemail Boxes,” the fine print shows that Start offers 5 boxes, Edge offers 25, and Suite offers 100.
This little spot of confusion appears to be a semantics issue and not a service problem or FreedomVoice trying to trick anyone. This just makes the free trial seem like a smarter option.
Your 3 Plans
FreedomVoice offers three different plans that are largely the same, just geared toward different sized companies. FreedomStart, FreedomEdge, and FreedomSuite all offer you the same great services (listed below) and differentiate themselves on your monthly costs, minute costs, and available minutes. The plans break down as:
| FreedomStart | FreedomEdge | FreedomSuite | |
| Monthly Minutes | 300 Included Minutes / Month | 1000 Included Minutes / Month | 2500 Included Minutes / Month |
| Extra Minutes | 4.9 ¢ / Additional Minute | 4.5 ¢ / Additional Minute | 3.9 ¢ / Additional Minute |
| Monthly Cost | $9.95 / Mo. | $24.95 / Mo. | $59.95 / Mo. |
Features for All
All of the three FreedomVoice business plans include a core set of features in their specific costs. These include:
- Auto Attendant Greeting
- Business Voicemail Service
- Call Screening & Blocking
- Custom Call Queues
- Email Delivery of Messages
- Follow-Me-Live Call Forwarding
- Hold Music & Routing
- Internet Faxing Service
- Toll Free or Local Number
- WebLINK Internet Control Panel
Additional Services
If you’re looking to take your business up a notch, FreedomVoice also offers a wide range of at-cost services to add to your PBX offering.
Some of the top services, according to customers are the professional voice talents and transcription options.
For the voice talents, you’ll get a customized menu option read by a voice actor. You’ll work with the company to develop your script and get a few run-throughs to work with. The company says that average script recording costs around $75. You can preview some options on its website.
For $10 per month, you can get an unlimited number of voicemail transcriptions for your FreedomVoice phone lines. The service will deliver them as text messages or emails and notes that the service won’t interrupt regular phone activity. If you simply want to record your calls, you can add recordings for $70 per month plus an additional storage cost if you go above the 2GB of free space.
If you want a completely personal offering, the company says it can adjust a PBX option for your specific needs. This can include specialized routing logic, the ability to capture promotional codes, additional database and storage information, as well as integration with custom or new systems thanks to the SOAP API.
Is It Right for You?
FreedomVoice is a smart service for sounding professional at a reasonable price. Among its biggest pro’s is that you have the option to get professional recordings directly from within the company itself. This removes the burden of finding local talent and trying to properly upload your menu options. While it operates in the U.S. and Canada, it does not appear to have an international service option. The company also owns another service, FreedomIQ, which offers a call-center focused option. It suggests moving to this company partner for international calling needs.
Pros
- Works well with mobile phones and satellite offices, but not necessarily best for a single-office environment.
- Built-in disaster recovery and connectivity.
- Strong telephony services.
- Multiple access points.
- Strong auto attendant and forwarding services.
- Easy faxing options.
- All plans have a 30-day free trial.
Cons
- Lack of international call support.
- Relies on third-party phones.
- Relatively low included-minutes packages. For example, the 1,000 included minutes in the Edge plan would give each of your 25 lines less than one hour of talking per month.
- Users report long wait times for service, both resolving issues and sitting on hold.
- Some calls are lost and not properly forwarded.
Final Say
FreedomVoice is a good place for a small, mobile workplace that’s looking to add a professional flair to its operations. You’ll get a decent set of features and you can customize for your individual needs, but that can quickly become an expensive. The plans have a free 30-day trial so it’s worthwhile to try the system and see if any of its problems happen with your setup. Track your minutes and examine your business before jumping in, because the cost per minute after your plans ramps up.
