Future of personal Google Voice service (2024)

FAQs

Future of personal Google Voice service? ›

Consumer Google Voice isn't going anywhere. Feel free to port in your number and enjoy the service. Google won't reclaim your ported-in number nor shut off your service, as long as you adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy -- in particular, don't use it for mass text-messaging or spam.

In 2024, Google Voice is phasing out its free personal plan. If you want a number for business use, pricing starts from $10 per user per month.

Google Voice for personal use lets you send and receive SMS and MMS messages. But again, since it wasn't built for business use, you can't send mass texts or add more than seven people to a group chat.

The service is available on smartphones, tablets and computers. Your Google Voice phone number can be connected to your existing phone numbers. You can manage calls and messages from multiple devices using a single number. The service has features for call forwarding, voice mail, text messages and international calls.

*You will lose your Google voice number after 30 days of inactivity. Google reassigns unused numbers after 30. To keep your number active need to make at least 1 call or text per month. If your number is reassigned your account is still active.

Google Voice can flag your text messages as spam if you send the same message to multiple contacts. Their platform is designed for one-on-one conversations, not bulk messaging. This can lead to your account being temporarily restricted, which can disrupt your communication with customers.

Clear cache and data: Go to the Settings menu on your device, select Apps or Applications. Next, locate Google Voice, and clear its cache and data. Reinstall the app: Uninstall Google Voice from your device and reinstall it from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the App Store (for iOS).

Google Voice for business (also known as Google Voice for Google Workspace) is different from a Google Voice personal plan. While a Google Voice personal plan is free, it offers limited features, isn't fit for teams, isn't available outside the US, and doesn't allow you to have more than one Google number.

RingCentral is our top pick for Google Voice alternatives because of how well it combines communication and collaboration features and allows you to use them across multiple devices.

The scammer may have obtained your personal or financial information from your Google Voice account or other sources and may try to use it for identity theft or fraud. You should check your credit reports regularly and look for any errors or suspicious activities.

Will Google Voice stay free? ›

Google Voice is generally free for personal use. It provides features like voicemail, text messaging, and call forwarding without charge. However, if you're using Google Voice for business purposes through Google Workspace, there are costs associated with the service.

Caller ID. If you have a Google Voice number, it will appear on the recipient's caller ID. If you haven't set up a Google Voice number, a generic number or the word "unknown" will appear to the person you're calling.

There's no number search directory. In a nutshell, people outside of the system won't be able to tell who is calling them if Caller ID is turned off. However, fellow Google Voice users can see your listed name, active display number, E-Mail address, and chosen profile picture when you call them.

If you're running into errors with Google Voice not working, this could be an internet connection issue. Or you may need to go into your Google Play Store or App Store to update to the latest version of the Voice app. You can also run into issues if you're trying to have more than one Google Voice number on your phone.

Google uses your personal mobile telephone number as a one-time-use "claim ticket" to keep track of eligibility. Once that number has been used by anyone, to claim a Google Voice number, it can't be used again.

Check for Microphone Issues:Ensure that your phone's microphone is working properly. You can test this by using other voice recording apps or making a phone call. Clear Cache and Data:If none of the above steps work, you can try clearing the cache and data for the Google Assistant app.