How much does Google Voice cost in 2026?

Personal Google Voice is free and includes a US number with unlimited US calling and texting. Standalone plans for individual Gmail users cost $10 per month (Starter) or $20 per month (Standard). Business plans attached to Google Workspace cost $10, $20, or $30 per user per month for Starter, Standard, and Premier, billed on top of the Workspace subscription.

Does Google Voice require Google Workspace?

Not anymore for individuals. In 2026 Google sells Voice Starter ($10/month) and Voice Standard ($20/month) standalone plans to single users with personal Gmail accounts in the US. Team plans still require a Google Workspace subscription, with Voice billed as a per-user add-on.

Can Google Voice call 911?

The free personal tier cannot call 911. Emergency calling is available on the paid standalone Starter and Standard plans and on Workspace-managed Voice accounts. On any Voice plan, 911 is unavailable during a power outage, internet outage, or Google Voice service outage, so keep an alternative line for emergencies.

Google Voice Pricing & Cost Guide (2026)

Google Voice Prices at a Glance

Google Voice pricing in 2026 breaks down like this:

Personal: free. One US number, unlimited calls and texts within the US.
Voice Starter standalone: $10 per month for one person with a Gmail account. No Google Workspace required.
Voice Standard standalone: $20 per month, adding auto attendants for solo users.
Voice Starter for Workspace: $10 per user per month, up to 10 users.
Voice Standard for Workspace: $20 per user per month, unlimited users.
Voice Premier for Workspace: $30 per user per month, unlimited users and international locations.

The three business tiers are add-ons to Google Workspace, so budget for a Workspace license on top of the Voice fee. Current plan details are on Google's Voice page.

What Changed in 2026: Standalone Plans

The biggest change since our last review of Google Voice: Google now sells Voice Starter and Voice Standard directly to individual Gmail users in the US. Until this change, every paid Voice plan required a Google Workspace subscription. Per Google's standalone plan documentation, these tiers cover a single user, age 18 or older, on a personal @gmail.com account.

Standalone Starter, at $10 per month, adds three-way calling, call recording, desk phone support, and 911 emergency calling to everything in the free tier. Standalone Standard, at $20, adds auto attendants on top of that. Neither includes ring groups, call queuing, or automatic call recording; those stay in the Workspace business tiers. One quirk to plan around: if you cancel a standalone plan, Google makes you wait 30 days before you can buy it again.

The Free Personal Tier and Its 911 Gap

Free personal Google Voice remains one of the better deals in telecom: one US phone number, unlimited calling and texting within the US, and voicemail transcription, for nothing. You need an existing US number to verify the account when you sign up.

It has one limitation that matters if it will be your primary line: the free tier cannot call 911. Google's emergency calling documentation limits emergency service to Workspace-managed accounts and the paid standalone plans. Even on those, 911 stops working during a power or internet outage. Keep a mobile line for emergencies.

Business Plans: Starter, Standard, and Premier

Voice Starter, $10 per user per month

Starter covers teams of up to 10 users in US locations. It includes unlimited calling to the US from the US or Canada, US texting, call forwarding, call transfers, three-way calling, call recording, desk phone support, and 24/7 support. For a small office that answers its own phone, this tier usually does the job.

Voice Standard, $20 per user per month

Standard removes the 10-user cap and adds the routing features a front desk needs: auto attendants, ring groups, and call queuing. It also adds SIP Link for connecting existing desk phone hardware, eDiscovery across calls, voicemail, and text messages, plus Gemini-generated call notes.

Voice Premier, $30 per user per month

Premier adds unlimited international billing locations, automatic call recording with transcription, and advanced reporting through BigQuery. This is the tier for organizations with staff outside the US or compliance rules that require every call recorded.

Which Plan Fits

A solo consultant who wants a second number can stay on the free tier, or pay $10 for standalone Starter to get 911 and call recording. A team already on Google Workspace starts with Voice Starter at $10 per user and moves to Standard when it needs an auto attendant or has more than 10 people. Premier only earns its $30 when international locations or mandatory call recording are in play.

Google Voice or Microsoft Teams Phone?

The right phone system usually follows your productivity suite. Organizations on Google Workspace get the shortest path with Voice; organizations on Microsoft 365 usually do better adding Teams Phone, since identity, licensing, and administration stay in one place. ETTE manages both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace for nonprofits and small businesses, and our guide to business VoIP and Teams Phone in Washington, DC walks through the decision in detail.