Ooma handles basic phone calls well enough.
But if you run an ecommerce store, you've probably noticed the gaps.
The texting limits are tight at 250-1,000 messages per month depending on your plan.
There's no native Shopify or WooCommerce integration.
When customers call asking "where's my order?" your team still has to manually look everything up.
For online retailers dealing with hundreds of order inquiries, shipping questions, and return requests each month, those limitations add up fast.
This guide covers seven alternatives that solve the specific problems ecommerce sellers face, from AI-powered order lookup to unlimited SMS for shipping notifications.
Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample support calls made for your Shopify store?
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Why ecommerce sellers are switching away from Ooma
Ooma works fine for traditional businesses that just need a phone line. Ecommerce operations have different requirements.
The texting limits hit hard first. Ooma's Pro plan caps you at 250 SMS per month, while Pro Plus gives you 1,000.
If you're sending order confirmations, shipping updates, and promotional messages, that quota disappears quickly.
Integration options are limited too. Ooma connects to just 18 third-party apps, and none of them are ecommerce platforms.
Your support team ends up toggling between systems to answer basic questions.
AI capabilities are essentially nonexistent. While competitors offer automated order lookups and AI-powered call handling, Ooma provides none of that.
Every call requires a human to answer, look up the order, and respond.
Customer support has become a sore point as well. Ooma currently holds a 1.5 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from over 1,600 reviews.
Common complaints include call quality issues, missing text messages, and difficulty reaching support when problems arise.
Team collaboration features are limited to the most expensive tier.
The team chat function requires Pro Plus at $29.95 per user per month and caps conversations at 8 participants.
What to look for in an ecommerce phone system
Before diving into alternatives, here's what actually matters for online stores.
Ecommerce integration tops the list. Can it pull order data from Shopify or WooCommerce?
Will it show customer history when someone calls?
SMS capabilities matter more for ecommerce than most industries.
You need enough volume for order confirmations, shipping updates, and the occasional promotional campaign.
AI and automation features can handle the repetitive stuff. According to Forrester research, "where's my order" calls make up a huge portion of support volume, and AI can look that up automatically.
Scalability becomes important during peak seasons.
Black Friday call volume shouldn't break your system or drain your budget.
Pricing transparency saves headaches later.
Some providers advertise low rates then charge extra for SMS, integrations, or advanced features.
Uptime guarantees protect revenue. If your phone system goes down during a flash sale, customers buy elsewhere.
These six factors separate ecommerce-ready systems from generic VoIP
Quick comparison of the best Ooma alternatives
Here's how the top alternatives stack up for ecommerce use cases.
Each alternative addresses different ecommerce needs. Ringly.io automates the entire call, while Vonage lets you build custom SMS workflows. Here's a detailed look at each option.
The 7 best Ooma alternatives for ecommerce
1. Ringly.io
Best for: Shopify and ecommerce stores wanting AI-powered phone support
Ringly.io takes a fundamentally different approach than traditional VoIP systems.
Instead of just routing calls to your team, its AI agent named Seth actually handles them.
Seth answers calls 24/7, looks up orders directly from your Shopify store, processes returns, and answers product questions.
The system resolves roughly 70-73% of calls without any human involvement.
When something requires a real person like an angry customer or complex issue, it escalates automatically.
Key features for ecommerce include native Shopify integration that pulls order and customer data in real-time.
The AI handles "where's my order" queries, returns, and product questions automatically.
Seth supports 40 languages for global customer bases and escalates only when needed based on caller sentiment or complexity.
Call recordings and transcripts are included for quality insights.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Only VoIP alternative built specifically for ecommerce
- 70%+ call resolution without human agents
- 3-minute setup, no technical skills needed
- 14-day free trial with full features
Cons:
- Focused on phone support, not video conferencing
- Best features require Shopify (other platforms connect via API)
2. RingCentral
Best for: Growing ecommerce teams needing unified communications
RingCentral is a full-featured business communications platform covering voice, video, messaging, and contact center capabilities.
It connects with over 200 business applications including Salesforce, Zendesk, and Microsoft 365.
The platform serves over 400,000 customers globally and offers enterprise-grade reliability with a 99.999% uptime SLA. Its AI Assistant generates call summaries and action items automatically.
Key features for ecommerce include the AI Assistant that creates call summaries and transcriptions without requiring recording. Video conferencing supports 200+ participants while team messaging and file sharing work across departments. Real-time analytics and call quality monitoring are built in.
Pricing:
- Enterprise-grade features and 99.999% uptime SLA
- Extensive integration ecosystem with 200+ apps
- Strong AI capabilities built into every tier
Cons:
- Limited SMS in base plan (25/user/month, then $0.01/message)
- No native Shopify or WooCommerce integration
- Can be complex for small teams to configure
3. Nextiva
Best for: Ecommerce businesses needing omnichannel customer service
Nextiva combines VoIP with customer service tools in a unified inbox. It pulls together voice, email, social media, SMS, and chat so your team can manage everything in one place.
The company is consistently rated among the best for customer support quality, offering 24/7 U.S.-based assistance.
For ecommerce sellers managing customers across multiple channels, that unified inbox can simplify operations significantly.
Key features for ecommerce include omnichannel support that combines voice, email, social media, and chat in one place.
Screen sharing and collaboration tools help remote teams work together. Voicemail transcription is included on all plans, and CRM integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot are available on higher tiers.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Excellent customer support available 24/7
- Social media integration for modern commerce
- Strong collaboration features for distributed teams
Cons:
- SMS heavily restricted on lower tiers at 100-250 messages per month
- No direct Shopify or ecommerce platform integration
- Premium features get expensive at $75 per user per month
4. Zoom Phone
Best for: Budget-conscious ecommerce teams already using Zoom
Zoom Phone offers the lowest entry price on this list at $10 per user per month. If your team already uses Zoom for video meetings, adding phone service requires minimal setup and no learning curve.
The platform offers both metered and unlimited calling plans, with phone numbers available in over 60 countries.
It's not flashy, but it handles basic calling needs reliably.
Key features for ecommerce include metered or unlimited calling plans for cost control.
Voicemail prioritization routes important messages first while unlimited auto attendants handle call routing. Full mobile and desktop apps let your team answer calls anywhere.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Cheapest option for basic VoIP needs
- Native Zoom Meetings integration
- Simple, familiar interface
Cons:
- No SMS or texting capability, which is a critical gap for ecommerce
- Limited AI features compared to competitors
- No ecommerce-specific integrations
5. Vonage
Best for: Technical teams wanting API customization for order notifications
Vonage started as a consumer VoIP provider but evolved into a developer-focused platform.
Its SMS and Voice APIs let technical teams build custom communication workflows for order confirmations, shipping updates, and two-factor authentication.
The Advanced plan includes unlimited SMS, and the platform guarantees 99.999% uptime.
If you have developers who can build custom integrations, Vonage provides the raw tools.
Key features for ecommerce include unlimited SMS in the Advanced plan and a 99.999% uptime guarantee.
The platform is highly customizable via robust APIs, and visual voicemail is included in all plans.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Unlimited texting from day one on Advanced plan
- Strong API for custom automation
- Enterprise-grade uptime (99.999%)
Cons:
- Many features require add-ons at extra cost
- No AI capabilities built-in
- Setup requires technical knowledge for API implementation
6. Dialpad
Best for: Ecommerce sales teams needing AI-powered coaching
Dialpad stands out with its real-time AI features. Every call gets live transcription, automatic summaries, and sentiment analysis.
The platform detects when customers are frustrated and alerts supervisors in real-time.
For ecommerce businesses with active outbound sales or high-touch customer success teams, those AI coaching features can improve performance measurably.
Key features for ecommerce include real-time call transcription during conversations and AI sentiment analysis that detects customer frustration.
Speech coaching helps agents improve their performance, while post-call analytics provide insights into team effectiveness.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Industry-leading AI features included in every plan
- Clean, intuitive interface
- Strong mobile app experience
Cons:
- Pro plan requires 3-user minimum at $75 per month total
- No SMS or texting capability
- Limited ecommerce-specific integrations
7. Grasshopper
Best for: Solo ecommerce sellers and small side businesses
Grasshopper takes the opposite approach from complex platforms.
It provides a professional phone line with unlimited SMS, and charges per line rather than per user.
Your whole team can share one number without additional licensing costs.
Setup takes minutes, and the interface avoids unnecessary complexity. For solo sellers or small teams, it covers the basics without overwhelming.
Key features for ecommerce include shared phone numbers across unlimited team members and unlimited SMS included in all plans.
Professional voice greetings give your store credibility, while desktop and mobile apps let you take calls anywhere.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Simple per-line pricing, not per-user
- Setup takes minutes with no technical knowledge
- Unlimited SMS included even on cheapest plan
Cons:
- No AI features or automation
- No integrations with ecommerce platforms or CRMs
- Limited analytics beyond basic call logs
How to choose the right Ooma alternative for your store
Your choice depends on what problem you're actually trying to solve.
Choose Ringly.io if you run a Shopify store and want to automate 70%+ of your phone support with AI.
The platform handles order lookups, returns, and FAQs without human intervention. Best for stores with high call volume who want to reduce support costs while maintaining 24/7 availability.
Choose RingCentral or Nextiva if you need a full unified communications platform with video conferencing, team messaging, and CRM integrations.
Both work well for growing teams with 10+ employees who need more than just phone service.
Choose Zoom Phone if you're on a tight budget and already use Zoom for meetings. At $10 per user per month, it handles basic calling needs.
Just know it lacks SMS and ecommerce integrations.
Choose Vonage if you have technical resources to build custom SMS workflows for order notifications.
The APIs are powerful, but implementation requires development work.
Choose Dialpad if your ecommerce business relies heavily on outbound sales calls. The AI coaching and real-time transcription help teams improve their close rates.
Choose Grasshopper if you're a solo seller or side business wanting a professional phone line without complexity.
The per-line pricing keeps costs predictable as you add team members.
Start automating your ecommerce phone support
For most ecommerce sellers, the biggest gap with Ooma isn't just features. It's the lack of automation for repetitive calls.
Your customers expect instant answers about their orders. Manually handling every "where's my package?" call doesn't scale, especially during peak seasons.
Ringly.io was built specifically to solve this problem. Its AI agent connects directly to your Shopify store, looks up orders in real-time, and handles the repetitive calls automatically.
Your team focuses on complex issues while Seth handles the rest.
The platform resolves about 70% of calls without human intervention, supports 40 languages, and takes just minutes to configure.
Ready to see how much time you could save? Start your free trial and let Seth handle your next 100 calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Ooma alternatives for ecommerce stores?
The top Ooma alternatives for ecommerce include Ringly.io (AI-powered phone support with Shopify integration), RingCentral (unified communications), Nextiva (omnichannel support), Zoom Phone (budget option), Vonage (API customization), Dialpad (AI coaching), and Grasshopper (simple shared lines). Ringly.io is the only option purpose-built for ecommerce with native order lookup.
Which Ooma alternative for ecommerce has the lowest pricing?
Zoom Phone starts at $10/user/month for metered calling, making it the cheapest VoIP option. However, it lacks SMS capability. Grasshopper at $14/month offers unlimited SMS and no per-user fees. Ringly.io at $99/month includes AI automation that can reduce overall support costs by handling 70%+ of calls automatically.
Can I find an Ooma alternative for ecommerce with Shopify integration?
Ringly.io is currently the only major Ooma alternative for ecommerce with native Shopify integration. It pulls order data directly from your store so its AI can answer "where's my order?" questions automatically. Other platforms like Vonage require custom API development to connect with Shopify.
Which Ooma alternative for ecommerce offers unlimited SMS?
Three alternatives offer unlimited SMS: Grasshopper (all plans), Vonage (Advanced plan at $27.99/user/month), and Nextiva (Power Suite at $75/user/month). RingCentral limits SMS to 25/user/month on base plans. Zoom Phone and Dialpad don't support SMS at all.
Is there an AI-powered Ooma alternative for ecommerce?
Yes, two Ooma alternatives for ecommerce offer strong AI features. Ringly.io provides an AI phone agent that handles calls automatically, answering questions and looking up orders without human involvement. Dialpad offers AI-powered call transcription, sentiment analysis, and coaching but doesn't automate the actual call handling.
What's the best Ooma alternative for ecommerce with omnichannel support?
Nextiva provides the strongest omnichannel capabilities among Ooma alternatives for ecommerce. It unifies voice, email, social media, SMS, and chat in a single inbox. The Core plan at $30/user/month adds these channels, while the Power Suite at $75/month includes full CRM integration.
How do Ooma alternative for ecommerce options compare on uptime reliability?
RingCentral and Vonage both guarantee 99.999% uptime (about 5 minutes of downtime per year). Zoom Phone offers 99.99% uptime. Nextiva and Dialpad provide 99.9% guarantees. For ecommerce stores where downtime costs sales, the enterprise-grade reliability of RingCentral or Vonage may justify their higher prices.
