Google Voice
“A customizable phone number in the cloud”
Quick Info
Screenshots
“The interface that ate your evening, lovingly photographed.”
Rating Comparison
“How hard it grabbed, broken down by how hard they fell.”
The Pitch & The Reality
A customizable phone number in the cloud
“Five stars from people who meant to stop an hour ago.”
Not recommended before bed. Especially effective before bed.
“Dark patterns? We prefer 'aggressively helpful design.'”
AI Review Summary
Based on analysis of 430299 reviews
Google Voice provides a dedicated phone number for calls, texts, and voicemail, syncing across devices and offering features like call screening and spam filtering. Users appreciate its convenience, especially the ability to maintain a consistent number while switching carriers or using it as a secondary business line. However, many report issues with call reliability, notification glitches, and a lack of modern features like video voicemail and improved media sharing within texts.
- Excellent for maintaining a consistent phone number across multiple devices and carriers.
- Call screening and spam filtering effectively block unwanted calls and messages.
- Voicemail transcription provides quick access to messages without listening.
- Free to use, making it a cost-effective solution for a second phone number.
- Easy integration with Google accounts and services for seamless communication.
- Call recording feature offers convenience, though users should be aware of legal implications.
- Provides a professional feel compared to other free texting/calling apps, according to users.
- Call reliability can be inconsistent, with missed calls and dropped connections reported.
- Notification glitches prevent timely alerts for incoming calls and messages.
- Lacks modern messaging features like reactions, threading, and advanced media sharing.
- PC/browser app experience feels outdated and clunky compared to mobile.
- Some users report difficulties with the initial setup and number verification process.
Google Voice remains a useful free service for obtaining a secondary phone number and managing communications across devices, especially for those needing a consistent number across carrier changes. However, be aware of its potential reliability issues and outdated features before fully relying on it as your primary communication method.
What People Say
“Backup Phone Number: Users love how easy to use and access Google Voice is as an emergency/backup number on any device.”
“Cross Platform Integration: Users love how they can access contacts, texts, and calls on their cell phones, tablets and computer, which helps them stay connected.”
“Lack of Modern Features: Users don't like that they cant send more than one photo at a time or send videos in the app.”
“Notification Issues: Users are frustrated by not getting notifications on time or not at all on their device.”
“Call Quality: Users complain that calls drop or don't connect and texts don't go through consistently.”
About This App
Google Voice provides you with a free phone number you can use for calling, texting, and voicemail. The key differentiator is its cross-platform accessibility – it works on smartphones, tablets, and computers, syncing your communications across all your devices. This makes it ideal for anyone who wants a unified communication experience regardless of their location or device preference.
Primarily aimed at personal Google Accounts within the US and Google Workspace accounts in select markets, Google Voice is particularly useful for individuals who want to keep their personal and professional communications separate, or who frequently switch phone carriers to take advantage of deals without having to change their main number. It's also a viable option for those needing a phone line in locations with unreliable cell service, relying instead on Wi-Fi.
Its core benefit lies in providing a single, accessible-anywhere communication hub coupled with intelligent features like spam filtering and voicemail transcription, addressing common communication needs in a streamlined, free package.
