Best VoIP phone systems with a free trial: 5 options compared

Sophie Gane5 Minutes • Last updated on

Ready to build better conversations?

Simple to set up. Easy to use. Powerful integrations.

Get free access

TL;DR: Most business phone systems offer a 14-day free trial. Aircall takes a different approach: free access that includes 100 AI Voice Agent minutes at sign-up, so you can test AI call handling alongside core phone features before you pay.

  • Aircall: free access with 100 AI Voice Agent minutes, then from $30/license/month

  • Dialpad: 14-day free trial, then from $15/user/month

  • Twilio: $15 trial credit, then pay-as-you-go from $0.014/minute

  • JustCall: 14-day free trial, then from $29/user/month

  • RingEX by RingCentral: 14-day free trial, then from $20/user/month

Prices reflect annual billing as of October 2026.

How do the top phone systems with a free trial compare?

ProviderFree trialStarting price (annual billing)Best for
Aircall
Free access, 100 AI Voice Agent minutes at sign-up
$30/license/month (3-license minimum)
Sales and support teams that want AI Voice Agents and 250+ integrations
Dialpad
14 days
$15/user/month
Small teams that want AI transcription on every plan
Twilio
$15 trial credit
$0.014/minute outbound (US)
Developers building custom voice apps
JustCall
14 days
$29/user/month
Outbound sales teams
RingEX
14 days
$20/user/month
Companies that want calls, video, and messaging in one app

Why test a business phone system before you buy?

A free trial shows you what a pricing page can't: call quality on your network, how long setup really takes, and whether your team will use it. Switching communication software later means porting numbers and retraining agents, so it pays to test properly up front.

What should you test during a free trial?

  • Call quality: make and take calls on your own Wi-Fi and mobile data.

  • Setup time: time how long it takes to get a number, invite users, and route your first inbound call.

  • Call routing and IVR: build the call flow your team actually needs.

  • Integrations: connect your CRM or helpdesk and check that calls log automatically.

  • AI features: check call summaries, transcription, and whether AI can answer routine calls.

  • Mobile and desktop apps: have agents test the apps they'll use every day.

Which business phone systems offer a free trial?

Aircall

Aircall's Activity Feed shows live calls, messages, and team availability in one view.

Aircall is an AI-powered customer communications platform for sales and support teams, used by thousands of businesses. AI Voice Agents handle routine calls, and AI Assist helps reps during and after every conversation.

Free trial: Aircall offers free access instead of a fixed-length trial. New accounts get 100 AI Voice Agent minutes at sign-up, on top of the 50 included minutes every customer gets each month. In the US and Canada, new accounts can also test four pre-built AI Voice Agent use cases with zero setup, follow a guided Get started checklist, and use AI Assist and AI Assist Pro on their first number from day one.

Key features:

Pricing:

  • Essentials: $30/license/month (annual billing)

  • Professional: $50/license/month (annual billing)

  • Custom: contact sales (25+ licenses)

  • All plans require a minimum of 3 licenses. See Aircall pricing for full plan details. AI Assist Pro is an add-on at $49/user/month.

Get free access to Aircall

Dialpad

Dialpad's AI features summarize your calls and extract action items.

Dialpad is a cloud phone system with AI built into every plan. Real-time transcription and call summaries are included from the Standard plan up.

Free trial: 14 days.

Key features:

  • AI transcription and call summaries on all plans

  • Unlimited calling in the US and Canada

  • SMS and MMS

  • Video meetings (up to 10 participants on base plans)

Pricing:

  • Standard: $15/user/month (annual billing)

  • Pro: $25/user/month (annual billing)

  • Enterprise: contact sales

  • Contact center and sales features are sold separately as Dialpad Support (from $80/user/month) and Dialpad Sell (from $39/user/month).

Twilio

Create custom IVR flows with Twilio.

Twilio is a developer platform, not an out-of-the-box phone system. Its voice APIs let engineering teams build custom calling, IVR, and voice AI experiences.

Free trial: a $15 trial credit with no credit card required, enough to buy a number and test calls.

Key features:

  • Programmable voice APIs and SDKs

  • Custom IVR flows

  • Call recording and transcription

  • Global carrier network

Pricing (US, pay-as-you-go):

  • Outbound calls: $0.014/minute

  • Inbound calls to local numbers: $0.0085/minute

  • Local numbers: $1.15/month

  • Recording, transcription, and voice AI features are billed per minute on top.

JustCall

JustCall's analytics show agent performance.

JustCall is a cloud phone and messaging platform built mainly for outbound sales teams.

Free trial: 14 days.

Key features:

  • Power and predictive calling modes for outbound campaigns

  • SMS and WhatsApp messaging from a shared inbox

  • AI call scoring and coaching

  • Local numbers in 70+ countries

Pricing:

  • Team: $29/user/month (annual billing)

  • Pro: $49/user/month (annual billing)

  • Pro Plus: $89/user/month (annual billing)

  • Business: contact sales (10-user minimum)

  • Most plans require a minimum of 2 licenses.

RingEX by RingCentral

RingEX combines calls, video, and messaging in one app.

RingEX combines business calling, video meetings, team messaging, and SMS in one app.

Free trial: 14 days.

Key features:

  • Unlimited calling in the US and Canada

  • Video meetings with up to 100 participants (200 on Ultra)

  • IVR and call routing

  • CRM integrations from the Advanced plan

  • AI Receptionist available as a paid add-on

Pricing:

  • Core: $20/user/month (annual billing)

  • Advanced: $25/user/month (annual billing)

  • Ultra: $35/user/month (annual billing)

Which phone system with a free trial should you choose?

  • Choose Aircall if your sales or support team wants AI Voice Agents, a fast setup, and deep CRM and helpdesk integrations.

  • Choose Dialpad if you're a small team that wants AI transcription at the lowest per-seat price.

  • Choose Twilio if you have developers and want to build a custom voice app.

  • Choose JustCall if outbound sales volume is your priority.

  • Choose RingEX if you want phone, video, and messaging in a single app.

Frequently asked questions

How long are business phone system free trials?

Most last 14 days, including Dialpad, JustCall, and RingEX. Twilio gives a $15 trial credit instead of a time limit. Aircall offers free access with 100 AI Voice Agent minutes at sign-up.

Can I test AI voice agents during a free trial?

Yes, with Aircall. New accounts get 100 AI Voice Agent minutes at sign-up, and US and Canadian accounts can test four pre-built AI Voice Agent use cases with zero setup.

Is a free trial the same as a free plan?

No. A free trial gives you temporary access to test a paid product. None of the five providers here offers a permanent free business phone plan.

What's the cheapest business phone system with a free trial?

Dialpad has the lowest per-seat starting price at $15/user/month on annual billing. Twilio can cost less for very low call volumes because you only pay per minute, but you need developers to build on it.

What should I check before my trial ends?

Confirm call quality, test your full call routing setup, connect your CRM or helpdesk, and check the minimum license count and billing terms of the plan you'd buy.


Published on October 15, 2026.

Ready to build better conversations?

Aircall runs on the device you're using right now.