CallOrbit vs. Grasshopper: The Quick Take
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system known for its simplicity — it's been a popular choice for solo entrepreneurs and very small businesses since the mid-2000s. CallOrbit offers similar simplicity but with more features, better scalability, and competitive pricing.
Let's compare them honestly.
What Is Grasshopper?
Grasshopper is a virtual phone number service that forwards calls to your existing phone (cell phone or landline). It adds a business number, auto-attendant, and voicemail on top of your personal phone — but it's not a full VoIP system.
Key distinction: Grasshopper doesn't make calls over the internet (VoIP). It uses call forwarding — your business number forwards to your cell phone, and calls are carried over your cellular network. This means you're using your cell plan's minutes.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | CallOrbit | Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| VoIP Calling (internet-based) | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (call forwarding only) |
| Auto-Attendant | ✅ Full-featured | ✅ Basic |
| Virtual Phone Numbers | ✅ US & Canada | ✅ US & Canada |
| Call Recording | ✅ Included | ❌ Not available |
| Voicemail Transcription | ✅ Included | ✅ Included |
| SMS/Text | ✅ | ✅ |
| Call Routing | ✅ Advanced | ⚠️ Basic |
| Mobile App | ✅ Full VoIP app | ✅ Forwarding app |
| Desktop App | ✅ | ✅ |
| Call Analytics | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic |
| Team Extensions | ✅ Unlimited | ⚠️ Limited |
| CRM Integration | ✅ | ❌ |
| Number Porting | ✅ | ✅ |
| Toll-Free Numbers | ✅ | ✅ |
| Conference Calling | ✅ | ⚠️ Basic |
| Scalability | ✅ Grows with your team | ⚠️ Limited to small teams |
The Fundamental Difference: VoIP vs. Call Forwarding
This is the most important distinction:
- Grasshopper = Call Forwarding: Calls forward to your cell phone. The call is carried by your cellular network. You use your cell plan's minutes. Call quality depends on your cell signal.
- CallOrbit = True VoIP: Calls are processed over the internet. You answer on your VoIP app (smartphone, laptop, or desk phone). You use your internet connection, not cell minutes. You get full VoIP features.
Why this matters: VoIP gives you more features, better call management, doesn't consume cell minutes, and works from any internet-connected device.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | CallOrbit | Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| Solo/Basic | ~$15–20/month | ~$26–31/month |
| Partner/Standard | ~$25–30/month | ~$44–51/month |
| Business/Premium | ~$35–40/month | ~$80–89/month |
| Users included | Per user | Per account (limited extensions) |
Grasshopper's pricing is per account, not per user — which sounds good until you realize each plan has a limited number of extensions and phone numbers. For a 5-person team, CallOrbit typically costs 30–50% less than Grasshopper while offering significantly more features.
Where CallOrbit Wins
- True VoIP (Not Just Call Forwarding): CallOrbit is a full VoIP platform with internet-based calling, not just a forwarding service.
- Call Recording: CallOrbit includes call recording on all plans. Grasshopper does not offer call recording at all.
- Advanced Call Routing: CallOrbit offers ring groups, time-based routing, and queue management.
- Better Pricing at Scale: As your team grows, CallOrbit's per-user pricing is more economical.
- CRM Integration: CallOrbit integrates with your CRM (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.). Grasshopper has no CRM integrations.
- Analytics: CallOrbit provides detailed call analytics — essential for sales teams and customer service.
Where Grasshopper Wins
- Absolute Simplicity: If you're a solo entrepreneur who just wants a business number that forwards to your cell phone, Grasshopper is dead simple.
- No Internet Dependency: Because Grasshopper uses call forwarding, it works even in areas with poor internet.
- Brand Heritage: Grasshopper has been around since 2003 and is a well-known brand.
Who Should Choose CallOrbit?
- ✅ Businesses that want true VoIP
- ✅ Teams of 2+ that need shared phone systems
- ✅ Businesses that need call recording
- ✅ Sales teams that need analytics and CRM integration
- ✅ Growing businesses that will scale beyond 3–5 people
- ✅ Companies that want more value for the price
Who Should Choose Grasshopper?
- ✅ Solo entrepreneurs who just want a second number
- ✅ People who want zero learning curve
- ✅ Businesses in areas with poor internet
- ✅ People who explicitly don't need call recording or CRM integration
Switching from Grasshopper to CallOrbit
- Port your Grasshopper number to CallOrbit
- Set up your auto-attendant and call routing
- Download the CallOrbit app on your team's devices
- Cancel Grasshopper after the port completes
The transition takes about 3–7 business days for the number port, and there's zero downtime.
The Verdict
Grasshopper is a call forwarding service with a business number skin on top. CallOrbit is a full business phone system.
If all you need is a forwarding number, Grasshopper works. If you want a real phone system with real features at a better price, CallOrbit is the clear winner.