The headline number, and why it is never the whole number
Almost every provider quotes a per-user, per-month price. Almost every provider quotes the annual rate in large type and the monthly rate in small type, and the annual rate frequently depends on a contract term.
Underneath that there are four other things that move the total.
Regulatory fees. Every US business phone provider collects them. They fund emergency services and universal service programs and they are not optional for anyone, us included. Any provider implying they have no regulatory fees is either not telling you or not a real carrier.
Taxes. Set by where your business is, which is why a service address is asked for at signup rather than later.
One-time charges. Porting a number, provisioning a desk phone, sometimes setup.
Payment processing. SoundLine charges 2.75% on card payments, including autopay. We put it on this page rather than in a footnote because finding it on the first invoice is worse than reading it now.
What SoundLine costs
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19.99 per user | $14.99 per user, $179.88 billed yearly |
| Growth | $33.33 per user | $24.99 per user, $299.88 billed yearly |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom |
Additional phone numbers are $4 each on Growth and $5 on Starter. There is no minimum term on monthly billing. Elite is announced but not yet available, so it is not in this table.
Fair use. Unlimited calling and texting means 1,500 minutes and 1,000 outbound texts per user per month of ordinary business use, pooled across the account. Most businesses never approach it. Publishing the figure is better than the word "unlimited" with an asterisk nobody follows.
What actually changes your bill
The number of people who need a phone, not the number of employees. A ten-person company where three answer calls is a three-user account.
Desk phones. Hardware is a one-time cost and a decision about how your front desk works, not a monthly one.
Whether you commit annually. Annual billing is about 25% cheaper here. Unlike much of the category, choosing monthly does not put you on a different product.
How to compare providers honestly
Ask every provider on your list the same five questions. The answers are more revealing than the pricing pages.
- Is there a minimum term, and what does it cost to leave early?
- What are the regulatory fees and taxes on top of the quoted price?
- Is there a payment processing fee?
- What does porting my existing number cost, and how long does it take?
- Can I try it without speaking to a salesperson?
Questions
Is there a setup fee?
No setup fee on self-serve signup. Desk phone provisioning and porting may carry one-time charges.
What happens if I go over the fair use limits?
We contact you and discuss it. Ordinary business use does not get close.
Can I change plans later?
Yes, in both directions, from your account settings.
See the real number for your business
Seven days free. Card required, not charged until the trial ends, and the conversion price is shown before you confirm.