Keypad Virtual Phone System vs. Skype: Business Phone Service Comparison

As of February 8, 2020, we are no longer accepting new Keypad accounts. Please stay tuned for updates on alternative solutions.

When most people think of video chatting, popular software applications like Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and Go To Meeting come to mind. Remote face-to-face conversations are helpful for some business aspects however, it’s not a substitute for an actual phone service to manage your existing or potential new clients

Skype can also function as a regular phone service with a few extra features in addition to being a popular video chatting application. Below, we’re to look at the differences between Keypad from Smith.ai and Skype.

Setup fees & trials

Keypad:

• No cost to setup
• No contracts to sign or cancellation fees
• 14-day money-back guarantee

Skype:

• Free to sign up
• No obligation to use paid services for calling or texting outside Skype
• Number is yours to keep, if you stop paying for calling and texting

Discussion: Service from Keypad and Skype have a few similarities as well as quite a few differences. Keypad offers calling, messaging, call routing, unlimited extensions, and many other features at a low rate plus, it natively integrates with the Smith.ai virtual receptionist service. Skype’s main selling point is that it's free to video chat or make Internet calls to other users – today, it can serve a business phone solution in the right environment.

Monthly Plans

Keypad:

• For $25 a month per line, you receive 100 minutes, 250 text messages, and either a local or toll-free number
• No limit on extensions, greeting messages, or voicemails
• At $5 a month, voicemail transcription is available; call recording runs $10 a month; faxing costs $10 per month to send or receive up to 200 pages

Skype:

• Free app to video chat, message, or voice call other Skype other users
• Unlimited plans in the US to reach landlines and mobile phones start as low as $2.99 a month when paid monthly to as much as $13.99 a month
• Recurring billing can be cancelled at anytime

Discussion: Getting started with Keypad is simple – you’ll create an account with a valid email and choose a starter number (if porting from an existing provider) or permanent number where you can select a desired area code or, opt for a toll-free number. At $25 a month, you get 1000 minutes, 250 SMS messages, and your selected phone number. You may also add other features such as add call recording for an additional $10 a month and/or voicemail transcription for an extra $5 per month. You can easily append a full team of virtual receptionists starting at $60 a month from Smith.ai and neither service requires a contract.

With Skype, you simply need to download the app to your smart device or computer to take advantage of the free user-to-user services after signing into (or a creating) a Microsoft account. Too, it can also be used from most browsers like Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and others. To unlock the ability to call or text outside numbers, you’ll need to first select a number for your desired area code. Depending on the area you select, you’ll pay between $2.99 and $6.99 a month for unlimited calling and texting where discounts are offered for paying in intervals of every 3 or 12 months.

Add-ons

Keypad:

• Extra numbers: $5/number/month
• Voicemail transcription: $5/month for 100 minutes. 5¢ per additional minute
• Call recording: $10/month for 1,000 minutes. 1¢ per additional minute
• Online fax: $10/month for 1 fax number and 200 pages. 5¢ per additional page

Skype:

• Dedicated numbers: $6.50 per line/month
• International calling: $6.99 per month for North America/$13.99 per month for International calling

Discussion: Keypad offers a more affordable solution for those that want features including additional numbers, call recording and full-featured online fax. At only $25 per month, Keypad lets you forward calls to as many destination numbers as your business needs, plus you can also text from your business line at no additional charge. Skye does not offer many additional add-ons that benefit a business owner or servicing their clients.

Features

Both Keypad and Skype offer the same features:

• Voice calling
• SMS messaging
• Call recording
• Call forwarding
• Number porting

Unique features to Keypad include:

• Voicemail transcription capabilities
• Integration with Smith.ai virtual receptionists
• Adaptive routing based on time, day of the week, or a custom schedule
• Call blasting and hunting
• Optional faxing package
• Spam filtering for unwanted calls
• VIP lists
• Performance metrics and an intuitive dashboard

Unique Premium features to Skype include:

• Video conferencing
• Web conferencing
• Video voicemail

Discussion: Keypad is designed to provide businesses with a calling solution that isn’t overloaded with advanced features that often go unutilized which is a common complaint of many modern phone service providers. For $25 a month, you get 1000 minutes which is just under 17 hours of talk time a month. You also gain the ability to send 250 texts from your Keypad line to engage your customers quickly and either send or request information.  The Smith.ai Virtual Receptionist service may be added, starting at $60 a month for 10 calls and 1 live transfer number, which takes the burden of performing intakes or answering FAQs off you plate so you can focus on the task at hand.

Skype is great tool for being a free user-to-user application because it works well with a good Internet connection plus, the brand itself is highly popular. Though Skype lacks a lot of the features you’ll find in Keypad and many other business phone services, it does allow for unlimited calling for anywhere from $2.99 a month to as as much as $13.99 a month for a plan that allows some international calling. It’s flagship video calling service is free plus, it does integrate with Microsoft 365. Note that in the Skype 365 admin center, it is possible to transfer in toll-free number you’ve purchased from somewhere else.

Summary

Keypad is an ideal and inexpensive phone solution for business looking to get more done while spending less time on the phone. Service is highly competitive at just $25 a month plus, it seamlessly assimilates with Smith.ai and our other integrations.

Skype is great for free video calling and user-to-user voice calling plus, it’s incredibly inexpensive to use for calling and messaging. It does lack a lot of good business phone features but it’s a useful tool, nonetheless.

Get started with Keypad now, risk-free

Sign up for Keypad today! It's just $25/month, and completely risk free with our 14-day money-back guarantee.

(Want to keep your existing phone and fax numbers? Sign up, pick a temporary number, and then follow the porting directions here.)

Questions?

If you have questions about Keypad's features and compatibility with your business, our support team would be happy to assist and advise you. Contact us Monday through Friday 5am – 6pm PT at (650) 727-6484 or keypad@smith.ai.