Grasshopper alternative
The Grasshopper alternative that answers when you can't.
Grasshopper forwards calls to your cell and hopes you pick up. Ody answers every call, with AI when you're busy and your team when you're not.
7-day free trial on every plan · No per-minute charges · Grasshopper facts verified September 2026
THE QUICK ANSWER
Grasshopper is a virtual number layered over your personal phone: flat account pricing (True Solo $14/mo annual, Solo Plus $25, Small Business $55), solid mobile apps, and that's about it. There's no AI receptionist (partner add-ons like Ruby start around $160/mo), no CRM or Zapier integrations, texting requires a 10DLC registration process that dominates its complaint boards, and cancelling requires a phone call. Ody starts at $19/user/mo with a 24/7 AI agent, 43 integrations and an API included, and self-serve everything. If you just want a second number to forward, Grasshopper works; if you want calls answered and logged, it doesn't.
PRICING
What you'll actually pay.
Grasshopper
Per-account (not per-user) pricing, no contract, 7-day no-card trial. Extra numbers $9/mo, extra extensions $3-5/mo; texting requires 10DLC registration ($19.50 one-time + $1.50-10/mo campaign fee, $15 per rejected resubmission) and is not offered to sole proprietors without an EIN; receptionist add-ons are sold through partner Ruby (from roughly $160-250/mo); international calling needs a $500 advance deposit. Cancellation is by phone with the account PIN, not in-app.
Ody
One number per user included; extra local or toll-free numbers $5/mo each. Business texting needs one-time 10DLC registration ($20 setup + $4/mo per texting number, handled during onboarding). International calling is a $5/mo add-on with $5 of usage included. Plans are billed monthly or prepaid annually (annual saves up to 30%). Taxes apply; there are no per-minute charges and no AI credits.
Try for free →THE MATH
A solo owner who wants calls answered while on a job
Grasshopper True Solo is $14/mo on annual billing; its cheapest live-receptionist partner add-on starts around $160/mo for a small minute bundle. Ody Starter is $19/mo ($15 annual) with unlimited AI answering. Taxes excluded for both.
SIDE BY SIDE
Ody vs Grasshopper, feature by feature.
Grasshopper facts from their published pricing & docs, verified September 2026.
| Feature | Grasshopper | Ody |
|---|---|---|
| AI answering | ||
| AI receptionist answers calls | GrasshopperPartner add-on via Ruby (AI, human or hybrid), from ~$160-250/mo | OdyIncluded on every plan |
| What the AI costs | GrasshopperRuby partner pricing, from ~$160-250/mo | Ody$0 extra. No credits, no minute bundles |
| AI call summaries & transcripts | Grasshopper— | OdyGrowth+ |
| Turn AI on/off per line & hour | Grasshopper— | Ody✓ |
| Phone system | ||
| US & Canada calling | Grasshopper✓ | Ody✓ |
| Business texting (SMS/MMS) | GrasshopperUnlimited US/CA after 10DLC ($19.50 + $1.50-10/mo); no sole proprietors | OdyUS & Canada, 10DLC handled |
| Phone number included | Grasshopper1-4 per account; extras $9/mo | Ody1 per user; extras $5/mo |
| Toll-free numbers | GrasshopperLocal, toll-free & vanity | Ody✓ |
| Free number porting | Grasshopper✓ | Ody✓ |
| Phone menus (IVR) | GrasshopperBasic extensions | OdyGrowth+ |
| Auto call recording | GrasshopperSolo Plus+ only | OdyGrowth+ |
| Voicemail transcription | Grasshopper✓ | Ody✓ |
| Video meetings | Grasshopper— | Ody— |
| Hardware required | GrasshopperNone (forwards to your cell) | OdyNone. Browser + iOS app |
| Team & integrations | ||
| Shared team inbox | Grasshopper— | Ody✓ |
| CRM integrations | Grasshopper— | Ody43 integrations, every plan |
| ChatGPT / Claude (MCP) | Grasshopper— | Ody✓ |
| Developer API & webhooks | Grasshopper— | OdyEvery plan |
| Analytics & reporting | GrasshopperCapped at 90 days | OdyGrowth+ |
| Commercial | ||
| Seat minimum | GrasshopperNone | OdyNone |
| Contract | GrasshopperMonthly or annual; cancel by phone | OdyBilled monthly or annually. Change plans in-app |
| Fees above list price | Grasshopper10DLC fees, $500 international deposit, sales tax; add-ons per number/extension | OdyTaxes only. No recovery or E911 line items |
| Free trial | Grasshopper7 days | Ody7 days, every plan, full product |
| Support | Grasshopper24/7 phone and chat | OdyEmail (Starter), live chat (Growth), phone + onboarding (Enterprise) |
| Self-serve setup & plan changes | GrasshopperSetup yes; cancellation requires a phone call | Ody✓ |
WHY TEAMS SWITCH
Where Ody pulls ahead of Grasshopper.
Answered, not just forwarded
Grasshopper routes calls to your cell; miss it and the caller gets voicemail. Ody's AI agent picks up 24/7, answers questions, books the follow-up, and sends you the transcript.
Texting that actually turns on
Grasshopper's most common 2025-2026 complaint is 10DLC registration failing repeatedly, $4.50 per failed attempt while texting stays dark. Ody registers your brand and campaign as part of onboarding.
A system, not a facade
No CRM, no Zapier, no API, 90-day analytics: Grasshopper is a front. Ody logs every call and text, syncs HubSpot, Salesforce and 41 other tools, and exposes an API, all on every plan.
AN HONEST TAKE
Which one is right for you?
You're a solopreneur who wants the cheapest possible professional number over your personal cell, especially if several people share one line, where Grasshopper's flat account pricing beats any per-user model, and you don't need AI answering, integrations, or heavy texting.
Missed calls cost you money. You want AI answering included, texting that reliably activates, CRM sync, and the ability to manage everything (including changing your plan) without calling a retention department.
EVERYTHING INCLUDED
The whole phone system,
with the AI built in. One price.
Scroll through what every Ody workspace ships with: a number, calling and texting, a shared inbox, and a receptionist that never clocks out.
ChatGPT
Claude
CursorGo deeper, feature by feature.
All features →SWITCHING IS EASY
Move from Grasshopper without missing a call.
Start your free trial
Create your workspace in minutes. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial | you get a live number, calling, texting, and your AI agent from day one.
Port your number free
Porting is free on every plan and your existing line keeps working the whole time | no downtime, no lost calls while the port completes.
Turn on the AI (or don't)
Set your hours and decide exactly when the AI answers | per number, per hour, per team. The rest of the time, it's the best softphone you've used.
Grasshopper requires a phone call to cancel; port your number to Ody first, then call, so the line never goes dark. Grasshopper's annual plans are prepaid, so time the switch near your renewal.
FAQ
Ody vs Grasshopper, answered.
More comparisons
Same research, same honesty, other providers.
