OpenPhone vs ProHighLevel
OpenPhone is a business inbox. ProHighLevel is a CRM with calling, texting, and pipeline on one record.
At a glance
Pricing checked August 2026. Confirm current numbers on each vendor’s site.
| OpenPhone | ProHighLevel | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Business phone + inbox | CRM + comms workspace |
| Starting price | ~$15/user/mo (annual) | $29/mo software (Starter) |
| Browser voice | Mobile/desktop VoIP app | Built-in CRM browser calling |
| Deal pipeline | Not included | Built-in |
| Browser calling | Yes | Yes — on contact record |
| SMS/MMS | Yes — per inbox | Yes — on CRM contact (prepaid usage) |
| Multi-agent same number | Yes | Yes |
| Fax | Limited | Send/receive on balance |
| Best for | Lightweight comms | Phone-first sales teams |
Voice quality and wallet pricing
ProHighLevel wallet rates are carrier pass-through (no platform markup on usage for now). Tables use example routes — confirm your destination in Call rates before you budget.
How calls sound
Depends on their carrier path, device, and network. We keep calling inside the CRM on a single browser session.
Calls run in the browser inside your CRM — wideband audio (including Opus) when your connection supports it. No separate phone app to open.
Media stays on our voice network after you connect. Most teams notice lower lag than juggling tabs and a third-party dialer.
How wallet billing works
Wallet rates follow carrier pass-through — no extra platform markup on usage for now. Usage accrues in sub-cents; your prepaid balance debits in $0.01 steps when accrued usage adds up. A very short call may not move the balance until more usage stacks.
Live price before you dial or send: Settings → Telecom → Call rates
Usage pricing
OpenPhone usually bundles minutes into seat plans instead of a prepaid wallet. Compare software tiers above, then read their overage rules on their site.
Where OpenPhone and ProHighLevel split
Neither tool is wrong for everyone. These are the trade-offs teams actually feel after week two.
Pricing
OpenPhone Per-user monthly. A 5-person team at $19/user is ~$95/month before add-ons.
ProHighLevel Growth plan: $79/month for 3 software seats. Add users by tier — not by the inbox.
Pipeline
OpenPhone Contact notes and tags. Deals live in another app — if anywhere.
ProHighLevel Native pipelines, stages, owners, and projects. Manager view is built in.
Calling
OpenPhone Strong mobile and desktop calling for the line.
ProHighLevel Browser dialer on the contact. Every call logs to the deal automatically.
Best for
OpenPhone Teams that only need a shared business number and texts.
ProHighLevel Teams that lose money when nobody updates the board after the call.
What each product is
OpenPhone
OpenPhone is a cloud business phone for startups and small teams. You get shared numbers, SMS, voicemail, and a clean inbox per line. CRM features are light — most teams pair it with HubSpot, spreadsheets, or nothing at all.
Pricing
Typically $15–$23 per user/month (annual billing). Extra numbers often ~$5/month each. Verify on openphone.com.
ProHighLevel
ProHighLevel is a sales workspace: full CRM, deal pipeline, browser calling, SMS/MMS, and fax on the contact record. Subscription covers software seats. Phone usage bills from a prepaid balance at published rates.
Pricing
Software from $29/month (Starter), $79 (Growth, 3 users), $149 (Pro, 10 users). Telecom is prepaid — not bundled into plan price.
Software plan breakdown →Strengths and gaps
OpenPhone
- Low entry price per user
- Clean, minimal inbox UI
- Fast setup for a business line
- Good for solopreneurs who only text
Watch outs
- No real deal pipeline
- CRM requires integrations or manual work
- Per-user costs scale with every hire
- Managers can't trust forecast from inbox alone
ProHighLevel
- CRM + calls + SMS on one contact
- Multiple agents on one business number
- Transparent software tiers + prepaid telecom
- 14-day trial with full CRM access
What the workspace includes
Software tiers cover seats and CRM caps. Calling, SMS, and fax still bill from your prepaid wallet.
Pipeline and contacts — not a sidebar bolted onto a phone app.
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Deal pipeline
Stages, owners, and projects. See who needs a call today without exporting to a spreadsheet.
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Team workspaces
Add seats per plan. Everyone works the same contacts — no duplicate records per rep.
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Calendar & booking
Google Calendar sync, appointments on the contact, services catalog ready for every call.
Dial from the browser. Every conversation lands on the record.
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Browser calling in the CRM
Dial from the contact record — wideband audio when your network supports it. No second app on your desktop.
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Multiple agents, one number
Put your whole floor on the same business line. Parallel outbound without fighting over one handset.
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Logged automatically
Calls attach to the contact timeline. Managers audit activity without asking reps to “remember to log it.”
Texts and fax on the business number — same thread as the deal.
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SMS & MMS
Text from your business line. Threads stay on the contact, not on someone’s personal cell.
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Business fax
Send and receive signed docs in the workspace. Contracts land on the deal, not a tray nobody checks.
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Prepaid telecom
Usage bills from a workspace balance at published rates — never hidden inside your software subscription.
Software pricing you can explain in one sentence.
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Flat software tiers
Starter $29, Growth $79, Pro $149 — seats and caps on the website. No sales call to decode it.
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14-day full trial
Real CRM access from day one. Not a crippled demo that unlocks “calling” on tier three.
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CSV import
Bring contacts and lists in bulk. Start dialing the same week you sign up.
Who each tool fits
Choose OpenPhone if…
- You only need a business line and group texting — no sales stages.
- You're one person and live in threads, not pipelines.
- You already pay for a CRM and will keep it in sync (you will, right?).
Choose ProHighLevel if…
- Reps text fast but forget to update deals — and customers notice.
- You run outbound or appointment setting from lists.
- You want one login for today's calls and tomorrow's pipeline.
Example
The homeowner texts: “Yes, book Tuesday.”
OpenPhone shows the message. Nobody moves the deal. Tuesday passes. The homeowner books someone who confirmed on the phone. Your inbox was fast. Your revenue wasn't.
OpenPhone is good at being an inbox
We’re not pretending otherwise. If your whole business is “answer and text back,” OpenPhone is hard to beat on simplicity.
The break happens when you hire person #2 and person #3 and someone asks: what’s still open? Inboxes don’t answer that. Pipelines do.
What you’re paying for with each
OpenPhone charges per seat for communication. Fair model for a phone product.
ProHighLevel charges per software tier for CRM + comms tooling, then usage for telecom. Fair model when the phone call is step one and the closed deal is step ten.
Don’t compare sticker prices without comparing what happens after the hang-up.
Questions
Is ProHighLevel an OpenPhone alternative?
Yes — for teams that need CRM and pipeline, not just a shared inbox. If you only need texting from a business line, OpenPhone may be enough.
Can I port my OpenPhone number?
Porting depends on carrier rules. You can add or port numbers during ProHighLevel setup — contact support with your number details.
Is calling included in the ProHighLevel subscription?
No. Software covers seats and caps. Calling, SMS, MMS, and fax bill from a prepaid workspace balance at published rates.
Does OpenPhone have a CRM?
Not a full sales CRM. Teams use integrations or separate tools for pipeline — which is the gap ProHighLevel fills.
Phone numbers, outbound calling, MMS, fax, and other telecom usage are charged from your workspace balance at published rates. US SMS may require 10DLC brand registration.
Keep the business line. Add the pipeline.
Start a 14-day trial. Import contacts. Top up telecom when you're ready to dial.
Start 14-day free trial