OpenPhone Hidden Costs: Automatic Call Recording + 32 More

Quick Answer

Last verified: June 13, 2026

High confidence

OpenPhone costs $15 to $47 per user/per month as of September 2026, with 4 plans available. Plans: Starter at $19/user/per month, Business at $33/user/per month, and Scale at $47/user/per month. Custom pricing is available on request. Pricing depends on your chosen tier, contract length, and negotiated discounts.

Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.

Free tier: No free tier available

OpenPhone offers 4 pricing tiers: Starter, Business, Scale, Talk to Sales. Paid plans include Starter at $19/user/per month, Business at $33/user/per month, Scale at $47/user/per month.

Know Before You Buy — Start OpenPhone Free Trial — 7 Days

OpenPhone lists $15-$47/user/per month, but hidden costs like implementation and support add to the total as of September 2026. Key hidden costs: additional phone numbers, international calling and texting, a2p 10dlc registration. Verified from 1 sources by CostBench.

Hidden Costs Breakdown

Additional Phone Numbers

low addon

Each extra phone number beyond the one included per user costs $5 per month.

industry
Additional Phone Numbers: Each extra phone number beyond the one included per user costs $5 per month.

International Calling and Texting

medium overage

International calling and texting are not included in standard plans and are billed on a per-minute or per-message basis, with rates varying by destination.

industry
International Calling and Texting: These are not included in standard plans and are billed on a per-minute or per-message basis, with rates varying by destination.

A2P 10DLC Registration

low compliance

Businesses sending texts to U.S. numbers incur a one-time registration fee of $19.50, plus a monthly campaign registry fee ranging from $1.50 to $3.

industry
A2P 10DLC Registration: For businesses sending texts to U.S. numbers, there's a one-time registration fee of $19.50, plus a monthly campaign registry fee ranging from $1.50 to $3.

Automated SMS via API or Zapier

medium overage

Outgoing automated SMS messages sent via API or Zapier are charged at $0.01 per message or segment.

industry
Automated SMS via API or Zapier: Outgoing automated SMS messages are charged at $0.01 per message or segment.

Sona AI Agent Credits

medium overage

After 1,000 free AI credits monthly, additional credit packs start at $25 per month for 40 calls, with overage fees ranging from $0.45 to $1.00 per AI call.

industry
Sona AI Agent Credits: While 1,000 free AI credits (approximately 10 AI-handled calls) are included monthly, additional credit packs start at $25 per month for 40 calls, with overage fees ranging from $0.45 to $1.00 per AI call.

Automatic Call Recording

high addon

Automatic call recording requires the Business plan ($23/user/month annually), while manual recording is available on Starter ($15/user/month annually).

industry
For example: * Automatic call recording requires the Business plan ($23/user/month annually), whereas manual recording is on Starter ($15/user/month annually).

AI Call Summaries and Transcripts

high addon

AI call summaries and transcripts for all calls are only available on Business or Scale plans, not the Starter plan.

industry
AI call summaries and transcripts for all calls are on Business or Scale plans, not Starter.

CRM Integrations, IVR, Advanced Analytics

high addon

CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce), phone menus (IVR), and advanced analytics are exclusive to the Business plan ($23/user/month annually) or higher.

industry
CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce), phone menus (IVR), and advanced analytics are exclusive to the Business plan ($23/user/month annually) or higher.

Shared Numbers User Cap

high addon

Shared numbers on the Starter plan are capped at 10 users, requiring an upgrade to Business for unlimited shared numbers.

industry
Shared numbers on the Starter plan are capped at 10 users, requiring an upgrade to Business for unlimited shared numbers.

Telecommunication Taxes and Regulatory Fees

medium compliance

Telecommunication taxes and regulatory fees are additional and apply in certain states.

industry
Telecommunication Taxes and Regulatory Fees: These are additional and apply in certain states.

Fair-Use Policy Overage

high overage

"Unlimited" US/Canada calling and texting on Starter and Business plans have a soft cap of approximately 3,000 messages and 1,000 minutes per user per month before throttling may occur.

industry
For example: * Automatic call recording requires the Business plan ($23/user/month annually), whereas manual recording is on Starter ($15/user/month annually).

Monthly Billing Premium

medium implementation

Month-to-month plans are approximately 27% more expensive than annual commitments.

industry
For example, the Starter plan is $15/user/month annually but $19/user/month monthly; the Business plan is $23/user/month annually but $33/user/month monthly; and the Scale plan is $35/user/month annually but $47/user/month monthly

AI Credits Overage Fees

medium overage

After 1,000 free Sona AI credits per month, credit packs start at $25 per month for 40 calls, and overage fees range from $0.45 to $1.00 per AI call.

industry
Beyond this, credit packs start at $25 per month for 40 calls, and overage fees range from $0.45 to $1.00 per AI call

Phone Menus (IVR)

medium addon

Phone Menus (IVR) are available from the Business plan ($23/user/month annually).

industry
Phone Menus (IVR): Available from the Business plan ($23/user/month annually)

Advanced Analytics and Reporting

low addon

Advanced Analytics and Reporting are included in the Business plan, requiring an additional $96 per year if upgrading from Starter.

industry
Advanced Analytics and Reporting: Included in the Business plan, requiring an additional $96 per year if upgrading from Starter

CRM Integrations

medium addon

CRM Integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce) are only available on the Business plan.

industry
CRM Integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce): Only available on the Business plan

HIPAA Compliance

high compliance

OpenPhone is "HIPAA ready" only on Business ($23) and Scale ($35) plans, potentially costing healthcare outfits an extra $96 to $240 per year compared to alternatives.

industry
HIPAA Compliance: OpenPhone labels itself "HIPAA ready" only on Business ($23) and Scale ($35) plans, potentially costing healthcare outfits an extra $96 to $240 per year compared to alternatives

Multi-Device Usage Upgrade

high overage

Using OpenPhone on multiple computers per user can lead to automatic plan upgrades.

industry
For example, the Starter plan is $15/user/month annually but $19/user/month monthly; the Business plan is $23/user/month annually but $33/user/month monthly; and the Scale plan is $35/user/month annually but $47/user/month monthly

Zapier/API Triggered Messages

low overage

Outbound texts or segments triggered through Zapier or the API cost $0.01 per message or segment.

industry
Zapier/API Triggered Messages: Outbound texts or segments triggered through Zapier or the API cost $0.01 per message or segment.

SMS/Review Fee

medium implementation

Some users have reported a non-refundable $15 SMS/review fee during the account approval process.

industry
SMS/Review Fee: Some users have reported a non-refundable $15 SMS/review fee during the account approval process, which can be confusing and lead to repeated rejections.

Automated SMS

medium overage

Automated SMS messages sent via API or Zapier incur a charge of $0.01 per outgoing message or per segment for long messages.

industry
Automated SMS: Automated SMS messages sent via API or Zapier incur a charge of $0.01 per outgoing message or per segment for long messages.

Feature-Based Upgrades

high addon

Many advanced features, such as automatic call recording and CRM integrations, require an upgrade from the Starter plan to the Business or Scale plan, which can add significant costs.

industry
For example, upgrading a 10-person team from Starter to Business for automatic call recording adds $960 per year.

Per-User Billing Multiplies Costs Rapidly

medium addon

OpenPhone charges per user per month on every plan, so adding team members directly multiplies the subscription cost. Users report this doubling happening immediately upon adding a second user, sometimes without clear advance notice of the compounding cost.

trustpilot
When setting up a second user it doubled the future monthly rate

trustpilot
I've now been charged for another user for a year, with no warning, money just gets taken from your card without having approved any change to the plan/billing.

Annual Billing Charged Upfront Without Clear Notice During Trial

high overage

Users report being charged the full annual subscription fee unexpectedly during or immediately after a 7-day free trial. The transition from free trial to annual billing is not always clearly communicated, resulting in large unexpected charges with no refund path.

trustpilot
I tried to get a Free Trial, and the screen clearly indicated I would only be billed after the 7 day free trial. Next thing I know, our credit card has been charged US$180 for a yearly subscription.

trustpilot
I deleted my account but still was charged after free trial ended.

Automatic Account Suspension With No Recourse or Refund

critical compliance

OpenPhone monitors account activity and message content through automated systems and can suspend accounts after very minimal usage — sometimes after fewer than 20 calls or 2 SMS messages. Suspensions often occur with inconsistent or no explanation. Appeals go unanswered for days, and suspended accounts do not receive refunds. This creates a total-loss risk for annual plan buyers.

trustpilot
Read the small print for the added fees, as well as the companies, monitoring your messages, and will tell you that you're noncompliant and shut down your number if it's something that their system deems inappropriate.

trustpilot
My account was blocked after only 20 calls with no clear explanation, and the overall communication and transparency have been poor. I've requested cancellation and asked that my card not be charged.

Content Compliance Monitoring — Message Flagging and Shutdown Risk

medium compliance

OpenPhone monitors account message content for compliance. Accounts can be shut down if automated systems deem messages inappropriate, including adult content sent to personal contacts. This monitoring is not prominently disclosed upfront and can result in account termination without refund.

trustpilot
Read the small print for the added fees, as well as the companies, monitoring your messages, and will tell you that you’re noncompliant and shut down your number if it’s something that their system deems inappropriate.

SMS/MMS Requires Business Registration (10DLC) — Individuals Blocked

high compliance

To send text messages, users must register their phone number through the 10DLC process, which is restricted to registered businesses. Individual users or sole proprietors without a formal business entity may be blocked from sending SMS/MMS even on paid plans. OpenPhone also appears to reject individual (non-business) accounts outright at the account review stage.

trustpilot
Tried again to send a test message to myself. Was told I had to register the number to send messages. Ok, no problem. Tried to do that. Was told that only business were allowed to do that.

trustpilot
they dont accept individuals, only companies, but their website said otherwise

Adding a User During Free Trial Ends Trial and Triggers Immediate Full Billing

medium overage

Adding a second user during the 7-day free trial can immediately terminate the trial and commit the account to a full subscription charge, even if the user intended to remain within the trial period. OpenPhone reportedly cited this action as justification for ending the trial and did not restore the remaining trial days.

trustpilot
when I added a user that gave them reason to end the 7-day trial and fully commit the account

trustpilot
then when I selected Cancel Subscription, I was immediately charged the full month service charge. No acknowledgement or statement saying that this would affect the free trial.

Per-User Annual Charge Applied Without Explicit Approval

high overage

When a new user is added to an OpenPhone account, an annual per-user charge is applied immediately to the card on file without requiring explicit confirmation or displaying a cost summary. Users report being billed for a full year per additional user with no warning whatsoever.

trustpilot
I've now been charged for another user for a year, with no warning, money just gets taken from your card without having approved any change to the plan/billing. UNACCEPTABLE!

Annual Subscription Charged at Trial Signup Instead of Trial Period

high overage

Multiple users report that signing up for the 7-day free trial resulted in an immediate annual subscription charge rather than a delayed post-trial billing. The onboarding flow collects a credit card and can trigger annual billing before the trial window expires, contrary to what the interface displays.

trustpilot
I tried to get a Free Trial, and the screen clearly indicated I would only be billed after the 7 day free trial. Next thing I know, our credit card has been charged US$180 for a yearly subscription.

trustpilot
I deleted my account but still was charged after free trial ended. Be aware, scammers!!!

No Refunds Once Subscription Is Active

high overage

OpenPhone does not offer refunds once a plan is purchased, even when the account is suspended or service is unusable. Annual plan buyers who encounter service issues, account suspensions, or billing errors are locked in for the remainder of the contract period. Support response times of multiple days can also effectively expire the narrow 7-day refund window.

trustpilot
They do not offer refunds so once you're locked in, you have to ride it out.

trustpilot
I deleted my account but still was charged after free trial ended. Be aware, scammers!!!

Individuals Rejected After Completing Signup

medium compliance

OpenPhone only accepts verified businesses, but the signup flow does not block individuals upfront. Individual users can complete registration, enter billing details, and potentially be charged before being rejected during a post-signup account review. At that point refunds are contested and support is unresponsive.

trustpilot
I tried to sign up, they said something in the registration is not okay, and I should check my email, in the email they asked me for my business details, even though I signed up as an individual - then they said they dont accept individuals, only companies, but their website said otherwise WHAT?

trustpilot
In their first communication, Quo stated the rejection was due to "the nature of your business model and the activity observed on your account," and explicitly noted this was "not a reflection of the documentation provided."

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What hidden costs should I budget for with OpenPhone?

Beyond the license fee, budget for: Additional Phone Numbers ($5 per month); A2P 10DLC Registration ($19.50 one-time, $1.50 to $3 monthly); Automated SMS via API or Zapier ($0.01 per message or segment); Sona AI Agent Credits ($25 per month for 40 calls, $0.45 to $1.00 per AI call overage); Automatic Call Recording ($23/user/month annually); CRM Integrations, IVR, Advanced Analytics ($23/user/month annually); Monthly Billing Premium (27%); AI Credits Overage Fees ($25 per month for 40 calls; $0.45 to $1.00 per AI call); Advanced Analytics and Reporting ($96 per year); HIPAA Compliance ($96 to $240 per year); Zapier/API Triggered Messages ($0.01 per message or segment); SMS/Review Fee ($15); Automated SMS ($0.01 per outgoing message or per segment); Feature-Based Upgrades ($960 per year); Per-User Billing Multiplies Costs Rapidly ($15-$35/user/month); Annual Billing Charged Upfront Without Clear Notice During Trial ($180-$420/user/year); Automatic Account Suspension With No Recourse or Refund (100% of license costs); Content Compliance Monitoring — Message Flagging and Shutdown Risk (5-15% of license costs); SMS/MMS Requires Business Registration (10DLC) — Individuals Blocked (5-15% of license costs); Adding a User During Free Trial Ends Trial and Triggers Immediate Full Billing ($19-$47/user/month); Per-User Annual Charge Applied Without Explicit Approval ($15-$35/user/month); Annual Subscription Charged at Trial Signup Instead of Trial Period ($180-$420/user/year); No Refunds Once Subscription Is Active (100% of license costs); Individuals Rejected After Completing Signup ($180-$420). Exact totals depend on your deployment size and negotiated terms.

02 Does OpenPhone charge for implementation?

OpenPhone implementation is not included in the license cost. Month-to-month plans are approximately 27% more expensive than annual commitments.. Estimated impact: 27%.

03 How much does OpenPhone support cost?

Premium support pricing for OpenPhone depends on your tier and contract terms. See the sourced cost breakdown above for any verified figures we have.

04 Are there overage or storage costs with OpenPhone?

International calling and texting are not included in standard plans and are billed on a per-minute or per-message basis, with rates varying by destination..

05 What add-ons cost extra with OpenPhone?

Add-on pricing for OpenPhone varies by feature. The sourced cost breakdown above lists any verified add-on costs we have.

Now You Know the Real Cost — Start OpenPhone Free Trial — 7 Days

Check current OpenPhone pricing

Prices and terms change; verify against the live pricing page.

See OpenPhone Pricing