Switching from Grasshopper to PupPilot
Virtual phone number service that layers business numbers, extensions, greetings, and texting on top of users' existing mobile and landline phones via apps.
What is Grasshopper?
Virtual phone number service that layers business numbers, extensions, greetings, and texting on top of users' existing mobile and landline phones via apps. Best for: Solopreneurs and very small teams who want a professional business number on their personal phones without any hardware or per-user complexity.
- Pricing: flat per account/month (tiered by numbers/extensions)
- Phones: No desk phones supported — runs on existing mobile/landline phones and desktop/mobile apps
- Veterinary fit: Generic
| Feature | Grasshopper |
|---|---|
| Business VoIP Calling Infrastructure | Yes (VoIP/WiFi via apps; forwards to existing phones) |
| Number Porting Infrastructure | Yes |
| Desk Phones / Hardware Infrastructure | No |
| Fax Infrastructure | Partial (virtual fax) |
| E911 Management Infrastructure | Partial (VoIP e911 with registered address; forwarded calls rely on underlying carrier) |
| Outage Failover Infrastructure | Partial (forwarding to existing phones by design) |
| Two-Way Business Texting Operations | Yes (unlimited US/CA; A2P 10DLC registration fees) |
| Missed-Call Text-Back Operations | Yes (Instant Response) |
| IVR / Call Routing Operations | Partial (greetings + extensions menu; not multi-level IVR) |
| Queues & Hold Operations | No |
| Voicemail Transcription Operations | Yes |
| Call Recording Operations | Partial (limited; 30-day storage per third-party docs) |
| Call Analytics Operations | Partial (basic reports) |
| Mobile / Desktop Apps Operations | Yes |
| Multi-Location Administration Operations | Partial (extra numbers/extensions only) |
| Veterinary-Specific Product Veterinary Context | No |
| Veterinary PIMS Integration Veterinary Context | No |
| Patient Chart Context on Calls Veterinary Context | No |
| Clinic Protocol Configuration Veterinary Context | No |
| AI Voice — Inbound Answering AI | No (human virtual receptionist add-on via partner) |
| AI Voice — Outbound Calls AI | No |
| AI Appointment Booking AI | No |
| AI Call Summaries AI | Yes (AI call summaries and sentiment listed on features page) |
| After-Hours AI Coverage AI | No |
| Contextual Staff Handoff AI | No |
Verified August 2026 against Grasshopper's public pages. Vendors change pricing and features; tell us if something is out of date.
Where Grasshopper Stands Out
Flat-rate account pricing with unlimited users on upper tiers and extreme simplicity — apps plus call forwarding rather than a full VoIP deployment. Strengths practices cite: Flat account pricing from $14/month (annual) with unlimited users on upper tiers; Unlimited calling and business texting (US/Canada) with a unified inbox; Instant Response automatic text-back to missed calls; Simple setup with no hardware required; 24/7 support and 7-day free trial; AI call summaries and sentiment analysis now listed on its features page.
Considerations Before You Buy
No IP desk phone support — designed to run on employees' existing phones, a poor fit for a multi-line clinic front desk; No third-party integrations or API, so no path to veterinary PIMS connectivity; No AI voice agent; its virtual receptionist add-on is a human answering service billed separately (roughly $95+/month via partner); Limited call handling: no call queues, limited recording (30-day storage on higher tiers), basic reporting; Fax support is limited virtual fax; e911 applies to VoIP calls with a registered address. Pricing basis: flat per account/month (tiered by numbers/extensions); published pricing: True Solo $14/mo annual ($18 monthly); Solo Plus $25/mo annual ($32 monthly); Small Business ~$55-80/mo annual (third-party sources conflict on top-tier price/numbers as of Aug 2026); Ruby/Smith.ai live receptionist add-on from ~$95-160/mo; contract model: Monthly or annual billing (20%+ annual savings); no contract; 7-day free trial.
How PupPilot compares
PupPilot is a full veterinary phone system — unlimited calling and texting, desk phones included — with AI coverage for after-hours and overflow built into the line. The AI answers the calls your team can't get to and transfers the rest to your staff with the caller's name, patient and reason already on screen. It isn't a replacement for your receptionists; it's the part of the phone system that makes sure every call reaches someone.
PupPilot replaces Grasshopper's forward-to-your-cell model with a real clinic phone system — desk phones included, fax, and an AI front office that answers and books into the PIMS — capabilities Grasshopper doesn't attempt at any tier.
What switching looks like
Your numbers port to PupPilot in a managed 10-step migration, with your old and new lines running in parallel until cutover. Port first, cancel second. Export your texting history and recordings before you cancel, and bring your hardware inventory to onboarding — standard SIP desk phones can usually be re-provisioned, and desk phones are included with every plan either way. The full checklist is on how switching works; unlimited business texting is registered on your number at cutover.
Grasshopper: Common Questions
Is Grasshopper veterinary-specific?
Generic. PIMS support: None documented.
How much does Grasshopper cost?
Pricing basis: flat per account/month (tiered by numbers/extensions). Published pricing: True Solo $14/mo annual ($18 monthly); Solo Plus $25/mo annual ($32 monthly); Small Business ~$55-80/mo annual (third-party sources conflict on top-tier price/numbers as of Aug 2026); Ruby/Smith.ai live receptionist add-on from ~$95-160/mo. Hardware: No desk phones supported — runs on existing mobile/landline phones and desktop/mobile apps. Contract: Monthly or annual billing (20%+ annual savings); no contract; 7-day free trial. Check the vendor's site for current terms.
What is the difference between Grasshopper and PupPilot?
PupPilot replaces Grasshopper's forward-to-your-cell model with a real clinic phone system — desk phones included, fax, and an AI front office that answers and books into the PIMS — capabilities Grasshopper doesn't attempt at any tier.
Can we keep our phone number when we leave Grasshopper?
Yes — port first, cancel second. Under FCC rules a simple port must complete within one business day, and a carrier cannot refuse to port a number over an unpaid balance or termination fee. PupPilot manages the port and runs your old and new lines in parallel until cutover.