The price comparison tools on this website require you to disable Adblock for full functionality. Please consider disabling your ad blocker on our website in order to best take advantage of our tools.
Internet Phone is another word for "VoIP" (Voice over Internet Protocol) or "Internet calling". Internet Phone is a great way for people to save money on their monthly phone bill.
magicJack is an extremely cheap VoIP provider that works by using your existing Internet connection to make and receive calls. magicJack provides a plug-and-play device (like a USB drive) that you can connect to your computer or high-speed modem to start making local and long-distance calls. You can use magicJack for as little as $19.95/year per line.
With the newest magicJack Plus system, you don't have to have your computer on at all times in order to receive a call.
Is magicJack worth it?
We recommend that anyone interested in buying a magicJack read the user reviews here first.
Could not get incoming calls, they changed my settings to auto answer. My home computer was blocked by Magicjack from accessing my account so I could not change my settings. After half hour with one of their agents I gave up and accessed my account with my I pad. Who changed my settings?
good for long distance calling, voice quality good
does not have call blocking, poor customer support
No
Cheap service - very basic bad voice quality
informbuyer
it's a very basic service, cheap but bad call quality. it's work for the occasional call but I had to move away from it for work purposes. it has issues with many call conference numbers like 1-855 numbers. Magicjack customer care tell me outright that their infrastructure is "perfect" and their tried every trick in the book to blame the internet service provider (75mbps), the phone (I changed it and no difference) and other stuff. The fact of the matter is they don't invest in quality infrastructure and quite so because it's a cheap service.
It's cheap useable
bad voice quality cannot use for work or conference calls
No
With a little "investment" there is no problems with magicjack
wilkink
I can understand people's negative reviews with Magic Jack. I bought a "Magic Jack Plus" about 4 years ago and also had a problem with dropped calls. The "plus" unit doesn't require to be plugged into a USB port of a PC - just plugged into an electrical outlet. People are correct, calls do get dropped this way. Now if plugged into a PC, there is no problem. However who wants to keep their PC running 24/7/365 just to get calls. My solution was purchasing a HP thin client (used) on EBAY for $29, free shipping. It has no moving parts so energy consumption is minimal. I have it configured so the Magic Jack starts up automatically if the power fails. After configuration, monitor, mouse, and keyboard are removed. I've had 4 years of trouble free service. I just renewed for 5 years for $100 and they didn't ask for that annoying $10/year porting fee. You can't go wrong. I'm paying $20/YEAR where the cable company was charging $30/MONTH for the same thing......what a deal. The thin client paid for itself in one month.....
You can't beat the price, call quality is good.
Using the Magic Jack Plus (with no PC) is not reliable, BUT there is a fix.
Yes
Magic Jack
ratemyphone
I paid to keep my same phone number prior to going with Magic Jack and now I had to pay $32.34 to port my number out. The only company that I know of the does this. Buyer beware!!!
Cheap - However one gets what one pays for
Multiple issues. Frequently calls cannot get through. Calls are dropped during conversation; sometimes numerous times. Have to keep calling back. Issues with calls not going out.
No
Dont waste your money on MagicJack its horrible!
VoipReview Staff
horrid MajicJack IS THE WORST EVER, WORST TECH SUPPORT OR NONEXISTENT, AND JUST SHEAR AGGREVATION AND WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY DONT BUY IT! DONT BUY THIS SUCKY PRODUCT
They change the price when you go to pay, it brakes in 6-9 monyths ends up costing as much as any service plan yet theres no customer support, just a bunch of idiots who irritate you and don't fix the problem
horrible, not cheap at all in the long run it breaks so often and doesn't work after a short while cant call out keeps saying need the area code or other problems , you try to get tech support almost non existent, it really is horrid I hate it and wish I never wasted mu money on this crap with horrid customer support,, you should save your money and headaches don't bother with magic jack Ive wasted my money 2x on it it never lasts more than a few months then stops working..so you don't even get your moneys woth, cost me at least $10/mo w what I paid and got. about 10 months of aggrevation also with it..
No
MJ Great for me - MagicJack
MaryM
Has been great for my family! Extremely affordable and has been dependable for several years. I had to cut my budget extremely several years back, and this was step number one. I don't notice a quality or dependability difference (exceptions noted) from standard phone line.
The only real issue is that a couple of people who call me from their cell phones get through and can hear me, but I can't hear them. I usually can guess or see who it is and call them back, with no problems hearing. Caller ID doesn't always come through, but usually does.
Customer service has been actually quite good, but sometimes one must be persistent to resolve a tricky issue. I think they have improved in this area.
-Normal call quality, dependable!
-Cheap!
-Low cost international can be used from home number OR another added number, like a cell (with access code)
-Newer router-plugged MJs don't depend on computer being on/logged in to function - fixed my main gripe with MJ.
-Voicemail to email inbox is very handy.
-Account interface on website has most everything one needs for management/maintenance.
-A couple of people's cell phones can't be heard when they call, consistently. Carrier issue? I just call them back.
-There is a fee for 911 and to keep a ported number. It is affordable, but I was not aware of this initially.
-Caller ID doesn't always display caller information
-Old/original MJ has desktop screen that pops-up/activates every time a call comes in or that a call is made. Very disruptive as I often was typing at the time (I downloaded MJ service creator to fix this which makes it run as a windows service). Newer MJs that plug into the router like GO or PLUS don't have this pop-up screen.
-*Old/original MJ was a problem if my computer rebooted in the middle of the night after an update, or after a power disruption, as MJ was not on (no phone service!) if the computer wasn't on and logged in. I would miss important early morning calls because I didn't realize my computer was off. Resolved with new, router plugged MJs.
-Must be persistent with customer service if there are issues.
Yes
Magic Jack Hell
jobie
I upgraded my magic jack from one you plug into comp. to one you just plug into router. The yearly charges did not go from one to the other even though it was the same phone number. Half the time my service was not working and ended up where I just disconnected it as it was unreliable. Then I got an email from hell from them saying my subscription is set to auto renew in the next 60 days. First of all, I never auto renew anything. I prefer to pay for services when I know I have the money. But, I forgot my password when I went to log onto the website to change it to manual renew and I tried to generate a password reset which requires them to send me a link to reset it. I waited and waited and never got an email from then to be able to reset it and log in to my account so I sent them an email and told them to send me my password. They said they could not do that and we went back and forth 3 or 4 emails and they would not reset my password. Finally I cancelled my credit card and asked my bank to issue me a new one over this stupid magic jack situation which they could have avoided if they had just sent me my password to begin with. That was the last straw, they lost a customer for good.
Cheap enough but you get what you pay for
Customer service stinks
No
Works great for me - Magicjack
Jepp
I really don't understand all the negative reviews. Many complain about porting their numbers. If you follow their directions it goes flawlessly. It did for me.
Most connection problems are due to the quality of your internet service not the MJ.
I am extremely satisfied with my MJ. I have had mine from the very first edition to the 2014 model. All have worked great for me.
Being that the MJ is inexpensive as is the phone service you can't complain much about it. No big phone company can match the cost of using MJ phone service.
MJ I feel is the easiest to set up and use.
I have no problem recommending MJ to anyone with a good internet service....about 3mbs or higher.
Inexpensive. Reliable. Great sound quality. Portable to travel with. Easy setup.
Customer service is on chat line. Never really had a problem with it but live customer support would be nice. Lacks a few of the call features of the big phone companies like caller name showing up, 1 call conferencing. But these are minor things I can live with.
Yes
Don't waste your time - magicjack
Kathib
Don't waste your time or your money. I called to inquire about porting my phone number to a different carrier and was told there was no cost, but that it should be done before my service deactivated. I did so. Not only did they NOT port my number, but I had to pay $5 to reactivate my account for another month, and pay a $30 porting fee. Such a scam. They do not honor what they tell you. This is such a scam. My service was poor when I had it. Could not get calls in, they went right to voice mail. It may not cost a lot, but honestly, you get what you pay for. I will NEVER recommend anyone use them.
Affordable
Costs to port out. Customer service information is not accurate.
No
Magic Jack hidden fees
dwilderva
After 43 days of struggling to get magic jack to work- I finally gave up and went back to my old provider. Imaging my surprise when I was charged $32.34 to port my number back to my old service provider. I checked the magic jack help section of their web page and looked up this question and answer:
Question: Is there a cancellation or early termination fee?
NO. If you choose to stop using magicJack, there are no cancellation, early termination, penalty or other fees.
I believe I should not have been charge a fee to port my number back since the site says "or other fees".
If you can't get magic jack to work within the first 30 days - cancel it and get at least your original money back. After 30 days - you get NOTHING!
easy to install and the technicians working the on line chat for technical support try their best.
They don't advertise that they will charge you 10 dollars to keep (port) your current number I tried for 43 days to use the product. I was so disappointed in the service. Every time I made a call I would get disconnected and have to call back just to get cut off again.
A magicJack is a small device that allows you to make Internet phone calls for cheap prices.
As of 2016, magicJack Express costs $39.95 plus shipping and handling. You get 3 months of free unlimited calling to the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. Additional years cost $35.
How does magicJack work?
One of magicJack's top selling points is its ease of installation.
Plug your phone into the magicJack
Plug the magicJack into your computer
Start making calls
Is there a special magicJack phone?
Nope! The magicJack device is what's known in the industry as an analog telephone adapter (ATA). You won't need a special phone in order to use magicJack.
What do you think of magicJack?
Many users have had a variety of issues with magicJack (as evidenced by the reviews). However, here are a couple of advantages of magicJack:
1. Lowest Monthly Rates
Setting aside the fact that the first 6 months of phone service with magicJack are absolutely free, monthly rates are available for as little as $3.00 per month. Prices like that are extremely hard to complain about, and even some of our most scathing magicJack reviews still rate magicJack with 5 stars in the price category.
2. Cheap Equipment
Any way you slice it, $39.95 is a great price to pay for the complete setup of a VoIP phone service that uses your existing phones. Other VoIP companies require specialized IP phones that can cost over $100, and an ATA adapter alone is often more than $50.
Even if the device runs into a problem and needs to be replaced, the low cost takes most of the sting out of a new purchase. In fact, with the money you'll save with magicJack's low monthly rate, the device practically pays for itself.
3. Easy to Use
MagicJack is designed for people who have never heard of VoIP in the first place, and want a simple plug-and-play device that works right away. That's exactly what magicJack offers, and the new magicJack PLUS offers even more options. The old device required a constant connection to a computer to work, but the new one only needs to do so once to register. After that, just plug it into the wall and feel free to shut the computer off. The video below outlines how to use magicJack without a computer.
Previously the magicJack software was been reported by some as very difficult to remove. MagicJack software now comes with an easier to access uninstall option, so this point is no longer valid.
MagicJack Customer Service
Unfortunately, magicJack does not have a customer service hotline. That means that the only way to resolve a service issue is through a high-traffic chat room, which occasionally has a slow response time as a result. Fortunately, the device is easy to install, so you'll likely never need the support. If you run into trouble, our best advice is to be patient with the chat, and see if the issue lies with your router configuration or Internet speed in the meantime.
If everything checks out and the chat system seems frustrating, just try doing something else for a while and wait for the chat system to get back to you. You can watch one of the many fan-made YouTube videos for magicJack support, try one of the links below to see if your issue is answered there, or even take care of checking your email while you wait. Sometimes, the best option is to simply wait a few hours for the peak traffic to die down, so that the support team has more time to dedicate to your needs. Either way, spending an hour or two researching and fixing any issues with the magicJack adapter is definitely worth the amount of money that you're saving with .
Third-party magicJack Support
There are also some helpful blogs out there on the web that cover how to use magicJack if you still encounter trouble.
Overall Analysis
In the end, and despite the issues that customers raise about magicJack service, we feel that magicJack offers a very low priced Residential VoIP service, especially for someone new to VoIP. However, there are a lot of negative customer reviews you should take into consideration. The extremely low monthly rate for unlimited phone calls is impossible to ignore, and the ease of installation further makes the case that magicJack's barebones VoIP service is one of the best in the industry.!
Don't take our word for it. We've got over 100 magicJack reviews for real magicJack customers. See what magicJack users have to say.
If you have used magicJack, here's you should do: Write a review. We could use your voice on our website.
Have something to say? Leave a comment about magicJack.
Have you used magicJack's service? Write a review. You can help other prospective customers make a good decision.
I signed up for a TV streaming box from iTalkBB a few months ago, which was fine at first. But they recently contacted me out of nowhere and told me...
In today's digital age, communication between businesses and consumers has become more prevalent and convenient than ever before. However, with this increased communication comes the need for...
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems have become an integral part of modern communication strategies for businesses across various industries. While inbound IVR is widely known for its role in...
