Ring Groups
Ring multiple phones at once so the first available person answers. Never miss a customer call again.
What Are Ring Groups?
A ring group is a set of extensions that all ring when a call comes in to a specific number or menu option. Instead of a call going to a single phone, it can ring your entire sales team, support desk, or office simultaneously — ensuring someone always picks up.
On-VoIP supports multiple ring strategies so you can choose exactly how calls are distributed across your team.
Ring Strategies
On-VoIP offers several ring strategies to match your workflow:
- Ring All (Simultaneous): All phones in the group ring at the same time — the first person to pick up gets the call
- Round Robin: Calls rotate evenly through the group so no one person gets overloaded
- Sequential (Hunt): Phones ring one at a time in a defined order until someone answers
- Random: Each call is routed to a random available extension
If no one in the group answers within the configured timeout, the call can be forwarded to voicemail, another extension, or an external number.
Setting Up Ring Groups
Creating a ring group in On-VoIP is simple through the customer portal:
- Navigate to Ring Groups in your portal
- Create a new group and give it a name (e.g., "Sales Team")
- Add the extensions you want in the group
- Choose your ring strategy
- Set the ring timeout and failover destination
You can create as many ring groups as you need and assign them to auto attendant menu options, direct inbound numbers, or other call routing rules.
Ring Groups vs Call Queues
Ring groups and call queues both distribute calls, but they work differently:
- Ring Groups: All (or some) phones ring for each call. If no one answers, the caller is sent to a failover destination. Best for small teams where you want everyone to have a chance to answer.
- Call Queues: Callers wait in a queue with hold music and position announcements. Calls are distributed to agents one at a time as they become available. Best for support desks or call centers with higher volume.
On-VoIP Business plans include both ring groups and call queues, so you can use whichever fits your needs — or both together.
For a deeper comparison, read our Ring Groups vs Call Queues blog article.
Common Use Cases
Ring groups are versatile and fit many scenarios:
- Sales teams: Ring all sales reps so the first available person captures the lead
- Small offices: Ring every desk phone so anyone can answer when the receptionist is away
- On-call rotation: Use sequential ring to route through primary, secondary, and backup staff
- Multi-location: Include phones at different offices or remote workers in the same ring group
Key Benefits
Why businesses and residential customers choose On-VoIP for ring groups.
Never Miss Calls
Ring multiple phones so someone always answers.
Flexible Strategies
Ring all, round robin, sequential, or random distribution.
Easy Setup
Configure groups and strategies from the web portal.
Failover Routing
If no one answers, route to voicemail or another destination.
Unlimited Groups
Create as many ring groups as your business needs.
Included Free
Ring groups included with every Business plan at $20/mo.
Related Features
Auto Attendant (IVR)
Set up a professional auto attendant (IVR) with On-VoIP. Greet callers with custom menus, route calls to the right department, and never miss a call. Included with every Business plan.
Learn more →VoIP Call Forwarding
Forward calls to any phone number, extension, or device. Set rules based on time of day, caller ID, or availability. Included with all On-VoIP plans.
Learn more →VoIP Conference Calling
Host conference calls with multiple participants using On-VoIP. Dedicated conference bridges with PIN access, included with Business plans at $20/month.
Learn more →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ring groups.
How many ring groups can I create?
Can one extension be in multiple ring groups?
What happens if no one in the ring group answers?
Can remote workers be in a ring group?
Are ring groups included with the Residential plan?
Ready to Get Started?
Sign up in minutes and start using ring groups right away. No contracts, no setup fees, no hidden charges.