Business phone systems
RealtyCoworker vs Grasshopper: Is a Second Line Enough?
Grasshopper is a popular, affordable way to get a business number on your cell. Here is when that is all an agent needs, and when RealtyCoworker earns its higher price.
Quick verdict
For most real estate agents and brokers, RealtyCoworker is the better choice because it pairs the business line with Voice AI answering, a CRM, a pipeline and automated follow-up in one app. Grasshopper is cheaper and very simple, with flat pricing and unlimited calling and texting, so it suits an agent who only wants a separate number and already tracks leads somewhere else.
At a Glance: RealtyCoworker vs Grasshopper
| Feature | RealtyCoworker | Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99/month (Essentials) plus usage | True Solo $14/month billed annually, as of October 2026 |
| Users | Unlimited on both plans | 1 on True Solo; unlimited on Solo Plus ($25) and up |
| Calling and texting | Billed per minute and per segment | Unlimited calling and texting included |
| Texting fees | A2P registration fees may apply | $19.50 one-time registration, $1.50/month messaging fee |
| Missed-call text | Missed-call text back plus follow-up workflows | Instant Response auto text |
| AI that answers calls | Voice AI built in | Virtual receptionist through a Smith.ai partnership |
| Extra numbers | Available, may carry a cost | $9/month each |
| CRM and pipeline | Built in | Not included |
| Support | T.O.M Digital Marketing; priority chat on Lift Off | 24/7 live support |
| Free trial | 30 days | 7 days, no credit card required |
Competitor details checked on their official websites as of October 16, 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm on their site before you buy.
The Short Version
Grasshopper solves one problem well: it puts a professional business number on the phone you already carry. You get custom greetings, voicemail transcription, call forwarding and texting from that number, for a flat monthly price. For a brand new agent in Brick who does not want clients calling a personal cell, that is a real step up.
RealtyCoworker solves a bigger problem: what happens after the phone rings. It answers with AI, texts back callers you missed, logs every conversation and keeps following up until the lead books or opts out. Comparing more tools? Our best business phone systems for real estate agents roundup covers five.
What Grasshopper Includes
As of October 2026, Grasshopper offers three plans billed annually: True Solo at $14 per month (one user, one number, one extension), Solo Plus at $25 per month (unlimited users, one number, three extensions) and Small Business at $55 per month (unlimited users, four numbers, unlimited extensions). Monthly billing costs more. Calling minutes and business texting are unlimited, though texting requires carrier registration with a one-time fee and a small monthly messaging fee.
The feature list is solid for a virtual phone: local, toll-free or vanity numbers, free porting, call recording and transcription, a shared inbox for calls, texts and voicemails, AI call summaries, and mobile and desktop apps. Its Instant Response feature automatically texts callers you miss, and it offers AI or human virtual receptionists through a partnership with Smith.ai.
What RealtyCoworker Adds Around the Phone
RealtyCoworker’s phone system covers the same basics: local and toll-free numbers, porting, forwarding, a phone tree, recording, voicemail and two-way texting. The difference is that every call and text lands on a contact record inside a CRM, next to the deal stage, the notes and the next task.
Then the automation takes over. A missed-call text back goes out, the seller inquiry workflow asks about timeline and pushes toward a listing appointment, and reminders go out before the consult. Grasshopper’s auto text is a single message. RealtyCoworker’s is the first step in a sequence.
A Day in the Life: Yard Sign Calls
Say you have a listing on a busy road in Toms River. On a Saturday you get eight sign calls while you are running a showing across town. With Grasshopper, each caller gets your Instant Response text, and you return calls that evening from a list of numbers and voicemail transcripts.
With RealtyCoworker, Voice AI can pick up, answer common questions from the listing material you approved, collect the caller’s name and whether they are working with an agent, and book a showing request or hand the call to you. A call tracking number on the sign tells you exactly how many leads that sign produced. By Saturday night you have eight contact records, not eight phone numbers.
Pricing and Total Cost
This is Grasshopper’s strongest card. At $14 to $55 per month with unlimited calling and texting, it is one of the cheapest ways to get a business line, and Solo Plus covers a whole team for one flat price.
RealtyCoworker Essentials is $99 per month and Lift Off is $249 per month, with a 16.7% saving if you pay annually. Usage is billed separately: on Essentials, outbound calls are $0.028 per minute and texts are $0.0166 per segment, and numbers and A2P registration may carry additional fees. If you only need a phone, Grasshopper wins on price. If you are also paying for a CRM, an email tool and a booking app, RealtyCoworker can replace those, so compare the whole stack. Plan details are on our pricing section.
Ease of Use and Support
Grasshopper is quick to set up and easy to understand, and its 24/7 live support is a genuine plus for an agent who works evenings and weekends.
RealtyCoworker does more, so there is more to set up. That is why Lift Off includes 1:1 onboarding and done-for-you setup of your pipeline, calendar, forms, phone number and follow-up. If you want a phone with a modern team inbox but no CRM, also read RealtyCoworker vs Quo, and if you are still on a free number, see RealtyCoworker vs Google Voice.
Where Each One Wins
Where Grasshopper wins
- Very low, flat monthly pricing with unlimited calling and texting
- Unlimited users on Solo Plus and Small Business without per-seat fees
- Simple setup that a non-technical agent can finish quickly
- 24/7 live support
- Instant Response auto text and optional AI or human receptionists through Smith.ai
Where RealtyCoworker wins
- Voice AI built in, answering from your approved material and booking appointments
- Missed-call text back that starts a full follow-up sequence, not a single reply
- Built-in CRM, pipeline and contact history for every call and text
- Call tracking numbers to measure signs, mailers and ads
- Email, social, reviews and websites in the same login
- Done-for-you setup on Lift Off
Choose Grasshopper if: Choose Grasshopper if you just want an inexpensive, separate business number on your cell and you already manage leads and follow-up in another tool.
Our verdict
The Winner for Real Estate Agents: RealtyCoworker
Grasshopper is an honest, affordable product, and as a second line it does exactly what it promises. For real estate agents and brokers who want that line to produce appointments, RealtyCoworker is the winner. It answers with AI, texts back missed callers, logs everything to a CRM and runs the follow-up you would otherwise do by hand. It costs more per month, but it replaces several tools instead of adding one.
RealtyCoworker Features in This Comparison
Grasshopper vs RealtyCoworker: FAQ
Is Grasshopper good for real estate agents?
Grasshopper is a good, low-cost way to separate business calls from your personal number. It does not include a CRM or follow-up automations, so agents usually pair it with other software. RealtyCoworker includes both.
How much does Grasshopper cost?
As of October 2026, Grasshopper plans start at $14 per month for True Solo, $25 for Solo Plus and $55 for Small Business, billed annually. Texting adds a one-time registration fee and a small monthly messaging fee.
Can I keep my Grasshopper number if I switch?
Yes. RealtyCoworker supports [number porting](/features/phone-system/#porting), so the number on your signs and cards moves with you. Do not cancel Grasshopper until the port is complete.
Does Grasshopper have missed-call text back?
Yes, through its Instant Response feature, which sends an automatic text to callers you miss. RealtyCoworker's missed-call text back can also trigger follow-up workflows and log the conversation to the CRM.
Why does RealtyCoworker cost more than Grasshopper?
Grasshopper is a phone system only. RealtyCoworker's monthly price covers the CRM, inbox, AI assistant, automations, marketing tools and unlimited users, with calls and texts billed at usage rates.
RealtyCoworker is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the companies named in this article. All product names and trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify the products compared. We aim to be fair and accurate; if you spot something out of date, email drew@alwaystopofmind.com and we will fix it.
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