Skip to content

The Ultimate Guide to Call Tracking Software in 2023

Call tracking software has become an invaluable tool for modern businesses looking to optimize their marketing campaigns and gain insights into customer interactions. With the right call tracking solution, companies can increase sales, reduce ad spending, and improve the overall customer experience.

What is Call Tracking Software and Why Do Businesses Need It?

Call tracking software allows companies to track phone calls generated from all marketing channels – both online and offline. By assigning a unique phone number to each campaign or advertisement, businesses can identify exactly which efforts are driving calls and conversions.

For example, you can have one tracking number on your website, another on a billboard, and a third in a PPC ad. The software captures each call event and provides data on the source, duration, location, and more. This helps you:

  • Identify your best-performing campaigns
  • Understand customer journeys across channels
  • Optimize spend by doubling down on high ROI channels
  • Spot trends and gaps in your marketing funnel
  • Improve overall campaign testing and measurement

Without call tracking, you miss out on half the customer journey. Software eliminates blindspots, drives growth, and gives incredible ROI.

Key Features to Look For in Call Tracking Solutions

Call Recording and Transcriptions

Recording calls and transcribing them allows for further analysis to improve customer interactions. You can also search transcripts for keywords and share them for training purposes.

Real-Time Dashboards and Caller Insights

The best tools provide instant data on call volume, wait times, and sources to help teams respond appropriately. Caller ID forms provide additional context.

Call Routing and Tracking

Smart call routing helps direct customers to the right agents and destinations quickly, reducing wait times. Robust call tracking shows campaign and keyword-level performance.

CRM, Analytics, Advertising Integrations

Integrations with platforms you already use helps connect insights across channels to create a full-funnel view. This streamlines optimization.

Custom Reporting and Scheduled Reports

Reporting varies from basic call logs to multi-channel attribution reports. Custom reporting allows you to focus reports on KPIs important for your business. Schedule reports for consistent insights.

The Top 10 Call Tracking Solutions for Business Growth

Based on market research and first-hand testing, here are the top-rated call tracking software platforms available today:

1. CallRail

CallRail is the industry leader in call tracking and analytics, making it easy to collect data and find key opportunities. Useful features include:

  • Real-time campaign attribution dashboards
  • Customizable reporting
  • Caller geolocation providing city and state
  • 200+ integrations with platforms like Salesforce, Google Analytics, and Facebook Ads
  • Keyword-level tracking

Pricing starts at $45 per month for small businesses and scales up based on features and call volume. CallRail is an outstanding end-to-end solution for understanding the phone channel.

2. DialogTech

DialogTech utilizes conversational AI to provide actionable insights from every call. Features include:

  • Real-time conversational analytics
  • Smart routing and dynamic number insertion
  • Google Analytics integration
  • HIPAA and GDPR compliance

Plans are custom priced for each business. DialogTech excels at optimizing call experiences.

3. WhatConverts

Trusted by over 8,000 businesses, WhatConverts makes call tracking easy through their intuitive platform. Benefits include:

  • Local, toll-free and mobile tracking numbers
  • Dynamic number insertion for more customizable tracking
  • Call recording and logging
  • CRM and marketing platform integrations

WhatConverts starts at $39 per month for their Pro plan and custom enterprise options are available. It‘s a great mid-market solution.

4. Invoca

Invoca focuses on turning call data into automated optimizations across your tech stack. Key features include:

  • Conversation intelligence AI surveying customers and agents
  • Integration with platforms like Salesforce, Google Ads, and Adobe
  • Real-time call and text capabilities
  • Authenticated caller identification

Pricing is customized per customer based on needs. Invoca excels at conversation analytics and integrations.

5. CloudTalk

CloudTalk powers call tracking for over 2,500 businesses globally through their cloud VoIP system. Benefits include:

  • Local/toll-free numbers in 60+ countries
  • IVR call routing options
  • Voicemail and call forwarding
  • CRM integrations
  • Agent desktop apps

Plans start at $15 per month. CloudTalk provides reliable tracking across channels.

6. CallFire

Known for excellent coverage and routing, CallFire makes call tracking easy and compliant. Features include:

  • Reliable infrastructure across 200+ countries
  • Smart number provisioning
  • Custom reporting APIs
  • Pay-per-call reporting
  • HIPAA-compliant options

CallFire starts at $36 per month and scales features based on usage. It provides global, enterprise-level call tracking.

7. Ringba

Ringba focuses exclusively on maximizing the ROI of phone calls through AI-based attribution. Benefits include:

  • Contact-level ROI measurement
  • Budget pacing tools
  • Google Analytics integration
  • Flexible call routing rules
  • Agent desktop apps

Pricing is custom quoted based on needs. Ringba excels at maximizing call ROI through automation.

8. Freshcaller

The call center software provider Freshcaller offers excellent integrated call tracking. Key features include:

  • Local/toll-free numbers
  • Real-time contextual data for agents
  • Call monitoring and barge-in capabilities
  • Integrations with marketing channels
  • AI-based analytics

Plans start at $0 per month for basic functionality. Freshcaller provides reliable tracking bundled with its call center software.

9. Phonexa

Phonexa caters to high-volume enterprise call tracking needs. Strong features include:

  • Mass texting and calling
  • Customizable IVR and routing
  • Multi-location tracking
  • Real-time compliance monitoring
  • Pay-per-call integrations
  • High-capacity infrastructure

Phonexa pricing is based on usage across products. It supports extremely high volumes.

10. Marchex

Marchex bridges ad call analytics with real-world consumer behavior signals. Key benefits:

  • Multichannel tracking across search, social, video, display ads
  • Analytics marketplace accessing consumer phone call data
  • Flexible tracking numbers
  • Conversation analytics AI
  • Call scoring and lead quality monitoring

Pricing is custom quoted based on requirements. Marchex excels at optimizing customer call journeys.

Call Tracking Software Implementation Tips

Once you’ve chosen the right call tracking platform, follow these best practices for setup:

Choose Dynamic Numbers for More Flexibility

Dynamic number insertion allows you to use a placeholder tracking number (like **** in ads) that pulls from a pool of numbers. This provides more tracking flexibility without having to update materials.

Set Up Call Groups to Organize Tracking

Group numbers by campaign, channel, region – whatever is useful. Applying call routing rules and scheduling is easier when organized.

Integrate With Your Existing Software Stack

Connect your call tracking platform with your CRM, analytics tools, advertising accounts, and other systems. This connects call data insights across channels for better optimization and measurement.

Plan Ongoing Report Cadences

Schedule weekly, monthly or quarterly reporting distributed to key teams. Reports give visibility into performance over time. Identify trends and continuously optimize.

FAQs About Call Tracking Software

What call tracking features allow for call recording?

Most tools provide call recording capabilities and storage. Check if auto call recording is available or settings must be adjusted beforehand. Also confirm any compliance needs or restrictions in your region.

Is call tracking software GDPR and CCPA compliant?

Leading software providers focus on data security and privacy compliance standards like GDPR in the EU and CCPA in California. Confirm this upfront if it applies to you. Customers may need to opt-in.

Can call tracking work for users across different countries?

Yes – most tools on this list provide number coverage across 200+ countries. Consider a solution that offers dynamic number insertion for easier setup across regions.

How much do call tracking tools cost?

Costs range widely based on features, call volume, integration needs and other factors. Small business plans can start below $50/month for basic functionality while enterprise platforms are custom quoted. Many offer 14-day free trials.

What’s better: call tracking software or a call reporting app?

Platforms on this list provide both tracking and reporting/analytics. If you only need reporting, a dedicated call logs software may suffice. But for optimizing campaigns, call tracking software provides more context about customer journeys.

Transform Your Marketing Attribution and Measurement Strategy with Call Tracking

Call tracking software provides incredible visibility into phone-based interactions that make up 60-70% of customer purchases for many businesses today according to Harvard Business Review. It connects the dots across a fragmented array of online and offline initiatives.

This single source of truth eliminates biased hunches and gut decisions by giving hard call usage data. You gain clarity around ROI and an optimization roadmap guided by customer behavior insights.

The platforms in this guide make understanding phone channel performance easy. With the right solution, you can increase profits, reduce waste, and elevate experiences across the board. The world‘s most successful companies don‘t second guess their ad and campaign spending – they use call tracking software to strategically drive measurable growth.