Comparison

Onebox vs String

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Onebox

This app provides a virtual phone system for small businesses, enabling VoIP calling, reliable notifications, and smart call handling on mobile devices. It offers enhanced contact management and detailed call logs for better business communication.

Highlights
  • VoIP calling within the app
  • Reliable push notifications
  • Enhanced shared contact management
  • Flexible call routing and handling
  • Detailed call logs
  • Voicemail transcription and messaging
  • Custom greeting for incoming calls
Features
Read full description

Use your Onebox account while on the go with the Onebox app: The completely reimagined Onebox mobile app is here for existing customers! Now fully VoIP-enabled, you can enjoy crystal-clear calls, reliable notifications, and smarter call handling right from your device. This brand new application replaces the legacy Onebox app, offering a refreshed, professional brand experience built for small business users who need smarter control over when and how they take calls. What's New & Improved? - VoIP Calling Within the App: Make and receive calls directly over the internet, no longer needing to rely on carrier calling. - Reliable Push Notifications: Experience consistent and real-time alerts. The new app resolves the broken notification issues present in the legacy app. - Enhanced Contact Management: - Shared Onebox Contacts: Easily import contacts from your device and share them across your multiple Onebox numbers, providing better visibility across all your extensions. This improved system replaces the "Speed Dial" contact feature from the old app. - Flexible Call Handling: Gain smarter control by routing calls to voicemail, an external number, or based on your specific schedules set up in Account Manager. - Granular Call Log Details: Review detailed call logs that specify if calls were forwarded to voicemail, an external number, or answered by another user. - Complete Branding Refresh: Navigate through an intuitive design with a sleek, modern user interface. - Core Business Phone System Features: Continue to manage call forwarding settings, read or listen to voicemail transcriptions and messages, and send and receive text messages using your Onebox number. Your calls will still be answered with a professionally recorded custom greeting and can be directed to any employee, anywhere in the world. The app also includes incoming call settings with easy-to-use menu options for call routing, voicemail, and conferencing. New App: Important Changes The all-new Onebox app is now your dedicated hub for seamless calling and messaging on the go. Here is a summary of key changes in the new Onebox mobile app – for full functionality, please use the web-based account manager. - Faxing: All faxing capabilities, including sending and receiving faxes, are now managed exclusively through your web account manager and unavailable in the mobile app. - Admin User Message Access (Inbox): The ability for admin users to switch between different user inboxes has been removed from the mobile app. You can only view messages for the account you are currently logged into. - Deleted Messages (Trash Folder): When a message is deleted within the app, it is permanently removed from the app. Customers can continue to access deleted messages or recover deleted items, by visiting the Trash folder in your web account manager. - Caller ID Behavior: - Outbound Calls: Will always show your logged-in Onebox number as the Caller ID. - Inbound Calls: Will show the phone number of the person calling you. - Home Screen & Time Zone: The previous "Home Screen" has been removed to simplify navigation. The app's time display is now automatically set by your device's native time zone settings. NOTE: A valid Onebox account is required to use the mobile app. Please note that some features may require additional services. Emergency calling (911) is not available using the Onebox application. CONTACT & SUPPORT Have questions or need support? Please visit our Help Center or contact our support team directly. We’re here to help! TERMS & PRIVACY By using this app, you agree to Onebox's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

About

String

Enhance customer engagement with a business SMS and voice platform. Organize your inbox, automate responses, and manage contacts efficiently. Send personalized messages to individuals or groups, and access your workflow from any device.

Highlights
  • Use existing or new phone numbers
  • Organize inbox with sales funnel view
  • Automated responses and auto-replies
  • Contact management and CRM integrations
  • 1-1, group, and mass messaging
  • Templates and voicemail transcription
  • Browser and mobile app access
Features
Read full description

Boost your brand engagement with String’s intuitive business SMS marketing, text and voice. ANY PHONE NUMBER, EVEN LANDLINES Use your existing mobile or landline number with String. Select a new local number or upgrade to a vanity or toll free number of your choice. ORGANIZE YOUR INBOX Transform your inbox into a sales funnel or kanban board with various viewing, filtering and tagging options — Stay on top of your conversations and never miss a message again. POWERFUL MESSAGE MANAGEMENT Mark Unread and Archive — You love it for your emails, you’ll love it for your texts. STAY RESPONSIVE, 24/7 Amplify your interaction with automations and Auto-Replies — Respond to texts and missed calls on time, every time. TAP INTO ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES Contact Management & Integrations — Save important contact notes directly from the message thread. Capture contacts, import from your phone or computer,, automate workflows, integrate with tools you love (like your CRM, etc). REACH THE MASSES, OR JUST ONE Conversational, Groups or Mass Messaging — Respond directly with 1-1 messaging, message with a group,r or send personalized Mass Messages to multiple people at once, individually. BUILD A LOYAL CUSTOMER BASE Send promos, reminders and confirmations and never miss a lead, client or customer with Elite features like triggered Keyword Responses, and Auto-Replies. SAVE TIME Templates — No more copy-pasting the same message over and over. No time to listen to voicemail? View voicemail transcriptions in your inbox with visual voicemail. USE IT ANYWHERE Browser & Mobile Apps — Increase your workflow efficiency with access to String from your computer and mobile device. CALL FORWARDING & VOICE Separate your personal and professional calls with call forwarding and flexible voice settings. GOT QUESTIONS? Email our stellar support at support@joinstring.com. Find helpful articles, join our customer community and create tickets in our Help Center: https://help.joinstring.com/hc/en-us Terms of Service: https://www.joinstring.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.joinstring.com/privacy

Screenshots

Onebox4 screens
String4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: String at 3.5 against Onebox's 3.0. String also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 35%). Onebox's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

String holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 46 and 62 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Onebox's written reviews are positive against 69% of String's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Onebox ships an update monthly, String every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and July 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Onebox versus String: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOneboxString
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (46 ratings)3.5 (62 ratings) — better
Positive reviews35.3% of reviews68.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4662 — better
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size202 MB68 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperJ2 Web Services, Inc.NumberBarn, LLC

Customer experience

Onebox

All ratings46 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral2.2%
Negative47.8%
Written reviews85 reviews
Positive35.3%
Neutral11.8%
Negative52.9%

String

All ratings62 ratings
Positive64.5%
Neutral1.6%
Negative33.9%
Written reviews35 reviews
Positive68.6%
Neutral2.9%
Negative28.6%

Bugs and requests

Onebox

Reported bugs

51 issues
  • Outgoing calls not working
  • App freezes during calls
  • Sound notification not working
  • Texting not working or slow
  • App doesn't ring phone
Show 46 more
  • Scheduling not handled correctly
  • Porting out number issues
  • No individual extension login
  • Notifications failing to work after update
  • Call log missing details (duration)
  • Notification bubble stuck at 1
  • App crashes and drops calls
  • VoIP not working on iPad
  • App not working with iOS 10 update
  • Cannot copy and paste numbers
  • Login button stopped working
  • Cannot fax .pdf files
  • Phone freezes and closes while running app
  • Microphone not working during calls
  • Customer service unable to help with app issues
  • Cannot retrieve email with app or browser
  • Crashing upon opening
  • Login issues on iPad through safari
  • Voicemail to text pop-up closes app
  • App closes after entering user and pass
  • Click to Call feature uses double minutes
  • VoIP dialer crashing
  • App crashes when checking messages or logging in
  • Calls dropping or bad connection
  • Push notification for voicemail followed by crash
  • Grayed out record call button
  • Cannot conference call
  • Contacts list stuck on last contact
  • Cannot listen to recorded calls within the app
  • Echo on call quality
  • App removed to fix, then unable to download
  • Pixelated icons on home screen
  • No more VoIP option
  • VoIP function missing
  • Login issues with uppercase passwords
  • App crashes consistently
  • Website not accessible via mobile browser when app isn't working
  • Cannot delete multiple voicemails without losing place
  • Voicemail to text feature not working
  • App only for text messages, not email or fax
  • Main number displayed with extension for all calls
  • App crashes when trying to access messages
  • App crashes after entering credentials
  • App quits after retrieving messages
  • VoIP part not working
  • Double minutes used with Click to Call

Requested features

16 requests
  • Email functionality
  • Individual extension login
  • Improved notification system
  • Call transfer feature
  • Dark mode
Show 11 more
  • Landscape orientation support
  • Copy and paste numbers
  • Desktop app or plugin integration
  • Access to all message types (email, fax, text)
  • Ability to see extension dialed and call duration
  • VoIP feature return
  • Visual voicemail improvements
  • Phone number management similar to RingCentral
  • Ability to see all accounts on one page
  • Dial out without using contacts
  • Conference call functionality

String

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Onebox

No in-app purchases

None

String

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Onebox free?
Onebox is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is String free?
String is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Onebox or String?
String is rated higher. Onebox averages 3.0 out of 5 from 46 ratings, while String averages 3.5 from 62 ratings.
Do Onebox or String have ads?
Neither Onebox nor String shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Onebox or String?
Onebox ships an update monthly, and String every 2 months. Most recently, Onebox was updated on September 21, 2026 and String on July 25, 2026.

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