Your whole business phone system, right on your computer.
Call, text, check voicemail, meet, and look up contacts from one app on your Mac, Windows, or Linux computer. Every call goes out from your business number, and there’s no desk phone to buy.
macOS Windows Linux
Why switch
Everything your desk phone did. None of the hardware.
A desk phone
- HardwareBuy, install, and eventually replace a handset for every desk
- Where you workCalls ring wherever the phone is plugged in
- Texts & voicemailUsually somewhere else, if you have them at all
- Call historyA short list of recent calls on a small screen
- New hireOrder another phone and get it set up
The Talkroute desktop app
- HardwareUse the computer you have, with any headset or AirPods
- Where you workSign in at home, in the office, or on the road
- Texts & voicemailIn the same window as your calls
- Call historySearchable History, with every call’s Call Flow
- New hireCreate a login, and they’re ready to take calls
Not ready to give up every phone? Talkroute can also forward calls to any US or Canada phone number, so you can switch at your own pace.
At a glance
Everything your phones do, in one window.
3operating systems
Native desktop app
macOS (Apple Silicon and Intel), Windows, and Linux
6tools
All in one app
Keypad, History, Messages, Voicemail, Meetings, and Contacts
0desk phones
No hardware
Use any headset, AirPods, or your computer’s built-in mic and speakers
1click to update
Always current
New versions download in the background, then install when you’re ready
How it works
A closer look at the desktop app.
Keypad & calling
Find a contact by name and call from the right number.
Start typing a name or number in the Keypad and matching contacts appear. Choose which business number to call from, then place the call over your computer’s internet connection.
- Search contacts by name right from the Keypad
- “Call From” picker for accounts with more than one number
- Set a default caller ID for outgoing calls and texts
- Mute, hold, and touch-tone keypad during calls
- Click any phone number link to dial it in Talkroute
Redesigned History
See exactly where every call went.
History groups your calls by day and makes missed calls easy to spot. Open any call to see its Call Flow, a step-by-step timeline of how it was routed, and play back the recording if one was made.
- Calls grouped by day, with search
- Missed calls clearly marked
- Call Flow timeline for every call
- Call recording playback, when recording is on
- Call back, text back, block, or add to contacts in one click
Redesigned Messages
Business texting with a full keyboard.
Send and receive texts and picture messages from your business number. Drag an image into the conversation, and a live counter shows how long your message is before you send it.
- Text and picture messages, including iPhone HEIC photos
- Drag and drop images, resized automatically
- Character and segment counter as you type
- Search conversations, start a new text by contact name
- Optional spellcheck
Redesigned Voicemail
Read your voicemail before you listen.
New voicemails show up with a desktop notification and an unread count. Play them in the app, read the transcript, and see the caller’s recent calls and texts in one place.
- Desktop notifications for new voicemail
- Transcripts in the app and in email, set per mailbox
- Search, play, download, and delete
- Recent activity with each caller
- Separate mailboxes for team members, departments, and numbers
New Contacts
Every customer, and every conversation with them.
Contacts has its own screen in the app. Open a contact to call, text, or schedule a meeting with one click, and see your recent calls, texts, and voicemails with them in a single timeline.
- Search by name, phone, email, or company
- Favorites and an A–Z jump bar
- Recent activity timeline for each contact
- Import contacts from a CSV, with duplicates caught for you
- Caller names in History, even for people not in your contacts
New Reporting Pro
Know how your phones are really doing.
Reporting is built into the desktop app for Pro and Enterprise plans. See call volume, missed calls, peak hours, text activity, and your voicemail backlog, then export to CSV.
- Overview, Calls, Texts, and Voicemail reports
- Date presets and filters by number and direction
- Peak call times heatmap
- Click any row to call, text, block, or add a contact
- One-click CSV export
Use cases
How teams use the Talkroute desktop app.
Front desk without a desk phone
Answer the main line with a headset, see which number the caller dialed, and send them where they need to go.
Remote and hybrid teams
Everyone gets the same business line on their laptop, at home or in the office, with their own login.
Following up on missed calls
Missed calls stand out in History. Call back or text back in one click, right from the list.
Texting from a real keyboard
Type replies faster, drag in a photo or document scan, and keep every conversation searchable.
Managers keeping an eye on volume
Reporting shows call volume, missed calls, and peak hours, then exports to CSV for the weekly meeting.
Changing hours on short notice
Closing early for a holiday? Admins can update hours of operation, greetings, and routing in seconds.
Also built in
Made for working at your computer all day
The details that make the desktop app feel like a real phone, not a browser tab.
Desktop notifications
Get notified about incoming calls, new texts, and new voicemail, even when the app is in the background. Click a notification to jump straight to it.
Headsets & audio devices
Pick your microphone and speaker, test them with a live level meter, and choose your ringtone and text sounds.
Click-to-call links
Talkroute can be your computer’s default calling app, so clicking a phone number on a website or in an email opens it in the Keypad.
Video meetings
Start, join, or schedule video meetings from the Meetings screen, with recording, recurring meetings, and email invites.
Automatic updates
Updates download in the background and install with one click. Check your version any time under App Updates.
Your phone system settings
Admins can manage numbers, menus, extensions, hours, greetings, blocked numbers, and users without logging in anywhere else.
Download
Get the app for your computer.
macOS
- RequiresmacOS 11 Big Sur or later
- ProcessorApple Silicon & Intel
- Installer.dmg
Linux
- Requires64-bit (x64) Linux
- Packages.deb & AppImage
- Works withUbuntu, Debian & more
Rather not install anything? Use the web app in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari. Talkroute is also on iPhone and Android. See all apps →
Get started with Talkroute in minutes.
The desktop app is included with every Talkroute plan. There’s nothing extra to buy and no hardware to install.
Starting at just $19/mo. 100% free to try. Unlimited calling. No contracts.
FAQ
Desktop App FAQ
What is the Talkroute Desktop App?
It’s a native app that turns your Mac, Windows, or Linux computer into a business phone. You can make and receive calls, send texts, check voicemail, join video meetings, and manage contacts, all from your Talkroute business number, with no desk phone needed.
What are the system requirements?
macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later on Apple Silicon or Intel Macs; Windows 10 or later, 64-bit or 32-bit; or a 64-bit Linux distribution that can install a .deb package or run an AppImage. You’ll also need an internet connection and a microphone or headset.
Do I need the desktop app to make and receive calls?
No. The apps give you the best experience, but they aren’t required. Calls can be forwarded to any phone with an active 10-digit US or Canada number, and you can place calls from any phone using our outbound dialing feature. Here’s how.
Can I use Talkroute in my web browser instead?
Yes. The Talkroute web app makes and receives calls in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, with nothing to install. The desktop app adds things a browser tab can’t, like being your computer’s default app for phone number links.
Which headsets work with the desktop app?
Any microphone, headset, or Bluetooth earbuds (like AirPods) that your computer recognizes. Choose your input and output devices in Settings & Preferences under Notifications & Sounds, and use Test Input and Test Output to check them.
Will I know about calls when the app isn’t in front?
Yes. The app shows desktop notifications for incoming calls, new texts, and new voicemail. On Windows and Linux, closing the window keeps Talkroute running in the system tray so you don’t miss calls.
Can I transfer calls from the desktop app?
Yes. With Live Call Transfer, dial a transfer code from the in-call keypad to send the caller to another user, an extension, a department, or voicemail. Admins set up transfer codes in Settings & Preferences.
Can I choose which app users ring for each call?
Yes. Admins decide which users to ring, when to ring them, and in what order. You can set this for each of your Talkroute numbers, menu options, and extensions.
How many people can use the desktop app?
As many as you need, all at the same time. Each person gets their own login, which an admin creates under Users & Permissions.
How does the app stay up to date?
It checks for updates when it starts and downloads new versions in the background. When an update is ready, you’ll be asked to install it. You can also check manually under App Updates in Settings & Preferences.
Turn your computer into your business phone.
Calls, texts, voicemail, meetings, and contacts in one app for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Try Talkroute free for 7 days.
Questions? Give us a call at 800.747.2140.