Alice Martin has five years experience as a writer before joining Techopedia in 2024. After completing an interdisciplinary degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences at…
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The best virtual landlines for UK businesses can help your hybrid working setups flourish, support clear call quality, and even slash your phone bills by up to 70%.
Due to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) being officially phased out by December 2025, all UK businesses have to switch to a virtual telephone system. I’d advise switching to a virtual phone number soon. This will allow you to take advantage of the current competitive prices, while having ample time to train your staff on the new system, and avoid any possible delays from a mass migration.
Informed by my years of experience researching and testing virtual landline services, I’ve compiled a list of the eight best virtual landline providers for UK businesses. I’ve evaluated them based on criteria such as reliability (uptime), variety of number options, value for money, features, and integrations.
Techopedia’s Top UK Virtual Landline Services
Ooma – Best virtual phone number provider for remote teams
Let’s take a closer look at the eight best virtual landline number providers for 2024. I’ve outlined each provider’s top features and who they’re best for.
1. Ooma – Best Virtual Phone Number Provider for Remote Teams
Starting Price
£15.69/month*
Trial Period
60 days
Key Features
Mobile app, Videoconferencing, Team chat
Why We Picked It
I chose Ooma as the best virtual phone number provider for remote teams in the UK as it offers all the necessary features your team will need to stay connected wherever they are in the world.
It provides plenty of call management features, including call forwarding, virtual receptionists, music-on-hold, and ring groups, which makes it a suitable business phone line for customer calls.
What stood out to me is its suitability for internal communications, with a focus on video calling, live messaging, and CRM integrations.
Features
Mobile app — Ooma’s free mobile app provides the flexibility necessary to receive calls when you’re not at your desk or in the office. The Call Park feature takes this one step further, allowing you to ‘park’ phone calls and switch devices without dropping the call, enabling you to stay connected while in transit.
Video conferencing — Ooma provides video conferencing for 25-100 participants, which is necessary for hybrid and remote teams. Advanced collaboration tools like screen sharing, online whiteboards, and recording make virtual meetings less painful.
Team chat — It’s not always convenient or necessary to pick up the phone and speak to your colleagues or customers. For simple matters, a text message is sufficient. Luckily, Ooma has its own text messaging feature that works across your smartphone, tablet, desktop, or laptop. This removes the need to use your own mobile phone, phone number, and message allowance for work messaging.
Pricing
Ooma offers three pricing plans for business VoIP customers. Below, I’ve outlined what you can expect in each plan.
Plan
Essentials
Pro
Pro Plus
Monthly
£15.34/user/month*
£19.19/user/month*
£23.03/user/month*
Essentials — 50+ standard calling features, IVR, one free toll-free number, main company number, and desktop and mobile apps.
Pro — Everything in Essentials, plus 250 monthly text messages, video conferencing for up to 25 participants, call recording, and a desktop app.
Pro Plus — Everything in Pro, plus CRM integrations, 1,000 text messages per month, video conferencing for up to 100 participants, team chat features, hot desking, and call queuing.
*Pricing has been converted from USD to GBP via the live exchange rate on 18 July 2024.
Who it's Best For
Ooma is the ideal phone system for remote teams that need to stay connected due to geographic distance. Its support of omnichannel communication, which includes voice, video, and messaging, makes it ideal for this purpose.
Ooma also has plenty of features for communicating both internally and externally with clients, so I recommend it as an affordable UK business phone system that can also be used by receptionists or small businesses in need of a system that lets their clients book appointments.
Ooma does not offer a dedicated enterprise-level plan, and its video conferencing capacity is much lower than that of RingCentral, so larger corporations may find this limiting.
There’s also not much advertised regarding security, HIPAA compliance, or encryption, so it may not be the ideal phone system for UK business that deal with sensitive data, such as in healthcare or finance.
2. Ringcentral – Best Virtual Landline Provider for Customer Service Teams
Starting Price
£12.99/user/month*
Trial Period
14 days
Key Features
Security, Multi-level IVR, Analytics reports
Why We Picked It
What immediately stands out about RingCentral’s virtual landline service is its reliable service quality (it boasts a 5-year track record for 99.999% uptime) and its compatibility with over 300 ready-made third-party integrations, including CRM (Customer Relationship Management).
This shows that as a VoIP provider, it’s exceptionally well-established, dependable, and perfectly primed to provide seamless customer support for UK businesses — the characteristics you should expect in a customer service phone system.
Features
Security — RingCentral has measures to protect your data and that of your customers. It supports HIPAA and GDPR compliance, giving you peace of mind when dealing with sensitive data in the UK. You can also encrypt your video calls and data when they are in transit and at rest.
Multi-level IVR — Otherwise known as the multi-level auto-attendant, this feature is ideal for when you have more incoming calls than available agents. Customers will be directed to an automated business phone menu to filter their requests to the relevant agent. This saves time for both customers and agents.
Analytics — Use helpful features such as post-call highlights, call recordings, and sentiment analysis will give you insights into how your team performs on customer calls.
Pricing
RingCentral offers four pricing plans. I’ve outlined each plan in the table below and explained what’s included.
Plan
Essentials
Standard
Premium
Ultimate
Annual
£12.99/user/month*
£19.99/user/month*
£24.99/user/month*
£29.99/user/month*
Essentials — 100 minutes, mobile and desktop apps, team messaging, file sharing, call logging, and 24/7 support available.
Standard — Everything in Essentials, plus 750 minutes, call recording, 100 participant video calling, unlimited audio conferencing, multi-level IVR, and integrations including Microsoft, Google, and Slack.
Premium — Everything in Standard, plus 2000 minutes, 200 participant video calling, SSO, hot desking, call handling, whisper, barge, and CRM integrations.
Ultimate — Everything in Premium, plus, 4000 minutes, unlimited storage, and device status reports and alerts.
*Pricing has been converted from USD to GBP via the live exchange rate on 18 July 2024.
Who it's Best For
I recommend RingCentral for customer service teams that deal with a vast amount of incoming calls each day. Its GDPR-compliant virtual phone line system is equipped with all the advanced call management features you need to make calling support as pain-free as possible for your customers.
The 300+ built-in CRM integrations, plus Google and Microsoft compatibility, allow you to use your CRM while you make and receive customer calls so you can stay updated with customers’ existing records and provide stellar customer service.
Pros
High security
99.999% uptime track record
24/7 support via phone, chat, and email
End-to-end encrypted video conferencing for up to 200 participants.
Cons
Hot desking only available on high-tier plans
Business VoIP phone system is relatively expensive
3. Vonage — Best UK Virtual Phone Number Service for Solid Uptime and Security
Starting Price
£10/month*
Trial Period
❌
Standout Features
Unlimited calling, Encryption, Toll-free numbers
Why We Picked It
Backed by its two-year running position in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for CPaaS, Vonage is one of the best virtual landline providers for its reliability and high-security VoIP phone solution.
After thorough pricing research, I found that it’s also one of the top unlimited phone services for excellent value for money, offering an affordable replacement for traditional UK landlines.
Features
Unlimited calling — From the Core plan and up, you can access unlimited calling to stay connected with customers without worrying about hefty phone bills
Encryption — One concern with virtual phone systems is VoIP security. For this, Vonage offers robust encryption capabilities. Your calls are also completely private, making it an ideal choice for UK business owners who need to keep their discussions safe and secure.
Toll-free numbers — In addition, Vonage’s toll-free numbers make it easy for customers to reach you without paying long-distance charges. Plus, the numbers are easy to remember, making it convenient for customers to contact you.
Pricing
Vonage offers four plans. I’ve broken down what you can expect from each plan below.
Plan
Express
Core
Pro
Max
Annual
£10/user/month*
£18/user/month*
£20/user/month*
£25/user/month*
Express — Metered use, 30+ calling features, mobile and desktop app.
Core — Unlimited domestic calling and Vonage meetings, mobile and desktop app, and 30+ calling features.
Pro — Everything in Core, plus on-demand call recording, monitoring, unlimited call queue, IVR, and call groups.
Max — Everything in Pro, plus company-wide call recording, Vonage integration suite, and CRM integrations.
*Pricing has been converted from USD to GBP via the live exchange rate on 18 July 2024.
Who it's Best For
If you’re hesitant to switch to a virtual phone number due to concerns about data security, Vonage may be the right solution for you. Vonage adheres to GDPR and holds numerous compliance certifications, making it a great choice for businesses where data privacy is important, such as doctors’ or dentists’ offices.
It’s slightly more affordable than RingCentral, which also excels in the security department, but its cheapest plan does not offer unlimited calling, so it may not be ideal if you’re planning on making numerous outbound calls.
4. Phone.com — Best Inexpensive Virtual Phone Number Provider for Freelancers
Starting Price
£9.83/user/month*
Trial Period
30-day money-back guarantee
Standout Features
Text messaging, HIPAA-compliant video, Desk phone compatibility
Why We Picked It
Phone.com is one of the most affordable yet reliable virtual phone providers in the UK. It offers a robust system with excellent features, such as unlimited minutes and international calls at competitive prices.
I found that the user interface is easy to understand and use, making it an ideal choice for freelancers who don’t want to be bogged down by technicalities.
Features
Text messaging — Phone.com offers conversational text messaging in real-time with colleagues and clients alike. This is extremely useful for busy UK freelancers who want to stay in touch without disrupting their workflow with a phone call that could have been a text.
HIPAA-compliant video — Plus, you’ll also be covered when it comes to HIPAA-compliant video conferencing. This is ideal for those who need to conduct sensitive meetings or conversations. With end-to-end encryption and server-side security protocols, you can rest assured knowing your data is secure.
Desk phone compatibility — Phone.com is IP desk phone compatible. This makes it an excellent choice for businesses that require reliable hands-free communication directly from your desktop.
Pricing
Phone.com offers three plans. Below, I’ve explained what you can expect with each plan and how much each costs monthly.
Plan
Basic
Plus
Pro
Monthly
£9.80/user/month*
£14.37/user/month*
£20.91/user/month*
Basic — 500 pooled minutes, 1 number per account, video conferencing with 10 participants, mobile and web apps.
Plus — Everything in Basic, plus unlimited minutes, text messaging, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing with 25 participants, IP desk phone compatibility, and voicemail transcription.
Pro — Everything in Plus, and call recording, call analytics, CRM integration, and video conferencing with 100 participants, live streaming, and virtual whiteboard.
*Pricing has been converted from EUR to GBP via the live exchange rate on 18 July 2024.
Who it's Best For
Phone.com is the ideal virtual phone solution for solo freelancers, thanks to its affordable pricing plans, which suit those sticking to tight budgets.
Its mobile and web app compatibility gives you the flexibility to work remotely while staying in touch with clients and colleagues over text, phone, or video – whatever suits you.
I wouldn’t recommend Phone.com for enterprise-level communications or call centre use due to the lack of a dedicated enterprise plan, larger video conferencing capacity, and the absence of advanced call-handling features like call queuing.
5. Nextiva – Best Virtual Phone Number for Omnichannel Communication
Starting Price
£14.64/user/month*
Trial Period
7 days
Key Features
Voicemail transcription, 24/7 live support, Messaging
Why We Picked It
Nextiva earns its spot on the list of the best virtual phone providers in the UK as it offers an affordable yet advanced solution with great flexibility as it allows for omnichannel communication.
Trusted by companies like Amazon and Taco Bell, it offers your customers the choice to get in touch via their preferred method of communication. It’s not just limited to voice calling, Nextiva also supports WhatsApp messaging, Facebook, X (formerly Titter), chat, and email.
Features
Voicemail transcription — Nextiva’s transcription feature saves voicemail messages in a readable format for you to access at your convenience This ensures that no voicemails are missed if you can’t answer the phone immediately.
24/7 live support — While it offers a 99.999% uptime guarantee, there’s always a chance you may have trouble with your phone lines. It’s good to know that Nextiva offers 24/7 live support in case of any hassle.
Messaging — Nextiva’s Message Pro texting platform offers a solution for customer texting that involves the whole team, ensuring no messages are overlooked.
Pricing
Nextiva offers three pricing options. Below, I’ve outlined the cost of each and what features are offered.
Plan
Essential
Professional
Enterprise
Monthly
£19.98/user/month*
£23.83/user/month*
£31.53/user/month*
Annual
£14.59/user/month*
£17.67/user/month*
£25.37/user/month*
Essential — Desktop and mobile app, Microsoft and Google integrations, conversational analytics, 1,500 toll-free minutes, standard auto-attendant, 24/7 live support, unlimited HD video, voicemail, and multiple phone numbers per account.
Professional — Everything in Essential, plus 3,000 toll-free minutes, unlimited multi-site management, call flow builder, SMS/MMS, video meetings with 40 participants, CRM integration, AI voicemail transcription, and screensharing.
Enterprise — Everything in Professional, plus 12,500 toll-free minutes, premium integrations, unlimited audio/video recording, unlimited video meetings, and single sign–on.
*Pricing has been converted from USD to GBP via the live exchange rate on 18 July 2024.
Who it's Best For
Nextiva is great for UK businesses dealing with a high volume of inbound communication, such as customer service teams. During testing, I highlighted Nextiva as a modern solution for customer communication that excels in integrating with various communication channels.
It supports multiple communication modes, allowing you to chat with customers in the way that is most convenient for them, thus improving customer satisfaction. You can also seamlessly switch between modes without losing track of information.
Due to its flexibility, it can be successful across various use cases, but it might be too complex for those looking for a simple voice calling solution without all the bells and whistles.
I selected 8×8 as the ideal virtual landline provider for UK call centres thanks to its range of features, which perfectly position it for teams that deal with high call volumes.
With its SMS, MMS, and team chat features, 8×8 provides an all-in-one communication solution. Whether you’re working with colleagues or clients nationwide, this UK VoIP ensures reliable connection quality and secure conversations every time.
Features
Multi-level auto-attendant — When you’re dealing with lots of inbound calls, a multi-level auto-attendant can help filter the calls and direct them to the right department to efficiently solve customer queries.
CRM integration — Customer support is much easier when your CRM is linked with your virtual phone system. You can reference customer support history and be informed about previous communications to avoid repetition.
Call recording — An important feature for both compliance and training purposes, call recording allows you to ensure your customer support agents are performing to the best of their ability and also protects them in any cases of dispute.
Pricing
8×8 Connect offers five plans but does not openly advertise its pricing online. You’ll have to get in touch directly to find out how much each plan costs, but I can tell you what you’ll get as part of each plan below.
X2 — Unlimited calls to 14 countries, video conferencing for up to 500 participants, SMS, MMS, team messaging, and Microsoft Teams integration.
X4 — Everything in X2, plus unlimited calls to 48 countries, Frontdesk tool for call handlers and receptionists, supervisor analytics tools, and call monitor, whisper, and barge.
X6 — Everything in X4, plus IVR, call recording CRM, reporting, customer experience mapping, and a choice of metered or unmetered call bundles.
X7 — Everything in X6, plus cross-platform support for social media, chat, email, SMS, and video, and co-browsing. Omni-channel support for social media, chat, email, SMS, and video
X8 — Everything in X7, plus call quality management and additional analytics features.
Who it's Best For
I’ve shortlisted 8×8 as a UK call centre phone system due to its suitability for dealing with external communications. It offers advanced auto-attendant, call recording, visual voicemail, hold music, caller ID, call blocking, call forwarding, and call transfer – all key features for teams that need to keep track of multiple calls each day.
Due to its extensive call management features, it may not be the most obvious virtual phone system for smaller UK businesses looking for a straightforward system to receive a few calls per day, such as booking appointments.
7. DialPad – Best Budget-Friendly Business VoIP Service
Starting Price
£12/user/month
Trial Period
14 days
Standout Features
AI video calls, Advanced call management, Post-call summary
Why We Picked It
I selected DialPad, an AI-powered business landline system, to be included in this shortlist for its robust features. With high call quality, seamless internal collaboration, and an affordable price tag, I believe DialPad offers a package that small UK businesses will love.
Like many industries, AI has entered the communications space and can offer many advantages, such as saving you time with meeting summaries or offering smart insights into customer sentiment after analyzing your calls.
Features
AI video calls — To maintain team collaboration within smaller teams, DialPad also offers 5-hour-long online video meetings for up to 10 participants, complete with in-meeting chats and waiting rooms. If you prefer audio calls, you can also join a three-way call directly through DialPad. You can also record the entire conversation in case you want to refer back to some of the points made during the call.
Advanced call management — For customer calls, DialPad offers countless advanced call management features such as call routing, call forwarding, and creating multiple ring groups. All these features ensure that you can attend to every caller as soon as possible, connect them to the best-suited agent, and offer them a wonderful experience. This especially helps small businesses, who may have more customer calls than agents available.
Post-call summary—To help you understand your customer satisfaction, you’ll also receive an automated post-call summary that includes all the details of your caller, recordings (if any), and other call details. This benefits smoother team communication, especially within overstretched small teams where agents are sharing customer cases.
Pricing
Dialpad offers three pricing plans. In the table below, I’ve outlined the cost and explained what features are included in each plan.
Plan
Standard
Pro
Enterprise
Monthly
£22/user/month
£28/user/month
Custom
Annual
£12/user/month
£20/user/month
Custom
Standard — Unlimited calling and AI-assisted meetings for up to 10 participants, AI-powered call and voicemail transcription, Google and Microsoft integration, real-time analytics, and chat support.
Pro — Everything in Standard, plus CRM integrations, including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho, multiple phone numbers per account, open API, local numbers for 70+ countries, 25 ring groups, 10 office locations, and 24/7 live agent support.
Enterprise — Everything in Pro, unlimited office locations and ring groups, dial-by-extension, integrations with SSO, data retention policies, priority support, and a 100% uptime guarantee.
Who it's Best For
With its range of AI-assisted features, Dialpad offers a time-saving VoIP solution for small business owners in the UK. Its affordable price tag also places it within reach of startups and solo entrepreneurs who may just be starting out and need to watch their budgets.
While I predominantly recommend it for smaller businesses, it offers great scalability and also international flexibility, with local number support for 70+ countries, giving you a familiar presence with your global audiences. That said, it only offers video capacity for up to 10 participants, which won’t suit larger businesses looking to host company-wide conferences.
8. MightyCall — Best Virtual Phone Service for External Customer Communication
Starting Price
£10/month*
Trial Period
❌
Standout Features
Unlimited calling, Encryption, Toll-free numbers
Why We Picked It
MightyCall presents as an affordable solution for UK businesses dealing with external communication, like communicating with customers.
It offers various advanced communication tools to help UK businesses stay connected with their client base. It offers unlimited VoIP services with features such as virtual numbers, call forwarding, and recording.
I found this to be a great option for companies looking to expand their reach and build new relationships internationally.
Features
Call recording — Call recording is a key feature for external communications as it allows supervisors to analyse call quality, coach call agents, identify customer needs, and improve performance and customer satisfaction. It also helps safeguard your call agents in case of any customer disputes.
Number flexibility — MightyCall offers toll-free numbers to provide customers with a way to reach you without long-distance charges. In addition, it also allows businesses to create a local presence in other parts of the country, opening up new markets and opportunities. Plus, MightyCall provides an extra phone number for companies that want to keep their personal and business calls separate. Finally, with an international phone number, businesses can establish a presence in other countries.
Call forwarding — MightyCall allows you the freedom to divert calls to any device, ensuring that you can be reached when on the go.
Pricing
MightyCall offers four pricing options. Below, I’ve explained each plan’s features and cost.
Plan
Core
Pro
Power
Enterprise
Monthly
£15.39/user/month*
£23.08/user/month*
£30.78/user/month*
£38.47/user/month*
Yearly
£11.56/user/month*
£17.70/user/month*
£23.08/user/month*
£30.78/user/month*
Core — Unlimited domestic voice calling and messaging, advanced calling features like routing, forwarding, and transferring, two business phone numbers included as standard, API access, and integrations.
Pro — Everything in Core, plus supervisory features like call barging, listening, whispering, and recording, a supervisor workspace, live call monitoring, and analytics and reporting features.
Power — Everything in Pro, plus progressive and preview dialer and dedicated account management.
Enterprise — Everything in Power, plus custom integrations, SIP trunking, and predictive dialling.
*Pricing has been converted from USD to GBP via the live exchange rate on 18 July 2024.
Who it's Best For
I selected MightyCall as one of the standout virtual phone providers for external communications. It suits small and large businesses that predominantly use their phonesystems to make and receive calls to customers. It also covers all bases when it comes to inbound and outbound call management and monitoring.
However, I found it’s less suitable for internal communications as it lacks video conferencing capabilities, which are key for hybrid and remote team collaboration.
The Best Virtual Landline Number Providers UK Compared
As for comparing the providers, the table below shows their differences. From their pricing and features, check out the table and decide which is best for you:
*Pricing has been converted from USD/EUR to GBP via the live exchange rate on 18 July 2024.
Methodology
How We Review And Test VoIP Services
We base our recommendations on first-hand testing. All the VoIP products we feature, have been tested based on the following criteria:
Features: We explore the platform’s general call and video conferencing capabilities and unique features like automation, call queuing, call recording, and IVR features.
Integrations: We assess whether it offers integration support for popular business apps such as CRMs, project management platforms, helpdesk software, and others.
Reliability: We test the call quality on offer with the VoIP platform, and we only include services that offer an uptime guarantee of close to 100%.
Security and Compliance: We check whether the platform offers industry-standard encryption, access controls, compliance with regulations like GDPR, and firewalls.
Numbers: We factor in whether the platform offers a variety of number options like local, toll-free, international, and vanity numbers.
Ease of Use: We test the VoIP service on its available platforms to ensure we can give accurate insight into its usability.
Value for Money: After our hands-on testing, we’re able to better analyze whether the price point is fair to offer insight into the feature-to-price value on offer.
Reviews and Reputation: Beyond our hands-on testing, we explore third-party reviews to see if we need to investigate certain aspects of the VoIP service further. This combined allows us to offer a good overview of what our readers can expect from the platform.
What is a Virtual Phone Number, and Why Does My Business Need One?
A virtual phone number is not directly linked to a specific phone line or physical device. You simply open an account (which the virtual number will be registered to), and you can then forward calls to any other phone number or device. This lets you take calls from mobile phones, landlines, or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) systems.
Switching to a virtual landline or VoIP system will soon be necessary due to the Big Switch Off in 2025, and many UK businesses are voluntarily making the switch due to the numerous benefits virtual phones offer.
Virtual landline systems allow flexibility in choosing your local, international, toll-free, or vanity number to project a professional image to your customer base. They also make upscaling your phone system easier, improve call quality, offer cost savings, and introduce advanced call management features.
How do virtual landlines work?
Virtual landlines are powered by VoIP technology, providing added flexibility because they operate over the internet.
When making or receiving calls, voice signals are sent in small data packets over the internet instead of traditional phone lines. This means there’s no need to purchase special hardware or undergo a lengthy installation process.
Additionally, adding further extensions does not require adding more phone lines. You simply need to register a new number with your virtual phone provider.
What is the difference between VoIP and virtual landline systems?
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, the technology used to transmit voice signals over the Internet. Virtual landline systems use VoIP technology to offer a service that resembles traditional landlines but operates with different technology. While closely related, VoIP mainly refers to the technology rather than the end product.
Benefits of the Best UK Virtual Phone Systems
Aside from convenience and reliability, here are the key benefits of using the best UK virtual phone systems:
Cost SavingsFlexible PlansMobilityUnrivalled QualityEnhanced Features
Virtual phone systems provide a cost-effective solution for users making frequent calls. These plans offer significant savings over traditional landline or cellphone services by eliminating costly roaming charges and international fees. Plus, there are no additional taxes or surcharges associated with VoIP services.
Virtual phone systems come in various packages to suit the needs of different customers. These plans can be tailored to include specific features such as call forwarding, voicemail, and caller ID.
With a virtual phone service, users can access their phone lines anywhere. This makes staying connected while travelling or working remotely easy without needing a fixed physical location. Plus, many virtual number providers offer mobile applications that allow customers to make and receive calls on their smartphones or tablets.
The best virtual phone systems provide crystal-clear sound quality for all types of conversations, whether local or international. Many providers offer additional features like noise cancellation and echo suppression for a pleasant calling experience.
Lastly, virtual phone systems have various call management features that make communication more accessible and efficient. For example, customers can store unlimited contacts in their address books, quickly access voicemail messages, and enjoy advanced call-handling features like call recording, forwarding, and Interactive Voice Response (IVR).
What features should a virtual landline service have?
When looking for a virtual landline service in the UK, there are a few key features to look out for to ensure you are selecting the right service for your needs.
First, you should determine your primary use case for the virtual landline. Are you mainly dealing with external customer calls or internal communication with colleagues? Within the former, do you typically deal with inbound calls (e.g., customer support agents, receptionists, small businesses) or outbound calls (e.g., sales reps, recruiters, fundraisers)?
Depending on your answers, you should look out for different features:
Internal Team CommunicationInbound External CallsOutbound External Calls
When looking for a phone system suitable for internal team communication, you might consider video conferencing, encryption, team messaging platforms, file sharing, mobile apps, and integrations with productivity or communication apps such as Slack or Microsoft Teams.
If you’ll be handling inbound external calls, you should look for features like call forwarding, auto-attendant, IVR, caller ID, blocking, queuing, recording, custom greetings, business hours setup, voicemail-to-email notifications, and call analytics.
For outbound external calls, additional important features include CRM integration, click-to-call auto-dialer, call scripts, voicemail drop, and AI assistants.
Are There Free Virtual Landline Providers for UK Businesses?
When it comes to entirely free VoIP services for businesses in the UK, free forever options do not exist.
Ooma’s Basic plan is free (minus hardware costs, taxes, and fees); however, it is designed for household use and is thus unsuitable for businesses. Most companies on our shortlist provide a free trial that offers full or partial access to their services for seven to 30 days. This allows you to test before you buy. The longest free trial services include 8×8, Dialpad, and RingCentral.
There are also some very affordable premium plans. For example, you can enjoy unlimited domestic calling with Vonage for just £18 per user, per month. Phone.com also offers an unlimited calling plan for £14.33 ($18.69 USD) per user, per month.
How We Chose the Best Virtual Phone Number Providers
With so many virtual phone number providers on the market, I extensively researched the options available to determine which are best. I took these factors into consideration:
FeaturesSelection of NumbersBudgetUptimeEase of Use
I looked for providers that offer a wide range of features, including HD voice quality, call forwarding and voicemail, auto attendants, conference calling, and virtual numbers.
I considered the types of numbers available from each virtual phone number provider — both local and international — and any additional services such as toll-free or vanity numbers.
I considered the cost of plans to ensure that they’re competitively priced and provide excellent value for money, including scaling, to ensure your phone system can grow alongside your business.
Service reliability is essential when choosing a virtual phone number provider, so I looked for providers with high uptime guarantees to improve customer satisfaction and avoid frustration caused by call failure.
I evaluated each provider’s interface to ensure it was easy to use and offered intuitive features.
FAQs
Why should I use a virtual landline?
Using a virtual landline offers many benefits, including flexibility concerning what kind of number your business can have, including local, international, toll-free, or vanity.
Thanks to its functionality on mobile devices, it also allows you freedom of movement and supports remote working setups. Virtual landline systems also work out cheaper and support better call quality than traditional landlines.
How much does virtual calling cost in the UK?
The cost of virtual calls can vary depending on your chosen virtual number provider and plan. Generally, prices range from £10 to £15 per month for an unlimited plan with reputable providers such as 8×8 and Vonage.
How much does VoIP cost for a small business in the UK?
The cheapest virtual landline providers include Phone.com at £9.83 per user per month and Vonage at £10 per user per month.
What’s the best virtual number provider in the UK?
8×8 is widely regarded as one of the UK’s best virtual phone number providers. It offers a range of packages and unlimited calling to 14 countries, including the UK. If you’re looking for a great provider for internal team communication, Ooma could be the one for you, while RingCentral is excellent for customer service teams.
Can you call a normal mobile phone with a virtual phone number?
Yes, you can use a virtual phone number to call any phone number worldwide, including a landline or mobile phone. However, not all providers offer this service, so it’s important to check before signing up for a plan.
Are international calls free from the UK with a virtual phone number?
It depends on the provider and the plan you choose. Some providers offer free international minutes as part of their package, while others may charge extra for calls to certain countries.
Are there free virtual phone system providers in the UK?
There are no free virtual phone system providers fit for business use in the UK. Most providers offer a free trial, some up to thirty days.
Is a virtual landline cheaper than a traditional landline for UK businesses?
A virtual landline is typically much cheaper than a traditional landline phone service. Depending on your provider and plan, you could save up to 70% on your monthly phone bill.
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