Looking for the right VoIP phone system for your business? Well below we compare prices and features of 25 of the leading options in the UK from BT to Skype.
Featured*: CircleLoop
Features and Benefits of CircleLoop include:
- 7-day free trial (no card needed)
- UK built, based and supported
- Prices start from just £5/month
- Includes 1 UK number per user
- Free call analytics
- Add international phone numbers from over 80 countries
- Supports USB & Bluetooth headsets, handsets and meeting room speakers
- Calls to all UK landlines and most UK mobiles are included
- Easily transfer live calls to other team members
- Easily arrange group calls with your unique conference pin
- Apps for iOS (Apple) and Android mobiles
- Cloud Call Recording
CircleLoop is a relatively young challenger brand in the UK VoIP market. However, they offer some amazing features at an incredible price.
They are entirely UK based and operated with no reliance on third party platforms. Their solution is completely self-service, which means you can set it up and manage without the need for technical knowledge.
Their vision is to create a business phone system that doesn’t: have any silly paperwork & contracts, site visits & installs, expensive, horrible phone hardware, a degree in telecoms mumbo-jumbo: SIP, VOIP, hunt groups, IVRs, etc. or a long wait to activate.
If you’d like to see what they can offer your business, click here for an exclusive 7-day free trial.
Visit the CircleLoop Website to Learn More
The table below gives a quick price comparison of the top UK VoIP providers.
| Company | Cheapest Plan* (User/Month) | Most Expensive Plan* (User/Month) |
|---|---|---|
| CircleLoop | £5 | £15 |
| Microsoft 365 | £3.80 | £11.30 |
| BT Business | £6.40 | £25.00 |
| Vonage | £9.00 | £16.00 |
| RingCentral | £7.99 | £33.99 |
| 8X8 | Not Listed | Not Listed |
| Virgin Media Business | Not Listed | Not Listed |
| Voipfone | £1.00 | £20.00 |
| Mitel | Not Listed | Not Listed |
| Gradwell | £5.00 | £37.00 |
| Lily Comms | Not Listed | Not Listed |
| Zendesk Talk | £0 | £69.99 |
| Telappliant | £4.99 | POA |
| Dialpad | $15 USD | $35 USD |
| Voipstudio | £3.99 | £19.99 |
| VTSL | £8.00 | £15.00 |
| Buzz Connect | £4.95 | Varies |
| SoConnect | £8.95 | Varies |
| Best 4 Business | Not Listed | Not Listed |
| Fonality | Not Listed | Not Listed |
| Sipgate | £9.95 | £64.95 |
| Surevoip | £5.00 | £20.00 |
| Focus Group | Not Listed | Not Listed |
| Pioneer Global Services | Not Listed | Not Listed |
| TalkTech | £8.50 | £12.50 |
* The prices included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing (July 2018) but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider bundles different features in each of their plans. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile all other company’s plans and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in order of online search popularity. The listings in no way indicate one solution is better than another.
1. Microsoft 365
Some of the Features and Benefits of Skype for Business.
- Never miss a call with voice mail and alerts
- Audio, video, text plus online meetings and webinars
- Remote collaboration & live co-authoring between colleagues
- Make HD video calls, conduct meetings and webinars
- Send instant messages between Skype clients
- Make VoIP calls to Skype contacts, mobiles and landlines
- Skype client apps available for all phones and tablets
- Application and desktop sharing options
- Integration within Microsoft 365 suite packages
- Stream live 1080p HD video calls
- Securely encrypted to keep data and conversations safe
Skype For Business is currently part of Microsoft’s 365 package.
Skype was founded in 2003 and became part of Microsoft in May 2011. Skype for Business was started in 2015 and combines the features of Lync with Skype. In September 2017, Microsoft announced that Microsoft Teams would eventually replace Skype for Business.
Skype for Business is a unified communications platform which combines the important elements of running a successful business. Microsoft recommend businesses with over 20 employees will benefit from using Skype for Business, rather than consumer Skype.
It provides industrial strength security for calls and allows companies to broadcast a meeting online to a large audience and, an added bonus is that it allows familiar connectivity to co-workers around the world.
Visit Microsoft 365 website to learn more
2. BT Business
Features and Benefits of BT.
- CRM integration
- Call monitoring and recording
- Audio and video conferencing
- Choice of regional phone number or virtual geographic numbers
- Call forwarding and routing
- Voicemail
- Three-way calling
- Advanced attendant
- Call barring
- Hunt group
BT can trace its history back to 1846 and was the first company to develop a nationwide communications network. The company still plays a major role in the business and community life of the UK. They also provide products and services in around 180 countries globally.
BT Business has a variety of VoIP packages to suit its customers, from a plug ‘n’ play VoIP telephone system, to an integrated mobile and office system, suitable for 20 plus users.
BT has a UK based help desk to sort out any problems you may have. Its staff have local knowledge and believe in giving personal service to their customers. They believe that personal contact helps BT to get to know their customers and their business challenges.
3. Vonage
Some of the Features and Benefits of Vonage.
- Web and video conferencing via Amazon Chime
- Remote office
- Smartphone App – integrate office phone and mobile
- Multi device extension
- Choice of UK area code and number or port you existing number
- Busy lamp field
- Voice remote access
- Block call redirection – for preventing calls being redirected multiple times
- Directed call pick up
Vonage’s headquarters is in New Jersey, USA and its UK’s head office is in London. In 2003, the company was the first ever VoIP platform for 911 calls in the States. 2004 saw Vonage launched in Canada and the following year it set up in the UK. The company continues to expand it areas and services every year.
Vonage is one of the leading providers of cloud-based communication services. It has almost 2 million customers worldwide and helps over 600,000 business users every day. The company offers bespoke plans, so each business has the flexibility to manage their services as they choose through phone systems which do far more and cost far less than traditional phone systems.
4. RingCentral
Some of the Features and Benefits of RingCentral.
- Integrations – integrate with apps, e.g. Microsoft Office
- Call diversion – divert calls to other UK numbers
- Do Not Disturb – ability to send calls straight to voicemail
- Call Waiting – can put a call on hold, while answering a second call
- Ring Back – continuously rings an engaged number until the line is free
- Call centre features
- Call monitoring for staff training purposes
- HD video conferencing
- Voicemail transcription
- Calls logs for all incoming and outgoing calls and faxes
RingCentral began revolutionising business phone systems in 2003 by discarding outdated hardware phone systems. The company serves over 350,000 businesses and organisations around the world. It’s an award-winning provider of cloud unified communications and collaboration solutions. The company’s global headquarters are in Belmont, California and its EMEA headquarters are in London.
RingCentral UK Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of RingCentral Inc. March 2017 saw the launch of RingCentral Office business system in 13 European countries. The aim is to help organisations grow their businesses through easy to use features that improve productivity and give each business a professional telephone presence.
5. 8×8
Some of the Features and Benefits of 8×8.
- Feature rich systems with reliable UK support
- Contact centre graphical reporting and analytics
- Contact centre visual IVR
- Contact centre call recording storage
- Web conferencing
- Internet faxing
- Call recording
- Salesforce, Zendesk and Netsuite CRM integration
- Web browser Click-to-Dial
- Instant messaging/chat
- Music on hold
8×8 was founded in 1987 but it wasn’t until 2002 that it launched itself as a VoIP service provider. The company’s headquarters are in San Jose, California, but it employs over 1000 people worldwide. It supplies cloud-based unified communications and contact centre solutions to more than 50,000 businesses in over 150 countries around the globe.
8×8 is the first VoIP company to combine unified communications, team collaboration, contact centre and analytics in one real-time platform. Their aim is to assist businesses to improve their productivity and performance, and thus enhance their customers’ experience. Businesses can connect to offices and clients anywhere in world without the time lag experienced by traditional systems.
6. Virgin Media Business
Some of the Features and Benefits of Virgin Media Business.
- You only pay or what you need, when you need it.
- Move capacity up or down whenever you need to.
- Inclusive call packages
- Call directing
- Hunt groups
- Call waiting
- Caller ID
- Call Blocking
- Pickup and transfer features
- Instant messaging can be added to some plans
Virgin Media’s Business solutions come from one of the biggest communication companies in the UK. They offer a huge range of choices when it comes to VoIP and business telephone system solutions.
7. Voipfone
Features and Benefits of VoIPfone
- Call queuing
- Call barring
- Multiple lines
- Voicemail and voicemail Email alert
- Incoming PSTN number
- Calling line ID
- Call hold
- Call diverts
- 3-way calls
- Call transfer
iNet Telecoms Ltd, aka Voipfone, is a British company founded in 2004 by Lee Rose. The company set out to develop internet telephone services though VoIP. Voipfone is a fully virtual company, which means that all its employees work remotely using Voipfone products and services. As the employees are using the same system as the businesses they serve, they understand the system perfectly.
Not only that, the company is constantly seeking innovative ways to ensure that their employees can work together securely and efficiently, over distance; these innovative products are then used to provide their business customers with an excellent product.
Voipfone doesn’t advertise or have a sales force; the company has grown by word of mouth and its excellent reputation. As one of the first companies to explore VoIP, Voipfone’s expertise and technology has been features in the media many times over the last two decades. 2013 saw the company receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
8. Mitel (Including ShoreTel)
Features and Benefits of Mitel.
- Hunt groups/ring all phones
- Complete mobile integration
- Focus on the millennial generation and the tech-savvy
- Full CRM integration
- Call recording, playback, evaluation and storage
- Voice, IM and email from one screen
- Business analytics
- Contact centre options and integrations
- Conference calls
- Number porting
Mitel was founded in 1972 by two British Entrepreneurs, Michael Cowpland and Sir Terry Matthews. Michael Cowpland tells us that the company first intended to sell lawnmowers, but the shipment was delayed and arrived at the start of the Canadian winter which was an economic disaster.
The entrepreneurs switched their attention to selling telephony products instead and, as they say, the rest is history. Mitel is a Canadian company but has a strong British connection.
Today, Mitel is one the fastest growing cloud communication providers, powering more than 2 billion connections every day, including over 33 million daily cloud connections. Over its 40 years of existence, Mitel has provided business phone system solutions to more than 60 million users in 100 countries.
Mitel also acquired ShoreTel in September 2017.
9. Gradwell
Features and Benefits of Gradwell.
- Hunt groups/ring all phones
- Call recording
- Voice mail to text or email
- Number porting
- Individual extensions for all users
- Call forwarding
- Audio call conferencing
- Multiple numbers
- On hold music
- Free VoIP calls within Gradwell Network
Gradwell Communications is based in Bath, UK and has been supplying businesses with communication solutions since 1998. They provide VoIP, broadband, fibre and Cloud products to businesses who need both short term and long term solutions.
Gradwell is the proud recipient of the ITSPA Quality Mark, which is given to organisations who go above and beyond the expected, to give excellent service to businesses. In 2016, the company was nominated for three Comms National Awards – ISP, Hosted Platform and SME Cloud Solution.
Gradwell offers tailored solutions for individual business needs and they believe they offer great value bundled services. Their flexibility means that businesses are not tied into lengthy contracts.
10. Lily Comms
Features and Benefits of Lily Comms.
- VoIP solutions tailored to individual company needs
- Virtual conference room
- Call recording
- Voicemail
- Multi language auto attendant
- Administrator interface
- Ideal for multi sites
- Automatic call back
- Busy lamp keys
- Do Not Disturb option
Lily Comms was established in 2009 and provides bespoke communication services and products to over 2500 businesses in the UK. The company has offices in Bradford, Derby and Kingston upon Thames, and has communication specialists and engineers dotted around the UK.
The aim to provide their customers with bespoke solutions that will allow businesses to reduce their costs and increase efficiency.
A communication expert is allocated to each business to discuss their needs and to come up with a tailored solution. Lily Comms gives the same service to every business, no matter what their size.
The company allocates an account manager to each business to ensure that everything is running smoothly.
11. Zendesk Talk
Features and Benefits of Zendesk Talk.
- Local and free numbers from over 40 countries
- Unlimited concurrent calls
- Voice Mail
- Customised Greetings
- Automatic Ticket creation
- Warm Transfer
- Call Control
- Call Display with history
- IVR System
- Callback from queue
Zendesk Talk is designed primarily as a call centre solution. It comes from Zendesk who are best known for the customer support solutions they offer businesses. While their solution is far from the cheapest, they do offer a free trial. Moreover, their plans offer far more advanced features compared to many of the other companies included here.
12. Telappliant
Features and Benefits of Telappliant.
- VoIP Office hosted phone system
- Talk Assure
- SIP trunking
- Conference calling (audio)
- Call recording
- Call and user management
- CRM and browser integrations
- Virtual receptionist
- Unified communications
- Call queuing
Telappliant has been providing businesses in the UK with advanced communication solutions since 2003. They specialise in cloud communication solutions. Their data network is one of the largest in the UK and they believe their range of business communication services helps businesses to improve productivity, workflow and customer satisfaction.
Telappliant currently has over 20,000 business customers enjoying their services.
Telappliant believes in offering excellent customer service and has received many awards over the years for service excellence and innovative products in cloud telephony.
In 2017, the company won the ISPA award for the Best VoIP and the ITSPA Quality Mark, which is awarded to companies that go above and beyond to give reliable service.
13. Dialpad
Some of the Features and Benefits of Dialpad.
- Call centre features
- 3-way calling
- IVR/Auto attendant
- Audio conferencing
- Call recording
- Supports SIP desk phones
- Unified communications app
- Peer-to-peer HD video
- Number porting
- Integrate with Google G Suite and Microsoft 365
Dialpad was founded by Craig Walker in 2011 and was known as Switch Communications Inc. It changed its name to Dialpad in March 2016. The company’s head office is in San Francisco, but it has offices all over the world. The company’s slogan is “Kill the Desk Phone” and over 45,000 companies have done just that and joined forces with Dialpad.
Dialpad has some high-powered customers, such as Motorola, ClassPass and Hillary Clinton. The company has a solid VoIP product which is full of features and is reasonably priced.
The product has been recommended by those in the know for its melding of web and VoIP technologies. It has also been praised for easy call portability and ease of integration with other office apps.
14. VoIPstudio
Some of the Features and Benefits of VoIPstudio.
- 30-day free trial
- Free internet calls
- No contract
- CRM Integration
- Advanced PBX Features
- Instant Deploymnet
- Make calls from any device
- Auto Attendant
- Call Recording
- Call Queues
VoIPstudio operates in more than 50 countries and 4,000 cities. They only focus on the business market and their main goals “are to create simple use yet fully featured VoIP service, which is easy to understand and delivered with industrial-grade reliability.”
15. VTSL
Features and Benefits of VTSL.
- Auto attendant
- Call queuing
- Call recording
- Call reporting
- 10-way calls
- Music/on hold announcement
- Call groups – hunt
- Incoming call routing
- Voicemail
- Intercom
VTSL was founded in 1991 and has its offices in Wandsworth, London. The company provides hosted telephony solutions for businesses with between 1 and 250 staff.
The idea behind the company was to provide businesses with an affordable phone system, without having to spend on hardware and complex technology. This they did by developing their own VoIP services and proprietary applications.
VTSL’s VoIP solutions have more than 35 features which are included in all packages. The company now has over 10,000 users and they have hired more developers to ensure that VTSL’s VoIP technology remains on the leading edge.
They have also recently upgraded their network infrastructure and monitoring systems.
16. Buzz Connect
Features and Benefits of Buzz Connect
- Voicemail to Email
- Music On Hold
- Free User to User Calls
- Extension Numbers
- Call Transfer, Pickup & Parking
- On Site & Phone Support
- Self Service Portal & Reporting
- Softphone & Mobile Apps
- Predictive Dialler Compatibility
- Out of Hours Routing
17. SoConnect
Features and Benefits of SoConnect.
- Uses Lync Voice to manage calls
- Route calls using Lync’s Attendant integration with Lync Presence
- Call recording
- Active directory integration
- Video and audio conferencing
- ‘Whiteboarding’ to create documents and presentations with team members
- Integrates with all Microsoft applications
- Call forwarding
- Do not disturb
- Call barring
SoConnect is a London based company which provides businesses with affordable communication and phone solutions. The company was founded by Campbell Fraser and team of entrepreneurs in the communications and technology sector.
SoConnect aims to give excellent and expert service in all the products and solutions it provide. SoConnect has a team of over 200 engineers in the field who only have the customers’ requirements and solutions in mind. There are 39 logistical hubs around the UK from where SoConnect can service any UK business. They promise to get an engineer to 98% of the UK mainland businesses within 2 hours.
SoConnect has a help desk which is manned 24/7 by knowledgeable service team members. All calls are answered within 20 seconds. The company believes that great communication is answer to successful businesses.
18. Best 4 Business Communications
Features and Benefits of Best 4 Business Communications.
- Virtual conference room
- Voicemail to email
- Smart voicemail
- Call recording
- Text messaging
- Auto disaster recovery
- Call reporting
- Call holding
- Call barring
- Do not disturb
Best 4 Business Communications was started by Freddie Hawker in 2006. It began by selling business telephone systems and has grown substantially over the years, proud of the fact that it retains almost 100% of its clients.
Today the company has an annual turnover well in excess of £1 million and offers its business clients phone systems and maintenance, calls and lines, internet connectivity and hosted telephony services.
Best 4 Business Communications prides itself on its excellent customer service and says every business gets their full attention, whether it’s a one-man band or a large company. B4BC has won many awards including Comms Business Reseller of the Year 2017 and was a 2017 finalist in the following Comms National Awards categories – Best SME Cloud Solution, Best Customer Service and Best SME Vertical Solution.
Best 4 Business Communications Website
19. NetFortris Fonality
Some of the Features and Benefits of Fonality.
- Hunt groups/ring all phones
- Many call centre features
- Includes SIP phones
- IVR/Auto attendant
- Dial-in conferencing
- Extension dialling
- Recording of calls
- Supports SIP desk phones
- UC app (Unified Communications)
- Mobile app support
- Number porting
Fonality was founded in 2004 as a communications company that provided business phone systems, cloud based VoIP and Unified Communications solutions. The company is based in Piano, Texas. The company was acquired by NetFortris, a leader in secure cloud-based communications solutions, in February 2017.
The expertise of these two companies will meet the growing needs of a converging IT and communications market.
Together, the two companies have operating centres in three countries and provide services to more than 11,000 customers and 300,000 end users in 41 countries. Fonality is a leading provider of UCaaS communications software for SMEs and SMBs. The company has received numerous awards especially for its call centre software applications.
20. Sipgate
Features and Benefits of Sipgate.
- Everything set up online
- Call waiting, holding, transfer and pick up
- Call queues
- G-Suite integration
- IVR
- 3 -way calls
- Online archive for tracking calls, texts, faxes and billing details
- Virtual conferences for up to 25 delegates
- Send and receive faxes
- Individual and group voicemails
Sipgate has been offering business customers VoIP telephone services since 2004 and has several hundred thousand clients in Germany and the UK. The company was the first provider of internet based technology in Germany and is now one of the biggest service providers in Europe.
Sipgate monitors all systems 24/7 and is also available 24 hours a day, should businesses experience any problems with their system. The company is proud of the fact that they conduct all aspects of their business themselves, whether it be infrastructure, software or customer service.
If a business experiences a problem, then a knowledgeable member of staff will be on the other end of the phone to assist. If they can’t solve the problem, the company’s developers and designers will be brought in.
21. Surevoip
Features and Benefits of Surevoip.
- 14 Day Free Trial
- Fax to Email
- Call Forwarding
- Conference numbers
- Port BT or any other telecommunication providers numbers
- Use any type of device to connect
- Call logs
- HD Voice between users
- Instant Messaging available
22. Focus Group
Features and Benefits of Focus Group.
- Combined IP and PBX option
- “One number anywhere” for mobile or desk
- Call recording
- Call holding, marketing messages and call forwarding
- Call centre features
- Conference calls
- Fax and email
- Do not disturb
- Call diversions
- Integrations
The Focus Group opened its doors in 2004. It began with two founder members in their home office. Today the company employs over 300 people and it provides various services to over 10,000 businesses.
The Focus Group uses Focus Horizon, which is a complete communications service for businesses of any size. It is ideal for businesses which work from different sites.
Horizon has an extensive range of fixed and mobile telephony capabilities which are utilised through an easy to use web portal. This service allows a trained administrator within your company, to manage your company’s VoIP needs. This takes a lot of pressure off the IT department. It also allows the administrator to reconfigure the system as the company’s needs change.
23. Pioneer Global Services
Features and Benefits of Pioneer.
- Integration with other web based services, eg video conferencing
- Voicemail delivered to email box
- Comprehensive call reporting
- Computer Telephone Integration
- On-hold marketing messages
- Call recording
- Call queue
- Flexible for any size business
- Easy set up
- Hunt group
Pioneer Global Services Ltd. is a British company which offers UK businesses hosted VoIP phone systems. They will ensure that companies’ VoIP accounts are set up within 24 hours. They can connect businesses on softphones, either with mobile or desktop/laptop applications or preconfigured VoIP phones of choice. Pioneer doesn’t tie their business clients into long term contracts.
The company offers a variety of services apart from VoIP. They can organise business broadband services, standard telephone lines, bulk SMS’s and much more. Pioneer also supplies VoIP DECT phones, IP desk phones, VoIP conference phones, ADSL devices, gateways and IP telephone systems to their customers.
Pioneer Global Services Website
24. TalkTech
Features and Benefits of TalkTech:
- 30-day free trial (with engineer installation)
- Desktop/Mobile application – Integrates desk phone
- Optional desk phone or headset
- Voicemail to E-Mail
- Disaster Recovery (Accessible via web portal anywhere in the world)
- Unlimited UK call packages
- Administrator/user friendly portal to make real-time changes
- Call Recording
- Integration with everyday apps such as Outlook, Skype & CRM’s
- Voice assurance with 24/7 monitored access
Talking Technology was established in 1988 and exists to ensure that you remain at the cutting edge of communications technology and that your organisation has exactly the right tailor business solutions in place to deliver the maximum business benefits.
Their specialist consultants will work with you to understand what you need, providing a comprehensive customisable solution at every stage of the project, from initial requirements capture, through solution design and implementation offering full training and on-going award winning support.
Working with Talking Technology provides total peace of mind, giving you the freedom and flexibility to focus on your business.
* Please note that we have an affiliate relationship with CircleLoop our featured supplier, along with Microsoft. If you purchase either product via one of our links we may receive a commission payment. This does not affect the price you pay and allows to create new content which we offer free of charge. We may also receive a payment if you get a quote via the form at the top of this page.