Best budget conference phones Compare the cheapest conference phones and accessories made by some leading UK teleconferencing providers, from Polycom to Sennheiser. Written by Shane Donnelly Updated on 12 July 2023 Our experts We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality. Written and reviewed by: Shane Donnelly Startups.co.uk is reader supported – we may earn a commission from our recommendations, at no extra cost to you and without impacting our editorial impartiality. Today, any business can benefit from using conference call technology. It’s a core part of any modern office phone system setup. The good news is that conference call system costs are increasingly competitive.But there are many teleconferencing providers to choose from. Each offers many different conference phones, software and accessories. So finding a conference phone within budget, that has all the features you need, can be difficult.To help you decide what your conference phone should be like, we’ve reviewed five of the best conference phones. Read on to learn more, or, for a helpful cost comparison, try using the simple form below – it can help you compare quotes for the size and needs of your own business: How many staff do you need a phone system for? 1-10 11-100 Over 100 Unsure Compare Costs The top 5 cheapest small business conference phonesAccording to our research, the top 5 cheapest conference call phones are:Jabra SPEAK 410 Portable SpeakerphonePlantronics Calisto 620 Bluetooth and USB SpeakerphoneSennheiser SP 20 ML Portable USB SpeakerphoneKonftel EgoKonftel 220Top 3 refurbished conference phonesAnd the top 3 refurbished conference phones are:Polycom Soundstation IP 5000 PoE Conference PhonePolycom Soundstation 2W ExpandablePolycom VoiceStation 300 Analogue Conference Phone Read more: Jabra SPEAK 410 Portable Speakerphone Plantronics Calisto 620 Bluetooth and USB Speakerphone Sennheiser SP 20 ML Portable USB Speakerphone Konftel Ego Konftel 220 Polycom Soundstation IP 5000 PoE Conference Phone Polycom Soundstation 2W Expandable Polycom VoiceStation 300 Analogue Conference Phone Jabra SPEAK 410 Portable SpeakerphoneIdeal for those who’ll spend their day on-the-move, yet still need to hold regular conference calls, this Jabra SPEAK system’s compact design and travel case ensures it’s easy to both carry around and set-up almost anywhere – connecting to your PC via a USB cable.Compatible with leading unified communications systems and VoIP providers -such as Microsoft Lync, IBM Sametime, Cisco, Avaya and Skype – it offers plug and play features via a USB port and contains a headset port to listen to private calls, online courses, or to stream audio files. Its omni-directional microphone ensures clear sound for group meetings and calls.In-built controls include buttons for volume settings, mute and call answering/ending. Price: £85Plug in and play: YesGood for: One-to-one and small group conference callsIncludes: Headset port for private calls360 degree microphone pickup: YesLength of warranty: Two years Plantronics Calisto 620 Bluetooth and USB SpeakerphoneEasily integrated with PCs, notebooks and mobiles, the Plantronics Calisto P620 has two connection options: a USB port or Bluetooth – which gives you the added option of using a wireless headset for calls.A compact size, it measures at just 3.2 x 11 x 11 cm, the station is incredibly lightweight, coming in at just 472g – ensuring its easily transportable for the on-the-go entrepreneur.Allowing up to seven hours of talktime, with a standby time of five days, its 360 degree sound pickup gives it excellent sound quality – regardless of the size of the location. Price: £119.99Plug in and play: YesGood for: Group meetings and small conferencesIncludes: Bluetooth enabled360 degree microphone pickup: YesLength of warranty: Two years Receive bespoke quotes for business VoIP and audio/video conferencing providers by using our communication solutions comparison tool. Sennheiser SP 20 ML Portable USB Speakerphone With exceptional HD sound, thanks in part to its echo cancellation feature, the Sennheiser SP 10 ML Portable USB Speakerphone is compatible with all major communication brands including the likes of Aastra, Alcatel-Lucent, Avaya, Cisco, IBM and Polycom – while also being optimised for use with Skype for Business.Coming with a retractable USB, for use with both PC and Mac, the Sennheiser allows you to connect with up to six external participants during your conference call.Aside from its conference phone software, the Sennheiser can also be used as a mobile speaker for playing music or videos. Price: £129.98Plug in and play: YesGood for: Setting up calls via Skype for BusinessIncludes: Echo cancellation feature360 degree microphone pick-up: YesLength of warranty: Two years Konftel EgoOptimised for Skype for Business, Cisco Jabber and Avaya Communicator, the Konftel Ego’s main strength lies in its compatibility with other systems, programmes and devices.Bluetooth and NFC (near-field communication) enabled, the device is easily connected to your mobile, tablet or PC.A compact station, the Konftel Ego is just 135mm x 145mm ensuring its easily portable and compact yet still delivers great call sound quality thanks to its OmniSound audio technology, and when connected to A2DP via Bluetooth, will also play HD quality audio files and music.Complete with an LCD display, the Konftel Ego’s USB-charged battery has an incredible 12 hours operating time – ensuring plenty of time to hold conference calls and play music. Price: £89.95Plug in and play: YesGood for: Supports Skype for BusinessIncludes: 12 hours operating time360 degree microphone pickup: YesLength of warranty: Two years Konftel 220Allowing up to 12 participants in a single call, the Konftel 220 is one of the cheapest and best value analogue conference phones available in the UK market.Holding seven different language options, the Konftel 220 also allows you to select up to five numbers to add to its speed dial service – ensuring you’ll waste no time in contacting your favourite client, supplier or external member of staff.A cost-effective option for small businesses who already have analogue phone systems, the station connects to an analogue public phone line or PBX analogue card via a modular 6/6, RJ 11 connection – a relatively straightforward process. Price: £159.95Plug in and play: NoGood for: Allows up to 12 participants in a single callIncludes: Speed dial option360 degree microphone pickup: YesLength of warranty: Two years Buying refurbished and second-hand conference phone software and accessoriesWhile there’s a good chance you’re incredibly meticulous when it comes to sourcing and buying equipment – especially if its vital to the long term success and operation of your business – the high costs associated with running an enterprise means you’re simultaneously on the hunt for a bargain too.This combination of looking for the best possible product but also the best possible deal can lead some entrepreneurs to what’s called ‘the grey market’ – where refurbished or second-hand products are sold for a fraction of the price that sell for brand new.Hence the name, the lines of legality are often blurred here, and while such transactions take place through legal distribution channels, they are often unintended by the manufacturer.Perhaps unsurprisingly, a high percentage of products sold in this secondary market, are in fact illegal, as they are either counterfeit or stolen.Although said knock-off products will often look and feel identical to the real deal, they’ll likely cause you a range of problems with regards quality, connectivity and possibly security.Furthermore, the likelihood is that you won’t be able to avail of any licenses, warranty or support from the manufacturer your product purports to be from – meaning you’ll be left on your own and seriously out of pocket when something, presumably, goes wrong.However, some genuine refurbished and second-hand conference phone software and accessories do exist – but only through trusted and reputable suppliers.Compare refurbished conference phonesBelow, we have also selected a range of some of the best value refurbished conference phones available. Polycom Soundstation IP 5000 PoE Conference PhoneAllowing up to 12 participants take part on any one call, the Polycom Soundstation IP 5000 doesn’t compromise on sound quality either.Delivering crystal clear audio thanks to its 360 degree microphone pickup, which has a range of three metres, its acoustic echo cancellation ensures it also resists interference from mobile phones and other wireless devices ringing in the background.Containing both a call history feature and contact directory, even the most in-demand business owner can keep track of all their incoming and outgoing calls.Compatible with the majority of SIP platforms, its integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) system ensures an easy installation process too. Refurb price: £149.99New price: £312Good for: Up to 12 participantsIncludes: Three metre microphone pickup range360 degree microphone pickup: YesMAC compatible: NoLength of warranty: One year Polycom Soundstation 2W ExpandableConnecting to any standard analogue line, with the console itself being able to be moved up to 150ft away, a refurbished Polycom Soundstation 2W from a trusted supplier is one of the best conference phones for small businesses available.Wall mountable for added convenience, mobile and PC connectivity options are also available – so you can enjoy the benefits of internet telephony in your conferences.With a talktime of 12 hours, and a standby time of 80 hours, three built-in microphones produce exceptional audio quality – with the built-in LCD display and keypad ensuring its very easy to use. Refurb Price: £249New price: £480Good for: Up to 12 participantsIncludes: 24 hour talk time360 degree microphone pickup: YesLength of warranty: One year Polycom VoiceStation 300 Analogue Conference PhoneAllowing hands-free calls, with a microphone range of up to 7ft away, a refurbished Polycom VoiceStation 300 is ideal for any small business looking to buy a top quality conference phone at a very reasonable price.With its Dynamic Noise Reduction removing any unnecessary background chatter, its three integrated microphones, with 360 degree coverage, are tuned to specifically pick out the particular person speaking at the time, amplifying their voice, ensuring there is no communication breakdown. Refurb Price: £110New price: £260Good for: Meeting with up to four peopleIncludes: Hands-free calls360 degree microphone pickup: YesLength of warranty: One year How we test business telephone (VoIP) systemsWe tested eight VoIP systems to evaluate them in terms of functionality, usability, security options, cost, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to small UK-based businesses.Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in seven main categories of investigation and 16 subcategories – in fact, we covered 78 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a ‘relevance weighting' to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs of our Startups.co.uk readers.Our main testing categories for VoIP systems are:Customer Score: external customer opinion as to their satisfaction; the feedback and ratings given by customers who have used a particular VoIP product. Also, the market position and reputation a VoIP software holds.Cost: the pricing structure associated with the VoIP service, such as monthly subscription fees, call rates, and setup fees.Features: the functionalities and capabilities offered by the VoIP service, e.g. call forwarding, voicemail, call waiting, and caller ID.External Connections: the VoIP service's ability to connect and integrate with external systems or devices, including compatibility with existing phone systems and integration with mobile devices.Customer Support: the assistance and resources provided by the VoIP service provider to customers, such as technical support, documentation, and online resources.Security Options: the measures and features implemented by the VoIP service to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and protection of voice communications and data.Scalability: the ability of the VoIP service to accommodate the growth and changing needs of an organization, such as the capacity to handle a growing number of users or support multiple locations.The Startups product testing processCompare conference phones for your businessThe information above should help you to understand what your conference phone needs to be like. Whether you have a team of five or a team of 50, having a good quality conference phone can be extremely helpful when it comes to making group calls or coordinating with larger external teams.Interested in having your conference phone installed? Simply provide us with a few simple details. We can put you in touch with suppliers who can recommend equipment and also help with installation and service. Startups.co.uk is reader-supported. If you make a purchase through the links on our site, we may earn a commission from the retailers of the products we have reviewed. This helps Startups.co.uk to provide free reviews for our readers. It has no additional cost to you, and never affects the editorial independence of our reviews. Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Written by: Shane Donnelly