Best UK VoIP providers for small businesses

Our in-house research team has worked rigorously to determine the top VoIP providers in the UK. We’ve selected each provider’s best plan for small businesses, so you can compare the right options for you straight away, with our choices based on the budgets and needs of SMEs. If you’d like to compare full systems including compatible phones, visit our page for the best small business telephone systems.

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

BEST ALL ROUND
Provider bOnline	Provider GoTo	Provider RingCentral	Provider Google Voice	Provider NBC Cloud Voice	Provider Dialpad
Best for A budget-friendly VoIP provider	Best for Multiple locations	Best for Improving customer service	Best for Google Workspace users	Best for Call centres who need unlimited minutes	Best for Small customer service teams
Pricing from £7 per user, per month	Pricing from Bespoke	Pricing from £12.99 per user, per month (paid annually)	Pricing from $10 per user, per month (Google Voice is only priced in US dollars)	Pricing from £9.99 per user, per month	Pricing from £12 per user, per month (billed annually)

You can compare leading UK VoIP providers using our free custom built comparison tool Compare Costs

1. bOnline: best budget-friendly VoIP provider for small businesses

Recommended plan: Unlimited Calling

bOnline

Get Quotes

• Starting price from: £7, per user, per month

• Unlimited Calling plan is good for startups doing lots of cold calling
• Great for new businesses who need lots of features for a small cost
• Low cost starter plan is solid option for micro-businesses

Summary bOnline is a UK-based telecommunications company that specializes in providing solutions specifically with a small business marketplace in mind. With a focus in low-cost, easy solutions, bOnline make the claim to be "the most awarded business VoIP phone for UK businesses with 1-5 employees".

Show moreless

Why did we pick this provider?

We chose bOnline as our number one provider because it’s excellent value for money for small businesses. Alongside unlimited UK calls, it provides big features at a small price, and is a strong option if you’re looking for a first-time VoIP system. It’s fast and easy to set up, taking around two minutes, and it needs no engineering or installation fees.

How much does it cost?

The Unlimited Calling plan provides exactly what its name promises. If you’re looking for a cost-effective VoIP solution, you could do a whole lot worse.

What are the key features?

bOnline Unlimited Calling comes with over 45 calling features. We’ve highlighted a few of the crucial features below:

Are there any limitations?

Bear in mind that bOnline lacks the advanced security layers the other providers offer, as it doesn’t provide multi-factor authentication. If your business is particularly security conscious, Google Voice might be a better option for you.

What software can I use it with?

bOnline connects with popular software including MS Dynamics, Salesforce and HubSpot — but it costs an extra £9 per month to integrate this software with your VoIP plan.

2. RingCentral: best for improving customer satisfaction

Recommended plan: Standard

RingCentral

Get Quotes

• Starting price from: £12.99, per user, per month

• A range of plans that can suit a wide variety of businesses of different sizes
• Good for growing businesses that need streamlined internal communications
• Great for customer-service focused businesses

Summary Based in California, RingCentral provides cloud-based communication and collaboration products and services, including a cloud-based business phone system. Founded in 1999, it has grown to now serve over 400,000 customers worldwide and is available in 46 countries.

Show moreless

Why did we pick this provider?

A big reason we chose RingCentral as a top VoIP provider: improving your customer satisfaction. It helps combine your phone system with a range of other communication platforms (like team chat and WhatsApp) which allows your staff to collaborate seamlessly and also contact your customers through their preferred channels.

We also consider RingCentral to have the strongest user support options available, including 24/7 unlimited chat and phone support. So if you can’t risk your phones going on the fritz (if you offer all-hours support to your clients, for example), then this cold be invaluable.

How much does it cost?

The key point you’ll need to factor in: RingCentral is one of the few providers on this list that doesn’t provide unlimited calling at this price level. If unlimited minutes is a must-have then bOnline and Dialpad will be better options for you.

What are the key features?

RingCentral Standard helps keep your customer base happy by combining sophisticated call management tools with a wide range of communication methods. Here’s a highlight of the key features:

Are there any limitations?

While RingCentral does provide a decent range of communication options, we would have liked to have seen it include SMS, which Dialpad and GoTo both provide.

What software can I use it with?

On the standard plan or higher, RingCentral offers a large ecosystem of integrations, covering everything from analytics to AI.

3. Dialpad: best for small customer service teams

Recommended plan: Pro

Dialpad

Get Quotes

• Starting price from: £12, per user, per month

• Good for small businesses who need help managing high call volumes
• Compatibility with four types of desk phone
• Can intregrate with Salesforce, Hubspot, and Zendesk

Summary Dialpad is aimed at both small and large companies, and is using communications AI to provide unified products. They have a global reach, with 11 offices around the world, and serve 30,000 customers including big names like Xero.

Show moreless

Why did we pick this provider?

Dialpad Pro emerged as a top provider by offering a full package of call management features that can help small to medium customer service teams seamlessly handle high numbers of calls.

You’ll also benefit from AI-powered real-time call transcripts, and quality-of-service reports to help your customer service team perform to a high standard. The automatic spam call detection will also keep your staff from being slowed down by annoying bogus calls.

How much does it cost?

Dialpad Pro isn’t the cheapest plan — it’s about average — but we feel that along with GoTo Connect it offers the strongest call management features on this list. 

What are the key features?

Dialpad Pro should give your customer service team everything they need to handle high call volumes, and alongside GoTo, it’s also one of the only providers on the list to offer SMS. Here’s a breakdown of the key features:

Are there any limitations?

The only thing to keep in mind is that the max number of participants that are supported on a video call is 10. So, if you’re planning on hosting video calls with large teams, we’d recommend looking at NBC or bOnline instead.

What can it integrate with?

Dialpad Pro can integrate with a solid range of big name software, such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zendesk, Slack, Salesforce and others.

Just be aware that if you’re using more niche software, RingCentral may be more likely to have the integration you need. 

4. GoTo Connect: best for companies with multiple locations

Suggested plan: Phone System 

GoTo Connect

Get Quotes

• Starting price from: £18, per user, per month

• Good for medium-sized businesses to unify their communications
• Helps communication between businesses in different locations
• Compatible with over five brands of desk phone

Summary Based in Boston, Massachusetts, GoTo is a software as a service company that launched its cloud-based phone system and customer engagement software GoTo Connect in 2022.

Show moreless

Why did we pick this provider?

GoTo Connect was a top contender thanks to an impressive suite of call management features that we think are best suited to a more medium-sized operation.

The smart call routing and ring groups can help your staff and customers quickly get a hold of colleagues who are based in separate offices. You’ll benefit from several of its AI tools, like meeting summaries. Another attention-grabbing feature is the international calling: you can make and receive calls from over 50 countries for free.

How much does it cost?

GoTo Connect can provide you with a bespoke quote. Our tip would be to contrast this against the pricing we’ve provided for competitors, so you have a something to compare against.

What are the key features?

Our testing found that GoTo Connect provides the widest range of communication channels of the providers we analysed, and you can find a roundup of its key features in the table below:

Are there any limitations?

The only major downside is that you’re limited to 1,000 free minutes per month, which are shared across all your users. If having unlimited domestic minutes is a must-have for you, jump down to NBC Cloud Voice instead.

What software can I use with it?

GoTo MarketPlace is the designated integrations store, where you can find programmes like Zapier, Slack and Salesforce and HubSpot. More technically advanced operations can use GoTo’s development centre to build their own APIs.

5. Google Voice: best for Google Workspace users

Recommended plan: Standard

Google Voice

Get Quotes

• Starting price from: $16, per user, per month (Google Voice pricing is only provided in US dollars)

• A low-cost option for Google Workspace users
• Solid spam prevention tools
• Free calls to the US

Summary Google Voice is a VoIP solution provided by Google that was previously only available in the US. Now businesses in the UK can access Google Voice as a paid add-on to Google Workspace.

Show moreless

Why did we pick this provider?

We chose this provider because if you’re already using Google Workspace day-to-day for your business, then using Google Voice as your VoIP provider is an easy choice. It will be simple to integrate and set up, and you’ll get access to a solid range of features and unlimited domestic minutes at a cost-effective price.

You’ll also get access to some pretty impressive security features. It also has some powerful spam filtering technology, which can help out a stop to any nuisance calls that are slowing down your staff.

How much does it cost?

Google Voice’s pricing is only presented in US dollars.

While it might be an easy, low-cost option for Google Workspace users, we wouldn’t recommend signing your business up to Workspace just to use Google Voice as your VoIP provider.

We’ve included Google Workspace’s pricing, so you can work out the total cost:

What are the key features?

Google Voice Standard gives you access to a solid range of features and unlimited domestic minutes at a cost-effective price, including the below:

Are there any limitations?

Google Voice is a little less equipped to handle high volumes of calls (it’s missing features like call queues and call flip). This makes it less suitable for customer service teams — Dialpad will be a better option.

What software can I use with it?

This is unfortunately a big blindspot for Google Voice. Outside of a forum answer confirming that Salesforce is compatible, there’s little evidence of what software integrations Google Voice can support.

6. NBC Cloud Voice: best for call centres needing unlimited calls at no extra cost

Recommended plan: Enterprise

NBC Cloud Voice

Compare costs

• Starting price from: £9.99, per user, per month

• Low cost entry level tier for businesses just starting out
• Unlimited calling with the Enterprise and Mobility plans
• Can help small businesses manage large call volumes

Summary National Business Communications is a UK based telecoms company that is specifically geared towards helping small businesses. Cloud Voice is its VoIP technology, and is backed by the BroadSoft solution by Cisco.

Show moreless

Why did we pick this provider?

NBC Cloud Voice’s Enterprise plan provides small businesses with a solid suite of call management features. With call queues, out of house management, call flows, multi-site support and more, it offers almost everything you’ll need to stay on top of high call volumes.

You do also get the option to pay for additional advanced features, like an AI auto-attendent (from £2.99 per month) or call recording (which is an extra £5 per month).

How much does it cost?

At £17.99 a month, the Enterprise plan represents one of the more costly mid-tier options, however you do get unlimited UK landline and mobile calls built into the package, and the option for a handset starting at an extra £5 per month.

What are the key features?

NBC Cloud Voice Enterprise provides a solution to a very common problem amongst SMEs: managing high call volumes without breaking the bank. It does this via what NBC boasts is over 40 features. We’ve highlighted the key specs below:

Are there any limitations?

One thing to be aware of is that you only get the Cloud Voice mobile app if you pay for the most expensive plan: Complete Mobility.

The Cloud Voice Enterprise plan, which we feel is better suited to small businesses, does only come with a desktop app. So if you’re looking for your staff to take VoIP calls on their mobiles and don’t want to break the bank, we’d recommend bOnline instead.

What software can I use with it?

NBC Cloud Voice is unfortunately limited when it comes to integrations. The Enterprise plan allows for integration with Microsoft and Google, but that’s about it.

RingCentral is compatible with a much more varied range of software, so if you’re looking to integrate CRM or helpdesk, it’ll be a better provider for your needs.

Buying guide: how to choose a VoIP provider

By January 2027, all traditional landline phones will be replaced by VoIP telephone lines in the Big Switch Off. But different businesses have different needs. Some smaller businesses might just want a simple app-based virtual landline, for example.

You still need to know what to look for in an overall VoIP provider, though. Here are the main factors to consider:.

Step 1. Assess what your “must-haves” will be

Different providers’ plans will come with different features and tools. These will be suited to different types of businesses with different specific requirements. There are basic call features that every business will need (like voicemail), but here are some more extra options you should keep in mind:

• Desktop and mobile apps: A call centre might not necessarily need all of its staff to have mobile apps, whereas an on-the-go sales team would consider this a non-negotiable.
• Integrations: Businesses that operate helpdesks and customer service outfits will consider CRM software to be a critical part of their infrastructure. Not all VoIP plans include CRM or helpdesk integrations, so make sure your package can support the third-party software you need.
• Training tools: Getting your staff up to speed with your new VoIP system will be crucial for efficiency. Look out for providers that offer training and onboarding support for managers.
• Help and support: VoIP is considerably more reliable than a traditional telephone line, but it’s still a technology, and so not infallible. Keep an eye out for providers that offer a variety of support channels, that ideally operate 24/7.

Step 2. Decide on a budget

While every business wants to keep its overheads down, going for the cheapest option isn’t always the best idea. You might need to splash out on more advanced features, like analytics and reporting. Or it may be worth opting for a more expensive plan that includes unlimited minutes.

Step 3. Think about communication channels

You’ll need to think about both your internal and external communication channels. How do your staff prefer to communicate? Is video conferencing a critical part of your day-to-day communications? How do you want to be able to contact your customers? Will SMS messaging need to be included?

Step 4. Consider contract length

Generally, VoIP providers tend to sell contracts on a 12 or 24-month basis. As running a startup is always a tumultuous prospect, we’d recommend looking for shorter term contracts. You don’t want to be locked into an agreement that you discover isn’t right for you, or that you won’t actually end up using.

Read next: Essential guide to business telephone and mobile numbers UK

Our methodology

Our dedicated research team conducted a detailed survey to give us a better understanding of our users’ communication needs. This, alongside our team’s industry expertise, has helped us to identify the eight most important factors small businesses should consider when choosing a VoIP provider, and the criteria we have evaluated them on:

• Call management: Features for handling calls
• Pricing: Cost and value for money
• Hardware integrations: The types of phones and devices it can be used with
• Software integrations: What other applications can it be used with
• Communication channels: Which other types of communication are provided
• Training features: Assistance with onboarding staff
• Security options: The measures in place to protect your sensitive data
• Help and support: The range of support options are available

Do you want more information on taking calls online and how it works? You can head over to our dedicated article on what VoIP actually is.