The 5 best small business phone systems in 2026

Following a period of in-depth research into eight popular providers, we have determined that bOnline’s Unlimited Calling package is the best small business phone system. It’s great value for money, with unlimited domestic minutes and solid call management features. The quick setup time also makes it a great choice if this is your first time using a VoIP provider.

With the Big PSTN Switch Off approaching in January 2027, it’s time for all businesses to leave traditional landlines in the past and move to a digital business phone system. Generally speaking, this consists of desk phones (if you need them) and a VoIP app.

Of course, every small business has unique needs and pain points, and so we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the top five best small business phone systems and what their USPs are. Check out our reviews below to find out which is best for you.

The best small business phone systems: comparison table

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	Provider	Pricing from	Inbound communication features:	Outbound communication features:
BEST OVERALL
bOnline Unlimited Calling	RingCentral Standard	Dialpad Pro	Google Voice Standard	GoTo Connect, Phone System
£13.95 + VAT/user/month (currently running a 6-month promo for £9.95 + VAT per user, on a 12-month contract)	£19.99/user/month	£20/user/month	$16/user/month (Google Voice is only priced in US dollars)	Quote-based
Call recording Call monitoring Call queues	Voicemail-to-email Call recording Call monitoring	Call queues 24/7 agent support Supports up to 10 office locations	Google AI helps to block spam calls Transcribes voicemails to texts automatically Call forwarding	Unlimited call routing Auto attendants Ring groups
Unlimited UK minutes per user	750 minutes of domestic outbound comms Call conferencing	CRM integrations (Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot, Zoho and more) Multiple phone numbers per account	Free calls to anywhere in the US Free calls between Google Voice numbers	SMS functionality CRM compatibility with Salesforce, Zoho and Zendesk
Get Quotes	Get Quotes	Get Quotes	Get Quotes	Get Quotes

bOnline Unlimited Calling

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• Price from: £9.95/user/month (six-month promo)

• Good for startups doing lots of cold calling
• Lots of features for a small cost
• Quick to set up

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 one-to-five employees”.

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How much does bOnline Unlimited Calling cost?

Unlimited Calling does exactly what it says on the tin at a bargain price. But this does come at the cost of some advanced extras, like call flip (with which you can transfer a live call without having to put any of the parties on hold). But overall, bOnline offers the best value for money on this list, especially for new businesses.

What are the pros?

bOnline Unlimited Calling is great value for money, and doesn’t sacrifice the core functions you want from a virtual landline. For the budget price you still get:

• HD voice quality
• Call recording on demand
• Call reporting
• Out of hours management
• Desk phone compatibility

The speedy two-minute setup is great for microbusinesses who don’t want the headache of a complicated VoIP installation. You just need to choose your number (or transfer your current number), download the app, and start making calls.

What are the cons?

• bOnline is compatible with Yealink phones only. If you already have non-Yealink phones that you want to use, look at GoTo Connect instead.
• the Unlimited Calling plan is missing multi-factor authentication. If having the highest level of security is a priority for you, we’d recommend taking a look at Google Voice.

☎️ Which handsets should I get?

As bOnline’s Unlimited Calling plan is a budget-friendly starter option, you’re probably best off providing your team with simple Yealink UH34 headsets. A solid low-cost option for customer service teams, you can pick one up for as cheap as £25 plus VAT.

If you do want the reliability of a traditional desk phone, go with the Yealink T31P SIP Desk Phone, an entry-level device you can pick up for just £47 plus VAT.

RingCentral Standard

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• Starting price from: £19.99/user/month (for one user)

• Good for growing businesses that need streamlined internal communications
• Great for customer-service focused businesses
• A range of plans that can support scalability

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 serve over 400,000 customers worldwide and is available in 46 countries.

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How much does RingCentral cost?

RingCentral’s Standard plan is one of the cheaper plans on this roundup. However, you are limited to 250 inbound minutes and 750 outbound minutes per month.

Aside from GoTo Connect, RingCentral Standard is the only package on this list that doesn’t come with unlimited minutes.

What are the pros?

Our research found that RingCentral is an excellent choice for combining your communication channels, as it integrates native team chat, video conferencing and business messaging platforms (like WhatsApp and Facebook Chat) into one phone system.

Combining  a wide range of call features with internal messaging means your staff can collaborate effortlessly and provide excellent customer service to your customer base, reducing their call waiting time. You can also use RingCentral’s AI Assistant to further streamline your workflow.

What are the cons?

• The limited minutes might be a dealbreaker. Alternatively, bOnline Unlimited Calling comes with unlimited domestic calling for a similar monthly per-user price.
• There is no built-in SMS function – take a look at GoTo Connect instead if you need this.

☎️ Which handsets should I get?

RingCentral has its own certified list of phones that integrate with the system without any compatibility headaches. From these, we’d recommend the Yealink T33G as an entry-level VoIP handset featuring a colour screen and HD voice. You can purchase one outright for £81.

If you want to move up to something slightly more advanced, you can pick up the Yealink T43U for £119. This has dual USB ports for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dongles, and uses an OPUS codec, which guarantees higher sound quality.

Dialpad Pro

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• Starting price from: £20/user/month

• Good for small businesses who need help managing high call volumes
• Compatibility with four types of desk phone
• Can integrate 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.

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How much does Dialpad Pro cost?

Dialpad is one of the more expensive options on this list, especially if you elect to pay monthly, but it’s extremely feature-rich and comes with unlimited domestic minutes, so you do get your money’s worth. It just might price out those looking for a simple phone system for a small office.

What are the pros?

Dialpad Pro is the strongest system on this list for call management, featuring everything you’ll need to stay on top of incoming calls, including:

• Call queues
• Call blocking
• Ring groups
• Call forwarding
• Call flip

It also provides an impressive range of communication channels, including call conferencing, team messaging, SMS and video conferencing. But do keep in mind that you’re maxed out at 10 users on your video calls, so if you have a large staff, bOnline Unlimited will have you better covered.

What are the cons?

• While it can support integrations with some big-name CRM and helpdesk solutions (Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot and ServiceNow) you won’t be able to connect with some more obscure CRM and helpdesk platforms on the Pro plan. RingCentral can integrate with a wider range of more niche systems.
• Dialpad Pro does not come with the reassurance of an uptime guarantee. You’ll need to upgrade to the Enterprise plan to get a 100% guarantee.

☎️ Which handsets should I get?

Dialpad supports a wide range of select phones from Obihai, Polycom and Yealink, which you can purchase directly from Dialpad.

We would suggest using the Yealink T33G as a low-cost starter phone (if you shop around, you can find these for £40 to £70), or, for something slightly more advanced, a handset from the Poly Edge E Series. 

Google Voice

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• Starting price from: $16/user/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.

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How much does Google Voice cost?

Google Voice is only available to Google Workspace customers. If you don’t already have it, you can currently try it free for 14 days, but it will then cost:

• Business Starter: £5.90 per user, per month
• Business Standard: £11.80 per user, per month
• Business Plus: £18.40 per user, per month

Just keep in mind that these prices are billed annually and charged in addition to the cost of Google Voice, so if you choose this system, there will be two separate charges to cover.

What are the pros?

Google Workspace users can easily sign up to Google Voice, making things pretty simple for those already in the Google ecosystem. A big benefit of using it as your business phone system is that you get unlimited domestic calls, and you can call the US for free from any country.

Another standout feature is the highly effective spam filtering. If your team suffers from nuisance cold calls, Google Voice is a great defence against them.

Google is also continuously working on improving Google Voice and, in May 2025, it rolled out the ability to support three-way calling. The in-call interface also had a redesign to make certain features more accessible.

What are the cons?

• Google Voice Standard is not totally adept at handling large volumes of calls, as it doesn’t come with call queues.
• Standard can only integrate with a limited number of CRM systems. It’s a simple solution for Workspace users, but a more sophisticated operation would do better with Dialpad Pro.

☎️ Which handsets should I get?

Something to be aware of is that Google Voice is only compatible with a select number of Poly handsets.

The desk phones and ATAs you can use with Google Voice are:

• Poly ATA 400 and 402
• Poly Edge B10, B20, and B30
• Poly OBi 300 and 302
• Poly VVX OBi Edition 150, 250, 350, and 450 (be aware that Poly plans to discontinue all its devices based on OBi firmware)
• Poly Edge E series

If you just need a cheap and basic option to get started with, then you should consider the Poly Edge B10 (you can usually find them for around £30 to £50).

If you need a handset that’s specifically designed for hybrid working, then the Poly Edge E Series will be worth your attention, thanks to a simple set up process.

GoTo Connect Phone System

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• Starting price from: Quote-based

• Good for medium-sized businesses that want 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.

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How much does GoTo Connect cost?

GoTo Connect doesn’t publicly list its prices. Instead, it works out bespoke quotes based on your business’s needs.

What are the pros?

One of GoTo Connect’s biggest bonuses is the ability to make and receive calls to and from over 50 countries, for free. It’s a pretty standout feature, especially if you need a call centre phone system (just make sure it’s included with your GoTo Connect package).

GoTo Connect also combines a range of key call management features, such as call routing and ring groups, with the most comprehensive range of business communication tools in our analysis, including:

• Team messaging
• Video conferencing
• Call conferencing
• SMS
• E-fax

You’ll also benefit from the range of AI-powered features GoTo Connect has launched, including support from its AI assistant GoPilot, as well as AI generated text-to-speech.

What are the cons?

• CRM integration with GoTo Connect is limited to a handful of systems. RingCentral is a better option if you need to integrate with a more niche CRM brand.
• GoTo Connect does not come with unlimited free minutes – you’ll get 1,000 free minutes per month, to be shared between all users.

☎️ Which handsets should I get?

If you already have desk phones, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to integrate them with your GoTo Connect phone system. Just make sure you check its website to see if your phone is compatible, or ask GoTo for help with this directly .

If you don’t already have a phone, we’d recommend going with the Cisco IP range. The Cisco IP 7841 is an affordable, easy-to-use, four-line handset aimed at moderately active business users. They can fluctuate in price, so shop around to find yourself the best deal. You should be able to pick one up for less than £100.

Read more: Our essential guide to business telephone and mobile numbers in the UK

How do I choose a phone system for my small business?

To choose the best office phone system, first think about your specific needs, like your estimated volume of calls. You’ll need to compare providers based on important factors like customer support channels, scalability and if it can integrate with your CRM software.

If this sounds a little complicated, just remember there are many key benefits to switching to a VoIP-based business phone provider, including:

• Lower costs than a traditional landline
• VoIP’s softphone apps make remote work easier
• Access to advanced features like call routing

When you first start comparing phone systems, make sure you understand:

• How many people will be using your system. Almost all business phone systems are priced per user, so there’s no point paying for staff members who’ll never need to pick up the phone.
• How many calls you expect your team to make and receive. This will make it easier to decipher how many inbound and outbound minutes you need.

Next up, you’ll want to consider:

Do I need to buy phones?

All the providers on this roundup offer a softphone app, so technically, you can just run your VoIP system from a smartphone, tablet or desktop, with no other hardware needed. This is a good way to save money on your small business office phone system.

However, this doesn’t mean office phones are obsolete. Some businesses may consider getting phones or headsets for their reliable sound quality and ease of use. Sales and customer service teams especially are likely to need headsets to do their jobs effectively and comfortably.

Do I need any software integrations?

The ability to integrate with the other software you use, namely CRM and helpdesk software, can help keep your communications with customers and clients in one place.

Some phone systems come ready to integrate with specific software. If your business is heavily reliant on using Salesforce, for example, make sure you pick a system that it can seamlessly connect with.

What customer support channels are best?

Reliable and accessible support is critical for SMEs, so we recommend looking for phone system providers that offer live chat or phone support (depending on your preference). Keep an eye out for those that offer 24/7 assistance.

What factors are important for growing businesses?

If you forecast that you’ll be expanding your team or receiving higher volumes of calls, go for a provider that makes it easy to upgrade to higher-level plans that allow for more users, higher call volumes, and more sophisticated comms features.

Look at the more expensive plans each provider offers and consider how much you’ll need to pay in order to meet your future needs. Don’t go for a provider that charges a steep pricing increase for a shallow improvement in capabilities.

What is an uptime guarantee and do I need one?

This refers to your Service-Level Agreement (SLA) with your VoIP provider, that ensures that your service will be operational for a specific period of time. Consistent downtime could result in financial loss, or even harm to your business’s reputation. “Three nines” is the industry standard: 99.9%.

Not all plans have uptime guarantee’s though, so be vigilant when choosing your provider.

Should I try before I buy?

Many business phone system providers offer a free trial, or at least a demo, of their software and hardware. I’d always recommend a test drive. Let your employees try it for themselves and get their honest feedback.

What is the best phone system for a one-person business or freelancer?

For one-person-bands, we’d still recommend bOnline first and foremost due to its low cost and quick setup time. After all, the key concerns for freelancers and sole traders will be simplicity, cost-effectiveness and ease of use.

However, if you’re already paying for a Google Workspace account, we’d also recommend Google Voice, as it will be low cost and very easy to integrate into your current workflow.

Our methodology: how we test business phone systems

We research and rank business phone systems based on eight key criteria. Our dedicated research team conducted an in-depth survey to truly understand small business’s communication processes, including their pain points and specific needs, so we could determine these eight testing criteria:

• Call management features: how well the software manages incoming calls.
• Software integrations: we assess how many other platforms and apps the system is compatible with.
• Communication channels: we rate each one on how many other communication methods it provides, such as video conferencing and SMS messaging.
• Training features: how well the system can help train your employees, based on features such as call recording and monitoring.
• Hardware integrations: we assess the number of compatible hardware brands that can be used with the business phone system.
• Customer support: the range and accessibility of the help and support options provided by the phone system provider.
• Security options: what security measures are in place to protect your calls and data.
• Pricing: how much does the VoIP system cost? We assess the pricing structures and value for money offered by the system.

Summary: what’s the best small business phone system?

bOnline Unlimited Calling is our number one small business phone system thanks to its unmatched affordability, which comes without sacrificing any core calling features. It also has a speedy setup time that’s great for less-tech-savvy businesses.

It won’t be the best option for every business, though. For example, if your business is more advanced and you make a lot of international calls, you’ll get more out of the higher-priced GoTo Connect. It’s critical to find a business phone system that can fulfil the demands of your specific business.