A Strategy-Led Comparison of the UK’s Top VoIP Providers
If you are comparing VoIP providers because you want a cheaper deal, modern features, and confidence you are ready for the UK’s PSTN/ISDN retirement, this guide is built for practical buying decisions—not marketing claims.
Updated framework: Value + Features + Support reality + Failover + Switch-off readiness.
Quick shortlist (60-second answer)
- Best all-rounder platform: RingCentral (broad feature depth and scalability)
- Best for Microsoft Teams businesses: Microsoft Teams Phone (excellent when PSTN connectivity is designed correctly)
- Best for sales/support workflows: Aircall (strong CRM/helpdesk workflow fit)
- BhavPro support-first managed pick: Stride Communications (UK delivery + migration ownership approach; independent provider)
- Best mobile + fixed convergence angle: Vodafone One Net (packaging varies—confirm feature depth)
How we rank providers (Star Factor + Regret Index)
Most “Top 10” lists rank providers like consumer products. Business VoIP decisions fail for different reasons—hidden add-ons, unclear support boundaries, poor cutover planning, and no continuity plan for internet/power disruption.
Top 10 comparison table (scan first)
Star Factor: Value + Features + Readiness. Regret Index: hidden costs / support ambiguity / continuity gaps.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Star Factor | Regret Index | Trial / Pilot | 2027 readiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RingCentral | Scaling teams, broad UCaaS | 4.8/5 | Medium | Verify | Strong (IP-native; plan cutover + continuity) |
| 2 | 8x8 | UC operations, upgrade path | 4.6/5 | Medium | Verify | Strong (validate tier packaging) |
| 3 | Microsoft Teams Phone | M365-first calling | 4.6/5 | Medium | Pilot-led | Design-dependent (PSTN model choice matters) |
| 4 | Gamma Horizon | UK cloud PBX ecosystem | 4.5/5 | Medium | Partner-led | Strong (partner quality decides outcome) |
| 5 | Vonage | Integrations-led UC | 4.4/5 | Medium | Verify | Strong (confirm inclusions vs plan) |
| 6 | Dialpad | Modern app-first calling | 4.4/5 | Medium | Verify | Strong (validate compliance/retention fit) |
| 7 | Aircall | CRM workflows for teams | 4.3/5 | Medium | Verify | Strong (confirm PBX complexity fit) |
| 8 | Vodafone One Net | Mobile + fixed convergence | 4.2/5 | Medium | Account-led | Carrier path (package features vary) |
| 9 | BT Cloud Voice | Known supplier route | 4.1/5 | Medium | Demo/pilot | Strong (clarify responsibilities) |
| 10 | Stride Communications (BhavPro recommendation) | UK managed migration + support | 4.7/5 | Low–Med | Assessment/pilot | Strong (managed readiness; confirm scope & SLAs) |
Buyer Quick Check (the questions you should be able to answer “yes” to)
Use this checklist to validate every provider before you commit. It is designed for buyers who are price-sensitive but still need business-grade reliability.
- Cheaper deal: does the total cost stay low after add-ons (recording, reporting, queues, calling bundles)?
- Best lower price option: does the lower tier include the core call handling you need (IVR/queues), or is it artificially limited?
- Top features: IVR/auto attendant, queues/ring groups, business hours routing, apps, admin portal, reporting.
- Switch-off ready: do you have an explicit porting + cutover plan, and a continuity plan for internet/power disruption?
- Free trial / pilot: is there a trial, a partner pilot, or demo-only? (Get it in writing.)
- Free desk phones: is it a promotion? Confirm model, ownership, and contract requirements.
- UK support: who supports you, what hours, and what is included (changes, call flow updates, escalation)?
- Bundled calling: confirm what “included” actually covers (mobiles, landlines, fair-use, exclusions).
- Softphone + desktop apps: confirm feature parity (transfer, park, recording controls, voicemail).
- Call recording readiness: retention controls, access controls, auditability, and policy alignment.
- Failover/backup: rerouting, mobile fallback, multi-site continuity, and a plan for power cuts.
- Multi-solution capability: can the supplier support Cloud PBX, Teams Phone, or SIP trunking scenarios as your needs evolve?
Provider deep dives (Strengths + Buyer Fit + Regret Index)
Tip: read the “Buyer Fit” section first—this is the fastest way to decide if a provider can solve your exact problem.
1) RingCentral — 4.8/5
Best for: businesses that want a mature cloud PBX platform and expect to scale users/sites over time.
- Strong call handling foundations (IVR/auto attendant, routing patterns)
- Mobile + desktop apps suited to hybrid teams
- Good fit for multi-site governance and admin control
- Broad integrations ecosystem (verify your exact workflow)
- Cheaper deal? Often good value at scale; confirm add-ons.
- Lower price tier? Yes, but verify what’s excluded.
- Top features? High (tier dependent).
- Free trial? Verify current offer.
- UK support? Verify model and escalation.
- Recording? Usually tier/add-on—confirm controls & retention.
- Failover? Supported via routing; continuity needs design.
2027 readiness note: IP-native replacement path. Your risk is not the platform—it’s cutover planning: staged rollout, porting ownership, and continuity (internet/power).
Regret Index: Medium — hidden add-ons and tier assumptions are the common failure points.
2) 8x8 — 4.6/5
Best for: teams who want a structured UC platform with a clear path to heavier customer operations.
- Strong call-handling fundamentals (queues/attendants) with operational scalability
- Good fit where reporting and admin governance matter
- Suitable for multi-site growth (verify routing requirements)
- Cheaper deal? Can be, depending on tier and calling bundles.
- Lower price tier? Yes; confirm which features are locked.
- Top features? High (tier dependent).
- Free trial? Verify current offer.
- UK support? Verify support route (direct vs partner).
- Recording? Verify tier and retention controls.
- Failover? Requires continuity design (routing + connectivity + power).
2027 readiness note: Strong IP path. Ensure your plan includes a staged rollout and a written porting/cutover schedule.
Regret Index: Medium — tier selection mistakes and “included calling” assumptions drive regret.
3) Microsoft Teams Phone — 4.6/5
Best for: Microsoft 365-first organisations that want calling embedded in Teams.
- Excellent adoption if Teams is already the daily workspace
- Auto attendants and call queues can model real business call flows
- Strong governance alignment for M365-managed IT environments
- Cheaper deal? Can be, if M365 licensing is already in place; connectivity choice affects cost.
- Lower price tier? Licensing structure is the key—confirm the full stack.
- Top features? Strong when designed correctly.
- Free trial? Typically pilot-led.
- UK support? Depends on delivery partner / internal IT.
- Recording? Possible; confirm policy, retention, and access control.
- Failover? Requires continuity design; Teams does not remove power/internet dependency.
2027 readiness note: Strong when architected properly. Treat it like a phone system build (not a “checkbox feature”).
Regret Index: Medium — wrong connectivity design leads to rework and unexpected complexity.
4) Gamma Horizon — 4.5/5
Best for: UK buyers who want a cloud PBX ecosystem often delivered via a UK partner model.
- UK market fit and deployment patterns are commonly well-understood in the ecosystem
- Good option for multi-site and growth (partner delivery dependent)
- Potentially strong UK support routes via partner
- Cheaper deal? Often competitive via partners; confirm contract terms.
- Lower price tier? Verify inclusions and “what’s managed”.
- Top features? Strong cloud PBX capabilities.
- Free trial? Typically partner-led pilot.
- UK support? Often yes via partner; verify SLAs.
- Recording? Verify licensing and retention controls.
- Failover? Usually achievable with correct design and routing.
2027 readiness note: Strong, but delivery quality is the differentiator—choose the partner as carefully as the platform.
Regret Index: Medium — partner mismatch and unclear responsibility boundaries are the common failure modes.
5) Vonage — 4.4/5
Best for: businesses prioritising integrations and workflow automation across CRM/helpdesk tools.
- Strong integrations-led proposition (validate your exact toolchain)
- Broad UC features in business tiers (confirm queues/recording/reporting)
- Good fit for organisations wanting voice connected to business processes
- Cheaper deal? Can be; confirm which integrations and recording are included.
- Lower price tier? Verify feature locks.
- Top features? Strong (tier dependent).
- Free trial? Verify.
- UK support? Verify support route and escalation.
- Recording? Verify plan + retention + access control.
- Failover? Achievable; needs continuity planning.
2027 readiness note: Strong IP path. Ensure your migration plan covers any hidden PSTN dependencies (alarms, entry systems, etc.).
Regret Index: Medium — integration expectations vs reality and add-on creep are the common pain points.
6) Dialpad — 4.4/5
Best for: modern, distributed teams who value app-first calling and productivity tooling.
- App-first experience for remote/hybrid teams
- Strong fit where usability drives adoption
- Good for teams that want a modern calling workflow (verify plan features)
- Cheaper deal? Often competitive; confirm what features are included.
- Lower price tier? Verify call queues/recording/reporting availability.
- Top features? Strong (tier dependent).
- Free trial? Verify.
- UK support? Verify.
- Recording? Confirm plan + retention controls.
- Failover? Requires continuity planning.
2027 readiness note: Strong IP path; confirm compliance and retention posture is suitable for your sector.
Regret Index: Medium — buyers sometimes assume all features are included in base tiers.
7) Aircall — 4.3/5
Best for: sales/support teams that want CRM/helpdesk workflows and performance visibility.
- Strong workflow alignment for customer-facing teams
- Good visibility for team performance and call handling
- Excellent when your primary requirement is “team calling operations”
- Cheaper deal? Value comes from operational fit, not lowest headline price.
- Lower price tier? Verify inclusions for queues/recording/reporting.
- Top features? Strong for sales/support workflows.
- Free trial? Verify.
- UK support? Verify support route.
- Recording? Confirm plan + compliance controls.
- Failover? Needs design; confirm fallback routing options.
2027 readiness note: Strong for modern calling, but confirm fit if you have complex PBX dial plans and multi-site routing needs.
Regret Index: Medium — regret happens when buyers expect an “enterprise PBX replacement” for complex estates without validating call-flow depth.
8) Vodafone One Net — 4.2/5
Best for: businesses that want carrier-led convergence (mobile + fixed calling identity) and a structured procurement route.
- Convergence positioning across mobile and fixed calling
- Carrier-led buying route can suit governance-heavy organisations
- Potentially strong account-led deployment support (package dependent)
- Cheaper deal? Can be, depending on bundles and contracts.
- Lower price tier? Verify call handling features (queues/IVR/reporting).
- Top features? Package dependent—verify depth.
- Free trial? Usually account/pilot-led—verify.
- UK support? Usually yes (account-led); verify hours and escalation.
- Recording? Verify availability and controls.
- Failover? Confirm continuity options and rerouting.
2027 readiness note: Strong transition pathway in principle; validate feature depth and continuity approach under your specific package.
Regret Index: Medium — regret comes from package mismatches and feature assumptions.
9) BT Cloud Voice — 4.1/5
Best for: buyers who prioritise a familiar supplier route and want a structured move to digital voice.
- Comfortable procurement route for many UK businesses
- Clear positioning around moving to digital voice
- Good “known supplier” option when governance matters
- Cheaper deal? Sometimes; validate contract and add-ons.
- Lower price tier? Verify feature inclusions.
- Top features? Verify queues/recording/reporting by plan.
- Free trial? Usually demo/pilot-led.
- UK support? Verify support scope and what changes are included.
- Recording? Confirm availability and retention controls.
- Failover? Needs continuity design; clarify responsibility.
2027 readiness note: Strong path, but you still need a staged cutover plan, fallback routing, and clarity on who does what.
Regret Index: Medium — responsibility ambiguity and under-planned continuity are common pain points.
10) Stride Communications — 4.7/5 (BhavPro recommendation)
Best for: UK businesses that want an outcomes-led migration and managed support model (not just a subscription).
- Managed design, migration, and go-live discipline (confirm scope in proposal)
- Engineered call flows: IVR, queues, routing, multi-site patterns
- Support-first approach: accountability and readiness planning (confirm SLAs/hours)
- Better fit for businesses that want clear ownership of cutover and continuity
- Cheaper deal? Often strong value when you include support and migration effort.
- Lower price tier? Usually solution-scoped; request a clear inclusions list.
- Top features? High, solution dependent (validate requirements).
- Free trial? Assessment/pilot-led—verify.
- UK support? Typically a core selling point—verify hours and escalation.
- Recording? Specify compliance needs and retention rules in scope.
- Failover? Should be designed in (mobile fallback, reroutes, resilience plan).
2027 readiness note: A strong “readiness-led” option when you want migration ownership, continuity planning, and support clarity to be part of the engagement.
Regret Index: Low–Medium — the main risk is scope ambiguity; insist on written scope for recording, retention, failover, SLAs, and change requests.
The 2027 Readiness Checklist (use this regardless of provider)
- Inventory: list every PSTN/ISDN dependency (alarms, lifts, entry systems, payment devices, telecare, fax, etc.).
- Architecture: choose Cloud PBX vs Teams Phone vs SIP trunking (keep PBX, replace connectivity).
- Cutover: pilot first, port numbers in stages, validate call flows and out-of-hours routing, document rollback.
- Continuity: design for internet outages and power cuts (UPS for router/ONT/network; mobile failover; reroutes).
- Governance: define who owns admin changes, escalation, SLAs, and ongoing call-flow edits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this list include the cheapest business VoIP in the UK?
It includes providers that can be cost-effective, but “cheapest” depends on your exact requirements. The cheapest headline price often becomes expensive once you add call queues, recording, reporting, and calling bundles. Use the Buyer Quick Check to validate total cost.
Will VoIP work in a power cut?
Not unless you plan for it. Digital voice typically depends on power for your router/ONT and network. If calling is critical, you need backup power and/or mobile failover and rerouting rules. For the UK regulatory view, see Ofcom guidance on digital landlines and power cuts.
Can I keep my existing UK phone numbers?
In most cases, yes—via number porting. Always confirm the porting timeline, cutover plan, and fallback routing during the porting window.
Does “free calling” really mean unlimited?
Usually it means bundled minutes with fair-use policies and exclusions. Confirm which calls are included (UK mobiles/landlines), what is excluded, and what triggers overage charges.
Is call recording “compliance-ready” by default?
No. Recording is a capability. Compliance depends on your policy, lawful basis, retention period, access control, and auditability. Ask how recordings are stored, who can access them, and how retention is managed.
Should I choose Cloud PBX, Teams Phone, or SIP trunking?
Cloud PBX is best for most businesses replacing an old system end-to-end. Teams Phone is strong for M365-first businesses if the PSTN connectivity model is designed properly. SIP trunking is best when you want to keep an existing PBX but replace legacy connectivity.
Ready to turn this comparison into a deployment plan?
Start with a technical 2027 readiness audit and migration plan (inventory → architecture → staged cutover → continuity).
Get Started →Sources & Methodology
- Primary sources: official provider pages linked throughout this guide (pricing, plans, and product overviews), plus UK migration guidance referenced in the “2027 deadline” section (Openreach and Ofcom links already included).
- Scoring model: Star Factor (value-to-cost after real add-ons, feature depth, support/governance clarity, recording readiness, failover planning, and 2027 readiness) + Regret Index (add-on creep risk, support gaps, migration complexity, resilience gaps).
- “Verify” rule: where pricing, trials, “free” items, or bundled calling can change by tier/promotion/term, we label it Verify and recommend confirming details in writing before purchase.
- Last reviewed: January 2, 2026 (links, positioning, and UK migration references).
This is a buyer-first comparison designed to reduce downstream regret (unexpected add-ons, unclear support boundaries, and weak continuity planning).
