Best UK VoIP Providers for Small Businesses for 2024

Based on our in-depth research, the best VoIP provider for small businesses is 8×8, which took home an overall 4.7 out of 5 score. Boasting generous user and feature allowances, it is a cost-effective communications solution for SMEs seeking to limit calling expenses in the current, inflationary economy.

If you're considering purchasing a VoIP phone, here's the good news: the decision has already been made for you. In December 2025, all traditional UK landlines will be turned off, which means SMEs can now only buy a phone system that uses IP (Internet Protocol). We've identified the following as the best VoIP service to sign with in 2024:

VoIP is a complex business technology. It isn't something you can just take out of the box without prior research – particularly with the current pressures on business cash flow. On top of pricing, users also need to consider factors like security features, call policy management, and network strength to find a system with real value for money.

That's why the most important thing when choosing a VoIP provider is to find one that offers the right level of support. For those who are unsure, we’ve designed a free cost comparison tool to give you personalised VoIP pricing quotes for your company and access to a VoIP expert who can help you during the setup or switching process.

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

BEST ALL ROUND
Best value plan: 8×8	Best value plan: Vonage	Best value plan: bOnline	Best value plan: Dialpad	Best value plan: GoTo	Best value plan: RingCentral	Best value plan: Nuacom
Best for 🥇Firms with ambitious growth targets	Best for 🥇Value for money	Best for 🥇Firms running a helpdesk	Best for 🥇Onboarding new staff members	Best for 🥇Remote sales teams	Best for 🥇Business mobile use	Best for 🥇Ecommerce businesses
Pricing from £19 per user per month (estimated)	Pricing from £10 per user, per month	Pricing from £7 per user per month (pay as you go)	Pricing from £12 per user per month (billed annually)	Pricing from £10 per user, per month	Pricing from £12.99 per user per month (paid annually)	Pricing from £14.99 per user, per month (estimated)
Free trial	Free trial	Free trial	Free trial	Free trial	Free trial	Free trial

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

If you want to carry out further research, read on for our review of the best VoIP providers. We’ll also give you some top tips on choosing the service most suited to your business’s needs, and explain the benefits of using a VoIP service.

What is a VoIP provider?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and it is a technology that enables voice communication over the internet. Instead of using traditional telephone lines, VoIP converts audio signals into digital data and transmits them over an internet connection.

When you make a call using VoIP, your voice is captured by a microphone and converted into sections. These sections contain data about your voice, such as its volume and frequency. They are then transmitted over the internet using Internet Protocol (IP) networks.

To ensure the audio is high-quality, VoIP systems divide it into smaller units to be sent individually. This allows for efficient use of network resources, making VoIP a cost-effective solution in today's economy. However, this also makes it more vulnerable to cyber attacks, so security features are important when researching VoIP.

8×8

4.7 out of 5

• Pricing
  4.4
• External Connections
  4.5
• Features
  4.6

Compare costs

Following extensive research into the top VoIP systems, we awarded 8×8 the top score for scalability. Boasting generous feature and user limits, this is a platform that will be able to grow alongside your business. The ability to place international calls makes it an unparalleled option for global firms.

Features

Businesses using 8×8 VoIP services can take advantage of features like auto-attendant, voicemail to email, and unlimited video conferencing – all available on the X2 plan.

The X2 is particularly ideal for businesses in the early stages of growth. It permits unlimited domestic calls and call conferencing with up to 500 employees. Plus, call recording is also available for training staff on the system. Those who are looking for a unified communications platform are well serviced by every X2 package, with a mobile app available and free integrations with CRM software available.

8×8 also received the top score for scalability during our research. This is an aggregated score which assesses a product's ability to scale with business growth and is based on specific features such as user limit, call queue, and local numbers.

Businesses that opt for the X2 and X4 packages could also benefit from contact centre integration, which is great for small customer-centric businesses with the potential to scale.

💰 Pricing

Since March 2023, 8×8 no longer shares its pricing tiers publicly. However, historical pricing data tells us that users should expect to pay around £19 per user, per month for the platform's lowest-tiered plan.

That would make it one of the most expensive options on this list, and is why we only recommend 8×8 to scaling firms with large cash reserves.

📝 8×8 plans

8×8 has five plans available for business users, encompassing the X2, X4, X6, X7, and X8 plans. SMEs are best off sticking to the low end of the scale with the X2 plan. However, if you do wish to upgrade:

• Teams with international clients may wish to upgrade to X4 for access to 48 markets
• The X6 plan boasts more sophisticated management features
• The X7 plan is the best option for marketers wanting to outreach across multiple channels
• Sales teams will find X8 the most useful plan to access its power and auto dialer features.

Having recently got rid of its microbusiness plan, 8×8 Express, the brand has also obscured its business costs for its remaining five tiers. However, we know from previous research rounds that prices will likely range from £19 per user, per month for the X2 plan, to £132 per user, per month for the X8 plan.

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

Provider 8×8 X2	Provider 8×8 X4	Provider 8×8 X6	Provider 8×8 X7	Provider 8×8 X8
Best for Contact centres selling internationally	Best for Operating internationally	Best for Businesses with multiple departments	Best for Marketing teams	Best for Large sales firms with multiple management tiers
Pricing from Not shared publicly	Pricing from Not shared publicly	Pricing from Not shared publicly	Pricing from Not shared publicly	Pricing from Not shared publicly
International calling? Unlimited to 14 Countries including the UK, Australia, Canada, and the US	International calling? Unlimited to 48 countries including Japan, China, and India	International calling? Unlimited to 48 countries including Japan, China, and India	International calling? Unlimited to 48 countries including Japan, China, and India	International calling? Unlimited to 48 countries including Japan, China, and India
Video calling options: External calling Call conferencing with 500 maximum	Video calling options: Everything in X2	Video calling options: Everything in X2	Video calling options: Everything in X2	Video calling options: Everything in X2
Inbound communication features: Call recording Customisable call routing Analytics/reporting features	Inbound communication features: Call monitoring Call transcripts (additional cost)	Inbound communication features: Customisable Service Level Agreements (SLAs) Ability to set up multiple teams and departments Task management	Inbound communication features: Multi-channel support for social media, chat, email, and SMS	Inbound communication features: Quality management Speech and text analytics
Outbound communication features: Set custom ID Customise call lists	Outbound communication features: SMS chat (US and Canada only)	Outbound communication features: Power, predictive, and auto dialer (all available for additional £)	Outbound communication features: Everything in X6	Outbound communication features: Power dialer Predictive dialing Auto dialer

💡 Which type of small business is 8×8 most suitable for?

8×8 is an expert in creating VoIP phone systems for a huge array of industries – particularly those with offices abroad. 8×8's huge variety in hardware leasing options also means it can keep up with your requirements for both physical and virtual technology, making it the best scalable VoIP solution for growing small businesses.

Vonage

4.6 out of 5

• Pricing
  5
• External connections
  3.4
• Features
  4.3

Compare costs

Vonage might not be the cheapest provider in this list (that honour goes to rival, bOnline) but it is the best VoIP system in terms of value for money. Its customer support offering is unmatched, while a sophisticated messaging app and quick setup is ideal for companies based offline that want a phone system they don't have to work to understand.

Features

While it might sound basic, Vonage has truly perfected its main goal of hosting and receiving calls. Its setup is quick, and its mobile app platform makes team messaging easy and effortless.

UK users can also speak to helpful Vonage advisors via a user forum, online knowledge base, email, phone, and live chat. That’s why we ultimately recommend it to startups or firms without major VoIP requirements who are just after clear call quality and simple setup.

Many sophisticated features are missing in the Vonage feature list. Capabilities such as setting a customisable greeting for inbound calls, aren’t available on the Basic plan. Meanwhile, virtually all advanced tools (integrations, hold music, voicemail to text) are only available for an added fee, a reflection of Vonage’s affordable pricing plans.

These talents contribute to Vonage’s overall customer satisfaction score of 4 out of 5, according to our research, which beats our top contender 8×8 by half a mark.

💰 Pricing

Pricing for Vonage's lowest-priced tier, Vonage Express, starts from £10 per user, per month. However, this does cap the number of calls you can make from your desktop. We recommend small businesses invest in Vonage Core instead, for £18 per user, per month.

📝 Vonage plans

For those looking to upgrade, Vonage has three pricing tiers available for UK businesses. These are Vonage Core, Vonage Pro, and Vonage Max. Here's a quick run through of how they differ:

• Vonage Core (£18 per user, per month) has unlimited domestic calling available, best for teams with more than one sales rep
• Vonage Pro (£20 per user, per month) is best for managers, with call recording and call monitoring available
• Vonage Max (£25 per user, per month) is best for marketers, with CRM integrations available

With prices starting from just £10 per user, per month and rising to £25 for Vonage Max, Vonage is cheaper than 8×8 and also more transparent with its upfront costs than the latter. However, Vonage does come with a significant number of hidden fees.

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

Provider Vonage Express	Provider Vonage Core	Provider Vonage Pro	Provider Vonage Max
Best for Outbound communication, such as telemarketing	Best for Best for resource-stretched teams wanting a virtual receptionist	Best for Teams with multiple management roles	Best for Sales teams doing lots of outreach and marketing
Pricing from £10 per user, per month	Pricing from £18 per user, per month	Pricing from £20 per user, per month	Pricing from £25 per user, per month
International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)
Video calling options: Call conferencing (up to 3 max) External video calling	Video calling options: Call conferencing for up to 30 (additional fee) Unlimited Vonage meetings	Video calling options: Same as Vonage Core	Video calling options: Same as Vonage Core
Inbound communication features: Analytics/reporting features Call monitoring (additional fee)	Inbound communication features: Customisable call routing Ring groups (for multiple teams)	Inbound communication features: Call monitoring Call recording Virtual receptionist	Inbound communication features: Integrations with CRM software Company wide call recording
Outbound communication features: Custom call lists Set caller ID Metred calling	Outbound communication features: Unlimited domestic calling	Outbound communication features: Unlimited call queue Call group	Outbound communication features: Same as Vonage Pro

💡 Which type of small business is Vonage most suitable for?

For SMEs, Vonage is best for those that want a phone system, but don’t rely on it as a main revenue stream, such as a small dentist practice. The system can’t perform as many tricks as 8×8, but as an affordable phone system without too many confusing bells and whistles, it’s a safe call.

bOnline

4.4 out of 5

• Pricing
  5
• External Connections
  3.6
• Features
  4.5

Compare costs

bOnline is the ultimate option for service desks. It allows an unlimited number of inbound calls for just £6.50 per user, per month. Easily the cheapest provider on this list, we recommend it to companies that get a lot of customer enquiries, such as small IT helpdesks.

Features

So, what makes bOnline so great? Well, its lowest-priced tier (bOnline Starter) is decidedly generous. It offers 50+ features – including unlimited calling, a reporting dashboard, a digital phone line, and a mobile app. You’ll also be able to try out the service free for 30 days.

The reporting dashboard is a unique bOnline feature that some providers don’t offer, or offer only on a premium plan (which isn’t cost effective for small businesses). It uses infographics and processes real-time data, so you can interpret insights and make business decisions based on call volumes and durations.

You can also use preset call flows to customise call flows to your business, directing customers through the appropriate contact channels. This feature is especially handy if you don’t have an existing PBX system, auto-attendant, or receptionist.

You can set up the bOnline VoIP hosted system in just two minutes, with no engineers, installations, or IT buffs required. Plus, bOnline is one of the first providers to start selling broadband on top of its virtual phone system. This means you have the option to bundle your digital phone line, calls, and broadband.

💰 Pricing

bOnline pricing starts from £7 per user, per month. With this, you'll get unlimited inbound calls but you'll only be able to make 100 minutes of calls per month. Users can upgrade to the bOnline Unlimited Calling plan for £13.75 per user, per month, to get around this.

It's worth nothing that bOnline is not as generous as 8×8 when it comes to call features. Many of these are only available as add-ons for an extra fee. For example, you'll need to pay an extra £5 per month for CRM integration, call recording, and HD video conferencing.

International calling is also paid-for, but it's still very cheap. £6 +VAT per month will get you 500 minutes to 100 destinations.

📝 bOnline plans

Unlike 8×8, bOnline is not the most scalable option on the market. SMEs can choose from just three plans: bOnline Starter and bOnline Unlimited Calling (£13.75 per user, per month). There is also the option to purchase bOnline Unlimited Calling with a physical desk phone included for an additional £1.55 per user, per month.

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

Provider bOnline Starter	Provider bOnline Unlimited Calling	Provider bOnline Unlimited Calling + IP Phone
Best for Affordable pricing	Best for Budget option with discounted IP handsets	Best for Discounted access to VoIP desk phone
Pricing from £7 per user, per month	Pricing from £13.95 per user, per month	Pricing from £15.50 per user, per month
International calling? Available for £6+VAT per month	International calling? Available for £6+VAT per month	International calling? Available for £6+VAT per month
Video calling options: No	Video calling options: HD video conferencing External video calling	Video calling options: Same as bOnline Unlimited
Inbound communication features: Call routing for out of hours calls Call forwarding Music on hold	Inbound communication features: Call recording Call monitoring Call queues	Inbound communication features: Same as bOnline Unlimited
Outbound communication features: 100 UK minutes per user High definition (HD) voice Extension dialling	Outbound communication features: Unlimited UK minutes per user 1-1 onboarding	Outbound communication features: Includes VoIP Desk Phone

Put simply, the main reason to upgrade to bOnline Unlimited Calling is to access more outbound minutes. Whereas bOnline Starter gives you just 100 minutes of outbound calls, bOnline Unlimited is, as the name suggests, uncapped.

That makes it an easy decision on whether you need to upgrade. If you need to contact customers for more than one hour and 40 minutes per month, upgrade. If not, stick to bOnline Starter. Luckily, both plans are still cheap and cheerful, with bOnline Unlimited costing just £6.95 more than the Starter plan.

💡 Which type of small business is bOnline most suitable for?

bOnline is built specifically for smaller helpdesk operations. In the larger picture of telecoms companies, it doesn’t have the operational capacity and technical ability of 8×8 or RingCentral. But its low-cost Starter plan makes it an excellent choice for SMEs wanting to accept customer calls, not make them.

Dialpad

4.4 out of 5

• Pricing
  4.7
• Features
  2.4
• External connections
  4.7

Compare costs

Sales is a tough industry to master. Luckily, Dialpad's extensive onboarding and recording tools make it ideal for new starter orientation. Helpful features like call recording can help new starters understand the sales script and identify ways for improvement – bringing both HR and business benefits.

Features

When we talk about software innovation, we mean the fact that Dialpad’s entire cloud-based platform is powered by AI. The voice intelligence software that comes with Dialpad captures action items, provides coaching, takes notes and even analyses sentiments in real time whilst you are on a call.

This voice intelligence is great for call centre managers or sales managers, who, using the VI Call Summary feature, can quickly find specific “coachable moments” on which to focus their attention when providing performance feedback.

Dialpad comes with all the standard call management features, plus integrations with helpful apps like Slack, G Suite, and Office 365. It also comes with a 14-day free trial, which is useful if you just want to sample what’s on offer.

What lets Dialpad down is its reporting, which lags way behind competitors – although this provider is currently adding more features and working on improvements. Unlike 8×8, RingCentral and bOnline, you can’t analyse the quality of calls with Dialpad, nor schedule reports for future release. Instead, you’ll just have the option to print or export old reports in a CSV format – which is a fiddly delimited text file exported into excel.

💰 Pricing

With prices starting from just £12 per user, per month, Dialpad is one of the most affordable options on this list. This will also get you unlimited calling and video calling – a premium offering that outpaces rivals like Vonage. However, it is very limited for software integrations, which could be an issue for those looking to scale their operations.

📝 Dialpad plans

Dialpad offers two plans to small business users: Dialpad Standard (£12 per user, per month) and Dialpad Pro (£20 per user, per month). There is also an Enterprise option (which we wouldn't recommend it to SMEs) which provides priority agent support to global corporations.

The Standard plan is a great foundation for SMEs to begin with. Teams of 20+ and based in multiple locations may want to upgrade to the Pro plan to avoid any allowance caps on the Dialpad Standard plan.

While the Pro plan may cost more, it will also make your team considerably more productive with the ability to attach multiple phone numbers per account and create up to 25 ring groups.

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

Provider Dialpad Standard	Provider Dialpad Pro
Best for Resource-stretched scale-ups needing support and assistance	Best for Teams with more than one office location
Pricing from £12 per user, per month	Pricing from £20 per user, per month
International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)
Video calling options: High-definition (HD) video and audio call conferencing Unlimited meetings (max. participants 10) Desktop and mobile screen sharing	Video calling options: Locked meeting rooms Schedule meetings from your Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 calendar
Inbound communication features: Custom call routing Call forwarding to other devices AI-powered call and voicemail transcriptions Automatic spam call detection	Inbound communication features: Call queues 24/7 agent support Supports up to 10 office locations
Outbound communication features: Set personal working hours Set caller ID SMS chat	Outbound communication features: CRM integrations (Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot, Zoho & more) Multiple phone numbers per account

💡 Which type of small business is Dialpad most suitable for?

Dialpad takes the crown for coaching and training. For an added fee, Dialpad offers live call coaching allows managers to listen in on calls and take over when needed, providing real-time coaching and sales recommendations.

GoTo

4.3 out of 5

• Pricing
  4.4
• Features
  3
• External Connections
  4.2

Compare costs

GoTo's huge library of feature has all the tricks needed to help remote-based sales reps connect with colleagues and customers. Crucially, GoTo Basic can route calls to multiple phones, so you or someone on your team is always in reach. That way, you can handle large volumes of customer enquiries without having to port your phone number.

Features

GoTo is a cloud-based VoIP system that can be accessed by pretty much any device, so you can make calls from both your desktop and smartphone. It also bundles SMS and video calling as part of its package deal.

Supporting over 180 different models of desktop phones and conference room systems, GoTo is the ideal VoIP solution for internal comms. The lowest-priced plan, GoTo Basic offers advanced call conferencing for up to 150 attendees to keep remote workers connected including unlimited meeting hours, screen sharing, and breakout rooms.

Enterprise-grade security is a big perk of GoTo. Users can create virtual meetings knowing that nobody will be turning up uninvited to hijack your conferences or leak your video link. You can also join meetings securely from any device thanks to GoTo's flexible mobile application.

Priced at just £10 per user per month, the GoTo Basic plan is an affordable option for SMEs. However, with a specialty for businesses operating in remote locations, it is best for those with larger teams, such as 20+, rather than small or microbusinesses.

💰 Pricing

GoTo Basic pricing starts from £10 per user, per month. For this fee, you'll get a wealth of call features (predominantly video), certainly enough to satisfy SME customers.

📝 GoTo plans

As with Dialpad, GoTo users can choose between two payment plans: GoTo Basic (£10 per user, per month) and GoTo Standard (£21 per user, per month). With both plans, you'll be able to make an unlimited number of domestic calls, plus the option to add a toll-free business number for your customers' convenience.

The main difference between the two plans is in their average user size, however. GoTo Standard boasts some advanced features that will make life much easier for large teams, like the ability to create an unlimited number of ring groups. This benefit won't mean as much to smaller firms receiving fewer inbound calls.

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

Provider GoTo Basic	Provider GoTo Standard
Best for Internal comms for remote teams	Best for Remote teams needing a good video conferencing tool
Pricing from £10 per user, per month	Pricing from £21 per user, per month
International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? 50+ countries included free (additional countries charged per minute)
Video calling options: HD call conferencing (up to 150 attendees) Unlimited meetings Up to 50 simultaneous webcams	Video calling options: Smart notes for meetings InRoom link (join/host meetings from your own conference room system)
Inbound communication features: Smart call routing Unlimited extensions Existing number porting Call queues	Inbound communication features: Call recording Real-time analytics (including Caller Hold Time Report) Hotdesking (allow users to share access to their accounts)
Outbound communication features: Customisable dial plans Ring groups	Outbound communication features: Same as GoTo Basic

💡 Which type of small business is GoTo most suitable for?

For those firms spread across the country and needing to constantly communicate – for example, construction companies – GoTo is a flexible VoIP provider that can be used across all devices. It is the only option on our list to offer unlimited call conferencing and video call features for no more than £10 per user.

RingCentral

4 out of 5

• Pricing
  2.9
• Features
  4.5
• External connections
  5

Compare costs

RingCentral is the best VoIP system for companies that use business mobile phones for the majority of their operations. It is not the most sophisticated option, but its easy-to-use mobile application allows sales reps to manage calls, voicemails, faxes, and texts using a unified app without all the bells and whistles.

Features

Features on the standard RingCentral Essentials plan include call management (auto-attendant), high-definition voice, and quality of service reports that are great for measuring employee performance. 24/7 customer support is included with all four plans, and the premium plan even comes with a dedicated account manager.

RingCentral Essentials comes with all your basic, core inbound comms features like the ability to create a customisable greeting, take voicemails, and add a virtual receptionist. It even has spam prevention, to flag any suspect callers you feel might be bad actors.

However, despite RingCentral boasting 24/7 support on all of its plans, customer satisfaction levels are relatively low on review sites like Trustpilot, as technical support isn’t the best and resolution times are often slow.

But that's only if you can't grasp the app and we'd be surprised if learning curve was even an issue. RingCentral's easy-to-use interface and simple functionality means you won’t need much support anyway.

💰 Pricing

Like many VoIP providers, RingCentral upped its prices this year in response to the cost of living crisis. Its Essential plan (with 100 inclusive outbound minutes per user) has increased from £7.99 per user, per month to £12.99 per user, per month. This is still our third-cheapest option overall, however.

📝 RingCentral plans

After RingCentral Essentials, RingCentral has three plans available to business users: RingCentral Standard, RingCentral Premium, and RingCentral Ultimate. Here's how each plan differs:

• RingCentral Standard (£19.99 per user, per month): best for teams of 10+ needing an internal collaboration tool
• RingCentral Premium (£24.99 per user, per month): best for sales teams, with 2,000 inclusive minutes permitted
• RingCentral Ultimate (£29.99 per user, per month): best for security, offering both device status reports and alerts

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

Provider RingCentral Essentials	Provider RingCentral Standard	Provider RingCentral Premium	Provider RingCentral Ultimate
Best for Easy-to-use tool for a helpdesk	Best for Businesses operating locally	Best for Local businesses with multiple branches	Best for Large businesses needing tight security
Pricing from £12.99 per user, per month	Pricing from £19.99 per user, per month	Pricing from £24.99 per user, per month	Pricing from £29.99 per user, per month
International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)
Video calling options: None	Video calling options: External video calling (up to 100 attendees) High definition (HD) video	Video calling options: External video calling (up to 200 attendees)	Video calling options: Same as RingCentral Premium
Inbound communication features: Ability to add company hours Toll-free numbers	Inbound communication features: Voicemail-to-email Call recording Call monitoring	Inbound communication features: Advanced call handling including call whispering Voicemail-to-text Multi-site admin and management	Inbound communication features: Device alerts Unlimited storage Device status reports
Outbound communication features: Set caller ID Power dialer, predictive dialing, custom call lists (only available with Ring Central Engage)	Outbound communication features: 750 minutes of domestic outbound comms Call conferencing	Outbound communication features: 2,000 outbound minutes Automatic call recording CRM integrations with Salesforce and Zendesk	Outbound communication features: 4,000 outbound minutes

💡 Which type of small business is RingCentral most suitable for?

We most recommend RingCentral to companies that do most of their business over mobile phone. The platform works brilliantly as a mobile app, available on both iOS and Android. RingCentral users can make and receive calls, faxes, and texts; all with a gentle learning curve that won't require lots of desk training.

Read our RingCentral review here.

Nuacom

3.9 out of 5

• Pricing
  4.3
• Features
  3
• External connections
  2.8

Compare costs

Nuacom's unique feature list is tailor-made for small ecommerce sellers with two employees. If you're running the business as a side hustle, Nuacom will act as your virtual assistant, ensuring all customer needs are met, and updating you of anything that requires your attention when you can give it.

Features

Nuacom, without doubt, excels at inbound communication. Its feature list enables functions like customisable greetings, voicemails, and customisable hold music to keep callers entertained in case of a long wait time.

The brand's virtual receptionist can direct callers based on their inputted responses. For small business owners, who are often time-stretched and low on resources, this is a must-have tool. Virtual assistants dramatically reduce time-consuming admin tasks without comprising customer interaction – important for brand engagement.

Nuacom's call recording feature also lets businesses capture and review customer interactions, providing valuable insights for training, quality control, and dispute resolution. Call analytics provide detailed data on call volume, agent performance, and customer trends, enabling businesses to optimise their operations.

Still, team management tools, such as collaborative features and instant messaging, don’t fall under Nuacom’s remit. It’s also not great at returning calls. Unlike 8×8, Nuacom does not have an external video call function, and does not permit power or predictive dialling on any plan. It’s better for responding to customers, rather than outreach.

💰 Pricing

Like 8×8, Nuacom has recently hidden its pricing tiers. Small businesses must contact the platform directly for a quote. However, historical pricing data tells us you can expect to pay around £14.99 per user, per month for Nuacom.

📝 Nuacom plans

Nuacom has two pricing plans available: Nuacom Unlimited and Nuacom Enterprise. We recommend Nuacom Unlimited exclusively to SMEs. It includes all the essentials SMEs need to manage their calls (unlimited domestic calling, call recording, and CRM integration) and even has AI capability to help automate fiddly call admin tasks.

The Enterprise plan, as its name would suggest, is a more advanced VoIP solution that is designed for larger firms with more complex needs. It offers a wider range of features, but none of these are fundamental enough to tempt a small business owner.

Swipe right to see more

0 out of 0

• backward
• forward

Provider Nuacom Unlimited	Provider Nuacom Enterprise
Best for Sales reporting and analytics	Best for Large volumes of inbound customer calls
Pricing from Contact sales	Pricing from Contact sales
International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)	International calling? Charged per minute (all countries)
Video calling options: None	Video calling options: None
Inbound communication features: Virtual receptionist Call queue and ring groups Toll-free numbers	Inbound communication features: Queue position announcement 420 hours storage for advanced call recording Live call coaching for newbie sales reps
Outbound communication features: Call tags and notes Smart call transfer Time-based call routing	Outbound communication features: Auto dialer CRM integrations with Zoho and Pipedrive

💡 Which type of small business is Nuacom most suitable for?

We recommend Nuacom to sales-focused businesses based online and in need of a VoIP system that gives them lots of customer insights to play with. For example, ecommerce firms. Its automation features are very sophisticated, although its opaque pricing plans make it difficult to judge whether it is the most suitable option for your budget.

Compare Costs From the Top VoIP UK Providers

Our free comparison tool will match you with the right provider for your company’s needs, providing you with direct VoIP provider quotes that you can easily compare.

Compare Costs Now

Will my VoIP provider supply phone handsets?

Not every VoIP service provider can supply VoIP phone handsets. Having to spend extra on finding this hardware yourself can be a pain, especially when you’re already spending a lot of money per user for the software itself. Depending on your business needs, you’ll want to check this before purchasing.

Always research each VoIP software provider first, as you’ll often find the software is only compatible with certain VoIP phone models. Once you've chosen the right software, you'll be able to work with your provider to find compatible VoIP phones that match the needs of your business.

Most VoIP providers offer you the option to lease your handsets (great for upgrading) or purchase them outright (more cost-effective in the long run). If not, there are lots of VoIP handset providers out there you can purchase from directly.

Some of the best VoIP phones are made by Grandstream, Yealink, and Cisco. Check out our best phone system for small business review to learn more about specific VoIP handsets.

Buying guide: how to choose the best VoIP system

Traditional phone lines will be eradicated by the end of December 2025. As the UK business landscape shifts towards a digital-first approach, VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) has emerged as the clear choice for businesses seeking to modernise their communication infrastructure.

With VoIP, firms get crystal-clear voice quality, seamless integration with business tools, and lots of advanced features such as call forwarding, video conferencing, and mobile extensions. That's not to mention the cost savings enjoyed by eliminating expensive landline charges and international call fees.

But whether you're making the switch to VoIP, or just looking for a new provider, you need to tread carefully. The imperative to move away from landlines means competition is fierce, with many new brands popping up to pedal big promises.

We’ve put together five key points to consider that will help you navigate the decision-making process when it comes to switching to VoIP. Or, for more expert help, use our free cost comparison tool to speak to an industry authority about how to prepare your business for the Big Switch Off:

🤔 1. Consider the most important features you’ll need

The most crucial aspect of any software decision is features. This is where most providers distinguish themselves with specific niches, so you need to ensure that the brand you sign with isn't missing any must-have perks. Marketing firms wouldn't need the ability to create a call queue as much as a service desk would, for example.

Support is an important aspect here that is often ignored. If you're hiring new staff members who aren't familiar with the system, how can they access assistance? Think about the time zone that support agents are located in, and how you can contact them e.g. phone, email, live chat

💰 2. Evaluate your budget

Your budget will affect which providers you can choose from, as each has a different price point. However, this does not necessarily mean cheapest = best. SMEs that don't need to place a lot of calls should invest in a low-priced tier, but larger firms may need to spend more to access bigger feature allowances.

Think also about hidden fees. bOnline is cheaper on first-glance, for example, but it also charges an additional £5 fee for international calling and CRM integration – two benefits that 8×8 offers as part of its X2 plan.

📏 3. Think about contract length

Today's economy is prone to certain downturns or upswings that can play havoc with SME cash flow. In this kind of inflationary environment, be sure to consider the length of time of contracts with providers to ensure you can afford to make the payments you have committed to.

For example, are you happy to be tied into a contract for 24 months? Or do you want a lot more flexibility? bOnline sells its services on a pay-as-you-go basis, while other providers like GoTo ask for a minimum 12-month commitment.

🌎 4. Remember your customers

An obvious tip is to think about not just where your business is based, but where your customers are based. If you need to sell to clients in Europe but choose a provider like Vonage, which does not permit any international calls to be made from any of its pricing tiers, you will end up shooting yourself in the foot.

Consider also how your customers are contacting you. It might be a good idea to offer a toll-free number (free for the caller) to improve the customer experience if you are operating in the service industry, for example.

📱 5. Audit your communication channels

Most companies now contact their clients via several mediums, not just over the phone. The good thing about using cloud-based VoIP software to manage comms is it can be integrated with CRM or sales software, helping to keep all of your call data and operations in one place.

Internal usage is another factor. Most employees now use their phones on the go, such as when working from home. Does the phone provider you've picked have a mobile app they can use on their own devices? Is it best for sales reps, or are there admin tools as well? These are all things to consider when purchasing a VoIP system.

Why use VoIP?

Some of the main benefits of using VoIP were outlined at the beginning of this article, but here, we go into more depth about the positive impact that using these systems could have on your business.

1. VoIP calls are cheaper

As they use the internet instead of traditional phone lines, it tends to be that your broadband bill will cover your VoIP calls – as opposed to traditional calls, which are charged separately and by the minute.

The result of this is that VoIP calling can save your business a fair amount of money – especially if your staff tend to make long phone calls, or regularly need to contact people overseas.

2. VoIP eliminates the need for multiple phone lines

With VoIP, your staff will be able to make calls at the same time, in the same office, without the need to install multiple phone lines – which might otherwise be a huge drain on your money and time.

3. VoIP call quality depends on your internet connection

If you’ve got a reliable internet connection, the quality of the calls you partake in will be a lot better – think clearer sound quality and fewer interruptions or failures – than it would be if you were calling in the traditional way.

How does VoIP work?

VoIP systems come into three different formats: hardware-based, software-based, or ATAs. We explain what each one means below.

1. Hardware-based VoIP phones

A hardware-based VoIP phone transmits calls over the internet by connecting to a VoIP server. They can do this in one of three ways:

• Using an Ethernet connector. These VoIP phones plug into the Ethernet port on a router, enabling them to connect directly to a VoIP server. This is the most popular and widely-used type of hardware-based VoIP phone.
• Using a built-in modem. These phones have a built-in modem that can connect to a VoIP server remotely – meaning they don’t require a broadband connection.
• Using WiFi. These phones have built-in WiFi transceivers which can connect to a WiFi access point, and in turn the internet. Some of these phones also come with Ethernet ports.

2. Software-based VoIP phones

All that’s needed to get a softphone up and running is the correct software.

There’s plenty of dedicated VoIP software out there, such as:

• Vonage
• Jive Voice
• 8×8’s Virtual Office
• RingCentral

If you’re installing your softphone onto your computer, you can make calls using the computer’s built-in microphone and speakers.

However, if you’d prefer better sound quality and more privacy – which is especially important if you’re looking to kit out your small business’ office with multiple softphones for your staff to use – you should look to get headsets with microphones.

If you’re interested in VoIP for personal use, or would like your staff to remain on the ball while on the go, it’s worth knowing that plenty of common smartphone apps can also act as softphones.

Alongside their instant messaging and/or video chatting capabilities, the following apps all have an internet-based calling function:

• Skype
• WhatsApp
• Facebook Messenger
• Apple’s FaceTime
• Viber
• Line

Usually, you’ll only be able to VoIP call someone who also has the app you’re using. Some apps do enable you to call a normal landline or mobile number, although this may cost you extra.

It’s worth noting that some landline providers have also created apps that allow you to make VoIP calls, such as BT’s SmartTalk and TalkTalk’s Talk2Go.

The key thing to remember here is that while using these apps to make VoIP calls, it’s a good idea to be connected to WiFi – unless you don’t mind them eating into your data allowance.

3. ATAs

Instead of getting VoIP phones themselves, it’s possible to keep your conventional phones and use an ATA – or analogue telephone adapter – to transform them into VoIP phones.

ATAs take the analogue signal from your phone and convert it into digital data. The ATA also connects your phone to the internet, so the digital data can be transmitted over it.

Instead of plugging your phone into a wall socket, simply plug it into your ATA and you’re good to go.

What type of business is VoIP suitable for?

Due to its flexibility and efficiency, VoIP is an ideal choice for many businesses. However, it’s likely to be a particularly suitable solution for businesses with the following requirements:

1. Businesses that make international calls. Whether it’s using the same network to make essentially free calls across the internet, or signing up to a package which includes a set number of international minutes, VoIP offers a cost-effective and easy solution for startups who make a lot of overseas calls.

2. Businesses with limited space. VoIP phones offer a virtual service, meaning there’s no need to worry about the space required to install and house traditional, physical phone lines.

3. Businesses looking for scalability. If you predict that your business will grow beyond its current phone service requirements, VoIP offers an easily changeable service. Or, if you know your startup experiences more (or less) demand on its phone services at certain times of the year, it’s easy to increase or decrease the number of lines virtually.

Our methodology

At Startups.co.uk, all of our research is completed by our team of expert writers, alongside an independent analyst. Over several months, we carried out a thorough examination of the top 11 VoIP software market leaders.

To begin, we selected seven key areas of investigation to score each software against:

1. Value for money – initial setup costs, any equipment costs, and ongoing service fees
2. Depth of features and allowances – plus software specialisms
3. Customer support – help and support options available
4. External connections – number and range of integrations
5. Security options – compliance and certifications, as well as security integrations
6. Scalability – longevity of platform (user limitations, feature limitations, etc.)
7. Customer score – aggregate of consumer review scores across G2, Capterra, Trustpilot, Trust Radius

Via extensive user testing, online investigation, and interviews with real-life business users, we were able to discern how the software works in application and where each platform excels/underperforms.

Once we had awarded a score to each brand, we were then able to come up with an overall ranking of the top seven software platforms for small business use.

Compare best UK VoIP providers

The best VoIP service provider in the UK is 8×8. It offers the whole package, specifically tailored to small businesses. For starters, you get 50+ features included as standard, including unlimited calling and an incredibly user-friendly mobile app.

Regardless of our opinion, you should always compare VoIP providers before signing on the dotted line. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a contract with a service that doesn’t fulfil the needs of your business, even if it is, generally speaking, a great product.

This is where our custom-built VoIP comparison tool comes in. We've partnered with some of the best VoIP phone system suppliers to help you get the best service for your business.

Simply provide us with a few basic details, and providers will be in touch with bespoke personalised quotes for you to compare, along with further details about why the service they offer would best suit the needs of your business.