Estimated first-year cost
Monthly ongoing
Upfront hardware + setup
3-year total
What affects the price
- System type. Hosted VoIP has low upfront cost and a per-user monthly fee. On-premise PBX is upfront-heavy. SIP trunking is cheapest if you already own a PBX.
- Number of users. Most plans are billed per user or extension, so cost scales with your team, often with volume discounts.
- Feature tier. Entry plans cover calls, voicemail and a mobile app. Higher tiers add call recording, CRM links, analytics and AI.
- Hardware. Desk phones cost from about 40 to 300 pounds each, but many businesses use free softphone apps on laptops and mobiles.
- Add-ons. Call recording, contact-centre queues, Microsoft Teams voice and international bundles all add to the monthly cost.
- Contract and calls. Longer contracts cut the monthly rate. Check inclusive UK minutes, fair-use caps and whether mobile calls are included.
Things to know
- The PSTN switch-off. The UK copper phone network is switched off in January 2027, so every business must move to an internet-based system.
- Move early. Number porting takes 5 to 15 working days, and a last-minute rush risks downtime, so plan the migration in good time.
- Check your broadband. Each call uses about 100 kbps. Most fibre connections cope, but a poor line may need an upgrade or a leased line.
- Watch fair-use limits. Unlimited plans often cap minutes, and some bundles exclude mobile calls, which can be a costly surprise.
- Plan for resilience. A UPS and failover to mobile or a second line keep you connected during power or internet outages.
- Compare total cost. Look at the three-year cost including hardware, setup and add-ons, not just the headline per-user price.