Written by Fernanda Alvarez Piñeiro Reviewed by James Macey Updated on January 10, 2023 On this page 8x8 RingCentral Vonage GoToConnect Ooma Nextiva Net2Phone US Methodology: how did we find the best cloud phones for business? Expert Verdict Expand Based on our independent research, the best cloud phone system currently available is 8×8. Scoring an impressive overall 4.7/5 in our research, it has a generous range of integrations and is easily scalable. Whether you need a hyper-functional cloud phone system or you just want the basics, 8×8 is flexible and will mold smoothly into your business's communication structure. But there are plenty more excellent systems out there to choose from, and our extensive research and experience in the world of cloud telephony has empowered us to select the best seven.Read our reviews to compare these top cloud phone systems, and don't forget to use our free quote-finding tool to get tailored quotes from the right cloud telephony services for your business. Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Best Overall Option 8×8 RingCentral Vonage GoToConnect Ooma Nextiva Net2Phone Expert Rating 4.7 Expert Rating 4.7 Expert Rating 4.5 Expert Rating 3.2 Expert Rating 4.3 Expert Rating 4.3 Expert Rating 4.3 Best For Overall Cloud Phone System Best For Customer Service Teams Best For Small Businesses Best For Value For Money Best For Onboarding New Staff Best For Large Offices Best For Low-Cost International Calling Price $15 – $140 per user, per month Price $19.99 – $49.99 per user, per month Price $19.99 – $39.99 per user, per month Price $27 – $32 per user, per month Price $19.99 – $49.99 per user, per month Price $17.96 – $29.21 per user, per month Price $22.99 – $29.99 per user, per month Domestic Calls Unlimited Domestic Calls 1000 inclusive inbound minutes 2000 outbound minutes per user Domestic Calls Unlimited to domestic landlines Domestic Calls Unlimited Domestic Calls Unlimited Domestic Calls Unlimited Domestic Calls Unlimited International Calls Unlimited to 14 countries International Calls N/A International Calls N/A International Calls Free international calling to 50+ countries International Calls N/A International Calls N/A International Calls Free international calling to 40+ countries Key Features Onboarding supportCall queueRing groupsAnalyticsCustomisable call routingCall recording Key Features Voicemail to textHigh-definition (HD) voiceMulti-level auto attendantVisual voicemail and voicemail to email Key Features Onboarding supportCall queueRing groupsCall recordingCall monitoringAnalyticsWeb conferencing* Key Features Call barge*Call whisper*Call recording*Analytics*CRM, Helpdesk, web conferencing integrations Key Features Virtual receptionistRing groupsMusic on holdOne toll-free number Key Features Unlimited calling within the US and CAFree local and toll-free numberVoicemail to email notificationsAuto attendantBusy lamp fieldHold music Key Features Unlimited nationwide callingUnlimited international callingAuto attendantCall queueRing groupsVoicemailBusy lamp field Try 8x8 Try RingCentral Try Vonage Get free quotes Try Ooma Get free quotes Compare Quotes 8×8Best Overall Cloud Phone System 8x8 4.7 Pricing $15 - 140 per user, per month Get free quotes Read our review Quick overview With an impressive 4.7/5 rating in our in-depth research, we like 8x8 because it ticks all the right boxes when it comes to business communication needs. With a generous range of integrations, including CRM, Helpdesk, Web Conferencing, and External Live Chat, you can easily integrate 8x8 with your pre-existing software infrastructure and bring all your business tools under the same umbrella. It also is compatible with a broad range of third-party desktop phones, including Polycom, Cisco, Panasonic, and Yealink, making it a powerful and painless tool to set up. 8x8 also offers onboarding support with their Customer Success Managers, making it a top-notch option for helping new employees adapt to the communications system used by your business.The part where 8x8 does falter is in price. Scoring a 2.5/5 in this category in our research, it's a more expensive option compared to the other providers we look at. If you're looking to tighten your belt, then we'd recommend looking at bOnline or Dialpad instead. Read more + Read less - Strengths The most generous video conferencing features we've seen Offers a wide variety of call features Unlimited inbound and outbound minutes to 48 countries Weaknesses The most advanced packages are very expensive Unclear if Customer Success Managers (onboarding support) come at an extra cost Free trial only gives you insight into the Express subscription Pricing See more See less Plan Express $15 X2 $24 X4 $44 X6 $85 X7 $110 X8 $140 RingCentralBest Cloud Phone System For Customer Service Teams RingCentral 4.7 Pricing $19.99 - 49.99 per user, per month Get free quotes Read our review Quick overview RingCentral MVP is our top cloud phone system for customer service teams because it's so comprehensive, offering enterprise-level features at affordable prices. RingCentral's most popular plan, ‘Premium', comes with 2,000 free minutes per person, video meetings for up to 200 participants, advanced call features such as ‘whisper' and ‘barge', and multi-site management, so you can use the system seamlessly across different business locations. Plus, RingCentral can be integrated with over 250 apps, so it's likely to work well with the systems your various teams already use. Thanks to all of these great assets, RingCentral scores a 4.2/5 for features and 4.3/5 for external connections.We do think, however, that RingCentral has room for improvement in its price. Scoring a 3.5/5 in this category in our research, RingCentral isn't the best option for businesses that are looking to save money in their next unified communications investment. If you're looking for a more affordable option, we'd recommend looking at Vonage, bOnline, or GoTo Connect, all of which score above a 4/5 for price. Read more + Read less - Strengths Has great features available for call centres Comes with solid unified communication features Offers good value packages for small businesses, too Weaknesses Some other providers offer unlimited free minutes More on the expensive side Pricing See more See less PlanPrices (per user, per month) Essentials $19.99 Standard $27.99 Premium $34.99 Ultimate $49.99 VonageBest Cloud Phone System For Small Businesses Vonage 4.5 Pricing $19.99 - 39.99 per user, per month Get free quotes Read our review Quick overview Boasting a set of shiny features like dynamic call routing and post-call analysis, Vonage’s embrace of AI in its Premium subscription plan gives your small business the flexibility it needs to keep customers happy and scale up your operation. Its provision of tools, metrics and data gives you a 360-degree view of the interactions between your customers and agents, enabling you to turn insights into actionable items that heighten your ROI. Vonage Premium offers a wide range of customer support features and low monthly costs are a recipe for scaling up your operation.Although these come at an additional cost, Vonage also lets you tap into its wide set of ready-made integrations, as it’s compatible with systems like Hubspot, Salesforce, Zendesk, Slack, and Office 365. This allows you to unify all your business communications in one spot, giving your agents all the necessary tools to provide the best customer service possible. These features explain why over 700 customer centre customers have turned to Vonage internationally. Thanks to all of these great assets, Vonage scores a 4.5/5 overall in our research, as well as 4.5/5 for features.However, where Vonage stumbles is in its security features. Scoring a 3/5 in this category in our research, Vonage doesn't come equipped with multi-factor authentication or password rules. If you'd like to feel more reassured on the security front, we'd recommend going for 8x8 or Google Voice instead. Read more + Read less - Strengths Customizable dashboards and wallboards give you real-time visibility of KPI progress Displays a local number when reaching out to customers, improving response rate Solid customer support service Weaknesses Security is not as robust compared to other phone system providers Some useful training and management features not available at Professional Pricing See more See less PlanPrice (per user, per month) Mobile $19.99 Premium $29.99 Advanced $39.99 Did You Know? 67% of small businesses said VoIP has helped them improve the handling of phone calls and 57% it has helped them perform when working remotely. GoToConnectBest Cloud Phone System For Value For Money GoToConnect 4.3 Pricing $24 - 39 per user, per month Get free quotes Read our review Quick overview GoToConnect is a safe option if you’re looking to get value for your money because it promises a seamless onboarding process, which involves getting your softphone cloud system working within a day. For as little as $24 per user, per month, it has the richest offering of international calls, giving you access to free international calling to over 50 countries. This makes GoToConnect a fantastic option for businesses that are looking to cater to –or maintain– an international clientele. Regardless of which subscription you choose, GoToConnect gives you access to all the inbound communication features you might need, including ring groups and call queue. This great deal earns GoToConnect a 4.3/5 for price and a 4.4/5 for scalability in our research.However, and ironically so, GoToConnect isn't the greatest at external connections. Scoring a 2.6/5 in this category in our research, you miss out on external live chat, analytics, and workspace integrations. If you want a puzzle piece that will fit in with all the software integrations you need, we'd recommend looking at RingCentral or 8x8. Read more + Read less - Strengths Offers all sorts of inbound communication features Free international calling to 50+ countries, and unlimited domestic inbound and outbound minutes Weaknesses External live chat, analytics and workspace integrations unavailable Limited number of compatible platforms for external connections compared to other providers Video meetings can only show up to 25 HD video feeds Pricing See more See less PlanPrice (per user, per month) Basic $24 Standard $29 Premium $39 ▶ Read more: The Best Softphone Apps for Business OomaBest Cloud Phone System For Onboarding New Staff Ooma 4.3 Pricing $19.95 - 29.95 Get free quotes Quick overview One of the biggest sticking points for businesses is merging new staff into the workflow of your business, so finding a VoIP system that is intuitive and offers generous support during the onboarding process is crucial. Our in-depth research reveals that Ooma is a great choice for ensuring you can easily onboard new staff.Alongside a broad offering of customer support features, including user forum, knowledge base, live chat, and 99.999% uptime guarantee, you also are assigned a Customer Success Hero. Just as the savvy name indicates, Customer Success Heroes are designed to help you throughout the installation and day-to-day operation of your VoIP system. This way, you can rest assured that your employees will get all the guidance needed to to take advantage of Ooma’s techy perks and features. Thanks to this range of generous customer support features, Ooma was awarded a 4.5/5 for customer support in our research and a 4.3/5 overall.The unfortunate piece of news is that Ooma performs pretty poorly on the security front. Scoring a 1/5, Ooma doesn't come equipped with multi-factor authentication, password rules, or user permissions. If this sounds like a turn-off, we'd recommend looking at 8x8, which scores a 5/5 for security. Read more + Read less - Strengths Roster of features specifically tailored toward small businesses that work remotely or from the office Not tied to a contract Competitive pricing that won't break the bank Weaknesses Only comes with 35+ features, less than others on this list Scores 1/5 for security in our research Very limited offering of external connections Pricing See more See less PlanPrice (per user, per month) Ooma Office $19.95 Ooma Office Pro $24.95 Ooma Office Pro Plus $29.95 NextivaBest Cloud Phone System For Large Offices Nextiva 4.3 Pricing $23.95 - 37.95 per user, per month Get free quotes Read our review Quick overview If your offices are on the larger side of the spectrum, we’d recommend going for Nextiva because of its generous collaboration and inbound communication features, and flexible setup. Boasting its own first-party hardware and compatibility with third-party desktop phones, including Cisco, Yealink, and Polycom, Nextiva is a solid choice if you want to have a range of options for what your VoIP system looks like.On top of that, we think Nextiva is a good fit for large offices because of its high-ranking customer support – offering knowledge base, live chat, 24/7 live support, 99.999% uptime guarantee, and onboarding support. Nextiva scores a strong 4.5/5 in this category. This means that as you’re taking on new employees and teaching them the logistical ropes of your business, you will have reliable support on the backend.The part where Nextiva trips slightly is for scalability. Scoring a 2.9/5 in our research, it misses out on a bunch of important management features like call transcripts and call-flow designer. If this is an absolute must for your business, 8x8 could be the way to go. Read more + Read less - Strengths Competitive price point Fantastic customer support Weaknesses Very limited offering of external connections Missing multi-factor authentication and password rules, limiting security Not many management features on offer, which doesn't help scalability Pricing See more See less PlanPrice (per user, per month) Essential $23.95 Professional $27.95 Enterprise $37.95 ▶ Read more: The Best VoIP Phone Systems Net2Phone USBest For Low-Cost International Calling Net2Phone US 4.2 Pricing $19.99 - 31.99 per user, per month Get free quotes Quick overview All the systems we’ve discussed here provide unlimited US calls at no extra cost – but what about calls to other countries? Most systems will charge extra fees for them, but Net2Phone stands out because it comes with unlimited calling to more than 40 countries. This means speaking to clients and teams across the globe is completely free, allowing you to maintain and expand your international clientele.Net2Phone can also give you virtual phone numbers and dial tones in over 50 countries and 300 cities, so if you’d like to establish a presence in places like Europe or Asia, your contact options are easily taken care of. We’re also quite impressed that Net2Phone has international offices and data centers, and hosts more than 33 billion international minutes every year. Thanks to these assets, Net2Phone US scores a very respectable 4.2/5 in our research.However, if you're looking to make the transition to Net2Phone US, keep in mind it scores a slightly-above-average 2.8/5 for external connections in our research. This can make scalability trickier and cause operational hiccups as you try to consolidate your unified communications structure. If you want a system that can easily melt into your pre-existing software infrastructure, we'd recommend going for RingCentral or 8x8. Read more + Read less - Strengths Net2Phone will supply you with free upgraded desk phones when you switch to their system 24/7, US-based customer support via phone or email Very user-friendly Weaknesses Doesn't come with audio conferencing or team messaging Very limited software integrations compared to competitors Doesn't offer call flip, barge, or whisper Pricing See more See less PlanPrice (per user, per month) N2P Virtual $19.99 N2P Essentials $23.99 N2P Professional $27.99 N2P Ultimate $31.99 Methodology: how did we find the best cloud phones for businesses?Our team of independent researchers have conducted an in-depth dive into 10 of the most used and top-rated phone system suppliers on the market. Prioritising all the possible features that businesses might need from an cloud phone system, we’ve narrowed it down to the top seven providers that shine through because of their integrations, scalability, features, and customer support – all of which can help you strengthen the communication arm of your business.We’ve also aggregated customer reviews from platforms like Trustpilot and Capterra to assure you that our knowledge is not only robust on paper, but also in practice. Regardless of which choice you make to meet the demands of your business, our research-backed recommendations will match you with the top players in the VoIP-verse. Expert Verdict So there you have it – our list of the best cloud phone systems for businesses in the UK.Our all-time favourite cloud phone system is 8×8. Scoring an impressive overall 4.7/5 in our research, it has a generous range of integrations and is easily scalable. Whether you need a hyper-functional cloud phone system or you just want the bare-bone basics, 8×8 is flexible and will mould smoothly into your business's communication game plan. However, if you know 8×8 isn't the best fit for your company, RingCentral is also part of our Hall of Fame. It outcompetes 8×8 in external connections with a superior 4.3/5 in this category in our research, which tells you it will swiftly adapt to your pre-existing software infrastructure.If you're still not sure which system is right for you, don't worry – our free quote-finding service is here to help. Simply tell us about your needs, and we'll match you up with the best UK cloud phone system suppliers for you. They'll then be in touch with free, no-obligation quotes that have been tailored to you. It's the quickest, easiest way to compare the right options for your team. Did You Know? VoIP makes it easy to accommodate calls anywhere, allowing companies to increase productivity by up to 20%. Save by comparing free, tailored quotes from the best phone system providers for you Do you already have a cloud phone system? Yes No FAQs What is a cloud telephone system? The software in a cloud phone system is hosted in the cloud, rather than on your own servers. This means you and your team will be able to access and use the system anywhere, on any device with an internet connection – in other words, it's totally mobile, and you won't be limited to using it at your workplace. That's what makes cloud telephony so great for remote and hybrid working. How does a cloud phone work? As we've said, a cloud phone system is hosted in the cloud, with the data stored securely on a server that you and your team can access via the internet. Therefore, any device that can access the internet, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and IP desk phones, can be thought of as cloud phones.IP desk phones are usually plug and play, and can be easily installed with the phone system software. With other devices, such as smartphones, it's usually a case of downloading the phone system app, and then simply logging in. Is a cloud-based phone system VoIP? First of all, let's clarify what VoIP actually is. VoIP (voice over internet protocol) is a technology that carries phone calls over the internet, rather than over traditional landlines. All cloud-based phone systems utilise VoIP tech to make calls over the internet, and so in that sense, they can also be called VoIP systems.That said, it's important to understand that not all VoIP systems are cloud based. Some can be hosted on your own servers, rather than in the cloud.Learn more in our comparison of the best VoIP providers in the US. How much is a cloud mobile phone? This depends on which mobile phone you want, and which cloud phone system you choose. Cloud phone system prices range from £8 per user, per month to over £100 per user, per month – but you'll need to factor in the cost of the mobile phones you choose. Alternatively, you can have your employees use their personal smartphones to access the business cloud phone system when they're working remotely. Written by: Fernanda Alvarez Piñeiro Fernanda is a Mexican-born Expert Market writer, specialising in providing in-depth insights about business software to help businesses of all shapes and sizes thrive. From VoIP systems to project management software, she’s passionate about helping businesses find the tools and methods that will help give them an edge over their competitors. Fernanda has ample journalistic experience, having written for a multitude of online magazines about topics ranging from Latin American politics to cryptocurrency. Reviewed by: James Macey Senior Business Software Researcher James thinks all businesses can improve if they use the right technology. At Expert Market, he utilises his 4+ years experience as a researcher to offer specialised advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to Fleet Management.