The Best Cloud Phone Systems for UK Businesses in 2026

RingCentral Ultimate is the best cloud phone system plan for UK businesses in 2026 because it combines best-in-class VoIP call management with powerful staff coaching tools and delivers the smoothest day-to-day usability in our hands-on testing.

It is not the cheapest option, however. Starting at £29.99 per user, per month, for one user, RingCentral’s minutes are also capped, so outbound-heavy teams should track usage closely to avoid unexpected costs. If you want predictable, low-cost unlimited UK calling, bOnline Unlimited Calling is the cheapest choice, starting from £13.95 per user, per month.

Ultimately, 2026 is the year to execute your move to VoIP and reduce the risk of last-minute number porting delays or installer bottlenecks, as thousands of UK businesses transition before the 2027 deadline. Below, we compare five leading cloud phone system plans on pricing, AI capability, integrations and more, so you can pick a platform for your business.

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Best Cloud Phone System Plans (2026): Compared

Below is an at-a-glance round-up of the best cloud phone system plans for UK businesses, as of our 2026 assessment and scoring criteria. Read on for full reviews of each provider’s strengths and weaknesses.

1. RingCentral Ultimate: Best for Complex Inbound Call Handling

RingCentral Ultimate is the strongest ‘do-it-all’ cloud phone plan we’ve tested for UK SMEs preparing for the 2027 PSTN switch-off.

It combines enterprise-grade call handling, proper manager coaching tools and one of the deepest integration ecosystems in the category, so your phone system plugs directly into how you already run your business (such as your CRM, helpdesk, calendars and file tools).

What do we like about RingCentral Ultimate?

• Call routing depth that matches business needs: In hands-on testing, RingCentral’s call handling feels designed for messy, real-life inbound traffic (multiple departments, multiple sites, mixed opening hours). Ultimate supports custom call flows, too, to stop customers from bouncing around the wrong areas of your business during peak times.

• Coaching tools that make hybrid management possible: Ultimate includes supervisor features like monitoring and live intervention (for example, whisper and barge), which matter more in 2026 because managers cannot rely on in-person action to support staff. Compared with cheaper options like bOnline, this is where RingCentral justifies the upgrade.
• Call queues and IVR that reduce customer drop-off: The combination of call queues, multi-level IVR, and time-based routing is what makes RingCentral a proper phone system. If you’re switching off legacy lines in 2026, this is the stuff that prevents your phones from becoming chaos when your analogue setup disappears.

• Automatic call recording rules: In practical terms, this is what gives you consistent evidence for complaints, training clips, and compliance. In testing, we found the recording and playback workflow straightforward once the admin-level rules are enabled (and you can control which call types are included).
• AI summaries that save managers time, not just produce notes: The value is not the summary itself. The value is a manager being able to scan outcomes, spot sentiment red flags, and pull key moments from calls faster than listening back to hours of audio. If your team is under hiring pressure, this is a genuine force multiplier (and betters players like GoTo which restricts this to its more expensive contact centre package).

• Integrated video meetings: Ultimate supports large video meetings for up to 200 users (useful for onboarding and all-hands) and, in testing, the meeting experience feels integrated with the wider comms suite rather than a separate product you have to manage.
• The UK’s biggest integration ecosystem for cloud phones: RingCentral’s 500+ App Gallery is the standout for businesses that live in their CRM and helpdesk (or any other business tool). It is far more likely you’ll find a ready-made connector here than with GoTo Connect or 8×8 Work, which is a real advantage if you do not have a technical resource.

• Hardware flexibility plus rental options: If you have existing SIP desk phones, RingCentral is built to support hardware rather than pushing you into mobile-only. If you do not want upfront CapEx, RingCentral also supports device rental, which makes cashflow planning easier during the 2026 to 2027 transition period.
  • There’s also device status and health monitoring with the Ultimate plan, too. For multi-site teams, it means you can spot offline devices and network issues earlier, rather than letting a customer find out your lines are down.

What could RingCentral Ultimate improve?

• Minute caps create bill-shock risk: Ultimate can be a great fit, but it is not the “set and forget” option for sales-led SMEs unless you actively track usage and overage exposure.
  • Instead, it has a limit of 4,000 outbound minutes per user, per month, for domestic and EMEA calls. There’s also a 2,000-minute limit for inbound free phone calls, per account.
• No SMS for UK buyers: RingCentral includes in-app messaging, but RingCentral states that SMS/MMS is not currently available for RingCentral UK accounts.
  • Any business that relies on customer texting should validate workarounds before committing, or opt for an alternative that does support UK SMS/MMS, such as GoTo Connect Phone System.
• Add-on creep is the hidden cost: RingCentral’s platform is broad, and it’s easy to end up paying for nice-to-have extras. In 2026, the smart move is to lock down what outcomes you need (routing, coaching, summaries, CRM sync) and treat everything else as optional.
  • Some examples include: Additional local numbers (£2 per month), international virtual numbers (£3.99 per month), and its call queues booster (£28 per month).

Who should use RingCentral Ultimate?

• Medium-sized UK teams that need a phone system, not just calling: If you rely on inbound calls to generate revenue, and you cannot afford missed calls during the 2027 transition, Ultimate’s call routing, queues and admin controls make it a safer operational choice.
• Hybrid teams that need coaching and quality control: Ultimate is built for managers who need to support staff remotely and keep standards consistent, without adding layers of extra software.
• Businesses that live in their CRM and need phone data to sync: If your sales or service team works inside a CRM or helpdesk all day, RingCentral’s integration ecosystem is one of the strongest reasons to choose it over 8×8 Work or GoTo Connect.
• Multi-site businesses that need visibility into device and call health: The device monitoring layer is particularly useful for retail, care, and professional services with more than one location.

Who should consider an alternative?

• Choose 8×8 Work if you prioritise predictable international calling: 8×8 is often the cleaner fit for global calling requirements, even if RingCentral does include EMEA calling by default (you’ll need an international add-on for further coverage or local numbers).
• Choose bOnline if you are a domestic, high-volume calling business on a tight budget: If cost predictability is the priority and you do not need call coaching tools, bOnline can be a better (and simpler) fit for smaller UK teams.
• Choose GoTo Connect if hardware flexibility and SMS workflows matter most: GoTo tends to be especially strong for businesses trying to keep legacy desk phone setups while modernising and for teams that want a simple messaging workflow inside the same app.
• Choose Dialpad if you want real-time agent assistance and are comfortable with enterprise packaging: Dialpad’s strengths lean toward AI-led agent support, but its enterprise constraints can be a poor fit for smaller UK SMEs.

2. 8×8 Work: Best Cloud Phone System for International Calling

8×8 Work is the best cloud phone system for UK businesses that need predictable international calling, because its higher-tier X Series licences expand your unlimited calling zone to 48 countries (including the US, Australia, Germany, France, Spain and more).

This is the cleanest choice for teams doing frequent overseas sales, account management or support calls, where minute caps create real bill-shock risk. It’s also one of the strongest all-rounders for hybrid operations: you get the core VoIP admin you’d expect (IVR, call queues, analytics), plus a deep security stack and a broad integration ecosystem.

What do we like about 8×8 Work?

• The calling experience is fast and intuitive in day-to-day use: During testing, basic actions like placing a call, forwarding it, flipping between devices and parking it felt exactly where they should be. It is a very usable phone system, with a clear interface.
• Unlimited domestic and international calling: Unlike RingCentral’s UK minute caps, 8×8’s domestic calling positioning is generally far more predictable for high-volume users. For many SMEs in a tight 2026 economy, predictability matters as much as the headline price.
  • This applies to its international calling too (depending on your package) and can stretch to 48 countries on higher tiers, rather than being mostly domestic-focused.

• Call management depth is strong for busy customer-facing teams: 8×8 gives you the building blocks a real phone operation needs, including auto attendants, routing rules and queue configuration. In testing, queue setup was straightforward and did not require much trial-and-error.
• Strong training and quality assurance tools for hybrid management: 8×8 Work includes a serious coaching toolkit (monitor, whisper, barge, analytics) that’s particularly valuable when managers can’t assess performance in-person. That makes it a stronger fit for remote-first sales and support teams than value-first systems that focus mostly on basic calling.
• Meeting scale without buying an extra platform: 8×8 Meetings supports up to 500 participants (and can be used for webinar-style events via live streaming). If you run large all-hands, onboarding sessions or partner trainings, that’s a meaningful operational win versus platforms where meeting capacity is heavily gated by plan or add-on.
  • There’s also team chat messaging, which reduces internal lag for frontline teams.

• Plentiful integrations: 8×8 supports native CRM and helpdesk integrations, and also supports workflow-style integrations via Zapier. For example, there’s a native HubSpot integration and Zapier connectivity makes it easier to trigger automations (logging calls, creating tickets, updating contacts) without engineering time.
• Hardened security controls: 8×8 supports multi-factor authentication (MFA) options and enterprise identity controls (SSO/IDP workflows). For hybrid teams handling customer data on home Wi-Fi, that’s important for evidencing any GDPR risks.
• Useful call-quality diagnostics: 8×8’s Smart Connectivity Test is designed to surface and help predict network issues before they become full call-quality failures. In a switch-off year, that’s the kind of invisible reliability feature that saves hours of support back-and-forth.

What could 8×8 Work improve?

• Pricing transparency for UK SMEs: 8×8 pushes buyers toward quote-based pricing, which makes it harder to predict total cost until late in the process. If cost control is your main priority, you’ll need a quote that breaks out licensing tier, calling zone, support level and any storage/recording requirements.
• IVR setup is more manual: 8×8 routing is capable, but it lacks the same “visual IVR designer” feel that makes RingCentral and GoTo Connect easier to redesign quickly. If you expect frequent call flow changes, this could become a time cost.
• UK SMS is not covered: In UK usage, SMS is not a native asset for 8×8 Work. If texting customers is central to your workflow, GoTo Connect is ready to go in this regard, with SMS and MMS present and correct for UK teams.
• Some advanced tools may depend on package level: Features like the most advanced coaching and contact-centre style functions can sit behind higher configurations. This is not a dealbreaker, but it needs clear confirmation before signing (and may come at a greater cost than you realise).

Who should use 8×8 Work?

• UK businesses with international calling needs: If your team routinely calls customers, suppliers or offices overseas, 8×8’s unlimited international calling proposition can be one of the cleanest ways to reduce month-to-month variability.
• High-volume calling teams that need cost predictability: Service desks, appointment-heavy organisations and sales teams benefit from minute models that are not constantly at risk of overage.
• Customer service teams that need coaching tools: If you manage agents remotely or want consistent quality assurance, 8×8’s supervisor tooling is a better fit than budget-focused providers like bOnline.
• Organisations that run large internal meetings: 8×8 is one of the best options in this guide if your meetings need to scale into hundreds of participants without extra platform juggling.
• Businesses that want a true unified comms app: If you prefer one application for calling, messaging and meetings, 8×8 is more coherent than “mix and match” setups.

Who should consider an alternative?

• Choose RingCentral Ultimate if integrations and admin usability are your priority: RingCentral is usually the stronger option if you need the widest catalogue of CRM and productivity integrations and a more visual, flexible call flow designer.
• Choose GoTo Connect Phone System if UK SMS and hardware flexibility matter most: GoTo tends to suit teams that want a strong all-round phone system plus messaging workflows, and it is often a standout for BYOD environments.
• Choose bOnline Unlimited Calling if you are cost-constrained and do not need coaching tools: bOnline can be a better fit for small UK teams that mainly need unlimited domestic calling at the lowest cost, without the complexity of enterprise-grade management layers.
• Choose Dialpad Enterprise if real-time agent assistance is the core requirement: Dialpad’s value leans toward AI-led agent prompts and assistance, but packaging constraints can be less friendly for smaller SMEs than 8×8 or RingCentral.

3. GoTo Connect Phone System: Best for Integrating Desk Phone Hardware

GoTo Connect Phone System is a practical cloud phone system for UK SMEs that need to execute their PSTN switch now, without turning the rollout into a six-month internal project.

It combines dial plans, call routing, shared contacts, call recording and video meetings in one app, and it’s particularly strong if you want to keep (or gradually phase out) desk phones while moving the core system to the cloud.

GoTo’s pricing is no longer public, so these are the latest available figures GoTo used on its website earlier in 2025.

What do we like about GoTo Connect Phone System?

• A dial plan editor that makes phone routing more intuitive: GoTo’s Dial Plan Editor is a drag-and-drop builder, so you can map call flows clearly (for example: “Sales” goes to a ring group in office hours, then to voicemail, then to an overflow number). This is exactly the kind of setup UK teams need as they migrate numbers in bulk ahead of 2027.

• International calling reach is broad (but you need to check the fine print): GoTo markets international calling to more than 50 countries, which is great if you deal with overseas suppliers or customers. Albeit, this is not positioned as ‘unlimited to everywhere’ like 8×8’s international packages, and GoTo’s own policy notes that some destinations are landline-only and may exclude mobile numbers.
• Meetings are unusually strong at this tier: On GoTo’s own plan comparison, Phone System includes video meetings for up to 250 participants, plus AI meeting summaries and meeting transcription. That’s a meaningful advantage if your phone system decision also needs to cover internal comms for hybrid teams.

• Shared contacts are genuinely SME-friendly: In testing, adding a contact took seconds: open Contacts, create a new entry, and choose whether it’s private or shared. GoTo also publishes a shared contact limit of up to 2,000 on the Phone System tier, which is plenty for most SMEs that want a single company directory (suppliers, VIP customers, partners, contractors).

• Call recording is there when you need it and it’s configurable: Phone System includes call recording, and GoTo’s support guidance shows you can enable it via admin settings, with controls around who records and how the recording is applied. In my own use, the recording quality was perfectly legible (not studio crisp, but good enough for dispute resolution, sales coaching and compliance).

• Hardware flexibility supports phased migration plans: If you want to squeeze more value out of desk phones while switching the backend to VoIP, GoTo supports a long list of devices (including models from Cisco, Poly and Yealink). That makes it easier to treat 2026 as a controlled transition, instead of a full hardware rip-and-replace.

What could GoTo Connect Phone System improve?

• UK pricing is not consistently transparent: GoTo’s Connect pricing page pushes you to contact sales rather than giving a clean per-user price list, which makes budgeting harder if you are comparing six vendors and trying to avoid surprise costs.
• AI and analytics depth is package-dependent: GoTo clearly positions more advanced reporting and AI call tooling higher up the range (for example, the Contact Center tier highlights AI call summaries and richer reporting, compared with Phone System). If you want manager oversight at scale, plan for an upsell rather than assuming everything is included.
• Live coaching tools are contact centre-gated: GoTo’s listen/whisper/barge-style supervisor controls sit under GoTo Contact Center, not the core Phone System package, so teams that want real-time coaching for sales or support calls may need an upgrade.
  • By comparison, RingCentral Ultimate includes supervisor coaching tools as part of its core business-phone setup, making it a cleaner fit if day-to-day call coaching is non-negotiable.

Who should use GoTo Connect Phone System?

• UK SMEs migrating off PSTN/ISDN in 2026: If you need a reliable, comprehensive cloud PBX that’s still quick to get live and easy to administer from day one, GoTo’s setup flow and admin layout make it a practical choice to get things working fast.
• Teams that want a phased hardware transition: GoTo is ideal if you’re keeping desk phones where they still make sense, but want staff to answer on a laptop or mobile when remote, without running two separate systems.
• Operations-led businesses that rely on routing rules and call recording: Trades, clinics, service desks and logistics teams benefit most from its unlimited calling, dial plans, schedules, call routing rules and recording controls that help protect customer experience during busy periods.
• Teams that rely on business texting with customers: GoTo is a better fit than RingCentral and 8×8 for UK businesses that want SMS as part of day-to-day customer comms (booking updates, delivery ETAs, quick follow-ups) without pushing staff onto personal mobiles.

Who should consider an alternative?

• Businesses that want the deepest analytics and coaching without add-ons: If you want advanced reporting and training tools as standard, RingCentral Ultimate and 8×8’s higher configurations are typically a better fit than relying on higher tiers or add-ons with GoTo.
• Businesses prioritising mature AI transcription and coaching outcomes: If AI summaries, searchable transcripts or conversation insights are a core requirement, Dialpad and RingCentral are more AI-native since these are restricted to GoTo’s Contact Centre plan.

4. Dialpad Enterprise: Best Cloud Phone System for Customer Service Teams

Dialpad is an AI-first business phone system that feels more like a modern comms solution than a regular calling platform. In our hands-on testing, the day-to-day basics (contacts, calling, voicemail, recordings) were quick to find and easy to use, with a hyper-modern interface.

Its Enterprise tier is best seen as the ‘full control’ package for teams that want Dialpad’s AI workflows plus stronger admin, security and automation options. It’s a particularly strong fit if you rely on messaging in the UK (SMS/MMS), want searchable call context and like the idea of #channels bringing some Slack-style structure into internal comms.

What do we like about Dialpad Enterprise?

• Fast, frustration-free everyday use: Adding a new contact was genuinely simple (Contacts tab → Add contact), and searching to confirm they were saved was instant. That sounds basic, but plenty of VoIP tools still make this clunky.

• Polished navigation with smart quality of life touches: In its settings, you can choose your default landing page, so you drop straight into the area you use most (inbox, calls, contacts, etc.) instead of being forced into a generic dashboard.
• Call recording that’s easy once you enable it properly: We had to switch on recording in office settings first (then you can apply it to specific users or the whole office). After that, recordings were easy to locate in the inbox under Recordings.

• Business messaging that works in the UK: Dialpad’s built-in SMS/MMS is a real differentiator in the UK market, where several big-name VoIP platforms still don’t offer proper texting from UK numbers, such as RingCentral and 8×8.
• Meetings have scaled up massively: Dialpad’s meeting experience is now much less lite add-on than it used to be. If your team uses video regularly, this matters.

• #Channels for internal comms: Channels are genuinely useful for keeping team chatter organised by project or function. It’s the kind of feature you miss when you drop down to cheaper VoIP systems.

• Analytics for calling analytics: There are handy visual breakdowns of your calls inside Dialpad (which opens as a different window to keep things separate), so you can see the ratio of calls that are being unanswered, abandoned and more, across your team (as well as at the individual level). That way, you can look for efficiency improvements a little more easily.

What could Dialpad improve?

• Contact sharing isn’t as explicit as we’d like: When we added contacts, it wasn’t clearly stated whether they’re private to the user or visible across the wider account. Some rivals, such as GoTo, are clearer about “shared directory” versus “personal contacts”.
• Recordings feel slightly disconnected from the conversation thread: We’d love the option to play a call recording directly inside the same inbox thread as the caller, rather than jumping out into a separate call history module that opens on another page.
• Live coaching is not the core strength of Dialpad Connect: If your priority is hands-on call coaching (for example, whisper and barge for high-turnover sales/support teams), you may find better “out of the box” fit with coaching-heavy VoIP plans, unless you move into Dialpad’s more contact-centre-oriented products.
• AI access can depend on your setup: On the demo account we used, we couldn’t fully test every AI feature. In practice, you’ll want to confirm exactly what AI functions are enabled on your Enterprise quote and how they’re configured.

Who should use Dialpad Enterprise?

• UK teams that rely on texting customers: If SMS/MMS is part of your customer comms, Dialpad is one of the cleaner all-in-one options for handling calls and texts in one place.
• Teams that want AI-driven call context: Dialpad is built around turning calls into usable information (summaries, searchable history, analytics), which is ideal for busy sales, support, and account-management environments.
• Hybrid teams that rely on comms tools: If you like a Slack-ish workflow (channels) but still need proper telephony, Dialpad’s UI and structure make it easy to stay organised.

Who should consider an alternative?

• Call coaching-heavy teams: If you want whisper, barge and deep supervisor tools baked into your core VoIP plan, a coaching-led plan such as RingCentral Ultimate or 8×8 Work can be a better fit.
• Teams that need very large video meetings included: Dialpad has improved here, but if you regularly need the biggest meeting caps as standard, options like 8×8 Work or GoTo Connect Phone System may suit better.
• Businesses that want the widest, deepest integration ecosystem: If your phone system needs to plug into lots of niche tools, RingCentral Ultimate is typically the stronger “integrations first” choice.
• Ultra-budget setups: If you just need cheap calling and basic routing, you’ll usually get better value from a lower-cost plan like bOnline Unlimited Calling Plus.

5. bOnline Unlimited Calling: Best for Unlimited Calling on a Strict Budget

bOnline Unlimited Calling is a UK-based cloud phone system plan built for one thing: getting a reliable business phone setup live quickly, without paying mid-market prices. Starting at £8.50 per user, per month (annual billing), it’s one of the cheapest options we’ve assessed that still includes core phone system tools like call routing, call queues and custom IVR workflows.

In our hands-on testing, bOnline felt intentionally stripped back. That’s often a strength for very small teams, because there’s less to configure and fewer places to get lost. But it also means you give up a lot of the nice-to-haves that come bundled with more expensive systems, like deep analytics, extensive integrations or advanced coaching features.

What do we like about bOnline Unlimited Calling?

• Fast, no-fuss contact management in day-to-day use: In testing, I added a new contact in seconds: Contacts tab, “My contacts”, add icon, fill in the details, done. It’s also instantly visible in the same place afterwards, which is exactly what you want when you’re moving quickly.

• It’s the simplest system we tested for basic calling tasks: bOnline is very stripped back, so the learning curve is tiny for frontline users who just need to make and receive calls, check voicemails and find contacts. The desktop app is even more basic, too, providing your team (who likely don’t need to configure controls) with the calling basics, and only that.

• Strong value for unlimited calling: At £8.50 per user, per month (annual), it’s hard to beat on headline price for teams that rack up lots of calls and want predictable monthly costs.
• Phone system fundamentals are present: You still get the features that SMEs actually lean on: call routing, IVR menus and custom workflows, call queues, voicemail-to-email, and mobile and desktop apps.
• Add-ons let you upgrade the basics without changing providers: If you need call recording, HD video, international calling, or extra integrations later, you can bolt them on (often for around £5 per user, per month, each). That makes it easy to start lean and add only what you genuinely use (which is ideal for small businesses).

What could bOnline Unlimited Calling improve?

• No browser calling: In testing, I could not make calls directly in the browser. You need the desktop or mobile app, which adds friction if your team expects log in and call, like RingCentral or 8×8.
• Feature depth is limited versus mid-market systems: You don’t get advanced coaching tools (like whisper and barge) that sales and support teams rely on for live training in platforms like RingCentral (Premium/Ultimate) or 8×8.
• Add-on costs can narrow the price gap: Once you add call recording (£5), HD video (£5) and CRM integrations (£5), the “budget” plan starts creeping towards or even above the cost of full-stack providers that include these features by default. For instance, GoTo Connect Phone System was previously set at £18 when its pricing was public-facing last year.
• Hardware flexibility is limited: bOnline is built around Yealink phone support. If you want maximum bring-your-own-device freedom (Poly, Cisco, mixed estates), GoTo Connect is typically a cleaner fit.

Who should use bOnline Unlimited Calling?

• Small teams that care most about low monthly cost and unlimited minutes: If you’re a tight-budget business that spends a lot of time on the phone, this plan nails the basics without enterprise-level costs.
• Businesses that want a simple interface for callers: If your priority is getting staff calling confidently with minimal training, bOnline’s stripped-back feel is a genuine advantage.
• Teams that can live without heavy integrations or advanced coaching: It’s a strong pick if you mainly need a phone system, not a fully integrated customer comms and analytics layer.

Who should consider an alternative?

• Sales and support teams that need live coaching: If whisper, barge, call monitoring and deeper performance reporting matter, look to RingCentral or 8×8 (depending on package).
• Businesses that want a “single app” experience, including browser calling: If your team wants to work primarily in the browser and keep everything in one interface, bOnline’s app-only calling can be a daily annoyance.
• Teams that rely on deep CRM and productivity integrations: If your phone system needs to live inside your CRM with lots of ready-made integrations, RingCentral is typically the better match.
• Businesses where SMSs are operationally important: If texting customers is core to your workflow, you’ll usually have a smoother time with providers that support SMS in the UK as a core capability, like Dialpad or GoTo Connect (plan and permissions dependent).

How To Find the Right Cloud Phone System for Your Business

If your business uses the phone for casual customer engagement, then a cheaper system with basic functions will fit the best. But if you have a customer service department or a call centre, then you’ll need an advanced, comprehensive system that can be customised to the needs of your business.

Here are the best ways to find the right cloud phone system:

• Contact your current VoIP provider (if applicable): Contact your current provider to see if you can upgrade to a better system. Your provider may have added new products or features that weren’t available when you first signed up.
• Contact a new provider: If any of the providers on this page meets your requirements, contact them to see if they’re a good fit. You don’t need to contact them directly; you can check out their website and other reviews.
• Get recommendations: Ask other business leaders in your industry what system they use and if they would recommend it. This is one of the best ways to find out what systems are or aren’t working for your industry.
• Use our quote tool: Use our free quote comparison tool to be matched up with the right providers. Give us a few details about your business and we’ll link you to a provider that is suited to your needs. You’ll then be contacted by a trusted supplier to provide you with obligation-free quotes.

What Internet Speed Do I Need For a Cloud Phone System?

A cloud phone system doesn’t require much bandwidth. For consistent high-quality audio, we recommend allowing up to 1,000kbps per call. Concurrent calls will increase this requirement; however, with four simultaneous calls requiring around 4,000kbps, for example.

To maintain strong call quality, you should also prioritize VoIP providers that guarantee Quality of Service (QoS) to ensure calls stay clear even when your network is busy, and make sure your connection has low latency, as these factors can impact call clarity more than internet speed alone.

Can I Make 999 Emergency Calls With a Cloud Phone?

Yes, UK regulations require VoIP providers to enable 999 and 112 emergency calls, so you will be able to make 999 calls with most cloud-based VoIP systems.

However, there are some important caveats to be aware of. Emergency services won’t automatically know your location, so you’ll need to manually register a valid UK address or use a mobile app which shows your location.

You’ll also need to check your cloud phone provider supports 999/112 emergency calling, and ensure your calls are routed over a stable internet connection.

Can I Use My Own Devices With a Cloud Phone System?

Yes, cloud phone systems offer you the flexibility to use your own devices rather than being limited to proprietary phones. There are several ways you can use your own devices with the system:

1. Softphones: Cloud phone providers offer desktop and mobile apps that can transform your computer or smartphone into a virtual phone. This will allow you to use all of the phone system’s features (learn more about what a softphone is in our handy guide).
2. BYOD (Bring Your Own Device): Many providers allow you to connect your own desktop IP phones or conference room phones to the cloud system. However, they must be compatible with the system.
3. VoIP adapters: You can connect traditional analogue phones, fax machines and other devices to the cloud phone system using VoIP adapters or IP gateways.
4. Mobile integration: Your mobile phone can often be integrated with the cloud private branch exchange (PBX) to make and receive calls through the system.
5. VPN phones: Some providers support the connection of remote phones via an on-site VPN router or IP PBX gateway for full integration.
6. Limited integration: Options like call forwarding to mobile phones or sending incoming calls to user-defined numbers.

Each provider’s capabilities may vary, but most allow you to use your own devices in some form. However, it’s worth noting that native IP phones (offered by the provider) usually offer tighter integration and access to advanced features.

Cloud Phone Systems and Integrations: What To Look Out For?

Here are some of the most common and desirable integrations to look for when evaluating a UK cloud phone system:

• CRM integration: Tight integration with popular CRMs like Salesforce, Zoho and MS Dynamics to enable features like click-to-call, call logging and customer data pop-ups.
• Accounting software: Integrations with Sage, Xero and QuickBooks to synchronize contacts, capture call logs and associate calls to clients/projects.
• Email integration: Connecting with email platforms like Gmail and Outlook to enable calling from within your email.
• Internal and external live chat: Connecting with messaging platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams helps maintain communication among your team.
• Calendar integration: Syncing calendars to display busy or available statuses, schedule calls and set reminders.
• Web conferencing: Integration with web conferencing allows you to seamlessly initiate and join virtual meetings.

It’s important to check that the cloud phone provider you select can integrate with the software you already use. Cross-check the included third-party integrations of the provider with your existing software for a smooth transition.

How Can I Switch Cloud Phone System Providers?

When switching from one cloud phone system to another, assess the limitations of your current provider by looking at call volume, number of users, features and cost.

1. Compare providers using our free quote comparison tool. Once you’ve completed the form, you’ll be contacted directly. You’ll be able to ask questions about the products and receive transparent information about the provider before you switch.
2. Once you’ve chosen the provider, we encourage you to install the free trial or demo to test call quality, reliability and features.
3. Before the switch, backup important data from your current provider.
4. If you’re switching from one cloud-based system to another, you might not have to change your hardware. Ensure you confirm this with your new provider for a smooth transition.
5. When transitioning from a traditional landline, tell your provider about the hardware you have and ask what hardware is needed. When making the switch to a cloud phone system, you might need less hardware, but you’ll need a strong internet connection and devices. The devices include laptops, desktop computers or smartphones.
6. To keep your current phone numbers, you need to be ported to a new provider. This process can take a little time — approximately one to 14 business days — so it’s important to plan ahead.

Typically, a new cloud phone provider completes the switch within one working day. So, it’s best to try and schedule this on your least busy day to prevent any major interruptions.

How We Test Cloud Phone Systems and Services for Businesses

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