The 7 Best Business VoIP Providers for UK Businesses in 2024

Scalability – Ooma allows businesses to easily add new users as they grow, ensuring that the communication system can scale alongside the company.

Affordability – With plans starting at just £15.64 per month, Ooma offers one of the most cost-effective VoIP solutions on the market, making it accessible for small businesses.

Advanced Security – Ooma provides comprehensive security features, including call blocking and monitoring, to protect business communications from potential threats.

Voicemail Forwarding and Transcription – Users can forward voicemails to email or SMS and even receive voicemail transcriptions, allowing for quick reviews on the go.

Virtual Receptionist – This feature replaces a real-life receptionist, saving on payroll costs while ensuring calls are efficiently directed to the right departments.

‘Contact Us’ — As of its latest May 2024 update, Ooma has introduced a ‘Contact Us’ widget to add to your website, allowing customers to get in touch with the click of a button.

Ooma offers three main pricing plans: Essentials, Pro, and Pro Plus.

• Essentials Plan – 50+ standard features, unlimited calling in US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, a virtual receptionist, and a mobile app
• Pro Plan – Includes everything in Essentials, plus a desktop app, text messaging (up to 250 per month), videoconferencing (up to 25 participants), and call recording
• Pro Plus Plan – Includes everything in Pro, plus CRM integration, text messaging (up to 1,000 per month), videoconferencing (up to 100 participants), team chat, hot desking, and call queuing

*Pricing has been converted from USD to GBP via the live exchange rate on 12 August 2024.

Ooma is perfect for small businesses looking for a reliable, scalable, and affordable VoIP phone solution. Its user-friendly interface and essential features make it ideal for startups and growing businesses that need robust communication tools without a hefty price tag.

Larger enterprises or businesses requiring extensive call center features might find Ooma’s offerings limited when compared with feature-rich providers like Vonage or RingCentral.

Conversation Analysis — As of July 2024, Vonage offers AI-powered analysis of your customer calls, allowing you to gauge overall positive or negative sentiment so that your call agents can improve accordingly.

99.999% Uptime – Vonage guarantees near-perfect reliability, ensuring that businesses experience minimal downtime.

Multi-level Auto Attendant – This feature allows businesses to manage calls efficiently, directing them to the appropriate departments or extensions.

Visual Voicemail – Provides a written transcript of voicemails, which can be viewed on the desktop or mobile app, helping users quickly review messages.

Call Forwarding – Ensures important calls are never missed by forwarding them to different extensions or phones.

Video Conferencing – Offers high-definition video meetings with up to 200 participants, enhancing team collaboration.

Vonage offers several plans, each designed to meet different business needs:

• Express — Desktop and mobile app, 30+ calling features, metered use.
• Core — Everything in Express, plus unlimited domestic calling, and unlimited Vonage meetings.
• Pro — Everything in Core, plus on-demand call recording, unlimited call queue, virtual receptionist, and call groups.
• Max — Everything in Pro, plus company-wide call recording, Vonage integration suite, and CRM integrations.

Pricing correct on date of last article update, 12 August 2024.

Vonage strikes a balance between affordability and functionality, making it ideal for small to medium-sized businesses that require international calling. That said, larger enterprises or businesses requiring extensive customization might find Vonage’s offerings limited compared with enterprise-focused providers like RingCentral.

CRM Integration – Zoho’s VoIP service integrates directly with Zoho CRM, allowing for seamless data flow and enhanced customer management.

Multi-level IVR – Set up interactive voice response systems to guide callers to the right department, improving customer service efficiency.

Call Monitoring – Monitor live calls, whisper to agents, or barge in when necessary, ensuring quality control and training opportunities.

Contacts Module – Import and manage company-wide contacts centrally, view call logs, and gain insights into customer interactions.

Call Queues – Organize agents into teams and efficiently route calls to the relevant group, either simultaneously or sequentially.

Voicemail Transcription – Instantly transcribe voicemails to text, allowing quick review and follow-up.

Zoho offers flexible pricing plans to meet various business needs:

• Basic Plan – 1,000 free incoming mins per license, per month; 250 free outgoing minutes per license, per month; all-in-one dashboard; multi-level IVR; and live call tracking.
• Standard Plan – Everything in Basic plus 10 free telephony agents per license, call monitoring, power dialer, queue performance metrics, and upgrade telephony agents
• Contact Centre Plan – Everything in Standard, plus 2,500 free incoming minutes per license, per month; 500 free outgoing mins per license, per month; one free local number for each license; and advanced noise cancellation

*Pricing has been converted from EUR to GBP via the live exchange rate on 12 August 2024.

Zoho is ideal for businesses that heavily rely on CRM systems for customer management and sales processes. Its deep integration with Zoho CRM makes it perfect for sales-driven teams.

Businesses that do not use Zoho’s suite of applications, or those requiring extensive call center features, may find Zoho’s offerings less appealing compared to more specialized providers like Ooma.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) – Automate call routing with customizable menus to ensure callers reach the right department quickly.

Call Recording – Record calls for compliance, training, and quality assurance. Both on-demand and automatic call recording options are available.

Video Conferencing – Host high-quality video meetings with up to 200 participants on standard plans and up to 10,000 participants with add-ons.

Enhanced Business SMS – Send and receive business SMSes with templates and the ability to switch between devices seamlessly.

Ring Groups – Organize how incoming calls are managed, ensuring efficient call distribution among team members or departments.

RingCentral offers four main pricing plans designed for different business needs:

• Essentials — 100 minutes per user, mobile and desktop apps, team messaging, file sharing, call logs, and 24/7 customer support.
• Standard — Everything in Essentials, plus 750 minutes per user, on-demand call recording, video meetings with up to 100 participants, unlimited audio conferencing, IVR, and integrations, including Microsoft, Google, and Slack.
• Premium — Everything in Standard, plus 2000 minutes per user, automatic call recording, video meetings with up to 200 participants, single sign-on, advanced call handling features, custom roles and permissions, CRM integrations, developer platform, and custom integrations.
• Ultimate — Everything in Premium, plus 4000 minutes per user, device status updates and alerts, and unlimited storage.

Pricing correct on date of last article update, 12 August 2024.

RingCentral is ideal for large enterprises needing a scalable VoIP solution with advanced features and extensive integration capabilities. Its robust video conferencing and call management features make it perfect for companies with complex communication needs.

Smaller businesses or those with simpler communication requirements may find RingCentral’s offerings too extensive and costly. Providers like Ooma offer more affordable plans with features tailored to small businesses.

Call Analytics – Get detailed insights into call performance, including duration, conversion rates, and abandonment rates, to identify areas for improvement.

Video Conferencing – Host video conferences with up to 500 participants, with features like hand-raising, instant polls, live emojis, and breakout rooms for interactive sessions.

Unlimited Fax – Enjoy unlimited internet fax capabilities, making document sharing simple and efficient.

Call Monitoring – Listen in on live calls for training purposes or quality assurance without the customer being aware.

Team Management – Utilize features like presence detection, skill-based routing, and post-call surveys to optimize team performance and customer service.

Mobile App — 8×8 has improved its mobile app in its July 2024 update by allowing users to manage agents and call queues even when on-the-go, which especially suits busy business owners who don’t spend the day behind a desk.

8×8 offers a range of pricing plans, but the following three are most suitable for businesses (you must contact 8×8 for pricing information, they do not publish it online, so neither will we):

• X2 Plan – Unlimited domestic calling in 14 countries, team messaging, video conferencing up to 500 participants, call recording available as an add-on, and voicemail transcription
• X4 Plan – Everything in X2, plus unlimited domestic calling in 48 countries, advanced call management features, front desk for receptionists and operators, and ability to listen in on active calls
• X8 Plan – Everything in X4, plus unlimited team messaging, file-sharing, and recording storage, quality management and speech analytics, auto-dialer, and advanced noise cancellation

Unfortunately, 8×8 no longer publicly advertises its pricing online, so we won’t either. We selected these plans based on the comprehensive set of tools available to improve communication and efficiency.

*Pricing plan information correct on date of last article update, 12 August 2024.

8×8 is ideal for medium to large businesses looking for a VoIP solution with advanced features. Its detailed call analytics and extensive integration options make it perfect for enterprises needing comprehensive communication tools.

Small businesses or startups with limited budgets may find 8×8’s pricing out of reach when compared with other providers like Zoho, which offers more affordable plans with a standard feature set.

Free Number Porting – Easily switch to Nextiva without losing your existing business phone numbers, ensuring a seamless transition.

Voicemail Notifications – Receive instant notifications via SMS or email whenever you receive a voicemail, ensuring you never miss an important message.

Shared Line Appearance – Allows multiple devices to share the same phone line, making it easier to manage calls and improve team collaboration.

Call Management – Advanced call management features, including call routing, call forwarding, and auto-attendant, to ensure efficient handling of inbound calls.

Team Collaboration – Built-in chat and collaboration tools to enhance communication within the team, ensuring everyone stays connected and informed.

HIPAA-Secure Voicemail — Nextiva’s latest July 2024 update supports HIPAA-secure voicemail and encryption, which is ideal for businesses handling sensitive personal information.

Nextiva offers four main pricing plans suitable for businesses:

• Digital — No voice features, website live chat, messaging, social media, reviews, and digital service helpdesk.
• Core — Everything in Digital, plus inbound and outbound voice, business SMS, video meetings, screen and file sharing, and call routing.
• Engage — Everything in Core, plus call centre and call queueing, toll-free number and minutes, advanced reporting, MS Teams integration, and website chatbot.
• Power Suite — Everything in Engage, plus advanced IVR, intelligent call routing, unified team interface, call transcription and summaries, and supervisor dashboard.

*Pricing has been converted from USD to GBP via the live exchange rate on 12 August 2024.

Nextiva is perfect for small to mid-sized businesses that require a reliable, easy-to-use communication solution. Its simple setup and robust feature set make it ideal for call centers and businesses with high communication needs.

Businesses that rely heavily on long-duration video conferencing might find Nextiva’s 45-minute limit per video call restrictive. For extensive video conferencing needs, consider alternatives like Vonage.

AI-Powered Voicemail – Enjoy real-time voicemail transcriptions and management, allowing quick access and efficient handling of messages.

Unlimited Calling – Make unlimited calls within the UK and internationally, ensuring seamless communication without worrying about additional costs.

Global SMS Capabilities – Send and receive SMSes globally, facilitating easy communication with clients and team members across different locations.

Sales Launchpad — In its latest July 2024 update, Dialpad offers additional analytics and insights into customer calls under the Sales Launchpad platform.

App Integrations – Integrate DialPad with popular apps like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 to streamline your workflow.

Mobile & Desktop Apps – Use DialPad on any device with its robust mobile and desktop applications.

DialPad offers three main pricing plans suitable for businesses:

• Standard Plan – Unlimited calling, unlimited AI meetings for up to 10 participants, SMS, MMS & team messaging, AI-powered call & voicemail transcriptions, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 integrations, real-time analytics and reporting, and web & chat support
• Pro Plan – Everything in Standard, plus global SMS capabilities, local number support in 70+ countries, 24/7 live agent support, 10 office locations, and CRM integrations (Salesforce, Zendesk, HubSpot, and Zoho)
• Enterprise Plan – Everything in Pro, plus 100% uptime, unlimited office locations, unlimited ring groups (departments), dial-by-extension, and integrations with leading SSO providers (Okta and OneLogin)

DialPad is perfect for small businesses and startups looking for an affordable yet feature-rich VoIP solution. Its AI-driven features and unlimited calling make it ideal for scaling businesses on a budget.

Large enterprises or businesses requiring extensive call center functionalities might find DialPad’s offerings limited compared to more specialized providers like Ringcentral.