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Remote and hybrid working are now standard for many UK businesses. To keep teams connected and communication running smoothly, a dependable VoIP phone system is essential.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) lets your staff make and receive calls using the internet, no matter where they’re based. Whether you're managing a remote sales team or a fully distributed business, VoIP gives you the flexibility to grow without the high costs or hassle of traditional phone systems.
At Expert Compare, we help you compare the top VoIP providers for remote teams in the UK – saving you time and helping you choose a solution that matches your budget and setup.
Provider | Best For | Starting Price | Key Features | Contract Terms |
---|---|---|---|---|
RingCentral | All-round solution | £12.99/month | Extensive integrations, advanced call management | 12–24 months |
8x8 | International teams | £10.00/month | Unlimited international calls, team messaging | 12 months |
Vonage | Custom setups and call centres | £10.00/month | CRM integrations, call monitoring | 30-day rolling or fixed |
Dialpad | AI-driven communication | £12.00/month | Voice intelligence, analytics, app integrations | Monthly or annual |
bOnline | Small remote teams | £7.00/month | Call routing, mobile app, voicemail to email | 12–24 months |
RingCentral Ultimate is a fully-featured cloud-based VoIP system tailored to businesses that require flexibility, advanced features, and strong cross-platform integration. It supports seamless remote work and is particularly valuable for companies with hybrid or distributed teams, where reliable internal and external communication is critical.
A major strength of RingCentral is its unparalleled compatibility with over 400 third-party apps including Salesforce, HubSpot, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zendesk. These integrations streamline communication by embedding call functions within existing workflows. However, its premium plans come at a higher cost and do not include unlimited minutes, which might not suit all budgets or high-volume outbound teams.
RingCentral Ultimate includes advanced call management tools such as custom call routing, multi-level auto-attendants, voicemail transcription, and call flipping – enabling staff to transfer live calls between devices without interruption. The platform also offers real-time analytics, call recording, barge/whisper features for training, and team dashboards for performance tracking.
RingCentral Ultimate starts at £29.99 per user/month for individuals. For businesses with 2–19 users, the cost drops to £24.99 per user/month, and for larger teams of 100 or more, the cost goes down to £22.99. A more basic entry-level version is also available starting from £12.99.
RingCentral is an excellent choice for growing businesses that use a range of digital tools and need their communications platform to integrate directly into their operations. It’s especially beneficial for companies with call-heavy departments such as customer support or sales, where monitoring and coaching capabilities are essential.
8x8’s X Series is tailored for international businesses or those with globally dispersed teams. It combines voice, video, chat and contact centre functionality into one cloud-based system and provides exceptional value for money with its generous international call packages.
Its strongest selling point is unlimited calling to 48 countries, helping teams maintain constant contact with clients or colleagues abroad without worrying about minute bundles. It includes native team messaging, call recording and secure video meetings. The interface is slightly less user-friendly than other platforms like RingCentral, and CRM integrations are not as extensive.
Core features include HD video conferencing, team chat, call analytics, voicemail transcription and call handling tools. The X Series plans include skills-based routing, presence detection, and integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace, offering a unified approach to communication.
8x8’s Express plan begins at £10.00/user/month. The X Series packages that include international calling start from £15.00/user/month. Higher-tier X6 to X8 plans are priced accordingly based on features like call centre analytics and multi-site support.
Businesses that frequently call internationally or manage staff across multiple countries will benefit most from 8x8. It’s also ideal for companies wanting a single platform for all communication channels.
Vonage Business Communications is known for its high level of customisation, particularly around CRM connectivity and call handling. Vonage Premier is a great fit for businesses that prioritise customer engagement and require specific workflows, such as sales departments and inbound support centres.
Vonage supports integrations with Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, HubSpot and other CRM platforms. Its interface is clean and functional, and users can quickly change routing rules or create new call groups. However, some of the advanced features (like analytics dashboards) are not available in the basic plan and require paid add-ons. It also lacks built-in video conferencing in the lower tiers.
Vonage’s platform includes flexible call routing, admin control for adding and removing users, team reporting, and tools for call coaching like whisper and barge. It also offers a mobile app for iOS and Android, voicemail transcription, and call logging within connected CRM tools.
Vonage pricing starts from £10.00 per user/month for the Mobile plan. Premium and Advanced plans, which include integrations and analytics, come at a higher cost depending on usage and user numbers. Custom quotes are often required for larger businesses.
CRM-driven organisations like sales teams, contact centres and customer service departments will find Vonage extremely useful. It is especially good for businesses that need to control user permissions, manage workflows dynamically and gather in-depth usage reports.
Dialpad stands out for its use of artificial intelligence to enhance user experience and decision-making. It’s aimed at teams that want real-time insights from their call data, and suits remote companies who want to stay agile, informed and well-connected.
The standout feature is its Voice Intelligence (Vi) technology, which transcribes calls in real time, detects sentiment, and summarises discussions automatically. This reduces admin work and helps teams respond quickly to issues. However, in comparison to platforms like RingCentral, Dialpad lacks robust training features and has more limited built-in analytics in basic tiers.
Dialpad includes call recording, searchable transcripts, spam prevention, and integrations with tools like Salesforce, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. Its dashboard offers insights into talk time, keyword trends and missed call volume. Call transfers between desktop and mobile are smooth and instant.
The Standard plan starts at £12.00 per user/month. Pro and Enterprise plans introduce additional features like CRM integration, call routing controls and unlimited meetings. Pricing increases based on advanced feature requirements.
Tech-focused and data-driven organisations that want to reduce manual admin, gain insight into customer conversations, and operate flexibly across remote environments will benefit most from Dialpad.
bOnline provides affordable VoIP services that are simple to install and easy to use. It’s a go-to choice for UK-based startups and small businesses who need essential phone features without complexity or high cost.
The platform’s main advantages are its low price point and its plug-and-play design, which means no expensive hardware or setup time. UK-based customer service is available to assist with onboarding. On the downside, it offers fewer integrations and lacks advanced analytics, making it less suitable for large or fast-scaling teams.
Included tools cover call routing, voicemail to email, mobile app access, number porting and a virtual receptionist. These core features are enough for most small teams who want to manage customer calls professionally.
Pricing starts at £7.00 per user/month for the basic plan, with unlimited calling plans available from £13.95 per user/month. Contract terms typically range from 12 to 24 months.
Startups, sole traders and budget-conscious SMEs needing a simple, stable VoIP system will find bOnline fits the bill. It’s best suited to businesses without complex technical or CRM integration needs.
Before committing to a VoIP system, it’s important to evaluate your business’s specific needs, technical environment, and growth plans. Here are the key factors to consider when comparing VoIP providers for a remote or hybrid setup:
Integration with Existing Tools
Make sure the VoIP system integrates seamlessly with the software you already use, such as CRM platforms (like Salesforce or HubSpot), helpdesk tools (like Zendesk), or collaboration apps (like Microsoft Teams or Google Workspace). This can improve workflow efficiency and reduce the need for staff to switch between platforms.
Scalability and Flexibility
Look for providers that offer easy scalability so you can add or remove users as your business changes. This is particularly important for growing businesses or those with seasonal staffing needs. Consider whether the provider offers short-term contracts, pay-as-you-go options, or flexible licensing models.
Support and Customer Service
Check whether the provider offers UK-based customer support and what their hours of availability are. Remote teams depend on reliable tech support, especially if staff are spread across time zones. Some providers offer 24/7 support, while others may only operate during business hours.
Call Quality and Reliability
Assess whether the provider guarantees a minimum service uptime (e.g., 99.999%) and what kind of infrastructure supports their platform. Quality of service is crucial for customer-facing roles where dropped calls or poor audio could impact your brand reputation.
Pricing Transparency and Total Cost
Understand all pricing elements, including hardware, setup, licenses, international minutes, feature add-ons, and cancellation terms. A low advertised rate may not reflect the true cost once extras are added.
Security and Compliance
Check for features like end-to-end encryption, GDPR compliance, and options for secure call recording. This is especially important in industries with data privacy obligations such as legal, healthcare, or finance.
By thoroughly reviewing these areas, you can choose a VoIP system that doesn’t just meet your needs now but also supports your long-term strategy.
With Expert Compare, you can quickly check prices and find a system that fits how your business operates. Whether you need a simple calling setup or enterprise-grade features, we’ll connect you with top UK suppliers who can deliver.