Best virtual landline UK (2026): how to choose
The best virtual landline for your UK business is the one that gives you a professional number you can answer from your mobile, with the call features you need at a fair price. Plans typically start from around £5 per user per month, work through an app on iOS, Android and the web, and let you pick an 01, 02, 03 or 0800 number. This guide covers the criteria, number types and pricing so you can choose well.
What is a virtual landline, and who is it for?
A virtual landline is a business phone number that is not tied to a physical phone line in a building. Instead, calls travel over the internet and ring on an app on your mobile, a web browser or a desk phone. You answer your business number from wherever you are, on whatever device suits, while keeping your personal mobile number private.
It suits anyone who currently runs their business off a personal mobile. Sole traders, tradespeople, consultants, freelancers and new small businesses are the typical users. A virtual landline gives you a recognisable, professional number, which looks more credible to customers than a personal 07 mobile, and it separates work calls from personal ones so you can switch off out of hours.
Because there is no copper line involved, a virtual landline is also future-proof. The old PSTN network is being switched off on 31 January 2027, so traditional copper landlines are on the way out. A virtual landline already runs the modern way, over broadband, so you will not need to change again before the deadline. For a one-person business it can be the cheapest and quickest way to sound established without renting an office line.
What to look for in a virtual landline (comparison table)
Treat this as a scorecard. A good virtual landline for a UK small business should cover the basics in the price, with room to add features as you grow. Use it to compare two or three providers on the same terms.
| Criterion | What good looks like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Number types | Choice of 01, 02 (local), 03 (national) and 0800 (freephone) | Lets you match the right image to your business |
| Mobile app | iOS and Android app to call and answer on your phone | Run your business number without a second handset |
| Web and desk options | Web softphone, plus desk phone support if you want it | Mix devices as the business grows |
| Call handling | Voicemail-to-email, call divert, business-hours routing, an auto-attendant | Never miss a call and look bigger than you are |
| Caller ID control | Show your landline number, keep your mobile private | Professional and keeps personal contact details separate |
| Inclusive UK calls | UK landline and mobile minutes bundled where possible | Predictable monthly cost with no surprise charges |
| AI and extras | Call recording, transcription or an AI receptionist as options | Capture details and answer calls when you cannot |
| Number porting | Free porting if you already have a business number | Keep the number your customers already know |
| Contract length | Short or rolling terms | Flexibility for a young or changing business |
| UK support | UK-based help when you need it | Quicker, clearer answers if something goes wrong |
Which number type should I choose?
The number you pick shapes how customers see you, so it is worth a moment's thought. UK virtual landlines usually offer four kinds, and each sends a slightly different signal.
01 and 02 geographic numbers. These are local area-code numbers, such as 0161 for Manchester, 0117 for Bristol or 020 for London. They give you a recognisable local presence, which reassures nearby customers and works well for businesses that serve a particular area. With a virtual landline you can hold a local number for a town you do not have an office in, which is handy for building a presence in a new market.
03 national numbers. Numbers like 0333 and 0345 are non-geographic, so they suggest a national rather than local business. They are charged to callers at standard geographic rates and count towards inclusive minutes, which makes them caller-friendly. They suit businesses that operate across the UK or do not want to be tied to one location.
0800 freephone numbers. An 0800 number is free for the caller to dial. That can lift response rates on sales and support lines because it removes any cost worry for the customer. The trade-off is that the business usually pays for inbound calls. Choose based on the impression you want: local trust (01/02), national reach (03) or removing friction for callers (0800). Some businesses run more than one, for example a local number on the website and an 0800 number on adverts.
Typical UK virtual landline pricing
Virtual landline pricing is among the lowest in business telephony because the product is lean: a number, an app and call handling, with no hardware to buy. That keeps entry costs down for a one-person business.
| Plan type | Typical UK market price | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Basic virtual line | From around £5 per user per month | Sole traders wanting one professional number |
| Standard business | Around £8 to £15 per user per month | Small teams needing inclusive calls and more features |
| Feature or AI plan | Higher, varies by features | Businesses adding recording or an AI receptionist |
Two factors decide your real cost. First, whether UK landline and mobile minutes are included or charged per minute on top of the line rental. Second, the extras you choose, such as call recording, extra numbers or AI features, which may be bundled or sold separately. Setup is usually free and there is no equipment to purchase. Voxora does not list a fixed virtual landline price here because the right plan depends on your number type and features, so use the CTA below to get a tailored quote.
How do I set up a virtual landline?
Setting up is quick, often same-day, because there is nothing to install. The steps are simple whether you are starting fresh or moving an existing number.
- Pick your number type. Decide between a local 01 or 02 number, a national 03 number, or an 0800 freephone number based on the image you want.
- Choose a plan and provider. Compare on the scorecard above, checking that UK calls and the app you want are included.
- Get a new number or port an old one. If you already have a business number, your provider can port it across for free so you keep it. If you are starting out, choose a fresh number.
- Install the app and set your routing. Download the mobile app, sign in, and set call divert, business hours and voicemail-to-email so calls reach you and are captured when you cannot answer.
- Test and go live. Make a couple of test calls, check your caller ID shows the right number, and you are ready.
From there you can add users, desk phones or AI features as you grow. Voxora is one UK option built for exactly this: a cloud phone system with apps for mobile, web and desk phones, a choice of 01, 02, 03 and 0800 numbers, free number porting, and an AI Receptionist that can answer and route calls when you are busy. Whichever provider you choose, a virtual landline lets a small business sound established from day one, and keeps you ready for the 2027 switch-off without any further change.
Frequently asked questions
What is a virtual landline?
A virtual landline is a business phone number that is not tied to a physical phone line. Calls are carried over the internet and ring on an app on your mobile, a web browser or a desk phone. You get a professional 01, 02, 03 or 0800 number that you can answer from anywhere, which is ideal for sole traders and small businesses that currently work off a personal mobile.
How much does a virtual landline cost in the UK?
Virtual landline plans typically start from around £5 per user per month, with fuller business plans that bundle UK calls and more features sitting nearer £8 to £15 per user per month. Setup is usually free and there is no hardware to buy because you use an app. Check whether call minutes are included or charged separately, as that is the main thing that changes your real monthly cost.
Can I use a virtual landline on my mobile?
Yes. A virtual landline is designed to work on a mobile app for iOS and Android, so you can make and take business calls from your phone using your landline number while keeping your personal number private. Most providers also offer a web softphone in the browser and support for desk phones, so you can mix devices as your business grows.
Which number type should I choose for a virtual landline?
Choose an 01 or 02 geographic number if you want a recognisable local presence, such as 0161 for Manchester or 020 for London. Choose an 03 number, like 0333 or 0345, for a national, non-geographic identity charged at standard rates. Choose an 0800 freephone number if you want calls to be free for the caller, which can lift response rates for sales and support lines.
Is a virtual landline a real landline?
It is a real, working business number, but it is delivered over the internet rather than a copper phone line. To your callers it behaves exactly like a landline: they dial your 01, 02, 03 or 0800 number and you answer. Because it runs over broadband, it is already future-proof for the 31 January 2027 PSTN switch-off, when traditional copper landlines are being retired.
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