The Best Business Phone Lines in 2025

woman on phone with headset in an office talking to laptop screen

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Choosing the right business phone line is crucial if you want to improve communication between your team, clients, and business partners. Our research has identified RingCentral Advanced, Zoom Regional Unlimited, and 8×8 Work as the top three business phone line providers for US companies in 2025, with GoTo Connect and Nextiva Engage offering strong alternatives tailored to specific business needs.

Below, we’ve directly compared the key strengths and potential drawbacks of each provider to help you clearly understand which business phone line suits your organization best. But if you want to know exactly which option is best for your medium-sized business and how much it will cost you right away, we suggest filling out our free quote comparison tool to get quick answers.

Best Business Phone Lines 2025: Top Systems Summary

  1. RingCentral Advanced – Best Business Phone System Overall
  2. Zoom Regional Unlimited – Best value for money
  3. 8×8 Work – Best for large teams looking for discounted pricing
  4. GoTo Connect Phone System – Best for managing high call volumes
  5. Nextiva Engage – Best for multi-channel customer service

Based on our research, these are the providers we recommend. Clicking on any of the links will take you to our free quote-finding tool, where you can receive tailored quotes from trusted providers suited to your needs. Read our methodology to learn how we decided on our top five.

The Best Business Phone Lines in 2025

We recommend that you invest in Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP) phone lines and communication systems rather than landlines because they are cheaper, flexible, and have significantly more features. Here are our five best business phone lines for medium-sized US businesses, according to our research:

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RingCentral Advanced

Zoom Regional Unlimited

GoTo Connect Phone System

Nextiva Engage

Expert Rating
Not yet rated
Expert Rating
4.6
Expert Rating
4.5
Expert Rating
4.2
Expert Rating
Not yet rated
Price

$25/user/month

Price

$15 per user, per month

Price

Custom

Price

$26 per user, per month

Price

$40/user/month

Key Features
  • Video calls: 200 users
  • CRM integrations: 110+
  • Screening: Full suite
  • Training tools: Full suite
  • Global minutes: US/CA only
Key Features
  • Video calls: 500 users
  • CRM integrations: 30+
  • Screening: Partial (ID & blocking)
  • Training tools: Whisper/barge
  • Global minutes: US & Canada
Key Features
  • Video calls: 500 users
  • CRM integrations: 15+
  • Screening: Partial (no voicemail)
  • Training tools: Full suite
  • Global minutes: 48 countries
Key Features
  • Video calls: 250 users
  • CRM integrations: 30+
  • Screening: Full suite
  • Training tools: Partial (no whisper/barge)
  • Global minutes: 50+ countries
Key Features
  • Video calls: 250 users
  • CRM integrations: 20+
  • Screening: Partial (no voicemail)
  • Training tools: No whisper/barge
  • Global minutes: US & Canada
Not a Medium-Sized Business?

If you wouldn’t classify your team as an established medium-sized business of 50 to 250 employees, we have other guides that may be of interest to you:

1. RingCentral Advanced: Best Business Phone Line Overall

RingCentral Advanced takes the top spot overall due to its extensive set of features, powerful integrations, and unmatched scalability, making it ideal for medium-sized businesses looking to streamline their communications.

RingCentral Logo on white background
RingCentral
4.9
Pricing $25
Strengths

Class-leading software integration options ahead of all rivals, including over 110 CRM integrations and 300 apps in total

Unlimited domestic calls, HD video meetings (100 participants), unlimited e-fax and chat functionality

AI Assistant to take call notes in real-time, capture call action items and more

Weaknesses

Not as cheap as Zoom Regional Unlimited

No international minutes included

Customizable analytics and reports only available on Ultra plan

Pricing Plans
PlansStarting price Per user, per month. Billed annually.
Core $20
Advanced $25
Ultra $35

Why is RingCentral Advanced a top business telephone system for medium-sized businesses?

RingCentral Advanced is perfect for medium-sized businesses that require a comprehensive communications solution capable of handling large teams and high call volumes. In our research and testing of its platform, we found that it offers sophisticated call management tools, including advanced Interactive Voice Response (IVR) and call routing capabilities, to provide smooth customer interactions even during busy periods.

ringcentral interface when making a call
Using RingCentral is pretty self-explanatory as we found out in our hands-on testing of its platform. Source: Expert Market

One of its biggest advantages is the broad range of software integrations available, allowing seamless connections with over 300 applications, including popular Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platforms, helpdesk software, and team collaboration tools. There is also Application Programming Interface (API) support for custom integrations, too.

This integration flexibility sets RingCentral apart from competitors like GoTo Connect or 8×8 Work, which have far fewer ready-made integrations with third-party tools, and sets RingCentral Advanced up as a great choice for businesses with complex workflows or specialized/niche integration needs, such as sales-driven organizations or customer support centers.

image of RingCentral's RingCX platform showing call transfer and call directory
Transferring a call via your call directory is an easy process using RingCentral's software. Source: RingCentral

Additionally, RingCentral Advanced has excellent employee training features, offering call whisper, call monitoring, and call barge functionalities. Call center operations or teams frequently onboarding new staff will appreciate these functionalities, which aren’t always a part of phone line packages such as Nextiva Engage.

Any reasons why RingCentral Advanced won’t be for your business?

Despite its strengths, RingCentral Advanced may not be the best choice for medium-sized businesses with simpler requirements or tighter budgets.

Its extensive capabilities come at a higher price point of $25 per user, per month compared to providers like Zoom Regional Unlimited ($15/user/month), which offers similar core features for $10 less per user, per month. That could make RingCentral Advanced too costly for businesses that don’t require the extensive integrations it offers.

What’s New With RingCentral: Q2 2025 Updates

RingCentral has recently launched its new AI Receptionist (AIR): an integrated AI voice assistant designed to automate customer interactions and improve efficiency.

Built directly into RingCentral’s business phone system, AIR answers calls immediately, engages in natural conversations, handles routine customer inquiries, intelligently routes complex requests, and can even schedule appointments or send SMS follow-ups.

This tool should mean medium-sized businesses can handle higher call volumes seamlessly, reducing the need for additional staffing, and maintain a consistent, high-quality customer experience at all times of day.

2. Zoom Regional Unlimited: Best Value Business Phone Line

Zoom Phone‘s Regional Unlimited plan stands out as the best value option for medium-sized businesses, combining affordability with impressive functionality. Businesses receive a robust set of features, including advanced call management, video conferencing for up to 500 participants, and effective live training tools, all packaged at a notably lower price point compared to its competitors, especially RingCentral Advanced and 8×8 Work.

Zoom logo
Zoom Regional Unlimited
4.6
Pricing $15
Suitable for

Most affordable option ($15/user), making it the cheapest provider on the list

Excellent call management with voicemail transcription, screening, and call routing

Fully featured communication suite—SMS, video conferencing, e-fax, and team messaging

Not suitable for

Software integration options are fewer for helpdesk and live chat apps

Lacks e-faxing capabilities

Pricing
PlanPrice (per user, per month)
Metered $10
Regional Unlimited $15
Global Select $20

Why is Zoom Regional Unlimited a top business telephone system for medium-sized businesses?

Zoom Regional Unlimited offers exceptional value, particularly for cost-conscious businesses aiming to balance budget constraints with strong feature coverage. Its advanced call management system, including visual voicemail transcription, auto-attendant capabilities, and sophisticated call-routing tools, is comparable to higher-priced competitors like RingCentral Advanced and Nextiva Engage but without the cost.

Screenshot of Zoom voicemail transcription
In the top right left corner, you can see the voicemail transcript Zoom generated, which was mistake-free. Source: Expert Market

As you may expect of a Zoom product, it’s an ideal choice for businesses with extensive video conferencing needs since it supports meetings with up to 500 participants on this plan – significantly more than providers such as GoTo Connect and Dialpad. Furthermore, Zoom’s intuitive interface allows businesses to benefit from minimal onboarding time, helping to improve operational efficiency without additional training costs.

Overall, Zoom’s comprehensive yet affordable package makes it a particularly attractive option for medium-sized businesses, especially those focused on cost-effectiveness without compromising on critical communication tools.

zoom notes during a meeting voip in zoom phone
When in a video meeting, you can make notes to look back on later, which is very handy in our view and saves you opening up another window mid-conversation. Source: Expert Market

Any reasons why Zoom Regional Unlimited won’t be for your business?

While Zoom Regional Unlimited provides excellent value, it lacks some integrations available with competitors. Notably, it only integrates with Salesforce for CRM purposes, falling short compared to RingCentral Advanced, which integrates with a wider range of CRM platforms.

Similarly, Zoom lacks integration with customer-service live chat tools (such as WhatsApp), a strength found in RingCentral’s offerings, which could be important for businesses prioritizing multi-channel customer support beyond the supported channels.

Moreover, Zoom Regional Unlimited doesn’t offer calendar integration with common productivity tools like Google Workspace or Microsoft Outlook. With many businesses heavily reliant on integrated scheduling tools from these two teams, this could be a significant shortcoming compared to the likes of RingCentral Advanced and Nextiva Engage.

What’s New With Zoom: Q2 2025 Updates

Zoom Phone’s latest update is bringing about several enhancements to improve collaboration, security, and device management. Highlights include:

  • Multi-party call conferencing: Zoom Phone now supports multi-party conferencing for up to 10 participants, allowing users to seamlessly merge multiple calls into one unified conversation.
  • Advanced call recording management: Admins can now exclude specific phone numbers from recording and identifiable reporting, allowing for better privacy and compliance, particularly important for industries handling sensitive communications.
  • Expanded device support: Improvements include automatic data center failover for Algo devices, zero-touch provisioning enhancements for Poly hardware, and new firmware updates for devices from AudioCodes, Mitel, Poly, and Yealink.

3. 8×8 Work: Best Business Phone Line For Large Teams

8×8 Work stands out as the top choice for medium-sized businesses managing larger teams or rapidly scaling workforces.

With comprehensive training and management tools, expansive video conferencing capabilities, and excellent global communication support, it’s specifically suited to businesses where extensive internal collaboration, staff training, and performance analytics are critical.

8x8 logo
8x8 Work
4.5
Pricing Custom
Strengths

Unlimited international calling to 48 countries

Up to 500 video conferencing participants per meeting

Excellent 24/7 customer support across various channels

Weaknesses

Expensive, opaque pricing

User interface occasionally less intuitive than competitors

Pricing
Custom
Based on your business' size and requirements

Why is 8×8 Work a top business telephone system for medium-sized businesses?

8×8 Work is a great choice for supporting large teams through its strong emphasis on management, training, and collaboration features. It offers advanced call management tools such as call monitoring, whispering, and barging (on certain plans), allowing supervisors to discreetly coach team members or intervene during live calls.

This is ideal for larger customer support or sales teams requiring frequent coaching or oversight, and compares favourably against GoTo Connect Phone System and Nextiva Engage, which lack comprehensive live call-coaching functionalities.

making a call in 8x8 Work software
Making a call and using call management features like call forwarding is incredibly intuitive with 8x8. Source: Expert Market

8×8 offers some of the best calling allowances for large-scale international businesses, too, with unlimited calling to 14 countries on its base plan and expanding to 48 countries in higher tiers. That’s better than RingCentral Advanced, for instance, which only provides unlimited calls within the US and Canada (international calls have varying rates, none of which are unlimited).

Additionally, 8×8 supports video conferencing with up to 500 participants, matching Zoom’s capabilities, but outperforming competitors like Dialpad and GoTo Connect, which have lower participant limits. Combined with its intuitive interface and detailed analytics dashboard, 8×8 can facilitate effective team collaboration and provide managers with clear insights into team performance.

man on screen in an office on right hand-side, inside 8x8 software
Using a softphone, you can conduct video meetings and integrate your calling schedule with a work calendar via the likes of Google, iCloud and Microsoft calendars. Source: Expert Market

Should you need help orienting you and your team to 8×8 Work, you can quickly contact 8×8’s customer support across multiple channels, including live chat, email, or phone. Most useful is that their phone line and live chat are 24/7, so you can call them around the clock whenever an issue arises. Plus, there’s also a user forum and online knowledge base with articles to help you without the need to wait for a customer service agent’s response.

Any reasons why 8×8 Work won’t be for your business?

While 8×8 offers numerous advantages, it may not be the ideal fit for every business. Namely, our research tells us that 8×8’s plans may be priced higher than some competitors, which could be a concern for budget-conscious small businesses.

We say those prices “may be priced higher” because 8×8’s pricing plans are private in 2025, meaning you won’t know exactly what you can expect for your business needs as they evolve. This bespoke model can make budgeting difficult for businesses looking for straightforward pricing transparency.

By contrast, Zoom Regional Unlimited, RingCentral Advanced and GoTo Connect Phone System provide clear upfront costs for both base plans and any add-ons, making them potentially better fits for teams needing simpler cost management.

What’s New With 8x8: Q2 2025 Updates

8×8 Work recently introduced significant enhancements to its Desktop/Web apps as part of its latest rollout of version 8.20, released February 18, 2025, aimed at improving communication efficiency:

  • Chat summarization feature: Users can now generate summaries of chat conversations, saving time when catching up on discussions. Summaries can be generated for the past 24 hours, last 3 days, unread messages, or from a specific message within a chat.
  • Group MMS messaging: The introduction of Group MMS messaging allows users to create text-based conversation groups that integrate both internal and external (domestic US or Canada) contacts.
  • Improved accessibility: Accessibility improvements have also been implemented for users relying on screen readers, particularly in messaging and general navigation, helping better the platform’s ease-of-use across diverse user groups.

4. GoTo Connect Phone System: Best Business Phone Line for Hardware Compatibility

According to our research, GoTo Connect Phone System is the best business phone line for businesses that have already invested significantly in their existing phone hardware, and want to transition smoothly to a new or alternative system.

We found the GoTo system could integrate with a wide range of popular hardware devices, including desk phones, headsets, and conferencing equipment from leading manufacturers such as Polycom, Cisco, and Yealink.

GoTo logo
GoTo Connect Phone System
4.4
Pricing $26
Strengths

Offers advanced call routing and ring groups, ideal for multi-location teams

Works with more desk phone brands (incl. Polycom, Yealink, Cisco) than any provider we assessed

E-fax integration to send/receive faxes natively (add-on for competitors like Dialpad)

Weaknesses

Less ready-made CRM integrations than other providers

No AI tools versus Dialpad’s transcription or Nextiva’s social media links with CRM

Lacks call whisper/barge features

Pricing
PlanPrice (per user, per month)
Phone System $26
Connect CX $34
Contact Center $80

Why is GoTo Connect Phone System a top business telephone line for medium-sized businesses?

GoTo Connect Phone System is our top choice for hardware compatibility, offering flexibility to medium-sized businesses that prefer a straightforward setup without having to replace their existing phone equipment.

We found it provides exceptional ease of use, allowing users to simply plug and play with their current hardware, significantly reducing the onboarding effort and minimising downtime. That could be especially useful for dispersed, international teams all using different calling devices.

Compared to alternatives like Zoom Regional Unlimited and Nextiva Engage, which offer fewer hardware integration options, GoTo Connect thereby allows organisations to retain their existing infrastructure, avoiding additional expenses and technical complications.

goto connect supported phone models list
As you can see, there are variety of phone brands and models supported by GoTo. Source: Expert Market

Adding to its international appeal is GoTo Connect’s international calling capability. It supports unlimited global calling across over 50 countries, ideal for businesses with international customers, multi-national offices or remote teams. This places it ahead of competitors such as RingCentral Advanced, which includes more limited international calling in its standard packages.

Additionally, GoTo Connect Phone System offers strong core communication features, including reliable video conferencing, SMS messaging, and integrated e-fax capabilities. It provides a unified solution that medium-sized businesses can rely on for all essential communications, combining internal and external interactions smoothly within a single platform.

When testing the software, we found it to have a user-friendly interface that should allow users of varying technical proficiency to adopt it quickly, leading to less disruption and greater productivity compared to more complicated systems.

GoTo's SMS messaging tools inside its web software
You can send SMS messages and see full threads with clients directly from within the GoTo web app software. Source: GoTo APAC/YouTube

Any reasons why GoTo Connect Phone System won’t be for your business?

Despite its strengths in hardware compatibility, international calling, and user-friendly design, GoTo Connect Phone System is less impressive when it comes to advanced call management and analytics. It lacks certain sophisticated features such as call whispering, barging, and AI-driven analytics that competitors like RingCentral Advanced and 8×8 Work readily provide. Instead, these features are only available on GoTo’s Contact Center solution.

Medium-sized businesses that require detailed call analytics, live training tools, or more advanced call centre functionalities may find GoTo Connect limiting, potentially impacting team management or customer service effectiveness. If these advanced call features are critical to your operations, RingCentral Advanced or 8×8 Work would be stronger alternatives.

What’s New With GoTo Connect Phone System: Q2 2025 Updates

GoTo Connect recently introduced new capabilities designed to give businesses greater control and insight into their communications (updates released February 26 and March 11, 2025 respectively):

  • Messaging report board: Users can now access detailed SMS/MMS reports to evaluate the performance of their chat queues and messaging campaigns. This new reporting capability is designed to help businesses quickly identify trends, optimize customer communications, and better measure the effectiveness of their messaging strategies.
  • Custom scheduling: GoTo Connect now allows individual users to set personalised schedules for receiving calls and notifications. This scheduling flexibility enables teams to manage their availability more effectively, reduce distractions, and improve productivity by tailoring communication times to their workflows and operational hours.

5. Nextiva Engage: Best Business Phone Line for Social Media Communications

If your business not only needs a new phone line but also integration with platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Instagram for social media marketing, then Nextiva Engage is the clear winner according to our research.

It’s the only phone system we assessed that includes native social media platform integration by default, since others like RingCentral and GoTo Connect only offer this on far more expensive Contact Center plans. That means your customer service and marketing teams can manage communications effectively from the same single, unified platform you run all other business communications with.

nextiva
Nextiva Engage
4.1
Pricing $40
Strengths

Social media channel tools for WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, with integrations to CRM and other tools

CRM integrations with eCommerce platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce

24/7 omnichannel support across phone, chat, and email

Weaknesses

Most expensive provider plan on this page

No call whisper/barge features for coaching

No unlimited international calling options (by default or as an add-on)

Pricing
PlanPrice (per user, per month)
Digital (small business) $20
Core (small business) $30
Engage (small business) $40
Power Suite (small business) $60
Essential (enterprise) $129
Professional (enterprise) $159
Premium (enterprise) $199

Why is Nextiva Engage a top business telephone system for medium-sized businesses?

As stated, Nextiva Engage’s strongest feature is its exceptional integration with social media and messaging apps, making it particularly suited to medium-sized businesses active in e-commerce, retail, or consumer-facing sectors, such as fashion brands.

Unlike competitors such as Zoom Regional Unlimited, 8×8 Work, and GoTo Connect Phone System, which lack comprehensive support for social media customer interactions, Nextiva Engage allows your teams to respond to customer queries, track conversations, and manage customer service efficiently across multiple platforms directly from its software interface.

nextivaone software showing possible social media integrations
Within the NextivaONE platform, you can connect social media channels for Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube, as well as other communication-focused suites like WhatsApp and FB Messenger, plus you can monitor competitors on these platforms, too. Source: Expert Market

Another benefit for medium-sized companies is Nextiva Engage’s robust customer experience tools, including detailed customer insights, unified conversation tracking, and social media-driven analytics. These features can help businesses better understand customer behaviour, improve engagement, and provide a consistent customer experience across all social media touchpoints. For marketing and customer service teams that rely heavily on social channels, Nextiva Engage delivers functionality unmatched by the other solutions on this page.

Additionally, Nextiva Engage offers strong internal communication capabilities, including video conferencing for up to 200 participants and team collaboration tools, creating a cohesive communications environment both internally and externally.

Nextiva group messaging
Within Nextiva, you can set up group SMS text messaging and keep track of any responses within one conversation tab. Source: Nextiva

Any reasons why Nextiva Engage won’t be for your business?

Despite its impressive social media integration features, Nextiva Engage falls behind other providers in certain areas. For example, it lacks key advanced training functionalities like call whispering and call barging that 8×8 Work and RingCentral Advanced both offer, making it less suitable for businesses that place a premium on staff training or call monitoring.

Additionally, Nextiva Engage is positioned at a higher price point compared to cost-effective alternatives like Zoom Regional Unlimited, which offers arguably stronger overall functionality at a notably lower cost. Businesses on tighter budgets or those requiring extensive global calling capabilities at lower prices might find Zoom or GoTo Connect Phone System, respectively, more financially appealing.

What’s New With GoTo: Q2 2025 Updates

Nextiva’s latest product updates are a bit older than the other platforms, coming from October 2024, though they served to improve communication management and streamline workflows for businesses:

  • Automated workforce scheduling: Nextiva Workforce Scheduling automates staff forecasting and shift scheduling, with the promise of helping businesses reduce operational costs, improve customer service, and increase agent satisfaction.
  • Efficient contact and call management: Users can now view all assigned phone numbers and extensions directly from the Calls menu. Additionally, Call Center locations are seamlessly integrated as contacts, making it easy to call or transfer calls directly, speeding up customer interactions and improving response times.
  • Multiple contact data entries: Following the latest update, the NextivaONE software app now supports multiple contact details for the same category (e.g. multiple work numbers or emails for one contact). This allows businesses to manage client communications more effectively and comprehensively.
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What Is a Business Phone Line?

A business phone line refers to a telephone system, either landline (as you probably know already) or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), designed for business use. Unlike traditional landlines, modern systems use the internet, enabling advanced features like multiple simultaneous calls, call forwarding, and voice or video conferencing.

Types of business phone line

There are three main types of business phone lines: Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN), and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).

  • Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN): The original landline technology, PSTN transmits analog voice over copper wires. Despite modernization, its core functionality has remained unchanged since its invention in the 1800s.
  • Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN): Introduced in the 1980s, ISDN digitized landlines, enabling simultaneous voice and data transmission over PSTN wires. It offers clearer calls and faster data transfer compared to PSTN.
  • Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): VoIP transmits calls over the Internet, replacing traditional phone lines. It supports advanced features like conferencing and call forwarding, eliminates physical limitations, and scales easily with business growth, making it the most efficient and flexible option.

Landline Phone Lines vs. VoIP Phone Lines

Now that we’ve defined what a business phone line is and its different types, let’s go in-depth on the difference between landlines and VoIP lines, focusing on three key categories: price, functionality, and mobility.

LandlineVoIP
PriceRequires installation fees for wiring and equipment, and costs increase with additional phone lines. Only works with analog devices like office phones, which must be purchased and configured.Minimal setup cost with no installation fees. Operates through smartphones, computers, or tablets, so handsets are optional. Highly cost-effective for scaling.
FunctionalityLimited features, requiring manual call routing or expensive upgrades to private branch exchange (PBX) systems. Offers basic voicemail but lacks advanced tools like automated call management. Conferencing is minimal.Advanced features like call queue, ring groups, virtual receptionist, and automated call management. Includes voicemail-to-text or voicemail-to-email and supports conferencing with multiple users.
MobilityLimited to the provider’s service area. Number transfers are needed for relocations or when traveling abroad. Requires physical phones for communication.Nationwide and international coverage with no service interruptions during relocations. Uses apps to turn smartphones, tablets, and computers into communication devices.

How Did We Compare the Best Business Phone Lines?

In our latest assessment of VoIP systems, we've researched 11 market-leading VoIP service providers so we can make the most useful recommendations to US businesses in 2025. Using our in-house research framework and ranking process, we evaluated each VoIP system across eight core categories of interest, each weighted differently, and then combined the results to come up with a final score. We asked some key questions to get to the answers that will help your operations most.

Our Decision-Making Criteria with Assessment Weighting

Informed by readers and businesses we speak to regularly, as well as our own experiences using major VoIP platforms, we designed a research framework to assess each VoIP provider plan. It consists of eight overarching assessment categories, each designed to answer a specific question a buyer might have.

  • Which VoIP service offers the best call handling features for US businesses?
    Call management (25%) – We assessed features like call routing, queues, custom greetings, voicemail screening, and spam call blocking to see how well each provider handles inbound traffic. VoIP-using organizations often deal with high call volumes. They rely on call management features to create a better experience for these callers.
  • Can this platform support internal communication across remote or hybrid teams?
    Communication channels (20%) – We looked at the availability of tools like video conferencing, team messaging, SMS, and mobile app functionality, since VoIP is often purchased to streamline communication into one application rather than separate tools.
  • Will this system help me onboard and train staff effectively?
    Training features (20%) – We tested tools for live coaching (e.g. call whisper/barge), call recording, and performance dashboards — crucial for service and sales teams. VoIP-using businesses often train their employees on telephone etiquette.
  • Is the pricing clear and competitive for small and medium businesses?
    Pricing (10%) – We reviewed subscription tiers, user discounts, setup fees, and whether unlimited minutes are included or capped.
  • Will this VoIP system work with the software we already use?
    Software integrations (10%) – We checked how well each provider integrates with platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Teams. VoIP software is often used with customer-data applications and other communication technologies in order to increase operational efficiency.
  • Can we keep using our existing phones and hardware?
    Hardware integrations (5%) – We reviewed compatibility with desk phones, speaker systems, and headsets from major brands. VoIP software is often used with standalone hardware.
  • What level of customer support is available if we run into issues?
    Customer support (5%) – We tested the availability of live chat, phone, and email support, as well as help centers and user communities, and how they perform in terms of accessibility and convenience.
  • How secure is this system for business use?
    Security options (5%) – We assessed features like multi-factor authentication (MFA), encryption, and compliance with US data protection laws. Organizations can be put at risk if sensitive information is leaked due to a breach of security.

Where possible, we've also completed usability testing for VoIP services that we could get hands-on with. Testers put VoIP software through its paces to assess how well each could complete certain prescribed tasks.

Verdict

There’s no doubt that VoIP phone lines remain the superior option for business communications in 2025, easily outclassing traditional landlines. They provide greater flexibility, allowing teams to effortlessly make calls from smartphones, desktops, or tablets, and support remote and hybrid work seamlessly. Plus, businesses gain access to powerful features to manage calls, collaborate effectively, and scale communications as teams grow.

Our researchers selected RingCentral Advanced as the top overall business phone line this year due to its exceptional range of communication features, robust integrations, and innovative AI-driven tools like RingCentral AIR.

Close behind is Zoom Regional Unlimited, offering the best value for businesses needing a solid suite of VoIP features without breaking the budget.

For large teams with demanding communication needs, 8×8 Work is also a solid choice, providing extensive global calling capabilities and comprehensive training features.

If you still can’t decide which business phone line supplier to choose for your business, try our free quote comparison tool. Just answer a few questions about your team, and we will match you up with the best providers. They’ll then be in touch with obligation-free quotes that are tailored to your needs. It’s a quick and easy way to compare the right options for your business.

FAQs

What’s the difference between a hosted and self-hosted phone system?
A hosted phone system, also known as a cloud phone system, is hosted offsite on a remote server, which is usually owned and maintained by your phone system provider. These phone systems are cheaper to install and easier to manage.

A self-hosted system is hosted by you, usually on a server inside your premises. This type of system is usually costly to set up, and requires dedicated IT expertise to maintain it and keep it updated. On the plus side, you can tailor self-hosted systems to your exact requirements, and choose when to update your system.

How many phone lines does a business need?
The number of phone lines you need will depend on various factors, including your call traffic, the size of your company, and how many employees you have.
Do I have to have a business phone line?
A business phone line is essential because it offers features that will help you manage calls, supervise your agents, and collaborate with your team. It’s also good for branding, as it adds professionalism to the way you handle customers.
Written by:
Matt Reed is a Senior Communications and Logistics Expert at Expert Market. Adept at evaluating products, he focuses mainly on assessing fleet management and business communication software. Matt began his career in technology publishing with Expert Reviews, where he spent several years putting the latest audio-related products and releases through their paces, revealing his findings in transparent, in-depth articles and guides. Holding a Master’s degree in Journalism from City, University of London, Matt is no stranger to diving into challenging topics and summarising them into practical, helpful information.
Reviewed by:
James draws on more than four years experience as a researcher to offer specialized advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to fleet management. He believes all businesses can grow if they use the right tools and services.