The parts of the bill
- Monthly fee. Usually per user, sometimes per number. Per-user pricing includes the features; per-number pricing is normally just the divert.
- Call charges. Either inclusive minutes or a per-minute rate. Forwarding-only services often charge for every diverted minute, which is where cheap plans get expensive.
- Number fees. Some providers charge a one-off setup fee, or extra for premium numbers such as 0800 or memorable digits.
- Porting. Bringing an existing number across sometimes carries a one-off charge from the losing provider.
- Hardware. Optional. If you work from a mobile you need nothing; a desk phone is an extra one-off cost.
A worked example
Take a two-person trade business taking roughly 300 inbound minutes a month. On an inclusive per-user plan at £19 each, that's £38 a month whatever the call volume. On a £6-a-month forwarding number charging around 5p a minute to divert, the same 300 minutes adds roughly £15 — cheaper on paper, but with no team ringing, no out-of-hours rules and your mobile number still showing on callbacks. Busy months push the gap the other way.
What we charge
Our plans start at £19 per user per month with UK calls included, rising with the features a bigger team needs. The full breakdown is on the pricing page.
Contract length
Cloud phone services are typically sold on rolling monthly terms or 12, 24 and 36-month contracts. Longer terms buy a lower monthly rate and often free hardware; the trade-off is being locked in if the team shrinks. Traditional landline contracts tend to be the longest and least flexible of the lot.
Before signing, check three things:
- the notice period, and whether it starts from the renewal date or the request
- whether the contract auto-renews, and for how long
- whether you can add and remove users mid-term without restarting the term
Hidden costs to ask about
Common extras include call recording, extra numbers, international calls, and charges for calls to 084/087 numbers. Ask for these in writing rather than assuming they're covered by "unlimited UK calls".
Next steps
Compare the options in our virtual landline comparison, or check the buying criteria in how to choose a virtual landline.