Is VoIP cheaper than a landline?

Almost always. VoIP is a predictable per-user monthly fee with no PBX hardware to buy or maintain and cheaper long-distance calls, whereas a landline adds line rental, hardware and maintenance.

Is VoIP reliable enough for business?

Yes, with a stable internet connection. Call quality on decent broadband is excellent, and providers offer automatic failover to mobile so calls continue if your office connection or power drops.

Can I keep my number if I switch from a landline to VoIP?

Yes. Business numbers can be ported to a VoIP provider. Keep the old service active until the port completes — see our guide on how to switch your business phone system.

Does VoIP work during a power cut?

Not on its own, since it needs internet and power. But calls can automatically fail over to your team's mobile phones, so you stay reachable even when the office is down.

VoIP vs landline: which is right for your business?

A traditional landline routes calls over the copper phone network, usually through an on-site PBX. VoIP (voice over IP) routes them over the internet, so calls, texts and voicemail live in an app your team can use anywhere. For most businesses in 2026 VoIP wins on cost and features — but there are real cases where a landline still makes sense. Here’s how they compare.

What's the difference?

A landline uses the traditional switched telephone network and physical wiring; a multi-line office typically needs a PBX box on site. VoIP turns your voice into data and sends it over your internet connection, managed in software. There’s no on-site phone hardware to run — a laptop or phone with the provider’s app is enough.

Cost

VoIP is almost always cheaper. Plans are a predictable per-user monthly fee (commonly $10–$30), with no PBX to buy or maintain and much lower charges for long-distance and international calls. A landline adds per-line rental, PBX hardware and ongoing maintenance.

See how much a business phone system costs for the full breakdown, or the live figures in our pricing report.

Features

This is where the gap is widest. VoIP includes things a landline simply can’t: mobile and desktop apps, video meetings, business texting, call queues and auto-attendants (IVR), voicemail-to-email, call recording, analytics and CRM integrations. A landline mostly does one thing — voice calls on a fixed desk phone.

Reliability & call quality

A landline’s main advantage: it keeps working during an internet or power outage, and quality doesn’t depend on your connection. VoIP needs a stable internet connection and power — but modern providers offer automatic failover to mobile, so if your office drops, calls follow your team to the app on their phones.

With a decent broadband connection, VoIP call quality is excellent. On a slow or congested connection it can suffer, so a business-grade line and a little bandwidth headroom matter.

Setup & scaling

VoIP is fast to set up — you can be live in a day, and adding or removing a user is a settings change. Landlines mean physical installs and engineer visits to add lines. If your team grows, changes location, or works remotely, VoIP scales without the friction.

Which should you choose?

For the large majority of businesses — especially any team that’s distributed, growing, or wants texting, video and integrations — VoIP is the better fit on cost and capability.

A landline can still make sense if your internet is genuinely unreliable, or you have a specific need for a connection that works independently of power and broadband (for example certain alarm or elevator lines). Many businesses keep one landline for those edge cases and run everything else on VoIP.

Ready to compare VoIP options? Find your best fit or browse the best business phone systems.

Frequently asked questions

Is VoIP cheaper than a landline?: Almost always. VoIP is a predictable per-user monthly fee with no PBX hardware to buy or maintain and cheaper long-distance calls, whereas a landline adds line rental, hardware and maintenance.
Is VoIP reliable enough for business?: Yes, with a stable internet connection. Call quality on decent broadband is excellent, and providers offer automatic failover to mobile so calls continue if your office connection or power drops.
Can I keep my number if I switch from a landline to VoIP?: Yes. Business numbers can be ported to a VoIP provider. Keep the old service active until the port completes — see our guide on how to switch your business phone system.
Does VoIP work during a power cut?: Not on its own, since it needs internet and power. But calls can automatically fail over to your team's mobile phones, so you stay reachable even when the office is down.