2026 Comparison Guide
Best Digital Landline Providers in the UK
The UK's traditional landline network is being switched off. By January 2027, all copper landlines will be replaced by digital voice services. If you are searching for the best digital landline in the UK, you're not alone.
There are now dozens of providers offering VoIP home phone services. But not all digital landlines are built the same. Some are broadband add-ons. Some are budget DIY options. Some are protection-focused. Here is what you need to know.
Many households are worried about rising costs and scam calls as the UK moves to digital voice. Choosing the right provider now can prevent expensive mistakes later.
What is a digital landline?
A digital landline uses your broadband connection instead of copper wiring. It:
- Plugs into your router or adapter
- Lets you keep your existing number
- Works via VoIP technology
- Stops working during power cuts unless backup is provided
All major UK providers now offer digital voice services. But they differ in structure, pricing and protection.
Quick comparison: major UK digital landline providers
Compare standalone options, contracts and scam protection.
| Provider | Standalone option | Contract | Unlimited cost | Broadband required | Scam protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhonelyBest for protection | 12 months | From £14.98 | Any provider | Advanced | |
| BT Digital Voice | 12 months | £46.40 (1000 min cap) | BT only | Basic | |
| EE Digital Home Phone | 24 months | £20.66 | EE only | Very basic | |
| Vodafone Home Phone | 18 months | £10 add-on | Vodafone only | Basic | |
| Sky Digital Voice | 18–24 months | £16–17 add-on | Sky only | — | |
| TalkTalk Digital Voice | 18–24 months | ~£14 boost | TalkTalk only | — | |
| Vonage for Home | 12 months | £10.25 landline only | — | — | |
| Voipfone | 30-day rolling | £14 | — | — | |
| Xinix | 24 months | £12 (fair use) | — | — | |
| Premitel | No contract | £36 unlimited | — | — | |
| Simple Telecomms | Varies | Usage-based | — | — | |
| Everyday VoIP | Varies | From £10.99 | — | — | |
| Plexatalk | Varies | Usage-based | — | — |
Some providers bundle voice into broadband. Some offer pay-as-you-go. Very few focus on scam protection.
Phonely is trusted by police forces, Trading Standards and thousands of UK households.
“I switched from BT Digital Voice and immediately noticed fewer nuisance calls.”
Types of digital landline providers
Broadband-bundled providers
BT, EE, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone. They require their broadband; voice is secondary. If you switch broadband, you lose your phone.
Risk: You lose your phone if you change broadband.
Phonely vs BT · Phonely vs EE · Phonely vs Sky · Phonely vs TalkTalk · Phonely vs Vodafone
Budget VoIP providers
Premitel, Xinix, Voipfone, Vonage. Low headline pricing, per-minute charging, DIY setup. Protection is minimal.
Risk: Higher PAYG charges and minimal scam filtering.
Phonely vs Premitel · Phonely vs Xinix · Phonely vs Voipfone · Phonely vs Vonage
Protection-focused providers
Phonely is designed to reduce scam anxiety: automatic scam blocking, anti-fraud call introduction, trusted person alerts, keyword monitoring.
Benefit: Designed to reduce scam anxiety.
For elderly households, this is often the key difference. View Phonely plans.
What should you look for in the best digital landline?
Before choosing a digital landline, check these 6 things:
- Contract length – Many providers lock you into 18–24 months.
- Per-minute charges – Some plans look cheap but charge high PAYG rates.
- Call setup fees – Some providers charge per-call connection fees.
- Fair usage caps – Unlimited does not always mean unlimited.
- Scam protection – Most providers offer only basic caller display.
- Broadband tie-in – If you switch internet provider, does your phone stay?
These details matter more than headline pricing.
How to choose the best digital landline in the UK
Follow these steps to avoid overpaying or locking yourself into the wrong provider.
- Decide if you want standalone or bundled. Do you want a phone service that works with any broadband, or voice bundled with your internet provider? Standalone gives you flexibility to switch broadband without losing your phone.
- Check contract length. Many broadband providers require 18–24 months for digital voice. Standalone providers often offer 12 months or rolling terms.
- Compare per-minute charges and setup fees. Headline monthly price can be misleading. Look for per-call setup fees and PAYG rates.
- Look for fair usage caps. Some "unlimited" plans cap inclusive minutes (e.g. 1000 per month) and charge extra beyond that.
- Check scam protection features. Most providers offer only basic caller display. If you want automatic blocking and trusted-person alerts, look for a protection-focused provider.
- Confirm number porting and switching. Check that you can keep your existing number and understand the switching process. Most digital landline providers support number porting.
Best digital landline for elderly users
For families supporting elderly parents, scam protection is often the deciding factor. For elderly households, protection is critical—scam calls remain one of the most reported issues among UK landline users. Important features include: automatic scam blocking, trusted family alerts, clear predictable pricing, and simple plug-and-play setup.
Most broadband-first providers do not prioritise these tools. Phonely was designed specifically with these concerns in mind.
See how Phonely protects vulnerable households →
Best digital landline for value
If you make very few calls, low-minute plans from budget VoIP providers may be suitable. If you want bundled billing with broadband, BT, EE or Vodafone may suit you. If you want standalone protection with predictable pricing, Phonely is often the better fit.
Frequently asked questions
Best digital landline UK – common questions
A digital landline uses your broadband connection instead of copper wiring. It plugs into your router or adapter, lets you keep your existing number, and works via VoIP technology. Unlike the old copper network, it will stop working during a power cut unless you have a backup. All UK providers are replacing traditional copper lines with digital voice by January 2027, so if you still have an analogue landline, you will need to move to digital before then.
There is no single best option for everyone—it depends whether you want bundled broadband and phone, DIY low-cost VoIP, or a standalone protection-first service. If you want bundled broadband and phone, big providers like BT, EE, Sky, TalkTalk or Vodafone may suit. If you want DIY low-cost VoIP, budget providers like Voipfone, Vonage or Xinix may suit. If you want a standalone digital landline with scam blocking and trusted person alerts, Phonely is built for that purpose. Comparing contract length, per-minute charges and scam protection will narrow it down.
No. Broadband-bundled digital voice (BT, EE, Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone) requires you to use their broadband. Standalone providers like Phonely, Vonage, Voipfone and Xinix work with any broadband provider, so your phone stays independent of your internet supplier.
For elderly households, the best digital landline should offer automatic scam blocking, trusted family alerts, clear predictable pricing and simple setup. Most broadband-first providers do not prioritise these. Phonely was designed specifically to reduce scam anxiety and support elderly users and their families.
The UK's traditional copper landline network is being switched off. By January 2027, all copper landlines will be replaced by digital voice services that run over broadband. If you still have an old landline, you will need to move to a digital landline or VoIP service before then.
Final verdict: which is the best digital landline in the UK?
There is no single answer for everyone.
- Bundled broadband and phone → Big providers may suit.
- DIY low-cost VoIP → Budget providers may suit.
- Standalone protection-first digital landline → Phonely is built for that purpose.
As the PSTN switch-off approaches, choosing the right structure matters. Flexibility, clarity and protection are often more important than brand familiarity.
Thousands of households are already switching early to avoid disruption.
Explore Phonely plansCompare Phonely with each provider
Detailed side-by-side comparisons: pricing, contracts, broadband requirements and scam protection.
See also: best landline only deals and broadband and landline deals.
