My BT Landline Is Being Switched Off – What Are My Options?
Written by George, on . Last updated If you’re looking for BT landline alternatives because your current landline is being switched off, you usually have three options: move to your provider’s digital home phone service, switch to a standalone digital landline provider and keep your number, or stop using a home phone altogether.
The right choice depends on whether you want to keep your existing phone, keep your landline number, continue having a home phone independently of your broadband provider, and how much you want to pay each month.
The UK is moving away from the old analogue landline network, known as the PSTN, with traditional phone services being replaced by digital alternatives. BT calls its replacement service Digital Voice, but BT Digital Voice is not your only option.
Below, we explain the main BT landline alternatives, what each means for your existing phone and number, and what to check before making a decision.
My BT landline is being switched off – what are my options?
If your traditional BT landline is being moved to a digital service, you do not necessarily have to stay with BT. Your main options are:
Option 1 – Move to your broadband provider’s digital home phone
BT, EE, Sky, TalkTalk and other broadband providers offer digital home phone services alongside broadband.
This can be the simplest option if you are happy with your current broadband provider and want your broadband and home phone on one bill.
The downside is that your home phone service may be tied to that broadband provider and its equipment. If you later want to change broadband provider, you may also need to reconsider your phone service.
BT explains how its own Digital Voice service works on its website: BT Digital Voice.
Option 2 – Use a standalone home phone service and keep your number
You can also choose a standalone digital landline provider, such as Phonely, which works over your existing broadband connection without requiring you to take broadband from the same company.
This separates your home phone from your broadband, so you can change broadband providers without necessarily having to change your home phone service.
In many cases, you can also keep your existing landline number and continue using your current telephone with a small adapter.
If keeping your familiar number is important, read our guide to keeping your landline number when switching.
Option 3 – Drop the landline completely
The third option is to stop having a home phone and rely on a mobile instead.
For households that rarely use their landline, this may be worth considering. However, a home phone can still be important for people who prefer using a traditional handset, have poor mobile signal at home, or want a familiar number for friends and family to call.
Before cancelling an existing landline, check whether you need to keep the number and whether any other equipment or services in your home rely on the phone connection.
Why compare BT landline alternatives?
BT Digital Voice is one option for BT customers, but it isn’t the only way to keep a home phone after the landline switch-off. Comparing alternatives can help you decide whether a bundled or standalone service better suits your household.
Bundling & lock-in
BT Digital Voice only works with BT broadband. It’s tied to BT’s router and ecosystem, meaning your phone service is effectively locked to BT.
Independent providers, by contrast, typically allow you to use any broadband provider. This gives you the freedom to shop around for better broadband deals without affecting your phone service.
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See plans & pricesDiscover featuresCost & call charges
BT’s pricing can be a sticking point for many households:
- Pay-As-You-Go: around £28.40 per month with no included minutes. Calls are charged at 20.9p per minute.
- “Unlimited” plan: around £46.40 per month – but subject to a 1,000-minute fair-usage cap.
For people who make regular calls, especially to mobiles or internationally, these charges can add up quickly. Specialist VoIP providers often offer bundles with inclusive minutes at lower monthly costs.
Limited features
BT provides basic call screening features. However, specialist digital landline providers are going further. For example, some services include:
- Advanced scam blocking
- AI-powered fraud monitoring
- Call introductions to identify unknown callers
- Trusted-person alerts for suspicious calls
For elderly households or anyone concerned about scam calls, this difference can be significant.
Closed ecosystem
Despite the branding, BT Digital Voice is essentially standard VoIP technology. The key difference is that it’s restricted to BT hardware and apps. You can’t easily take your number or service elsewhere without going through a full switch process, and you have limited control over compatible devices.
Open VoIP systems typically allow far more flexibility.
Evaluating BT Digital Voice – Pros and cons
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BT landline alternatives compared
If you’re researching BT landline alternatives, independent VoIP providers are one of the options available alongside bundled digital voice services and going mobile-only. You can read our full comparison page here.
Independent VoIP providers
Phonely
Phonely offers a standalone digital landline service that works with any UK broadband provider.
Key features:
- Inclusive call bundles rather than high per-minute charges
- Transparent monthly pricing
- Ability to keep your existing landline number
- Designed specifically for elderly households and scam-conscious users
- CallGuard protection, including:
- Scam blocking
- Anti-fraud introductions
- Trusted-person alerts
Phonely focuses on simplicity, safety and predictable costs. Click here for the full comparison between Phonely and BT’s digital voice.
Plexatalk
Plexatalk is a UK-based budget VoIP provider aimed at cost-conscious or light-use households
Service overview:
- Internet-based VoIP landline (customer supplies broadband)
- No contract – monthly rolling
- Entry pricing from £4 per month (100 UK minutes)
- “Unlimited” UK calls at £12.50 with a 2,000-minute fair-use cap
- Supports multiple devices per number
Scam protection:
- Basic manual call blocking only
- No proactive scam detection or AI monitoring
Hardware:
- No free hardware included
- ATA adapter available for around £50
Plexatalk is positioned as a low-cost, flexible option, but it requires more self-management and does not include advanced fraud protection.
Andrews & Arnold (A&A)
Andrews & Arnold (A&A) is a technically focused UK ISP offering highly configurable VoIP services suited to confident users.
Pricing structure:
- Monthly line rental approximately £1.20–£1.50 per number
- Pay-as-you-go per-minute billing
- Typically one-month rolling contract
Core features:
- SIP-based VoIP service
- Full control panel access for technical configuration
- Advanced routing and call handling rules
- Voicemail with email delivery
- Detailed call logs and CLI control
Scam protection:
- No built-in AI scam filtering
- Manual call barring and blacklist configuration available
A&A is well-regarded for reliability and transparency but is better suited to technically confident users who want full control over configuration.
Digital voice from other broadband providers
Sky, TalkTalk, Vodafone and EE all offer digital voice services as part of their broadband packages.
While many still bundle voice and broadband, pricing and features vary. Once the PSTN is switched off, you are free to choose any provider – you are not required to stay with BT.
Protect your landline from scams and nuisance calls.
CallGuard blocks suspicious numbers automatically and helps keep vulnerable loved ones safer.
View CallGuard plansThat being said, bundled packages from these larger provider still tend to work out more expensive, when compared to using and independent VoIP provider and a separate ISP.
What most UK homes should compare first
When comparing BT landline alternatives, start with the practical things that will affect you day to day:
- Can you keep your existing landline number?
- Can you continue using your current telephone?
- Do you need to take broadband from the same provider?
- How many UK call minutes are included?
- What scam and nuisance call protection is included?
- What happens if your broadband or power goes down?
- Is support available if you need help setting everything up?
Looking at these points can make it easier to compare a bundled digital phone service, a standalone digital landline and going mobile-only.
Can I keep my current phone and number?
In many cases, yes.
Moving to a digital landline does not automatically mean throwing away your existing home phone. Many traditional corded and cordless phones can continue to work using an adapter connected to your broadband router.
You can also normally ask your new provider to transfer, or “port”, your existing landline number. Do not cancel your old phone service before the number transfer has completed, as doing so could put your number at risk.
Read more about keeping your landline number with Full Fibre.
What happens in a power cut?
Unlike a traditional analogue landline, a digital home phone relies on powered equipment such as your broadband router and, in some cases, a VoIP adapter. This means it will not normally continue working during a power cut unless suitable backup power is available.
This is particularly important if you rely on your home phone to make important or emergency calls.
Ofcom provides guidance for people moving to digital landlines, including information for customers who may be vulnerable or have additional needs: Ofcom.
You can also read our guide to what happens to a VoIP phone during a power cut.
How to switch from BT Digital Voice
Switching providers can be straightforward if you plan carefully:
- Assess your needs – standalone landline, bundled service or mobile-only.
- Compare providers and pricing.
- Check broadband and device compatibility.
- Ask your new provider to arrange the number transfer – don’t cancel your existing service first.
- Time the switch to avoid early termination fees.
- Install and test any new hardware.
Which BT landline alternative is right for me?
If your BT landline is being switched off, there are several BT landline alternatives to consider.
You can move to BT or another broadband provider’s digital phone service, choose a standalone digital landline provider such as Phonely, or stop using a home phone altogether.
If you want to keep your existing phone and number while keeping your landline separate from your broadband provider, a standalone digital landline may be worth comparing. If convenience is more important, keeping your broadband and phone with one provider may suit you better. And if you no longer use your home phone, going mobile-only may be an option.
Whichever route you choose, check number portability, handset compatibility, monthly costs, included calls and what happens during a power cut before switching.
No. BT Digital Voice is BT’s digital home phone service, but you can compare other digital landline providers or choose not to have a home phone. Your available options will depend on your broadband, current service and household needs.
In many cases, yes. Your new provider can usually arrange to transfer your existing number. Do not cancel your old service before checking that the number transfer has been arranged.
Often, yes. Many existing corded and cordless home phones can work with a digital landline using an adapter or by connecting to compatible broadband equipment.
Not normally without backup power. Digital phone services rely on powered equipment such as your router, so you should check what backup options are available if you rely on your home phone.
Not necessarily. Some digital home phone services are bundled with a particular broadband provider, while standalone VoIP and digital landline services can work over broadband supplied by another company.
