Comparison
BT Digital Voice vs Phonely: Your UK Home Phone Options
Your options if BT moves your landline to digital voice
The short answer
You usually have three choices: take your provider's digital phone service, move your number to a separate home-phone provider, or drop the landline entirely. The right answer depends on your handset, power-cut needs and whether you want stronger scam-call protection.
- Stay with BT: BT moves you to BT Digital Voice, which needs BT broadband.
- Move to a home-phone provider like Phonely: keep your number and handset, use any broadband and add scam-call protection.
- Go mobile-only: no landline bill, but no home phone either.
Your 3 options if BT moves your landline to digital voice
The UK's old copper phone network is being retired. It's a big change, but you don't have to lose your number, your phone or your peace of mind. Here's what each option means in practice.
Option 1
Take BT Digital Voice
BT moves your landline onto broadband and your handset usually plugs into your BT hub.
Usually the most expensive option. Pay As You Go is £28.40 a month with no minutes included, then 20.9p a minute. BT's Unlimited package is £46.40 a month, and your phone stays tied to BT broadband.
Suits you if you're happy with BT broadband, want one bill and scam protection isn't a priority.
Option 2
Move your number to a home-phone provider
A standalone digital landline such as Phonely runs over any broadband, including BT's. You keep your number and your existing phone.
Save up to 60% a month. In most cases, splitting your phone from your broadband can cut your monthly bill by up to 60%.
Suits you if you want to pay less, keep your phone separate from your broadband, protect yourself or a relative from scam calls, or get alerts if the line goes offline.
Option 3
Drop the landline entirely
You rely on mobile phones only and stop paying for a home phone.
Suits you if everyone at home is comfortable using a mobile and has good signal indoors. You lose your landline number unless you move it first, and it may not suit anyone who prefers a familiar home handset.
Paying BT for your home phone? You could be paying too much.
BT charges £28.40 a month before you've made a single call. Keep your broadband where it is and move your phone to Phonely instead. In most cases, splitting your phone and broadband can save up to 60% of your monthly bill, and you keep your number and your phone.
See how much you could saveKeep your numberWant the full picture first? Read our UK digital landline switchover guide or the best digital landline providers in the UK.
Quick comparison: BT Digital Voice vs Phonely
Here are the key differences to help you decide.
Phonely's advanced scam protection is on CallGuard plans. BT bundles voice into broadband and offers basic screening only.
| Feature | Phonely | BT Digital Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Keep your existing number | Transfer when you sign up | Stays with BT |
| Use your existing handset | Via GA11 adapter | Via BT hub |
| Standalone Phone Option | ||
| Broadband Required | Any provider | Must use BT broadband |
| Works in a power cut | Only with backup power | Only with backup power |
| Offline alert to a Trusted Person | ||
| Contract Length | 18 months | 12 months |
| Pay As You Go | Included in bundles | £28.40 per month, no minutes |
| Call Charges | Included in plans | 20.9p per minute |
| Unlimited Package | Clear pricing | £46.40, 1000 min fair usage |
| Advanced Scam Protection | CallGuard | Basic screening only |
BT bundles voice into broadband. Phonely provides a standalone protected digital landline.
Can you keep your number?
Yes, whichever option you choose (except going mobile-only)
Your landline number is often the one family, friends, your GP and your bank have had for years, so it's natural to want to hold on to it.
- With BT Digital Voice, your number stays the same when BT moves your line.
- With Phonely, you choose to keep your number when you sign up and we transfer it for you. If your phone and broadband are both with BT, tell BT you're only moving your phone number and want to keep your broadband, so nothing is cancelled by mistake.
- If you drop the landline, the number goes with it, so move it to a new provider first if there's any chance you'll want it.
Will your old handset still work?
In most cases, yes. There's no need to learn a new phone.
- BT Digital Voice: your handset usually plugs into the phone port on your BT hub instead of the wall socket.
- Phonely: your existing corded or cordless phone plugs into a small Fanvil GA11 adapter, and the adapter plugs into your broadband router. The adapter is free on CallGuard plans and when you pay annually. Because it plugs into any router, it works whoever your broadband is with.
- Prefer something new? Phonely also offers pre-configured home phones that connect to your router.
If you have a telecare alarm, a personal alarm or another device that uses your phone line, check with its provider that it works over digital voice before you switch.
Setting it up takes a few minutes. See the GA11 setup guide →
What happens in a power cut?
The same limit applies to BT and Phonely, but you can plan for it
The old copper lines drew a small amount of power from the telephone exchange, so they often kept working in a power cut. Digital landlines run through your broadband router. That's true of BT Digital Voice and Phonely alike, so when the power goes off your home phone will too, unless you have a battery backup.
That can feel worrying, especially for an older relative living alone. Some simple steps help:
- Tell your provider if you rely on your landline, for example if you have no mobile signal at home or use a telecare alarm. Under Ofcom rules, providers must offer at least one way to reach 999 for at least an hour during a power cut.
- Keep a charged mobile phone in the house as a fallback.
- Join your energy network's Priority Services Register for extra help during a power cut.
- With Phonely, your Trusted Person gets an alert if your phone goes offline, so someone knows to check in. How offline alerts work.
What is BT Digital Voice?
BT Digital Voice is BT's replacement for traditional landlines following the PSTN switch-off (the retirement of the old copper phone network). It requires BT broadband and a 12-month contract. Pay As You Go plan: £28.40 per month with no included minutes; 20.9p per minute for landline and mobile calls. Unlimited package: £46.40 per month with 1,000 minutes fair usage.
Digital Voice is designed as an add-on to broadband, not a standalone phone service.
What makes Phonely different?
When replacing a landline, structure matters.
- No broadband lock-in: BT Digital Voice requires BT broadband. If you switch broadband provider, your phone service changes too. Phonely works with any broadband provider. Your phone is independent.
- Lower effective call costs: BT's Pay As You Go plan is £28.40 monthly with 20.9p per minute calls. BT's Unlimited package is £46.40 with a 1,000 minute fair usage cap. By comparison, Phonely focuses on predictable bundles without high per-minute charges.
- Protection-first design (CallGuard): BT offers standard calling features. However, it does not advertise automatic scam blocking, AI fraud monitoring, anti-fraud call introduction or trusted person alerts. Phonely is built specifically to reduce scam anxiety. For older households, this difference matters.
Very pleased with all aspects of the Phonely product and service. Smooth hassle-free and my landline was up and running in no time! Great customer service… Faultless service and highly recommended.
Norrie Waters, Trustpilot
How does scam-call protection compare?
Scam calls are a real worry, and the switch to digital voice is itself a common excuse scammers use. BT focuses on large-scale service delivery rather than specialist scam prevention, and its protection tools are more limited than those of dedicated safety-led providers. Phonely's CallGuard plans block known scam numbers before your phone rings, so you can feel safe answering again.
Protection comparison (Phonely = CallGuard)
| Feature | BT Digital Voice | Phonely CallGuard |
|---|---|---|
| Basic call screening | ||
| Advanced scam protection | ||
| Trusted person support |
Who should choose which?
Who should choose BT Digital Voice?
BT may suit you if you already use BT broadband and plan to stay, you prefer bundled billing, scam protection is not your primary concern, and you are comfortable with higher monthly costs.
Who should choose Phonely?
Phonely may be better if you want to keep your number and handset without being tied to BT broadband, scam protection is your priority, you are supporting an older family member, or you want predictable pricing.
Phonely is designed to help households feel safe answering the phone again.
Digital voice guide for over 60sTrusted by police forces · Used by Trading Standards · Thousands of UK households protected
Final verdict: BT Digital Voice or Phonely?
If BT is moving your landline to digital voice, you don't have to accept whatever comes next. You can keep your number and your phone either way.
BT ties your phone to BT broadband and charges high pay-as-you-go rates. Phonely keeps your phone separate from your broadband and adds scam-call protection and offline alerts. If flexibility, protection and clear pricing matter more than having one bill, Phonely is the stronger choice.
Explore Phonely's plansLooking for a safer BT Digital Voice alternative?
Keep your number, keep your phone and add automatic scam blocking and trusted person alerts, with no broadband lock-in.
Protect your home phone nowPhonely is trusted by police forces, Trading Standards, Neighbourhood Watch and the Alzheimer's Society, and has been featured on the BBC. Phonely is the winner of the Digital Inclusion Award at the AbilityNet Tech4Good Awards 2026.
View press coverageFrequently asked questions
BT Digital Voice vs Phonely: your number, your handset, power cuts and scam calls
Your phone line is not being taken away, but the old copper network behind it is being retired, so your calls will move over broadband instead. You usually have three choices: take BT's own digital phone service (BT Digital Voice), move your number to a separate home phone provider such as Phonely, or drop the landline and use a mobile only. The right answer depends on your handset, what you need in a power cut and whether you want stronger scam-call protection. Our digital landline switchover guide explains the changes in full.
No. BT will move its own landline customers to BT Digital Voice, but you are free to move your number to another digital home phone provider instead. Phonely works with any broadband provider, including BT broadband, so you can keep BT for your internet and use Phonely for your home phone.
Yes. You can transfer your existing landline number to Phonely when you sign up. If your phone and broadband are both with BT, tell BT you are only moving your phone number and want to keep your broadband, so nothing is cancelled by mistake.
In most cases, yes. With BT Digital Voice, your handset usually plugs into the phone port on your BT hub. With Phonely, your existing corded or cordless phone plugs into a small Fanvil GA11 adapter, which plugs into your broadband router. The adapter is free on CallGuard plans and when you pay annually. See our step-by-step GA11 setup guide.
Not on its own. All digital landlines, whether from BT or Phonely, run through your broadband router, so they stop working if the power goes off unless you have a battery backup. Under Ofcom rules, providers must offer at least one way to reach 999 for at least an hour during a power cut if you rely on your landline, so tell your provider if that applies to you. Phonely also alerts your Trusted Person when your phone goes offline, and you can keep a charged mobile as a fallback.
Yes. BT Digital Voice requires BT broadband. If you switch broadband provider, your phone service changes too. Phonely works with any broadband provider, so your phone is independent.
BT offers standard calling features but does not advertise automatic scam blocking, AI fraud monitoring, anti-fraud call introduction or trusted person alerts. Phonely's CallGuard plans are built specifically to reduce scam anxiety with proactive protection.
The best BT Digital Voice alternative for scam protection and independence is a standalone UK digital landline that works with any broadband provider. Phonely offers no broadband lock-in, predictable pricing, automatic scam blocking and trusted person alerts, which suits you if you want protection without bundling with BT.
Other comparisons
See all providers in our best digital landline UK guide.
