Comparison
Phonely vs MIH VoIP: Which Digital Landline Is Better in 2026?
The UK's public-switched telephone network (PSTN) will be switched off in January 2027. Millions of households must decide whether to migrate their landlines to a VoIP provider. Phonely and MIH VoIP both offer UK VoIP services and let you keep your existing number, but they cater to different priorities.
Phonely designs its digital landline plans around proactive scam protection, simple plug-and-play hardware and transparent pricing. MIH VoIP focuses on flexible call bundles, pay-as-you-go rates and a rolling contract. This comparison explains the key differences to help you choose the right service for your home.
For a full overview see our guide to the best digital landline providers in the UK.
Quick comparison: Phonely vs MIH VoIP
| Feature | Phonely | MIH VoIP |
|---|---|---|
| UK-based provider | Yes | Yes |
| Contract | 18‑month contract with clear pricing; no separate setup fee | 30‑day rolling contract; cancel with 30 days' written notice |
| Entry plan (from) | Digital Landline: £9.97/month (800 minutes to UK landlines & mobiles, voicemail, caller ID and call-guard features) | MIH‑Basics: £9/month plus calls; calls charged at 1p/min to UK landlines and 2p/min to UK mobiles |
| Unlimited / higher plan (from) | CallGuard: £14.98/month with 2,000 landline + 2,000 mobile minutes, automatic scam blocking, trusted-person alerts and call recording | MIH‑Max: £15/month with unlimited minutes to UK numbers; per-minute charges still apply for premium and international calls |
| Call rates outside bundle | Included minutes cover UK landlines & mobiles; clear overage rate if you exceed allowance | UK landlines: 1p/min; UK mobiles: 2p/min (plus VAT); international charged per minute (e.g. Afghanistan 20p, Algeria 10.1p, Canada 0.76p) |
| Hardware | Plug-and-play VoIP adapter included free on annual payment or monthly CallGuard/CallGuard+ plans; works with existing phones | Optional VoIP adapter £35 + £5.99 P&P; otherwise use the mobile/desktop app |
| Call recording | Included on CallGuard plans | Recording can be enabled; includes 30 days of free storage with upgrade options |
| Scam protection | CallGuard: automatic scam blocking, anti-fraud introductions, trusted-person nomination, quiet hours and real-time suspicious-call alerts | No advertised scam-blocking; standard features like block lists and Do Not Disturb |
| Setup/porting fee | None — porting is included when you sign up | £20 setup fee covers porting or issuing a new number |
| Other fees | Clear monthly pricing; no per-minute call-recording or hardware fees on CallGuard plans | Direct Debit mandatory; failed or late payments incur £5 admin fee; non-payment may lead to suspension or £60 reconnection fee; call charges rounded up to the nearest penny |
What is MIH VoIP?
MIH World's MIH VoIP service is a UK-based VoIP provider offering a residential and small-business phone service. Customers can choose from three rolling bundles (all 30‑day contracts) and can cancel with 30 days' notice. The main residential bundles are:
- MIH‑Basics (£9/month) — a low-cost plan without included minutes; calls are charged at 1p per minute to UK landlines and 2p per minute to UK mobiles. Customers pay for what they use.
- MIH‑250 (£12/month) — includes 250 minutes to UK numbers. Calls beyond the allowance follow the same 1p/2p per-minute rates.
- MIH‑Max (£15/month) — marketed as unlimited minutes to UK numbers. Premium numbers and international calls are not included.
A one-off £20 setup fee covers porting an existing landline or issuing a new number. Users who want to keep their familiar handset can purchase a VoIP adapter for £35 plus £5.99 shipping; otherwise they can make calls via MIH VoIP's free mobile/desktop app.
Features
MIH VoIP markets voicemail & voicemail-to-email, call recording (30 days free storage with upgrade options), call queue management, ring groups, conference calling, call transfer, block lists, Do Not Disturb, auto-attendants, music-on-hold and free calls between MIH VoIP users. The site largely targets small businesses; residential users may need to request specific features. International calling is disabled by default and must be manually enabled; when activated, calls are billed per minute at country-specific rates.
Limitations and caveats
- Mandatory Direct Debit and non-payment fees — A failed or late payment incurs a £5 administration fee. Unpaid invoices can lead to suspension; reconnecting a suspended service costs £60.
- Call-charge rounding and price changes — All call charges are rounded up to the nearest penny. International rates may change; MIH VoIP reserves the right to change prices with at least two months' notice.
- Service limitations — The service relies on broadband and mains power. MIH VoIP warns that call quality and emergency calling cannot be guaranteed during power or internet outages.
- Cancellation policy — Once a port request is submitted or equipment dispatched, the order cannot be cancelled. Cancelling a port incurs a £15 fee, and any supplied equipment must be returned at the customer's cost.
What makes Phonely different?
When replacing a landline, protection and simplicity matter as much as price. Phonely was built to help households feel safe answering the phone again. Here's why many users choose Phonely over MIH VoIP:
- Proactive scam protection — Every CallGuard plan includes automatic scam-call blocking, AI fraud monitoring, anti-fraud call introductions, trusted-person alerts and real-time suspicious-call notifications. MIH VoIP offers block lists and Do Not Disturb but does not advertise automatic scam-blocking or AI-based fraud prevention.
- Inclusive minutes and predictable pricing — Even the entry-level Phonely plan includes 800 minutes to UK landlines and mobiles; CallGuard offers 2,000 landline + 2,000 mobile minutes with no per-minute recording charges. MIH VoIP's low monthly fee covers only the line; customers pay per minute for calls beyond small bundles.
- Hardware simplicity — Phonely's plug-and-play adapter is included free on annual payment or on monthly CallGuard/CallGuard+ plans, and the service is designed for non-technical households. MIH VoIP requires purchasing and configuring a £35 adapter (plus shipping) if you want to use existing handsets.
- Transparent fees — There are no mandatory Direct Debit penalties or surprise reconnection charges with Phonely. MIH VoIP mandates Direct Debit and charges fees for failed payments and reconnection.
- Call recording at no extra cost — Call recording is included in Phonely's CallGuard plans, whereas MIH VoIP provides 30 days of free storage and charges for additional storage.
- Emergency-focused reliability — Phonely emphasises reliability and collaborates with Trading Standards, Neighbourhood Watch and police forces. MIH VoIP warns that its service is not guaranteed for emergency calling during power cuts. Phonely also offers a free mobile app so you can make and receive calls on your smartphone when the home line is down.
Pricing comparison: looking beyond the headline
MIH VoIP's low entry price can be attractive, but it is important to look at the total cost of ownership:
- Call charges add up — MIH‑Basics costs £9/month but every call is billed separately at 1p per minute to UK landlines and 2p per minute to UK mobiles. By comparison, Phonely's £9.97 plan includes 800 minutes. If you regularly make or receive calls, MIH VoIP's per-minute billing can exceed the bundle price quickly.
- Hardware costs — MIH VoIP users must buy a £35 adapter plus shipping if they want to use their existing handset. Phonely includes the adapter free on annual or CallGuard/CallGuard+ monthly plans.
- Setup fees and cancellation charges — MIH VoIP charges a £20 setup fee. Cancelling after the Point of No Return incurs a £15 port-cancellation fee and equipment must be returned. Phonely does not charge a separate setup fee.
- Non-payment fees — MIH VoIP's terms specify a £5 administration fee for failed or late payments and a £60 reconnection fee for suspended lines. Phonely's pricing is all-inclusive without penalty fees.
- International calls — MIH VoIP disables international calls by default and bills them per minute at country-specific rates. Phonely provides international calling at rates displayed in its pricing calculator.
Safety & reliability comparison
Scam protection — Phonely's CallGuard technology offers automatic scam-call blocking, anti-fraud introductions, trusted-person support and real-time suspicious-call alerts. MIH VoIP offers standard caller ID, block lists and Do Not Disturb, but its website does not advertise AI-based scam filtering.
Emergency calling — MIH VoIP states that its service relies on power and broadband and is not guaranteed for emergency calls during outages. Phonely emphasises reliability and can supply battery-backed hardware for CallGuard+ customers (details available on request).
Data security & partnerships — Phonely is endorsed by Trading Standards, Neighbourhood Watch, the Alzheimer's Society and has been featured on the BBC. MIH VoIP does not highlight similar third-party endorsements.
| Feature | MIH VoIP | Phonely (CallGuard) |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic scam blocking | ||
| Trusted person alerts | ||
| Block lists / Do Not Disturb |
Who should choose which?
Choose MIH VoIP if you:
- Want a 30‑day rolling contract and are comfortable with per-minute call charges.
- Rarely make outbound calls and prefer paying only for the minutes you use.
- Don't require built-in scam protection and are happy to configure a block list manually.
- Are confident setting up and maintaining your own hardware or want to use a mobile/desktop app exclusively.
Choose Phonely if you:
- Value proactive scam protection and want to protect vulnerable or elderly household members from fraud and nuisance calls.
- Prefer inclusive minutes without worrying about per-minute billing.
- Want plug-and-play hardware with the option of using existing handsets and a mobile app without additional fees.
- Appreciate transparent pricing with no setup fees, non-payment penalties or rounding of call charges.
- Need help switching and want to port your number without paying extra.
Trusted by police forces · Used by Trading Standards · Thousands of UK households protected
Final verdict: Phonely or MIH VoIP?
When comparing Phonely and MIH VoIP, the difference is more than price — it is purpose.
MIH VoIP offers flexible rolling contracts and low per-minute rates, which may suit users who make very few calls or value absolute flexibility. However, the per-minute billing, mandatory Direct Debit and various fees can make costs unpredictable over time. International calls are disabled by default and can be expensive. Phonely is built for households who value protection, clarity and ease of use. Its plans include generous UK call allowances, built-in scam-blocking technology, call recording and plug-and-play hardware. There are no surprise fees, and pricing is transparent. If security and simplicity matter more than shaving pennies off per-minute rates, Phonely makes the choice clear.
Explore Phonely's plansLooking for a safer alternative?
Explore Phonely's CallGuard plans today and protect your home phone from nuisance and scam calls.
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.
View press coverageFrequently asked questions
Phonely vs MIH VoIP: pricing, contracts, scam protection and digital landline comparison
MIH World's MIH VoIP is a UK-based VoIP provider offering residential and small-business phone service. Plans include MIH-Basics (£9/month, no included minutes, 1p/2p per min), MIH-250 (£12/month, 250 min) and MIH-Max (£15/month, unlimited UK minutes). All are 30-day rolling contracts. Setup is £20; optional adapter £35 + P&P. There is no advertised automatic scam blocking.
MIH VoIP offers block lists and Do Not Disturb but does not advertise automatic scam-blocking or AI-based fraud prevention. Phonely's CallGuard plans include automatic scam-call blocking, anti-fraud introductions and trusted-person alerts.
Yes. Phonely supports number porting so you can keep your existing landline number when you switch. Porting is included at no extra cost. MIH VoIP charges a £20 setup fee that covers porting or issuing a new number.
MIH VoIP suits users who want a 30-day rolling contract and per-minute billing. Phonely suits households who value proactive scam protection, inclusive minutes, plug-and-play hardware and transparent pricing with no setup or penalty fees. If security and simplicity matter more than per-minute flexibility, Phonely is often the better fit.
Other comparisons
See all providers in our best digital landline UK guide.
