For many people, a landline phone remains an important part of their daily lives. It’s a reliable communication tool and an essential connection to the outside world. However, the cost of keeping a landline service can be an expensive burden, especially for those on a tight or fixed budget such as a pension. If you’re looking to keep your landline phone but want to minimise the cost, this guide was written for you. We’ll look at various options and strategies to help you secure the cheapest landline phone-only deals without compromising on quality or features that are essential to you.
A traditional landline service: Pros & cons
Traditional landline services, provided by companies like BT and Virgin Media, have been around for decades. While they offer familiarity and reliability, they often come with higher monthly costs and limited call packages. Here are some of the common drawbacks:
- Monthly Line Rental: Most traditional landline providers charge a monthly line rental fee, which can be costly. For example, from the 3rd of May 2024, BT listed their line rental price as £28.40 without any call minutes.
- Call Charges: Depending on your call usage, traditional landline services may incur additional and sometimes complicated charges. Charges can depend on the day or time you make a call, the destination of your call or the type of number you call. For example, with Virgin Media (outside of any inclusive plans) off-peak calls to landlines are 9.94 pence per minute, and calls to a mobile are 19.35 ppm.
- Limited Features: Basic landline services can’t offer advanced features like call blocking, voicemail, CallGuard or caller ID. All of which could help you manage your calls and ensure you feel safe.
Exploring VoIP landline options: Phonely
As technology has evolved, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) landline services have emerged as a cost-effective alternative to traditional landlines. Phonely, an award-winning UK VoIP provider offers a range of simple and affordable plans tailored to meet your needs. Here’s why Phonely could be the digital voice provider that you’re looking for:
- User-friendly: Phonely’s website, sign-up process & account management have been designed to ensure an easy, seamless & stress-free experience.
- Simplicity: Phonely has 3 plans, each of which is easy to understand. We have no complicated price structure or hidden costs.
- Cost Savings: Phonely’s digital voice plans can significantly reduce your monthly expenses compared to traditional landline services. With plans starting as low as £9.97 per month, you can have unlimited calls & essential features without breaking the bank.
- Scam Protection: One of Phonely’s standout features is CallGuard, an in-house technology designed to safeguard you from phone scams. From anti-fraud introductions to call recording & real-time suspicious call alerts, CallGuard provides an extra layer of security.
- UK Customer Care Team: The Phonely team is based in the UK & is always ready to help & support customers. And, as an employee-owned company, Phonely ensures customer care before profit.
- Experts in VoIP: Phonely provides a digital voice-only service & does not offer broadband. To use VoIP you need a stable internet connection. Often, having your broadband & digital voice supplied separately costs you less than when bundled together with one provider. This means that with Phonely, you’re free to choose a broadband company that works for you.
Comparing Costs: Traditional vs. Phonely
Switching to Digital Voice early has potential cost savings. Take a look at these real-life scenarios comparing Phonely’s digital voice with two of the major brand’s analogue landline charges.
Call costs – Digital voice vs analogue
| Scenarios | BT | Sky | Phonely |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly call to local surgery (20 minutes on hold, 3 minutes talking), always early morning | £4.81 | £2.65 | £0 |
| Weekly one-65 minute call to a friend, usually around lunch time | £54.34 | £29.90 | £0 |
| Weekly weekend 30-minute call to a family member’s mobile number | £25.80 | £13.80 | £0 |
| Monthly 15-minute call for administrative purposes (utility bills, council, etc.) | £3.14 | £1.73 | £0 |
| Broadband/line rental cost per month | £34.99 | £27.00 | Different provider £17 per month* |
| Total cost | £123.08 per month | £75.08 per month | £26.97 per month |
All calculations are rounded up to the nearest whole pence and are based on 4 weeks’ worth of calls equating to a month.
*£17 per month is the cheapest broadband-only deal found via Money Supermarket. Search conducted on the 9th April 2024.
As you can see, Phonely’s VoIP plans offer substantial savings compared to traditional landline services. Especially if you make calls that are outside the typical evening and weekend call bundles, which most of us do.
Other considerations
While cost is a significant factor, it’s important to consider other aspects when choosing a landline service provider.
- Ease of Use: Phonely’s plans are designed to be user-friendly. Each offers work-for-you features such as a customisable contact book for quick dialling or large-button handsets for those with dexterity challenges.
- Quality Customer Support: Reliable customer support can be invaluable, especially for those who require assistance with setup or troubleshooting. Always research providers’ customer service reputations & reviews. The customer service team at Phonely keep customer care at the top of their list.
- Contract Flexibility: Choose providers that offer flexible, commitment-free plans, allowing you to switch if your needs change. At Phonely we offer an initial 12-month contract. Whereas, many larger companies lock you in for 2 years or more.
- Handset compatibility: When switching to digital voice, ensure you understand whether your current phone will be compatible with your new provider’s system. And if it isn’t see what they can offer you as a replacement or adaptment. At Phonely we offer new VoIP handsets or adapters which allow you to keep your analogue phone.
Conclusion
In today’s world, staying connected doesn’t have to break the bank. By exploring VoIP landline options like Phonely, you can find the cheapest landline phone-only deals while benefitting from essential features and robust scam protection. Whether you’re on a fixed income or simply looking to reduce your monthly expenses, taking time to compare providers and their offerings can help you secure the cheapest landline phone deals without compromising on quality or convenience. And if you’re over a certain age and need more information check out our dedicated blog on finding the cheapest landline deals for pensioners.
At Phonely, we understand the importance of reliable communication and prioritise your safety and peace of mind. We also endeavour to place ourselves as the cheapest landline telephone service without compromising on service. Plus with our affordable plans and innovative CallGuard features, you can stay connected with confidence and experience seamless landline communication tailored to your needs.
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