As businesses continue to innovate and evolve in the wake of the pandemic and look for tools that support continuity and growth, VoIP telephony (voice over internet protocol) is fast becoming the preferred communications solution.
A VoIP phone system relies on the technology that sends calls as digital signals, via the internet, instead of via traditional phone lines and copper cabling. With a VoIP, or IP PBX, businesses benefit from the connectivity, mobility and agility that all modern business teams need.
While some might choose a softphone, the software desktop phone that can be installed on a laptop, desktop or mobile to make phones over the internet, investing in dedicated hardware is also beneficial. But the market is rich in choice, and with so many VoIP desk and office phone options available, it’s important to establish the features and functions that are essential to your unique business goals. So, we’ve put together a list of our top VoIP phone choices for 2024 to help you identify your needs, and choose the right VoIP phones for you and your team.
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What is a VoIP Phone?
A VoIP phone is a telephone solution that uses VoIP technology. That means it’s a phone that enables you to transmit voice calls and messages via an IP network.
If you’ve ever made or received calls via WhatsApp, Facebook or Skype, then you’ve used VoIP technology. A VoIP phone is a hardware or softphone (installed on your laptop or desktop) that enables that type of connection.
VoIP phones and IP PBX systems offer businesses a reliable, flexible way to keep their increasingly remote workforce connected and keep in touch with customers and other stakeholders on the move.
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What is the difference between VoIP vs traditional phone systems vs IP telephony?
The terms VoIP, and IP telephony can often be used interchangeably. IP telephony, is an umbrella term for the digital, internet-enabled phone systems in contrast to traditional, analogue systems. So voice over IP is a type of IP telephony, with VoIP more specifically defining how voice traffic is prioritised and transmitted over the network. But for the most part, they essentially mean the same thing.
With traditional phone systems, businesses can transmit voice calls via their landline phone, but you won’t be able to use your internet connection to make calls. That means team members can’t use the phone if they don’t have access to that landline, restricting them to their desks. The lack of flexibility is what has caused the demise of the landline in residential homes, and now, the same is happening in the business environment, and organisations seek more sustainable, more agile systems that support business growth.
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Types of VoIP Phones
There are two different forms of VoIP phone, both enable business users to make and receive calls via the internet connection.
1. Hard phones
A hard phone is a physical telephone that looks similar to a traditional phone and works similarly. The main difference is that a hard phone device will transmit voice signals via your internet connection, offering more advanced functionality in general. Designed specifically to enable VoIP technology, these more modern phones will offer all the features your business teams need to harness the flexibility of your VoIP system.
A hard phone works by physically plugging directly into your business network.
2. Softphones
While a hard phone physically sits on users’ desks, a softphone is the software version of your telephone. That means you can install it onto your desktop computer, laptop or smartphone, as well as other devices such as tablets or iPads, and benefit from the complete mobility that VoIP telephony allows. The beauty of a softphone is that users can make and receive calls via their preferred device from anywhere with an internet connection. This makes life much easier for remote workers or workers on the move, as they can continue with business as usual without being tied to their desks or the office.
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How does the VoIP Phone work?
All VoIP phones function similarly, whether you’re using a hard phone or a softphone. In the simplest terms, by making and receiving calls via the internet connection instead of traditional phone lines.
Where historically phone calls were transmitted via PSTN (the public switched telephone network) using phone company installation, a specific carrier or provider, cell towers and copper cabling, VoIP calls are routed via your broadband connection.
VoIP phones also use digital rather than analogue signals, meaning you benefit from more advanced technology that enables more flexibility and agility than a legacy phone system.
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What are the benefits of a VoIP Phone?
Many businesses are ditching traditional landlines in favour of a VoIP phone system, and here’s why:
Mobility: VoIP users can make calls from anywhere. Generally speaking, the technology is cloud-based, allowing callers to access the phone system via a softphone app or desktop wherever they are in the world.
Convenience and cost savings: Running a traditional phone system can be costly, clunky, and difficult to manage if you want to make changes. When you switch to a VoIP phone, your communications system will save you money as subscribers won’t have a big outlay on hardware, and generally, costs are broken down into manageable monthly fees.
Scalability: Where with traditional PBX phone systems, businesses would have to install extra phone lines physically, a VoIP system allows much better flexibility and control over adding or reducing the number of users. Administrators can usually do this by logging in and making changes within the software interface, meaning you’re much better prepared for growth.
Security: With a reliable VoIP service provider, you should also have better control over your communications data. As your calls and exchanges happen over the internet, you’ll be able to ensure you’re using a reliable IP telephony platform, such as RingCentral, that uses end-to-end encryption to safeguard your business conversations.
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The Top VoIP and IP Phones
| VoIP Phones | Pricing | Key Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poly VVX 450 | £197.00 or £8.00 p/m | - 4.3” colour backlit display - 12 line keys - Four softkeys - One USB port (side) - Share a single network connection with your phone and PC using the integrated two-port Gigabit Ethernet switch - Integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) supporty - Call forwarding enabledy | Teams looking for a feature-rich VoIP and video-compatible phone. |
| Yealink T57W | £224.00 or £10.00 p/m $10.00 per month | - Modern look and design ideal for open space work environments - 7” 800x480 pixel colour touch display, fully adjustable - HD Voice with Yealink Acoustic Shield technology - Acoustic shield to improve background noise suppression - Built-in Bluetooth 4.2 | Businesses looking for an affordable touch-screen desk phone and open-plan office space. |
| Grandstream GXP 2170 | Pricing available via the supplier | - 4.3” LCD and 44 programmable softkeys - 12 lines - HD voice quality - Dual Gigabit ports integrated PoE - 48 on-screen customizable speed-dial keys - Integrated Bluetooth | Organisations that deal with high call volumes or multiple phone numbers |
| Yealink SIP-T19P E2 | Pricing available via supplier | - The affordable, entry-level phone - Five lines black and white LCD display - Three-way conferencing - Wall-mountable handset - Call hold, SMS and anonymous calling | Businesses looking for a great value, low-cost, entry-level phone. |
| Polycom VVX 301 | Pricing available via supplier | - HD voice - Six lines or speed dial keys - Four context-sensitive soft keys - Advanced call handling features - Backlit 208 x 104-pixel display | Value for money or a low-cost phone with HD voice |
| Yealink SIP-T21P E2 | Pricing available via supplier | - Supports three-way audio conferencing - HD voice characteristics - PoE technology - 132 x 64-pixel display | Teams looking for entry-level SIP phones with comprehensive user experience |
| Grandstream GXV3370 | Pricing available via supplier | - 7’’ (1024×600) capacitive 5-point touch screen TFT LCD - Built-in mega-pixel camera for video calling with privacy shutter - Runs on the Android 7.0 operating system - 16 SIP accounts - HD acoustic chamber | Businesses looking for a large colour screen display, megapixel camera and access to Android apps. |
| Cisco 8861 | £273.00 or £13.50 p/m $24.00 | - Up to ten lines with programmable line keys - 5” 800x480 colour, backlit, graphical widescreen display - Dedicated RJ-9 headset port - Share a single network connection with your phone and PC using the integrated 2-port gigabit Ethernet switch - Integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) support (Class 4) | Convenient, user-friendly design and an intuitive interface for simplicity and productivity |
| Unify CP700 | Pricing available via supplier | - Colour graphical display, 6 line TFT (800*480 pixel), 5’’ - Notification LED (green, amber, red), visible from the front and behind - 6 permanent free programmable and 6 free programmable favourites with LED - 7 fixed function keys: menu, presence, voicemail, hold, transfer, conference, and redial - 5-way navigation key | Teams looking for a comprehensive, feature-rich desk phone at a reasonable price |
| Cisco SPA 303 | Pricing available via supplier | - Three SIP lines - Caller ID, call hold and conferencing - Dual switched ethernet ports Affordable | Small businesses that need something low-cost but reliable |
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What to Look For in VoIP Home and Business Phones
Before we launch into our top 10 VoIP phones, it’s worth examining your requirements so that you can effectively evaluate all the possible options.
With a VoIP phone system, you’ll benefit from several functions that wouldn’t be available with a traditional landline phone. For example, advanced call handling or video conferencing might be possible depending on your phone system. But it’s important to establish the functionality you and your team need; otherwise, it’s easy to waste time and money installing an elaborate phone system with features you don’t even need.
On the other hand, it’s important to be aware of the traits you might need in a phone system as your team grows. While you’re predicting and anticipating the key characteristics you might need in a VoIP phone, there are a few essentials you might want to look out for, such as the following:
1. Price
It’s often number one on the list, as businesses want to ensure their phone choice supports their ROI, as with any other investment. Your phone choice needs to fit within your business’s budget and offer the functionality to help you reach your business goals. There’s no need to pay for excessive bells and whistles if you need the basic functionality of VoIP calls, so when comparing your options, it’s important to think of value rather than the cost to ensure you make the right choice.
2. Audio Quality & Reliability
It’s worth remembering that it’s not just your connectivity that could impact the quality of your phone calls. For most modern businesses, call quality should be a non-negotiable, so choosing a phone system built with audio clarity and quality at the core is key. Ideally, look for a phone model that offers HD voice quality and a service level agreement (SLA) that gives you real peace of mind regarding your phone system’s reliability.
3. Connectivity
VoIP telephony helps you benefit from the enhanced connectivity of the modern working world. That means connectivity should be a key consideration when choosing a phone system for your business. Phones that offer Wi-Fi connectivity will come in very handy, regardless of your other requirements, especially if you are looking for a cordless phone model to replace old corded handsets, which won’t require you to link them up to your router via ethernet. Likewise, VoIP phones with built-in Bluetooth capabilities may also be an advantage, as your users can use hands-free headsets and will benefit from a mobile device in a physical desk phone.
4. VoIP Phones – Hardware Features & Functionality
As we mentioned, it’s important to assess the core functions you’ll need in a VoIP phone and those you may require as your business grows. The best VoIP phones should offer you much more capabilities than a traditional office desk phone. For example, you might want to be able to route or block calls, or you might want to hold conference calls or video meetings with your chosen hardware. HD video might be essential for your team now, or it might still be a nice-to-have bonus feature, but as internet connectivity becomes ever more reliable, video compatibility is something you may want to consider.
Look out for the following features to ensure a smoother, more efficient phone system.
- Back Key
- Dial Pad
- Headset Key
- Hold
- Home Key
- Line Keys
- Message waiting for indicator
- Messages
- Mute Key
- Navigation keys/select key
- Reversible Tab
- Screen
- Security Slot
- Soft Keys
- Speaker
- Speakerphone key
- Transfer Key
- USB Port
- Volume keys
5. VoIP Service Compatibility
For the most part, modern VoIP phones are compatible with all VoIP software. However, it’s important to check whether your VoIP provider requires or favours certain models of phones. Choosing a phone model that’s compatible with your service provider will mean you can benefit from the full selection of capabilities that VoIP telephony offers, with the reliability of a full VoIP ecosystem.
The above characteristics are the main ones to consider when you invest in new phones for you and your team. These are the main criteria we used to pull together our ten best VoIP phones on the market. Below you’ll find a brief guide to each of our top choices, highlighting why they might be exactly the model you’re looking for.
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A Review of the 10 Best IP Phones on the Market
Not every VoIP phone option will be the right choice for your business. Each organisation has a different set of unique goals, and therefore varying priorities for their phone systems. Some might prioritise hardware that physically plugs into the network, others may look for something more mobile, or similar to a smartphone for more flexible use.
The following 10 phones are our top VoIP phone models on the market. Choose one of these for your home or business office, and you’ll be sure to reap the rewards of a feature-rich and reliable VoIP phone system.
- Poly VVX 450
- Yealink T57W
- Grandstream GXP 2170
- Yealink SIP-T19P E2
- Polycom VVX 301
- Yealink SIP-T21P E2
- Grandstream GXV3370
- Cisco 8861
- Unify CP700
- Cisco SPA 303
Now let’s take a deep dive and review our top 10 best VoIP phones.
1. Polycom VVX 450
The Poly VVX 450 is a premium VoIP phone option. The model gives any business all the features and functions it could need. The phone allows up to 12-line appearances and has an impressive 4.3” colour backlit display.
Ideal for high call-volume handlers, you get HD voice quality as standard. The phone also has intuitive visual features, including four context-sensitive soft keys.
Key features
- 4.3” colour backlit display
- 12 line keys
- Four softkeys
- One USB port (side)
- Share a single network connection with your phone and PC using the integrated two-port Gigabit Ethernet switch
- Integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) support
- Call forwarding enabled
2. Yealink T57W
If you’re looking for the best VoIP phone, whatever the price, the Yealink T57W may well be the model for you. This high-end option packs in every conceivable feature and function, including both HD voice and video.
Video conferencing with this phone is a joy. The 7” colour touch display screen has an impressive resolution of 800×480 pixels.
Key features
- Modern look and design ideal for open space work environments
- 7” 800×480 pixel colour touch display, fully adjustable
- HD Voice with Yealink Acoustic Shield technology
- Acoustic shield to improve background noise suppression
- Built-in Bluetooth 4.2
- Built-in dual-band 2.4G/5G WiFi
- Integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE)
3. Grandstream GXP 2170
Grandstream describes the GXP 2170 as their ‘most powerful High-End IP Phone’. The model is great for any small business that deals with significant call volumes or multiple phone numbers. It supports 12 lines, has HD audio quality, and Bluetooth connectivity.
A 4.3” colour LCD and 44 programmable soft keys make it possible to customise the unit to suit any system. That’s all from a phone which is competitively priced compared to some of the other VoIP phones on this list.
Key Features
- 4.3” LCD display and 44 programmable softkeys
- HD voice quality
- Integrated Bluetooth
4. Yealink SIP-T19P E2
If the price is a primary motivation, then the Yealink SIP-T19P is probably the phone for you. The SIP-T19P only has one line, so it isn’t suitable for a business that gets a high number of calls or with a complicated PBX telephone system. Some of the phone features include a sharp 2.3” black and white display and it can support headsets if needed. It also offers three-way conferencing, SMS, and call hold, meaning it still has much more functionality than a traditional landline.
The Yealink SIP-T19P is an entry-level VoIP phone. When comparing the price to features, it is the best budget VoIP phone on this list.
Key Features
- The affordable, entry-level phone
- Five lines black and white LCD display
- Three-way conferencing
- Call hold, SMS and anonymous calling
5. Polycom VVX 301
One of the lowest priced VoIP phones with HD voice, the Polycom VVX 301 is great if you’re looking for value for money. As well as its HD audio, the phone boasts six lines and all the basic call functions of a modern phone.
The unit’s 12 hard keys broadly control those functions, but there is also a small backlit display. The VVX 301 doesn’t allow for video calling or Bluetooth connectivity, meaning staff may need to supplement it with laptops or mobile phones. It is, however, a reliable entry-level option for small business.
Key Features
- HD voice
- Six lines or speed dial keys
- Backlit 208 x 104-pixel display
6. Yealink SIP-T21P E2
Another entry-level VoIP phone, the Yealink SIP-T21P E2 is a step up from the T21P. This model offers a great value IP solution, excellent functionality, a 5-line data display, HD voice characteristics and a mountable wall stand.
The phone accommodates two VoIP accounts and boasts PoE technology. That means there’s no need to connect an additional power supply. The phone also supports HD voice.
Key Features
- Supports three-way audio conferencing
- HD voice characteristics
- PoE technology
- 132 x 64 pixel display
7. Grandstream GXV3370
You only have to look at the Grandstream GXV 3370 to see that it’s a cutting-edge, feature-rich IP phone. With an Android-based system, the phone can access Android apps on top of the inbuilt functionality.
The GXV3370 has a 7” touchscreen and a built-in megapixel camera, which makes it ideal for real-time video conferencing. It also offers 16 lines for up to 16 SIP accounts and integrated Bluetooth. The speakerphone function with HD acoustic chamber makes this suitable for anyone looking for a VoIP phone with video conferencing and voice functionality.
Key features
- 7’’ (1024×600) capacitive 5-point touch screen TFT LCD
- Built-in megapixel camera for video calling with a privacy shutter
- Runs on the Android 7.0 operating system
- 16 SIP accounts
- HD acoustic chamber
8. Cisco 8861
Convenience and user-friendliness are the prime characteristics of Cisco’s VoIP desk phone models. Built with knowledge workers in mind, the 8861 offers an advanced, feature-rich option to help you support team productivity. OPUS codec support guarantees HD voice and superior sound quality. The VoIP desk phone also features 2 USB ports, in-built Bluetooth and WiFi, Gigabit Ethernet and an intuitive user interface.
Key features
- Up to ten lines with programmable line keys
- 5” 800×480 colour, backlit, graphical widescreen display
- Dedicated RJ-9 headset port
- Share a single network connection with your phone and PC using the integrated 2-port gigabit Ethernet switch
- Integrated Power over Ethernet (PoE) support (Class 4)
9. Unify CP700
The Unify CP700 is a great option for businesses looking for a comprehensive, feature-rich desk phone at a reasonable price. The CP700 offers extended interoperability, an extra-large display, Bluetooth support with two simultaneous audio streams, and an elegant user interface. In addition to a number of enhanced call-handling features, the phone offers the high-quality audio you can expect for busy call handlers.
Key features
- Colour graphical display, 6 line TFT (800*480 pixel), 5’’
- Notification LED (green, amber, red), visible from the front and behind
- Six permanent free programmable and six free programmable favourites with LED
- Seven fixed function keys: menu, presence, voicemail, hold, transfer, conference, and redial
- 5-way navigation key
10. Cisco SPA 303
The Cisco SPA 303 is the final entry on our list of the best VoIP phones. It’s available for a fraction of the cost of some models listed here. That makes it ideal for small businesses who need something cheap but reliable.
Despite its low price point, the SPA 303 supports three phone lines. It also has all the necessary call handling features you might need. Features include caller ID, hold, and conferencing alternatives. The phone doesn’t offer a great deal else, but plenty of businesses don’t need anything more from their VoIP service and hardware.
Key Features
- Three SIP lines
- Caller ID, call hold and conferencing
- Dual-switched ethernet ports
- Affordable
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Set Up a VoIP Phone with Help from RingCentral
RingCentral has you covered when it comes to small business VoIP software solutions. Whether you work for a small business or global company, we can provide you with the cloud communications system you need to succeed. To ensure it works to its full potential, you need to choose the best VoIP phones for your workplace.
Originally published Dec 01, 2020, updated Feb 23, 2024
