VoIP vs landline · 2026
VoIP or a landline for your business? In 2026 the choice is mostly made for you.
Short answer: choose VoIP (a cloud phone system). The UK’s analogue and ISDN landlines stop working on 31 January 2027, and new ones have not been sold since September 2023. You keep your landline numbers and move them onto VoIP, which rings desk phones, laptops and mobiles wherever your team is.
Updated 7 October 2026 by the TISA Business team.
Side by side
The landline against VoIP, point by point.
| Point | Traditional landline | VoIP / cloud phone system |
|---|---|---|
| Can you buy it? | No new lines since September 2023. | Yes. |
| After 31 January 2027 | Stops working. | Unaffected. |
| Where calls ring | One phone per line, in one building. | Desk phones, laptops and mobiles, anywhere with internet. |
| Your numbers | Tied to the line and the building. | Kept when you move office; moved across in 7 to 10 working days. |
| Adding a person | A new line, often an engineer visit. | Add a user in an online portal. |
| Features | Basic, with extras charged separately. | Greeting menus, ring groups, opening hours, voicemail to email and call recording. |
| Power cut | A traditional analogue line usually kept working. | Stops unless your router and phones have backup power. Keep a mobile for emergencies. |
| What it needs | A copper phone line. | A reliable broadband connection. |
Which kind of VoIP
One line, or a whole team?
If you only need a single phone line that behaves like the old one, a digital landline from your broadband provider is the simplest swap.
If more than one person answers the phone, a cloud phone system does far more for the money: one number for the business, calls routed to the right person, and everyone answering from wherever they are. How to choose a business phone system.
An internet based phone service, including ours, will not work in a power cut or if your broadband is down. Always keep a mobile available for emergency calls.
Questions
What businesses ask about moving off the landline.
What is the difference between VoIP and a landline?
A landline carries calls over a dedicated copper line to one building. VoIP (voice over internet protocol) carries calls over your internet connection, so the same number can ring desk phones, laptops and mobiles wherever your team is.
Do businesses still need a landline in 2026?
No. The UK’s analogue and ISDN landlines stop working on 31 January 2027, and new ones have not been sold since September 2023. Businesses keep their landline numbers and move them onto a VoIP or cloud phone system.
Is VoIP cheaper than a landline?
It depends on the provider and how many people you have. A cloud phone system is priced per user rather than per line, and needs no line rental. As one example, TISA Cloud PBX is from £4.20 per user a month ex VAT on a 24 month term.
Will VoIP work in a power cut?
Not on its own. An internet based phone service will not work during a power cut or if your broadband is down, and it may not reliably give your location to the emergency services. Keep a mobile available for emergency calls.
Can I keep my landline number if I move to VoIP?
Yes. Landline numbers can be moved to a VoIP provider. It typically takes 7 to 10 working days, on a date you pick, and your current line keeps working until the switch.
Next step
Tell us what lines you have. We will plan the move to VoIP.
More: the 2027 switch-off and TISA Cloud PBX.