Alternatives to 4Com, honestly.
If you're looking for an alternative to 4Com / HiHi — usually because of the long contracts, the separate handset lease, or the total cost — here's an honest shortlist of what else is out there, and who each option really suits.
Providers are compared on what each publishes: list prices and the conditions attached to them, minimum terms and mid-contract rises, what the price includes (calls, set-up, porting, support hours), UK-based support, and whether failover is offered. Telexico’s own entries are our list prices. Where a provider has changed its terms since the date shown, the published source wins; tell us and we will correct it.
Compiled and reviewed by Mickey Mall, Director, Telexico Communications Ltd, Wolverhampton. Updated October 2026.
Why businesses look for alternatives to 4Com.
Most people searching for a 4Com alternative aren't unhappy with the HiHi device itself — it's a capable phone. They're reacting to the structure of the deal: independent reviews and a 2025 BBC investigation report long fixed terms, with the handset frequently financed on a separate lease (commonly reported as up to seven years).
The other common triggers are mid-contract price rises, reports of high-pressure sales, and the realisation that the handset is proprietary — so you're tied to one ecosystem.
The good news: there are strong alternatives at every level, from cheap self-service VoIP to fully managed local providers. The right one depends on whether you want it done for you or you're happy to self-serve.
The main alternatives to 4Com in 2026.
An honest shortlist — each suits a different kind of business. We've put our own recommendation first and said plainly who the others are for.
Telexico — managed & local
Our pick for most former 4Com customers: a fully managed phone system with no separate handset lease, transparent from £12.99/user all-in, no mid-contract rises, and a named Wolverhampton engineer. Standard handsets you're not locked to.
Gamma Horizon (via a good partner)
A reliable hosted platform if you find a responsive reseller — though, like 4Com, you're dealing through a partner. Suits those who want a managed platform and have a partner they trust.
RingCentral / 8x8
Enterprise cloud platforms with deep features and contact-centre tools. Best for larger or international operations, less so for a typical SME wanting simplicity.
bOnline / Yay.com
Cheap, self-service VoIP for micro businesses happy to set it up themselves. Great on price, but no on-site install or local support.
3CX (self-hosted)
A software PBX that's cheap at scale if you have IT to run it — or a partner like Telexico to manage it for you.
Why Telexico is the alternative most 4Com customers want.
For most 4Com customers, the appeal of Telexico is simple: everything 4Com does, without the parts people complain about. No separate seven-year handset lease. No proprietary device you're locked to. No mid-contract price rises. Transparent pricing you can see upfront.
You still get a fully managed, installed-for-you phone system — but supported by a named Wolverhampton engineer rather than a national sales operation, and you can add broadband, WiFi, CCTV and an AI receptionist on the same bill whenever you want.
What it might cost — 5 vs 10 users.
Illustrative monthly figures to show the shape of the difference, not a quote. Confirm current prices with each provider — competitor pricing changes and some isn't publicly listed. Telexico figures are typical all-in ranges; your quote depends on users, features and term.
| Scenario | Competitor (illustrative) | Telexico (illustrative, all-in) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 users | 4Com: quote-based; reviews report bundled service + handset-lease totals in the hundreds/month, handset on a separate long term. | from £90/month all-in, no separate lease |
| 10 users | 4Com: ask for the service term and handset finance term as two separate figures. | from £170/month all-in |
4Com pricing isn't public and is quoted case-by-case. The Telexico figure is all-in with no separate handset finance.
Moving from 4Com to Telexico.
We project-manage the whole switch. Here's exactly how the four things people worry about are handled.
Number porting
We port your existing numbers across to Telexico — they stay exactly the same. We submit the porting request, manage the dates, and keep your 4Com service live until the port completes.
Downtime
None, done properly. We build and test your new system alongside your existing 4Com service and only cut over once it's proven. Most switches complete in 7–14 working days.
Existing handsets
4Com's HiHi is proprietary and generally can't be reused — but you're usually better off on standard SIP handsets you're not locked to, which we supply.
Contract exit
4Com terms are commonly long, with the handset sometimes on a separate finance lease that must be settled to exit. We check your end date first and tell you honestly whether to move now or wait — we won't push an exit that costs more than it saves.
Businesses switching to Telexico near you.
We're Wolverhampton-based with engineers across the West Midlands — and we serve businesses nationwide. Switching is the same wherever you are: numbers kept, a clean cutover, a named UK contact after.
The services behind the comparison.
Everything we'd put in front of you instead — designed, installed and supported by a UK team.
Phone systems
Connectivity
AI & more
Compare it properly, with no hard sell.
Send us your current setup and bill. We'll review what you have, what you pay, and where we can simplify or improve it — and tell you honestly if you're better off where you are.
What 4Com’s published terms say.
Quoted or closely paraphrased from 4Com’s own terms, prices and published pages on the dates shown, with a link under each point. Clauses change: read the version attached to your own order before relying on anything here.
Who owns it
4Com Technologies Ltd was bought by Daisy Group in September 2024 for £215m and its registered office moved to Virgin Media O2’s Reading address in August 2025; 4Com and HiHi now sit within O2 Business. The support team is in Bournemouth.
SourceRenewal and notice
Under the Master Service Agreement (v7.0) the contract “shall automatically renew for an additional 12 months” unless written notice is given “no later than 90 days before the expiry” of the minimum term; micro and small businesses are capped at 24 months and then need 30 days’ notice.
SourceEquipment on a separate lease
The same agreement says terminal equipment “may be supplied subject to a separate leasing agreement”, that the customer remains liable “for the remainder of the equipment leasing term”, and 4Com’s Code of Conduct describes it acting “as an introducer to financial intermediaries”. The lease length and funder are not published.
SourceThe annual rise
Clause 3.4 provides an annual increase each April in line with the Retail Prices Index; for small-business contracts from 1 January 2025 a fixed “Price Increase Sum” is written on the order instead.
SourcePublished prices and fees
None for the service: “our business phone systems have no fixed price”. The published charges are ancillary: £99 per number to migrate numbers away, late-payment fees of £40 to £100, router non-return £100 to £150.
SourceReviews and press
Trustpilot “4Com”: 3.7 out of 5 from 3,685 reviews; “HiHi Ltd” 4.6 from 3,185. In November 2025 the BBC reported two small businesses disputing the length and cost of their agreements; 4Com said it had “seen no evidence that they were misled”.
SourceThe notice window is the whole game.
Two documents matter: the service agreement (90 days’ written notice before the end of the minimum term, or it renews for 12 months) and any equipment lease, which may run to a different date with a different company. Ask 4Com in writing for both end dates and the settlement figure on the lease. Then tell us the dates; we plan the port for the service end date and the handsets are standard SIP phones you are not locked to.
Tell us your end date →Months away? The date goes into the director’s diary and we come back before the window closes, with a written quote to compare against the renewal.
Four things that are the same on every Telexico agreement.
Rolling 30-day terms, or 12 months where handsets are included; the term and the notice period are written on the first page of the proposal. There is no automatic renewal clause: when a term ends you stay on 30-day rolling, nothing re-ties you for another year.
The per-user price you sign is the price for the term. There is no April uplift clause in a Telexico agreement.
Numbers port across on an agreed date, the new system runs alongside the old one until it is tested, and nothing is switched off early.
A named engineer and account manager from Wolverhampton, a WhatsApp group for your team, and a UK phone line answered by people who know your sites.
Trustpilot score shown for 4Com: 3.7 out of 5 from 3,685 reviews on 14 October 2026 (Trustpilot). Telexico is a competitor; judge the points above on the documents linked, not on us.
Frequently asked questions
What's the best alternative to 4Com?
It depends on what you want. For most former 4Com customers who want it managed and installed but without the long handset lease and proprietary device, a local managed provider like Telexico fits best. For the cheapest DIY option, bOnline or Yay.com; for enterprise scale, RingCentral or 8x8; for self-hosted control, 3CX.
Why do people leave 4Com?
Mainly the deal structure: independent reviews and a 2025 BBC investigation report long fixed contracts, a separate handset finance lease (often reported up to seven years), mid-contract price rises and some high-pressure sales. The HiHi device itself is generally well regarded.
Can I leave 4Com mid-contract?
It depends on your remaining term and whether the handset is on a separate finance lease that needs settling. Telexico will review your paperwork and tell you honestly whether moving now pays off or whether to wait.
Is there a cheaper alternative to 4Com?
Yes — self-service providers like bOnline and Yay.com are cheaper on headline price for DIY micro setups. Telexico costs more than bare DIY because install and support are included, but is typically far better value than a long 4Com handset-lease package over the term.
Will I keep my number leaving 4Com?
Yes — any reputable alternative ports your existing numbers. Telexico handles the port and keeps your old service live until the new one is proven, so disruption is kept to a minimum.
Do I have to use a proprietary handset like HiHi?
No. Most alternatives, including Telexico, use standard SIP handsets (or app-only) that you're not locked to — unlike 4Com's proprietary HiHi.