VoIP phone system cost. Real 2026 UK pricing, plainly.
No hidden fees. No CPI+3.9% surprise rises. No "enterprise pricing — inquire". Real per-user numbers for UK business VoIP, with everything that's actually included and everything that's extra clearly stated.
Every cost component, plainly.
Per-user monthly: £8-25 typical UK range. Telexico £12. BT around £18. Virgin £17. 4Com £22. Vonage £20. RingCentral £22.
Feature add-ons (charged extra by most providers):
- Call recording: +£3-5/user/month (often quoted as "Pro" or "Plus" tier upgrade)
- Mobile app: +£2-4/user/month (some providers include, most charge separately)
- Microsoft Teams integration: +£3-8/user/month
- Advanced call analytics: +£4-8/user/month
- CRM integration: typically included, occasionally charged
- International call bundles: +£5-20/user/month depending on destinations
One-off costs:
- Standard install: usually included
- Complex IVR menu: £200-500 one-off
- Custom CRM integration: £300-800 one-off
- Multi-site rollout: £200-500 per additional site
- Handsets (optional): £80-200 standard, £300-500 premium
- Headsets: £30-100 each
The CPI+3.9% factor: most major UK telecoms add CPI+3.9% to your monthly bill each year. On a £18/user contract, that's roughly £0.70/user/month increase year 2, then compounds. Over 24 months on 10 users that's an extra £840 you weren't quoted at signup. Telexico contracts lock pricing for the contract term.
24-month total cost comparison.
10 users · standard features (call rec + mobile apps + analytics) · UK calls included · 24 months. Real numbers.
Typical BT Business
Year 1: £25/user/month × 10 × 12 = £3,000
Year 2 (with CPI+3.9%): £3,117
24-month total: £6,117
Plus install: typically included
Typical Virgin Media Business
Year 1: £24/user/month × 10 × 12 = £2,880
Year 2 (with CPI+3.9%): £2,992
24-month total: £5,872
Plus install: typically £200-500
Telexico
Year 1: £12/user/month × 10 × 12 = £1,440
Year 2 (no rise): £1,440
24-month total: £2,880
Saving vs BT: £3,237 over 24 months
For your specific user count and features, use the VoIP cost calculator →
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Frequently asked questions
What does a VoIP phone system cost per user in the UK?
Typical 2026 UK VoIP per-user pricing varies by provider: BT Business around £18/user/month, Virgin Media Business around £17, 4Com around £22, Vonage around £20, RingCentral around £22. Telexico starts at £12/user/month all-inclusive. These are typical published rates; actual quotes vary by volume and contract specifics. The major-provider rates usually include CPI+3.9% annual rises (typically not stated upfront); Telexico contracts don't include mid-contract rises.
What's actually included in the base per-user price?
Varies dramatically by provider. The honest comparison: Telexico's £12/user/month includes hosted PBX, unlimited UK calls + mobiles (fair-use), mobile + desktop apps, basic call recording, web admin, UK support. Major providers often quote a low headline price then charge separately for: call recording (+£4/user/month), mobile apps (+£3/user), Microsoft Teams integration (+£8/user), advanced analytics (+£6/user), international call bundles (variable). Always ask for the all-in price including features your operation actually needs.
Are there install fees?
Typically included for standard installs. Telexico standard install (system setup, user provisioning, number porting, basic IVR configuration) is included in monthly pricing. One-off fees apply for: complex IVR menu builds (£200-500), custom CRM integration (£300-800), multi-site rollouts (£200-500 per additional site), or specific compliance setups. The proposal states one-off fees clearly upfront — no surprises after sign-off.
Do I need to buy handsets?
Optional. Modern VoIP works via desktop and mobile apps without needing physical handsets. Many UK SMEs in 2026 skip handsets entirely. If you want them: £80-200 per standard handset (Yealink, Polycom, Cisco basic models), £300-500 per premium handset (colour screen, sidecar key expansion). Hardware is one-off; you own the handsets. Headsets for desktop app use are typically £30-100. Talk to us about whether you genuinely need handsets — many businesses don't.
What about call costs to mobiles and international?
UK calls to landlines and mobiles are included in Telexico standard pricing (fair-use applies — typically anything under 4000 minutes/user/month is fine). International calls are metered separately at transparent per-minute rates published on your invoice. Premium-rate UK numbers (0845, 0870, etc.) are excluded — these are charged at the destination provider's rate.
How much does AI Receptionist add?
Telexico AI Receptionist is a clear monthly add-on: £150/month standard tier (up to ~200 minutes of AI handling), £300/month Growth tier (up to 500 minutes), £500/month Scale tier (up to 1000 minutes), £1000/month Enterprise tier (up to 2500 minutes). The minutes are AI talk-time, not total call attempts — typical UK SMEs find £150 sufficient. AI typically pays back in 2-4 weeks for service businesses missing 30%+ of inbound calls.
What about Microsoft Teams integration cost?
Microsoft Teams Phone integration adds £3-8/user/month depending on the deployment pattern (Direct Routing vs Operator Connect). This is on top of your standard VoIP per-user cost. Direct Routing is cheaper but more complex to set up; Operator Connect is simpler with slightly higher monthly cost. We recommend the right one based on your Microsoft tenant setup — no markup either way.
Are there contract length commitments?
Standard Telexico business VoIP contracts are 12, 24, or 36 months. Longer commitments get marginally better per-user pricing. The trade-off: longer contract = lower monthly, less flexibility. 24-month is the typical sweet spot for UK SMEs. Notice period is 30 days from contract end (not auto-rolling silently into another full term — explicit renewal required).
What's the total typical 24-month cost for 10 users?
For 10 users on standard Telexico VoIP at £12/user/month with no add-ons: £120/month × 24 = £2,880 total. Add AI Receptionist standard tier: £150/month × 24 = £3,600. Total 24-month: £6,480 all-in. Compare to typical BT business equivalent (~£18/user + £4 call rec + £3 mobile apps = £25/user, plus CPI+3.9% rise year 2): year 1 = £3,000, year 2 = £3,117, total = £6,117 — and that's just the VoIP portion without AI. The VoIP cost calculator gives your specific numbers.
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