UK BUYER’S GUIDE · 4 PRODUCTS
Cloud phone systems
Can we keep our numbers, route callers correctly and maintain a usable service when staff or connectivity change?
Compare UK business calling, routing, manager controls and the AI functions that operate on calls.
YOUR SHORTLIST STARTS HERE
Compare the options.
Highest documented score first. Fit adds up the 20 feature checks below, including AI, across documented plans. Entry prices may exclude scored capabilities. The upper end of a range represents unverified points.
4 of 4 products · Highest documented score first
| Product / good fit for | Pricing context | Documented fit | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
8x8 Work 8x8 Work Multi-location organisations requiring detailed phone administration and collaboration. | Request pricingOrganisation-specific quote VAT basis not stated quote | 75–100/100 documented fit75% evidence coverage | Details ↗ |
Gamma Horizon Gamma Horizon UK organisations seeking partner-supported telephony and familiar business-number workflows. | Request pricingOrganisation-specific quote VAT basis not stated quote | 55–100/100 documented fit55% evidence coverage | Details ↗ |
RingCentral RingEX RingCentral RingEX Distributed teams wanting phone services alongside meetings and connected CRM workflows. | Request pricingOrganisation-specific quote VAT basis not stated quote | 55–100/100 documented fit55% evidence coverage | Details ↗ |
Aircall Aircall Teams whose calling activity needs to appear in CRM or helpdesk workflows. | Request pricingOrganisation-specific quote VAT basis not stated quote | 50–100/100 documented fit50% evidence coverage | Details ↗ |
Prices retain their original currency, billing basis and VAT status. Check the evidence and plan requirements before buying.
| Capability & demo question | 8x8 Work75–100/100 documented fit | Gamma Horizon55–100/100 documented fit | RingCentral RingEX55–100/100 documented fit | Aircall50–100/100 documented fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Core workflowDocumented UK business calling5.0 points availableAsk in the demoPlace and receive a UK business call using the proposed service. | ✓ Supported UK domestic calling plans. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported UK business phone service. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported UK business calling offering. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported UK-market business phone offering. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowDesktop and mobile calling5.0 points availableAsk in the demoMove between desktop and mobile calling with the same business identity. | ✓ Supported Mobile business calling. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Desktop and mobile apps. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Desktop and mobile calling. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Core workflowOpening-hours and call routing5.0 points availableAsk in the demoRoute calls differently inside and outside business hours. | ✓ Supported Forwarding and call routing. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Configurable call routing. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Business hours and routing rules. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Call routing. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowAuto-attendant menus5.0 points availableAsk in the demoBuild a caller menu and test each branch. | ✓ Supported Multi-level auto-attendant. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Auto-attendant menus and greetings. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Core workflowCall queues or ring groups5.0 points availableAsk in the demoCall a busy team and inspect queuing or overflow behaviour. | ✓ Supported Ring groups and queues. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Call queues. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Configurable rotating, simultaneous or sequential queue distribution. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Call queues. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowBusiness voicemail5.0 points availableAsk in the demoLeave a message and retrieve it as the intended user. | ✓ Supported Business voicemail. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Core workflowCalling analytics5.0 points availableAsk in the demoReport call volumes and missed calls for a team. | ✓ Supported Calling analytics. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Business calling insights. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Calling analytics. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Workflow depthExisting-number porting5.0 points availableAsk in the demoShow the documented UK porting process and required information. | ✓ Supported Number porting documented; confirm UK number eligibility. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthCall recording5.0 points availableAsk in the demoRecord a permitted call and retrieve it with an authorised account. | ✓ Supported Recording capabilities. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Call-recording option. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Call recording. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Workflow depthCRM-connected calling5.0 points availableAsk in the demoMatch a caller to a CRM record and log the call. | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported CRM contact matching and click-to-dial. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported CRM-connected communications. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported CRM and helpdesk logging. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Workflow depthMulti-site administration5.0 points availableAsk in the demoManage a second location with separate users and routing. | ✓ Supported Multi-site administration. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Multi-site and user management. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Central location and user administration. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthAdministrative role controls5.0 points availableAsk in the demoGive a local administrator limited rights and test their access. | ✓ Supported Role-based administration. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported User and administrator permissions. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthCall continuity or failover5.0 points availableAsk in the demoMake the primary connection unavailable and demonstrate the fallback route. | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Rerouting for connectivity disruption. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthEmergency calling configuration5.0 points availableAsk in the demoInspect emergency-calling location settings for office and remote users. | ✓ Supported Emergency calling settings. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthLive call supervision5.0 points availableAsk in the demoDemonstrate authorised monitoring, whisper or supervisor intervention. | ✓ Supported Call supervision. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Call monitoring. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Workflow depthMicrosoft Teams voice connection5.0 points availableAsk in the demoShow the documented Teams calling connection and licensing dependency. | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Teams voice connection offered. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthRecording retention controls5.0 points availableAsk in the demoSet a recording retention rule and inspect the deletion or export process. | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
AIAI call transcription5.0 points availableAsk in the demoTranscribe a permitted live or recorded call and check its accuracy. | ✓ Supported AI transcription. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Real-time transcription with Webex. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported AI call transcription. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported AI transcription. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
AIAI caller handling5.0 points availableAsk in the demoHave an AI voice agent handle an enquiry and hand over to a person. | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported AI Receptionist is an additional offering. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Voice agents with human handover. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
AIAI call insights or coaching5.0 points availableAsk in the demoInspect an AI-generated call insight and trace it to the conversation. | ✓ Supported Conversation IQ insights. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not verified in the reviewed official material; ask for a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Conversation intelligence options. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Sentiment, topics and coaching. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
“Not verified” means the recorded evidence does not settle this specific check. It does not mean the feature is absent. Read the scoring method.
Focus on up to three products →ASK BETTER QUESTIONS
Before you buy cloud phone systems software.
What to look for
- Test your published numbers, opening hours, overflow and a real number-porting plan.
- Demonstrate a broadband outage and document how callers reach the team.
- Check recording access, retention, emergency-location setup and AI consent arrangements.
What changes the cost
- User licences, handset rental, numbers and contract length.
- Domestic versus international calling and premium destinations.
- Recording storage, contact-centre modules, AI minutes and migration services.
What to watch out for
- A US messaging feature is not proof of UK SMS support.
- A mobile app does not establish resilience when the office loses power.
- Contact-centre and AI receptionist features may be separate subscriptions.
Common questions
Is the UK PSTN switch-off still described as 2025?
Do not use that old deadline. Current Government guidance expects most migrations by the end of January 2027; your provider should confirm your own schedule.
Will every old device work through VoIP?
Do not assume so. Identify analogue-connected equipment and confirm compatibility with its supplier and the communications provider.
Does AI transcription include every call?
Eligibility, language, recording configuration and usage allowances vary. Test the proposed UK plan and obtain the limits.