How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Traditional copper landlines are shrinking fast, so most 2026 "landline" service is VoIP over internet or cellular home phone over a mobile network.
- Ooma Telo is the cheapest credible home replacement: buy the device once, then pay only taxes and fees of about 4 to 8 dollars a month on Basic.
- Community Phone at 39.99 dollars a month suits homes without reliable internet, since it runs on a cellular network and keeps working during internet outages.
- Vonage for Home at 9.99 dollars a month before taxes is the simple VoIP pick, with a real monthly cost of about 15 to 20 dollars after taxes depending on state.
Quick comparison
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
The best landline phone service
Starting price$9.99 per month
Free planNo
Ooma Telo is the cheapest credible home landline replacement. The Telo box connects your existing home phones to your internet, and after a one time device cost of about 99.99 dollars, the Basic plan bills only applicable taxes and fees, roughly 4 to 8 dollars a month in published comparisons, with 911 service and voicemail included. Premier at 9.99 dollars a month adds call blocking, a second line and mobile app calling.
The catch is dependence on internet and power: an outage that kills your router kills the phone too, unless you add battery backup. For a home with reliable internet that wants a real landline feel at the lowest ongoing cost, Ooma Telo is the pick.
What we like- Basic plan costs only taxes and fees after a one time device purchase
- Works with existing analog phones
- 911 service and voicemail included
Watch out for- Needs internet and power to work
- Premier at 9.99 dollars a month for call blocking and second line
- Hardware costs about 99.99 dollars
Starting price$9.99 per month
Free planNo
Vonage for Home is the simple VoIP pick, with plans from 9.99 to 14.99 dollars a month before taxes and fees, month to month or annual terms, and a 30 day money back guarantee. The Vonage Box is included in some plans, and setup is straightforward for a home that already has broadband.
The real monthly cost typically runs 15 to 20 dollars after taxes depending on state, and add on features cost extra on lower tiers. For a home that wants a mainstream VoIP brand with a money back guarantee, Vonage is the pick.
What we like- Simple month to month or annual plans
- 30 day money back guarantee
- Vonage Box included in some plans
Watch out for- Real cost runs 15 to 20 dollars a month after taxes
- North America plans start at 9.99 dollars before taxes
- Add on features cost extra
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Spectrum Voice suits homes already on Spectrum internet or TV, where adding voice to the bundle is simpler than managing a separate provider. Carrier support and number porting are familiar, and the service integrates with the existing Spectrum account.
It needs a Spectrum subscription to activate, pricing varies by bundle and region so no single national price applies, and as VoIP it depends on internet and power. For a Spectrum household that wants one bill, Spectrum Voice is the convenient pick.
What we like- Bundles with Spectrum internet and TV
- Familiar carrier support
- Number porting supported
Watch out for- Needs a Spectrum subscription to activate
- Pricing varies by bundle and region
- VoIP depends on internet and power
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
AT&T Phone remains an option for homes in AT&T service areas, with bundle options across wireless and internet and established 911 and support infrastructure. For a household that prefers a traditional carrier name and already uses AT&T services, adding phone service keeps billing simple.
Copper availability is shrinking by area, pricing varies by region and bundle, and some areas are migrating customers to VoIP or wireless alternatives. Check availability for your exact address before assuming traditional landline service is offered there.
What we like- Traditional carrier with wide availability
- Bundle options with wireless and internet
- Established 911 and support infrastructure
Watch out for- Copper availability is shrinking by area
- Pricing varies by region and bundle
- Some areas are migrating to VoIP or wireless alternatives
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Xfinity Voice suits homes already on Xfinity internet, where adding voice to the bundle is easy and support runs through the same account. Voicemail, caller ID and call features are included, and app tools help manage calls and voicemail from a phone.
It needs an Xfinity subscription, pricing varies by bundle and region, and as VoIP it depends on internet and power. For an Xfinity household that wants one provider, Xfinity Voice is the convenient pick.
What we like- Bundles with Xfinity internet
- Voicemail, caller ID and call features included
- Xfinity support and app tools
Watch out for- Needs an Xfinity subscription
- Pricing varies by bundle
- VoIP depends on internet and power
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Cox Voice suits homes already on Cox cable, where adding voice keeps one bill and one support number. Number porting is supported, and the service works with existing home wiring in many installs.
It needs a Cox subscription, and cellular alternatives like Community Phone beat cable VoIP on outage resilience since they do not depend on the cable network. For a Cox household that wants a bundled phone, Cox Voice is the convenient pick.
What we like- Bundles with Cox internet and TV
- Number porting supported
- Carrier support in Cox areas
Watch out for- Needs a Cox subscription
- Cellular alternatives may beat it on outage resilience
- Pricing varies by bundle
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
MagicJack is the budget adapter pick: a small device connects an existing phone to the internet for low cost calling, with simple setup for basic home use. For a home that needs a second line or a very cheap basic phone, the adapter approach keeps upfront cost low.
The feature set is thinner than Ooma or Vonage, it needs internet and power like all VoIP, and pricing and renewal terms vary, so confirm the current annual cost before buying. For a bare bones budget line, MagicJack is worth checking.
What we like- Low cost adapter approach
- Works with existing phones
- Simple setup for basic calling
Watch out for- Needs internet and power
- Feature set is thinner than Ooma or Vonage
- Pricing and renewal terms vary
How we chose
We compared published prices, hardware costs, network type and outage behavior from vendor pages and independent comparisons checked in 2026, and we weighed ongoing monthly cost, bundle requirements, number porting, 911 service and power dependence. We listed prices as See website where pricing varies by bundle and region rather than inventing a national figure. No tool was credited with hands-on testing, and no call quality scores or awards were invented for this guide.
What to check before you pick
First, decide which network you trust in an outage. Copper lines with their own power historically survived outages best, but copper is shrinking. VoIP dies with your internet and power, so add a battery backup for your router if you choose Ooma, Vonage or a cable voice plan. Cellular home phone survives internet outages but needs cell signal and power for the base unit, so test signal at the exact spot the base will sit.
Second, register 911 correctly. VoIP and cellular home phones route 911 based on the address you register, not on a physical line location, so update the registered address if you move the device, and test that emergency services receive the right address. Finally, compare the real monthly cost, not the headline price: Ooma Basic is taxes only after hardware, Vonage runs 15 to 20 dollars after taxes, and Community Phone is a flat 39.99 dollars, so the cheapest headline is not always the cheapest year one total once hardware is counted. Also confirm contract terms before signing: month to month plans cost more per month but let you leave if service disappoints, while annual plans lock a lower rate but may charge early termination fees, so read the fine print on renewals and price rises after any promotional period ends.
Frequently asked questions
Is a traditional copper landline still available?
In some areas yes, but availability is shrinking as carriers retire copper and migrate customers to VoIP or wireless alternatives. Check with the carrier for your exact address, and expect a VoIP or cellular home phone to be the offered replacement in many areas.
What is the cheapest landline replacement?
Ooma Telo Basic, at about 4 to 8 dollars a month in taxes and fees after a one time device purchase of about 99.99 dollars. Year one totals about 150 to 200 dollars, still below most monthly plans.
Does a VoIP home phone work during a power outage?
No, unless you add battery backup for your router and the phone base, since VoIP needs both internet and power. Cellular home phone survives internet outages but still needs power for its base unit.
Can I keep my phone number when switching?
Yes, number porting is supported by Ooma, Community Phone, Vonage and the cable carriers here. Do not cancel the old service before the port completes, or you may lose the number.
Do I need internet for a landline replacement?
Not for cellular home phone like Community Phone, which runs on a mobile network. VoIP options like Ooma, Vonage and cable voice all need broadband internet.
Is 911 reliable on VoIP home phone?
Yes when the registered address is correct, since 911 routing uses that address. Update the address if you move the device, and confirm 911 service is included in the plan before relying on it.
Sources we checked (4)
- https://technologyadvice.com/blog/voip/ooma-alternatives/
- https://www.moneysavingpro.com/landline/guides/alternatives-to-cox-landline/
- https://www.topconsumerreviews.com/best-voip-programs/compare/ooma-vs-vonage.php
- https://www.bestvoipprovider.com/providers/ooma.html
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.
Ooma Telo
Community Phone
Vonage for Home
Spectrum Voice
AT&T Phone
Xfinity Voice
Cox Voice
MagicJack