Home phone service providers in 2021
You may think traditional landlines are obsolete, but they offer several advantages. In most cases, home phone service still operates if there is a power outage, and you have a backup in case your cell phone breaks or gets lost.
Roughly 40% of American households still have landline home phone service, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.
Shopping for home telephone service? Keep reading for our comprehensive overview, including the best landline providers plus a look at popular call features.
Community Phone: $22 per month
Ooma: $12 per month
AT&T: $30 per month
Spectrum: Between $43-123 per month
Verizon FiOS: $30 per month
Xfinity: $30 per month
Cox: $30 per month
Suddenlink: $30 per month
Optimum: $30 per month
Best cheap landline service providers
Community Phone Landline
Community Phone Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited | $22.00 |
Pros
Cons
100% US based customer service.
Works when the power goes out by using a backup battery.
Get a new local number or keep existing.
Five minute set up.
Does not require an internet connection or Wifi to function.
30 day money back guarantee.
Spam call protection, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID included.
No contracts, always month to month.
Community Phone landline
Package | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
Community Phone Unlimited landline service | Unlimited | $22 |
Ooma Landline
Ooma Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Unlimited | $11.99 |
Pros
Cons
Ooma landline
Package | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
Ooma Home Phone | Unlimited | $11.99 |
Best landline phone service
There's a wide range of providers to choose from for your landline service. Here are some of our favorite contenders for best home phone service:
AT&T Landline
AT&T Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Phone Unlimited | Unlimited | $30.00 |
AT&T Landline & Internet Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Phone + Internet | 100 Mbps | Unlimited | $79.99 |
AT&T Triple Play Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet + Entertainment + Phone | 100 Mbps | 65 Channels | Unlimited | $134.98 |
Internet + Choice + Phone | 100 Mbps | 90 Channels | Unlimited | $149.99 |
Internet + Ultimate + Phone | 100 Mbps | 130 Channels | Unlimited | $159.99 |
Pros
Flexible bundling options
Quickly expanding fiber network
DSL service available
Extensive rural availability
Cons
Data caps on some plans
Contract required for best deals
Fiber optic availability
30,000+ Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide
Flexible options for bundles
AT&T Smart Wi-Fi - Stay connected room to room
Combine your services with phone, TV and Internet bundles
Availability in some rural areas
24/7 Technical support
Customer service available 8am to 7pm local time
AT&T home phone
Package | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
AT&T Phone Unlimited | Unlimited | $30 |
The wireless giant also offers traditional landlines for its residential customers. AT&T home phone service is available as a standalone or bundled with internet services and/or TV.
Spectrum Landline
Spectrum Landline & Internet Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet + Voice | 400 Mbps | Unlimited | $42.98 |
Spectrum Triple Play Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Triple Play Select | 400 Mbps | 125 Channels | Unlimited | $72.97 |
Triple Play Silver | 400 Mbps | 175 Channels | Unlimited | $102.97 |
Triple Play Gold | 400 Mbps | 200 Channels | Unlimited | $122.97 |
Pros
Fast speeds
No contracts
No data caps
One-hour installation appointment window
Plenty of bundles
Cons
Negative customer service reputation
No fiber option
High speed wireless network away from home with wi-fi hotspots
24/7 Tech support
30 Day Money Back Guarantee
Unlimited download available
No contract required
Spectrum home phone
Available in 44 states, this Charter Communications brand provides home phone service either by itself or as a package with cable TV, internet, and mobile phone service. Spectrum landlines come with no contracts and their phone plans include very affordable international calls.
Verizon FiOS Landline
Verizon FiOS Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fios Digital Voice | Unlimited | $29.99 |
Verizon FiOS Landline & Internet Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet 200 + Digital Voice | 200 Mbps | Unlimited | $59.99 |
Verizon FiOS Triple Play Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Your Fios TV + Internet 200 + Digital Voice | 200 Mbps | 125 Channels | Unlimited | $109.99 |
More Fios TV + Internet 200 + Digital Voice | 200 Mbps | 300 Channels | Unlimited | $129.99 |
The Most Fios TV + Internet 200 + Digital Voice | 200 Mbps | 425 Channels | Unlimited | $149.99 |
Pros
100% fiber network
Speed options up to Gigabit
Equal upload and download speeds
No contracts
Good customer service reputation
Cons
Limited availability
Fees can add up
Service is run on 100% fiber optic network
No annual contracts
Plans with speeds up to Gigabit
Reliable service
Fast upload and download speeds
Live online chat support
24/7 Facebook messenger support
Verizon Fios home phone
Package | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
Verizon FiOS Fios Digital Voice | Unlimited | $29.99 |
Known for its excellence in wireless service, Verizon provides landlines via its fiber optics network. Options include per-minute rates and an unlimited plan for long-distance and local calls.
Xfinity Landline
Xfinity Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Voice | Unlimited | $30.00 |
Xfinity Triple Play Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Peformance Pro Internet + Extra TV + Voice | 200 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $90.00 |
Blast! Internet + Extra TV + Voice | 400 Mbps | 125 Channels | Unlimited | $90.00 |
Peformance Pro Internet + Preferred TV + Voice | 200 Mbps | 220 Channels | Unlimited | $100.00 |
Extreme Pro Internet + Extra TV + Voice | 800 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $100.00 |
Blast! Internet + Preferred TV + Voice | 400 Mbps | 200 Channels | Unlimited | $110.00 |
Gigabit Speed + Extra TV + Voice | 1200 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $110.00 |
Extreme Pro Internet + Preferred TV + Voice | 800 Mbps | 220 Channels | Unlimited | $120.00 |
Gigabit Speed + Preferred TV + Voice | 1200 Mbps | 220 Channels | Unlimited | $130.00 |
Pros
Lightning fast options
Multiple speed choices
Large bundle selection
Contract and no-contract options
Widespread availability
Hotspot access away from home
Cons
Less than stellar customer service ratings
Known for its occasional outages
Good variety of bundles available
No-cost equipment upgrades
Advanced Security to block online threats
30 Day money back guarantee
24/7 support
4K streaming device available
Xfinity home phone
Package | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
Xfinity Voice | Unlimited | $30 |
Comcast Xfinity phone service uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology to deliver digital voice services at home. No phone jacks required, and your home calling plan is available on the go via mobile app. Xfinity offers TV and high-speed internet bundles and has good value international call rates.
Cox Landline
Cox Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Voice Preferred | Unlimited | $29.99 |
Cox Landline & Internet Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet Essential 50 + Voice | 50 Mbps | Unlimited | $59.99 | |
Internet Preferred 150 + Voice | 150 Mbps | Unlimited | $79.99 | |
Internet Ultimate 500 + Voice | 500 Mbps | Unlimited | $99.99 | |
Internet Gigablast + Voice | 940 Mbps | Unlimited | $119.99 |
Cox Triple Play Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet Essential 50 + Contour TV Preferred + Voice | 50 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $149.99 |
Internet Preferred 150 + Contour TV Preferred + Voice | 150 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $169.99 |
Internet Ultimate 500 + Contour TV Preferred + Voice | 500 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $189.99 |
Internet Gigablast + Contour TV Preferred + Voice | 940 Mbps | 140 Channels | Unlimited | $209.99 |
Pros
Wide range of speed options
Panoramic wi-fi to cover weak spots
Hotspot access away from home
No commitment required
Cons
Available in limited number of states
Slow upload speeds on some plans
30 day money back guarantee
1 Gigabit connection available
65,000+ wifi hotspots nationwide
Panoramic wi-fi to cover the whole house
24/7 tech support
Customer service - Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm
Cox home phone
Package | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
Cox Voice Preferred | Unlimited | $29.99 |
Cox delivers home phone service via its digital IP-based network. No internet is required, however, you can bundle with cable TV, broadband, and/or home automation, security, and medical alert monitoring if you want.
Suddenlink Landline
Suddenlink Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Phone | Unlimited | $29.95 |
Suddenlink Landline & Internet Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet 200 and Phone | 200 Mbps | Unlimited | $40.00 | |
Internet 400 and Phone | 400 Mbps | Unlimited | $45.00 | |
Internet 1 Gig and Phone | 940 Mbps | Unlimited | $55.00 |
Suddenlink Triple Play Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet 200, Core TV and Phone | 200 Mbps | 200 Channels | Unlimited | $60.00 |
Internet 400, Core TV and Phone | 400 Mbps | 200 Channels | Unlimited | $65.00 |
Internet 1 Gig, Core TV and Phone | 940 Mbps | 200 Channels | Unlimited | $75.00 |
Pros
Fast speeds
High speed internet options in rural areas
Price for life options
Competitive pricing
Unlimted data available
No contracts
Cons
Fees
Some plans increase afer a year
Low data caps
Charge for going over limit
No contracts
30 day money back guarantee
Fast download speeds
Low competitive prices
Fast fiber speed - where available
Online virtual tech support
No credit check required
Suddenlink home phone
Package | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
Suddenlink Phone | Unlimited | $29.95 |
This landline provider can hook you up through your existing phone jacks. Suddenlink phone service is available by itself or bundled with high-speed internet and TV. They also offer mobile phone service.
Optimum Landline
Optimum Landline Plans
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Phone | Unlimited | $29.99 |
Optimum Landline & Internet Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet 300 + Home Phone | 300 Mbps | Unlimited | $49.99 |
Optimum Triple Play Bundles
Package | Internet | TV | Phone | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Internet 300 + Core TV + Phone | 300 Mbps | 220 Channels | Unlimited | $124.98 |
Internet 300 + Select TV + Phone | 300 Mbps | 340 Channels | Unlimited | $139.98 |
Internet 300 + Premier TV + Phone | 300 Mbps | 420 Channels | Unlimited | $159.98 |
Pros
No data cap
No contracts
Price for life option
Speed choices up to Gigabit
Access to over 2 million hotspots
Cons
Services only a few states
Limited plan selection
Wi-Fi hotspots access
Free virus and malware detection from McAfee
No contract required
Smart Router included
Good range of plans to choose from
No data caps
Customer support available Monday to Sunday 8am to 6pm
Optimum home phone
Package | Phone Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
Optimum Phone | Unlimited | $29.99 |
Suddenlink and Optimum are both owned by Altice, and offer the same options for home phone service along with the other services you expect in a package. You can also manage your landline from your mobile.
Landline providers by ZIP code
Landline phone service benefits
Analog phone service provides some surprising benefits:
Better call quality: A hardwired connection typically gives you crystal clear call quality and no dropped calls.
More accurate location in case of emergency: A home landline automatically provides 911 dispatchers with your address. This makes it much simpler for them to find you, even if you can't talk.
International call rates: International calls can be cheaper via a landline. This is especially true when people in other countries call you because it's more expensive to call mobile phones in many countries.
Home security system compatibility: Some home security systems communicate with your security provider and emergency services via your landline.
Bundled services for more savings: You're probably familiar with the promotional offers available from high-speed internet and cable TV service providers. Bundling your home telephone with your TV and internet services can be even cheaper than purchasing just the cable and broadband alone.
Best home phone plans
Provider | Minutes | Monthly Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ooma | Unlimited | $11.99 |
| Community Phone | Unlimited | $22.00 |
| Suddenlink | Unlimited | $29.95 |
| Optimum | Unlimited | $29.99 |
 Armstrong | Unlimited | $29.99 |
| Verizon FiOS | Unlimited | $29.99 |
 Mediacom | Unlimited | $29.99 |
| Cox | Unlimited | $29.99 |
| AT&T | Unlimited | $30.00 |
| Xfinity | Unlimited | $30.00 |
Home phone and internet bundles
One of the most effective ways to save on monthly fees for your landline is by bundling. You can get a better price by shopping for TV, internet and phone bundle deals. Some, like Xfinity, also offer service for your mobile phones in their plans. Other options include home security systems and smart-home automation integration.
Cheap landline phone service for seniors
It's vital for senior citizens to have a reliable connection in case of an emergency. Some phone service providers, like AT&T, offer specific discounts to older people. Be sure to ask because not every phone company advertises their senior discounts on phone service.
It's also a good idea to ask about AARP discounts on landline service. AARP works with a range of companies to give seniors a better deal on their essential communications needs.
Home phone service features
Another major consideration in your choice of home phone service should be the features the providers offers. These days there is a large selection of popular calling features that prove useful in everyday life:
Caller ID: This is a given, and almost every provider offers it.
Call waiting with caller ID: Find out who's calling before interrupting your current call.
Three-way calling: This is helpful for group conversations with family and friends, or for work conference calls.
Speed dial: Allows you to enter phone numbers in an instant, even if you don't have them memorized.
Call forwarding: Have calls routed to your cell phone or another landline so you never miss an important call.
Call return: Commonly known as *69, allows you to dial back the last number that phoned you.
Call blocking: Automatically reject unwanted incoming calls from specific numbers.
Anonymous call blocking: Rejects calls with no caller ID information.
Distinctive rings: Know who's calling just by the sound of the ring.
Landline texting: Some providers, like Xfinity, allow you to text from your home landline.
Voicemail to text transcription: This feature isn't available from all providers, however, a few - like AT&T - give you the option to have your voicemails sent to email in text format.
International calling
If you frequently call outside of the United States you'll want to look at each provider's international call plans to make sure they have the features you need for the countries you call the most.
Per-minute rate vs. international call plan: You can typically get a plan that gives you either free calling to a set of countries or reduced rates on all your calls. For less frequent users, a by-the-minute rate might be more practical.
Additional fees: Did you know it can cost more to call an international cell phone number than a landline? Make sure you know the terms and conditions of the countries you call before choosing a plan.
Unlimited calling to some countries: Providers like Spectrum, for example, give you unlimited calling to Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico with their standard landline plans.
Cheap landline alternatives
Sold on the idea of mobile phones and the internet completely replacing landline service? No problem - there are plenty of options for using your existing services as a substitute for traditional home phone service.
Cheap cell phone plans
Cheap cell phone service keeps you connected, gives you all the features you love from the big guys, and keeps you on the major wireless networks. All this at a fraction of the cost you're used to and without the added expense of a landline.
MVNOs - Mobile Virtual Network Operators - are smaller cell phone providers that run on the big four nationwide wireless networks. They sell their service for up to 50% less because they don't have the high overhead costs of the big guys. They also offer everything you're accustomed to - from unlimited data to mobile hotspot usage.
Compare prepaid cell phone plans
Carrier | Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 1GB | $7.50** 25% Off for 6 Months | |
AT&T | Unltd | Unltd | 2GB | $15** 25% Off for 3 Months | |
T-Mobile & Verizon | Unltd | Unltd | Unltd | $25** $20 Off for 3 Months | |
T-Mobile | Unltd | Unltd | 10GB | $20** $60 for 3 Months Service | |
AT&T | Unltd | Unltd | 6GB | $22.50** 25% Off for 3 Months |
Residential VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol - or VoIP - is another affordable option for landline substitution. VoIP allows you to make calls using your internet connection instead of the phone line. Benefits of VoIP technology include:
It's much cheaper: VoIP providers aren't bound to all of the fees and charges traditional phone companies must pay. You'll typically pay a low monthly fee.
Get the same features: VoIP services usually includes the things you're used to - caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, etc. - at no extra charge.
Flexibility: You can make VoIP calls no matter where you are, as long as you have access to an internet connection.
International calls: International call rates are very low to free with VoIP home. You can typically buy a monthly plan, or pay a very affordable per minute rate, depending on the countries you need to call.
Get a phone number anywhere: Another useful VoIP feature is the ability to choose your area code. This allows you to turn long-distance calls into local phone service.
The best home VoIP service providers include:
Ooma: Very affordable monthly rate, works with your regular home phone, keep your current phone number.
Vonage: Reasonably priced, features domestic and international calling plans, works on your cell phone or home phone, keep your own telephone number.
Grasshopper: Ideal for small business owners, up to six extensions, works on mobile or home phone, a bit pricier because it's geared toward commercial use.
Landline providers FAQs
What is a landline?
A landline is a home phone that's connected to a wire or fiber optic cable to transmit audio data.
How much is a landline per month?
It depends on the home phone provider. A cable landline deal can start at around $9.99 and a DSL/fiber landline starts from around $19.99.
What companies still offer landlines?
Most companies still offer landline services, including Verizon, Xfinity, AT&T, Cox, Optimum, Suddenlink, Centurylink, and more.
Is there any reason to keep a landline phone?
A landline phone can be helpful if you lose your cell phone, or if anything causes the cell towers to be blocked in emergency situations like a hurricane.
Recap
By now you should have a good idea of whether or not landline home phone service is right for you. Review the benefits of landlines, find the best phone service providers by ZIP code in your area, and check out their home phone features.
Don't forget to take into account whether you just need local phone service, international call rates, or are also looking for cheap cable and internet packages as well.
Finally, take into consideration landline alternatives like cheap cell phone plans and VoIP service providers. These options may just make it more affordable and sensible to replace your landline altogether.
