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About Rob
Rob has 15+ years experience running price comparison & review websites that empower consumers to find the cheapest cell phone services, cell phone deals, home phone, and internet providers available. He has been published in Forbes, US News, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Inc.
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5G wireless networks, cell phone plans, cell phone deals, MVNOs, internet services, tablets, comparison shopping, money saving, reviewing telecom products & services
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Over 95 million people in the US are staying connected with a home telephone service.
And the good news is there are lots of options that provide a quality landline phone service with plenty of bang for your buck.
Our guide helps to break down different landline phone services, their features, and most importantly the cost. To help you find the best telephone home service for you.
What is the best phone service for home?
The best home telephone service providers
- Download
- Channels
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- Unlimited
- Monthly Price
- $0-2030 Day Risk-Free Trial
Ooma offers landline service with plans starting at $0.
Ooma Landline Plans
Package |
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Phone |
Price |
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Unlimited |
$0.00 |
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Unlimited |
$0.00 |
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Unlimited |
$19.99 |
Upgrade your home telephone service with Ooma and get amazing features like call blocking, 911 alerts, and Amazon Alexa integration at a super low cost.
With Ooma's basic VoIP plan the only cost is a one-off charge for equipment and a low monthly fee. And if you want to keep your existing home phone number, Ooma can transfer it over to your new home phone service with ease.
If that wasn't enough to sweeten the deal then how about their mobile app? You can take those crystal-clear calls on the go without paying extra. As long as you have an internet connection you can make and receive phone calls through the Ooma mobile app.
Advantages of Ooma home phone service
With their home phone services, there are a range of benefits including;
Lower costs: Offering stand-alone home phone plans make their landline service nearly half the price of a landline from a cable provider.
Keep your number: You can easily transfer your number over.
Flexibility: Take your home phone number wherever you go. With your provider's app, you'll be able to make and receive calls through the app.
Clearer voice quality: Operating on high-speed internet or a cell network, the voice quality is crystal clear.
Reliability: As long as you have a good internet connection or cell reception, Ooma home phones are very reliable.
Easy installation: The landlines are easy to set up and install, no need to wait for a technician.
Extra features: Using the internet or cellular network for your home phone service means there are many additional features available. Like three-way calling, video and conference calling, call forward, and lots of flexibility.
Portability: If you move home it's easy to take your home phone service to your new address.
Disadvantages of Ooma
Although there are many benefits to choosing a home phone service with Ooma there are some things we don't like:
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No bundles: If you want to combine your internet and TV service on one bill there are no bundling options.
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Location tracking: Due to the portability it can sometimes be hard to pinpoint a location, which is mostly a concern if you need to call emergency services.
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Home security systems: Some older home security systems that use a landline may need to be updated.
- Download
- Channels
- Calls
- Unlimited
- Monthly Price
- $39Coverage Guarantee - No Internet Required
Community Phone offers landline service with plans starting at $39.
Community Phone Landline Plans
Package |
Internet |
TV |
Phone |
Price |
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Unlimited |
$39.00 |
Enjoy the convenience of having a home phone line without being tied down to one location or paying for unnecessary services.
With Community Phone's wireless telephone service, you can get an affordable and reliable connection that operates using cell towers without needing internet access.
Starting at a low monthly price, their budget-friendly plans mean more cash in your pocket.
Advantages of Community Phone service
Offering a variety of benefits including:
Lower costs: With affordable monthly bills, plus unlimited local and long-distance calls.
No internet required: Powered by cell towers you don't need an internet connection for your home phone provider.
Easy setup: You'll receive a small modem device that you can just plug and go.
Keep your existing number: Easily transfer your current number over.
Works in power outages: With a battery backup in case there's a power outage so you're never without your home phone.
Flexibility: Your home number can be used on your cell phone so you can take your landline where ever you go.
Disadvantages of Community Phone
With plenty of benefits to Community Phone's wireless home phone, there are some things we don't like:
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No bundles: If you want your home phone, internet, and TV on one bill there are no bundling options.
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Home security systems: Some older home security systems use a cable phone line so it may need to be updated.
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Location tracking: The portability can make it hard to pinpoint a location, which is mostly a concern if having to call emergency services.
Compare cheap home phone plans
| Provider | Minutes | Monthly Price |
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Unlimited | $0.00-19.99 |
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Unlimited | $39.00 |
Finding the best home phone service in your area
When choosing a home phone service, there are several important factors to consider in order to ensure that you get the best service for your needs and budget.
Coverage: Home phone providers vary, depending on where you live. So it's important to check coverage and what providers are available in your area. You can do this by checking coverage in your ZIP code.
Features: Before choosing your landline phone package you'll want to know what features you need. Things like call waiting, call forwarding, and voicemail-to-text are not always available or may cost extra.
Cost: How much do you want to spend on your landline service? There are plenty of options available for all budgets and needs.
Customer reviews: Make sure to check out reviews on the provider to see what current customers are saying.
Home phone features & benefits
Home phone service providers offer a number of benefits and calling features. But these can vary depending on the home phone service and the package you choose. Common features include;
Caller ID: Not just a feature for cell phones. You can get caller ID on your landline too.
Call forwarding: You can direct your incoming calls to another device or number.
Three-way calling: This is great for group calls with family or friends.
Call waiting: Be alerted if someone is trying to call you while you're on another call.
Call blocking: Reject or block unwanted calls from unwelcome numbers. It is also referred to as anonymous call rejection and is ideal to avoid telemarketing calls.
Voicemail-to-text transcription: This feature isn't offered with all providers, but some offer the option to have your voice messages sent to your email in text format.
Unlimited calling: If you like spending hours on the phone, some providers offer unlimited calling which can also be unlimited nationwide calling.
International calls: If you've got family and friends abroad check out providers that offer international calling with their plans. With VoIP providers using your existing internet connection long-distance calls may be free or at a lower cost.
Reliable home phone service: With a connection to high-speed internet for VoIP service or a backup battery with Wireless providers like Community Phone you'll have reliable landline service.
Keep your number: You can easily transfer your number over to your new landline phone service.
Traditional home phone service: Old-school landline providers like Verizon, Frontier, and AT&T landlines don't offer stand-alone home phone plans anymore so you'll have to bundle with the internet.
Bundles: If you want an internet connection and TV with traditional landline phone service providers like AT&T home phone you can add internet and cable tv service to your home phone package.
Cheap landline phone service: Wireless and VoIP phone services offer the cheapest landline service deals. VoIP providers like Ooma offer their basic service plan for free.
Traditional landline telephone service
If you prefer the comfort and reliability of traditional home phone services, you may be considering one of the big cable companies like AT&T, Spectrum, Verizon, or Frontier.
However, it's important to note that due to the declining use of wired landlines, these companies no longer offer standalone landline services.
So, if you choose this option, you'll have to bundle your home phone with internet service, and these packages can start from around $65 plus.
Home telephone service FAQs
Which telephone service is best for home?
The best is personal to your needs and budget. But home phone provider Ooma offers their basic plan free, with just a one-off cost for equipment and monthly taxes and fees required. So if cost is a big thing then this could be a great option.
What's the cheapest way to get telephone service at home?
The cheapest way to get home phone service is with landline providers like Ooma and Community Phone who offer standalone home phone plans. Cable companies require you to bundle with the internet and their plans can start anywhere from $65.
Is there a reason to have a home phone service anymore?
Home phone service has changed over recent years and over 95 million people in the US still like the reliability of a home phone. A landline can be more flexible than it used to be with internet and cell phone-based lines.
How do I choose telephone service for home?
Checking your ZIP code for coverage will show you what home phone providers are available in your area. You can then find a plan that suits your needs and your budget.
Can you just get home phone service without the internet?
Yes, with wireless providers like Community Phone and Ooma, you can get a home phone-only package as they operate on cell networks.
Recap
Not too long ago, phone contracts used to be painfully expensive and were required to be bundled with other services.
But the good news is that with wireless and VoIP providers you can keep your home phone line without having to bundle in extras.
Let's recap the best telephone service for the home.
Cheapest home phone: Ooma home phone service is a one-off fee for the equipment and has a low-cost monthly cost.
Most reliable: This will come down to coverage in your area. But Community Phone landline uses cellular networks and comes with a backup battery to keep you connected in power outages.
Best overall provider: With free plans and great value for money, Ooma customer reviews show why they're our choice for the best home phone provider.
Most flexible provider: Ooma offers different plans depending on your preference. With a choice of VoIP or Wireless either service is great value for money.
| Provider | Minutes | Monthly Price |
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Unlimited | $0.00-19.99 |
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Unlimited | $39.00 |
