A home phone used to come with every broadband deal, whether you wanted it or not. That has changed. Most full fibre and cable packages are now sold without a landline, and the phone has become an extra you add if you’ll actually use it. For many households that’s a saving. For anyone who relies on the landline, it means choosing the bundle with a little more care.
Our simple pick for most homes that want a landline is Virgin Media M125 Fibre Broadband and Phone. It’s the cheapest bundle on this page, inclusive weekend calls to UK landlines come as standard, and you can upgrade to anytime calls for a small monthly fee. If Virgin Media doesn’t reach your street, BT’s broadband and phone bundles are the strongest alternative on the Openreach network.
For yearly price rises, see our broadband price rises guide, and for rolling deals, see no contract broadband.
Do you still need a landline?
Ask yourself how often the home phone actually rings. Many households now make almost every call on a mobile, and a landline only adds to the bill. It’s worth keeping if:
- Older relatives or friends ring you on it, or you rely on it for long calls.
- Your mobile signal at home is weak.
- You have a telecare alarm, a monitored burglar alarm or another device that uses the phone line.
- You run a small business from home and want a fixed number on your website and letterhead.
If none of those apply, a broadband only deal is usually cheaper. Our best broadband picks compare broadband only packages.
How home phones work now
The old analogue phone network closes in January 2027, so every new landline is now a digital service carried over your broadband. Your phone plugs into the router rather than the wall socket, and you keep your number when you join. Providers name their services differently, for example BT Digital Voice, Vodafone Home Phone and Virgin Media Home Phone.
A digital phone stops working in a power cut unless the router has backup power, and telecare alarms need checking before you switch. Our guide to the landline switch off explains both, and the free help providers must offer people who rely on their landline.
Call plans compared
Most bundles include either no calls at all or a limited allowance. If you call regularly, the call plan can matter as much as the broadband price.
| Provider | What’s included | Anytime UK calls upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| Virgin Media | Weekend calls to UK landlines | £8 a month |
| Vodafone | Landline included on eligible plans, calls charged as you go | £10 a month |
| BT | Calls charged as you go | £15 a month |
| TalkTalk | No calls as standard | £16 a month |
| NOW Broadband | No calls as standard | £18 a month |
| Sky | A phone line with pay as you go calls on every package | Talk packs available at extra cost |
Call plan prices as published in autumn 2026. Check the current price at checkout.
Two things are worth knowing before you choose. Most “unlimited” plans end each free call after an hour, so a longer call starts costing money unless you hang up and redial. And calls to some numbers, including 09 numbers and many international destinations, fall outside every standard plan.
Plusnet no longer sells home phone services, and EE sells calls as an extra at checkout rather than in a bundle.
Line rental and full fibre
On part fibre, broadband still runs over a copper phone line, and older deals listed line rental as a separate charge. Full fibre and Virgin Media connections don’t need a copper line at all, so any phone service is simply an add-on to the broadband. If you’re comparing an older part fibre deal with a full fibre one, make sure you’re comparing the total monthly cost. Our full fibre vs fibre guide explains the connection types.
Keeping your number
You can almost always bring your existing number to a new provider, as long as you stay at the same address. Ask for it when you order. With One Touch Switch, your new provider handles the transfer along with the broadband, as our switching guide explains. Moving house is different: numbers are tied to local area codes, so a move to a new town can mean a new number. See our guide to broadband when moving home.
Cheaper ways to stay connected
- If your mobile plan includes unlimited UK minutes, you may not need a call plan on the landline at all.
- If you claim Universal Credit or Pension Credit, BT Home Essentials and other social tariffs include low cost broadband, and some offer discounted calls too.
- If you only want a landline and no broadband, your provider has to keep offering a phone only service, as our landline switch off guide explains.
- If you’d rather avoid a long contract, compare no contract broadband and add calls month by month where the provider allows it.
FAQs
Can I get broadband without a landline?
Yes. Most full fibre and Virgin Media deals are broadband only, and part fibre is also available without a traditional phone service. Sky is the main exception, as every Sky broadband package includes a phone line.
What is the cheapest broadband and phone deal?
Virgin Media’s M125 and Phone bundle is the cheapest on this page and includes weekend calls to UK landlines. Prices vary by address, so check what’s available at your postcode.
Do I need a phone line for full fibre?
No. Full fibre doesn’t use a copper phone line. If you want a home phone, your provider adds it as a digital service over the broadband.
Which provider has the best call plans?
Virgin Media has the cheapest anytime calls upgrade among the main providers, followed by Vodafone. Sky includes a phone line with every package but charges extra for inclusive calls.
Will I keep my landline number if I switch?
Yes, in almost every case, as long as you stay at the same address. Ask your new provider to transfer the number when you order.
Do unlimited call plans have limits?
Usually, yes. Most cap each free call at 60 minutes, and calls to premium rate and many international numbers cost extra.