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Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) VoIP January 4, 2024

Best Office Phones for SMBs: Top Picks for 2024

best voip office phones
Compare the best-in-class office phones for your team. Pick the right VoIP gear this year. See business phone pricing, top features, and tips to save.
Alex Doan
Author

Alex Doan

best voip office phones

Your office phone can make or break communication for your small business, so you need to carefully evaluate the available options to make the right choice. 

Below, you’ll find a straightforward comparison of some of the most popular VoIP phones for your team members to guide your decision. 

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Best VoIP Office Phones for 2024

The best VoIP office phones for small businesses are easy to set up, have crystal-clear audio quality, and work reliably with cloud-based phone service providers. 

Here are the best office phones we’ve ranked, with details about them below.

1. Nextiva X-885

Nextiva X-885

The Nextiva X-885 is one of the best office phone systems on the market, especially for business executives and front-desk officers. It is highly customizable, with a range of programmable buttons plus built-in Power over Ethernet (PoE) support.

It has a 4.3-inch screen, a large color display, and an overall sleek design that makes it easy to use. In addition, the phone features a variety of advanced call-handling options, such as call forwarding, call transfer, and three-way calling — to cater to a wide range of communication needs. 

One thing that really stands out is its exceptional sound quality. The Nextiva X-885 VoIP phone uses wideband audio technology to deliver crystal-clear calls. It also has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. 

Although the X-885 doesn’t have an HD screen display, its colored LCD screen serves the purpose well and delivers great visual quality. 

Top features

Best for: business executives and receptionists 

Price: $190.00 or $8.40/month

2. Poly Edge E550

Poly Edge E550

The Poly Edge E550 is a multi-purpose VoIP phone that can be used both at your home office and on your business premises.

Unlike many of the phones in this article, this one has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for communication convenience. It also pairs with wired and hands-free headsets using one of three inputs: RJ-9, USB-C, and Bluetooth. 

One feature that really stands out for users is the ability to fast pair your compatible Poly headset. Just enable pairing mode on your headset, tap it on the Edge E screen, and select Connect — it’s that easy! 

You can also pair your compatible smartphone with the Edge E550 to make your call history and contacts available on your desk phone.

Top features

Best for: hybrid staff working in modern offices

Price: $300.00 or $11.00 per month

Yealink T57W

Perfect for business executives looking for an office phone with a large screen, the Yealink T57W IP phone boasts a seven-inch color touchscreen display. 

The T57W initially shows 11 line keys, but you can press the More key button on the screen to display a total of 29 line keys.

If you don’t want to cover the rich color screen with line keys, add up to three EXP50 expansion modules to view your additional lines.

Aside from its display abilities, this VoIP phone comes with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. And you can connect your wired headsets using the RJ-9, EHS, or USB-A input.

If you’d rather use a wireless headset, no problem — the T57W also offers Bluetooth connectivity. 

An outstanding feature of this device is that you can pair up to four supported Yealink cordless DECT handsets, such as the W56H handset, by connecting the separate DD10K DECT adapter accessory. This lets you control all your calls from one central device. 

Top features

Best for: busy executives and professionals who need a large screen

Price: $310.00 or $12.00 per month

Yealink T46U

If you’re looking for a midrange desk phone with great audio quality, the Yealink T46U VoIP desk phone should be on your radar. 

It comes with Yealink Optima HD audio quality that delivers clear, natural sound through a built-in full-duplex speakerphone and includes hearing aid-compatible headsets.

Another great feature of the Yealink T46U is its high level of security. It offers enterprise-grade protection with HTTPS, SRTP, and TLS encryption protocols.

Like the X-885 VoIP phone, Yealink’s T46U has a 4.3-inch full-color display screen. It doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but you can connect these using external cables.

Top features

Best for: busy professionals who handle a high volume of calls

Price: $200.00 or $7.60 per month

5. Nextiva X-835

Nextiva X-835

The Nextiva X-835 is an excellent choice for businesses looking for a reliable and feature-packed VoIP office phone that won’t break the bank. 

This phone doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity, but you can connect to your Wi-Fi via a USB dongle. If you want wire-free Wi-Fi connectivity, you’re better off with a VoIP phone like the Yealink T57W. 

The X-835 also has an RJ-9 headset input for wired audio connections. In addition, it comes with 12 programmable keys. These keys can be programmed to speed dial frequently called numbers and access features such as call forwarding and voicemail. 

Top features 

Best for: customer support leads and supervisors

Price: $160.00 or $6.00 per month

6. Poly Edge E220

Poly Edge E220

Looking for an affordable VoIP desk phone that simply gets the job done?

Look no further than the Poly Edge E220. With only four line keys and a 2.8-inch screen, you may think you aren’t getting a whole lot with this phone. But you would be surprised to learn how feature-rich this phone actually is! 

The Poly Edge E220 has four pages of lines, so you can have up to 16 lines. It also offers custom speed dialing and monitors other lines using Busy Lamp Field. The Edge E220 has a color screen, built-in Bluetooth 5.0, NFC support, and a built-in wall mount on the back. 

As with all Poly Edge E model desk phones, the Edge E220 comes with text-to-speech to let you know which buttons you are pushing, what phone number you are calling, and what options are available in the settings menus.

Along with text-to-speech, it has screen color adjustments for color blindness and the ability to increase the font size or change it to bold lettering.

With all these amazing features, how could you not want a Poly Edge E220 for your workspace?

Top features

Best for: small businesses looking for a budget-friendly and easy-to-use VoIP phone

Price: $160.00 or $5.10 per month

7. Cisco 8861

Cisco 8861

The Cisco 8861 IP phone is built for businesses with a small office area or limited network access ports. It comes with native Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, an RJ-9 headset input, and a speed dialing function. 

Users love its voice feedback feature, which helps anyone who has trouble seeing their phone screen.

When enabled, a voice prompt helps you navigate your phone buttons and reads incoming caller IDs, displayed screens and settings, and button functions. 

The voice is clear and easy to understand, and you can change the speed at which the voice prompts play. It’s particularly useful for people with visual impairments.  

Top features

Best for: Executives or within a medium-sized conference room

Price: $330.00 or $13.30 per month

Benefits of VoIP Desk Phones

A VoIP desk phone offers many advantages that softphones simply can’t replace. Here’s why you should consider upgrading from a traditional landline to a VoIP desk phone. 

✅ Dedicated, reliable calling experience

Switching to a VoIP telephone system means you will no longer struggle with frequent call disruptions and network downtime. 

Unlike a traditional PBX phone system, VoIP desk phones make and receive calls via the Internet, providing much more stable connectivity than physical phone lines. 

Internet connectivity isn’t restricted to a physical location, meaning you can make, receive, and manage calls from anywhere. 

🤝 Seamless integration with softphones

VoIP phones typically come with built-in softphone applications for more flexible communication. 

A softphone provides a virtual phone number that can be used to make and receive calls via any Internet-enabled device. It comes with features such as call forwarding, call transfer, call waiting, and voicemail, just like a regular office phone. 

With a softphone, you don’t have to bother about moving your VoIP phone from one place to another; you can communicate with team members and clients from any smart device, including your laptop and iPad. 

This is extremely valuable for field workers who need to join conference calls on the go and hybrid teams looking to coordinate activities between in-person and remote staff seamlessly. 

📱Easy, instant calling & flexibility

Most VoIP services provide additional hardware and accessories to improve your overall communication experience. 

If you’re using a desk phone such as the Nextiva X-835 that lacks built-in Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect your VoIP phone to Bluetooth devices using a USB dongle. 

Another great example of a VoIP office phone accessory is a headset that allows you to participate in meetings and calls hands-free. Some VoIP headsets are even wireless, allowing you to make, receive, and manage calls while moving around. 

🔊Better call quality, including speakerphone

If you’re not satisfied with your VoIP phone’s audio quality, you can connect it to a speakerphone for better call quality. 

A speakerphone is a device that allows you to make and receive calls hands-free. It has a built-in loudspeaker and microphone that enable you to hear the caller’s voice and speak to them without holding the phone to your ear. 

It also has features like noise reduction, echo cancellation, and high-definition audio support or wide band — which all contribute to a quality audio experience. 

Useful Office Phone Accessories

Your office phone isn’t complete without one or more of these VoIP phone accessories and hardware.  

Headsets

VoIP headsets allow you to make and receive calls without holding the phone to your ear — in hands-free mode. 

Headsets can be wired or cordless. A wired headset connects to your VoIP office phone via a cable, such as a USB cable, while the cordless headset typically connects to your device via Bluetooth. 

Headsets come in various styles. Some headsets are placed over the ear, while others are placed in the ear. Some models have advanced audio features, such as noise reduction and echo cancellation, for improved audio quality. 

Prices of VoIP headsets vary greatly based on their features and complexity. They can start at $15 and go up to $500 or more. 

Wireless dongles

What is a wireless dongle? A wireless dongle is a small hardware device that helps you connect your VoIP phone to a Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth device. You’ll need them if your office phone lacks native Bluetooth and wireless network connectivity. 

Some VoIP phones, such as the Nextiva X-885, come with Wi-Fi dongles, but this is not the case with all VoIP phones. Often, you’ll need to buy the required dongles separately. 

The exact price depends on what you’re getting. The Nineplus wireless dongle for Wi-Fi costs about $30, while the Maxuni USB Bluetooth dongle costs about $18

PoE equipment

Power over Ethernet equipment delivers data connectivity and electrical power to your VoIP desk phone simultaneously. This reduces clutter caused by separate data and electrical cables in your office. 

All Nextiva’s VoIP phones are PoE compatible, but this isn’t the case with all other VoIP service providers. Before investing in PoE equipment, check with your service provider to be sure your phone supports PoE. 

Once confirmed, you can buy your PoE equipment via your service provider’s hardware and accessories store. You can also purchase this equipment on e-commerce marketplaces, such as Amazon. Some PoE devices cost as little as $16. 

The Best Office Phones Need the Best Phone Service

The last thing you want is to invest in an office phone only to struggle with subpar service quality. That’s why you need to partner with a business phone service that guarantees high-quality call delivery every time. 

Nextiva is your best option. It’s extremely easy to set up and use. Plus, our support team is always available to help you through any challenges that come up. 

👀 Check out Nextiva’s extensive business phone system, and let us know what you think! 

VoIP Office Phones FAQs

Get answers to common questions about VoIP office phones. 

How much does an office phone cost? 

Office phones typically cost between $100 to $300, depending on their features and functionality. Top-rated VoIP providers like Nextiva offer flexible leases/rentals on office phones, you be sure to ask about that when you get a price quote. Simple VoIP phones, such as Nextiva’s X-885, cost as little as $8.40 per month, while a phone like the Poly Edge E550 costs about $11 per month.  

Which office phones are best for small businesses?

Based on our research, the Nextiva X-835 and Poly Edge E550 IP phones are the best phones for a small office. These devices are budget-friendly and offer a wide range of features for small and growing companies. 

Which desk phones are best for enterprises? 

There are many great desk phones available that are specifically designed for enterprises. However, the choice of the best desk phone for your enterprise depends on various factors, including the size of your business, your communication needs, and your budget.

Some of the popular VoIP brands for enterprises are Nextiva, Cisco, and Polycom. 

How do I set up an office phone? 

The exact steps for setting up an office phone depend on the brand. Typically, you’ll need to connect the device to the Internet, configure the settings, and test it to make sure everything works correctly.

Read our helpful guide for setting up a VoIP phone

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