BT Digital Voice: Is it Actually Value for Money?

Remember when BT announced its move to BT Digital Voice? It left many of us scratching our heads, wondering if it was really worth the fuss. As BT starts moving its landline users to this new system, it’s time to take a closer look at whether BT digital voice is actually good value for money.

If you’re with BT or thinking about switching to them, it’s smart to shop around. Let’s take a look into the costs, features, and alternatives, so you can make the best choice for your wallet and your needs.

BT digital voice: Are they treating it as an afterthought?

BT digital voice is part of BT’s big plan to move from old-school copper landlines to modern internet-based phone technology. But here’s the thing: when you look at BT’s website, it seems like they care more about selling you broadband and TV packages than making digital voice something special.

Try finding information about digital voice on BT’s site. It’s usually bundled up with their broadband deals, without much talk about what makes it great. This leaves us wondering: is digital voice from BT really worth it, or is it just there to make their bundles look better?

Breaking down the costs

Let’s look at the numbers. BT’s cheapest broadband package, BT Fibre Essential, costs £33.99 a month. It comes with basic digital voice features like blocking nuisance calls and showing who’s calling. But here’s the catch: you’ll pay 20.9p per minute for calls to UK landlines and mobiles.

Even if you go for a pricier package like BT Full Fibre 500 at £45.99 a month, you don’t get much more for your phone calls. You still pay for each call, and there’s no room to add or change features. It seems BT is more interested in fast internet and TV than giving you a great phone service.

Saving money by splitting your services

Here’s a money-saving tip: buy your broadband and digital voice services separately. Many people think bundles are always cheaper, but that’s not necessarily true.

Take Phonely, for example. We specialise in home digital voice services, with plans starting at just £9.97 a month, that gives you unlimited calls. For much less than BT’s bundles, you can upgrade to get better calling features and stronger protection against scam calls with our CallGuard technology.

We often get commenters protesting, “But, Phonely, you don’t offer broadband!” And it’s true, we don’t and that’s because we are digital voice experts and proud of it!

Now, if you pair Phonely’s service with a competitive broadband provider such as Zen Internet or Plusnet, you can have broadband-only deals that are cheaper than BT. Zen Internet’s Fast Broadband starts at £29.99 a month, while Plusnet offers similar speeds from £21.99 a month. Add Phonely’s residential VoIP, and you could save a bundle compared to BT’s packages when you consider BT’s digital voice call charges on top.

Why is BT digital voice playing second fiddle?

BT’s main focus is on broadband and TV – that’s where they make most of their money. The digital voice feels like an add-on because BT has to offer it as an alternative to the PSTN (copper network) which they are retiring in 2027. They are not getting their customers excited about this new technology, and have almost played down the switch-off since the 2017 announcement by not advertising it across social media and choosing to share the news with their customers at the very last minute. Sadly, for BT customers, with digital voice, you get fewer features, higher costs, and less flexibility compared to companies like Phonely that specialise in digital voice services.

Shop around & save

Before you sign up (or over) to BT digital voice, take a look at all your options. BT’s packages might seem handy or convenient, but they often come with hidden costs and limited features. By shopping around and getting your broadband and digital voice separately, you could save money and get a better service that fits your needs. Phonely offers advanced home VoIP services that could be just what you’re looking for, without breaking the bank.

Want to find out more about better digital landline deals? Check out Phonely’s plans today!