// bonline alternative
A lighter bOnline alternative
// the short answer
bOnline is a full VoIP phone system aimed at teams, priced per user from around £7/user/mo with fair-use caps on “unlimited” calling. If you need desk phones and extensions, buy bOnline. LineHQ is the other thing: a UK number that rings the mobile you already own, with a free AI call card for each transcribed voicemail so you hang up knowing what happened — priced per package not per seat, no desk phone, no contract, from £4.99/mo with Pay As You Go mobile forwarding at 7p/min.
bOnline is a capable small-business VoIP platform built around softphones, desk phones and per-user seats. LineHQ is not a phone system at all: a professional UK number that forwards to the phone you already carry, and a written card for transcribed voicemails. Here’s how they compare.
Last reviewed September 2026
| LineHQ | bOnline | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Virtual number + call handling | Full VoIP phone system |
| How you take calls | Forwards to your existing phone (mobile from 7p/min on PAYG) | VoIP app or desk phone |
| Pricing model | Per package (number + forwarding minutes) | Per user / per seat |
| From | £4.99/mo + PAYG forwarding | £7/user/mo (Starter) |
| “Unlimited” minutes fair-use caps | None on forwarding minutes — a clear allowance + prepaid overage | Yes — fair-use policy applies |
| Desk phone needed | No | Optional / included on some plans |
| Contract | None — rolling monthly | Check current terms |
| Best for | Sole traders & small teams on mobile | Office teams wanting softphones/desk phones |
Competitor details were researched from public sources in September 2026 and may have changed — check the provider’s own website for current pricing and terms. LineHQ details are ours.
Frequently asked questions
What’s a good bOnline alternative for a small business?
If you don’t need a full desk-phone VoIP system, LineHQ is a lighter bOnline alternative: a UK number that rings your existing mobile, priced per package rather than per user, with recording and voicemail-to-email included and no contract — a number from £4.99/mo, with standard UK mobile forwarding at 7p/min on Pay As You Go.
How is LineHQ different from bOnline?
bOnline is a full VoIP phone system with softphones, desk phones and per-user pricing. LineHQ is a virtual-number and call-handling service that rings your existing phone, priced per package — simpler and usually cheaper for a sole trader or small team that just needs a professional line.
Does LineHQ have fair-use caps on minutes?
Not on forwarding minutes. Rather than “unlimited” minutes with a fair-use policy, each LineHQ package has a clear number of forwarding minutes, used when a call is forwarded to a mobile or landline, and any overage is billed from prepaid calling credit, itemised to the penny. Calls you answer in the LineHQ app on Mobile, Reception or Scale don’t use those minutes at all; that is meant for normal business use, and we would talk to you before applying any limit.
Do I need a desk phone with LineHQ?
No desk phone is required for basic forwarding. Your LineHQ number can forward to the mobile or landline you already have; optional app, SIP and desk-phone devices are available when you want internet calling.
Sources
Try LineHQ
A UK number with recording, voicemail-to-email and a receptionist, from £4.99/mo — Pay As You Go mobile forwarding at 7p/min. No contract, cancel anytime.