Microsoft Teams Phone vs RingCentral 2026 | Which VoIP System Is Better for UK Businesses? Quick answer
Microsoft Teams Phone and RingCentral are two of the most popular business phone systems, but they take very different approaches.
👉 Microsoft Teams Phone is best for businesses already using Microsoft 365 that want everything in one place
👉 RingCentral is best for businesses wanting a dedicated, fully-featured VoIP system with minimal setup
You can expect the following costs:
Microsoft Teams Phone: £10-£25+ per user/month (plus Microsoft 365 licence)
RingCentral: £12-£30+ per user/month
👉 If you already use Microsoft 365, Teams Phone can be very cost-effective but if you want simplicity and full telephony features out of the box, RingCentral is usually the better choice.
Compare Teams Phone vs RingCentral quotes and save up to 40% →
Contents
Microsoft Teams Phone vs RingCentral: Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature Breakdown: Microsoft Teams Phone vs RingCentral
Which Is Cheaper?
Best Option By Business Type
Pros and Cons
Key takeaways
Teams Phone is ideal for Microsoft 365 users
RingCentral is easier to set up and use
Teams requires additional setup (Operator Connect / Direct Routing)
RingCentral is a complete VoIP system out of the box
Teams is better for collaboration-first businesses
RingCentral is better for telephony-first businesses
How do we work?
Transparent, impartial, and data‑driven reviews made by a team of expert humans, never AI generated – here’s exactly how Compare Your Business Costs helps you find the best deals from trusted UK providers: click here
Authored by: Ally Cox (Business Technology & B2B Services Specialist 10+ Years’ Experience)
Reviewed by: James Ward (Telecoms Specialist, 12+ Years Experience)
Last Updated: August 2026
Microsoft Teams Phone vs RingCentral: Side-by-Side Comparison
Feature Microsoft Teams Phone RingCentral
Typical cost
£10-£25+ (plus M365)
£12-£30+
Best for
Microsoft ecosystem
All-in-one VoIP
Ease of use
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Setup complexity
Medium–high
Low
Calling features
Good (depends on setup)
Advanced
Video & collaboration
Excellent
Strong
Integrations
Microsoft-focused
Extensive
Mobile app
Excellent
Excellent
Maintenance
Shared responsibility
Fully managed
Scalability
Very high
Very high
Feature Breakdown: Microsoft Teams Phone vs RingCentral
Feature Microsoft Teams Phone RingCentral Winner
Call quality & reliability
Strong, depends on setup and connectivity
Consistently high quality
RingCentral
Ease of use
Familiar for Teams users
Very intuitive and simple
RingCentral
Features & functionality
Good, but often requires add-ons
Full-featured out of the box
RingCentral
Collaboration tools
Best-in-class (chat, meetings, files)
Strong but secondary focus
Teams
Setup & deployment
Requires configuration (Operator Connect, etc.)
Fast, plug-and-play
RingCentral
Integrations
Deep Microsoft ecosystem
Wide third-party integrations
Draw
Flexibility
Depends on licensing & setup
Very flexible out of the box
RingCentral
Mobile & remote working
Excellent
Excellent
Draw
Cost efficiency
Strong if already using M365
Predictable standalone pricing
Teams
Scalability
Enterprise-grade
Enterprise-grade
Draw
Best for
Collaboration-first businesses
Telephony-first businesses
–
Quick takeaway from the table
RingCentral wins on simplicity, telephony features, and ease of deployment
Teams Phone wins on collaboration and Microsoft integration
Microsoft users → Teams Phone
Everyone else → RingCentral
Which Is Cheaper?
Teams Phone: Cheaper if you already pay for Microsoft 365
RingCentral: More predictable “all-in-one” pricing
Best Option By Business Type Microsoft 365 users: Teams Phone
Best for:
Existing Teams users
Reducing software stack
Internal collaboration
Hybrid/remote teams
SMEs & growing businesses: RingCentral
Best for:
Simple setup
Full telephony features
Minimal IT involvement
Fast deployment
Call-heavy businesses: RingCentral
Better call handling
More mature phone system features
Less reliance on configuration
Pros and Cons Microsoft Teams Phone Pros
Seamless Microsoft integration
Excellent collaboration tools
Cost-effective if already licensed
Strong for hybrid working
Microsoft Teams Phone Cons
Setup can be complex
Requires additional components (Operator Connect etc.)
Telephony features less advanced without add-ons
RingCentral Pros
Easy to use
Fully featured VoIP system
Quick setup
Strong integrations
RingCentral Cons
Additional cost if already paying for Microsoft
Less integrated with Microsoft ecosystem
Final Verdict 👉 Choose Microsoft Teams Phone if you want a single platform for communication and already use Microsoft 365
👉 Choose RingCentral if you want a powerful, easy-to-use VoIP system with everything included
For most UK SMEs, RingCentral is the easier and more complete solution but for Microsoft-first businesses, Teams Phone is often the smarter long-term choice.
👉 Compare Teams Phone vs RingCentral now and get quotes in under 60 seconds →
FAQs: Microsoft Teams Phone vs RingCentral Is Teams Phone better than RingCentral?
Only if you already use Microsoft 365, otherwise RingCentral is usually easier.
Which is cheaper?
Teams Phone can be cheaper if you already have Microsoft licences.
Which is easier to set up?
RingCentral.
Do I need a provider with Teams Phone?
Yes, unless using Microsoft Calling Plans.
Which is better for small businesses?
RingCentral is usually the better fit.
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Hi, I’m Ally Cox , a senior copywriter and blogger at CompareYourBusinessCosts.co.uk, the UK’s trusted platform for comparing business services.over a decade of experience in the B2B sector, I specialise in simplifying complex topics like leased lines, VoIP, business energy, HR and payroll solutions, accounting software, and EPOS systems .HR, copywriting, and business operations- from clocking-in systems to card machines and office technology .informed, confident decisions when choosing products and services that improve efficiency and save money.
