Line vs Virtual Landline — UK business number comparison
Virtual Landline is a solid choice if you specifically need a geographic landline number. But if you want a business number that handles SMS, calls, and WhatsApp with a shared team inbox — at a lower price — Line is the better fit for most small businesses.
Set up in under 3 minutes. From £4/mo.
Line vs Virtual Landline: feature comparison
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and ease of use.
| Feature | Line | Virtual Landline |
|---|---|---|
| UK mobile number (07) | ||
| UK landline number (01/02) | Coming soon | |
| SMS messaging | ||
| Shared team inbox | ||
| Voice calls | Forwarded to mobile only | |
| Voicemail | ||
| Call forwarding | ||
| Mobile app | ||
| WhatsApp integration | ||
| Business hours routing | Basic | |
| Team access | ||
| No contract | ||
| API access | ||
| Setup time | Under 3 minutes | Same day |
Pricing comparison
How Line's pricing compares to Virtual Landline.
Line
RECOMMENDEDFrom £4/mo
- UK mobile number from £4/month
- SMS, voice calls, and WhatsApp on one number
- Shared team inbox included
- 1p per outbound SMS
- Inbound SMS free
- No contract — cancel anytime
- Mobile app and web dashboard
Virtual Landline
From ~£5/mo
- Virtual 01/02 landline number from ~£5/month
- Call forwarding to your mobile included
- Voicemail included
- No SMS capability
- No shared inbox or team features
- No mobile app — calls forwarded to personal phone
- Add-on eSIM option available at extra cost
Why switch from Virtual Landline to Line?
Mobile numbers that receive SMS
Virtual Landline only offers geographic 01/02 landline numbers — which cannot receive text messages. Line gives you a real UK 07 mobile number that handles both calls and SMS. In a world where customers increasingly prefer to text, having a number that cannot receive messages is a significant limitation.
Full two-way messaging, not just call forwarding
Virtual Landline forwards calls to your mobile — and that is essentially it. Line gives you two-way SMS, voice calls, and WhatsApp on your business number. You can have real conversations with customers over text, send appointment reminders, share links and images, and keep a full history of every interaction.
Shared team inbox for your whole team
With Virtual Landline, calls forward to a single mobile phone. There is no way for a team to share the number or see each other's conversations. Line's shared inbox lets your whole team see and respond to messages and calls from one business number — so nothing gets missed when someone is busy or on leave.
One number for everything — SMS, calls, and WhatsApp
Virtual Landline gives you a number that does one thing: forward calls. Line gives you a number that handles SMS, WhatsApp, email, and voice calls in a single shared inbox. One number for customers to save, one place for your team to manage all conversations.
Lower starting price with more included
Line starts at £4/month, undercutting Virtual Landline's ~£5/month. And for that lower price, you get significantly more: SMS messaging, a shared team inbox, a mobile app, WhatsApp integration, and API access. Virtual Landline charges more for a service that only forwards calls.
Keep your existing number · Set up in minutes · No contracts
Line vs Virtual Landline FAQ
What is Virtual Landline?
Virtual Landline is a UK provider of virtual geographic phone numbers (01 and 02 numbers) that forward calls to your mobile phone. It is aimed at sole traders, freelancers, and small businesses who want a local or professional-sounding landline number without needing a physical landline. Virtual Landline is a good option if you specifically need a geographic number for a local presence — for example, an estate agent wanting a local area code.
Can a virtual landline receive texts?
No. Traditional virtual landline numbers (01/02 geographic numbers) cannot receive SMS text messages. This is a limitation of the UK landline numbering system, not specific to Virtual Landline as a provider. If you need a business number that can receive texts, you need a mobile (07) number — which is what Line provides. Line gives you a real UK mobile number that handles both SMS and voice calls.
How does Line compare to Virtual Landline?
Line and Virtual Landline solve different problems. Virtual Landline gives you a geographic 01/02 number that forwards calls to your mobile — useful if you need a local landline presence. Line gives you a UK mobile number with SMS, voice calls, WhatsApp, and a shared team inbox from £4/month. For most small businesses, a mobile number that can handle texts and calls is more versatile and more affordable than a landline number that only forwards calls.
Do I need a landline number for my small business?
For most small businesses, no. Customers increasingly expect to text businesses, and a landline number cannot receive SMS. A UK mobile number looks equally professional and is far more functional — it handles calls, texts, and WhatsApp. The main reason to choose a landline number is if you specifically need a local geographic presence (for example, a plumber wanting an 0121 Birmingham number). For everything else, a mobile number with Line is more practical and costs less.
Is a virtual mobile number better than a virtual landline?
For most businesses, yes. A virtual mobile number (like the ones Line provides) can receive SMS, WhatsApp, and voice calls — a virtual landline can only receive and forward voice calls. Mobile numbers are also more affordable: Line starts at £4/month compared to ~£5/month for Virtual Landline. The only scenario where a virtual landline might be preferable is if you specifically need a geographic area code for local credibility.