Best Multi Line Phone Systems in 2023: Ranked & Reviewed

The best multi-line phone system for a small or medium-sized business is the $189.99 12-line Nextiva X-885 phone system. With the multi-line phone system boasting HD call quality, a robust speed dialing functionality, a 4.3″ LCD color display, and a VoIP service, it's no surprise that it sits at the top of our list.

As inflation continues to squeeze budgets in 2023, the $127 VTech CM18445 is another feature-rich and wallet-friendly choice, while AT&T's ML17939 is the best model we reviewed for new businesses. However, if you don't need a physical phone, VoIP software can substitute handsets and offer more flexibility across devices and locations, as we explore later in our guide.

Just looking for the best price? Try VoIP software. Modern multi-line phone system providers can rent phones to you, or even help you operate without physical equipment at all, using IP-PBXs (that's the virtual version of a traditional phone line) and software for minimum costs and maximum flexibility.

Use our Phone Systems Price Comparison Tool to compare all your available multi-line options and get free, zero-obligation quotes tailored to your business needs.

Jump straight to:

• Best Two-Line Phone System
• Best Four-Line Phone System
• How Many Phone Lines Does Your Business Need?
• Traditional vs Cloud-Based VoIP
• Best Multi-Line VoIP Providers
• Does My Business Need a Multi-Line Phone System?
• Methodology: How We Evaluate Multi-Line Phones
• Verdict: Best Multi-Line Phone
• FAQs

What's the Best Multi-Line Phone System for Small Businesses?

The best small business multi-line phone system is 12-line Nextiva X-885 because of its HD call quality, VoIP integrations, and affordable price point. However, there are tons of other quality products available.

Below, we'll review the best multi-line phone options for small businesses with team sizes of around 10 to 50 people.

To find these top performing options, we combed through hundreds of product specs and customer reviews, so you don't have to. We then ranked the most frequently mentioned pros and cons of every popular multi-line phone, separating them out into the top four-line systems, followed by the best two-line phone systems for business.

Best Two-Line Phone System

Two-line systems are best for home offices with two to five frequent users. Any more than that, and you're better off considering the next step up, the four-line phone system.

Here are our top four picks for the best two-line options currently in service from their manufacturers.

• VTech DS6151 — Best two-line phone
• AT&T ML17939 — Best for new businesses
• AT&T TL86103 — Best for Android compatability
• Panasonic KXTG9582B — Best for Microsoft users

 VTech DS6151 – Best two-line phone

Lines: 2
Starts at: $88.95

Key Features:

• Answering system with dedicated mailboxes
• Phonebook holds 50 contacts
• Expandable up to 12 handsets

It's a wireless system, using DECT 6.0 tech to ensure clear audio and no interference with any other wireless networks or electronic devices in the building. This feature stood out in our research, because DECT 6.0 technology keeps phone lines secure for up to 600 feet, making it an asset to workers who walk around the office when taking calls.

A digital answering system comes with a different mailbox for each of the two lines, making it easy to keep track of which messages are for which department.

All calls are digitally encrypted for security. Other features include Caller ID/Call Waiting (stores a max of 50 calls) and a phonebook directory that holds 50 contacts. One downside: There's no option for a “silent mode,” so you'll have to remember to turn off the phone at the end of the day to avoid any 3 a.m. calls.

The VTech DS6151 is expandable up to an impressive 12 handsets: You'll just need to buy the DS6101 accessory handsets for $30 each. This phone is great for companies with two or more work stations, like multiple sales departments, thanks to the separate mailboxes and easy expansion.

AT&T ML17939 – Best for new businesses

Lines: 2
Starts at: $87.95

Key Features:

• Digital answering system
• Virtual phonebook with 100 contacts
• Intuitive interface

This two-line corded system comes with an answering system, caller ID, and call waiting functionalities – all core features when it comes to fielding calls from customers and clients.

It doesn't stop there, though: The phone's range of features include a virtual phonebook with capacity for 100 contacts, and backup so you won’t lose important data in a power outage. This AT&T model also stood out to our researchers because it offers three-party conferencing, making it great for users that need to talk to multiple clients at once.

The dial-in-base speakerphone includes LED lights to indicate when messages are available, though recording capabilities are capped at 12 minutes of digital recording time for each line. Only two lines are supported, but that's perfect for a small business that doesn't have many employees to pick up calls in the first place.

Thanks to the answering system's message-taking ability, excess calls are easy to track and follow up on – although some reviewers have dinged the menu structure on the handset's display for being overly complex and taking too many buttons pushes to access all features.

Ultimately, though, it all adds up to a capable device for helping a young and growing business improve its productivity and overall communications, though a VoIP system remains another attractive option.

AT&T TL86103 – Best for Android compatability

Lines: 2
Starts at: $124.95

Key Features:

• Two cordless lines
• Works with Android
• Pairs with smartphones

A sophisticated multi-line phone, this model can be easily paired with your smartphone, enabling calls to be made on your cellular plan while you speak from the comfort of the landline – a boon for those who need a single solution to centralize their work and personal numbers. Android users can be updated when they receive a message or call via the handset, which will beep and display the type of communication received.

Features include Voice command, Caller ID/Call waiting (up to 50 contacts, with number caller ID history), a backlit LCD display, lighted keypad, DECT 6.0 for audio quality, and Bluetooth-powered automatic connection with your paired mobile device. One issue that stood out to our researchers was that there's no headset jack on the main unit, making the model less ideal for users that use separate headphones to make calls.

Although there is one for the wireless handset – if you'd prefer more cordless handset options, we've listed some in our guide to the best cordless phones.

You'll be able to connect up to two cellular lines and two landlines. However, its relatively high price tag means that it may not be accessible to every small business.

Panasonic KXTG9582B – Best for Microsoft users

Lines: 2
Starts at: $149

Key Features:

• Links calls to smartphones
• Connects to Microsoft Outlook
• Battery back up

Panasonic's two-line system comes with one corded base station and one additional wireless handset. It packs an answering machine, DECT 6.0 wireless audio, call blocking, Panasonic's “Link2Cell” Bluetooth capability, and support for three-way conferencing.

Thanks to the Bluetooth ability, you'll be able to link up to four smartphones to make and receive calls (though only two simultaneous calls, since two lines are supported). This separated the IP phone from similar models in our research, as this capability is very useful for remote and hybrid teams.

It's similarly compatible with Microsoft Outlook, so you can simply connect this phone to your PC to make calls with just a click. There's one catch to the Bluetooth ability, though: The three-way conferencing only works between the two landline units and won't work across a connected mobile device.

A battery backup means that you won’t miss a call even when the lights go out: The system offers 75 minutes of power, allowing you to continue making and receiving calls during a power outage. Add in the system's ability to pair with smartphones and your PC, and you have a dependable, flexible phone system that works with you across whatever business devices you use.

Read about the top VoIP softphone apps.

Benefits of Two-Line Phone Systems

An inexpensive two-line phone system is ideal for a small company or a home-based business owner. These systems will have two separate lines, voicemail inboxes and telephone numbers, all connected to the same device or group of devices. Popular with startups or companies in the early stages of growth, two-line systems can prove crucial to enhancing customer service, giving customers a smooth transfer from one agent to the other when needed.

Granted, a small business can likely field the customers it receives well enough by itself. But multitasking is a lot easier once you've gotten used to a two-line system, and it makes a big difference when handling your day-to-day operations. Home-based businesses might like them for another reason: They allow business and home life to be kept fully separate.

Larger businesses might also opt for a two-line system rather than a four-line system, depending on their customer support needs. Some operations use one line for general customer inquiries and the other for technical support. However, within larger businesses it is not unheard of for there to be a four, six, or even 12-line phone system which has been installed to serve more complex communication requirements.

Best Four-Line Phone System

If two lines aren't enough for your operation, fear not: We've collected the best four-line (or more!) phone systems available today to list them below. And once you're ready to take the next step, you can examine your options for either type of multi-line system with our comparison tool.

• Nextiva X-885 – Best overall multi-line phone
• VTech CM18445 — Best for ease of use
• Poly VVX 250 — Best for clear audio
• Cisco CP-8861 – Best for Hybrid Workers

Nextiva X-885 – Best overall multi-line phone

Lines: 12
Starts at: $189.99

Key Features: 

• Built-in CRM
• Can handle 12 lines
• 4.3″ color display

For businesses managing multiple lines, Nextiva X-885 is currently the market front runner. Nextiva doesn't shy away from making high-quality products. And you don't need to take our word for it – the provider was ranked the Best Business Phone System of 2022 by US News.

Like Nextiva's other desk phone types, the X-885 lets users handle 12 lines. However, due to the system's powerful 4.3″ LCD color display, it easily takes the edge over others made by the provider.

Nextiva X-885's slightly steeper price point is justified by its array of useful features. Thanks to its HD call quality, calls made through the product are crystal-clear, its speed dialing function saves the user time and hassle, and its in-built Bluetooth and headphone jack make the system compatible with a range of different hardware.

The system also offers a quality VoIP service that allows users to use their pre-existing computers or mobile devices as softphones. This means that employees can use the X-885 software from wherever they decide to work — they just need to pick a VoIP provider. Our researchers loved this feature because it makes it much more flexible than similar solutions on the market.

This product's versatility, usability, and assortment of handy features make it a strong choice for most small businesses. However, its 12 stations make the product particularly suitable for receptionists, executive managers, and staff in growing businesses.

VTech CM18445 – Best for ease of use

Lines: 4
Starts at: $127

Key Features:

• 6-party conferencing
• 32-Number Speed Dial
• Phonebook holds 100 contacts

The VTech CM18445's display and buttons are large, making them easy to use, and the initial configuration needed to get the system up and running is also simple. Other ease-of-use features include a 32-number speed dial and a 100-contact phonebook directory, so you'll be able to find the contact you need at a moment's notice.

The base console will record up to 180 minutes of messages, and each line's auto attendant can give callers the company directory or route their calls to the right extension. 6-party conferencing is supported, and the system is wall mountable for those organizations with staff who are constantly on their feet, from pizza places to pastry shops.

If you're a growing operation, you can hook up more stations for a total of 10, with each station able to page, intercom, or call-transfer with the others. You can also add your own music to the hold music options, making this a great pick for any professional musicians out there! There's one catch – if you use this handset for a multi-line VoIP system, you'll need to check with your VoIP provider to ensure it works with this phone's auto attendant.

Poly VVX 250 – Best for clear audio

Lines: 4
Starts at: $180

Key Features:

• Echo cancellation
• Background noise suppression
• 2.8-inch color display

The Poly (formerly Polycom) VVX 250's speakerphone comes with echo cancellation, helping keep the HD audio clean, and Poly's own “Poly Acoustic Clarity” is an additional feature that tackles background noise suppression even when you're using the handset instead of the speakerphone. Lack of clear audio is a common complaint for multi-line phone users, but this model should be more than enough to keep them quiet.

Adding to the “easy for your senses” theme, the LCD display is in color, so it's easier on the eyes than the computer-green you'll get with most phone displays. You'll be charged extra if you want Poly to give you customer support, though you may be able to get the same headset sold through another provider, which can offer its own customer service to compensate.

This model is available at even lower prices for those willing to buy or rent it in a bundle with our top VoIP provider, RingCentral: It'll cost just $159 to buy or $5.99 per month to rent. Other VoIP providers may offer better deals — you can find out more with our price-matching tool.

Cisco CP-8861 – Best for Hybrid Workers

Lines: 5
Starts at: $829

Key Features:

• Fast-charging USB port
• Echo cancellation
• Mobile phone integration

Part of Cisco’s 8800 series, the 8861 model offers a sleek, user-friendly design paired with excellent functionality. While its entry price of $829 may be steeper than other products on this list, Cisco CP-8861 offers a number of stand-out features to justify this cost, from echo cancellation to ultra-secure voice encryption. 

This model makes collaboration as straightforward as possible, with wideband audio and a high-resolution widescreen color display. It even offers an optional wall mount option, to fit a wider variety of office setups.

Cisco’s Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice feature allows you to connect your IP phone with Apple and Android smartphones via Bluetooth too. This flexible application even makes it possible for users to switch back and forth between mobile devices and IP phones mid-call

This Intelligent Proximity for Mobile Voice feature makes the model a great option for remote or hybrid teams switching in between the system and portable devices. However, its price is a little high for an IP phone without HD video, so if this is a deal breaker you’re probably better off going for a cheaper option like Nextiva X-885.

Benefits of a Four-Line Phone System for Business

Four-line phone systems can handle simultaneous calls with up to four callers on four different phone numbers at the same time.

They're best for businesses with five to 15 phone-using employees, and are useful for fielding calls with a surprisingly large number of clients and customers – if you think about it, most customers will only call up most businesses for a few minutes to make a simple request, like making an appointment. Those businesses can easily handle hundreds or thousands of customers without ever using all four lines at the same time.

The benefits are both external, as customers can easily find the right department or agent, and with the right system can also get an auto attendant to walk them through the options, and internal, as your employees can quickly transfer calls among themselves.

A four-line system can easily be upgraded to a VoIP system that handles even more lines, so you'll be able to suit your business needs no matter how fast your operation grows.

How Many Phone Lines Does Your Business Need?

A two-line phone system incorporates up to two phone numbers into the same device. On the receiver end, multiple handsets can be used to pick up calls. Callers to either of the two numbers will reach the first available representative with a handset.

Alternatively, a four-line system will allow users to place four simultaneous calls. Multi line phones can even go up to twelve simultaneous calls, and these calls can even be handled from the same phone handset.

So which is for you? A two-line system can handle most small business needs, unless you have an unusually high call volume. Any larger and you'll be better off with a four-line system or higher.

That said, you may not need multiple physical phone lines to expand your communications: the best option for your business growth could be VoIP softphone apps, the term for virtual multi-line software solutions that allow users to place and receive calls from their own computers or mobile devices.

Whatever the case, you can always compare your options side by side with tailored price quotes for your business needs. Just take one minute to try out our free phone systems comparison tool.

Methodology: How We Pick Multi-Line Phone Systems

Tech.co's research team dug into seven different areas of investigation in order to pick out the best way for small businesses to stay in touch with their clients and customers. Those key areas are:

1. Cost factors – Does the phone system offer a good value relative to its price?
2. Features – Can the system support typical business needs?
3. External connections and integrations – Will it work easily with existing systems?
4. Customer support options – Will you get the support you need?
5. Security options – Is the system safe and private?
6. Scalability – Can the system easily keep up as a business grows?
7. Customer review scores – Does the system satisfy its current customers?

Our team tested products and studied online reviews in order to rank each phone system on a five-star scale, making them easier to compare against each other. Systems that delivered the most functionality while remaining cost-effective and easy to use rose to the top.

While we looked across four regions in total — the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia — we've focused this article on the US systems worth considering.

Traditional:

• Large upfront cost
• Higher maintenance costs
• Reliable, mature technology
• Familar to many users
• Only works using specific physical equipment
• Installed on-site, so your IT handles all bugs

VoIP:

• No upfront cost
• Low monthly cost
• Lots of modern features
• Fast-growing userbase
• Works across desktop, mobile and tablets
• Support needs are handled by VoIP provider

Audio quality was once worse with VoIP systems, but tech advancements have erased that downside, leaving just one disadvantage worth noting: Even the best internet networks will go down occasionally. All the top VoIP providers will offer automatic re-routing to mobile numbers, for when your main phone cannot be reached, so be sure to check that a VoIP provider offers this failsafe when you use our free quotes tool.

Learn more about VoIP vs Landline phones

Best Multi-Line VoIP Providers

VoIP services come at a lower cost, offer more features, and can integrate easily with your existing computers and phones. For a small operation, that makes them one of the more attractive ways to stay in touch with customers around the clock. So, it's no wonder our researchers have studied the best VoIP services and put together this table to guide you through their specific benefits:

VoIP benefits for business

Does My Business Need a Multi-Line Phone System?

Multi-line phone systems allow a business to handle more than one phone call at a time. If you're a small business, those calls are likely external — customers reaching your business for a sales discussion or customer service attention. In either case, you don't want to keep them waiting long.

If your workforce has more than a handful of people, a multi-line phone system will help you give customers a professional experience. To be more specific, you'll want to invest in a multi-line phone system if you:

• Would like to provide customers with dedicated numbers to reach certain departments or employees
• Would like multiple employees from the same team/office to have the ability to make an external call at any time
• Require each employee to have their own phone extension or a direct dial number

When considering how many lines or users you'll need, remember that the best multi line phone system for your business will be the one that best fits your needs. A system that offers more than you require or doesn’t support your business as you need it to, will not only cost you money but will waste resources as well. We've built our free phone systems comparison tool to help you compare tailored recommendations and prices for your exact needs and find the best option for you.

Another consideration to keep in mind is whether or not you need physical lines. Many businesses today instead use a VoIP phone, an internet-based solution that has all the benefits of a traditional multi-line phone system, but with more features and much lower running costs. VoIP can even remove the need for physical phones altogether, letting users replicate the experience on a computer, tablet or mobile device.

Some top VoIP options, like RingCentral or Ooma, will allow you to rent your handset as part of your service bundle, which may be a cost-effective solution that allows your business to use hardware without breaking the bank.

Traditional Multi-Line Phone Systems vs Cloud-Based VoIP Multi-Line Phone Systems

There's no single best office phone system for everyone. Different organizations have different priorities and budgets, and even two nearly identical organizations might face different challenges and opportunities. That said, cloud-based VoIP systems offer a number of modern advantages over traditional multi-line systems, making them the better choice for most. Let’s look at the differences.

Traditional phone systems, called landlines, fixed lines, or PSTNs (for Publicly Switched Telephone Network), were once the only type of phone system available. They use physical lines dedicated to nothing but carrying analog telephone signals. These lines are copper, buried underground, and carry a current. In the UK, these systems will be discontinued in December 2025.

VoIP telephone systems use the internet to transfer the previously analog signal as digital packets. They can be wireless, turning any desktop, laptop, mobile phone, or VoIP handset into your phone. Because it's over the internet, some features are easier, like call routing, while upfront costs are lower, as you won't need to install physical lines.

Frequently Asked Questions