Many of you may be surprised to read that home phones or landlines are still in use. Mobile phones are indeed so widely used that home phone services declined noticeably in the last decade. Many households actually decided to get rid of home phones in the form of landline completely and use only mobile phones, which is probably a decent way to cut down on phone expenses.
Indeed, these days landline phones are more commonly used by businesses than homes. However, there are still some areas where landline phones outperform cell phones and these may be enough of a reason for you to decide to get one of the cheap phone services for home. The main advantages of landline phones include better voice quality and reception, faster and more accurate response for 911 emergencies, bundle deals and savings, and a smarter, connected home.
In this article, we will present you with cheap phone services for home, which will enable you to still use this traditional method of communication for as little cost as possible. We will take a closer look at some of the best landline deals in 2020. Moreover, we will also present you with some modern home phone alternatives that do not require a landline but work with the use of the internet and are very affordable.
4 Main Reasons Why You May Want To Keep Your Landline Phone
In the introduction, we mention four main reasons why many people and, even more so, businesses still decide to keep their landline phones. Herein, we will take a closer look at those reasons and provide you with some additional explanation. That way you will be able to decide with confidence, whether cheap phone services for home are something you should even consider.

Better voice quality and reception – Compared to their mobile counterparts offered by wireless providers, you can expect to get a better signal reception with landline phone service. The reason for this lies in the fact that it’s a hardwired connection.
Faster and more accurate responses for 911 emergencies – Since landline phone service is already connected to your address, including your specific apartment number, emergency response is much faster. When you call 911 from your landline, the 911 operator already knows exactly where to send help – even if you’re unable to speak. This can literally save your life.
Interesting fact: Prior to the 911 emergency system, things were more complicated. You’d have to call the operator to summon the correct emergency service, which was rather tricky to do when stressed and in the middle of an emergency. In some states, you’d have to dial “3-4-7-3,” (= “FIRE”) to reach your local fire department. In other areas, the police stations and fire departments had their own 6- or 7-digit numbers just like every other user, which was tricky to remember.
Bundle deals and savings – Many providers offer noticeable discounts on doubles or triple service bundles, which can be more cost-efficient than standalone plans. Moreover, it’s more affordable to share one home phone line than to have multiple cell lines for each member of your household.
A smarter, connected home – In 2020, many modern home phones come with advanced features that integrate seamlessly with other devices in your home. This can provide you with hand and practical commands, which can make your life simpler. Of course, this takes some time to get used to the features.
Providers of Cheap Phone Services for Home
In this section, you can take an overview of the providers that offer cheap phone services for home. Keep in mind that not all providers are necessarily available in your area. As a matter of fact, if you leave in a remote rural area, you may be lucky to get one or perhaps two from the list below. On the other hand, if you live in an urban area of one of the bigger cities, you may easily have a chance to choose among all of the below-listed options. That said, let us take a closer look at the most popular cheap phone services for home, shall we?
AT&T U-verse – Cheap Phone Services Provider for Home
AT&T U-verse provides you with a variety of home phone service plans when you bundle TV and the internet. Their bundle plans are also highly affordable. Besides, they offer Voicemail call forwarding, Locate me feature, Do not disturb, and Remote voicemail access.
AT&T U-verse is the cheapest landline provider in many areas.
Spectrum – Cheap Phone Services Provider for Home
Spectrum offers its clients highly affordable rates when you bundle home phone service with their TV and internet deals. Spectrum home phone services also include Voicemail, Call blocking, and Unlimited calling to the US, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
Spectrum is known as the cheapest landline bundle option in many areas.
Verizon – Cheap Phone Services Provider for Home
Verizon is the best wireless provider, however, they also offer landline services. As a matter of fact, Verizon is considered to be the cheapest senior landline option. Verizon offers several different types of home phone services, including FiOS Digital Voice, traditional home phone services, and Voice Link. However, for seniors, they recommend their traditional home phone services, which is without a doubt one of the cheap phone services for home. Their landline plan for seniors includes Call forwarding, Caller ID, Home voice mail, three-way calling, and about 20 other features. This service is basic and easy to use which is why seniors are usually highly satisfied with it.
Xfinity – Cheap Phone Services Provider for Home
Xfinity is another provider of cheap phone services for home. Xfinity Voice gives you access to a home phone but on-the-go, which is quite neat for all of you who are not afraid of technology and the advanced options it offers. They let you download the XFINITY Connect app through which you have access to your home phone even when you are away and not at home. Other Xfinity Voice features include call forwarding to any mobile device, unlimited talk/text on Wi-Fi connected devices, and you can add more phone numbers for no extra cost.
All-in-all, Xfinity is often considered to be the cheapest landline-only option.
Frontier Phone – Cheap Phone Services Provider for Home
Frontier phone offers ‘per minute’ and unlimited plans, which gives both, those who talk a lot and those who use a very little amount of minutes to go with the option that is more affordable for them. Frontier phone service also includes more than 20 custom calling features. Unlimited U.S. and Canadian calling comes with select bundles.
CenturyLink Phone – Cheap Phone Services Provider for Home
CenturyLink Phone is another of the cheap phone services for home options. The main pros of CenturyLink Phone include basic local and unlimited long distance plans available and more than 10 calling features including Caller ID, 3-Way Calling, Call Forwarding, and Voicemail.
Note: Since most providers constantly change and update their offer, we decided not to list the prices. With most affordable bundle options, you can get started with landline services for as low as $10/mo. All of the services presented above do not cross the $30/month mark.
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Thing To Consider When Choosing a Home Phone
Before committing to any of the landline providers, you should consider some key points. We have listed them below and did our very best to keep it short and simple for your maximum convenience.
- Availability – You need to check what home phone services are available in your zip code. Use Google search for these purposes.
- Bundling – are you also in need of TV services and internet service? If so, you should definitely consider bundle options as they typically offer the most affordable prices.
- Perks – Make sure to determine what features you are looking for. Are you in need of international calling or long-distance calls? Make sure the provider you choose includes what you need.
- Price – Always consider your budget and remember to ask your current provider about the bundle options.
- Contracts – Contracts can be very tricky, as such, make sure you double-check the details. Ensure that no unexpected or additional expenses are included. If you do not want to be tied down, go with the monthly-based contract so that you can walk away at any time with no strings attached. However, you will often get a better deal if you decide to sign a yearly contract.
Landline Alternatives for Home
Cheap phone services for home do not necessarily come only in a form on a landline. There are two common alternatives, which you may want to consider. There are:
- VoIP – VoIP is based on the broadband internet connection. It uses it to connect you with friends/family. There are some major VoIP services like Skype or Vonage that are extremely popular.
- Cell phones – A cell phone plan give you an added sense of convenience and you can use them at home and on-the-go. There are countless providers and you can choose between prepaid or postpaid plans.
Whichever option you choose, be sure that you have a strong quality connection in your area. The main purpose of any of these options is to be able to communicate with your family, friends, colleagues, and others. And to do so properly, you need good and reliable reception.
Ooma – Cheapest Landline Alternative
Ooma is the cheapest landline alternative, thus we decided to devote it some extra attention. Ooma is a VoIP phone service that promises a clear and reliable home phone experience. Ooma offers free US calling, Ooma HD Mobile app, Online call log, and Caller ID.
To use it, you must purchase their device. With this purchase, you are entitled to a 2-month free trial of Ooma Premier.
Additional Money-Saving Tips
To save as much as possible on your home phone services and ensure cheap phone services for home, you want to consider the following three tips:
- Bundle your services – As mentioned above, you can save quite a lot if you bundle your home phone, TV, and internet as you’ll often receive package discounts.
- Check for promos – The majority of providers oftentimes offer promotional deals. These are most often offered to new customers, which means that you can save a lot by switching providers regularly. As such, be sure to search for promo options before committing to any particular provider.
- Use a free VoIP Services – VoIP services such as Skype offer free plans, which may be enough to meet your calling-related needs.
Cheap phone Services for Home FAQ
What is a landline?
A home phone, or a landline phone, is a type of stationary phone service that transmits audio data through a wire or fiber-optic cable.
What is a digital phone service?
Digital phone service does not function based on the landline. Instead, it uses cable or a digital phone network to make phone calls. Digital phone service normally comes with advanced features like Caller ID, Call Waiting, and Three-Way Calling depending on your home phone provider and plan selection.
Will landline service disrupt my internet connection?
No, landline service will not be disrupted as long as you have a cable, satellite, DSL, fiber, or wireless internet connection. However, if you are using dial-up internet service, using your internet will prohibit you from using your landline phone service and vice versa – they can’t be used simultaneously.
What are the cheapest home phone providers?
Provides often change their offers, however, the ones listed in the article are normally the cheapest home phone providers (AT&T U-verse, Spectrum, Verizon, Xfinity, Frontier, CenturyLink).
Can I use my landline phone service to make long-distance and international calls?
In theory, yes, however, it depends on your home phone service provider and your specific plan. Many providers offer unlimited local calls, while they limit long-distance calling with home phone service. International calls are typically available for an additional monthly fee.
Why are phone numbers 7 digits?
The number of digits represents the number of combinations – the greater the number of digits, the more combinations are possible. The initial 4-digit system ran out of unique combinations in the 1920s and as the system evolved more digits were added to ensure a sufficient amount of combinations. 7 digits seem to do the trick.
Do I need a landline phone for the internet?
Back at the begging of the internet, a dial-up connection (which uses landline) was the most common option, however, these days most internet providers offer optical fibers that do not require a landline. Yet, there are still some dial-up and DSL providers that do require a landline.