Comparison
Phonely vs Plexatalk: Which Digital Landline Is Better in 2026?
If you're comparing Phonely vs Plexatalk, you're likely looking for a reliable digital landline replacement. Both providers offer UK-based VoIP services, but they're built for very different households.
If you're searching for Plexatalk, you're probably looking for a low-cost digital landline replacement. But price is only one part of the decision. The bigger question is: Do you just want cheap minutes… or do you want protection and peace of mind? This guide compares Phonely and Plexatalk side by side, so you can decide which service fits your home.
For a full overview see our guide to the best digital landline providers in the UK.
Quick comparison: Phonely vs Plexatalk
Here are the key differences to help you decide.
Phonely's £9.97 Digital Voice plan includes 1,600 UK minutes. The protection features below (scam blocking, alerts, trusted person, call recording) are on CallGuard plans—so you can compare like for like.
| Feature | Phonely | Plexatalk |
|---|---|---|
| UK Based | ||
| Broadband Included | ||
| Entry Price | £9.97 | £4 (100 mins) |
| UK call minutes | 1,600 mins (entry); Unlimited (CallGuard) | Yes (2,000 min fair use) |
| Auto Scam Blocking | CallGuard | |
| Global Block List Updates | CallGuard (hourly) | No |
| Anti-Fraud Call Introduction | CallGuard | |
| Suspicious Call Alerts | CallGuard | |
| Trusted Person Alerts | CallGuard | |
| Call Recording | CallGuard | Not highlighted |
| Free Hardware | Often included in offers | No, ~£50 ATA |
| Target Audience | Entry: light use; CallGuard: safety-focused | Cost-sensitive/light users |
When comparing Phonely vs Plexatalk, the real difference is protection. Phonely's CallGuard plans offer proactive scam blocking and trusted person support; the £9.97 plan is 1,600 minutes and basic digital voice. Plexatalk has no equivalent to CallGuard—so for safety, the choice is clear.
Plexatalk focuses on low-cost calling. Phonely focuses on proactive protection and peace of mind.
What is Plexatalk?
A budget VoIP option for light users
Plexatalk is a budget residential VoIP provider focused on low entry pricing and flexibility. A quick Plexatalk review of their Plexatalk pricing shows Plexatalk plans start from:
- £4 for 100 UK minutes
- £6 for 250 minutes
- £10 for 500 minutes
- £12.50 for unlimited UK calls (2,000 minute fair use cap)
It's positioned as a DIY-friendly, no-contract option aimed at light users. For households who rarely use the phone, this may seem attractive. However, protection features are limited to basic manual call blocking. There is no proactive scam detection, no suspicious call alerts, no trusted contact monitoring, and no automatic fraud deterrent messaging. So while it may be cheap, it is not designed specifically around scam protection or vulnerable users.
What makes Phonely different?
If you've ever hesitated before answering your home phone, this is why Phonely exists.
Phonely is built around one mission: to help people feel safe answering their phone again. The £9.97 plan gives you 1,600 minutes and basic digital voice. CallGuard plans add the protection Plexatalk doesn't offer:
- Automatic scam blocking (CallGuard) — live block list updated hourly; Plexatalk only offers manual blocking.
- Anti-fraud introduction (CallGuard) — callers hear a message that the call is monitored; deters many scammers.
- Suspicious call alerts (CallGuard) — you are notified immediately if a call looks risky.
- Trusted person support (CallGuard) — nominate a family member to receive alerts, monitor calls, and join live if needed.
Very pleased with all aspects of the Phonely product and service. Smooth hassle-free and my landline was up and running in no time! Great customer service… Faultless service and highly recommended.
Norrie Waters, Trustpilot
Plexatalk pricing vs Phonely pricing
Plexatalk clearly wins on headline price. £4 per month looks attractive. But you must consider: minutes are limited at lower tiers; Plexatalk unlimited calls have a 2,000 minute fair use cap; and hardware costs around £50 one-off. Phonely's £9.97 plan is 1,600 UK minutes and basic digital voice—no scam blocking, alerts or trusted person. CallGuard plans add unlimited UK calls plus scam blocking, anti-fraud introduction, recording, alerts, and live joining.
So the question becomes: Are you choosing based on price alone… or on protection and features? You can keep your existing landline number and switch to digital voice easily with Phonely.
Switching is simple and you can keep your existing number.
If you want straightforward pricing without setup charges or annual price rises. View Phonely's plans →
Is Plexatalk safe?
Standard VoIP features, but limited scam protection
Plexatalk offers standard VoIP features including voicemail, caller ID and manual call blocking. It does not offer automatic scam blocking, live fraud detection, keyword alerts, or trusted person escalation. If is Plexatalk safe is your main concern, or you want Plexatalk scam protection and Plexatalk call blocking beyond manual lists, Phonely's CallGuard plans provide significantly more layers of protection than either Plexatalk or Phonely's entry plan.
Quick answers
Does Plexatalk block scam calls automatically? No. Plexatalk offers manual call blocking only—you choose which numbers to block. There is no automatic Plexatalk scam protection or live block list.
Does Plexatalk offer call monitoring? No. Plexatalk does not monitor calls, record them, or alert a trusted person. For call monitoring and scam detection, you need a provider like Phonely CallGuard.
Does Plexatalk warn you about suspicious numbers? No. There are no suspicious-call alerts or keyword warnings. If you want warnings about risky callers, look at Plexatalk alternatives with built-in scam protection.
Safety feature comparison (Phonely = CallGuard)
| Feature | Plexatalk | Phonely CallGuard |
|---|---|---|
| Basic manual call blocking | ||
| Live scam protection | ||
| Trusted person support |
Plexatalk has basic manual call blocking only; Phonely CallGuard has manual blocking, live scam protection and trusted person support.
Who should choose which?
Who should choose Plexatalk?
Plexatalk may suit you if you rarely use your landline, you are confident managing technical setup, scam protection is not a major concern, and you want the lowest possible monthly fee. It is positioned for cost-sensitive or light-usage households.
Who should choose Phonely?
The £9.97 plan suits light users who want a simple digital landline. CallGuard plans are better suited if you want proactive scam protection, worry about nuisance or fraud calls, are switching due to the PSTN switch-off, want family involvement for added safety, or prefer simplicity over managing settings.
CallGuard is particularly popular with over-60s, families buying for parents, vulnerable or isolated users, and households who want peace of mind.
Digital voice guide for over 60sTrusted by police forces · Used by Trading Standards · Thousands of UK households protected
Final verdict: Phonely or Plexatalk?
If your only priority is the cheapest possible VoIP line, then Plexatalk may work for you. If your priority is feeling safe answering the phone, then Phonely's CallGuard is built specifically for that purpose.
When comparing Phonely vs Plexatalk, the real difference is not price alone. It is protection. The £9.97 plan gives you minutes; CallGuard gives you peace of mind. In 2026, as landlines move fully to digital, the choice is clear.
Explore Phonely's plansRelated: Best digital landline UK · Phonely vs BT · Phonely vs EE · Phonely vs Vodafone
Looking for a safer Plexatalk alternative?
CallGuard plans include unlimited call blocking, proactive scam deterrence, trusted person support, UK-based team, and simple switching with number porting. Explore Phonely's plans and see why thousands of households are moving to a safer way to stay connected.
Switch to safer calling todayPhonely is trusted by police forces, Trading Standards, Neighbourhood Watch and the Alzheimer's Society, and has been featured on the BBC.
View press coverageFrequently asked questions
Phonely vs Plexatalk: pricing, safety and digital landline comparison
Plexatalk has a lower entry price (£4 for 100 UK minutes) compared to Phonely (£9.97 per month for 1,600 UK minutes). Unlimited UK calls are available on Phonely's CallGuard plans, which also include scam blocking, anti-fraud introduction, call recording, alerts and trusted person support. Plexatalk unlimited plans have a 2,000 minute fair use cap and hardware costs around £50. So Plexatalk wins on headline price; Phonely offers more protection and features for the money on CallGuard.
Plexatalk offers basic manual call blocking only. It does not include automatic scam blocking, live block list updates, anti-fraud introduction messages, suspicious call alerts, or trusted person monitoring. For proactive scam protection, Phonely's CallGuard plans are built specifically around safety features including hourly-updated block lists and fraud deterrent messaging.
Yes. Phonely supports number porting so you can keep your existing landline number when you switch to a digital landline. You can transfer your number easily when signing up.
The best Plexatalk alternative for scam protection and peace of mind is a UK-based VoIP or digital landline provider that includes automatic scam blocking, call monitoring and trusted person alerts. Phonely's CallGuard plans offer exactly that: a digital landline with built-in scam protection, UK-based support, and simple number porting. Ideal if you want a VoIP service that protects you instead of just supplying minutes.
Phonely's CallGuard plans are built specifically for safety: they include automatic scam blocking with hourly block list updates, anti-fraud call introductions, suspicious call alerts, trusted person alerts, and call recording. For households who want the safest digital landline experience in the UK—especially over-60s, families buying for parents, or vulnerable users—CallGuard offers significantly more protection layers than budget-focused providers like Plexatalk or Phonely's entry plan.
Other comparisons
See all providers in our best digital landline UK guide.
