Comparison
Phonely vs Sky Digital Voice: Which Landline Replacement Is Better in 2026?
If you're comparing Phonely vs Sky Digital Voice, you're likely moving away from a traditional copper landline. Sky's VoIP service is branded as Internet Calls; Phonely is a standalone digital landline designed for simplicity and scam protection. Both replace your old landline—but they are structured very differently.
For a full overview see our guide to the best digital landline providers in the UK.
Quick comparison: Phonely vs Sky Digital Voice
Here are the key differences to help you decide.
Phonely's advanced protection (scam blocking, call recording, keyword alerts, trusted person) is on CallGuard plans. Sky bundles telephony with broadband and offers basic Talk Shield only.
| Feature | Phonely | Sky Digital Voice (Internet Calls) |
|---|---|---|
| Broadband Required | ||
| Phone-Only Option | ||
| Line Rental | Included | £18.99 per month |
| Pay As You Talk | Included in plans | 27p/min + 25p connection fee |
| Unlimited UK Calls | From £14.98 | £16–17 add-on (60-min cap per call) |
| Contract Length | 12 months | 12–24 months |
| Annual Price Rises | Transparent | Built into contracts |
| Advanced Scam Protection | CallGuard | Basic Talk Shield only |
| Call Recording | CallGuard | |
| Keyword Alerts | CallGuard | |
| Mobile App Access |
When comparing Phonely vs Sky Digital Voice, the difference is bundling versus independence. Phonely's CallGuard plans offer advanced scam protection and standalone pricing; Sky ties your phone to broadband and long contracts.
Sky bundles telephony into broadband. Phonely provides a standalone protected digital landline.
What is Sky Digital Voice?
Sky's VoIP product is called Internet Calls
Sky's VoIP product is called Internet Calls. It replaces your traditional landline and plugs directly into your Sky Hub. Important points: it requires Sky broadband; there is no standalone phone-only option; line rental is £18.99 per month.
Call pricing options include:
- Pay As You Talk: 27p per minute + 25p connection fee
- Evenings & Weekends add-on: approx £8 per month
- Anytime Extra: approx £16–17 per month (calls capped at 60 minutes per call)
Broadband contracts are typically 18–24 months. Annual price rises are built into contracts.
What makes Phonely different?
If you are simply replacing your landline, the structure matters.
Phonely is not tied to a broadband contract.
- No broadband lock-in — Sky Digital Voice requires Sky broadband. If you switch broadband provider, your phone service changes too. Phonely works with any broadband provider. You are not locked to one ISP.
- No 24-month telecom contracts — Sky broadband contracts commonly run 18–24 months. Phonely offers a 12-month term. Shorter commitments mean more flexibility.
- Advanced scam protection (CallGuard) — Sky includes basic Talk Shield call screening. Phonely goes further with automatic scam blocking, anti-fraud call introduction, keyword alerts, live call joining and trusted person support. These features are not included with Sky. For vulnerable households, this difference is significant.
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
Pricing comparison: the full picture
At first glance, Sky appears simple because it is bundled. But the structure includes: £18.99 line rental; per-minute charges unless you add a bundle; £16–17 for unlimited calls; a 60-minute cap per call; long broadband contracts; and built-in annual price increases.
Phonely provides clear standalone pricing without requiring broadband switching. When comparing Phonely vs Sky Digital Voice, the choice is between bundled convenience and independent, predictable pricing.
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 long broadband contracts or bundled lock-in. View Phonely's plans →
Is Sky Digital Voice safe?
Standard calling features; limited scam protection
Sky supports standard calling features: caller display, voicemail, 1471, anonymous call reject. However, there is no advanced scam detection, no AI fraud filtering, no live call joining and no mobile app backup solution. If broadband or power fails, the phone stops working—this is true of most VoIP services. The difference is protection level.
Protection comparison (Phonely = CallGuard)
| Feature | Sky Digital Voice | Phonely CallGuard |
|---|---|---|
| Basic call screening (Talk Shield) | ||
| Advanced scam blocking | ||
| Trusted person support |
Other important considerations
What to know before choosing Sky
No independent VoIP adapter
Voice is tied to Sky Hub; there is no standalone VoIP adapter option.
Locked into Sky Hub
Hardware is locked to Sky; you cannot use a generic ATA with another provider and keep the same bundle.
Unlimited calls add-on
Unlimited calls require a paid add-on (approx £16 - £17 per month).
Call duration caps
Calls are capped at 60 minutes per call on unlimited add-ons.
Bundling may feel convenient—but it reduces flexibility.
Who should choose which?
Who should choose Sky Digital Voice?
Sky may suit you if you already have Sky broadband, you prefer bundled billing, you are comfortable with longer contracts, and scam protection is not your main concern.
Who should choose Phonely?
Phonely may be better if you want a standalone phone service, you do not want broadband lock-in, scam protection is your priority, you want predictable pricing, or you are supporting an elderly family member.
Phonely is built to help people feel safe answering the phone again.
Digital voice guide for over 60sTrusted by police forces · Used by Trading Standards · Thousands of UK households protected
Final verdict: Phonely or Sky Digital Voice?
When comparing Phonely vs Sky Digital Voice, the core difference is independence.
Sky ties your phone to broadband and long-term contracts. Phonely separates your phone service and focuses on protection. If you value flexibility, safety and transparent pricing, Phonely is designed for that purpose.
Explore Phonely's plansRelated: Best digital landline UK · Phonely vs BT · Phonely vs EE · Phonely vs Vodafone
Looking for a safer Sky Digital Voice alternative?
If you want no broadband lock-in, advanced scam protection, clear monthly pricing, trusted person support and simple switching—explore Phonely's digital landline plans today.
Protect your home phone nowPhonely 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 Sky Digital Voice: pricing, broadband and digital landline comparison
Yes. Sky Digital Voice (Internet Calls) requires Sky broadband and plugs into your Sky Hub. There is no standalone phone-only option. Phonely works with any broadband provider and does not require you to switch or bundle.
Sky includes basic Talk Shield call screening. It does not offer advanced scam detection, AI fraud filtering, live call joining or trusted person support. Phonely's CallGuard plans include automatic scam blocking, anti-fraud introduction, keyword alerts and trusted person monitoring.
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 Sky Digital Voice alternative for scam protection and flexibility is a standalone UK digital landline that works with any broadband provider. Phonely offers no broadband lock-in, advanced scam blocking, clear monthly pricing and trusted person support—ideal if you want protection without bundling with an ISP.
Other comparisons
See all providers in our best digital landline UK guide.
