6 Best Cloud Phone Systems for Small Businesses in South Africa

Selecting a cloud phone system for your small business comes down to finding a solution that keeps your team connected across the office, at home, and on mobile devices.

We have rounded up six cloud phone systems trusted by businesses in South Africa, from hosted PBX platforms to Microsoft Teams integrations, so you can compare features and pricing in one place.

Browse the options below and contact United Telecoms for a personalised recommendation built around your specific needs.

How Much Does a Cloud Phone System for a Small Business Cost in South Africa?

Budget is often the first concern when small business owners explore replacing or upgrading their current phone system setup. Costs vary depending on the number of users, features required, and whether you need desk phones.

The table below outlines what to expect for the most common types of solutions.

Solution	Starting Price (excl. VAT)
Cloud PBX / Hosted PBX (per extension)	R50 to R300 per month
Microsoft Teams voice integration	R100 to R200 per month
Basic VoIP phone system (limited features)	R30 to R100 per month
Mobile apps only (no desk phone support)	R30 to R300 per month
Add-on call recording	R100 to R300 per month
Toll-free numbers or international calling add-ons	Varies by usage

Most reliable service providers offer month-to-month contracts for cloud-based phone systems. This means you are never locked into a long-term arrangement and can scale user counts up or down as your team changes.

Browse the six solutions below to compare phone features, unlimited calling options, and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system pricing. Then contact United Telecoms for a quote tailored to your exact business needs.

What factors influence cloud PBX pricing for small businesses?

• Type of system: A fully hosted PBX charges per extension monthly. Entry-level VoIP phone system plans cost less but may offer fewer advanced features.
• Number of users: Most providers price per user. Unlimited users or volume discounts apply once you pass certain thresholds.
• Features required: A basic business phone system with auto attendant and call forwarding costs less than a full unified communications platform with team chat, call recording, and real-time call transcriptions.
• Hardware choices: Mobile apps and desktop app access are typically included. Desk phones or physical VoIP phone handsets add a one-time purchase cost or a monthly rental fee.
• Contract terms: Month-to-month gives you flexibility. Longer commitments may include free handsets or reduced cloud phone system cost for the first year.

Top 6 Cloud Phone Systems for Small Businesses in South Africa

Below are 6 cloud phone system options trusted by South African small businesses.

Each listing includes pricing, key phone features, and device compatibility. Some systems work best with desk phones, others with mobile apps, and many support both.

Compare your options here and contact United Telecoms with any questions

1. United Voice Cloud PBX – A Flexible Hosted System for Growing Teams

Stop paying for on-site hardware you rarely touch. United Voice Cloud hosts your entire phone system off-site and lets staff take voice calls from home, the office, or the road using just a stable internet connection.

Pick from three tiers: Essential for core phone features, Classic for desktop app access, and Pro to turn your smartphone into a working extension. Add seats as your business grows.

How Microsoft Teams Phone works

Teams Phone uses VoIP technology to route business calls through your Microsoft 365 environment. Staff make and receive calls directly in the Teams desktop app or mobile apps, with presence syncing that shows availability in real time across the organisation.

Video calls, instant messaging, and voice calls are managed from a single interface, accessible on desktop, in a browser, or on mobile devices. No separate softphone, no switching between platforms.

Features that set this platform apart

• Unified workspace – Phone calls, video meetings, team messaging, and file sharing in a single interface
• Video conferencing – Host meetings with up to 300 participants for up to 30 hours per session
• Mobile and desktop apps – Full calling functionality across iOS, Android, and desktop apps on PC or Mac
• Real-time call transcriptions – Automatic meeting transcripts and live captions across 30 languages on eligible plans
• Call recording – Record meetings and business calls with transcripts stored in the cloud
• Instant messaging – Team chat between colleagues and external contacts without leaving Teams
• Advanced call routing – Route calls to individuals, call queues, or ring groups based on availability
• Integration with business tools – Connect with over 250 existing tools across the Microsoft ecosystem and third-party platforms
• Scalable user management – Add or remove users without changing your core infrastructure

Pricing and terms for Microsoft Teams Phone

Microsoft Teams plans are priced in USD and billed annually per user:

Microsoft 365 plan: Teams Essentials from USD$4.00 per user per month. Business Basic from USD$6.00 per user per month. Business Standard from USD$12.50 per user per month. All prices exclude VAT and require an annual subscription.

United Telecoms integration: United Voice Cloud’s MS Teams integration unlocks full PBX features inside Teams, including call recording, SMS, voicemail, advanced call routing, and presence syncing, for R115 per extension per month (excl. VAT). This uses your existing Microsoft 365 subscription with no additional Microsoft Teams Phone licensing required.

Contract terms: Microsoft plans can be billed on a monthly or annual basis. The United Telecoms MS Teams integration runs on a month-to-month basis.

Suitable for:

Businesses already using Microsoft 365 that want to consolidate their business communications into a single platform, and South African teams looking to unlock full PBX calling capabilities inside Teams without additional Microsoft licensing costs.

Contact United Telecoms to find out how the UVC MS Teams integration works with your current Microsoft 365 setup.

4. ECN Cloud PBX – Feature-Rich Cloud Phone System With Advanced Call Controls

ECN’s Cloud PBX stands out for the depth of its call management features. Where most cloud phone systems cover the basics, ECN adds supervisor tools, granular routing controls, and multi-device call handling that suit businesses managing higher inbound call volumes.

How the ECN Cloud PBX works

The system is hosted at the internet service provider level and connects staff through SIP desk phones, a desktop softphone, or the ECN mobile app for Android and iOS. Inbound calls ring simultaneously on all registered devices, with the platform automatically handling routing, queuing, and time-based rules.

Features that set this platform apart

• Call monitoring – Supervisors can listen in silently, whisper instructions to an agent, or join a live call directly for real-time training and quality management
• Call forking – Inbound calls ring across up to five registered devices per extension simultaneously
• Hunt groups – Route inbound calls in sequential, random, simultaneous, or least-used order across extension groups
• Time-based routing – Direct incoming calls to different destinations based on time of day or day of week
• Call park and pickup – Park an active call and retrieve it from any other extension on the system
• Call barring – Restrict outbound calls on a per-extension basis, including blocking international calling where needed
• Multi-level auto attendant – Configure layered menus with professionally recorded announcements to route callers without a receptionist
• Call queues – Hold callers in the queue with live position and estimated wait time announcements
• Intercom paging – One-way broadcast or two-way peer communication between extensions without picking up a handset
• Music on hold – Upload custom audio files in MP3, WAV, OGG, or AU format

Pricing and terms for ECN Cloud PBX

Monthly service fee: Contact ECN directly for per-extension pricing, as this is not publicly listed.

Contract terms: Month-to-month flexibility with no upfront hardware costs or capital requirements.

Support included: Remote support and automatic platform upgrades included as part of the service.

Suitable for:

Small and medium businesses that need a cloud phone system with more advanced call controls than a standard hosted PBX, particularly teams managing high inbound call volumes and requiring call queuing, supervisor monitoring, and flexible routing rules.

5. Vox Cloud PBX – A Multi-Solution Provider With National Support Coverage

Vox takes a portfolio approach to business telephony, offering several cloud PBX platforms alongside a range of value-added services. Certified engineers are based across Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, making Vox a practical option for businesses that need on-site support across multiple locations.

How Vox Cloud PBX works

Vox offers three cloud phone system options depending on your requirements.

The 3CX Cloud platform is a managed cloud solution with native Microsoft Teams integration, video conferencing, instant messaging, and a built-in contact centre. Verto Supreme is a fully managed cloud PBX with flat per-user pricing and an uncapped voice option. O!Connect is Vox’s dedicated cloud contact centre platform for businesses that need advanced inbound call handling, IVR, and skills-based routing.

All three run on Vox-owned infrastructure with certified engineers available nationally for installation and on-site support.

Features that set this platform apart

• Multiple cloud PBX options – Choose between 3CX Cloud, Verto Supreme, or O!Connect based on your team size and call volume requirements
• Native Microsoft Teams integration – 3CX Cloud connects directly with Teams for unified business communications across voice, video calls, and team chat
• Cloud contact centre – O!Connect adds IVR, skills-based call routing, predictive outbound capabilities, and multi-channel self-service for customer-facing teams
• Compliant call recording – Atmos meets POPI, FICA, FAIS, and CPA requirements with full encryption and audit trails
• Communications Manager – Cloud-based telephone management system that tracks team KPIs, sets per-extension budgets, and bars extensions automatically when spend limits are reached
• Voice on hold – Professional voice artist recordings customised to your brand and uploaded directly to your phone system
• Fibre and voice bundles – Combine your internet connection, voice lines, and PBX into a single monthly package
• Advanced SLA options – Mission-critical support plans with rapid response times, dedicated service delivery managers, and hardware replacement guarantees
• National engineer network – Certified installation and support engineers across major South African cities

Pricing and terms for Vox Cloud PBX

Monthly service fee: Pricing varies by platform and is not publicly listed. Contact Vox directly for a quote based on your user count and requirements.

Contract terms: Month-to-month and fixed-term options available depending on the platform selected.

Support included: Remote and on-site support available nationwide through Vox’s network of certified engineers.

Suitable for:

Businesses operating across multiple locations that need on-site engineering support, compliance-grade call recording, and the option to scale into a full cloud contact centre as their team grows.

6. Zoom Phone – A Global VoIP Phone System With Built-In AI Features

The Zoom Phone app extends the Zoom platform, which most teams already use for video meetings, into a full cloud phone system. It is the most internationally recognised platform on this list, with over 10 million users globally and five consecutive years as a Gartner Magic Quadrant leader for unified communications.

How Zoom Phone works

The Zoom Phone app routes business calls through the same application your team uses for video meetings and team chat. Voice calls, video calls, instant messaging, and SMS are handled from a single desktop app or mobile app, with presence status visible across the organisation. Businesses with an existing carrier can migrate gradually using the Bring Your Own Carrier option, or switch directly to Zoom Phone’s own voice network.

Features that set this platform apart

• Built-in AI companion – Generates post-call summaries, extracts tasks from voicemails, and prioritises messages automatically at no additional cost
• AI virtual receptionist – 24/7 automated attendant that greets callers, answers common questions, books appointments, and routes calls without human intervention
• Integrated workspace – Voice calls, video meetings, team chat, whiteboard, and SMS in one platform without switching between applications
• Call queues and analytics – Power Pack add-on includes call queue management, real-time insights, team SMS, and response templates for high-volume teams
• International calling – Global coverage with metered international calling rates and local phone numbers available across multiple countries
• Call recording – Included across plans with AI-generated transcripts and post-call summaries stored in the cloud
• Device flexibility – Compatible with a wide range of SIP desk phones, desktop apps, and mobile devices on iOS and Android
• BYOC migration – Bring Your Own Carrier option allows a phased migration from your existing phone system to the cloud
• 99.999% uptime SLA – Enterprise-grade reliability backed by a formal service level agreement

Pricing and terms for Zoom Phone

Zoom Phone plans are billed annually in Rands per user:

Monthly service fee: US and Canada Unlimited (Phone and Workplace Basic): R304 per user per month. Pro Plus (Phone and Workplace Pro): R389.50 per user per month. Business Plus (Phone and Workplace Business): R465.50 per user per month. All prices exclude VAT and are billed annually.

Contract terms: An annual subscription is required for listed pricing. Monthly billing available at higher rates.

Support: Live chat support on Pro Plus and above. Phone and web support across all plans.

Suitable for

Businesses that already use Zoom for video meetings and want to consolidate voice calls, team chat, and SMS into the same platform, or teams that handle international calling and need a globally recognised cloud phone system with built-in AI features.

How to Choose the Right Cloud Phone System for Your Small Business

The right cloud phone system depends on how your team works, what tools you already use, and how much control you want over your setup.

Ask yourself:

• How many users need extensions? Smaller teams can start with a few extensions that offer basic features. United Voice Cloud scales from entry-level to full unified communications, with month-to-month pricing and no hardware required. Larger teams with high inbound call volumes may need call queuing, hunt groups, and supervisor monitoring from a platform like ECN or Vox.
• Does your team already use Microsoft 365 or Zoom? Microsoft Teams Phone and Zoom Phone both turn existing platforms into a full business phone system, reducing the need for separate software or additional hardware.
• Do you need hands-on setup support? Switch Telecom assigns a dedicated VoIP specialist to configure your system. Vox offers certified on-site engineers across major South African cities.
• How important is call management depth? A basic business phone system with auto attendant and call forwarding suits most small teams. United Voice Cloud covers both, with built-in CRM integration and advanced reporting. Contact centres or customer-facing teams may need call recording, call monitoring, time-based routing, and real-time analytics.
• Do you want month-to-month flexibility or predictable annual pricing? Most local hosted PBX providers offer month-to-month contracts. Zoom Phone and Microsoft 365 plans can be billed annually.

Not sure which option fits your business? Contact United Telecoms for a recommendation based on your team size, budget, and existing infrastructure.

Final Thoughts on the Best Cloud Phone Systems for Small Business

You now have a clear picture of six cloud phone systems used by South African businesses, what each one costs, and the type of team each one suits best. The next step is matching that information to your own situation.

If you are moving away from traditional phone lines for the first time, a hosted PBX with month-to-month pricing and no on-site hardware is the lowest-friction starting point. Take a look at United Voice Cloud PBX.

If your team already uses Microsoft 365 or Zoom, you may have the foundation for a full business phone system. And if your business handles high inbound call volumes, the call management depth of ECN or Vox’s multi-platform options may be worth a closer look.

United Telecoms has been helping South African businesses select and implement the right phone systems since 1985. Our team provides honest advice, local expertise, and support after your system is live. Ready to find the right cloud phone system for your business? Contact us today.

Looking to explore further before deciding? Our guides on the types of phone systems for small businesses, best office phone system providers, and the complete PBX and PABX systems guide are useful next steps.