In today’s world for fast and better connectivity every business needs virtual number and virtual phone numbers play significant role in this to streamline business communication that scale globally, and track customer engagement with attribution. Whether you are a startup, an agency, or an enterprise, choosing the right provider can give you the edge in customer experience and marketing ROI.
Earlier people use traditional landline or sim card but as per today fast growing startup and business need virtual number for better and advanced services. In this article you can choose the best UK virtual phone number providers and compare them which is best and suitable provider with more and better service that take your business to the new heights.
What Is a UK Virtual Phone Number?
A UK virtual phone number is a telephone number that isn’t tied to a specific physical phone line or SIM card. Instead, it works using the internet (VoIP technology), allowing you to make and receive calls on any device—your smartphone, laptop, tablet, or even a softphone app.
You can get a local UK number, toll-free number , or WhatsApp virtual number and route calls to wherever you are. It looks just like a regular phone number to the person calling, but it gives you the freedom to manage business calls on your terms.
Types of Virtual Numbers Available in the UK
In 2025, you can choose from several types of virtual numbers based on your needs:
- Local Numbers (01/02 codes) – Great for building trust with local customers.
- Mobile Numbers (07 codes) – Offer flexibility and familiarity.
- Toll-Free Numbers (0800/0808) – Allow customers to call you at no cost, ideal for support lines or nationwide marketing.
What are the Key Benefits of Using Virtual Phone Numbers
Here’s how virtual phone numbers can boost your business in 2025:
1. Enhanced Customer Experience
Route calls to the right person or department instantly. No more missed calls or long wait times.
2. Improved Marketing Attribution
Use different virtual numbers for different ad campaigns or landing pages. This helps you track which channels are delivering real results.
3. Easy Setup and Management
No hardware, no wires. Everything runs through the cloud, and you can manage it via a simple dashboard or mobile app.
4. Better Work-Life Balance
Keep your personal number private and set business hours for calls to maintain boundaries.
5. Global Reach
You can have a UK number even if you’re based abroad—or get numbers from other countries if you’re UK-based and want to go international.
6. Smart Features
Many virtual phone systems offer features like voicemail-to-email, call recording, auto-attendants, call forwarding, and analytics.
How Do Virtual Phone Numbers Work?
Virtual numbers work via the internet using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Here’s a simplified breakdown:
- You choose a number – This could be a local number (e.g., London or Manchester), a mobile-style number, or a toll-free one.
- You set where it rings – Calls can be routed to your mobile, desktop, or call center.
- You manage settings online – Configure voicemails, business hours, call routing, or add teammates—all from a dashboard.
- You track calls – Use analytics to see call volume, sources, duration, and more.
How to Buy a UK Virtual Phone Number with Atlas
- Sign up on the Atlas Portal.
- Choose the UK as your target country.
- Select a city or region in the UK for your virtual number.
- Pick your preferred UK number (local or mobile).
- Choose a plan that fits your needs and make the payment.
- Start using your number right away to make and receive calls with your UK virtual phone number
Why Are Virtual Numbers So Popular in 2025?
The rise in hybrid teams, cloud-based communication tools, and data-driven marketing has made virtual numbers more valuable than ever. Here’s why they’re booming:
- Flexibility: You can answer calls from anywhere—your home, office, or on the go.
- Scalability: Easily add new numbers for different campaigns, departments, or employees.
- Professionalism: A dedicated business number (instead of using your personal mobile) makes you look more credible.
- Marketing Insight: You can track where your leads are coming from by assigning different virtual numbers to different ads or platforms.
- Cost-effective: There’s no need for costly hardware or traditional phone systems.
Who Should Use a Virtual Phone Number?
Almost any business can benefit, but virtual phone numbers are especially useful for:
- Startups and businesses needing a dedicated business line
- Digital marketers who want to track campaign performance
- Customer support teams needing multiple lines or call routing
- Remote teams working from different locations
- Enterprises managing regional numbers or international support
Common Use Cases
Here are some real-world examples of how businesses in the UK use virtual phone numbers:
- Marketing campaigns with a unique number for each Facebook ad or billboard
- Call tracking for Google Ads or SEO landing pages
- Dedicated numbers for departments (Sales, Support, HR, etc.)
- Temporary numbers for short-term promotions or seasonal offers
- Remote agents receiving calls across different time zones
Things to Consider Before Choosing a Virtual Number Provider
When selecting a virtual number solution, keep the following in mind:
- Ease of setup and management
- Call quality and uptime
- Features like call routing, analytics, recording, etc.
- Customer support availability
- Pricing transparency
- Integration with your CRM or marketing tools
Here is the list of the Top 11 UK Virtual Phone Number Providers:
1. CallAtlas – Virtual Phone Number Provider For UK
Best for: Marketing agencies, Pay-per-call networks, Lead generation
CallAtlas is not just a virtual number provider—it’s a full-fledged call tracking and attribution platform. With deep analytics, real-time monitoring, and custom call routing, CallAtlas empowers businesses to measure exactly which ads and keywords drive inbound calls.
Key Features:
- Virtual UK numbers (local, mobile, toll-free)
- Dynamic number insertion (DNI)
- CRM and ad platform integrations
- Call scoring, recording & analytics
- Pay-per-call tracking and campaign attribution
Free Trial: Yes
Ideal For: Agencies, performance marketers, call-based sales teams
2. RingCentral – Best Virtual Mobile Phone Number UK
Best for: Cloud communication and collaboration
RingCentral offers virtual numbers as part of a robust cloud PBX system. It’s a great choice for UK businesses looking to unify messaging, video, and voice in one platform.
Key Features:
- UK and international virtual numbers
- VoIP calling and SMS
- Mobile & desktop apps
- Advanced call handling
3. Grasshopper
Best for: Solopreneurs and small businesses
Grasshopper helps small teams appear professional with multiple UK phone numbers and extensions. Simple, mobile-first, and user-friendly.
Key Features:
- Call forwarding
- Voicemail transcription
- Business texting
- Toll-free and local options
4. Vonage
Best for: Developers and programmable voice solutions
Vonage provides flexible APIs for businesses that want to integrate voice, SMS, and even WhatsApp messaging with their apps.
Key Features:
- UK virtual numbers via API
- Developer-friendly
- Global communication tools
- Good for startups with tech teams
5. 8×8
Best for: Enterprise-grade communication
8×8 offers virtual numbers with rich PBX features, ideal for larger teams managing high call volumes and internal collaboration.
Key Features:
- Global number coverage
- Call analytics
- Video conferencing
- Microsoft Teams integration
6. Freshcaller by Freshworks
Best for: Customer support teams
Freshcaller (now part of Freshdesk Contact Center) allows customer service teams to operate with local virtual numbers in the UK and globally.
Key Features:
- Cloud-based call center
- Call recording & IVR
- Smart escalations
- Easy integration with CRMs
7. OpenPhone
Best for: Remote-first teams and startups
OpenPhone gives startups a modern phone system with collaboration features, shared numbers, and Slack-style messaging.
Key Features:
- Local UK numbers
- Voicemail transcription
- Team messaging
- CRM integration
8. Sonetel
Best for: Global startups on a budget
Sonetel is popular among entrepreneurs and small companies looking for affordable international virtual numbers.
Key Features:
- Free trial
- Voicemail to email
- In-app calls
- Pay-as-you-go pricing
9. Ooma Office
Best for: Brick-and-mortar businesses expanding online
Ooma provides affordable VoIP with UK numbers and deskphone integration—perfect for businesses bridging online and offline sales.
Key Features:
- Call forwarding
- Business hours setup
- Virtual receptionist
- Mobile access
10. Aircall
Best for: Sales and support teams needing fast setup
Aircall helps sales and support teams connect with leads using virtual UK numbers and real-time call insights.
Key Features:
- Quick onboarding
- Power dialer
- CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce)
- UK & international numbers
11. Dialpad
Best for: AI-powered calling and transcription
Dialpad blends VoIP with built-in AI tools to transcribe calls, track sentiment, and provide real-time coaching—great for modern sales teams.
Key Features:
- AI call summaries
- HD VoIP
- Seamless device switching
- Built-in analytics
How to Choose the Right Virtual Phone Number Provider?
When selecting a provider, consider:
- Type of numbers: Local, mobile, or toll-free?
- Call tracking needs: Do you want campaign-level insights?
- Integrations: CRM, ad platforms, helpdesk software?
- Volume: Are you handling hundreds of calls daily?
For agencies and marketers who need detailed call attribution, campaign ROI tracking, and publisher-level insights, CallAtlas is the ideal platform to go beyond basic virtual numbers.
Conclusion:
Virtual phone numbers are no longer a luxury—they’re a business necessity in 2025. Whether you’re focused on growing your brand, optimizing ad spend, or simply staying connected with your customers, having a flexible and trackable phone system is key.
As the UK business landscape continues to shift toward digital-first operations, virtual numbers give you the tools to stay agile, efficient, and customer-focused.
Frequently Asked Questions
A virtual phone number is a cloud-based number that isn’t tied to a physical SIM or landline. It lets you make and receive calls from any internet-connected device.
Virtual numbers route incoming calls over the internet to your chosen devices or team members, making it easy to manage business calls remotely or at scale.
Yes, virtual numbers are often used in marketing to track calls from different campaigns, allowing you to see which ads are generating leads or sales.
Yes, they are completely legal in the UK and widely used by businesses for customer support, sales, and remote team communication.
Virtual numbers offer flexibility, lower costs, call tracking, scalability, and features like call recording, analytics, and multi-device access—without the need for physical infrastructure.
