The Lowdown
Air Landline is designed for small businesses and sole traders who want a professional landline number without installing new equipment or signing a long contract. Instead of providing a full VoIP system, it gives you a UK landline number that diverts directly to your existing mobile phone. You get useful extras like personalised greetings, voicemail and call recording – all without changing how you currently take calls.
For some businesses, that simplicity is ideal. But for others, it can feel limiting. Because Air Landline is built around call forwarding rather than a full cloud phone platform, it doesn’t offer the deeper functionality that growing teams may need – such as extensions, advanced routing rules or detailed call analytics.
bOnline takes a different approach. It provides a fully hosted VoIP business phone system, along with broadband options, making it a broader communications solution. If your business expects higher call volumes or multiple users, the difference in capability becomes significant.
What they offer
Air Landline
- A dedicated UK business landline number
- Calls forwarded directly to your mobile
- No contract commitment
- Custom voicemail and greetings
- Call recording functionality
- Out-of-hours and holiday call handling
- Quick setup with no hardware required
bOnline
- Hosted VoIP business phone system
- Unlimited UK landline and mobile calls (on selected plans)
- Call menus and auto attendants
- Extensions for multiple team members
- Desktop and mobile app access
- Business broadband packages available
- Fixed monthly pricing options
bOnline is structured to support businesses that need a scalable phone system rather than just a single number forwarding to a mobile.
VoIP packages comparison
The biggest distinction between the two providers is how calls are handled.
With Air Landline, your business number simply routes to your mobile device. It works seamlessly and requires no new apps or desk phones. Pricing is typically a fixed monthly fee, and there’s no long-term tie-in – making it attractive for freelancers or new businesses testing the waters.
bOnline delivers a cloud-based VoIP system. That means users can operate via desk phones, desktop apps, or mobile apps. It includes more advanced call handling, including structured call menus, user extensions, and reporting tools – features often needed once a business grows beyond a single person.
| Feature | bOnline | Air Landline |
| Business landline number | ✔ | ✔ |
| Forwards to mobile | Optional | ✔ (core feature) |
| Full VoIP phone system | ✔ | ✘ |
| Multiple extensions | ✔ | Limited |
| Mobile & desktop apps | ✔ | ✘ |
| Call recording | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced call routing | ✔ | Basic |
| Contract required | Typically 12 months | No contract |
Professional presence and features
Air Landline is built around convenience. You keep your existing mobile and gain a business landline number that presents a more established image to customers. Custom greetings and voicemail help create a polished first impression, even if you’re operating solo.
bOnline, however, is designed to replicate the structure of a traditional office phone system – without the physical infrastructure. Businesses can create call menus, direct callers to departments, assign extensions, and review performance data. For companies managing inbound sales or support enquiries, that extra structure can make a big difference.
Business fibre comparison
XLN currently offers unlimited 80Mb business fibre broadband for £27.95. It comes with a Plug & Play Router Included (£9.99 P&P) and minimum speed guarantee.
bOnline has a range of different fibre speeds available for customers to choose from. These range from 115mbps at £29.95 / mo to a lightning-speed 1GB Unlimited fibre at £48 / mo.
All bOnline packages come with a Nextgen wireless router, fibre direct to the router, unlimited downloads and guaranteed speeds.
Again, contract length is a consideration here with bOnline contracts lasting just 12 months compared to XLN’s less flexible 24 months.
Bundles and Add-Ons
Air Landline concentrates on virtual landline functionality. It doesn’t bundle broadband or wider telecom services, instead keeping things simple and focused.
bOnline offers a broader telecom package. In addition to VoIP systems, it provides business broadband solutions, meaning small businesses can manage internet and phone services under one provider. For businesses valuing consolidation and centralised billing, that may be appealing.
Summary
Air Landline is well suited to sole traders, start-ups, and very small businesses that want a straightforward, low-cost way to appear more established without investing in a full phone system.
bOnline is better aligned with small businesses that anticipate growth, need structured call handling or that need multiple users and deeper functionality.
If your priority is simplicity and flexibility with no contract, Air Landline may meet your needs. If you’re looking for a scalable communications setup that mirrors a full office system, bOnline provides the broader toolkit.
If you’re considering using bOnline for your VoIP service then please contact the friendly customer service team via their contact page who will be more than happy to give you a like-for-like comparison.
