In short: This cloud phone system comparison sets six platforms side by side: hosted 3CX, Microsoft Teams Phone, Forever UC, Forever Teams, Webex Calling and BT Cloud Voice. The main differences are the licensing model, where users make calls, call centre depth and Microsoft 365 fit. The right choice depends on how your team works.
How to use this comparison
Every platform here handles the everyday basics well: numbers, extensions, menus, ring groups, voicemail to email, transfer, desk phones and apps. Rather than ranking them, this page shows where they differ, so you can shortlist two and compare them on your own call flows.
The deciding questions are usually:
- Do your staff already spend the day in Microsoft Teams?
- Do you pay per user, or would licensing by simultaneous calls suit you better?
- How much call centre and CRM capability do you need?
- Do you want one supplier for lines and calls, or to choose them separately?
If terms such as hunt group or simultaneous calls are new, our phone system features glossary explains them.
Licensing, apps and devices
| Platform | Licensing model | Apps | Desk phones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosted 3CX | Annual licence per system, by edition and simultaneous calls; SIP trunks separate | Web client, Windows, iOS, Android | A wide range of supported SIP phones and DECT |
| Microsoft Teams Phone | Per user per month on a qualifying Microsoft 365 or Teams plan (included in E5), plus a PSTN option | Teams on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and web | Teams-certified phones; compatible SIP phones through SIP Gateway |
| Forever UC | Per-user tiers (Standard, Plus, Contact); contracts from 12 months | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac | Optional |
| Forever Teams | Teams Phone licensing supplied by Forever Group, with itemised call billing over Direct Routing | Teams on iOS, Android, Windows and Mac | Optional, Teams-certified |
| Webex Calling | Per-user Professional or Standard, plus Workspace for shared phones | Webex App on desktop and mobile | Cisco phones and analogue adapters |
| BT Cloud Voice | Per-user feature packs from BT | Desktop and mobile apps | Yes, see BT Cloud Voice handsets |
Pricing for every platform is 'ask us for a quote'. Our cloud phone system cost guide explains what drives each model.
Call centre, recording, CRM and Microsoft 365
| Platform | Call centre features | Call recording | CRM | Microsoft 365 fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hosted 3CX | Queues, wallboard and contact centre tools on PRO and AI; AI Agents and call transcription on AI; live chat and SMS on every edition, WhatsApp and Facebook on PRO and AI | Built in on SMB Free, PRO and AI (not Basic); AI transcription on the AI edition | Native integrations on PRO and AI | Microsoft 365 integration on PRO and AI; Teams Direct Routing integration on AI at 16 SC and above |
| Microsoft Teams Phone | Auto attendants and call queues; Queues app with Teams Premium; Teams Phone Agent; Dynamics 365 Contact Center or third parties | Automatic recording for call queues; compliance recording through certified third-party products | Dynamics 365 and third-party connectors | Native |
| Forever UC | Call queue in every tier; live contact centre reports on Forever UC Contact | Plus and Contact tiers, kept for 180 days | Ask us | Runs alongside Microsoft 365 as a separate app |
| Forever Teams | Teams menus, department groups and call queues | Optional | As Teams Phone | Native, inside Teams |
| Webex Calling | Call queues; Webex Calling Customer Assist; Webex Contact Center | Depends on licence type | Through Webex integrations; check per CRM | Webex Calling integration for Microsoft Teams on Professional (User) and Standard |
| BT Cloud Voice | Hunt groups and call queues | Available, see BT Cloud Voice call recording | Ask us | Teams integration, see BT Cloud Voice with Microsoft Teams |
For deeper contact centre needs, compare these with Forever Group Cloud Contact Center on our cloud contact centre page. For recording rules, see business call recording.
Who each platform tends to suit
| Platform | Often suits |
|---|---|
| Hosted 3CX | Reception, sales and support teams wanting queues, wallboards and CRM integration in one licence; organisations that want to choose their own SIP trunk or run on-premise |
| Microsoft Teams Phone | Organisations already working in Microsoft 365 and Teams, with a choice of Microsoft, an operator or Direct Routing as carrier |
| Forever UC | Mobile and hybrid teams wanting an app-first service with simple tiers, built on Cisco BroadSoft technology and hosted on the BT Wholesale network in the UK |
| Forever Teams | Teams users who want to keep their existing numbers and have one UK supplier for licences and calls |
| Webex Calling | Cisco estates and Webex meetings users, and moves from an on-premises Cisco PBX |
| BT Cloud Voice | Organisations wanting BT as a single supplier for lines, broadband and phones |
These are tendencies, not rules. A Microsoft 365 organisation might still choose 3CX for its call handling, and a Cisco estate might still choose Teams.
Head-to-head comparisons
- 3CX vs Teams: per-system against per-user licensing, call centre depth and the hybrid option
- Webex Calling vs Teams: Cisco against Microsoft, and using Webex Calling inside Teams
- Direct Routing vs Operator Connect vs Calling Plans: the ways to connect Teams to the phone network
- Hosted vs on-premise phone systems: whether to move to the cloud at all
- Where BT Cloud Voice fits: BT's hosted service in context
BT Cloud Voice is supplied by our BT Business Partner sister company, Forever Communications Limited, through cloudvoice.cloud.
Get a side-by-side quote
Tell us your users, sites, numbers, current system and how your calls are handled today. We will shortlist the platforms that fit, compare them on like-for-like terms, and explain the trade-offs plainly. We supply all six platforms across Forever Group, so the recommendation follows your needs.
Contact us for a cloud phone system comparison and quote.
Why choose your cloud phone system with Forever Systems
We are vendor-neutral. Forever Group supplies and supports several cloud phone platforms, so we recommend the one that fits how your organisation works rather than the one we happen to sell.
- Side-by-side comparison of hosted 3CX, Microsoft Teams Phone, Forever UC, Forever Teams and Webex Calling for your users
- Contact centre and call recording options matched to your call volumes and CRM
- Number porting, handsets and set-up handled for you, including the move off analogue and ISDN lines
- Connectivity checked so call quality is right from day one
- UK support for moves, adds, changes and faults
- For BT Cloud Voice, see our BT Business Partner site cloudvoice.cloud
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. We do not sell consumer phone services.
Want a vendor-neutral cloud phone system comparison and quote?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
What is the best cloud phone system in the UK?
There is no single answer. Teams Phone suits organisations working in Microsoft 365, hosted 3CX suits teams needing deep call handling, Forever UC suits app-first teams, Webex Calling suits Cisco estates and BT Cloud Voice suits those wanting BT as one supplier. We compare them on your needs.
How do I compare cloud phone systems?
Compare the licensing model, where users will make calls, call centre and recording needs, CRM integration, Microsoft 365 fit, devices and contract terms. Then price your shortlist on like-for-like terms, including numbers, devices and set-up.
Which cloud phone system works with Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams Phone and Forever Teams work natively in Teams. Hosted 3CX offers a Teams Direct Routing integration on its AI edition at 16 simultaneous calls and above, Webex Calling has an integration for Microsoft Teams, and BT Cloud Voice has a Teams integration.
Can I keep my numbers if I change cloud phone system?
Usually, yes. UK geographic and non-geographic numbers can normally be ported between providers. See our number porting guide, and we manage the port for you.
How much does a cloud phone system cost?
It depends on the platform's licensing model, users, call needs, devices and contract term. Ask us for a quote that compares your shortlist side by side.