Virtually Local vs Air Landline
A detailed look at pricing and features — and why you could save over £80 a year by choosing Virtually Local.
Air Landline is a UK virtual number provider that markets itself on simplicity and speed, promising setup in under three minutes. They offer call forwarding, voicemail with transcripts, smart call routing and an optional call recording feature. The service comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which provides some reassurance for new customers.
However, the pricing tells a very different story to what many businesses might expect. Air Landline's virtual number costs £9.99 per month before VAT — that is £11.99 per month once VAT is added. By contrast, Virtually Local's Essential plan starts at £4.95 per month including VAT, representing a saving of over £84 per year on the base plan alone.
The cost gap widens further if you need outbound calling. With Virtually Local, the outbound calling app is included, allowing you to make calls that display your virtual number on the recipient's phone. Air Landline charges £7.99 per month (£9.59 inc. VAT) as a separate add-on for this functionality. A business wanting both inbound and outbound calling with Air Landline would pay approximately £21.58 per month including VAT — more than four times Virtually Local's entry-level price.
Competitor data correct as of 06/03/2026. Pricing and features are subject to change — please verify directly with the provider.
Virtually Local vs Air Landline: Side-by-Side
| Category | Virtually Local | Air Landline |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (inc. VAT) | £4.95/mo | £11.99/mo |
| Outbound Calling | Included (app) | £9.59/mo extra (inc. VAT) |
| Total Cost with Outbound Calling | From £4.95/mo | £21.58/mo |
| UK Area Codes | 600+ | Limited range |
| Number Porting | Free | Available |
| Call Recording | Included | Optional |
| Voicemail to Email | Included | Included (with transcripts) |
| Setup Fees | None | None |
| Contract Required | No — cancel anytime | No — 30-day money-back |
| Mobile App | Yes (iOS & Android) | Not specified |
| Online Portal | Yes | Yes |
| Prices Include VAT | Yes — always | No — prices exclude VAT |
Air Landline Pricing vs Virtually Local Pricing
Virtually Local Plans
| Plan | Price | Included |
|---|---|---|
| Virtually Essential | £4.95/mo | 150 inbound minutes |
| Virtually Essential+ | £6.95/mo | 300 inbound minutes |
| Virtually Business | £9.95/mo | 1,500 inbound minutes |
| Virtually Unlimited | £18.95/mo | Unlimited inbound minutes |
Air Landline Plans
| Plan | Price | Included | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Number | £9.99/mo | Included | Price excludes VAT (£11.99 inc. VAT). |
| Outbound Calling Add-on | £7.99/mo | N/A | Price excludes VAT (£9.59 inc. VAT). Separate add-on to make calls from your virtual number. |
Air Landline's prices exclude VAT. With both the virtual number and outbound calling add-on, the total cost is approximately £21.58/mo inc. VAT.
Virtually Local's Essential plan begins at just £4.95 per month with 150 inbound minutes included and free setup — making it one of the most competitively priced virtual landline services in the UK. With no long-term contracts and the ability to upgrade at any time, Virtually Local offers flexibility that Air Landline cannot match at the same price point.
Air Landline: Pros and Cons
Pros
Cons
How Virtually Local Compares
Where Air Landline falls short, Virtually Local delivers. With over 600 UK area codes, free setup, outbound calling via the app, and plans from just £4.95 per month, Virtually Local addresses the key limitations highlighted above — giving you better features and better value without the compromises.
The Verdict: Virtually Local vs Air Landline
The pricing comparison between Virtually Local and Air Landline is stark, and it is difficult to see how Air Landline justifies the premium for what is, at its core, a similar service. Virtually Local's Essential plan at £4.95 per month (including VAT) undercuts Air Landline's base plan of £11.99 per month (including VAT) by more than 58%. That is a saving of £84.48 over the course of a year — money that a small business could put to far better use.
The disparity becomes even more pronounced when outbound calling enters the equation. For many businesses, the ability to call customers back from their virtual number rather than their personal mobile is not a luxury — it is a necessity. Virtually Local includes outbound calling via its iOS and Android app across its plans. Air Landline charges £9.59 per month (inc. VAT) on top of the base plan, bringing the total to £21.58 per month. At that price, you could have Virtually Local's Business plan at £9.95 per month with 1,500 included minutes and still save £139.56 per year.
Virtually Local also offers a broader selection of UK area codes — over 600 — giving businesses greater flexibility in choosing local numbers that match their service area. Features such as call recording, voicemail-to-email, time-of-day routing and free number porting are all included as standard, not bolted on as extras.
Air Landline is a perfectly functional service, but on price and included features, Virtually Local offers substantially better value for UK businesses of any size.
Frequently Asked Questions
Air Landline's virtual number costs £9.99 per month excluding VAT, which equates to £11.99 per month including VAT. If you add their outbound calling feature at £7.99+VAT (£9.59 inc. VAT), the total monthly cost rises to approximately £21.58 including VAT.
Yes, significantly. Virtually Local's Essential plan starts at £4.95 per month including VAT, compared to Air Landline's £11.99 per month including VAT. That is a saving of over £84 per year on the base plan alone, with comparable or better features included.
No. Outbound calling is a separate add-on with Air Landline, costing £7.99 per month excluding VAT (£9.59 inc. VAT). Virtually Local includes an outbound calling app for iOS and Android, allowing you to make calls from your virtual number without paying extra.
Yes. Virtually Local offers free number porting, so you can bring your existing virtual number across from Air Landline without charge. Our porting team manages the process to ensure a smooth transition with minimal disruption.
Both providers offer core virtual number features such as call forwarding, voicemail-to-email and call routing. However, Virtually Local includes call recording as standard, while Air Landline treats it as optional. Virtually Local also includes an outbound calling app at no extra cost, offers over 600 UK area codes and provides features like time-of-day routing, call whisper and personalised greetings across its plans.
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