Virtually Local vs ONSIM

ONSIM takes a different approach to virtual landlines, offering a network-level service that operates either through call diverting or via a physical SIM/eSIM inserted into your phone. This means the service does not rely on an app or internet connection, which can be an advantage in areas with poor data coverage. Their single plan costs £5 per month excluding VAT (£6 including VAT) and includes 2,500 forwarding minutes in divert mode or 5,000 minutes in SIM/eSIM mode.

The simplicity of ONSIM's offering is both its strength and its limitation. For someone who simply needs calls forwarded to their mobile with no frills, it does the job. However, ONSIM lacks many of the features that growing businesses rely on. There is no call recording, no voicemail-to-email, no time-of-day routing and no online portal for managing settings. It is a single-tier product with no upgrade path, so as your business grows, ONSIM cannot grow with you.

Virtually Local, at £4.95 per month including VAT, is not only cheaper but offers a comprehensive suite of business features from day one. The ability to scale from the Essential plan through to Unlimited as your call volume increases, combined with features like the outbound calling app, call recording and advanced call distribution, makes Virtually Local a far more versatile solution for businesses at any stage.

Competitor data correct as of 06/03/2026. Pricing and features are subject to change — please verify directly with the provider.

Virtually Local vs ONSIM: Side-by-Side

ONSIM Pricing vs Virtually Local Pricing

Virtually Local Plans

ONSIM Plans

ONSIM offers a single plan at £5/mo excluding VAT (£6 inc. VAT). There are no higher tiers or feature add-ons available.

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 ONSIM cannot match at the same price point.

ONSIM: Pros and Cons

The Verdict: Virtually Local vs ONSIM

ONSIM and Virtually Local serve different needs, and for many UK businesses, the differences are significant. ONSIM is a straightforward, network-level call forwarding service. It does one thing — redirecting calls to your phone — and it does it reliably. The SIM-based approach means it works independently of internet connectivity, which is a genuine advantage in rural areas with patchy mobile data.

However, the moment you need anything beyond basic call forwarding, ONSIM reaches its ceiling. There is no call recording — an increasingly important feature for dispute resolution and training purposes. There is no voicemail-to-email, meaning missed calls require you to manually check a voicemail box. There is no time-of-day routing, so you cannot automatically send after-hours calls to voicemail or a colleague. And there is no online portal for managing your settings remotely.

Virtually Local addresses all of these needs and more, starting at £4.95 per month including VAT — £1.05 per month less than ONSIM's £6 (inc. VAT). That lower price comes with more features, not fewer. The outbound calling app alone is a significant advantage: you can call customers from your virtual number without needing a second SIM card in your phone. Virtually Local also offers four plan tiers, from Essential through to Unlimited, giving businesses a clear growth path as their call volumes increase.

For businesses that need more than a simple call redirect — and most do — Virtually Local offers better value, more features and greater flexibility, all at a lower monthly cost.

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