Want to jump straight to the answer? The best multi-line phone system for small businesses is Nextiva X-835.
Multi-line phone systems facilitate seamless communication. They quickly and easily connect you and everyone in your company, allowing you to get calls to the right person faster.
I’ve scoured the market to find the best multi-line phone systems available today. Read on to find the one best suited to your business needs.
Top 8 Best Multi-Line Phone Systems for Small Businesses
- Nextiva X-835 — Best overall (For a limited time, get 25% off, plus a free phone, when you sign up!)
- RCA 4-Line Small Business System — Best for small business expansion
- Panasonic KX-TG958 Multi-Line Corded & Cordless Desk Phones — Best for consistent service
- Grandstream GXV3370 — Best for video calling
- MiVoice 5330e IP Phone — Best for sales and customer service
- AT&T 2-Line Corded Telephone — Best for working from home
- Fanvil X7 — Best for intuitive interface
- Yealink W52P — Best for cordless correspondence
Running a small business is challenging enough without your phone system adding to the challenge. Investing in a multi-line phone system makes internal and external communication much easier than with a single-line handset.
I’ve covered the benefits and tradeoffs for each one below. Find the best deal on a new multiline phone system today.
Nextiva X-835 — Best Overall
Every phone company on the market offers two and four-line phone systems. But for businesses that need the capacity to handle a fury of calls simultaneously, Nextiva has you covered.
They have three different desk phones that can each handle 12 lines. But the Nextiva X-835 is our top recommendation for most businesses.
This multi-line phone system is the perfect blend of value and customization at a reasonable price.
The phone’s 12-line capability is obviously a huge selling point, and rightfully so. But it also has a 2.8-inch color LCD screen with eight buttons that can be customized to fit your needs.
Other key features include:
- Speed dialing
- Ethernet connection
- Wi-Fi enablement
- USB input
- RJ-9 headset input
- Modular expansion capability
Your Nextiva phone is also backed by a three-year warranty.
If a two or four-line phone system just isn’t quite enough for your business, you can’t go wrong with the Nextiva X-835.
RCA 4-Line Small Business System — Best for Small Business Expansion
The RCA 4-Line Small Business System is a guaranteed upgrade from your current phone. It lets you build a complete office communication system fast.
With a comprehensive list of essential features plus a few extras, it makes doing business easier and more accessible. You get features you’ve come to expect, like a cordless accessory handset, base speakerphone, voicemail waiting indicator, and caller ID. But this system goes beyond the minimum.
The caller ID has space for up to 99 names and numbers. And with 16 programmable speed dial settings, you can contact anyone with the touch of a button. The LCD display is easy to read, so you can see who’s on the line at a glance.
The RCA 4-Line system comes with an intercom and two-line conferencing, so you can keep everyone on the same page. Though you don’t have a wireless headset option, you can connect one with a jack for hands-free capability.
The system is also hearing aid compatible, so your hearing-impaired employees can use the phone with ease. The system doesn’t come with some of the high-tech features available, like a digital receptionist, but if you want a comprehensive option without getting too fancy, this is a great choice.
You can get this system starting at $99.99.
Panasonic KX-TG958 — Best for Consistent Service
Panasonic is one of the most reputable names in the electronics industry, and the KX-TG958 Multi-Line Phone lives up to the brand’s reputation.
We also like the phone’s ability to connect with computers and make calls through Microsoft Outlook. You can sync it with up to four smartphones, giving you the option to transfer calls beyond the included headsets.
One of our favorite parts about this system is that it still works when you lose power. You’ll have 75 minutes of service during an outage, so you and your team can still conduct business until the power gets restored.
This multi-line phone system is also ideal for parents working from home. It even comes with a baby monitor, so you can focus on your work and know your child is safe in another room.
With voice paging, you can even send announcements to all of the handsets. It’s easy to set up, and you don’t even need a landline to use it.
We really like the phone’s backlit LCD screen. It’s easy to read the keys, and you won’t have to squint just to dial a number.
Other standout features of the Panasonic KX-TG958 include:
- Two lines
- 3-way conferencing
- 22-speed dial settings
- Text alerts
- Data port
It also comes with DECT 6.0—providing the security you need to prevent others from listening to your calls. You can also block up to 250 numbers, which is great for preventing spam and telemarketers.
Panasonic added features to this system that go beyond what you’d expect from a physical phone. For example, it has a key detector to help you find lost items.
At $179.95, it’s a bit pricey. But it’s well worth it if you’re looking for a feature-packed multi-line phone system.
Grandstream GXV3370 — Best for Video Calling
If your small business does video conferences or interviews, you have plenty of support with the Grandstream GXV3370. A seven-inch 720p touchscreen supports session-initiated protocol (SIP) on 16 lines and 16 SIP accounts.
With HD voice and a phone with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, you have the high-quality sound you need for crystal clear communication. Not to mention, it uses echo cancellation and has double talk performance. The system runs on the Android 7.0 operating system. It also syncs with mobile devices and a headset with Bluetooth.
The TLS and SRTP security encryption protect your calls and accounts from unwanted listeners and keep all your information private. With 7-way audio conferencing and three-way video conferencing capability, you can talk to anyone and everyone at once.
It comes with very advanced telephony technology to support your whole office on one device. It’s not as affordable as other systems at $219.99, but offices that need a phone like this can’t do with something cheaper.
MiVoice 5330e IP Phone — Best for Sales and Customer Service
The MiVoice 5330e IP Phone by Mitel is a full-feature phone with all the programming and capability your sales reps need to offer customers the best experience.
With one-touch web and contact access, hands-free operation, a large graphics display, and embedded gigabit support, it has plenty of ways to make customer service easier.
The phone’s 24 self-labeling keys give your team plenty of space to program and customize the features they need, including speed dial and lines. Twelve fixed-function keys offer access to specific features, including:
- Contacts
- Web browsing
- Navigation
- Menus
- Telephony features
- User settings
You can customize user settings as needed to include everything from hold and call transfer to conference and message options. Three contextual softkeys make it easy for you to find telephony features and functions.
The system encrypts calls so that you can limit who has access to your conversations. It has a wideband audio handset, along with a duplex hands-free speakerphone for when you need to find customer information with them on the line.
The HTML Desktop Toolkit and app development give you all the tech features you need to reduce your team’s burden while helping customers. Plus, the MiVoice 5330e IP Phone saves energy by reducing its power consumption.
You can find this system for around $163.75 or a single physical phone for around $55.
AT&T 2-Line Corded Telephone — Best for Working from Home
The AT&T 2-Line Corded Telephone works well if your business has only one or two people. The system has two lines with automatic line selection and three-way conferencing capability.
The ClearSpeak dial-in-base speakerphone means you don’t need a handset and allows more people to join in the conversation. You can also use it with a headset, though unfortunately, it has no cordless option.
You can program up to 18 speed dials for quick access to anyone you need to reach, plus it has a chain dialing feature. You also have space for 100 names and numbers in the contact directory. You even have a data port to transfer the data from your phone to your computer.
Call recording, screening, and intercept mean that you don’t get any calls you don’t want. Voice prompts and memo recording allow you to direct people where they need to go before you even answer the call. The system does have caller ID and call waiting on its display, but you need a subscription through your phone company to access the feature.
This system also works best for businesses that have someone ready to answer the phone. It only has 12 minutes of message storage on its digital answering system.
Despite its lack of other features, the AT&T 2-Line Corded Phone is hearing aid compatible. It also has a multilingual setup in English, Spanish, and French.
At $87.95, this option works well for businesses that need an affordable, basic option for a few people. It’s not ideal for companies that want to expand.
Fanvil X7 — Best for Intuitive Interface
The Fanvil X7 supports up to 20 lines and has a robust seven-inch touchscreen display. With Bluetooth and Wi-Fi support, you can conduct video calls and take advantage of the most customizable phone on this list.
The Fanvil X7 has 127 DSS on its touchscreen for quick access to functions and information. You can configure it based on your needs with speed dial, call forwarding, broadcasting, and more. You also have plenty of extensions and a USB connection for charging smartphones and other electronics.
Its gigabit ports mean you can connect laptops and tablets without extra cables. With three-way conferencing and hotspot capability, you’ll never lose touch with those who need your services. The EHS headset allows you to move hands-free.
Setting it apart from other phone systems, the Fanvil X7 allows you to talk to visitors at your front door. You can even unlock the door from your phone. One downside is that you need to buy a separate webcam if you want to use the video calling feature.
Overall, the Fanvil X7 remains a very affordable phone with a price of just $139.
Yealink SIP-W52P — Best for Cordless Correspondence
The Yealink SIP-W52P works well for businesses with teams that often work away from their desks.
It gives mobile employees access to the phone whether they work indoors or out. With up to five handsets and corresponding lines, this system has a range of 150 feet indoors and 950 feet outside.
It uses cutting-edge VoIP technology, and the company stands by its quality with rigorous product testing. The G.722 bandwidth and HD voice ensure that your calls always come through clearly. With three-way conferencing, you can organize meetings on two other lines at once.
The power-over-ethernet (PoE) support gives you flexibility with simple installation and quick deployment. Once you’re all set up, you have everything you need to reach your team anywhere.
Unfortunately, the system has no Bluetooth compatibility, making it a little less functional than other multi-line systems. Its 1.8-inch color display may also be too small for some members of your team to see comfortably.
The system comes at a price of $143 which is quite reasonable given its features, scalability, and ease of use.
How to Find the Best Multi-Line Phone System for You
Running a small business means serving your customers and your team. If your multi-line phone system lacks features your team needs, they can’t do their best work.
When you’re ready for a multi-line phone system, consider the following factors to maximize your business’s capability and efficiency.
Manufacturer Reliability
No matter what type of product you’re looking for, choose a reputable manufacturer. Reliability can mean getting the help you need when you need it through company support. You should also be getting durable, lasting products.
For example, Panasonic is a well-known electronics company. You should be able to expect above-average service and product quality from them. When you’re running a business, getting products from a reliable company dramatically reduces the risk that your equipment will fail and ding your reputation.
Futureproof
You want a scalable phone system so you don’t have to get a new one as soon as your business grows. Unless you plan to stay a one-person operation, you should get a phone that supports at least five lines. Otherwise, you’ll likely need to upgrade your system again within the next year or two.
Many of the systems on this list support up to 20 lines, which should be more than enough for most businesses.
A future-proof phone system might cost a little more. But when your business doubles or triples in size later on, you’ll be grateful not to spend more money replacing your obsolete phone system.
Transfer Features
Transfer features shouldn’t be limited to hardware, like transferring calls to an office down the hall. Mobile transfer features are the way of the future. Most modern phone systems allow transfers to a limited number of mobile phones.
This feature becomes especially useful if you have employees who work from home or out in the field. It also makes for better business flexibility and keeps employees available even when they’re not physically in the office.
You should also consider how easy it is to transfer callers. Some of the best multi-line phone systems have large touch screens to manage directories, which really simplifies this process. It also ensures that you’re actually transferring callers to the right person and avoiding a long, complicated call tree.
Strong Basic Features
It would be nice to have a multi-line phone system with all the bells and whistles. However, advanced features cost more. Plus, you might not use the extra features often enough to justify the steep price.
So, don’t overlook the basics. Some of the must-have features besides high-quality audio and video include:
- Voicemail
- Call waiting
- Speed dial
- Auto attendant
- Caller ID
- Conference calling
- Call recording
- Call reporting
The ideal multi-line phone systems should also keep up with your call volumes. For example, your phone system should allow you to add or remove phone lines depending on seasonal spikes or fluctuating call volume.
The Top Multi-Line Phone System For Small Business in Summary
The best multi-line phone systems for small businesses allow you and your team to communicate from anywhere. They can accommodate conference calls and remote employees who need phone access.
Although any of our top eight options will satisfy these needs, Nextiva X-835 is our top recommendation for small businesses.