Line vs CircleLoop: which UK phone system fits your business?
CircleLoop is a low-cost, voice-first phone app with call menus, call recording and desk phones on both plans. Line is built for teams whose customers text: SMS and WhatsApp on the business number, one shared inbox, and an AI receptionist for the calls you miss. Pick CircleLoop for calls and desk phones. Pick Line if customers text you.
Prices and features checked
- Missed call08:12 · the team rang for 20 seconds
Sorry we missed your call. This is Hartley Plumbing. Reply here with what you need and we will get back to you today.
Missed-call text, sent automaticallyHi, the boiler is leaking under the kitchen. Can someone come today?
SMS · 08:14Internal note
Assigned to Dan. Urgent, leak.
Dan here. I can be with you at 11. Does that work?
SMS · DanPerfect, see you then.
WhatsApp · 08:21
Line or CircleLoop: the short answer
- Customers text you, and everyone on the team needs to see the replies
- You want WhatsApp on the same number as your calls and texts
- You want an AI receptionist to answer when nobody can
- You want a missed call to text the caller back from your number
- You need call recording, warm transfer and hold music
- You want Snom or Yealink desk phones on the same system
- You make many calls to the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand
- Your team uses Android phones or wants a desktop app
Line vs CircleLoop at a glance
Published UK prices and features, checked against CircleLoop's own pages.
| Feature | Line | CircleLoop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From £4 a month with one UK number, plus 5p a minute for calls you make and 8p a text | £5 a user a month plus calls from 3p a minute, or £15 a user for unlimited calls |
| Contract | Monthly. No contract and no setup fee | No contract and no setup fee. The account closes 7 days after you cancel |
| Texts on a UK number | Yes. Two-way SMS on UK 07 numbers, on every plan | Only from an extra 07 number, from £2 a month, once support switches SMS on. 4p a text |
| Yes, on the same number and in the same inbox | Not offered | |
| Shared inbox | Calls, voicemails, texts, WhatsApp, web chat and email in one thread per customer | Texts go to the user or team that owns the number. No shared message inbox |
| AI receptionist | AI receptionist answers calls in a British voice. Included on Pro and Business, an add-on on Starter | Not offered. Voicemail to text only |
| Missed calls | A missed-call text from your number, plus voicemail with transcription | Voicemail to text. No automatic text to the caller |
| Call handling | Opening hours, ring groups, forwarding and voicemail. No call recording, call transfer or call queues | Call menus, ring groups, call recording, warm and cold transfer, hold music and conference rooms on both plans |
| Apps and hardware | iPhone app and web app. No desk phones | iOS, Android, Windows, Mac and web apps. Snom and Yealink desk phones |
| Integrations | REST API and webhooks. Google and Microsoft calendars for the AI receptionist | HubSpot, Zoho, Pipedrive, Capsule, Google contacts and Zapier |
| Moving your number in | Request it in Settings. UK moves usually take a few weeks | Free. Mobiles in 1 to 2 working days, landlines in 7 to 20 days |
| 999 calls | Does not carry 999 calls. Dial 999 from the phone's own dialler | Yes, with an address registered for each user |
| Free trial | Free demo call with the AI receptionist. No free trial | 7 days, no card. No texts during the trial |
| Support | Live chat, email, WhatsApp and phone, in UK working hours | Phone, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 17:30. Tickets outside those hours |
CircleLoop pricing UK (2026)
CircleLoop has two plans, priced per user. Both include every feature. The only difference is how you pay for outbound calls.
| Plan | Monthly billing | Yearly contract | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay As You Go | £5 | — | Unlimited inbound calls. UK outbound calls from 3p a minute. One UK landline number. |
| Unlimited | £15 | — | Unlimited calls to UK 01, 02, 03, 0800 and major-network 07 numbers, plus the US, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, within fair use. |
What the headline price leaves out
- Texting needs an extra UK 07 number, from £2 a month, and support has to switch SMS on. Each text costs 4p.
- The number included with each plan is a landline, which cannot send or receive texts.
- Memorable numbers cost £3 to £20 a month, each on a 12-month term with an early exit charge.
- No refunds once a billing period has started.
Is Line cheaper than CircleLoop?
It depends on how much your team calls. For light use, Line usually costs less: Line starts at £4 a month with a mobile number that texts, where CircleLoop costs £5 a user plus £2 for a mobile number before the first text. For heavy calling, CircleLoop's £15 Unlimited plan costs less than paying per minute. Line's Pro and Business plans have no per-user charge, and they include WhatsApp, the shared inbox and the AI receptionist, which CircleLoop does not sell at any price.
Price your own team
200 minutes and 50 texts a month each
- Line£60.25 /mo£723 a year · Pro
- CircleLoop£75 /mo£900 a year
Seat prices are each provider's published price for the plan a small team would buy, with UK calls included up to the provider's fair use limit. Line charges a plan fee plus the calls and texts you use. Handsets, extra numbers and add-ons are not included.
Can CircleLoop send texts from a business number?
Yes, but only from an extra UK 07 number that support switches on for you, and only to UK numbers. Line texts from your business number on every plan.
CircleLoop
The number each CircleLoop plan includes is a landline, and landlines cannot text. To text, you add a UK mobile number from £2 a month and contact support to enable SMS. Each text costs 4p. The number belongs to one user or one team, and if it sits on a call menu, only the people chosen for that menu see the replies. Texts are not part of the free trial.
Line
Every Line plan includes a UK 07 number that calls and texts. Replies land in a shared inbox, in the same thread as that customer's calls and voicemails. Anyone on the team can pick a conversation up, assign it, or leave an internal note.
- Inbound call, 4 minTuesday · answered by Dan
- Missed callWednesday 18:20
Voicemail transcript
Hi, it's Sarah. Can you call me back about the quote for the bathroom?
Also free Friday morning if that's easier.
WhatsApp · 18:24Thanks Sarah. Dan will call you at 9 tomorrow.
SMS · Jo
Does CircleLoop work with WhatsApp?
No. CircleLoop does not offer WhatsApp. Line connects WhatsApp to your business number, so WhatsApp messages land in the same inbox as calls and texts.
CircleLoop
CircleLoop's features, pricing and help pages do not mention WhatsApp. Customers who message you on WhatsApp reach whichever personal phone has the app installed.
Line
Connect WhatsApp from the Channels page in a few minutes, using Meta's own sign-up. Customers message the number they already have, and the team answers from the shared inbox, not from one person's phone.
What happens to a missed call on CircleLoop?
It goes to voicemail, and CircleLoop transcribes the message. On Line, a missed call can also text the caller straight away, and the AI receptionist can answer instead.
CircleLoop
CircleLoop sends unanswered calls to a personal or team voicemail after a delay you set, and the transcript arrives in the activity feed or by email. There is no AI answering and no automatic text to the caller.
Line
Add a Send Missed-Call SMS step after the ring group, and the caller gets a text from your number within seconds. Their reply starts a thread the whole team can see. Switch on the AI receptionist and it answers in a British voice, takes the caller's details and leaves the transcript in the inbox.
- Missed call10:42 · the team rang for 20 seconds
Sorry we missed your call. This is Hartley Plumbing. Reply here with what you need and we will get back to you today.
Missed-call text, sent automaticallyHi, do you fit outside taps? Need one before the weekend.
SMS · 10:44We do. Dan can fit one on Friday morning. Shall I book you in?
SMS · Jo
Which has better call handling, CircleLoop or Line?
CircleLoop. It has call menus, call recording, warm and cold transfer, hold music and conference rooms on both plans. Line covers opening hours, ring groups, forwarding and voicemail, and does not record or transfer calls.
CircleLoop
CircleLoop menus route keys 0 to 6 to people, teams or other menus. Teams ring at once, in order or in turn, with waiting music. Users can record calls, pause recording and transfer calls to colleagues. It does not publish call queue settings or bank holiday schedules.
Line
Line routes calls with a workflow: a Time Rule for opening hours, a ring group that rings only people set to Available, then a missed-call text and voicemail. If you take most calls at a desk and need recording or transfer, CircleLoop fits better.
Do CircleLoop and Line work on mobiles?
Both run on the phones your team already owns. CircleLoop has iOS, Android, Windows and Mac apps. Line has an iPhone app and a web app.
CircleLoop
CircleLoop's apps cover iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, the web and Apple Watch, and it supports Snom and Yealink desk phones with basic features. Reviewers in 2025 and 2026 report problems after app updates.
Line
Line's iPhone app rings with the business number on the native call screen, and shows the shared inbox. The web app does the same on a laptop. Each person sets themselves Available, Busy or Away, and only Available people ring.
Rebuild your CircleLoop setup in Line
Each CircleLoop feature you rely on, and the Line workflow step that does the same job.
| In CircleLoop | In Line |
|---|---|
| Teams (ring groups) | Ring Members/GroupsRings everyone set to Available, at once or in turn, for the time you choose. |
| Out-of-hours settings | Time RuleSends calls down an Open hours or an Outside hours branch, using your business hours. |
| Voicemail to text | VoicemailRecords a message after your greeting, transcribes it and emails the team. |
| Forward to an external number | Forward CallsDials any number and shows your Line number as the caller ID. |
| Texts from an extra 07 number | Shared inboxEvery Line plan includes a 07 number that texts. No extra number and no support ticket. |
| No equivalent | Send Missed-Call SMSTexts the caller from your number when nobody answers. |
| No equivalent | AI receptionistAnswers the call, takes the details and leaves the transcript in the inbox. |
- Inbound CallYour UK business number
- Time RuleMon–Fri, 8:00 to 18:00
- Open hoursRing Members/GroupsEveryone set to Available, for 20 seconds
- No answer, or outside hoursSend Missed-Call SMSTexts the caller from your number
- No answer, or outside hoursVoicemailTranscribed and emailed to the team
Templates to set up on day one
The messages and greetings most teams moving from CircleLoop set up first. Copy one, change the details in brackets, and paste it into the step shown.
Sorry we missed your call. This is [Business name]. Reply to this text with what you need and we will get back to you today.
Thanks for calling [Business name]. We are closed now and open again at [8am]. Reply here and we will pick it up first thing, or book online at [link].
You have reached [Business name]. We cannot take your call right now. Leave your name, your number and what it is about, and we will call you back today. You can also text this number.
Thanks for choosing [Business name], [first name]. If you were happy with the work, a quick review helps a small business like ours: [review link]. If anything was not right, reply here and [Name] will sort it.
You answer calls for [Business name], a [trade] in [area]. Take the caller's name, number, postcode and what they need. Offer a visit between [hours] on [days]. If the caller describes [an emergency, for example a leak], say [Name] will call back within 15 minutes and mark the call urgent. Do not quote prices. Say [Name] will confirm the price.
You can now text or WhatsApp us on [number], the same number you call. We reply during [opening hours], and we will see your message even if we are on a job.
How to switch from CircleLoop to Line
Most small teams finish in an afternoon, then wait for the number to move.
- 1
Open Line and choose a UK number
Sign up, pick a UK mobile number and make a test call. The new number works straight away, so you can run Line beside CircleLoop while you set it up. Nothing changes for your customers yet.
- 2
Rebuild your call flow from a template
Open Workflows and start from a template such as Business Hours Call Routing or Ring Then Voicemail. Set your opening hours in the Time Rule and choose who rings. The table above shows the Line step for each CircleLoop feature.
- 3
Invite the team and install the app
Invite each person by email. They install the Line app on iPhone, or use the web app on a laptop. Only people set to Available ring, so nobody gets calls on a day off.
- 4
Connect WhatsApp and switch on the AI receptionist
Connect WhatsApp to the same number from Channels, so texts, WhatsApp and calls land in one inbox. Then switch on the AI receptionist and give it your opening hours, your services and how you take bookings.
- 5
Move your number from CircleLoop
Go to Settings, then Porting. Enter the number, the account holder and the address CircleLoop holds, upload a recent bill and sign the letter of authority. Our team sends the request and tells you the switch date. UK moves usually take a few weeks. Calls keep reaching CircleLoop until that date, and Ofcom rules limit any loss of service on the day to one working day.
- 6
Cancel CircleLoop after the move completes
Wait until calls to your number ring in Line, then cancel CircleLoop. Cancelling first can release the number before it moves.
- Call reports as CSV, from the desktop or web app
- Call recordings, downloaded one at a time as MP3
- Contacts and any text history you need, by hand. CircleLoop publishes no bulk export
- Your menu, team and opening-hours settings, as screenshots to rebuild from
What CircleLoop customers say
Recurring themes in public reviews, paraphrased and linked to the source.
Dropped and failed calls
Reviewers describe calls that will not connect, lag and poor audio, some needing a redial. Trustpilot
App updates that broke features
Several 2025 and 2026 reviews say new app versions broke contact sync, extension names or blocking. Trustpilot
Quality since the Gamma takeover
Long-standing customers say reliability and support follow-up have slipped since Gamma bought it. Trustpilot
No refunds
A 2026 reviewer was refused a refund after cancelling on the first day of a billing period. Trustpilot
Limited admin tools
Reviewers find the dashboard thin for managing calls, redirects and routing. Capterra
Quick to set up
Many reviews say they were taking calls within minutes, on phones they already had. Trustpilot
Friendly UK support staff
Reviewers name individual support staff and rate support 4.5 out of 5. Capterra
Cheaper than BT
Long-time customers say the switch saved them a lot against a BT line. Trustpilot
Our verdict on CircleLoop: CircleLoop is a UK cloud phone system with two simple plans, no contract and free number porting, with call menus and call recording on both. It texts only from an extra UK mobile number, and has no AI answering, WhatsApp or call queues. See how it ranks
Line vs CircleLoop: questions people ask
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CircleLoop alternatives
The best CircleLoop alternatives for UK small businesses, ranked with prices.
Line vs RingCentral
Line texts and WhatsApps from your UK number today. RingCentral has no SMS on UK numbers.
Line vs Aircall
Line gives a small team texts, WhatsApp, a shared inbox and an AI receptionist without a three-seat minimum or a yearly renewal.
Business phone systems ranked
14 UK providers scored on published prices and features.
Line wrote this comparison. Every competitor fact comes from the provider's own UK pages or public reviews, linked here. Last reviewed .
Move from CircleLoop without losing your number
Start with a new UK number today and run it alongside your current system. Move your existing number across when you are ready.