Best Cordless Phones: Testing & Comparison Guide

The best cordless phone available today is the Panasonic KX-TGF573S, due to its impressive battery life and high-end features such as noise reduction and call blocking. You can also hook your smartphone up via Bluetooth to receive calls on the go and ensure you never miss a beat.

To bring you this article, we’ve taken a closer look at the US phone hardware market and identified the five best cordless devices currently available to consumers.

Here, we’ll run through their pros, cons, and prices, and discuss everything you need to know about buying cordless and wireless phones for your company. Alternatively, consider VoIP desk phones for a modern, feature-rich solution.

Best Cordless Phones: At a Glance

In the table below, you’ll find a quick at-a-glance rundown of the five best cordless phones on the market. While finding the right phone for your business is essential, the real savings are to be made by changing over to a VoIP system, which won’t require you to invest in any hardware if you don’t want to.

Use our VoIP comparison form to find out how much you could save today.

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		Starting price The typical lowest starting price. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs	Best for	Pros	Cons
Best all-round
Panasonic KX-TGF573S	AT&T DL72210	VTech CS6719-2	Panasonic KX-TGD562M	VTech IS8151
$129.99	$59.95	$19.98	$49.99	$90
Best all-around cordless phone	Mobile workers who use cell phones as well as cordless phones	Offices that need inexpensive cordless phones	Offices that need a lot of phones	Large offices
Noise reduction feature Long battery life Supports conference calls	Can be connected to cell phones Mirrors cell phone notifications Can download up to 6,000 names and numbers from cell phone contacts	Remarkably cheap Pairs with up to five handsets	Pairs with up to six handsets Impressive battery life	Huge 2,300 ft range Large 3.5-inch display Comes with four handsets
Relatively expensive	Some phones offer similar features for less	No answerphone or Bluetooth	Poor range Pretty pricey	Lacks conference calling

Best Cordless Office Phones Reviewed

With so many options and even more features, it can be hard to decide which cordless phone is the best.

However, both the Panasonic KX-TGF573S, AT&T DL72210, and VTech CS6719-2 stand out for their unmatched mobility, impressively easy-to-use interface, and durability, respectively. These characteristics, combined with their communication features, make them our best cordless phones this year.

With this round-up of some of the best cordless DECT IP phones available for businesses, we’re confident that you’ll find exactly the right cordless DECT phone for your unique business requirements – whether you’re a solo entrepreneur, a small business, or a larger enterprise, the models reviewed below include options for all scenarios.

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1. Panasonic KX-TGF573S – Best all-around office phone
2. AT&T DL72210 – A strong and slightly cheaper second place
3. VTech CS6719-2 – Best cheap cordless phone
4. Panasonic KX-TGD562M – Best for multiple handsets
5. VTech IS8151 – Best for connection range

1. Panasonic KC-TGF573S

Best all-around cordless phone. Price: from $129.99

This Panasonic phone makes the perfect partner for any office. The large 1.8-inch displays make it easy to see who’s calling, and it can block up to 250 numbers.

What’s more, its noise reduction feature makes it perfect for noisy offices, while its extensive range means that, if you’re working from home, you can easily walk around without fear of the signal dropping out.

You can link up to two smartphones via Bluetooth to the KX-TGF573S, making it easy to make and receive calls to your cell phone regardless of where your phone is in the office. It’s also easy to make conference calls with the KX-TGF573S, and you can have up to three participants in each call.

It also has an answering machine with a total of 18 minutes of recording time, which is more than enough for even the busiest offices.

However, what really makes the KX-TGF573S is its impressive battery life – up to 12 hours of talk time and up to seven days of standby time – as well as the fact that it comes with three handsets as standard.

If you’re looking to equip your office with a new cordless phone, the Panasonic KX-TGF573S is the way to go.

Panasonic KX-TGF573S

In Short

• Pros

  • Noise reduction feature helps in busy offices
  • Long battery life
  • Extensive call-blocking list
  • Supports conference calling

• Cons

  • Relatively expensive

Pricing

• Starts from $129.99 for three handsets

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2. AT&T DL72210

A strong and slightly cheaper second place. Price: from $59.95.

The AT&T DL72210 can’t quite match our top-choice Panasonic model when it comes to features but at $59.95, it’s a very enticing cheaper option.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the DL72210 is how it interacts with cell phones. The Connect to Cell feature allows it to make calls through your cell phone plan, so you can stay in touch with friends and family on your cell phone and a landline, your choice!

The AT&T phone also comes with a second handset, and both can be connected to a cell phone to help take calls. What’s more, if you have an Android phone, the DL72210 will even notify you when your cell receives a text, email, calendar, or social media notification.

You can download 6,000 cellular phonebook entries to the cordless handsets as well, and you can swap between cellular and home line calls easily.

If you’re used to carrying around a dedicated cell phone for your work, the DL72210 could be the perfect fit for anyone who is often on the go and away from the office.

AT&T DL72210

In Short

• Pros

  • Cheaper than some similarly impressive phones
  • Can be connected to a cell phone to take calls
  • Mirrors notifications from cell phones
  • Can download up to 6,000 names and numbers from a cell phonebook

• Cons

  • Cell phone features might get annoying

Pricing

• Starts from $59.95 for two handsets

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3. VTech CS6719-2

Best cheap phone. Price: from $19.98.

The first VTech model on our list isn’t blessed with features. In fact, it’s a pretty bare-bones device, but for less than $20, it’s a great deal for a cordless office phone.

The CS6719-2 can store up to 50 phone numbers, and while it doesn’t have an answering machine, it does allow for three-person conference calling and will block spam callers.

You can also add up to five additional handsets to the base CS6719-2, making it a cheap way to stack an office with multiple devices. It doesn’t have Bluetooth and nor does it have a headphone jack, which might make hands-free calling an issue.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the CS6719-2 is too basic to be useful. However, if all you need your office phone to do is make and receive phone calls (which, let’s face it, is all they really do), you can save a huge amount of money choosing this VTech model.

There’s precious little else to say about the VTech phone. But, for just $19.98, would you expect anything more?

VTech CS6719-2

In Short

• Pros

  • Less than $20
  • Stores up to 50 phone numbers
  • Blocks spam calls
  • Pairs with up to five additional handsets

• Cons

  • No answerphone
  • No Bluetooth

Pricing

• Starts from $19.98 for one handset

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4. Panasonic KX-TGD562M

Best for multiple handsets. Price: from $49.99

The Panasonic KX-TGD562M is a great phone system for anyone in need of multiple handsets. It comes with two handsets as standard, but it can be fitted with up to six handsets.

The KX-TGD562M also comes with an answering machine with around 18 minutes of total recording time and Bluetooth to make and receive cell/phone calls. It also features caller ID announcements in English and Spanish, which will let you know who’s calling before you walk over to pick up the handset.

You should get around ten hours of talk time with the KX-TGD562M and up to five days’ worth of standby time, meaning you’ll likely never run out of battery.

However, the KX-TGD562M falls down when it comes to range. Most phones will let you travel around 700 feet from the base station before dropping out. This Panasonic phone, on the other hand, can only manage 330 feet. That won’t be a big deal if you spend most of your time at a desk but if you like to move around, you might find the KX-TGD562M wanting.

Panasonic KX-TGD562M

In Short

• Pros

  • Pairs with up to six handsets
  • Strong battery life
  • Supports caller ID in English and Spanish

• Cons

  • Lackluster range
  • Pretty pricey

Pricing

• Starts from $49.99 for two handsets

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5. VTech IS8151

Best for range. Price: from $90

The VTech IS8151, on the other hand, knocks it out of the park (almost literally) when it comes to range.

With the IS8151, you can wander 2,300 feet away from the base station before your call drops out. In the real world, you might not hit these numbers, but it’s one heck of a party trick.

The IS8151 also comes with a large 3.5-inch touchscreen and will let you hold 200 contacts in the phone book. Call blocking, Bluetooth, and an answering machine are all included, as well.

However, for nearly $100, it’s missing some features, such as conference calling, which hold it back.

VTech IS8151

In Short

• Pros

  • Comes with four handsets as standard
  • Massive 2,300 ft range
  • Large 3.5-inch touchscreen

• Cons

  • Missing some features

Pricing

• Starts from $90 for four handsets

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How to Find the Best Cordless Phone

Getting the right cordless phone can make a huge impact on your business’s effectiveness. You’ll be able to do more with your phone than you ever thought possible. However, there’s a lot to think about when picking your brand or model of choice. In this section, I’ll take you through some of the key things to consider.

DECT 6.0, ECO DECT, and Analog

You’ll likely see these two terms come up a lot when buying cordless phones. DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology.

DECT 6.0

DECT 6.0 is, basically, a marketing term and is used for phones sold in North America which operate on a 1.6 GHz spectrum – it’s important to note that there is no DECT 5.0, for example.

There is, however, a DECT 6.0 Plus standard that provides some benefits to clarity and voice enhancement.

ECO DECT

Of more interest, however, is ECO DECT. These phones incorporate a power-saving supply that uses up to 60% less energy than conventional DECT 6.0 phones.

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How Much Does a Cordless Phone Cost?

The cordless phones we’ve listed on this page range between $20-$130 in price. There’s quite a lot of scope there, but you’ll be heartened to hear that all of the phones will make and receive the calls you need to hear.

However, the overall cost of a new phone system for your business will depend on a few factors.

Number of handsets and extensions

The chances are that your business needs more than one in your office.

Naturally, the more handsets you buy, the more you’ll need to pay. However, the number of different extensions you’ll need will have an impact on the overall cost as well. Alongside this, with some brands, you’ll be eligible for savings when buying in bulk.

If you get set up with a cloud-based VoIP provider, you won’t need to shell out too much for new extensions, as there is no hardware to install. However, if, for some reason, you think a hardware-based setup is preferable, you can expect to pay a lot more.

Answerphones

Answerphones are pretty standard for cordless phones nowadays. But, as the VTech CS6719-2 shows, they’re not universal.

Your office phones should have answerphones but, of course, this will increase the cost a bit more.

Headsets and other peripherals

Headsets can make the lives of your employees far, far easier. Gone are the days of awkwardly resting the phone between your neck and shoulder, and instead, you’ll have hands-free calling for optimum productivity.

Headsets can cost anywhere between $20-$170. However, if you’ve got a fleet of employees needing headsets, it might be worth checking out options for buying in bulk from VoIP providers.

The Difference Between Cordless and Wireless Phones

Cordless IP phones connect to a base unit that functions in essentially the same way as a conventional IP desk phone. The base station is connected to a landline or VoIP service. The phone’s ability to work is determined by the operating range of the base station.

Wireless IP phones use the business wireless LAN to connect directly to a PBX (private branch exchange) or network router to access the external telephone service. These phones do not require a base unit, and this gives them a more flexible operating range.

Wireless phones may also be used more commonly to refer to systems such as VoIP headsets, which have advantages of their own depending on the sector your business is in.

What is a Softphone?

Softphones are web-based apps that mimic the functionality of traditional deskphones. They leverage VoIP technology to enable users to make calls, rather than needing to rely on traditional hardware, wires, and cords.

Because softphones can be installed on any PC, Mac, phone, or tablet, they can be a good fit for small businesses without the resources to spend on dedicated phones for employees.

However, there are some things that a softphone simply can’t manage. For example, softphones eat into your internet bandwidth and could potentially slow down other forms of communication. Some softphones offer international coverage, but this isn’t guaranteed.

With that being said, softphones can often be cheaper overall than dedicated cordless phones. If you’re looking for a particularly cheap option, we would recommend Zoom Unlimited, which will allow you to get started for just $10 per user, per month.

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How Did We Decide the Best Cordless Phones?

After all that information, it’s safe to wonder how we came to rank these top cordless phones for small businesses. Well, at Tech.co, we take our research seriously, putting products through a thorough analysis to see what is good and what isn’t about these devices.

In this particular guide, we had some specific categories by which we evaluated the top cordless phones in our research. Here’s a breakdown of those categories:

• Pricing – The cost of any device should always be a big factor when it comes to choosing a cordless phone for your small business.
• Features – From noise reduction and caller ID to notifications and phonebook size, understanding what kind of features are available goes a long way in deciding.
• VoIP compatibility – Most businesses want a cordless phone to integrate with their business phone system, which is why VoIP provider compatibility had to be a serious factor.
• Battery life – If it’s not wired, it needs a battery, which is why we evaluated how long these cordless phones could be used on their base to decide their ranking.
• Range – For cordless phones, knowing exactly how far away they can operate from the base is a vital metric to decide which is best.

Check out our in-depth research guide to learn more about how we test business products

Why VoIP is Better for Businesses

If you’re in the market for cordless phones, it’s safe to assume that you’re in the process of revamping your business communication infrastructure. In that case, we’d like to recommend going with VoIP over a traditional landline system, and there are plenty of reasons why.

For starters, it’s more affordable, which alone should be able to convince you. Because VoIP just uses the internet to stay in touch, you won’t have to spend all that money on maintenance and infrastructure to keep your team connected.

VoIP systems are also more secure, with more security protocols in place to protect your data, and offer better audio quality, as connection through the internet doesn’t require actual wires to communicate with others. On top of that, VoIP systems are typically more flexible than landline options, allowing for more functionality like smartphone connections and third-party integrations.

Which is the best VoIP platform on the market?

Our pick of VoIP provider plans is Zoom Regional Unlimited. This is because it offers excellent call management features, a cheap starting price, flexible hardware options, and it integrates seamlessly with Zoom’s videoconferencing platform.

The dashboard in Zoom Phone. Source: Tech.co testing

For a quick at-a-glance rundown of our favorite VoIP provider plans, check out the table below. And to compare the different options with the rest of the market, you can check out our obligation-free comparison tool.

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		Price	Best for	Pros	Cons	Overall score An aggregate score of all other metrics
FEATURED	BEST OVERALL
Phone.com	Zoom Regional Unlimited	Dialpad Standard	Net2Phone Essentials	RingCentral Core	Nextiva Core	Vonage	Google Voice Premier	Ooma Office Essentials
$15/user/month	$16/user/month	$15/user/month	$19.99/user/month	$20/user/month	$15/user/month	$19.99 $13.99/user/month	$30/user/month	$19.95/user/month
Mid-range alternative	Call management features	Alternative communication channels	Great for remote and hybrid teams	Hospitality and retail businesses	Best for growing teams	Best staff training features	Google Workspace users	Great for customer service
Low entry price Unlimited calls and video on Plus tier	Extremely easy to use interface Integration with Zoom’s video platform Unlimited domestic calls	Great call management features Lots of communication channels to reach customers including SMS	Solid customer support options Free international calling to Canada and Mexico	Huge selection of third-party integrations Flexible pricing options for variety of businesses	Lots of excellent VoIP features 24/7 live support	Complex functionality Grows with your team Includes staff training tools	Excellent value Very accurate voicemail to text Excellent security protocols	Free number transfer Virtual receptionist Unlimited domestic calling
Basic tier very limited Optional extras can add up	Fewer third-party software integration that competitors Limited CRM options	There are cheaper options on the market	Very few integrations Not very scalable Limited training features	Lot’s of core features reserved for pricier plans Video transcriptions downloaded into Notepad	Stringent calling limits Need to upgrade to pricier plans for useful CRM integrations	No built-in multi-factor authentication Customer reviews say the support team isn’t great Many features cost extra	Lacks support options Not available globally Only available with Google Workspace	Above average price Few security protocols
	4.6	3.8	3.9	3.7	3.7	3.3	2.9	2.5

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Written By

Tom Fogden Editor

Tom Fogden is a writer for Tech.co with a range of experience in the world of tech publishing. Tom covers everything from cybersecurity, to social media, website builders, and point of sale software when he’s not reviewing the latest phones.

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