How Much Does a Business Phone System Cost Per Month in Singapore?
For Singapore SMEs, choosing a business phone system involves more than comparing monthly subscription fees. Setup charges, call rates, hardware, and paid add-ons can increase the total cost, making it difficult to determine which plan offers the right value.
Cloud-based phone systems provide an alternative to traditional Private Branch Exchange (PBX) setups by reducing upfront hardware investment. In Singapore, cloud PBX plans typically start at around S$8 per user per month, although the actual cost depends on the provider, number of users, features included, and calling requirements.
What Actually Drives the Price?
Business phone system pricing depends on three main factors: the type of system, the features included, and the provider’s pricing model.
1. Type of System
The type of phone system a business chooses affects its upfront investment and ongoing costs.
- On-Premises PBX: On-premises IP PBX requires equipment at the business premises, with upfront hardware, installation, and ongoing maintenance costs.
- Cloud PBX: Uses provider-hosted infrastructure and typically charges a recurring subscription, reducing the need for on-site equipment.
- Hybrid PBX: Combines on-site hardware with cloud services, which may involve maintaining both environments.
Businesses looking to reduce upfront hardware costs can consider Velox Networks’ cloud phone system for business, which supports calls through compatible desk phones and desktop or mobile applications.
2. Features and Customisation
The features included in a business phone plan affect its price. Before comparing quotes, check which features are included and which incur additional charges.
- Call Management: Auto-attendant, call forwarding, voicemail-to-email, and advanced call controls.
- Business Integrations: CRM integrations with platforms such as HubSpot, Zoho, Zendesk, Salesforce, and Pipedrive.
- Reporting: Online call reports to review call activity.
- Advanced Features: Call recording and AI-powered call transcription.
Our cloud-based phone system includes call recording, voicemail-to-email, online call management, and CRM integrations. We also offer AI call transcription on a pay-per-use basis, with at least 90% accuracy and the option to receive transcripts by email. Web calling is available as an optional paid feature.
3. Vendor and Pricing Model
Business phone providers may charge a recurring subscription, a one-time hardware fee, or a combination of subscription and usage charges. Compare the contract duration, payment frequency, volume discounts, and any fees that apply when changing or ending the service.
Cost of Cloud PBX and VoIP
Several factors influence the overall cost of a cloud PBX system, including monthly subscriptions and VoIP call rates for local and international calls.
- Monthly Subscription: Cloud PBX phone system plans start at around S$8 per user per month, with full-featured packages costing up to approximately S$30 per user per month.
- Local Call Rates: Our local outbound calls cost S$0.01498 per minute.
- International Call Rates: Our international calls start at around S$0.007 per minute, depending on the destination.
Hidden and One-Time Costs to Keep in Mind
Beyond the monthly subscription, businesses should account for potential setup, number porting, SIP trunking, and hardware costs when budgeting for a phone system.
1. Setup and Activation Fees
Some providers charge one-time setup or activation fees when installing a business phone system. Our package includes office setup and hosting, with no on-site PBX installation required.
2. Number Porting
Businesses switching providers may incur number-porting fees to keep their existing phone numbers. Check the applicable charges and transfer timeline before switching.
3. SIP Trunking
SIP trunking may involve separate channel fees and per-minute calling charges, depending on the provider and package. We include SIP trunks and unlimited channels in our cloud phone system package, so there is no need to budget for a separate SIP trunk subscription.
4. Hardware
Physical desk phones add to the upfront cost of a business phone system, while softphone applications let employees make calls from their computers or mobile devices.
Our package includes desktop and mobile softphone applications. For teams that prefer physical desk phones, our certified Grandstream GRP2601 IP phones start at S$87.20 per unit.
Upgrade Your Business Phone System with Velox Networks
Looking for a cloud phone system for your Singapore business?
We offer flexible payment options, with monthly licence payments or annual prepayment, and volume discounts available on request. Our plans require a minimum of five seats, making it easier to assess costs based on your team size.
You can also add optional web calling, which lets prospects and clients call your Velox system through a website widget, an email signature link, or a QR code, without call charges for either party.
Use our pricing calculator to estimate your costs, or contact our team to discuss your requirements.
