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VoIP vs landline

VoIP vs landline in 2026: power cuts, 911, cost and call quality

Part of: How browser calling works, from WebRTC in your tab to a ringing phone

By · Updated · 11 min read

TL;DR

A traditional copper landline is powered by the line itself, so it can keep working in a power cut[1], and a fixed line sends your address with every 911 call[2]. VoIP often costs less and can sound better between two apps, but it needs power and working internet at your end. Browser calls are VoIP too, often without 911; how a browser call reaches a phone explains the route.

Key facts

What is the difference between VoIP and a landline?

A landline carries your voice over the phone company's own line, and a traditional copper line also carries the power a basic phone needs[1]. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) sends your voice as data over your internet connection; US rules call it interconnected VoIP when it can both receive calls from and place calls to ordinary numbers[9]. A browser call is VoIP without a desk phone.

Copper landline, home VoIP and browser calling side by side
What mattersCopper landlineHome VoIP or fiber lineBrowser calling
Power cutLine-powered, can keep working[1], unless storms bring the poles down[3]Needs working internet and backup power[3]Needs working internet and a charged device
911 locationSent automatically[2]Sent automatically on a fixed line[10]Most consumer web dialers I checked can't call 911
Monthly costFCC urban average for a fixed home line: $33.99[6]Varies by provider; the FCC average is not split by line typeNo line rental; free within limits or per minute
AudioNarrowband G.711, 64 kbit/s[11]Depends on the provider's codecOpus between browsers, usually G.711 once the call reaches the phone network[7]

US rules and published terms, checked .

Both kinds of call meet on the same public phone network; the PSTN and where VoIP joins it covers that part.

Does VoIP work during a power outage?

Only if your modem, router and phone stay powered and your provider's network stays up. The FCC said in 2026 that VoIP keeps working in an outage if internet service is operational and you keep a backup power supply[3]. A copper line can run through a power failure on its own[1], though the same FCC order notes that copper fails when storms bring the poles down.

Until , US providers of home phone service that isn't line-powered had to offer 8- and 24-hour backup power at the point of sale[4]. The FCC deleted that expired rule in 2026[5], so ask your provider what backup it sells. To keep a home phone working through an outage:

  1. Ask whether your line is still copper; fiber and cable lines are not line-powered and need power at your home[1].
  2. Put the modem, router and any voice adapter on a battery backup (UPS); the provider's equipment has to stay powered for a 911 call to get through[4].
  3. Keep a corded handset: a cordless base needs mains power on copper, fiber or cable alike[1].
  4. Keep a charged mobile for 911, because most consumer web dialers I checked can't place emergency calls.

Can VoIP call 911 like a landline?

A home VoIP line can, with conditions; most consumer browser dialers I checked cannot. US rules require interconnected VoIP providers to supply E911 and to warn you that it may fail if the equipment moves, broadband fails or the power goes out[10]. Landlines and fixed VoIP lines both send your address automatically with each 911 call[2][10].

VoIP you can use anywhere may rely on a Registered Location you gave the provider instead[10], or send the call to a national emergency call center first[10].

Of the browser services I checked on , the free Google Voice plan can't call 911, which needs a Voice Starter, Voice Standard or Workspace account[12], and TwinPhone[13] and Yolla[14] rule emergency calls out. Which dialers block 911, and what to use instead covers the rest.

Is VoIP cheaper than a landline?

For calls alone, usually: browser calling has no line rental. The FCC's 2026 urban average for a fixed home phone line is $33.99 a month, counting the local rate plus state fees[6]; I found no official average for home VoIP plans. Google Voice's personal plan is free for US residents[15], and pay-per-minute dialers bill only the minutes you use. None of them replaces a line for 911.

What calling US numbers costs each month
OptionMonthly feeCalls to US numbersCatch
Home phone line (FCC urban average)$33.99[6]Depends on the planCovers the local rate and state fees only
Google Voice, personal planNone[15]Almost all free when you call from the US[16]US residents only[17]; needs a phone number[15] and an ID check[18]
TwinPhoneNone; top-ups of $10 or more[19]$0.02 a minute[20]No free tier[13]; a number for incoming calls from $3.19 a month[21]
Yolla WebNone; pay per minute[22]From $0.01 a minute[23]Outgoing calls only[22]

Checked .

For scale: 300 minutes a month to US numbers is almost always free on Google Voice when you call from the US[16], from $3 at Yolla's lowest published rate, and $6 at TwinPhone's $0.02 a minute, against $33.99 a month for the average fixed line.

Calls abroad are a separate comparison, because rates swing by destination and by service; what calls abroad cost in 2026 sets carrier and app prices side by side.

What affects VoIP call quality?

The codec, your connection and the far end. Every WebRTC browser must support Opus and G.711[7]. Opus scales from 6 kbit/s narrowband speech to 510 kbit/s fullband audio[8], so browser-to-browser calls can carry a wider band than a phone line. A call to an ordinary number is typically handed to the phone network as G.711, the codec legacy phone systems share[7].

G.711 is a 64 kbit/s channel sampled 8,000 times a second[11], which Opus calls narrowband: a 4 kHz audio band, against up to 20 kHz in fullband[8]. So a browser call to a landline won't sound wider than an ordinary landline call.

What decides how a VoIP call sounds
FactorWhat the standard or vendor saysWhat you can check
BandwidthGoogle Voice needs at least 32 kbps per participant and recommends more than 50 kbps[24]Pause big uploads, backups and video streams
DelayUnder 150 ms one way, most conversations feel instant; 400 ms is the planning limit[25]Talking over each other? Try without a VPN
Packet lossOpus can resend key speech in a later packet[8]On weak Wi-Fi, move closer or use a cable
EchoLaptop speakers and microphones make echo hard to cancel[7]Use a headset

Should you keep a landline or switch to VoIP?

Keep a copper or battery-backed home line if you rely on 911 at home during outages, have weak mobile signal, or live with someone who doesn't use a mobile. Switch to VoIP, or drop the line, if a charged mobile covers emergencies and you mainly want cheaper calls. A browser dialer then adds calls from a laptop, but not 911.

The choice may be made for you: in March 2026 the FCC cut rules that slowed the move from copper to IP-based networks[3], so ask your provider what replaces your line.

For outgoing calls from a computer, Google Voice is free for US residents[15][17] who pass its sign-up checks[18]. TwinPhone works in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave and Safari with an email sign-up[26], but has no free tier[13], costs more than Yolla for UK and Indian mobiles[20][27][28], and can't dial 911[13]. Every service I compared, side by side has the rest.

Frequently asked questions

Does VoIP work when the internet is down?

No. VoIP needs a working internet connection, so a broadband outage stops calls even with the power on. US rules list broadband failure and power loss among the cases where VoIP 911 may not work[10]. A mobile on its own network, or a copper line, is the fallback, so I wouldn't rely on internet calling alone at home.

Can I keep my landline number if I switch to VoIP?

In the US, usually yes. Carriers must port a customer's number to an interconnected VoIP provider on a valid request, and VoIP providers must let numbers move out again[29]. Keep the old line until the new provider confirms the port. An outgoing-only browser dialer has no number to port into.

Does VoIP sound better than a landline?

It can between two apps, but not on a call to a landline. Browsers must support Opus[7], which reaches fullband audio up to 20 kHz[8]. A call that reaches the phone network usually travels as G.711, sampled 8,000 times a second[7][11], which Opus counts as narrowband, a 4 kHz band[8]. I placed no test calls; beyond the codec, delay and lost packets decide how a call sounds.

How much internet speed does a VoIP call need?

Very little. Google asks for at least 32 kbps per participant on a Google Voice call and recommends more than 50 kbps[24]. Delay and lost packets matter more: ITU-T guidance says most conversations feel instant when one-way delay stays under 150 ms[25], so a stable connection beats a fast one.

Is Wi-Fi Calling the same as VoIP?

Technically yes, since Wi-Fi Calling is voice over Wi-Fi[30], but it runs on your mobile line: you switch it on for a SIM line in your phone's settings, and only if your carrier offers it[31]. A VoIP service, including a dialer in a browser tab, is a separate account with its own rates, and how Wi-Fi Calling differs from VoIP apps walks through costs and laptops.

Do I need a special phone for VoIP?

No. US rules describe VoIP as needing internet-compatible equipment at your end[9]: an adapter for an ordinary handset, an IP desk phone, an app or a browser. Browsers have WebRTC built in, so a call needs no plug-in[32]; a headset helps most, because laptop speakers make echo harder to cancel[7].

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Sources

  1. Ensuring Continuity of 911 Communications (FCC Report and Order, Federal Register, 16 Oct 2015) · FCC (Federal Register) · checked November 1, 2026
  2. 47 CFR 9.8 Obligation of fixed telephony providers to convey dispatchable location, eCFR · eCFR (US Office of the Federal Register) · checked November 1, 2026
  3. Reducing Barriers to Network Improvements and Service Changes (FCC Report and Order, Federal Register, 20 Apr 2026) · FCC (Federal Register) · checked November 1, 2026
  4. 47 CFR 9.20 Backup power obligations (eCFR, version of 14 Jan 2026) · eCFR (US Office of the Federal Register) · checked November 1, 2026
  5. Delete, Delete, Delete (FCC Direct Final Rule, Federal Register, 14 Jan 2026) · FCC (Federal Register) · checked November 1, 2026
  6. Results of 2026 Urban Rate Survey for Fixed Voice and Broadband Services (FCC Public Notice DA 25-1088, 19 Dec 2025) · FCC · checked November 1, 2026
  7. RFC 7874: WebRTC Audio Codec and Processing Requirements · IETF · checked November 1, 2026
  8. RFC 6716: Definition of the Opus Audio Codec · IETF · checked November 1, 2026
  9. 47 CFR 9.3 -- Definitions (eCFR) · eCFR, Office of the Federal Register (FCC rules, 47 CFR Part 9) · checked November 1, 2026
  10. 47 CFR 9.11 E911 Service (interconnected VoIP), eCFR · eCFR (US Office of the Federal Register) · checked November 1, 2026
  11. RFC 3551: RTP Profile for Audio and Video Conferences with Minimal Control · IETF · checked November 1, 2026
  12. Call emergency services - Google Voice Help · checked November 1, 2026
  13. Can I call a phone from my browser for free? - TwinPhone Help Center · checked November 1, 2026
  14. Terms of Use - Yolla · checked November 1, 2026
  15. Identify Google Voice subscription types - Google Voice Help · checked November 1, 2026
  16. Make a call with Google Voice - Computer - Google Voice Help · checked November 1, 2026
  17. The end of legacy Google Voice for personal accounts - Google Voice Help · checked November 1, 2026
  18. Learn about identity verification for Google Voice users - Google Voice Help · checked November 1, 2026
  19. How does TwinPhone billing work? - TwinPhone Help Center · checked November 1, 2026
  20. International Calling Rates — Pay As You Go, Per Minute - TwinPhone · checked November 1, 2026
  21. Get Your Own Virtual Phone Number - TwinPhone · checked November 1, 2026
  22. Make Phone Calls from Your PC, Laptop, or Browser - Yolla · checked November 1, 2026
  23. Cheap Online International Calls to the United States (The USA) - Yolla · checked November 1, 2026
  24. Voice connectivity requirements - Google Workspace Admin Help · Google · checked November 1, 2026
  25. ITU-T G.114: One-way transmission time (05/2003) · ITU-T · checked November 1, 2026
  26. Call a phone from your browser - TwinPhone · checked November 1, 2026
  27. Cheap Online International Calls to the United Kingdom - Yolla · checked November 1, 2026
  28. Cheap Online International Calls to India - Yolla · checked November 1, 2026
  29. 47 CFR 52.34 Local number porting to and from interconnected VoIP providers, eCFR · eCFR (US Office of the Federal Register) · checked November 1, 2026
  30. Wi-Fi Calling at Verizon FAQs | Verizon Support · Verizon · checked November 1, 2026
  31. Make a call with Wi-Fi Calling - Apple Support · Apple · checked November 1, 2026
  32. WebRTC API - Web APIs | MDN · MDN Web Docs (Mozilla) · checked November 1, 2026