Despite the wonders of today’s cell phones, many people still prefer a landline’s reliability, convenience, and call quality.

They’re relatively straightforward gadgets, and we think the AT&T DL72210 is the one to buy. Your call will sound good and stay connected as you walk around, and you can connect to your cell phone for added convenience. The system can be expanded with additional handsets if the two provided aren’t enough.

However, if you live in an area prone to power outages, the Panasonic KX-TGE475S is the obvious choice. Its feature set is comparable with the AT&T model we like, but the Panasonic has a terrific battery backup to keep you connected longer than the other models.

Sure the DL72210 works as a landline phone, but it also pairs with your cell phone, so you can take calls without having to fiddle with your cell phone or try to find it.

Best Overall

AT&T DL72210 Two Handset Answering System

  • Connects to your smartphone

  • Automatic call blocking

  • Assistant access

  • Get notifications from your smartphone

  • Extra handsets not wall mountable

  • Only 22 minutes of voicemail

You can even use the DL72210 to interact with your digital assistant. This is a modest system with slightly more than modest features and is probably exactly what you’re looking for without even knowing it.

Answering System: Yes | Speakerphone: Yes | Bluetooth: Yes | Call Waiting: Yes | Caller ID: Yes

This two-handset system is under $40 but doesn’t come with an answering machine. It’s up to you to decide if that is a plus or a minus. The VTech system has the technology to keep your calls loud and clear, so if you want a simple cordless phone for your landline…Well, you’re all done.

Best Budget

VTech CS6719-2 DECT 6.0 Phone with Caller ID/Call Waiting

  • Great price

  • DECT 6.0 compatible

  • No answering machine

Both handsets have large, backlit screens which are easy to read. The phone system is expandable to up to five total handsets. We like this as a budget option because it’s a multi-handset system with nice extras and a low price tag.

Answering System: No | Speakerphone: Yes | Bluetooth: No | Call Waiting: Yes | Caller ID: Yes

If you have a big home or office (over 2,000 square feet), consider the AT&T CL82407. It has an antenna design that aims to have the best range around. The system has four handsets, but you can expand it as needed to have up to 12.

Best Call Quality

AT&T CL82407 Cordless Phone

  • Four handsets included

  • Answering machine

  • Caller ID announce

  • No wall mount for additional handsets

  • Handset chargers easily tip

It also has an answering machine, and Caller ID announce, so you know who’s calling before you even pick up the phone. Other features like automatic robocall blocking work well, and the high-contrast screen is easily read, even from a distance.

Like many cordless phones, the VTech DS6151 comes with an answering machine. But the VTech DS6151 includes two answering machines for two different phone lines. Most of us won’t need a system like this, but if you have a small business, this might be what you need.

Best System for Two Phone Lines

VTech DS6151

  • Two lines

  • Up to 12 handsets

  • Pricey

The handsets encrypt the calls, so you can feel comfortable that folks won’t be listening to your calls as the signal is sent back to the base unit.

In summary: Two lines, two answering machines, and one handset. Wait, it only comes with one handset?! Yes, but you can add 11 more if you want.

If you must have a Motorola cordless phone, the CD5011 ticks all the boxes: answering machine, spam button to tell the phone not to accept a call from the number that just called, volume boost for those hard of hearing, and it’ll announce who’s calling before you answer it. The handset keys are not backlit, so dialing at night can be difficult.

Best Motorola

Motorola CD5011 DECT 6.0 Cordless Phone

  • Volume boost

  • 30 min answering machine

  • No backlight on the keys

  • Expensive

Answering System: Yes | Speakerphone: Yes | Bluetooth: No | Call Waiting: Yes | Caller ID: Yes

If you want to buy a cordless phone from a manufacturer that seems to know where things are headed, look no further than Panasonic. The KX-TGE475S is a cordless phone system that doesn’t require a landline.

Best Panasonic

Panasonic KX-TGE475S

  • Battery in base station
  • Bluetooth to link to your phone
  • Works without a landline

It’s a five-handset system that can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth and transmits phone calls from your smartphone. You can even use a handset to locate your smartphone if necessary. 

The key feature of this Panasonic model is that it includes a 12-hour battery backup. So if your power goes out and your landline is still working, your smartphone will too. Remember, though, you are paying dearly for that battery backup.

What to Look for in a Cordless Phone

Expandability

While most cordless phone systems can be expanded, that’s not always a given. Even if a cordless system can be expanded, it’s important to know how far you can expand. Will your system handle five handsets? What about twelve? Twenty? It’s important to know how versatile your phone system can get.

DECT 6.0

DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology. We touched on this a little earlier, but we have a full explainer of the technology as well. Essentially, it’s a standard in cordless phones that ensure that a phone has great range and call clarity. Plus, DECT phones can intercom with each other and use VOIP, or internet telephony, services like Vonage or Ooma that will send your calls over the internet rather than via the traditional phone network.

Battery backup

Cordless phones require a battery to function, which is why they require base stations to charge. It’s important to consider your phone habits when choosing a cordless phone system. It’s also important to consider the layout of your home and places where a charging cradle would be convenient.

About Our Expert

Patrick Hyde lives in Seattle, where he works as a digital marketer and freelance copywriter and writes about technology for Lifewire. His expertise includes Android devices and consumer technology, such as cordless phones for your home.

  • Do you still need a cordless phone?
  • Cordless phones are great for use around the house without being tied to a single place. If you have a landline, a cordless phone is a real convenience that is easily taken for granted. Some cordless phones pair with your smartphone and pull double duty. You can leave your smartphone in a place that gets a good signal and still take calls.
  • What’s the advantage of owning a cordless phone?
  • Having a dedicated landline can help you make and receive stable calls that don’t rely on cellular signals. Some areas just have bad cell reception, and a landline completely circumvents that. Plus, landlines and their handsets cost significantly less than their cell phone equivalents. While smartphone plans can cost up to $50 or more per month, landlines typically cost a fraction of that. Similarly, the phones themselves will rarely top $100.
  • Can cordless phones work without power?
  • Cordless phones require a steady stream of power to function. A good cordless phone base will have a battery backup for times that you lose power. Otherwise, it’s not a bad idea to have a corded phone somewhere in the house as a backup in case you lose power.

Cordless phones are great for use around the house without being tied to a single place. If you have a landline, a cordless phone is a real convenience that is easily taken for granted. Some cordless phones pair with your smartphone and pull double duty. You can leave your smartphone in a place that gets a good signal and still take calls.

Having a dedicated landline can help you make and receive stable calls that don’t rely on cellular signals. Some areas just have bad cell reception, and a landline completely circumvents that. Plus, landlines and their handsets cost significantly less than their cell phone equivalents. While smartphone plans can cost up to $50 or more per month, landlines typically cost a fraction of that. Similarly, the phones themselves will rarely top $100.

Cordless phones require a steady stream of power to function. A good cordless phone base will have a battery backup for times that you lose power. Otherwise, it’s not a bad idea to have a corded phone somewhere in the house as a backup in case you lose power.