The 7 Best Conference Phones

Editor's Notes

January 21, 2021:

Conference phones are different and more specialized than many speakerphones, as these are designed to plug into an actual phone line as their primary purpose. Generally, there are two ways to do that - analog and digital. There are different types of connections within the digital side, but what you'll need to remember is that if you're on an analog system, you'll likely need an analog conference. Digital systems can get away with using either, most of the time, but it might need some IT workarounds to get everything set up.

The AT&T SB3014, for example, is an analog model that is known to work with digital lines, but it may take some work. The VTech VCS702 ErisStation is another analog option, and while it doesn't have as many satellites as others, its range is still surprisingly good for the low price.

The VTech VCS754 ErisStation is our recommendation for top digital-only IP phone, as even though the Polycom RealPresence Trio 8800 is a slightly more premium device, it costs about twice as much, which won't be worth it for many users.

February 20, 2019:

Different companies' needs can vary a great deal when it comes to conference phones. Some prefer a higher-tech VoIP model that provides web-based controls and video integration, whereas other seek out a no-frills, analog-based selection that can be set up and used without much fuss or learning curve. If you’re in former group, look to the Vtech VCS754 ErisStation and the Cisco CP-7937G Unified, both of which made our list because they offer an impressive range of features. If you don’t need an actual phone, but instead just some high sound quality on your Skype or Webex call, consider the handy eMeet and Jabra models featured here. For those in the no-frills camp, the Polycom Voicestation just might have everything you need.