Microsoft Teams Calling Plans | What Are They and What Do They Cost?

What Are Microsoft Teams Calling Plans?

Microsoft Teams Calling Plans are the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) connectivity component of Microsoft Teams Phone. They provide each Teams user with a UK phone number and a monthly allowance of call minutes, enabling outbound calls to any phone number and inbound calls from outside the Microsoft 365 environment.

A Calling Plan is required in addition to a Teams Phone licence. The Teams Phone licence enables the PBX features (auto-attendant, call queues, voicemail); the Calling Plan — or an alternative connection method — provides the actual telephone line to the outside world.

Types of Microsoft Calling Plans

Domestic Calling Plan

The standard plan for UK businesses. Provides a UK phone number and inclusive minutes for calls within the UK. Microsoft currently offers Domestic Calling Plans at approximately £5–£9/user/month, with minute allowances varying by plan tier (typically 120–1,200 minutes per user per month). Calls beyond the inclusive allowance are charged per minute.

Domestic and International Calling Plan

Adds international calling minutes to the domestic plan. Useful for businesses with staff making regular international calls — but the per-minute rates and included international minute allowances vary significantly by destination. Compare carefully against call volumes before selecting this plan.

Pay-As-You-Go Calling

No inclusive minutes — calls are charged at Microsoft's per-minute rates. Suitable for users who make very low volumes of outbound calls (predominantly inbound-only). Not cost-effective for regular callers.

Calling Plans vs Direct Routing vs Operator Connect

Microsoft Calling Plans are not the only way to connect Teams Phone to the PSTN. There are three options:

Microsoft Calling Plans

Microsoft provides numbers and minutes directly. Simple to manage — everything in Microsoft's admin portal. Best for SMEs wanting minimum complexity. Less flexibility on call rates and number management.

Operator Connect

A Microsoft-certified carrier connects their SIP network to Teams Phone via Microsoft's managed cloud infrastructure. Businesses choose from certified carriers (BT, Gamma, TELE2, and others) — providing carrier choice without managing an SBC. Numbers and billing come from the carrier. Often competitive on call rates compared to Microsoft's own Calling Plans.

Direct Routing

A certified SBC (Session Border Controller) connects Teams Phone to any SIP carrier. Maximum flexibility — use any SIP trunk provider, maintain existing carrier contracts, and typically lower per-minute call costs. Requires SBC infrastructure (hardware or cloud-hosted) and more technical configuration. Best for businesses with significant call volumes, existing SIP trunk relationships, or complex multi-site routing requirements.

Which Is Right for Your Business?

What to Watch Out For With Microsoft Calling Plans

A few points worth checking before committing to Microsoft Calling Plans:

• Minute allowances: The base plans may not include enough minutes for heavy phone users. Calculate expected monthly minutes before selecting a plan tier.
• International calling: Microsoft's international rates can be expensive. If your business makes regular international calls, compare the total cost against a Direct Routing setup with a competitive SIP carrier.
• Emergency calling: Ensure your Teams Phone configuration includes correct emergency location information — regulatory requirements for PSTN calling apply to Teams Phone as with any telephone system.
• Number porting timescales: Porting existing numbers to Microsoft typically takes 10–15 working days — slightly longer than some Direct Routing providers.

AMVIA advises businesses on the right PSTN connectivity approach for their Teams Phone deployment and manages the full setup — whether Microsoft Calling Plans, Operator Connect, or Direct Routing.