Focus Group vs bOnline
Focus Group wins on breadth; bOnline suits the smallest businesses on price.
Independently scored · last reviewed June 2026
Focus Group and bOnline both cover business telephony and broadband, but they're built for very different customers. Focus Group, founded in 2003 and now serving more than 30,000 UK businesses from its West Sussex base, is one of the country's largest independent technology providers. It layers managed IT, cyber security and business energy on top of connectivity and comms, making it a genuine single-supplier option for SMEs that want to reduce vendor sprawl. bOnline, founded in 2011 and headquartered in London, takes the opposite approach: low-cost, self-service VoIP and broadband aimed squarely at sole traders, freelancers and micro-businesses of up to roughly ten users. It's fast to set up, competitively priced and carries more than 15,000 Trustpilot reviews at 4.5 out of 5. The core tension is breadth versus simplicity. If you need more than phones and broadband, Focus Group is the clear choice. If you're a small operation that wants to be live in minutes without speaking to a salesperson, bOnline is worth a serious look.
Side by side
| Metric | Focus Group | bOnline |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 91 ✓ | 65 |
| Categories covered | 4
| 2
|
| Trustpilot | 4.2 | 4.5 ✓ |
| Breadth of service | 98 ✓ | 35 |
| Value for money | 74 | 80 ✓ |
| Support & service | 82 ✓ | 72 |
| Reliability | 85 ✓ | 68 |
| Reputation | 80 | 80 |
| Founded | 2003 | 2011 |
| Head office | Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, UK | 52 Grosvenor Gardens, London, UK |
Category by category
Focus Group handles SME and mid-market connectivity including more complex requirements; bOnline's broadband is designed for micro-businesses and has no leased line or SD-WAN options.
Both providers offer cloud VoIP. bOnline's plug-and-play simplicity and transparent pricing suit small businesses; Focus Group's managed approach suits larger or multi-site deployments.
Focus Group offers managed IT and cyber security. bOnline has no equivalent, so Focus Group takes this category by default.
Focus Group includes business energy within its single-supplier model. bOnline doesn't offer energy, so Focus Group takes this category by default.
Which should you choose?
Focus Group is the right call for SMEs and mid-market businesses that want to consolidate telecoms, connectivity, IT support, cyber security and energy with a single UK supplier under a managed account relationship.
Full Focus Group review →bOnline suits sole traders, freelancers and very small businesses (typically under ten users) that need low-cost, self-service VoIP and broadband and want to be up and running without a sales conversation or a complex contract negotiation.
Full bOnline review →Focus Group is the overall pick here, with a Compare Business Costs score of 91 against bOnline's 65. It's also the only option if you need managed IT, cyber security or business energy. Its breadth, scale and financial stability make it the stronger long-term partner for a growing business. That said, bOnline is genuinely competitive on price, Trustpilot sentiment and ease of setup. If you're a sole trader or micro-business after VoIP and broadband only, it's worth a look before you commit.
FAQs
Can I switch my existing business phone number to either provider without downtime?
Both providers support number porting. bOnline specifically highlights no-interruption porting as a feature for its self-service customers. With Focus Group, porting is handled as part of a managed onboarding process. Either way, confirm porting timelines in writing before you sign.
Which provider is better suited to a business with 20 or more staff?
Focus Group is the more appropriate choice at that scale. It's built for SME and mid-market accounts and can handle multi-site deployments, managed IT and cyber security requirements. bOnline is designed for micro-businesses of roughly one to ten users and doesn't offer the enterprise-grade connectivity or managed services a larger team is likely to need.
Do either of these providers publish their prices, or will I need to request a quote?
bOnline publishes its VoIP and broadband plans openly, which makes upfront cost comparison straightforward. Focus Group operates on a quote-only basis with little public pricing. That can work in your favour if you want a package built around your requirements, but it adds friction if you want a quick like-for-like comparison.