3CX
3CX: A broad, capacity-priced phone system for teams that need routing flexibility. Ranked #6 of 166 in Business Phone Systems by our editors (8.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for teams wanting maximum PBX breadth and flexibility.
At a glance
- Editor score8.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTeams wanting maximum PBX breadth and flexibility
- Free planYes
- Paid from$300/yr
- Founded2005 · Tampa, Florida, United States
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free plan supports up to 40 users
- Advanced call flows, IVR, queues and routing scripts
- Broad apps, integrations, messaging and deployment options
Where it doesn't
- Paid pricing is billed annually per system
- Free edition is limited to very small deployments
- Business numbers generally require a SIP trunk provider
Our verdict on 3CX
3CX is a software-based business communications platform for organizations that need PBX calling, contact center capabilities and flexible deployment. It combines SIP trunk support, auto attendants, multi-level IVR, call queues, ring groups, call recording, reporting, voicemail transcription, video conferencing and messaging. Teams can access it through web, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and a Chrome extension. The published positioning fits organizations that want broad PBX coverage rather than a narrowly focused calling tool, including teams that need CRM or Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace connectivity.
Pricing is based on system capacity and simultaneous calls rather than per-user billing, with annual billing per system. The free 4SC Basic edition is intended for very small deployments, while the free plan supports up to 40 users. Paid editions include Basic, Pro and AI, and the official pricing page displays a $295 annual entry price. The plan structure makes 3CX relevant for teams that want to match telephony capacity to their deployment, but buyers should evaluate simultaneous-call requirements and annual system pricing rather than comparing it directly with per-user services.
Platform and ecosystem breadth are central to the product. 3CX supports hosted, self-hosted and on-premises deployments, alongside API access and integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, Zendesk, Freshdesk, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, Facebook and SMS/MMS. Its feature set also includes live chat, WhatsApp, SMS and MMS, AI features, custom call-flow design and routing scripts. Choose 3CX when PBX depth, deployment choice and integration coverage matter most. A smaller team seeking a simple phone service may find its capacity-based pricing, SIP-provider dependency and broad configuration scope less suitable.
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3CX pricing
3CX fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $300/yr |
| Included users | 40 users |
| Business numbers | Not verified |
| Auto attendant | Yes |
| Call routing | Advanced |
| Voicemail transcription | Yes |
| Desktop and mobile apps | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 10 integrations: Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, Zoho … See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | 3cx.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
3CX integrations
3CX lists 10 integrations on its own site.
- Microsoft 365
- Microsoft Teams
- Salesforce
- HubSpot
- Zendesk
- Zoho
- Microsoft Dynamics
- SMS
- Facebook Messenger
Alternatives to 3CX
- Zoom PhoneA paid cloud phone system with broad calling, routing, messaging, and integration coverage.9.2
- RingCentral RingEXA broad cloud communications suite for established organizations with complex calling needs.9.1
- NextivaA broad business phone platform for teams that need calling, messaging, routing, and analytics.8.8
3CX vs the competition
- 3CX vs Zoom Phone
- 3CX vs RingCentral RingEX
- 3CX vs Nextiva
- 3CX vs Dialpad Connect
- 3CX vs NFON Cloudya
- 3CX vs PanTerra Streams.AI
Compare 3CX with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
3CX is ranked in 13 of our directories; the 6 strongest besides Business Phone Systems.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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