If you are evaluating a 3CX alternative, you are probably familiar with the frustration. What starts as an attractively priced phone system quickly becomes a web of hosting fees, per-ticket support charges, and IT overhead that was never part of the original plan. The 3CX phone system has earned praise for its flexibility, but its simultaneous-call licensing model, mandatory self-hosting requirements, and recent pricing changes have driven many businesses to look elsewhere.
This guide breaks down the 7 best 3CX alternatives for businesses that want a cloud-hosted, fully managed phone system with transparent per-user pricing, built-in support, and zero IT burden. Whether you are a 10-person startup or a 200-seat contact center, these providers deliver enterprise-grade calling without asking your IT team to babysit a PBX server.
3CX is a software-based PBX that gives organizations deep control over their telephony infrastructure. However, that control comes at a cost: complexity. Recent reviews on Trustpilot, G2, and Reddit highlight a pattern of dissatisfaction around pricing unpredictability, degraded support, and the IT strain of managing a 3CX deployment.
Several factors are accelerating the search for a 3CX alternative:
Pricing has increased significantly since 2022, with reviewers on Trustpilot noting sudden hikes and feature changes without prior notice.
The simultaneous-call licensing model confuses buyers who expect straightforward per-user pricing.
Hosting, support, SIP trunks, and SSL certificates are all separate line items that inflate total cost of ownership.
The V18 to V20 upgrade disrupted many deployments, wiping out reports and breaking desk phone provisioning.
Resellers and partners report a deteriorating relationship with 3CX, including mandatory exclusivity clauses and cancelled partnerships for offering competing products.
Understanding 3CX pricing is essential before deciding to stay or switch. Unlike most modern cloud phone systems that charge per user per month, the 3CX phone system uses a simultaneous call (SC) licensing model where pricing is based on the maximum number of calls that can happen at the same time, not the total number of users or extensions.
3CX offers three main editions:
SMB Free: Up to 10 users, hosted by 3CX, no cost. Limited to basic features and a small team.
Basic: Starts at $285/year for 8 SC (approximately 16-40 extensions).
Professional (PRO): Starts at $380/year for 8 SC (approximately 16-40 extensions). Includes call queues, call reporting, CRM integration, and call recording.
Enterprise/AI (ENT/AI): Starts at $550/year for 8 SC and scales to $37,620/year for 1,024 SC. Adds skills-based routing, AI features, and advanced contact center tools.
The rule of thumb is 1 simultaneous call per 3-4 extensions, so a company with 50 extensions would need a 16 SC license.
The annual license fee is only the starting point. Several additional expenses are routinely overlooked during the initial evaluation:
Hosting fees: If you choose 3CX-hosted (rather than self-hosting), annual hosting charges range from $250 to $1,995 depending on SC capacity.
Support charges: 3CX does not include support with the license. Basic support starts at $75 per individual ticket, or you can buy support packages.
SIP trunk costs: 3CX does not provide calling minutes. A separate SIP trunk provider is required to connect to the public telephone network.
SSL certificates and security: Additional annual costs for SSL and server security.
Server infrastructure: Self-hosted deployments require a dedicated server (physical or virtual), IT administration, updates, and backup solutions.
Underestimating SC requirements: Businesses that undersize their SC license experience busy signals and dropped calls during peak periods. Upgrading mid-term means paying the price difference for the remaining license period.
Budget surprises from hosting: Many businesses assume the license price is the total cost, only to discover that hosting, trunking, and support double or triple the bill.
Frequent pricing changes: Multiple Trustpilot reviewers report that 3CX has raised prices multiple times since 2022, with some changes taking effect without advance notice.
Feature gating across editions: Key features like AI transcription, skills-based routing, and advanced contact center tools are locked to the Enterprise/AI edition, which can cost significantly more as SC requirements grow.
One of the most underappreciated costs of a 3CX phone system is the burden it places on internal IT teams. Unlike fully managed cloud platforms such as NUACOM, 3CX often requires hands-on server management that either consumes internal IT resources or forces businesses to pay for external hosting and support.
If a business self-hosts 3CX on its own server (physical or virtual), the IT team is responsible for:
Server provisioning, operating system updates, and security patching
SSL certificate management and renewal
Firewall configuration and SIP traffic management
Backup and disaster recovery planning
3CX software updates and version upgrades (the V18 to V20 migration caused significant disruption for many deployments)
SIP trunk configuration and troubleshooting
Desk phone provisioning and firmware management
This is a meaningful operational commitment. For businesses without a dedicated telecom or systems administrator, self-hosting 3CX can easily consume 5-10 hours per month of IT time just for routine maintenance, and far more during upgrades or incidents.
Businesses that prefer not to self-host can choose 3CX-hosted infrastructure, which shifts server management to 3CX. However, this comes with additional annual hosting fees of $250-$1,995 depending on SC capacity. Even with 3CX hosting, IT teams still handle user management, call flow configuration, SIP trunk setup, and troubleshooting. And support, remember, is billed separately.
A third option is to work with a 3CX partner that provides hosting and managed services. This reduces internal IT burden further but introduces a third-party dependency and additional cost that can rival or exceed the price of a fully managed cloud phone system. Reviewers on Reddit have noted that managing multiple 3CX deployments across client sites is a significant operational overhead for partners, and that 3CX’s partner requirements have become increasingly restrictive.
Fully managed cloud providers like NUACOM eliminate this entire category of work. There are no servers to manage, no software updates to schedule, no SSL certificates to renew, and no SIP trunk configurations to troubleshoot. The provider handles all of it, and support is included in the subscription price. For many businesses, the IT time saved by switching from 3CX to a managed cloud platform represents a larger cost savings than the license fee difference alone.
Flexible deployment: Customers appreciate the choice between on-premise, self-hosted cloud, and 3CX-hosted deployment, which gives IT teams the ability to match infrastructure to their preferences.
Feature-rich for the price: The free SMB plan and the SC-based pricing model can deliver significant savings for larger organizations that have many extensions but relatively few concurrent calls.
Unified communications: Voice, video, chat, and live chat are included in a single system, which reviewers on G2 and Capterra value for consolidating tools.
Strong desktop and mobile apps: Users consistently praise the 3CX apps for call quality and connectivity, particularly after the V20 app update.
Customization depth: Technical administrators value the ability to configure detailed call flows, provisioning scripts, and SIP settings.
Support quality has declined: This is the most common complaint across all review platforms. Trustpilot reviewers report that support is now limited to paid tickets at $75+ each, and response times have worsened. On Capterra, one reviewer wrote: “Customer support, which used to be decent, is now a form you fill out. The form you fill out goes into the ether.”
Pricing has become confusing and unpredictable: Multiple reviewers on Trustpilot cite price increases since 2022, with one describing 3CX as having “the prize for 2025 worst and disrespectful company” after feature changes for existing licenses without prior notice.
V20 upgrade caused widespread disruption: Reddit users in the 3CX community describe broken desk phone provisioning, lost reporting data, and features that worked for a decade suddenly removed or replaced with call flow scripts. One commenter noted: “The problem isn’t really that V20 is faulty; it’s that we were compelled to alter and upgrade systems that were already running smoothly.”
Frequent technical issues: Capterra flags “frequent technical issues” as a recurring theme across its 460+ reviews, and G2 reviewers note that the mobile app can experience connectivity issues affecting call quality.
Partner and reseller friction: Reddit discussions reveal deep frustration among 3CX resellers. New partner requirements mandate selling 10% new systems (not just renewals), and any partner offering a competing product in their portfolio faces termination. One commenter summarized: “The product itself remains solid. It’s the company’s conduct that’s problematic.”
IT burden for non-technical users: G2 reviewers observe that 3CX falls short in usability for non-technical administrators, with configuration and troubleshooting tasks that are not intuitive and may require outside support or documentation.
Security incident in 2023: 3CX experienced a supply chain security attack in 2023, which raised concerns among security-conscious organizations about the platform’s risk profile.
NUACOM is a cloud-hosted VoIP business phone system built for small and mid-sized businesses that need enterprise features without enterprise complexity. Unlike 3CX, NUACOM handles all hosting, maintenance, and updates in the cloud, eliminating the need for on-premise servers or dedicated IT staff. The platform is designed around simplicity: transparent per-user pricing, 30-day rolling contracts or annual contracts, and a feature set that covers everything from basic calling to AI-powered call intelligence.
NUACOM stands apart from 3CX in several critical areas. There is no simultaneous call limit to worry about, no separate hosting bill, and no per-ticket support charges. Every plan includes phone, email, and live chat support alongside dedicated onboarding and training. For teams that have been managing 3CX servers and juggling SIP trunk configurations, NUACOM offers a clean break: plug in, set up your users, and start calling.
The platform integrates with over 40 CRMs and helpdesks, including HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Zendesk, Intercom, GoHighLevel, and Gong. This makes it a particularly strong fit for sales and support teams that want call data flowing directly into their existing workflows.
Cloud-hosted with zero IT maintenance, fully managed infrastructure with no servers to provision or update
Transparent per-user pricing with 30-day rolling contracts and no lock-in or a discounted annual contract
AI add-on with call summaries, transcription, sentiment analysis, key topic recognition, and action items
Live call coaching with listen, whisper, and barge modes for real-time agent training
IVR with auto-attendant, voice menus, time-based call routing, and automatic public holiday messages
Auto dialer for outbound campaigns
40+ CRM and helpdesk integrations including HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Zendesk, Intercom, Zapier, Go HighLevel, and Gong
Call recording with up to 10-years retention
Advanced reporting with live call wallboard, call tracking, KPI dashboards, and missed call follow-up reports
Desktop and mobile apps plus Google Chrome extension for click-to-call
SSO (Single Sign-On) support
SMS tools including bulk outbound SMS and 2-way SMS
Dedicated account manager on the Enterprise plan with SLA and API developer support
Unlimited: $19/user/month – unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles, IVR with auto-attendant, CRM integration, automated call recording, time-based call routing, and personalised onboarding
Enterprise: $25/user/month – advanced reporting, live call wallboard, live call coaching (listen/whisper/barge), queue position announcements, callback request, wrap-up time, auto dialer, multi-site solution, custom reporting, SLA, and dedicated account manager
AI Add-On: $9/user/month – adds AI call summaries, transcription, sentiment analysis, key point recognition, and action items
Contact Center: Custom quote for omni-channel support
NUACOM eliminates every pain point that drives businesses away from 3CX. There is no simultaneous call cap, no hosting bill, no per-ticket support fee, and no need for a dedicated IT resource. The per-user pricing is predictable and scales linearly, so a 50-person team knows exactly what it will pay every month. The 30-day rolling contract means zero long-term commitment risk, and the AI add-on at just €9/user/month delivers call intelligence that 3CX only offers in its highest-tier Enterprise/AI license.
RingCentral is a business telephony established name, recognized for its all-in-one voice, video, and messaging platform running on a mature, globally distributed infrastructure. It serves enterprises wanting a unified communications system and supports a large portfolio of hardware and software integrations. RingCentral is a publicly traded company with over 400,000 business customers worldwide.
Unified system for voice, video, fax, and team messaging in a single app
Multi-level auto-attendants, call queues, and team messaging
300+ integrations and app ecosystem including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Microsoft Teams
Robust analytics, audit logs, and hardware rental options
Customizable user roles and advanced call flows
AI-powered live call transcription, closed captioning, and meeting summaries
Core: $30/user/month – unlimited domestic calling, IVR, AI transcriptions, 200-participant video meetings
Advanced: $35/user/month – adds CRM integrations, automatic call recording, advanced analytics
Ultra: $45/user/month – adds unlimited storage, full advanced analytics, Business SMS Booster
Webex is Cisco’s cloud-based collaboration platform offering calling, meetings, messaging, and webinars under a single umbrella. Backed by Cisco’s enterprise-grade networking and security infrastructure, Webex is a common choice for organizations with strict compliance requirements in industries like healthcare, finance, and government. FedRAMP-authorized security is available on the Enterprise plan.
Cloud-based calling with unlimited domestic minutes and international calling billed per minute
Video meetings supporting up to 1,000 participants on Enterprise
AI Assistant included in all paid tiers for noise cancellation, transcription, and meeting summaries
Phone menu (auto-attendant), extensions, call forwarding, call holding, and visual voicemail
Integration with Cisco hardware ecosystem and third-party apps
Advanced noise cancellation for clear audio in noisy environments
Webex Call: $17/license/month – cloud calling with unlimited domestic minutes, auto-attendant, extensions, desktop and mobile apps
Webex Suite (Meet + Call): $25/license/month – combines calling and meetings with up to 200 attendees
Webex Enterprise: Custom pricing – up to 1,000 attendees, unlimited cloud recording, FedRAMP security
Vonage Business Communications (VBC) is a cloud-based unified communications platform that provides voice, messaging, video, and SMS for small to mid-sized businesses. With a presence in over 35 countries, Vonage is known for its wide array of business integrations and developer-friendly APIs through the Vonage Communications Platform. However, many essential features like call queues and AI transcription are add-ons rather than included in base plans.
Unified voice, messaging, SMS, and video conferencing on all plans
Video meetings for up to 200 participants on Premium and Advanced plans
VBC App Center with single sign-on and CRM integrations
Visual voicemail with transcription on the Advanced plan
On-demand call recording (15 hours/month on Advanced)
Developer APIs through the Vonage Communications Platform for custom integrations
Mobile: $19.99/extension/month – mobile and desktop app, unlimited domestic calls
Premium: $29.99/extension/month – adds VoIP desk phone support, video meetings for 200 participants, single sign-on
Advanced: $39.99/extension/month – adds on-demand call recording, visual voicemail with transcription, call groups
Note: Call queues are an add-on at approximately $250/month per queue, and AI transcription costs around $49.99 per 200 hours. These extras can significantly increase the total cost.
Avaya Cloud Office is the cloud-based UCaaS offering from Avaya, powered by RingCentral’s infrastructure. It combines Avaya’s legacy in enterprise telephony with a modern cloud platform for voice, video, messaging, and integrations. This makes it a natural migration path for businesses already running Avaya hardware that want to move to the cloud without a complete rip-and-replace.
Unlimited domestic calling with business SMS and MMS
HD video meetings for up to 200 participants on the Ultra plan
Real-time AI call and meeting transcription with closed captioning
Multi-level IVR, call queues, and advanced call handling
AI video meeting summaries and AI writer for SMS and team chat
Google and Microsoft integrations, SSO, and developer APIs
Core: $25/user/month – unlimited domestic calling, IVR, AI transcription, 100-participant video, SSO
Advanced: $30/user/month – adds automatic call recording, advanced analytics, CRM integrations
Ultra: $35/user/month (annual) – adds unlimited storage, 200-participant video, device analytics, AI writer for SMS and chat
Nextiva is a US-based unified communications provider serving over 100,000 businesses. Known for its strong uptime record and customer support, Nextiva offers a range of plans that span basic VoIP calling through to full contact center functionality. Nextiva’s pricing model is straightforward per-user, making budgeting simpler than 3CX’s SC-based approach.
Unlimited voice calls within the US and Canada on all plans
Voicemail, texting, local and toll-free numbers included from the Core plan
Mobile and desktop apps with messaging and CRM integrations on Engage and above
Speech analytics and intelligent call routing on higher-tier plans
Multi-site management with customizable workflows
8 geo-redundant data centers across North America for reliability
Core: $23/user/month – unlimited calls within the US and CA, voicemail, texting
Engage: $50/user/month – adds CRM integrations, Advanced reporting, Web chat: Live & bot
Power Suite: $75/user/month – adds voice and web live chat, AI transcription & summarization
Note: Pricing can vary significantly based on user count and contract length. The lowest rates require 100+ users on multi-year contracts; smaller teams on monthly billing pay considerably more.
Yeastar offers the P-Series Phone System as an IP PBX solution available in appliance, software, and cloud editions. It is a strong option for businesses that want an on-premise or self-hosted PBX similar to 3CX but with a more partner-friendly support model and a simpler subscription structure. Yeastar has gained popularity among IT providers and resellers who previously worked with 3CX, with several Reddit users specifically citing Yeastar as their preferred 3CX replacement.
Available in appliance, software, and cloud deployments for flexible infrastructure choices
Call center features including a switchboard-style queue panel and real-time metrics
Remote access service for secure PBX management from anywhere
Instant messaging for one-to-one and group communications
CRM integration and phonebook management
Auto-provisioning for IP phones and NFC-based configuration
Standard, Enterprise, and Ultimate subscription plans with incremental feature unlocks
Yeastar uses a partner-based pricing model.
The subscription model includes Standard, Enterprise, and Ultimate plans, with features unlocked at each tier. Pricing varies by the number of extensions and concurrent calls selected.
30-day free trial available for the Enterprise plan on Cloud Edition.
Note: Unlike per-user SaaS platforms, Yeastar pricing is configured through certified partners and resellers. Exact pricing requires consultation with a Yeastar partner, which may add complexity for businesses that prefer self-service purchasing.
Switching phone systems is a significant decision. Before committing to any 3CX alternative, run through these questions to ensure the new platform genuinely solves the problems driving your move:
1. What is the total cost of ownership, not just the license fee?
With 3CX, the license is only a fraction of the total spend. Ask each alternative provider for a fully loaded quote that includes hosting, support, calling minutes, number provisioning, and any add-ons. A $20/user/month cloud platform with everything included may cost less than a $350/year 3CX license once hosting ($250-$1,995), support tickets ($75+), SIP trunks, and IT time are factored in.
2. How much IT resource does the system require?
If your team is managing 3CX servers, firewalls, and SIP trunks, quantify the hours spent per month. A fully managed cloud provider should reduce that to near zero. If the new platform still requires server management or partner-hosted infrastructure, the IT burden may simply shift rather than disappear.
3. Is support included in the price?
3CX charges per ticket or per support package. Many cloud alternatives include phone, email, and live chat support at no extra cost. Confirm what level of support is included and whether onboarding assistance is provided.
4. Can I port my existing phone numbers?
Number porting is critical for business continuity. Confirm that the new provider supports porting from your current SIP trunk provider and ask about the timeline and any associated costs. Most modern cloud providers, including NUACOM, support number porting with minimal downtime.
5. What integrations are available?
If your team relies on CRM or helpdesk integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce, Zendesk, etc.), verify that the new platform supports them natively. 3CX offers integrations but many require the Professional edition or above. Cloud platforms like NUACOM offer CRM integrations across multiple pricing tiers.
6. How does the platform handle scaling?
With 3CX, adding more users may require upgrading your SC license. Ask alternatives whether adding users is as simple as adding a new subscription, or whether there are tiers, minimums, or capacity limits to navigate.
7. What happens to my call data and recordings during migration?
Ask about data export options from 3CX and import capabilities on the new platform. Understand retention policies for call recordings, call logs, and analytics history.
8. Is there a contract lock-in?
3CX uses annual licensing. Some alternatives also require annual commitments for the best pricing. Providers like NUACOM offer 30-day rolling contracts, giving businesses the flexibility to adjust or cancel without penalty.
9. What is the provider’s track record on uptime and reliability?
Ask for SLA guarantees and historical uptime data. A cloud-hosted provider should offer 99.9%+ uptime with geo-redundant infrastructure, which is difficult to match with a self-hosted 3CX deployment unless you invest in redundant servers.
10. Can I trial the platform before committing?
Most cloud phone systems offer free trials or live demos. Test the actual calling experience, app quality, integration setup, and admin interface before signing anything.
Choosing the right 3CX alternative depends on your specific business requirements:
For the best overall alternative with transparent pricing and comprehensive features: NUACOM offers enterprise-grade capabilities at accessible price points with flexible contracts and excellent customer support.
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NUACOM is the best overall best alternative – combining transparent pricing, unlimited calling, advanced AI features, 100+ integrations, and 24/7 responsive support at competitive rates.
By choosing NUACOM, you’re not just selecting a VoIP provider; you’re partnering with a company committed to helping you achieve seamless and effective communication. Experience the difference with NUACOM, the best VoIP
3CX is a software-based IP PBX (Private Branch Exchange) that provides unified communications including voice calls, video conferencing, live chat, and messaging. It can be deployed on-premise, self-hosted in the cloud, or hosted by 3CX directly. Unlike traditional cloud phone systems, 3CX gives businesses control over their telephony infrastructure but requires server management, SIP trunk configuration, and ongoing IT maintenance to operate.
Yes, 3CX supports call recording, but the availability depends on the license edition. Call recording is included in the Professional (PRO) and Enterprise/AI (ENT/AI) editions. The free SMB plan does not include call recording. Recordings are stored on the server hosting the 3CX instance, which means storage management, backup, and retention policies are the responsibility of the business or its IT team.
The 3CX phone system works by running PBX software on a server – either a physical on-premise machine, a virtual machine in a private cloud, or 3CX’s own hosted infrastructure. It connects to the public telephone network through a separate SIP trunk provider, which supplies the actual calling minutes and phone numbers. Users make and receive calls through desktop apps, mobile apps, web clients, or compatible IP desk phones. Call routing, IVR menus, queues, and extensions are all configured through a web-based administration console.
3CX uses a simultaneous call (SC) licensing model rather than per-user pricing. The free SMB plan supports up to 10 users. The Professional (PRO) edition starts at $350/year for 8 simultaneous calls, and the Enterprise/AI (ENT/AI) edition starts at $575/year for 8 SC. However, the license fee is only part of the total cost. Hosting by 3CX adds $250-$1,995/year depending on SC capacity, support is billed separately at $75+ per ticket, and SIP trunks for calling minutes must be purchased from a third-party provider. When all of these costs are combined, the actual price of running 3CX can be significantly higher than the advertised license fee.
NUACOM is the best 3CX alternative for small and mid-sized businesses. It eliminates the biggest pain points of 3CX: there are no simultaneous call limits, no separate hosting fees, no per-ticket support charges, and no servers to manage. NUACOM is fully cloud-hosted with transparent per-user pricing starting at €9.99/user/month, 30-day rolling contracts with no lock-in, and over 40 CRM integrations including HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho, and Pipedrive. An AI add-on at €9/user/month provides call summaries, transcription, and sentiment analysis – features that 3CX only offers in its highest-tier Enterprise/AI license.
Yes, most cloud phone providers support number porting, which allows businesses to transfer existing phone numbers from their current SIP trunk provider to the new platform. The process typically takes 1-4 weeks depending on the carrier and country. Providers like NUACOM support number porting with minimal downtime during the transition.
No. One of the primary advantages of switching from 3CX to a fully managed cloud provider like NUACOM, is the elimination of IT overhead. With 3CX, businesses are responsible for server provisioning, security patching, SSL certificates, SIP trunk configuration, and software updates. Fully managed cloud phone systems handle all infrastructure, maintenance, and updates on the provider side – the business simply manages users and call settings through a web-based admin portal.
The most important integrations depend on the business workflow, but CRM and helpdesk integrations are typically the highest priority. A strong 3CX alternative should offer native integrations with platforms like HubSpot, Salesforce, Zoho CRM, Pipedrive, Zendesk, and Intercom. NUACOM, for example, offers over 40 integrations across CRMs, helpdesks, and automation tools, plus a Zapier connection for custom workflows. RingCentral provides over 300 integrations through its app ecosystem.
The most common reasons businesses are switching away from 3CX include rising and unpredictable pricing since 2022, declining support quality with $75+ per-ticket charges, the IT burden of self-hosting or paying extra for 3CX-managed hosting, and disruption caused by the V18 to V20 upgrade that broke reporting and desk phone provisioning for many users. On Trustpilot, 3CX holds a 3.2 out of 5 rating, with reviewers frequently citing price hikes, feature removals, and unresponsive support as key frustrations.
3CX offers standard security features including encrypted communications and secure web management. However, in 2023, 3CX experienced a significant supply chain security attack that compromised its desktop application, affecting thousands of businesses worldwide. This incident raised concerns among security-conscious organizations. For businesses that self-host, security also depends on the IT team properly maintaining server patches, firewall rules, and SSL certificates. Fully managed cloud alternatives shift this security responsibility to the provider, which often includes enterprise-grade encryption, geo-redundant data centers, and dedicated security teams.
Correct as of February 2026
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