FreePBX Alternatives

Introduced in 2004, FreePBX is an open-source PBX system and is free for all to use. The versatile and powerful tool for managing VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) communications has more than 1 million active users. Moreover, it gets over 20,000 new installations every month worldwide.

Whether for small businesses or large enterprises, this popular IP PBX offers the flexibility and features necessary for smooth operations. The telephony solution suits firms that want a highly customizable PBX system.

Here are some of its top features.
 

• Secure Communications
• Voicemail Blasting
• Video Calling Support
• Follow Me/Find Me Calling
• Call Event Logging

Many enterprises seek FreePBX alternatives due to its technical complexity, insufficient customer service, limited features, and non-transparent costs.
 

• Features Limitations: FreePBX offers only basic features in its free services. Advanced features like call recording, IVR, and voice require additional charges or upgrading to higher plans.
• Complex Setup: FreePBX’s setup process is complex and requires additional technical support to fix, which may lead to frustration and confusion. However, there are many other providers with simple and user-friendly interfaces providing a similar service.
• Customer Service: Unlike many other competitors, FreePBX does not provide 24/7 customer support. Additionally, urgent services are available only for 7 to 8 hours daily, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST (GMT-5). Moreover, users have complained about poor technical assistance, leading to client dissatisfaction.
• Hidden and Additional Costs: While FreePBX is free to use, the name itself may be misleading as its services, like SIP trunking and PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) connectivity, require the installation of paid add-on modules. Nevertheless, their competitors provide transparent and affordable pricing for these services.
   

3CX is an all-in-one communication platform designed for medium-scale companies with over 25 users. More than 350K businesses use this platform, providing services to millions of daily users.

Since 2005, 3CX has provided simple, flexible, and affordable communication solutions and has an excellent rating of 4.4/5 in G2. a peer-to-peer review site.

What We Liked About 3CX
 

• Ensures secure and confidential calling using encryption and firewalls.
• Simple setup and user-friendly interface, which makes it easier to manage and navigate.
• Compatible with devices like Windows, Android, and iOS devices.
   

Where Does It Fall Behind?
 

• Frequent call drops and occasional bugs.
• Pricing is based on the number of calls, which can be expensive for businesses with high call volumes and many users.
   

Why Choose 3CX over FreePBX?
 

3CX offers a simplified, all-in-one solution with robust security features and a low-cost pricing model for businesses with 25+ users. This makes it an easier choice for medium-scale businesses that find the setup and customization of the FreePBX complex.

Nextiva is one of the leading cloud-based communication platforms, offering an extensive set of advanced call features. It stands out for its AI-powered capabilities and service reliability.

Established in 2008, Nextiva has served over 1 million companies and billions of conversations as an all-in-one communication platform.

What We Liked About Nextiva
 

• Compliance with HIPAA for higher security measurements.
• Up-to-date technology and 24/7 customer service.
• Smoothly integrates with CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system.
   

Where Does It Fall Behind?

• Many users have complained about the spam calls.
• Poor audio call quality.
   

Why Choose Nextiva over FreePBX?

Nextiva offers a comprehensive suite of enterprise-level services, such as call recording, advanced call queue, and AI-enriched call features. Additionally, its solutions are more flexible and scalable, simplifying call management more effectively than FreePBX.

GoTo Connect is a telephony solution with more than 100 call features, including a visual dial plan editor, auto attendance, and robust security. It is also known for its top-rated customer support.

Similarly, with over 2K global employees and tens of millions of users, GoTo is one of the largest SaaS (Software as a Service) companies.

What We Liked About Goto Connect
 

• Easy setup without needing technical expertise.
• Impressive uptime reliability (99.99%), ensuring continuous communications without any interruption.
• Provides omnichannel services to remote workers.
   

Where Does It Fall Behind?
 

• Need high bandwidth for higher call clarity.
• Long waiting times for assistance in resolving queries.
   

Why Choose Goto Connect over FreePBX?

GoTo Connect offers an all-in-one communications solution with advanced features and a simple setup. It allows businesses to manage their communication needs without extensive technical knowledge.

Vonage is popular as a robust phone system for enterprises seeking to integrate their communication tool with various other systems. It integrates well with third-party apps like HubSpot, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, and many more.

Since 2001, it has been committed to providing its customers with the best possible experience.

With over 2K employees, Vonage has built a strong infrastructure to support its services.

What We Liked About Vonage
 

• Provides customizable options for various business needs.
• Offers AI-based call features such as call transcription and call summary for higher efficiency.
• Unlimited domestic calling after subscription (within the US, Canada, and sometimes Mexico, depending on plans).
   

Where Does It Fall Behind?
 

• Free trial is not available, and a minimum one-year contract is needed to set up.
• Difficult to access call recording history.
   

Why Choose Vonage over FreePBX?
 

Vonage includes network optimization features that provide crystal-clear voice quality even with average bandwidth. Similarly, Vonage’s services offer more integrations than FreePBX services.

VirtualPBX services are trusted by large and small companies, with an ‘A+’ rating from the Better Business Bureau. It offers various communication services, including business phone numbers, contact centers, POTS replacements, and messaging.

What We Liked About VirtualPBX
 

• Affordable and cost-effective pricing which starts at $9 per month.
• Unlimited local minutes in the US, Canada, & Mexico.
• Easy setup and configuration without interruption.
   

Where Does It Fall Behind?
 

• Some essential features like call recording and 24/7 support are not included in starter plans.
• Customer service is based overseas and takes multiple calls to find someone to solve the issues.
   

Why Choose VirtualPBX over FreePBX?

VirtualPBX is known for its simple interface and ease of use. Additionally, VirtualPBX offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on their business phone plans.

Aircall is a cloud-based phone system that integrates with popular CRM, helpdesk, and collaboration tools. It is designed for companies that need an intuitive, scalable phone system to support customer service teams, sales departments, and other communication-driven functions.

What We Liked About Aircall
 

• Simple setup, making it an ideal choice for businesses that need quick installments.
• Scalable solutions for each business size with distinct pricing and features.
• Compatible with 100+ integrations.
   

Where Does It Fall Behind?
 

• Many users have claimed to experience choppiness and call drops.
• Longer waiting times for customer support and difficulty in resolving issues.
   

Why Choose Aircall over FreePBX?

Aircall is a great choice for businesses that need a modern, cloud-based phone system with advanced integrations and scalability. It’s specifically suitable for teams looking for a streamlined, easy-to-manage system with powerful analytics.

Dialpad is another comprehensive AI-powered phone system integrating advanced AI technologies to increase productivity and client services. It also ensures uninterrupted connectivity across devices and platforms, making it a strong contender in the business telephony space.

What We Liked About Dialpad
 

• Comprehensive AI capabilities which are beneficial for businesses seeking to optimize call management.
• Omnichannel support, meaning voice, video, and messaging from a single platform.
• It has competitive pricing plans with a 44% discount for annual payments, including a 14-day trial.
   

Where Does It Fall Behind?
 

• Users have reported issues with billing and unexpected charges.
• Some advanced features, such as Dialpad Business Intelligence (BI) and AI CSAT (customer satisfaction score), require add-on upgrades.
   

Why Choose Dialpad over FreePBX?

Dialpad, also known as Dialpad AI, offers a range of AI-enriched features, such as automatic speech recognition, DialpadGPT, and call transcription, to make every conversation hassle-free and effective. On the other hand, the FreePBX lacks this level of AI features.

Explore the Price structure of the above FreePBX alternatives in the table below:
 

While FreePBX offers an open-source solution with flexible customization, businesses seeking more advanced features, ease of use, and better customer support want to explore other options. Solutions like Dialpad, 3CX, and Nextiva offer comprehensive, user-friendly platforms with advanced features, making them ideal choices for companies that require more robust VoIP capabilities.

If you’re looking for the best business phone system, cloud telephony providers can be a better choice than open-source software platforms like FreePBX. Calilio’s Cloud telephony system offers more scalability and flexibility at a lower cost as it doesn’t require hardware to set up.

Yes, FreePBX does not require a licensing fee to set up and use. However, additional features, support, and business plans incur costs.

Phone system providers, including Calilio, Dialpad, Nextiva, and 3CX, are better than FreePBX and can offer better pricing, features, and other services.

When choosing alternatives for FreePBX, you should consider factors like the provider’s service reliability, features, pricing, scalability, and customer support.