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3CX

3CX

Overview

What is 3CX?

Cyprus based company 3CX offers an IP PBX phone system.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

Users from various organizations have found 3CX to be a reliable and flexible VoIP system that meets their communication needs. One such …
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3CX Review

1 out of 10
July 21, 2022
We have used 3CX for over 10 years. As a PBX, we never had any issues it was working fine. In terms of customer service however this is …
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3CX is EZ as PI

8 out of 10
June 30, 2022
Incentivized
Due to the size of our organizations, it is important to be able to have several different divisions or groups. For a big example we have …
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Reviewer Pros & Cons

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Pricing

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Pro

$1.08

On Premise
per user/per month

Enterprise

$1.31

On Premise
per user/per month

Standard

Free

On Premise

Entry-level set up fee?

  • Setup fee optional
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.3cx.com/ordering/pricing

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services
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Product Demos

3CX Demo

YouTube

3CX On Call Manager by VoIPTools | Live demo

YouTube

3CX Live Chat Demo

YouTube

3CX CRM Demo v14

YouTube

demo video call virtualbox+trixbox os(centos)+3cx phone

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3CX Scheduled Conference Call Demo

YouTube
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Product Details

What is 3CX?

3CX is an open standards communications system suitable for any business size or industry. 3CX is an integrated phone system with call queues, built-in video calls and video conferencing. In addition, users can integrate website live chat, Facebook and text messages. The vendor states its features are remote-friendly, meaning teams can use them from anywhere via mobile and browser apps. It’s also an open-platform and compatible with popular IP phones and SIP trunks.

3CX is designed to make installation, management, and maintenance of PBX easy, so that the user can effortlessly manage it, whether on an appliance or server on-premises or in the cloud.


3CX Features

  • Supported: Easy admin and installation
  • Supported: Slash telco costs by 80%
  • Supported: Advanced call center features
  • Supported: Video conferencing
  • Supported: Live chat
  • Supported: Android and iOS App
  • Supported: Facebook integration
  • Supported: Business text messages

3CX Screenshots

Screenshot of Video ConferencingScreenshot of Advanced Contact Center ReportingScreenshot of Management DashboardScreenshot of Live ChatScreenshot of 3CX AppScreenshot of See the Status of Your Colleagues

3CX Video

3CX Integrations

3CX Competitors

3CX Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise
Operating SystemsWindows, Linux
Mobile ApplicationApple iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Supported CountriesAll
Supported LanguagesEnglish, French, Spanish, Italian, German

3CX Downloadables

Frequently Asked Questions

Cyprus based company 3CX offers an IP PBX phone system.

RingEX are common alternatives for 3CX.

The most common users of 3CX are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(123)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

Users from various organizations have found 3CX to be a reliable and flexible VoIP system that meets their communication needs. One such user implemented 3CX in their municipal offices, serving around 30 users. They appreciate that the software provides VoIP functionality across different operating systems, including Linux, Mac, and Windows, allowing them to seamlessly integrate it into their existing infrastructure. Another user, with a larger organization of 200 users, runs 3CX on a virtual server and Yealink phones, enabling them to explore unified communication options.

3CX is widely used as a VoIP solution in different settings. For instance, in call centers, call queues are utilized for efficient call handling. The system also supports features like ACD, auto attendant, and voicemail, enhancing landline needs. In an entire school district, 3CX Phone System is implemented to provide phones in each room for private conversations and convenient teacher-parent communication. The switch to 3CX resulted in significant cost savings for the district as they were able to remove the old intercom system.

Moreover, organizations of all sizes have adopted 3CX as a cost-effective alternative to legacy PBX solutions. With features such as toll-free numbers and the ability to manage phones across multiple locations and states, users find that 3CX simplifies phone management and offers flexibility. The software's setup process is straightforward and does not require new purchases since it involves reprogramming existing phones.

One highly praised aspect of 3CX is its mobile app which allows users to answer calls even when they are not in the office. Additionally, the system's intuitive and user-friendly interface, along with seamless integration between the desktop portal and mobile app, has received positive feedback from users.

While many users appreciate the functionality provided by 3CX, there have been reports of dissatisfaction with the customer service and support offered by the company. Nonetheless, overall user experiences highlight the value of 3CX as a flexible and reliable VoIP solution for organizations seeking to enhance their communication systems.

Easy-to-use Interface: Reviewers have consistently praised the user interface of 3CX, stating that it is easy to use and intuitive. Many users found the management interface easy to read and navigate, allowing them to quickly find what they needed. Some reviewers even mentioned that managing every phone and extension throughout their company was effortless with the 3CX interface.

Seamless Integration: The seamless integration offered by 3CX was highlighted as a valuable feature by multiple users. They appreciated the ease of integration with other systems, making it a seamless experience for their business operations. This capability allowed users to streamline their workflows and enhance productivity.

Flexible Configuration Options: Users were impressed with the flexibility offered by 3CX in configuring each extension and phone. Several reviewers mentioned the wide variety of options available, enabling them to tailor the system according to their specific needs. This flexibility empowered users to customize their communication setup for maximum efficiency.

Cons:

  1. Lack of Stability in Windows Soft Client Interface: Some users have found that the stability of the Windows Soft Client Interface is not up to their expectations and believe there is room for improvement in terms of intuitiveness and reliability.
  2. Need for Improvement in User Interface on Mobile Client: According to user feedback, while the mobile client performs well in terms of voice quality and call answering on lock screen, it could benefit from enhancements to its user interface for a more seamless experience.
  3. Potential Points of Failure with SBC Requirement and Server Disconnection: Users have raised concerns about potential points of failure due to requirements such as having a Session Border Controller per location and the possibility of server disconnection, which may impact system reliability.

Based on user reviews, a common recommendation for 3CX is to choose the right edition and implement a fail-over solution. Users also advise comparing pricing to ensure cost-effectiveness. Seeking expert advice and training is highly recommended, including watching videos, speaking with experienced users, and partnering with integrators or authorized resellers knowledgeable in networking and VoIP. Taking these recommendations into consideration will help businesses make informed decisions when implementing 3CX for their telecommunication needs effectively. It is important to evaluate specific requirements and consider the expertise of partners before proceeding with 3CX.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-14 of 14)
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Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We use 3cx to get incoming calls and also make outgoing calls.
Also we use it as an internal messaging platform.
Also we monitor the Queue of calls, listen to recordings, etc.
  • Chats between employees
  • Retrieving call recordings
  • Changing status of availability
  • Interface
  • More customization
3cx is very well suited for internal chatting and for checking recordings, however when setting the status to "lunch" for example, I would prefer it to say when did the person go out for lunch. It would make it easier to monitor the employees.
July 21, 2022

3CX Review

Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
We have used 3CX for over 10 years. As a PBX, we never had any issues it was working fine. In terms of customer service however this is not the case. The 3CX customer service simply doesnt exist unless you want to pay extra for things that should work. We currently renewed our license for another year, and the system still shows that the license is expired. Their "customer service" team says since the portal shows the license is updated, its our fault and we need to pay extra. Something which is not and we have the proof. Last year we had the exact same story, they charged us the 75 EUR support fee and their reply was to uninstall and reinstall.
  • Provision phones
  • Voice quality
  • Management options
  • Customer service
  • Licensing
I would say stay away; even if it works well as a PBX, there is no support to back it. To reduce their support queries they are asking for 75 EUR independently, if [the issue is] your fault or not.
June 30, 2022

3CX is EZ as PI

Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Due to the size of our organizations, it is important to be able to have several different divisions or groups. For a big example we have several buildings and helps us to be able to group each person belonging to each group, not just the department but about the location along with their job title.
  • The team that came in to help set us up was great.
  • Being able to get some custom support on some issues.
  • To be able to pivot and transition between 2 different phone systems has been great.
  • I think the GUI changes within the Web interface are horrible and are now more confusing.
  • Being a little more user friendly.
  • Create a simple and basic GUI for different users.
They have been very good to us, and I know we are a large project and they came in and ironed out the headaches as they popped us. Them being able to quickly troubleshoot and reposed to our requests has been wonderful. We are a little compartmentalized here, but anytime I've had to reach out for an issue I've gotten very quick responses.
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
3CX was a replacement for our legacy PBX solution. We needed something more modern to replace the entire company's legacy phone system[.]
  • Easy to install
  • Fairly simple to use
  • Cheap
  • Integrations and API
  • Scripting/cli tools
In many scenarios decision is driven by budget and compared to other solutions at the time of purchase [3CX] was simply the cheapest solution for what it has to offer. If you are looking for integrations, extensibility, and advanced functionalities, this might not be a solution for you. At the time of use (and this may have changed by now), there was a lack of APIs, CLI commands, and similar so nothing could be automated with the system. There are ways of importing data through CSV but automation would solve us so much time and support calls if we were able to connect with other systems.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use 3CX as the VoIP solution for our company. We have extensions that are assigned to certain staff who need them. We use call queues that allow our call center staff to take calls from patients and know what they are calling about. We can also run reports on the statistics of those call queues and those reports are able to be flexible to whatever information we need to pull.
  • The user interface is easy to use
  • It is easy to set up new extensions, call queues, and ring groups
  • It is easy to re-provision an extension on a new piece of hardware
  • I would like to be able to see direct-dial numbers on the handsets. Currently that is not possible but that would be a nice feature.
  • You need an SBC per location, which can be a point of failure.
  • You also need a server that might get disconnected, which is another point of failure.
I think it is well suited for small businesses. Our company has around 200 employees and it works well for us. I don't have experience with a larger company but it may be better suited for smaller companies with fewer employees per location. We have had some trouble with too many people bogging down the SBC at one location and we had to install a second SBC.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
ResellerIncentivized
Currently each of our department is using 3CX especially the Conference call feature which is really help us during the pandemic as everybody is working from home. It even have its own mobile app as the team can use it on the go without missing any company meeting and calls with customers.
  • Can be cloud or on-prem
  • User friendly
  • Easy integration
  • Product update
  • Hope for more integration with other applications
  • Need more guide online
[3CX is] good for starter and even cooperate customers. With current promotion with 3CX, it even have free one year license so that can start small. Can be upgrade anytime with higher plan to suit need. Integration with CRM require higher license which is a bit challenging for small enterprise customer with limited budget.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are using 3CX for our whole organization. As the system is VOIP based, it's very flexible and has helped our day-to-day operation to a great extent. What I like most about the system are its mobile and Windows apps. My clients can call my office and I can answer even if I am not at office. Last year I traveled internationally but was in touch with my clients through the mobile app.
  • Mobile and windows app
  • Automated transcript of voicemail
  • Flexible phone system management
  • The pricing is very affordable
  • It can include outgoing fax functionality
  • Voice quality appears to suffer greatly with weak Internet signal
  • Setting up conference calls could be made simpler
  • Can include texting capability
3CX is a very affordable and dynamic phone system. It is very suitable in a heavy volume call situation, as ring groups are very adjustable. It is also suitable for a remote work condition. It's less appropriate when Internet quality is not very strong and outgoing fax service is required.
March 15, 2020

3CX to the Rescue!

Laura Steinbrink | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
My entire school district uses the 3CX Phone System. It has allowed us to have a phone in each room, facilitating private conversations with a specific teacher, now the building or district office can not only talk privately with individual teachers, but teachers can also contact parents in a more convenient place and time. Switching to 3CX Phone System has also slashed the phone bill by two thirds. Anything that can save the school district some money is a great product, and that savings alone paid for the phones that were purchased for each classroom. It also allowed us to remove the intercom cables too, as it replaced our intercom old system as well.
  • The 3CX Phone System has a really nice auto-provision feature that works with plug and play phones, so then all that's needed is for each to have an extension assigned to them.
  • The 3CX Phone System web portal is exceptional. I love how I can keep it open during the day and quickly see who is busy on the phone and which lines are available. I can also call quickly by a simple click of the mouse.
  • The app that accompanies this allows me to provision my cellphone via the app to my classroom extension so that if I am out of my classroom and someone calls my phone, it also rings on my cell phone. I can also call via the app and it appears as if I am calling from my classroom extension.
  • The webmeeting function is clumsy compared to Zoom or Google Meets (Hangouts).
  • There is no support offered without paying for it, but the web forum that is offered for free does allow you to throw out questions and have them answered by someone in the community of 3CX user administrators.
The 3CX Phone System is perfectly suited for schools or businesses that want a reliable phone system and a reduced phone bill. It functions on traditional phones, the web, and on cell phones via the app, making it flexible enough to suit today's business or educational institution needs. The installation can be done with some basic knowledge also, without needing to hire anyone or pay 3CX for assistance.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We are using the phone system throughout our organization. The phone system is very intuitive and user-friendly. I really like the seamless integration between the desktop portal and mobile app.
  • Easy-to-use.
  • User-friendly online portal.
  • Seamless integration.
  • Update the app with a new design.
  • Add option to add more people in conference.
  • Add the video call feature.
The system is very helpful in organizing phone calls. It is easy to manage. I personally like the email notifications for voicemail and the portability from the portal to the phone system.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We replaced our old office phone system (Cisco Call Manager) with a cloud-based 3CX platform across our organization. Our office location was moved to a new building so it was the perfect time to replace it. As we also moved to a cloud-first strategy, we opted for a hosted 3CX platform. Although it as more features than the old system, I am afraid only the basic features are mostly used.
  • Call quality is good, better than our old system. Though technology-wise you can't compare, quality is better than I expected.
  • Having softphone and mobile apps available is a good feature.
  • Configuration for the user is relatively easy.
  • Mobile app is a bit dull to look at. Could be more modern looking
  • Softphone functionalty is ok, but not great
A good replacement for your basic phone system. If you like mobile apps and softphone, this is also a system to have a very good look at. 3CX is a good competitor in the field but I strongly suggest to compare all the options. If you replace a legacy system you should inform your users of all the new features a system like 3CX offers.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use 3CX for our phone system. It handles all incoming and outgoing phone calls and all internal phone calls between departments. It works with our toll-free number for customers. We switched from 8x8, Inc. because we wanted a less expensive option as well as an easier to easy and manage system. We worked with a 3CX reseller to set up and install the system which involves a 3CX phone server and the web-based control panel. The actual set up was pretty simple. We were able to reprogram all of our current phones and didn't need to buy any new phones. We are running the 3CX over a fiber-optic ATT line with 50 Mbps and use the 3CX plan with 16 calls. The plan costs us around $800 a year (which does not include the ATT line) verses the almost $800 a month we were paying 8x8, Inc. so quite a savings for us. We have had no major issues with 3CX. We did have to tweak some settings after we went live but the adjustments were easy to make on the web cpanel. 3CX also has a very nice app for cell phones.
  • Good sound quality
  • Solid uptime (may depend on your Internet connection)
  • Easy to use web-based control panel
  • Nice app for cell phones.
  • No real complaints
The 3CX system is a well-thought out phone system with many features and options. The plan pricing is very affordable and flexible depending on your business needs. However, the key to having a solid, well-performing system with 3CX is the quality of your Internet connection. You may want to discuss your Internet connection type and speeds with a 3CX reseller before deciding on a 3CX system.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use 3CX to manage phones through our entire company across many locations and multiple states. All phones are able to be managed by a single 3CX controller, which simplifies management and support while offering features and flexibility to users. Many users have a traditional desk phone, some use only the 3CX smartphone app, others use both. Each extension can be used with any of these options.
  • Simplicity: Using a single 3CX interface we can manage every phone and extension used throughout our company.
  • Flexibility: There are a wide variety of options to configure each extension and phone. Changing anything after the hardware is deployed is very easy.
  • Portability: Phones with 3CX can be easily moved or repurposed within an office or at remote locations, including users' homes. The mobile app allows users to use their office extension anywhere without exposing their cell number.
  • Experience or support required: SIP is complicated and nuanced by nature, with any phone system. If you don't have experience with this, support from a local integrator is all but required.
  • Adding call flow apps is very complicated: 3CX can be extended with custom developed call flow apps, which is great to meet a specific business need. However, this is very complicated by its nature and requires custom software to be developed.
  • Failover somewhat limited: Setting up failover is relatively complicated and somewhat limited in performance.
I would strongly recommend the 3CX phone platform over any hardware based PBX system. 3CX scales very smoothly since it can be run on anything from a pretty basic computer to a powerful server to a cloud VM. This means getting started can be very inexpensive, and migrating can be much lower cost than moving to a hardware PBX. As with any phone system, experience or support is needed, but 3CX is well designed for usability. There is a decently sized community with users who can help out and share ideas.
Mike McCloskey | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
3CX is the VoIP system in place for our municipal offices. We currently service about 30 users. It gives VoIP functionality via Linux, Mac, or even Windows. It was initially set up on a Win Server. It handles all voice communications for the office and transfers off-site as needed. It is very flexible, allowing for future changes.
  • Multi-platform support.
  • Available in free an in value-added tiers.
  • Stable
  • Mature product
  • Stability under Windows
The biggest advantage of 3CX is Windows operability. While it makes much more sense to use some flavor of Unix; there are situations where deploying in a Won environment makes sense. Once established, it can later be migrated to an inherently stable Unix environment. There are situations where an organization needs to be compatible with other installs, likely using Asterisk. That would be a strong consideration against 3CX.
Artur Bittencourt | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
3CX is our corporate phone system, we use it across the organization for all the landline needs, ACD, auto attendant and voicemail. We are planning on exploring all the unified communication options the system has to offer. We currently have about 200 users on the system, running on a virtual server and Yealink phones.
  • Flexible. 3CX can run on a Windows Server, Linux or as an appliance. It can also run on the Public Cloud.
  • Simple. 3CX is very simple to configure and easy to upgrade.
  • Management Interface. Easy to read and intuitive to find what you need.
  • Soft Client Interface. Not the best, not very intuitive with lots of room for improvement.
  • Mobile Client. Even though the mobile client works well (good voice quality and you can answer the calls on your lock screen) there is a lot of room for improvement on the UI.
Small to medium company sizes are a great fit for 3CX Phone System for sure. It has all the major functionalities you need and it works very well with very low maintenance. I am not sure if the 3CX system would be a good fit for a large enterprise with multiple offices across the globe.
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