Among the myriad of communication tools available, 3CX stands out as a leading provider of business telephony solutions. This article offers a comprehensive review of 3CX pricing structures and product offerings, designed to help UK businesses make informed decisions when selecting a telephony solution that meets their needs.
Overview of 3CX
3CX is a software-based private branch exchange (PBX) solution that offers a full suite of telephony features, enabling businesses to manage their communications efficiently. Unlike traditional PBX systems that require dedicated hardware, 3CX operates through a software platform, making it more flexible and cost-effective. It can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or as a hybrid solution, providing businesses with a range of deployment options based on their infrastructure and budget.
Key features of 3CX
Before diving into pricing, it’s important to understand the features that make 3CX a compelling choice for businesses:
- Unified communications: 3CX integrates voice, video, chat, and email into a single platform, enabling seamless communication across multiple channels.
- Remote work capabilities: With features like mobile apps and web conferencing, 3CX is ideal for businesses with remote or hybrid workforces.
- Scalability: Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, 3CX can scale to meet your needs, supporting anywhere from a few users to thousands.
- Cost savings: 3CX’s software-based model eliminates the need for expensive hardware and reduces the overall cost of ownership.
- Security: The platform offers robust security features, including encryption and anti-hacking tools, to ensure secure communication.
3CX pricing list
| 3CX Edition | Simultaneous Calls | Annual Price (Approx.) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 4 | Free | Basic telephony features, IVR, mobile apps, web conferencing |
| 8 | £135 | All Standard features plus support for more users | |
| 16 | £240 | ||
| 32 | £370 | ||
| 64 | £610 | ||
| Professional | 8 | £405 | Call queues, CRM integration, advanced analytics, call recording |
| 16 | £700 | All Professional features plus support for more users | |
| 32 | £1,075 | ||
| 64 | £1,775 | ||
| Enterprise | 8 | £470 | Custom reporting, advanced security, multiple PBX instances |
| 16 | £810 | All Enterprise features plus support for more users | |
| 32 | £1,230 | ||
| 64 | £2,030 |
Notes:
- Simultaneous calls: This represents the maximum number of calls that can occur at the same time within your organisation.
- Annual price: Prices are approximate and can vary slightly depending on the reseller or any promotions available.
- Edition features: Higher editions include all features of the lower editions, plus additional advanced capabilities.
3CX pricing plans
3CX offers a flexible pricing structure based on the number of simultaneous calls your business needs to handle. The company’s pricing is segmented into three main editions: Standard, Professional, and Enterprise. Each edition comes with a set of features designed to cater to different business sizes and requirements.
Standard Edition:
- Target Audience: Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) looking for essential telephony features without the bells and whistles.
- Key Features: This edition includes core PBX functionality such as call routing, voicemail, call transfer, and IVR (Interactive Voice Response). It also supports web conferencing and mobile apps.
- Pricing: The Standard Edition is available at no cost for up to four simultaneous calls, making it an attractive option for very small businesses or startups. For larger needs, pricing starts from approximately £135 per year for 8 simultaneous calls.
Professional Edition:
- Target Audience: Mid-sized businesses that require advanced features for more complex communication needs.
- Key Features: In addition to all the features in the Standard Edition, the Professional Edition offers advanced call centre capabilities such as call queues, CRM integration, reporting, and more detailed analytics. This edition also includes features like call recording, reports, and integration with Microsoft 365.
- Pricing: Prices for the Professional Edition start at around £405 per year for 8 simultaneous calls, with higher pricing tiers available as the number of users increases.
Enterprise Edition:
- Target Audience: Large enterprises with comprehensive communication needs and a focus on security and redundancy.
- Key Features: The Enterprise Edition includes all features from the Professional Edition, plus additional capabilities like custom reporting, advanced security features, and support for multiple PBX instances. It is designed for businesses that require high availability and disaster recovery options.
- Pricing: The Enterprise Edition starts at approximately £470 per year for 8 simultaneous calls, with scalable pricing depending on the size and complexity of the deployment.
Additional costs to consider
While the core pricing of 3CX is competitive, there are additional costs that businesses should factor into their budgeting:
- Hosting costs: If you opt for a cloud deployment, you’ll need to account for hosting fees, which can vary depending on your provider and the level of service required.
- Hardware: While 3CX is software-based, you may still need to invest in compatible IP phones or headsets, particularly if your business prefers using physical handsets.
- Support and maintenance: Depending on the size and complexity of your deployment, you may incur additional costs for ongoing support and maintenance, especially if you require 24/7 support.
Conclusion – 3CX pricing review
3CX offers a versatile and cost-effective solution for businesses looking to modernise their communication infrastructure.
With a clear and scalable pricing structure, it caters to businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises.
Whether you’re looking for basic telephony or a fully integrated communication platform, 3CX provides a solution that can grow with your business.
3CX pricing FAQ
3CX pricing increases with the number of simultaneous calls. For example, the Standard Edition starts at approximately £135 per year for 8 simultaneous calls, while the same number of calls costs around £405 per year with the Professional Edition and £470 per year with the Enterprise Edition.
Yes, 3CX offers a free version of the Standard Edition for up to 4 simultaneous calls. This version includes basic telephony features such as call routing, voicemail, and mobile apps.
For 8 simultaneous calls, the 3CX Professional Edition costs around £405 per year, while the Enterprise Edition for the same number of calls is priced at approximately £470 per year.
Upgrading from 3CX Standard to 3CX Professional for 16 simultaneous calls will increase the annual cost from approximately £240 to £700.
For 64 simultaneous calls, 3CX pricing is approximately £610 per year for the Standard Edition, £1,775 per year for the Professional Edition, and £2,030 per year for the Enterprise Edition.
No, 3CX pricing does not include cloud hosting costs. If you choose to deploy 3CX in the cloud, you’ll need to factor in additional hosting fees, which can vary depending on your provider and specific needs.
For 32 simultaneous calls, the 3CX Standard Edition is priced at approximately £370 per year.
The 3CX Professional Edition adds features like call queues, CRM integration, advanced analytics, and call recording, with pricing starting at £405 per year for 8 simultaneous calls, compared to £135 per year for the Standard Edition at the same call capacity.
The 3CX Enterprise Edition, which includes advanced security features, starts at £470 per year for 8 simultaneous calls and can go up to £2,030 per year for 64 simultaneous calls.
3CX can be used for free indefinitely in the Standard Edition, but it is limited to 4 simultaneous calls. Beyond that, the pricing starts at approximately £135 per year for 8 simultaneous calls.