3CX pricing (2026): plans, costs and is it worth it?
3CX pricing can look dense; this page breaks it down clearly. 3CX is a pbx tool offering paid plans only; its paid tiers are summarised below from public plans current at the time of writing.
A PBX licensed by concurrent calls instead of per user, cheap at scale for IT teams. 3CX is a paid tool, so plan to buy in once you have validated fit. Self-hostable or cloud PBX licensed by simultaneous calls rather than per user, giving low cost at scale for IT-managed deployments.
Plans & pricing tiers
| Plan | Price (approx.) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Free Edition | $0 | 4 simultaneous calls, hobbyists/micro setups |
| 8 SC (Basic/Pro/Enterprise) | ~$320-350/yr | Licensed by 8 simultaneous calls |
| 16 SC | ~$640-750/yr | 16 simultaneous calls |
| 32 SC | ~$1,050-1,395/yr | 32 simultaneous calls |
Figures are compiled from public plans and independent reviews; treat them as a guide and verify live pricing with the vendor.
Prices verified 2026-06-28 from public vendor pricing. Plans and prices change — always confirm on the vendor's own site. No price here is guaranteed.
What you're paying for
The capabilities you are paying for with 3CX include:
- Self-hostable or cloud PBX licensed by simultaneous calls, not per user
- Deploy on Windows or Linux, hosted by 3CX or self-hosted on AWS/Azure/GCP/DigitalOcean
- Queues, supervisor reporting and integrations on Pro edition
- Apps and softphone for desktop and mobile
- Free Edition with 4 simultaneous calls for hobbyists/micro setups
Which capabilities land on which plan depends on the tier, so use the table above to match features to budget.
Which plan to pick
3CX is built for iT-managed organizations wanting low cost-at-scale and self-hosting control. Match that description and the 8 SC (Basic/Pro/Enterprise) plan (~$320-350/yr) is where to start; a higher tier earns its cost only when you need cost-at-scale.
Is 3CX worth it?
Paid access starts at roughly $320 per month. For it-teams, the entry tier is usually enough to get real value; you mainly move up a plan when you need cost-at-scale. Budget-conscious buyers should price the entry tier against competitors before deciding.
Pricing watch-outs
- Perpetual licensing removed; all licenses now annual subscription.
- Licensed by number of simultaneous calls, not per user.
- Perpetual licensing discontinued for mid-market; all licenses now annual subscription.
Drawn from independent reviews and the vendor's own plan details (see sources below).
What actually moves your bill with 3CX is the number of seats or users, so price the plan at the scale you expect to reach, not just where you start today.
Pricing FAQ
Does 3CX have a free plan?
3CX is a paid tool without a standing free plan; check its site for any current trial or money-back window.
How much does 3CX cost?
Its cheapest paid plan, 8 SC (Basic/Pro/Enterprise), lists at ~$320-350/yr. Paid access starts at roughly $320 per month. The exact bill depends on billing cycle and how many seats or how much usage you need.
Is there a cheaper alternative to 3CX?
Other pbx tools cover the same job at different price points; compare their entry tiers before you decide.
Is 3CX worth the price for it-teams?
For it-teams it generally earns its cost at the entry tier; if that's only a side need, weigh it against a cheaper specialist first.
Which 3CX plan should I choose?
Most readers in that situation start with the 8 SC (Basic/Pro/Enterprise) plan (~$320-350/yr); a higher tier pays off only when you run into cost-at-scale.
Sources
Figures and facts on this page are drawn from the following 3CX sources, so you can verify them yourself: