Hosted PBX with CRM integration and mobile apps
4.5/5 (188 reviews)3CX is a software-based PBX solution with a cloud-hosted option, offering users web conferencing, CRM integration, instant messaging, and native mobile apps.
3CX includes softphones for Windows and Mac, enabling users to make and receive calls through their computers, removing the need for phone hardware and allowing for work outside the office. An inbuilt multi-view switchboard allows users to manage incoming calls, view all colleague availability, and drag-and-drop calls for transfer. With CRM integration, users can launch calls in a single click from within their CRM software, and customer information appears as a pop-up on inbound calls. Caller ID is used to identify customers and automatically log the call in their customer record, with no need for manual call logging.
3CX’s smartphone clients for Android and iOS allow users to make and receive calls over 3G or WiFi, and each include an inbuilt SIP tunnel to prevent issues with remote firewalls. Incoming calls and messages trigger push notifications, allowing phones to be left on standby to reduce battery drain. Users can update their availability statuses through the app, and view their colleagues’ statuses. Through 3CX’s mobile apps, users can make and receive calls from their mobile phone without the need to give out their personal phone number.
3CX offers users clientless web conferencing, with no need to download additional software or plugins, as all voice and video communication is based in a web browser. Video conferencing is free for up to 10 participants, with no per-user licensing or limit on the number of user accounts, and pricing is based on the number of participants per call. Also included are tools for remote control and assistance, and for feedback collection.
Pros
Price, Ease of set up and feature rich capabilities.
The price can be FREE if you are a small office. Still, even for a larger organization the pricing is extremely affordable.
It took less than 90 minutes from download to our complete office set up, including 15 extensions. All this with zero training, just following intuitive user interfaces.
Cons
The support is not great. While we can easily google and search through the 3cx portals, we did not feel there is adequate technical support readily available.
Pros
We have been using 3CX Phone System Professional Edition for almost 3 years now. After a series of non-starter with other brand name phone systems we stumbled across 3CX. We were initially turned off that it was Windows based however this has turned out to be a HUGE benefit. Not only can we use are existing utilities and subscriptions to do backups, screen sharing, maintenance, etc, but our employees were immediately comfortable making changes and other maintenance.
3CX Phone System has features like Web Conferencing, built in screen sharing, free smart phone applications that were not initially a buying consideration for us but have become some of the most valuable and powerful parts of 3CX - and they continue to improve and release more of these valuable feature rich tools - at no additional cost.
The licensing model is unique from any other phone system we've used. 3CX is licensed based on Simultaneous calls rather than total extension or lines. While the pricing is very good, its particularly good for larger offices or public spaces where extra phones are required in places they will receive little use. Other systems require you to pay full license cost for these low use phones but with 3CX, there is no extra cost.
Cons
I've noticed they are too innovative. Where most other phone system are quite stagnate and only release bug fixes, 3CX regularily release new features and is constantly improving capabilities. We have been seeing at least 2 service packs a year, each which represents leaps forward in features and capabilities. They can be ignored, though we've invested into learning and building on them
The ability to easily setup phones and manage the PBX, things like doing a scheduled backups, can easily restore a backup if needed, ability to manage calls, extensions, users, etc. Setting up routing, hunt groups, setting up extension groups, setting up open/closed schedules, voicemail, conferencing, web conferencing, and the list goes on. The product is quite intuitive as well.
Pros
I'm new to the world of telecommunication, UM, PBX's, networking, etc., yet with this product I have been able to figure out how to setup/configure the 3CX PBX. They have put a lot of thought into the functionality and features which means we can now manage the PBX and any changes needed as to having to call the support vendor so they can remote in and do the changes. I also like how they have a lot of online training videos and documentation to help lay the foundation regarding what it will take to setup and install a 3CX PBX. 3CX also includes a lot "stuff" for free that many other vendors charge for, for example our past vendor changed for IP licenses, and softphone licenses, and port licenses... nickel and dimed until broke. Yet 3CX doesn't do this, product includes web phone manager interface if you wish to use it, includes a softphone, includes faxing, includes webconferencing, includes voicemail which used to require a totally separate server from your PBX because the big name vendors want you to spend more.
Cons
So far not too many cons, still new to it and doing testing so there could be some limitations that are discovered later on. I'm guessing one limitation might be interfacing w/an existing call-routing tool we have at one of our building locations. A really small con, some of the free training videos could be improved, audio quality, but otherwise nothing currently stands out.
This system is pretty reliable from my end user perspective. The voice mails come to my inbox quickly which is nice. I would recommend this to anyone with a business of the size where I work, we have around 80 employees.
Pros
3CX is easy to operate for me as I am an end user. I receive calls that are transferred to me and I rarely get any complaints that the call didn't make it to me or was dropped in the process. It is also easy to transfer calls to other people or call out by just typing the first couple of letters in the person's name. I can choose their extension or their cell phone if they are listed in our directory.
Cons
I have to restart the software from time to time because it will stop working. I also have some issues with the log of incoming and outgoing calls. I would like to be able to call someone right back if they just called and I don't have their phone number. Some calls are remembered and some are not, it seems random. I can see the number as it comes in but if I need to call that person back sometimes their number doesn't remain in the log, I do not know why.
Pros
Feature/Functionality matches up to any competitive solution.The fact that you have "Standard" or "Professional" as your purchasing options makes the decision simple. And, when you choose one or the other, there are no other "Ala Carte" options. You get what you get. No "extras" that end up being tacked on at the end of the sales cycle. The 3CX Phone System system simply works. The "hybrid" capabilities between Analog, SIP and PRI/MPLS are a great way to introduce either redundancy, least cost call routing and to provide for future changes/expansion/growth.
Buy what you need for the next few years. You do not want to limit yourself to what you need today, then need to upgrade the license count within a year or two. The upgrade path would suggest purchasing the upgrade up front will cost much less. For example, a 16SC License can be purchased today, and to upgrade later to a 32SC License will cost the initial purchase of the 16SC License, AND 80% of the 32SC License.
Cons
Would be great to see the ability to break office hours down beyond single days. For example, we have clients that have standing meetings on Monday from 11:00a to 12:00p.
30-day free trial, no credit card required.
Pricing is based on the number of simultaneous internal and external calls made, with support for an unlimited number of extensions.
Native iOS and Android apps allow users to make free calls to the office, and receive calls without the need to give out their personal phone number.
Customizable statuses enable users to see which colleagues are available and who should not be disturbed.
Integrated web conferencing allows users to make and join video conferences without the need for additional software or plugins.
CRM integration offers users one-click calls from within their CRM software, customer records brought up automatically as call pop-ups, and inbound call logging.
Inbound faxes are converted to PDF, and voicemails to sound files, both of which are forwarded to users’ inboxes.
Below are some frequently asked questions for 3CX.
3CX offers the following pricing plans:
Starting from: €350,00
Pricing model: Free, One Time License, Subscription
Free Trial: Available
30-day free trial, no credit card required.
Pricing is based on the number of simultaneous internal and external calls made, with support for an unlimited number of extensions.
3CX offers the following features:
3CX has the following typical customers:
Large Enterprises, Mid Size Business, Small Business
3CX supports the following languages:
Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Czech, Danish, English, Finnish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
3CX has the following pricing plans:
Free, One Time License, Subscription
3CX supports the following devices:
Android, iPhone, iPad
3CX integrates with the following applications:
ALICE Receptionist, Bitrix24, NetHelpDesk, Nutshell CRM, OnSched, SIPTRUNK, Teamleader, Tenfold, TriSys Recruitment Software, thinQ
3CX offers the following support options:
Forum, Online Support, Phone Support
For years we had 4 dedicated ATT land lines coming into the office. Most of the employees had 3-4 line phone on their desks, and we would have a few wireless handsets available dispersed in the building. At the time a fully enabled PBX system was simply not justifiable financially.
The 3CX software based PBX system changed all this. With a single IP based SIP, we are able to hold up to 16 simultaneous calls! It also piggy backs on the TCPIP network, so when moving to the new office, we did not have to run and install a single phone rj45 jack.
Within the day, every employee had a dedicated extension assigned that can be linked to their mobile phone (if they want) . We also created RING GROUPS allowing to dial an extension like 72535 (SALES) which would ring all the sales staff.
Everyone liked the ease of picking up others calls, transferring calls, transferring to voice mail and more. You can also load an app to your IPHONE or ANDROID for 3CX. As long as you have DATA services or WIFI, your extension is fully functional anywhere you travel worldwide.