In short: Hosted 3CX is the 3CX phone system run in the cloud instead of on a server in your office. 3CX can be hosted by 3CX, self-hosted in your own cloud account or installed on-premise, and Forever Systems can set up and manage any of them, with your choice of edition, SIP trunk, apps and desk phones.
What 3CX is
3CX is a software phone system (an IP PBX). It gives you extensions, menus, ring groups, call queues, voicemail, call recording and reporting, and it adds web, desktop and mobile apps, video meetings, website live chat and messaging channels on the editions that include them. The current major version is V20; 3CX's release blog shows V20 Update 10 reached Release Candidate in October 2026, with the mobile apps and softphone at V5.8.
Unlike most cloud phone systems, 3CX is not sold per user per month. Commercial editions use one annual licence for the whole system, sized by how many calls you need to run at the same time. That makes it a different shape of purchase from Microsoft Teams Phone or Forever UC; our 3CX pricing page explains how it works without the jargon.
3CX does not bundle phone numbers or call minutes either. You connect it to a SIP trunk of your choice and bring your numbers across with number porting.
Three ways to deploy 3CX
3CX gives you a choice of where the system runs. The features are the same; what changes is who looks after the server.
| Deployment | Where it runs | Who maintains it | Often suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosted by 3CX | 3CX's own hosting, charged as a separate annual hosting fee (included with SMB Free). Not offered for Basic at 8 SC or for systems of 384 SC and above | 3CX runs the instance; you or we manage the configuration | Organisations that want no servers at all |
| Self-hosted in your cloud | Your own account on Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud or DigitalOcean | You or we manage the virtual machine, backups and updates | IT teams that want control of data location and the cloud account |
| On-premise | A Windows or Linux server, or a supported virtual platform, on your site | You or we manage the hardware and operating system | Sites with an existing server estate or a need for local call handling |
Whichever model you choose, we can do the work: build the system, configure call flows, connect SIP trunks, provision phones, and support it day to day. If you are weighing cloud against a box on site more generally, read hosted vs on-premise phone systems.
Editions at a glance
3CX currently offers four editions: SMB Free, Basic, PRO and AI. The AI edition is the top tier, and some of 3CX's own pages still call it the "Enterprise / AI Edition". Here is the short version. Our 3CX editions page has the full feature comparison.
| Edition | In one line |
|---|---|
| SMB Free | For very small offices with up to 10 users, hosted by 3CX at no charge |
| Basic | Core telephony, routing, apps and basic reporting, with no queues, CRM or AI features |
| PRO | Adds call queues and contact centre tools, CRM and Microsoft 365 integration, advanced reporting, AI voicemail transcription and multi-site bridging |
| AI | Adds AI Agents, full call transcription with summaries and sentiment, advanced analytics and, from 16 SC, resilience features such as failover |
Apps, phones and channels
- Web client in the browser for calls, chat, presence, voicemail and queue tools, with no software to install.
- Windows app and mobile apps for iOS and Android, so a user's extension rings on a laptop or mobile wherever they are, without giving out a personal number. See softphone apps.
- Desk phones from the manufacturers on 3CX's supported IP phones list, including Fanvil, Snom and Yealink, provisioned automatically from the admin console. See VoIP phones for handset types.
- Cordless DECT for warehouses, schools and surgeries, using supported DECT systems. See cordless DECT phones.
- Messaging channels on the editions that include them: website live chat, SMS, WhatsApp and Facebook, answered from the same app as calls.
- Integrations with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, 3CX CRM integration on PRO and AI, and the 3CX Microsoft Teams integration on the AI edition.
Who hosted 3CX suits
3CX tends to fit organisations that want rich call handling and control over their own system. It is a good match when:
- Reception, sales or support teams need call queues, wallboards, call recording and supervisor tools (PRO or AI), without a separate contact centre product. See call centre phone systems.
- You want to choose your own SIP trunk and keep your numbers portable.
- Many users work on desk phones, or you have a mix of desk phones, apps and DECT handsets.
- You have several offices to link into one system (PRO and AI). See multi-site phone systems.
- You prefer one annual system licence to per-user monthly licences.
If your staff already live in Microsoft Teams all day, Teams Phone may be the simpler fit, or you can combine the two. Our 3CX vs Teams comparison sets out both sides fairly, and the cloud phone system comparison puts 3CX alongside Forever UC, Webex Calling and BT Cloud Voice.
How we help
- Discovery. We look at your users, sites, call volumes, busy periods, existing handsets and integrations.
- Sizing and edition. We recommend an edition and a simultaneous-call size with sensible headroom, and the deployment model that suits your IT team.
- Build. We configure extensions, menus, ring groups, queues, office hours and holiday schedules, recording and reporting.
- Connectivity. We connect SIP trunks, port your numbers and check your network for voice quality (see hosted VoIP).
- Devices and training. We provision desk phones, roll out the apps and train users, receptionists and supervisors.
- Support. We handle moves, adds and changes, updates and licence renewals.
Pricing depends on the edition, simultaneous-call size, hosting choice, SIP trunks and handsets, so ask us for a quote.
More on hosted 3CX
Why choose your cloud phone system with Forever Systems
We are vendor-neutral. Forever Group supplies and supports several cloud phone platforms, so we recommend the one that fits how your organisation works rather than the one we happen to sell.
- Side-by-side comparison of hosted 3CX, Microsoft Teams Phone, Forever UC, Forever Teams and Webex Calling for your users
- Contact centre and call recording options matched to your call volumes and CRM
- Number porting, handsets and set-up handled for you, including the move off analogue and ISDN lines
- Connectivity checked so call quality is right from day one
- UK support for moves, adds, changes and faults
- For BT Cloud Voice, see our BT Business Partner site cloudvoice.cloud
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. We do not sell consumer phone services.
Want a vendor-neutral cloud phone system comparison and quote?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between hosted 3CX and Hosted by 3CX?
Hosted by 3CX is 3CX's own hosting service, paid for as a separate annual hosting charge (it is included with SMB Free). Hosted 3CX is the general idea of running 3CX in the cloud, which can also mean self-hosting it in your own Amazon, Azure, Google or DigitalOcean account. We can set up and manage either.
Is 3CX free?
3CX SMB Free is free for up to 10 users and is hosted by 3CX. The commercial editions (Basic, PRO and AI) need an annual system licence, and you pay separately for a SIP trunk and any desk phones. Ask us for a quote.
Can I keep my phone numbers if I move to 3CX?
Usually, yes. 3CX connects to a SIP trunk provider of your choice, and your existing geographic and non-geographic numbers can normally be ported to that trunk. We manage the port and can set up temporary diverts while it completes.
Can 3CX work with Microsoft Teams?
Yes. All commercial editions can sync users from Microsoft 365, PRO and AI add presence sync with Teams, and the AI edition at 16 simultaneous calls and above includes a Microsoft Teams Direct Routing integration so Teams users can make and take calls through 3CX. See our 3CX Microsoft Teams integration page.
Can I use my existing desk phones with 3CX?
Often, yes, if they are on 3CX's supported IP phones list and still receive firmware updates. We check your handsets before you switch and recommend replacements only where needed.