In short: 3CX pricing is based on one annual licence per system, set by the edition (Basic, PRO or AI) and the number of simultaneous calls (SC) the system can carry. Internal and external calls both count. Hosting by 3CX, SIP trunks, numbers and handsets are separate, and SMB Free is free for up to 10 users. Ask us for a quote.
How 3CX licensing works
Most cloud phone systems charge a monthly fee for every user. 3CX works differently. Its commercial editions are sold as one annual licence for the whole system, and the price of that licence depends on two choices:
- The edition: Basic, PRO or AI, which sets the features. See 3CX editions.
- The simultaneous-call (SC) size, which sets how many calls the system can carry at once. 3CX's sizes run from 8 SC up to 1024 SC.
Edition plus SC size gives you one licence for one 3CX system. Adding a new starter does not add a licence, as long as you stay within the limits of your SC size. That predictability is one of the main reasons organisations choose 3CX.
The exception is SMB Free, which 3CX describes as free for up to 10 users and which includes hosting by 3CX.
What counts as a simultaneous call
A simultaneous call is any call happening at the same time as others on the system, and both internal and external calls count. Two colleagues talking extension to extension use capacity just as a call to a customer does.
An extension that is not on a call uses no SC capacity. That is why 50 users do not need 50 licences: what matters is how many conversations are live at your busiest moment.
This is different from counting SIP channels, which only measures external calls on your SIP trunk. When you size a 3CX system, count internal calls too.
Users, extensions and fair use
System-based pricing does not mean unlimited users. 3CX publishes, for each SC size, a recommended range of users or extensions and a maximum number. The maximum is a hard limit for that licence size, and the recommended range is a guide to keep enough capacity for the way people actually use the phones.
So a licence has to fit two things at once: your peak call demand, and the number of users and extensions on the system. A busy team with heavy call volumes may need a larger SC size before it reaches the user maximum; a large organisation with light call use may be sized by its user count instead. We check both when we quote.
What is included and what is extra
| Item | How it is charged |
|---|---|
| 3CX licence (Basic, PRO or AI) | One annual fee per system, by edition and SC size |
| Hosting by 3CX | Free during the trial, then a separate annual charge by SC size; included with SMB Free. Not offered for Basic at 8 SC or for 384 SC and above |
| Self-hosting in your own cloud | Your cloud provider bills you for the virtual machine and storage |
| On-premise server | Your own hardware or virtual platform |
| SIP trunk, numbers and calls | From your chosen SIP trunk provider, separate from 3CX |
| Desk phones, DECT and headsets | Bought or leased separately; apps and softphones are included |
| Set-up, porting, training and support | From your supplier (that is where we come in) |
| Third-party AI engines (optional) | Some AI features can use a cloud provider's engine, which may carry its own charges |
3CX publishes its own list prices online in US dollars, and they exclude VAT. We do not repeat them here because a UK quote also has to include hosting, SIP trunks, numbers, phones and services. Ask us for a quote and we will show each part separately.
A worked sizing example
Imagine an office with 50 staff, a reception team and a small sales team. Call logs show that at the busiest moment, around 16 calls are live at once, counting customers waiting in the queue, calls between colleagues and a regular conference call. 3CX's own licensing guidance uses the same kind of example.
- Count the peak. Take the highest number of calls live at the same moment, internal and external, from your current system's reports or your carrier's call records.
- Add what the logs miss. Allow for seasonal peaks, outbound campaigns, conference bridges and growth over the licence term.
- Choose the next size up with headroom. A 16 SC licence would be full at peak, leaving no room for busy days or growth, so a 24 SC licence is the sensible size to assess.
- Check the user limits. Confirm that 50 users and any shared extensions sit within the recommended range for that SC size.
- Pick the edition. Reception and sales need call queues and wallboards, which points to PRO; add AI if you want transcription or AI call answering.
The general approach to sizing phone capacity is the same whatever platform you use, and our cloud phone system cost guide explains the other things that drive a quote.
Renewals, upgrades and how we quote
Licences renew annually. 3CX also offers renewals of three years or more, with a discount on systems of 24 SC and above; hosting by 3CX is charged separately and is not discounted. You can move up an SC size or edition when your needs change, and a review before each renewal makes sure you are not paying for capacity you do not use.
When we quote for hosted 3CX, we size the system from your call data, recommend the edition and deployment, and set out the licence, hosting, SIP trunk, numbers, handsets and support as separate lines so you can compare like with like. If you want to compare 3CX's model against per-user platforms, see 3CX vs Teams.
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
How much does 3CX cost?
It depends on the edition, the simultaneous-call size, whether 3CX hosts it, and the SIP trunk and handsets you choose. SMB Free is free for up to 10 users. For the commercial editions, ask us for a quote and we will size it from your call data.
Is 3CX licensed per user?
No. 3CX commercial editions use one annual licence per system, priced by edition and simultaneous-call size. Each size does have recommended and maximum user or extension limits, so the licence still has to suit the size of your system.
Do internal calls count towards 3CX simultaneous calls?
Yes. 3CX counts internal and external calls taking place at the same time. An idle extension does not use any capacity.
Is hosting included in a 3CX licence?
Not for the commercial editions. Hosted by 3CX is free during the trial and is then a separate annual charge based on the SC size, and it is not offered for Basic at 8 SC or for systems of 384 SC and above. Hosting is included with SMB Free. You can also self-host in your own cloud account or run 3CX on-premise.
Are phone numbers and call charges included with 3CX?
No. 3CX does not bundle numbers or minutes. You choose a SIP trunk provider for numbers and calls, and can port your existing numbers to it.