TL;DR
3CX is easier for non-technical users, has better Microsoft Teams integration, and includes mobile apps out of the box. It has a free tier but the paid tiers kick in around 10 users.
FreePBX is completely free, open source, and more customizable. It's the better choice if you have Linux skills or want full control, but has a steeper learning curve.
Both work great as SIP trunk endpoints for DIDfarm — we have 3CX and FreePBX setup guides for both.
Installation and Setup
3CX
3CX offers a hosted option (they manage the server for you) and a self-hosted option (you deploy to Linux or Windows). The hosted option is the easiest — create a tenant, answer a few setup questions, and you have a working PBX in 10 minutes.
Self-hosted installation takes about 30 minutes if you follow the wizard. 3CX runs on Debian and provides a graphical management console that handles nearly everything.
FreePBX
FreePBX is typically installed via the FreePBX Distro, a pre-configured Linux ISO that gets you from zero to working PBX in about 45 minutes. You need some comfort with Linux command line (especially for firewall configuration and backups).
If you already have an Asterisk server, FreePBX can be installed on top of it as a web GUI for configuration.
Pricing
3CX
3CX has four editions:
- Free — up to 10 users, but limited features (no call queues, no advanced reports)
- SMB — €250-400/year for 10 users with full features
- PRO — €500-800/year for 10 users with CRM integration and call recording
- Enterprise — €800-1200/year with skills-based routing and hot desking
Pricing scales by simultaneous calls and features, not by users. You also need hosting (~€10/month for a VPS) or their hosted option.
FreePBX
FreePBX itself is completely free. There are paid modules from Sangoma (the company behind FreePBX) for some advanced features:
- Call Recording Reports — $50
- Endpoint Manager — $100
- Web Callback — $25
- Commercial Modules bundle — $800 one-time
Plus hosting costs — typically a €5-10/month VPS is plenty for 20-50 users.
Features Side-by-Side
| Feature | 3CX | FreePBX |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Up to 10 users, limited | Unlimited, everything free |
| Mobile apps (iOS/Android) | Yes, polished | Third-party (Zoiper, Grandstream) |
| Web client | Yes, built-in | Third-party (UCP, iSymphony) |
| Call queues | Paid tier | Free, excellent |
| Voicemail | Yes | Yes |
| Call recording | Paid tier | Free |
| IVR | Yes, drag-and-drop | Yes, form-based |
| Teams Direct Routing | Yes, great | Yes, manual config |
| CRM integration | Paid tier (60+ CRMs) | Third-party modules |
| Custom Asterisk dialplans | No | Yes, full control |
| Multi-tenant | No | Yes (with FreePBX Distro Pro) |
Ease of Use
3CX wins on ease of use. The management console is clean, everything is in the web UI, and most settings are labeled in plain English. A non-technical business owner can realistically manage a 3CX system.
FreePBX is more powerful but assumes some technical knowledge. Some settings are hidden behind "advanced mode", and troubleshooting often requires SSH access. It rewards Linux skills.
Reliability and Support
3CX is a commercial product, so you get vendor support (with paid tiers) and quarterly updates. Uptime is generally excellent.
FreePBX is open source. Community support is extensive (the forums are active) but there's no vendor to call when things break. Sangoma offers paid support contracts starting at $500/year.
DIDfarm Integration
Both 3CX and FreePBX work perfectly as SIP trunk endpoints for DIDfarm. The setup is similar:
- Create a SIP trunk in your DIDfarm portal
- Configure the PBX with the trunk credentials (server: sip.didfarm.com)
- Assign DID numbers to the trunk
- Route inbound calls to extensions or queues
See our detailed guides:
Which Should You Pick?
Pick 3CX if:
- You are non-technical and want everything "just work"
- You need polished mobile apps out of the box
- Microsoft Teams integration is critical
- You have 10-50 users and the paid tier cost is acceptable (€500-1000/year)
Pick FreePBX if:
- You have Linux skills (or are willing to learn)
- Budget is tight — FreePBX is truly free forever
- You want maximum customization and control
- You're running a multi-tenant setup (reseller/MSP)
- You need advanced features without per-extension licensing
