Voice over Internet Protocol VoIP is a category of hardware and software helping people conduct telephone-like calls using the internet. A VoIP software enables you to turn a computer into a communication platform. The birth of the internet brought in different innovative ways of communicating. In the beginning, it was email, but then businesses required promptness in two-way communication, so that brought in instant messaging. But, then the need to hear each other on a real-time basis brought in VoIP, as using traditional phone lines for communicating globally has always been expensive. To put it simply, VoIP came a long way to gain the popularity it is enjoying today. The below-given, infographic has highlighted the milestones throughout the journey of VoIP towards its success. As you can see, the businesses have switched over to VoIP based networks instead of using the traditional telephone for communicating. The below-mentioned significant differences can justify this fact. VoIP software allows you to create a real-time communication channel allowing you to make voice and video calls globally using an internet connection. This system becomes highly essential for businesses requiring to make international calls or fax documents frequently. Most businesses today require to communicate globally, and using a traditional phone system for that purpose can prove to be quite expensive. Thus, a reliable VoIP system enabling businesses to communicate with a good voice and video quality is critical. Adopting a readymade VoIP system can help in improving communication, but it may not suit the specific needs of your business. For example, if you require video support and your VoIP system does not provide that, then it is of no use to you. In that case, executing an open-source VoIP software for business can help as it can be tailored as per your business requirements. Moreover, most of the open-source VoIP solutions are free, so you don't have to invest a huge amount to get a VoIP system as per your exact needs. Here, we have come up with the 10 best free and open source VoIP software which are easy to install, configure, and maintain. But, before you go through the details of each software, let us have a look at how a VoIP system works, its benefits, and features you should look for in a VoIP software. How Does a VoIP Software Work? VoIP is a revolutionary technology that converts your voice into a digital signal and transmits it on the internet using TCP/IP Ethernet Protocol. It helps you to make and receive calls all over the world using a computer, VoIP phone, mobile phones, data-driven devices, or even traditional telephones connected to the VoIP adapter known as Analog Telephone Adapter. Benefits of Using VoIP Software Over Traditional Telephones Besides two major benefits - saving costs and time, VoIP delivers many other benefits too as mentioned below - Features Required in a VoIP Software Besides enabling phone calls through the internet, a VoIP system should include the below-mentioned features, which can help businesses extensively in improving their communication processes. Call Forwarding To avoid missing important calls, you can use the call forwarding feature. Your PC VoIP software should enable you to forward all the calls to your mobile phone, enabling you to receive calls wherever you are. Conferencing Many times you are required to talk to the whole team at the same time instead of one person to sort out some issues. Your VoIP software should allow you to hold conference calls with the groups avoiding miscommunication and getting tasks done on time. Mobility Receive and make calls from anywhere at any time. This is the main functionality everyone looks for in a VoIP software for business. You don't have to be present in the office to receive or make calls. Auto Attendants Auto-attendant allows you to provide a customized menu for the callers, where they can choose the option they are calling for or the extension number they want to connect to. This would create a professional impression for your organization in the minds of your customers, suppliers, and associates. Voicemail to Email Transcription The VoIP system can convert your voicemail messages to text and send it through your preferred email id. It also helps you in systematically organizing your voicemails. Call Rejection The VoIP system facilitates caller ID helping you to decide whether to reject or receive the calls. Multiple Device Support The VoIP software you select should support multiple devices enabling you to make and receive calls using VoIP through any device like a tablet, laptop, and mobile. Integrations Your VoIP software should be able to integrate with other third-party tools like CRM, email marketing software, sales software, etc., to provide added functionality. Scalability The VoIP software you select should be scalable enough to grow with your business. Adding users or geographical locations should not be a problem. Now, let's explore the features of the 10 best free and open-source VoIP software, which can help you in selecting the one that suits your business requirements. 1 Asterisk Asterisk is a free and open-source VoIP software sponsored by Digium. It offers a perfect blend of PBX functionality and advanced features of VoIP. Asterisk is used by enterprises, call centers, SMBs, and Governments worldwide to power their IP PBX systems, Conference servers, and VoIP gateways. Key Features Provides ADSI on-screen menu system Includes automated attendant Facilitates call forwarding Provides call records in detail Caller ID enabled Enables call forwarding and blocking Facilitates on-hold music Allows remote call pickup Allows SMS messaging Enables voicemail to email transcription Indicates message or voice call waiting visually If you have already used Asterisk, please feel free to share your reviews here. 2 Sipxcom Sipxcom is a feature-rich software for VoIP preferred by enterprises due to its standards-based SIP open architecture. It is highly scalable and suitable for middle to large enterprise environments. It is written using C++ and Java and executing RESTful APIs. Due to its open design for easy integration, it can be easily customized as per your business requirements. Key Features Allows call transfer, hold and retrieve Setting up of music on hold is possible Video and voice conference calls are possible Helps in identifying callers’ names and locations Allows setting up DnD Do Not Disturb Enables multiple calls per phone line Allows outbound call blocking Provides call history and complete records Auto generates directory information If you have already used Sipxcom, please feel free to share your reviews here. 3 Linphone Linphone is an open source VoIP system specializing in instant messaging and conducting voice/video VoIP calls helping businesses to communicate seamlessly with people at a low cost. It is compatible with most of the PBXs and SIP servers as it follows open standards from the telecommunications industry. Due to it's easy to use graphical interface and advanced calling features, it is preferred by most enterprises for building their communication solutions. Key Features Includes account creation assistant Provides elaborate contact list synchronizing address book Provides call history records Allows to invite friends in a conversation Enables HD video calls Supports audio conference calls Allows call transfer and managing multiple calls Enables call recording and replay Provides high-quality video and audio calls Allows instant messaging If you have already used Linphone, please feel free to share your reviews here. 4 Ekiga Ekiga was formerly known as GnomeMeeting. It is an open-source VoIP, video conferencing, and instant messaging application supporting HD sound & video quality. As it uses SIP and telephony standards, it is compatible with standard-compliant software, hardware, and service providers. Key Features Includes intuitive graphical user interface Allows free audio and video calls using the internet Allows instant messaging using the internet Provides HD quality sound and video quality Supports remote and local address book with authentication using the standard LDAP technology Supports Windows and GNU/Linux platforms If you have already used Ekiga, please feel free to share your reviews here. 5 Jitsi Jitsi includes multiple open source projects allowing you to build and execute video conferencing solutions. Also, there are other projects in the community, which help in deploying features like audio, dial-in, simulcasting, and recording. Whether the audio/video conversation is between 2 people or 200, Jitsi is known for its amazing sound and video quality. All the tools provided by Jitsi are free, open-source, and WebRTC compatible. Key Features Allows you to share your desktop presentations Users can be invited to a conference through a simple, custom URL Facilitates document editing using Etherpad Send messages and emojis during video conference using the integrated chat facility Includes advanced security settings allowing to maintain the privacy of the conversations 100% customizable as it is based on open source coding If you have already used Jitsi, please feel free to share your reviews here. 6 MicroSIP MicroSIP is an open-source portable SIP VoIP software based on PJSIP for Windows OS. It allows you to do high-quality VoIP calls to mobiles and landlines through open SIP protocol. Person-to-person calls are free, and even international calls are cheap using this free VoIP software. It is a lightweight software for VoIP utilizing minimum system resources. Key Features Coding is done in C and C++ languages and requires less than 5MB RAM usage. Extremely user-friendly software Allows voice and video calling with simple messaging Compatibility as per SIP standards Provides configurable encryption TLS / SRTP for control and media It supports multiple languages like Brazilian, Bulgarian, Chinese, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Ukrainian, etc. If you have already used MicroSIP, please feel free to share your reviews here. 7 Sipmobile Sipmobile is an open-source VoIP / SIP client allowing you to make free audio/video calls, messages, and chatting using the computer or mobile phone. It can be used with any compatible SIP provider. With easy registration, you can get started with this software and enjoy secure communications with this cryptographic software. Key Features Allows free calls to US and Canada numbers Allows free calls to more than 2000 VoIP networks Allows free audio and video calls as well as messages between Sipmobile users Enables good quality mobile calls using WiFi and mobile networks Allows international calls at a very low price If you have already used Sipmobile, please feel free to share your reviews here. 8 Jami Jami is a free and open-source VoIP software well-known for its multi-tasking. Whether it is about sending text messages, making audio/video calls, or sharing files, Jami can provide high-quality communication and data exchange. It is registered under GPLv3+ license and officially a GNU package, thus can allow free calling without any ads. Key Features Allows audio calls between Jami users Allows conference calls between an unlimited number of users Allows HD video calling Allows instant messaging Allows you to share expressions through emojis Allows voice messaging Allows video messaging Allows photo/file sharing If you have already used Jami, please feel free to share your reviews here. 9 Tox Tox is completely free VoIP software that you can modify as per your business requirements. The conversations done using Tox are encrypted using open source libraries, and thus, it is considered as a highly secure PC VoIP software. As it is an extremely easy-to-use software, it is preferred by corporations or governments, and digital surveillance organizations worldwide. Features Allows secure instant messaging Allows free encrypted calls Allows secure video calls Allows screen sharing Allows file sharing Allows group chats and conferencing If you have already used Tox, please feel free to share your reviews here. 10 YateClient YateClient is an instant messaging and VoIP system based on Yate. It is compatible with different platforms like Windows, Mac, OS, Linux. It works with multiple telephony protocols and includes advanced voice calling and chat features. It is written using C++ with a modular design with scripting languages like Perl, Python, and PHP to provide additional functionality. Key Features Allows call transfer Allows conference calling Displays call history and address book Supports multiple instant messaging providers like Google Talk, Google Voice, and Allows message archive, chat history search, and creating chat rooms If you have already used YateClient, please feel free to share your reviews here. Are you still confused with which VoIP software among these to choose? Just go through the below chart, which would help you in comparing the features of these free and open-source VoIP softwares at a glance. The Best 10 Free and Open Source VoIP Software Comparison Chart Just don’t forget to leave your valuable feedback if you have used any of the software mentioned above. Conclusion Effective communication is significant for businesses and organizations to perform well in terms of leading, organizing, controlling, selling, and managing. Especially when the business requires communicating at places worldwide, it becomes important to establish a flawless and low-cost communication system to foster relationships with your clients, employees, and associates. These free and open-source VoIP software can help you in communicating worldwide seamlessly and achieve your business goals. You can also go through these paid VoIP solutions like CallFire, FreeSwitch, Vodia PBX, Talkroute, and Nexmo Voice API if you require executing VoIP software with advanced features and functionality. Also, you can go through these comprehensive list of VoIP software, which would help you in selecting the best VoIP software suiting your business requirements. Are you looking for other free and open source software in other categories besides VoIP? Have a look at our list of software in other categories too, and stay tuned with us as our research team keeps on adding the latest software frequently.
5Software VOIP Berbasis Open Source yang Bisa Diinstal Pada Laptop atau PC 1. Elastix. Software yang bisa dimanfaatkan untuk membangun server komunikasi diantaranya Elastix. Ada beberapa fitur 2. SIPFoundry. Software ini mampu menjadi pesaing diantara banyak software VOIP berbasis open source
A PBX, or Private Branch Exchange, is a telephone system providing businesses with an internal, internet-powered phone network. Designed to replace traditional landlines, PBX phone systems can be operated using any internet ready device–softphones and IP phones, Android and iOS devices, and web apps. PBX systems include and facilitate inbound/outbound voice calling alongside advanced features like SMS texting, CRM integration, reporting and analytics, video conferencing, and more. Though PBX provides robust call center functionality, it can be expensive. The free and open-source PBX software solutions reviewed below keep costs down without compromising capabilities. Compare top PBX providers The Best Free and Open-Source PBX Software The top open source PBX providers are Asterisk SIP Foundry CallHippo OpenPBX by Voicetronix OpenSIPS Kamailio 3CX Asterisk Asterisk is one of the most established and popular open source IP PBX systems in the business telecom space. Companies can create and deploy a variety of communication services including Voice over Internet Protocol VoIP, Interactive Voice Response IVR, and Automatic Call Distribution ACD. The Asterisk platform supports several other interfaces, including Switchvox, FreePBX and FreeSwitch. Key Features Standout Asterisk feature are IVR Asterisk’s IVR platform includes features such as digit collection, database and web service access, calendar integration, and speech recognition and analysis. An audio playback and recording application allows users to record custom prompts and greetings. IVR applications can be built using the Dialplan language or through the Asterisk Gateway interface and can integrate with other external systems. Reporting The Asterisk system logs and reports specific events that occur on calls and individual channels. Admins can control which applications are tracked such as transfers, answers, and hangups. The events and their details are provided in a machine readable format with CSV output. Modules are available to output through other back-end interfaces such as RADIUS and SQLite. SMS/Text Messaging Asterisk’s SMS feature enables users to send and receive text messages over the PSTN. The application handles text messages from cell phones and message centers using ETSI ES 201 912 protocol and 1 FSK messaging for analog calls. It is compatible with BT Text service in the UK and works on ISDN and PSTN lines. Typical applications include Connection to a message center to send text messages Connection to an POTS line with an SMS capable phone to send messages Acceptance of calls from the message center based on CLI Storage of received messages Acceptance of calls from a POTS line with an SMS capable phone Pros & Cons Below are the advantages and disadvantages to using Asterisk What users like about Asterisk What users dislike about Asterisk Active community offering online support Can be complex to set up and configure, requiring some technical knowledge Flexible system that integrates easily with many popular third party applications Lack of collaboration tools such as video conferencing Reliable platform with many telephony features including IVR. hunt groups, etc. Lack of high-quality codecs Best for Asterisk is best for small businesses and SMBs that need a custom VoIP phone system with a focus on voice and texting functionality. Due to the complexity of Asterisk’s platform, it is best for companies with a full-time developer or IT staff to build, update and maintain the PBX system. SIP Foundry SIP Foundry is a communications solution optimized for hybrid cloud hosting and Delivery as a Service. Its enterprise-grade platform includes video conferencing, IM/Chat, and unified messaging. SIP Foundry works with any device or application following SIP and XMPP standards. REST APIs allow integration of features, including presence and calling, directly into other Web applications. Key Features Standout SIP Foundry features include Conferencing SIP Foundry’s conferencing feature allows users to set up private 11 meeting rooms and common rooms for specific purposes. Participants can access the conference call on a browser, tablet, smartphone, or mac/PC laptop using a bridge extension or DID number. The web-app can be used to auto record the meeting. Video Admins can enable video chat through the SIP Foundry conferencing platform. Enabling this feature allows conferencing participants to connect with video endpoints. Call Queueing Call Foundry supports several ACD servers with unlimited queues per server. In each call queue, users can customize agent wrap up time, a welcome message, maximum call wait time, and overflow condition. Historic reporting with agent, call, and queue statistics is also included. Moderator controls include Disable all audio to and from participant Allow participant to re enable audio Mute/Unmute participant Disconnect participant Invite new participant during meeting Configurable call routing schemes include Ring all Circular round robin Linear fixed Longest idle Pros & Cons The advantages and disadvantages to using SIP Foundry include What Users Like About SIP Foundry What Users Dislike About SIP Foundry Web-based administration and full scale automation for quick deployment Customer support is difficult to reach without purchasing a customer support plan Highly secure platform with global resiliency and load sharing Optimal functionality requires more powerful and more expensive hardware than competitors UCCS architecture with mongoDB allows the platform to scale linearly and easily Complex and time-consuming Installation process Best for With its wide variety of features and high level of security, SIP Foundry is best for large organizations and enterprises, especially those in the education and government sectors. CallHippo CallHippo is a cloud based business phone system that offers a free and open source version for small and mid-size companies. The open source PBX plan includes essential features such as call forwarding and SMS. Users can add on advanced features like dynamic number insertion, analytics, and voicemail transcription. Key Features Standout CallHippo features include Click to Dial CallHippo’s click-to-call feature enables companies to install a website button that customers click to initiate an outbound call to your business. The feature can be integrated with various communication channels, including voice, text messaging, and video calling. Smart Switch Smart Switch lets CallHippo users toggle between telephony platforms directly from the dial pad interface. If an agent is having an issue with call quality, they can quickly switch to an alternative network before the next call. Users cannot switch networks during a call. Call Forwarding CallHippo’s call forwarding feature automatically directs calls to preset numbers. Users can forward calls to any number and any device in the world without informing the caller that their call is being transferred. Calls are forwarded based on conditional and unconditional forwarding options such as “unanswered”, “busy”, and “after work hours”. Smart extension menus can also be integrated. Pros & Cons The advantages and disadvantages to using CallHippo include What Users Like About CallHippo What Users Dislike About CallHippo Easy to use and install with an intuitive user interface Paid plans are expensive compared to competitors Option to purchase add-ons and bundled plans when it’s time to scale Lack of features compared to competitors 24/7 live chat support Frequent call quality issues Best for CallHippo is best for small businesses needing a straightforward business telephone system without an overwhelming number of features. Its platform is user friendly and does not require an IT professional to install, meaning CallHippo is ideal for teams without a developer on staff. OpenPBX by Voicetronix OpenPBX is a PBX software platform designed to operate with Voicetronix telephony hardware. Users build their own phone system using commodity PC servers running Linux and analogue telephone handsets. Features include a highly configurable multi-level auto attendant. Key Features Standout OpenPBX features include Auto Attendant OpenPBX’s hierarchical multi-level auto attendant feature enables users to build an automated answering service to direct incoming calls according to the customer’s IVR menu selections. Users can build multiple menus and set business hours such as weekend, after hours and holidays. Hunt Groups OpenPBX’s call hunt groups groups multiple extensions together for example, all sales rep extensions could be put into a “sales group”. Incoming calls forwarded to a particular hunt group are sent to the first available agent in that group. OpenPBX allows for unlimited hunt groups and extensions. Call Parking OpenPBX’s call parking feature lets users place calls on hold on one handset and recall them from another handset at a different location. Transfers can be blind without speaking to the new agent first or warm call is announced to the new agent before the transfer. Users can also forward a call to a voicemail box. Pros & Cons The advantages and disadvantages to using OpenPBX include What Users Like About OpenPBX What Users Dislike About OpenPBX Code is very compact, only 1000 lines of Perl code are required for the basic PBX functionality Users must purchase hardware from Voicetronix Easily extendable and customizable using code Digital handsets are not supported, the hybrid system is meant to work with analog handsets Voicetronix hardware allows OpenPBX to scale from 4 trunk lines and 4 stations to 60 trunk lines and 60 stations using multiple PC servers Lack of advanced features such as video conferencing Best for OpenPBX is best for SMBs that wish to use analog handsets with their PBX software. OpenPBX does not include any advanced features such as SMS, so it is best for companies that communicate primarily via voice. OpenSIPS OpenSIPS is an Open Source PBX server including application level functionality like voice, video, team chat messaging, and user presence. It’s fast, reliable, and offers a customizable routing engine. OpenSIPS can handle over 5000 call setups per second. On systems with 4GB memory, OpenSIPS can serve a population of over 300,000 online subscribers. Key Features Standout OpenSIPS features include Call Routing OpenSIPS users build call flows using a custom scripting language that is similar to the C language. Each type of route branch, failure, error, etc. is triggered by a certain event and allows users to process a certain type of message request or reply. The dynamic routing module will send calls to the best destination/gateway based on pre-established criteria. For example, least cost routing LCR automatically selects the least expensive carrier for outbound calls. Time-based routing sends calls to a specific destination according to the time of day or day of the week. IM Server OpenSIPS includes an MSRP Gateway that connects with an IMS network. With MSRP support, instant messaging support can be implemented in advanced services such as chats and call centers and unified with voice and audio components. SMS Gateway OpenSIPS SMS gateway makes SMS communication possible. The gateway provides facilities like SMS confirmation–a confirmation to the SIP user of whether or not an outbound message reached its destination as an SMS or multi-part message. Errors that occur because of an invalid number, overlong message, or internal modem malfunction are reported back to the SIP user with an explanation regarding the error. Pros & Cons The advantages and disadvantages to using OpenSIPS include What Users Like About OpenSIPS What Users Dislike About OpenSIPS Plug-and-play module interface to add new extensions Requires knowledge of Linux, SIP, and programming logic to successfully configure Flexible custom scripting language Custom coding language means a higher learning curve Superior recorded webinar tutorials and user guides Limited feature compared to competitors Best for OpenSIPS is best for SMBs that have capable IT personnel on staff experienced in SIP, Linux, and programming. OpenSIPs is best for companies that do not require advanced communication features and channels such as video conferencing. Kamailio Kamailio is an open source SIP server able to handle thousands of call setups per second. Kamailio can be used to build VoIP and Unified Communications UC platforms with user presence, WebRTC, instant messaging, and more. Kamailio’s platform is highly secure thanks to IP and Network authentication, TLS support, and SIP user authentication. Key Features Key Kamailio’s features include Presence Kamailio’s presence module is used to handle SIP event notification. It uses database storage and memory caching to manage PUBLISH and SUBSCRIBE messages and generate NOTIFY messages. Users can register events from other Kamailio modules. Instant Messaging Kamilio’s instant messaging module follows the architecture of IRC channels and enables users to send commands embedded in the MESSAGE body. Users must define a URI corresponding to a conferencing manager. Once a new conference room is created, users can send commands directly to conferece’s URI. Pros & Cons The advantages and disadvantages to using Kamailio include What Users Like About Kamailio What Users Dislike About Kamailio Plug-and-play module interface enables users to add new extensions Complicated to set up and use Flexible least cost routing and routing failover Lack of advanced features Over 150 modules are included in the Kamailio source tree Requires extensive programming knowledge to use Best for Kamailio is best for small teams that need a custom solution and have an experienced programmer who can build it. 3CX 3CX is an all-in-one communications system for Linux offering live chat, video conferencing and telephony services for up to 10 users at no cost. 3CX takes just minutes to install and does not require programming knowledge. Users simply download the ISO and run the PBX system on a new or existing server. 3CX customers choose their preferred SIP Trunks and devices. 3CX also supports several other software-based PBX systems including elastix. Key Features Key 3CX open source platform features include Live Chat 3CX’s live chat feature enables users to share customer queries and history with other team members to resolve issues faster. WhatsApp, Facebook and SMS messages are also handled from the same interface. Auto Attendant 3CX’s free version allows for only one auto attendant, however, users can add as many levels as they like. For example, callers are given 9 menu options, if they press 1 they are taken to another menu level with another 9 options. 3CX allows users to add custom greetings to the auto attendant along with a dial by name directory. Video Conferencing 3CX’s video conferencing platform uses Google WebRTC to offer secure HD video functionality. Participants can join video calls by calling in, or clicking a personalized link on their browser, no downloads are required. Video meetings on the free version can host up to 25 participants. Video features include Virtual backgrounds Streaming on YouTube Screen sharing Whiteboard Remote screen control In meeting chat Polling Pros & Cons The advantages and disadvantages to using 3CX include What Users Like About 3CX What Users Dislike About 3CX Easy to set up and use 10 user limit on the free version Advanced features such as live chat and video conferencing Free version is limited in features does not include call recording, IVR, SMS/MMS, etc. No credit card required to download the free version and users can easily scale to a paid version as their business grows No live customer support for users of the free version Best for 3CX’s free version limits users to just 10 so it is only suitable for startups and very small teams. Fortunately, an IT department is not required to install this open source PBX system. Advanced team collaboration features such as video conferencing make this a great choice for remote teams. Which Open Source PBX Platform Is Right For You? The best PBX solution for your business depends on company size, required features, and your team’s programming knowledge or on-site developers. Because all of the above listed platforms are open source and free, budget is not a factor. Here are some suggestions for organizations of various sizes and industries Best for large businesses and enterprises SIP Foundry Best for SMBs Asterisk Best for startups and small businesses CallHippo Best for small remote teams 3CX Best for those in the education/government sector SIP Foundry FAQs .