6 Best 3CX Alternatives for Teams in 2026

Key Takeaways

• Allo is best for small teams because it provides an AI-first, mobile-native experience that automates CRM updates and call summaries without the need for an IT department.
• RingCentral is best for large enterprises because it offers a highly reliable platform with over 500 native integrations and enterprise-grade tools for global operations.
• Microsoft Teams Phone is best for existing Microsoft 365 users who want to unify their internal collaboration and external calling within a single, familiar ecosystem.

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Is your team still wrestling with a phone system that feels like it belongs in an IT server room rather than a modern sales office?

While 3CX has long been a staple for businesses seeking a customizable PBX, its technical complexity and manual maintenance requirements can often slow down fast-moving teams. In 2026, the shift toward AI-native and cloud-first solutions has introduced several 3CX alternatives that prioritize ease of use over server management.

Whether you are tired of managing SIP trunks or simply need a system that actually syncs with your CRM, finding the right 3CX competitors is about balancing power with simplicity.

In this guide, we’ll review the top alternatives to 3CX—from mobile-first tools like Allo to enterprise giants like RingCentral—to help you decide which solution fits your team's workflow and growth goals.

Allo, Best for Small Sales Teams

What is Allo?

Allo was built from the ground up as an AI-first and mobile-native phone system specifically for small teams and salespeople. The company’s mission is to eliminate the administrative burden of manual note-taking and CRM data entry. Unlike legacy systems that require complex hardware or server setups, Allo offers a self-serve experience that can be ready in minutes, allowing reps to focus on selling rather than managing their software.

Why Allo is a Good Alternative to 3CX

Allo stands out as a superior alternative for teams that want to escape the "IT-heavy" feel of 3CX.

While 3CX requires users to subscribe to separate SIP trunk providers and often involves manual server configuration, Allo is a fully managed cloud solution with transparent pricing.

Allo's AI capabilities are included by default, offering automated call transcriptions and summaries in 36 languages, whereas 3CX restricts its advanced "ENT/AI" features to its most expensive plans. Furthermore, Allo’s mobile app is highly reliable for teams on the go, addressing a common pain point for 3CX users who report frequent crashes and connectivity issues with the 3CX mobile client.

Allo Pricing

• Starter: $25/month - 1 user max. Includes unlimited calls, a local phone number, AI summaries, and IVR.
• Business: $45/month per user. Includes native CRM integrations, unlimited AI answering service, SMS, and international calling.

Allo Demo

See Allo in action:

RingCentral, Best for Large Enterprises

What is RingCentral?

RingCentral is one of the most established players in the VoIP industry, having been a market leader since 1999. It offers a massive suite of tools including voice, SMS, video conferencing, and even fax. Known for its rock-solid reliability and a global footprint that spans over 100 countries, it has become the go-to choice for massive organizations that need a deeply integrated communications hub.

Why RingCentral is a Good Alternative to 3CX

If your team requires deep connectivity across every tool in your stack, RingCentral is a powerhouse compared to 3CX. It offers over 500 native integrations, dwarfing 3CX’s limited list of 14 native connectors. While 3CX can be overwhelming due to its legacy PBX architecture and manual updates, RingCentral provides a fully managed model that removes the need for on-premise servers or separate SIP trunking. Additionally, RingCentral offers 24/7 support across multiple channels, which is a significant step up from 3CX's partner-reliant support model.

RingCentral Pricing

• Core: $30/user/month. Includes unlimited domestic calling, call recordings, and video meetings.
• Advanced: $35/user/month. Adds CRM integrations and advanced reporting.
• Ultra: $45/user/month. Adds unlimited storage, webinars, and device analytics.

For additional information, please refer to this article that discusses RingCentral pricing.
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RingCentral Demo

See RingCentral in action:

Dialpad, Best for Tech-Savvy Teams

What is Dialpad?

Dialpad was founded in 2011 by the creators of Google Voice and maintains a strong focus on using proprietary AI to enhance business conversations. It is designed for SMBs and mid-market companies that want a modern, unified platform for voice, video, and messaging. Dialpad is particularly well-known for its "AI-first" approach, having developed its own language models for real-time coaching and transcription since 2018.

Why Dialpad is a Good Alternative to 3CX

Dialpad is a significantly more modern solution for teams that find 3CX’s interface "old-school." Unlike 3CX, which charges separately for AI features and requires a specific "ENT/AI" plan, Dialpad includes its core AI features for free across all plans. The setup process is also vastly simpler; while 3CX can take days to configure on a server, Dialpad can be deployed in minutes with no hardware required. For sales teams, Dialpad’s real-time coaching and sentiment analysis provide immediate value that is difficult to replicate with 3CX's more basic analytics.

Dialpad Pricing

• Standard: $27/user/month. Includes unlimited calling in your country, a local number, and real-time AI transcription.
• Pro: $35/user/month (3-user minimum). Adds SSO, 24/7 phone support, and up to 25 departments.

Dialpad Demo

See Dialpad in action:

Nextiva, Best for High-Growth SMBs

What is Nextiva?

Nextiva is a US-based UCaaS provider optimized for businesses that want a single provider for all their communication needs—voice, video, and chat. It is designed to be a "unified" platform, often catering to mid-market companies that need a reliable system with strong customer support. Nextiva has been consistently recognized for its reliability, boasting a 99.999% uptime SLA.

Why Nextiva is a Good Alternative to 3CX

Nextiva is a great fit for businesses that want to avoid the "DIY" nature of 3CX. While 3CX requires you to manage your own SIP trunking and security updates, Nextiva is a fully managed service that includes domestic calling and support in its base price. Nextiva's customer service is frequently cited as a major pro, providing a human touch that is often missing for 3CX users who must navigate community forums or partner networks for help. Furthermore, Nextiva offers a more comprehensive feature set in a single app, including live chat and light CRM tools, which 3CX lacks.

Nextiva Pricing

• Core: $23/user/month. Includes a phone number, SMS, video meetings, and call routing.
• Engage: $50/user/month. Adds advanced reporting and web chat.
• Power Suite CX: $75/user/month. Includes AI transcription, summaries, and intelligent routing.

Nextiva Demo

8x8, Best for International Call Centers

What is 8x8?

8x8 is an industry veteran that transitioned from hardware to VoIP in 2000. It specializes in providing a single platform for cloud phone, video collaboration, and contact center solutions. 8x8 is highly recommended for larger, international teams that require advanced supervisor tools and detailed analytics across multiple communication channels.

Why 8x8 is a Good Alternative to 3CX

For organizations with a global reach, 8x8 is a much stronger option than 3CX. 8x8 provides full PSTN support and local numbers in over 100 countries, whereas 3CX’s international capabilities are entirely dependent on the SIP trunk provider you choose.

8x8 also offers superior tools for supervisors, such as a dedicated dashboard, call comments, and live coaching, which are more robust than 3CX’s standard analytics. Additionally, 8x8's platform is designed to work seamlessly across all devices, avoiding the mobile reliability issues commonly reported by 3CX users.

8x8 Pricing

• Basic Tier: Approximately $24/user/month.
• Advanced Tier: Approximately $44/user/month.

Note: 8x8 pricing is not public and requires a custom quote for specific needs.

8x8 Demo

See 8x8 in action:

Microsoft Teams Phone, Best for 365 Users

What is Microsoft Teams Phone?

Microsoft Teams Phone is an extension of the ubiquitous Microsoft 365 suite, allowing users to make and receive external calls directly within the Teams interface. It is designed specifically for teams already deeply embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem. By using Microsoft Teams Phone, businesses can consolidate their internal chat, file sharing, and external telephony into a single "pane of glass".

Why Microsoft Teams Phone is a Good Alternative to 3CX

The primary advantage of Microsoft Teams Phone over 3CX is its native integration with the rest of the Microsoft 365 environment. While 3CX can be complex to integrate and requires separate app management, Teams Phone uses the same interface your employees likely already use every day. Furthermore, Microsoft’s Copilot AI offers advanced post-call summaries and the ability to ask questions about call notes, providing a level of productivity integration that 3CX’s standalone AI cannot match. For businesses prioritizing ease of use for their staff, removing a separate phone app in favor of a unified Teams experience is a major win.

Microsoft Teams Phone Pricing

• Standard: $10/user/month (yearly). Technology only; requires a separate external service provider for minutes.
• With Pay-as-you-go Calling: $13/user/month (yearly). Includes calling service directly from Microsoft.
• With Calling Plan: $17/user/month (yearly). Includes 3,000 domestic minutes for the US/UK/Canada.

Note: Requires a separate Microsoft Teams license (from $4/user/month) and an optional Copilot add-on ($30/user/month) for AI features.

Microsoft Teams Phone Demo

See Microsoft Teams Phone in action:

Conclusion

Choosing between these 3CX alternatives depends entirely on your team's size and technical appetite. If you have an IT department that enjoys granular control and self-hosting, 3CX remains a viable, low-cost option. However, for most modern sales teams, the "hidden" costs of 3CX—from unreliable mobile apps to the manual effort of syncing CRMs—often outweigh the initial savings.

For small sales teams looking for a fast, AI-native solution that "just works," Allo is the clear winner. If you are an enterprise needing global scale and deep integrations, RingCentral or 8x8 are your best bets. For those already living in Outlook and Teams, Microsoft Teams Phone offers unparalleled ecosystem unity.

FAQ about 3CX

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