3CX Pricing Australia: How Much Does 3CX Cost? (2026)

3CX pricing is based on simultaneous calls, not the number of people using the system - and that single fact trips up most businesses comparing it to per-seat VOIP services. There is a free tier that genuinely works for very small teams, but it carries real constraints that are easy to miss. This guide covers every 3CX plan tier in AUD, explains the self-hosted vs cloud cost difference, walks through what "8 simultaneous calls" means for a real office, and maps out the hidden costs that rarely appear in the headline price.

How 3CX Pricing Actually Works

Most cloud phone services charge per seat: you have 10 staff, you pay for 10 seats, every seat includes a phone line. 3CX does not work this way. Instead, it charges based on simultaneous calls (SC) - the maximum number of calls that can be active at exactly the same time across your entire system.Here is the distinction in practice. A 20-person office where half the staff rarely use the phone might only ever have 4-6 calls active simultaneously. Under per-seat pricing, they would pay for 20 seats. Under 3CX's model, they would pay for 8SC - often a fraction of the cost. Conversely, a 10-person team where everyone is on calls all day might need 10SC or more.The simultaneous call count includes all active calls: inbound calls ringing or answered, outbound calls dialled, calls on hold, and calls in a conference bridge. It does not count extensions, voicemail boxes, or users who are simply logged in but not on a call.3CX changed its pricing model significantly with version 20 (released in 2023). Before v20, 3CX was sold as a perpetual licence with an annual maintenance/support fee - you owned the software outright and paid annually to keep receiving updates. From v20 onwards, the model became a pure annual subscription: no perpetual option, renew each year or the system stops accepting new calls. If you encounter older pricing guides that mention "perpetual" 3CX licences, they are referring to v18 and earlier. Those licences still work on older deployments, but new installations require the subscription model.

The 4 Plan Tiers: Free, SMB, PRO, and ENT

3CX publishes pricing in USD on its global website. Australian resellers add margin, handling, and sometimes hosting on top. The AUD ranges below reflect what businesses typically pay through AU-based resellers in 2026. Treat them as planning figures, not quotes - always confirm with your reseller.

Free Tier (8SC)

The 3CX Free tier supports up to 8 simultaneous calls and is genuinely free - no time limit, no per-user fee. It covers the core PBX features: extensions, ring groups, auto-attendant (IVR), voicemail, the 3CX web client, and the mobile/desktop softphone apps. For a very small team with simple needs, it is a credible option.What it does not include: call recording, CRM integration, Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, advanced reporting, call queues with real-time wallboards, skill-based routing, or any of the contact centre features. It also requires self-hosting (you run the server) or one of 3CX's own hosting options - but more on that below.The Free tier is best suited to businesses with genuine IT capability on-site or a trusted IT partner, fewer than 8 lines in use simultaneously, and no requirement for call recording or CRM integration. Read more about whether 3CX is the right fit in our 3CX review.

SMB Tier (Annual Subscription)

The SMB tier is the entry-level paid plan. It includes everything in the Free tier plus basic reporting, priority support from 3CX, and removes the 8SC cap - you can purchase SMB at 4SC, 8SC, 16SC, 32SC, or higher. For most small Australian businesses that want a supported, maintained system without needing advanced features, SMB is the starting point.Approximate AUD pricing through Australian resellers (annual licence only, excludes hosting and setup):

• 4SC: approximately $175-200 AUD/year
• 8SC: approximately $300-350 AUD/year
• 16SC: approximately $550-650 AUD/year
• 32SC: approximately $1,000-1,200 AUD/year

PRO Tier

PRO adds the features that most genuine business phone systems need: call recording, CRM integration (Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho, and others), hot-desking, advanced call queue management, real-time wallboards, and presence indicators. For businesses where compliance, customer service quality, or CRM logging matters, PRO is effectively the minimum viable tier.Approximate AUD pricing (annual licence only):

• 4SC: approximately $400-450 AUD/year
• 8SC: approximately $700-800 AUD/year
• 16SC: approximately $1,300-1,500 AUD/year
• 32SC: approximately $2,400-2,800 AUD/year

ENT Tier

The ENT tier adds Microsoft Teams Direct Routing integration (calls routed through 3CX into Teams), skill-based routing for contact centres, a custom IP phone app, and advanced security features. For most Australian SMBs, ENT is overkill. Its core use case is businesses already committed to Microsoft Teams as their communications platform who want to add full PSTN calling through 3CX.Approximate AUD pricing (annual licence only):

• 4SC: approximately $600-700 AUD/year
• 8SC: approximately $1,100-1,200 AUD/year
• 16SC: approximately $2,000-2,500 AUD/year
• 32SC: approximately $3,800-4,500 AUD/year

Plan Comparison: Free vs SMB vs PRO vs ENT

Self-Hosted vs 3CX-Hosted: Total Cost Difference

The 3CX licence cost is the same regardless of hosting method. What changes significantly is the total cost of ownership depending on where and how the 3CX server runs.

Self-Hosted (On Your Own Server or VPS)

Self-hosting means you (or your IT partner) run the 3CX server on hardware you control: a dedicated on-premise server, a VPS in a cloud provider (AWS, Azure, DigitalOcean, Vultr, etc.), or a mini-PC at your office. You are responsible for the server, the operating system, patching, backups, and uptime.Additional costs for self-hosted 3CX:

• VPS hosting: $20-80 AUD/month depending on provider and spec. A basic single-tenant VPS (2 vCPU, 4GB RAM) from an Australian cloud provider runs $25-50/month. AWS/Azure run higher.
• On-premise server hardware: $800-3,000 AUD one-time for a capable mini-server or repurposed business PC. Plus power, cooling, UPS.
• IT time for setup, maintenance, and updates: typically 2-5 hours per year for a stable deployment, billed at your IT provider's rate ($120-200/hour = $240-1,000/year).
• SIP trunk (the actual phone lines): 3CX needs a SIP trunk provider to make and receive calls. Separate monthly cost - see below.

Self-hosting makes financial sense if: you already have IT capability in-house, you are comfortable managing a server, or you need the total data sovereignty that comes with running on your own infrastructure. It is the lower-cost path at scale (16SC and above) where the hosting overhead is a small percentage of the licence cost.

3CX-Hosted (3CX Manages the Server)

3CX offers its own hosted cloud option where 3CX Ltd manages the server infrastructure. This removes the server management burden but adds a hosting fee on top of the licence. For Australian businesses, there is an important consideration: 3CX's hosted servers are not necessarily in Australia, which can affect latency and data residency. Your reseller can clarify the server region.Hosting through 3CX is typically bundled into reseller pricing and not quoted separately. Expect to pay roughly $10-30 AUD/month on top of the annual licence when hosted by 3CX or a 3CX partner. The benefit is zero server management overhead - updates, patches, and backups are handled for you.3CX-hosted suits businesses that want the 3CX feature set without any IT overhead, have a reseller who includes managed hosting in their support contract, or are at the lower SC tiers (4-8SC) where the hosting cost is proportionally manageable.

SIP Trunks: The Cost That Almost Everyone Forgets

3CX is a PBX - a phone system manager. It does not come with phone lines. To make and receive real calls, you need a SIP trunk: a service from a VOIP provider that connects your 3CX system to the public phone network. This is a completely separate monthly cost that is easy to overlook when comparing 3CX's headline licence price.Australian SIP trunk pricing typically runs $15-30 AUD/month for a small business connection (2-4 simultaneous calls, includes a local number), plus per-minute call charges or a call bundle. For a 10-person office making reasonable call volumes, budget $50-150 AUD/month for SIP trunking on top of everything else. See our guide to business phone systems in Australia for a broader look at how these costs fit together.

What '8 Simultaneous Calls Free' Actually Means for Your Office

This is the question most businesses get wrong when evaluating the free tier. Let us use a realistic example: a 10-person office.In a typical 10-person office, at any given moment during business hours you might have:

• 2-3 staff actively on inbound calls
• 1-2 staff on outbound calls
• 1 call on hold waiting to be transferred
• 1 call ringing an extension (not yet answered)

That is 5-7 simultaneous calls during a busy period - comfortably inside the 8SC free tier. The 8SC free tier can realistically support a 10-15 person office if not everyone is calling-heavy and there is no contact centre role in the team.Where 8SC breaks: industries where multiple staff are on calls simultaneously for extended periods - healthcare practices with multiple consult lines, real estate offices with agents on calls all day, trade businesses where multiple technicians are checking in simultaneously. In those environments, even a 15-person team might saturate 8SC regularly.When the system hits the simultaneous call cap, new callers hear a busy signal or an engaged tone. This is not a 'slow down' - it is a hard cutoff. Callers who cannot get through are lost. For any revenue-generating role, that is an unacceptable risk. Size with headroom: if your peak estimate is 6SC, start at 8SC paid, not 8SC free.

Hidden Costs: What the Headline Price Leaves Out

The 3CX licence is just one line item in the total cost of a 3CX deployment. Here is what else to budget for:Implementation and setup
A new 3CX deployment is not a plug-in-and-go product. Expect 4-12 hours of professional time to install, configure call routing, set up ring groups and IVR menus, provision handsets, configure voicemail, test failover, and train staff. At $120-200/hour for an IT or VOIP specialist, that is $480-2,400 AUD one-time. Some resellers bundle this into a flat setup fee ($500-1,500 AUD is common for a small business deployment).IP handsets
3CX runs on SIP-compatible desk phones. If your team needs physical handsets, budget $80-350 AUD per phone depending on model. A 10-person office with mid-range phones (Yealink T33G at ~$129, for example) is looking at $1,290 AUD in hardware before any discounts. This cost is entirely separate from the 3CX licence.Annual licence renewal
Under the v20 subscription model, the 3CX licence must be renewed annually. If you let it lapse, the system continues to run but stops accepting new registrations and inbound calls after a grace period. Budget this as a fixed annual operating cost from year one.Support contract
3CX itself provides support at the reseller level - your reseller's support terms apply. Some include support in the setup fee; others charge $50-150/month for ongoing managed service. Clarify this before signing.SIP trunk (phone lines)
As covered above - $50-150 AUD/month for a typical SMB. This is a recurring operating cost for the life of the system.Number porting
Moving your existing business number to a new SIP provider costs $0-50 AUD per number depending on the provider, and takes 5-10 business days under ACMA porting rules. During the porting window, calls to your old number may be disrupted if the timing is not managed carefully. Factor this into your go-live planning.

3CX vs Hosted VOIP: How the Total Cost Compares

3CX is a PBX platform - it manages your phone system but you handle (or pay someone to handle) the infrastructure. Hosted VOIP services are the opposite: the provider handles everything, charges per seat, and you just plug in phones or use an app. The cost comparison is not straightforward because the models are structured differently. The 3CX model can be cheaper per month once set up, particularly for offices with more staff than simultaneous calls - where the SC-based pricing model delivers real savings versus per-seat. The trade-off is setup complexity, IT dependency, and annual renewal risk.Hosted VOIP services cost more per month in most cases, but deliver predictable billing, no server management, and a support team that handles everything. For businesses without IT capability, the time cost of managing 3CX often exceeds the licence savings. See our comparison of hosted PBX providers in Australia for the alternative options.For a broader comparison of the platform itself, see our Microsoft Teams vs 3CX comparison and our 3CX vs FreePBX breakdown.

What Most Businesses Get Wrong with 3CX Pricing

Mistake 1: Comparing the licence price to a hosted VOIP monthly fee
The 3CX licence price looks cheap at first glance - $350/year for 8SC SMB sounds very low compared to $300/month for a 10-seat hosted service. But the licence is only one component. Once you add VPS hosting, SIP trunking, and setup costs, the gap narrows considerably. Always compare total monthly all-in cost, not licence vs subscription.Mistake 2: Sizing to current load, not peak load
Businesses routinely undersize their simultaneous call count by estimating average usage rather than worst-case peak. If your busiest hour has 7 simultaneous calls and you buy 8SC free tier, one call drop during a busy period will cause a missed call. Size for the peak, then add a buffer.Mistake 3: Starting on Free tier without a plan for when you outgrow it
The Free tier's 8SC cap is fixed - you cannot pay to expand it. When you need more than 8SC, you move to a paid plan. That mid-year upgrade involves a new licence, a new annual billing cycle, and potentially a system reconfiguration. Build your SC requirements before choosing Free vs paid, not after.Mistake 4: Forgetting that SIP trunks and handsets are separate purchases
Many businesses get a 3CX quote from a reseller for the licence only, agree to it, and then discover the phone hardware and phone lines are additional. A complete quote should include: 3CX licence, hosting, SIP trunk setup and monthly cost, handset hardware, and setup/configuration labour. If any of those are missing from the quote, ask specifically.Mistake 5: Assuming the Free tier is 'good enough for now' without checking feature requirements
If your business needs call recording for compliance or staff coaching, needs CRM logging, or needs detailed reporting - those are not available on the Free tier or SMB tier. A compliance requirement discovered after deployment means an unplanned mid-year upgrade and potential retroactive licence cost.

Your Next Steps

Before you commit to 3CX pricing at any tier, work through this checklist:

1. Estimate your peak simultaneous calls. Count staff in calling roles, estimate the worst-case number on calls at the same moment. Add 2 as a buffer. That is your minimum SC count.
2. Identify your feature requirements. Do you need call recording? CRM integration? Microsoft Teams routing? Check which tier those land in before assuming SMB is enough.
3. Decide on hosting. Can your team manage a VPS, or do you need a reseller who handles the server? Get quotes for both and compare total monthly cost.
4. Ask for a fully itemised quote. Licence + hosting + SIP trunk setup + monthly call plan + hardware + setup labour. All in one document, with annual totals.
5. Check SIP trunk options. Your reseller may bundle a SIP trunk or recommend one. Compare at least two AU-based SIP providers independently.
6. Plan your number porting timeline. If moving existing numbers, allow 5-10 business days under ACMA rules and coordinate the cutover carefully to avoid downtime.
7. Get a quote in writing, including annual renewal terms. Confirm what happens to your system if you do not renew - does it stop accepting calls immediately or is there a grace period?

If you would rather skip the complexity and get a recommendation matched to your specific call volume and feature requirements, get a free recommendation here.

What is a simultaneous call in 3CX?

A simultaneous call (SC) is any call that is active at the same instant - whether it is ringing, connected, on hold, or in a conference. The SC count is not based on how many users you have or how many extensions are registered. It is a real-time snapshot of calls in progress. If your 3CX system is licenced for 8SC and nine calls arrive at the same moment, the ninth caller hears a busy signal. The SC count covers all call legs: inbound calls to your DID numbers, outbound calls from extensions, calls in ring groups waiting to be answered, and calls parked on hold.

Is the 3CX free tier good enough for a small business?

For some small businesses, yes. The Free tier includes ring groups, auto-attendant (IVR), voicemail to email, mobile apps, and the web client - which covers the basics well. The key limitations are: the hard cap at 8SC (no upgrade path without moving to a paid plan), no call recording, no CRM integration, and no priority support from 3CX. If your team has fewer than 8-10 staff in calling roles, does not need call recording or CRM logging, and has the IT capability to maintain a self-hosted system, the Free tier is a legitimate option. If any of those conditions do not hold, start with SMB or PRO.

How much does 3CX cost per month in Australia?

The 3CX licence alone costs approximately $25-65 AUD/month (billed annually) for a small business at the SMB or PRO tier with 8SC. But the true monthly cost includes hosting ($25-50/month VPS), SIP trunking ($50-150/month), and potentially ongoing IT support ($50-150/month). Total all-in monthly cost for a 10-person office on 3CX PRO 8SC typically ranges from $140-265 AUD/month. This compares to $250-400/month for a fully-managed hosted VOIP service at the same team size - so 3CX can be cheaper, but only if you account for all components, not just the licence.

Do I need an IT company to run 3CX?

Not necessarily, but you do need someone with technical confidence. The initial setup - installing 3CX on a server, configuring SIP trunks, setting up call routing, provisioning handsets - typically takes 4-12 hours and requires VOIP and Linux/Windows server knowledge. Ongoing maintenance is minimal once running, but updates need to be applied and issues troubleshot when they arise. If no one in your business has that capability, budget for a 3CX-authorised reseller or IT provider who can manage the system. If you want a business phone system with no IT involvement, a hosted VOIP service is a more appropriate fit than 3CX.

What happens when I need more than 8 simultaneous calls on the free tier?

The Free tier is fixed at 8SC - there is no paid upgrade within the Free plan. When you need more than 8SC, you move to an SMB, PRO, or ENT annual subscription and purchase the SC count you need. This means a new annual billing cycle, a new licence key applied to your existing system, and potentially a new hosting arrangement if you were using 3CX's free hosting option. You do not lose your configuration or call history, but you will have an unplanned cost and a mid-year renewal date that does not align with your financial year. Plan your SC requirements before choosing the Free tier to avoid this transition.

Does 3CX pricing include phone handsets?

No. The 3CX licence covers only the software platform. IP desk phones, DECT cordless handsets, and conference room phones are all purchased separately. 3CX is compatible with a wide range of SIP phones from Yealink, Grandstream, Polycom, Snom, and others. Budget $80-350 AUD per handset depending on the model. Some resellers offer bundled deals that include handsets, 3CX licence, and SIP trunking in a single monthly fee - these can be worth comparing against self-assembled deployments, particularly for small teams where the simplicity has real value.

How does 3CX pricing compare to Microsoft Teams calling in Australia?

Microsoft Teams calling (Teams Phone) uses a per-user, per-month model: Microsoft 365 Business Voice or Teams Phone licences cost approximately $12-25 AUD/user/month, plus a calling plan or operator connect arrangement for PSTN access. For a 10-person team all needing calling capability, Teams Phone is $120-250/month in licences alone, before call costs. 3CX PRO at 8SC might be $65/month in licence, plus SIP trunk costs. 3CX is often cheaper at the licence level, but Teams Phone eliminates the server management and configuration complexity. If your team already lives in Microsoft 365 and wants calling integrated into Teams, the premium for Teams Phone can be worth it. See our detailed Microsoft Teams vs 3CX comparison for a full breakdown.