3CX Licensing
Three editions, priced by simultaneous calls.
A 3CX license is an annual subscription sized on how many calls you make at the same time, internal and external, rather than on how many people you employ. 60 people sharing 16 concurrent calls buy 16 simultaneous calls, not 60 seats. Each tier does cap how many extensions it will carry, so your headcount sets the floor and your busiest moment sets the tier. We are a 3CX Titanium Partner, we hold the 3CX Service Provider designation, and our SIP trunks are 3CX Tested and approved, so the license, the PBX and the trunk can sit on one invoice with one support number.
3CX Basic
starting at $300 per year
Core business telephony, sized on your simultaneous calls.
- Apps for Windows, web, iOS and Android
- Auto attendant, multi-level IVR and ring groups
- Inbuilt SBC for offsite phones
- Integrated fax server and paging
- SMS, MMS and live chat
- Multi company and multi-tenant
3CX Pro
starting at $395 per year
Adds the call centre and CRM tooling most businesses ask for.
- Everything in Basic
- Call queues, call recording and queue reports
- CRM, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace integration
- Switchboard, wallboard and SLA alerting
- Listen in, whisper and barge in
- Hot desking and the call flow designer
3CX AI
starting at $575 per year
Adds AI agents, transcription and the enterprise features.
- Everything in Pro
- AI receptionist, personal assistant and boss-secretary
- Call summaries, sentiment and transcription
- Skill-based routing and start/stop recording rights
- Microsoft Teams Direct Routing
- Inbuilt failover and standby license
3CX License Price List
| Simultaneous calls | Recommended users | Max users / ext | 3CX Basic | 3CX Pro | 3CX AI | Hosted by 3CX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 16–40 | 40 | $300 | $395 | $575 | $295 |
| 16 | 41–80 | 80 | $600 | $795 | $1,095 | $450 |
| 24 | 81–120 | 120 | $825 | $1,095 | $1,495 | $450 |
| 32 | 121–192 | 192 | $1,015 | $1,350 | $1,795 | $795 |
| 48 | 193–288 | 288 | $1,500 | $1,995 | $2,495 | $795 |
| 64 | 289–384 | 384 | $2,025 | $2,695 | $3,235 | $795 |
| 96 | 385–672 | 672 | $3,000 | $3,995 | $4,795 | $1,995 |
| 128 | 673–896 | 896 | $4,125 | $5,495 | $6,595 | $1,995 |
| 192 | 897–1,344 | 1,344 | $6,190 | $8,250 | $9,900 | $1,995 |
| 256 | 1,345–2,048 | 2,048 | $8,250 | $10,995 | $13,195 | $1,995 |
| 384 | 2,049–3,072 | 3,072 | $10,875 | $14,495 | $17,395 | — |
| 512 | 3,073–4,096 | 4,096 | $13,500 | $17,995 | $21,595 | — |
| 768 | 4,097–6,144 | 6,144 | $19,125 | $25,495 | $30,595 | — |
| 1024 | 6,145–8,192 | 8,192 | $24,750 | $32,995 | $39,595 | — |
Prices are per year in US dollars and cover the 3CX license only. Hosted by 3CX is optional, billed on top of the license, and runs up to 256 simultaneous calls; above that Ahoy Telecom can host your PBX at additional cost. A SIP trunk is required to make and receive calls and is billed separately.
How to Size Your 3CX License
Start from your busiest moment, not your headcount. Count the calls happening at once when the phones are at their worst, then take the tier above it. The recommended users column is the range each tier is built for, and the max users column is the hard limit that comes with it.
Each tier carries a maximum number of extensions. Up to 24 simultaneous calls it is five extensions per call, rising to six at 32, seven at 96 and eight from 256 upwards — so a 16 call license covers 80 extensions and a 128 call license covers 896. These limits are enforced. If you are not sure where your system sits, send us your extension count and your simultaneous calls and we will check it against your license.
Licenses upgrade at any time and we invoice the difference for the remaining period, so sizing up later costs you nothing extra. Downgrades take effect on the anniversary of your original purchase, on a new license key. Renewals go through us and we handle the rest.
What Your Annual 3CX License Includes
- PBX updates, service packs and security updates
- The 3CX FQDN service and automatic Let’s Encrypt SSL renewal
- 3CX SMTP service for alerts and notifications
- Softphone apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and web
- IP phone firmware and provisioning template updates
- CRM connector and SIP trunk provider template updates
- Web conferencing for every user
What You Will Need Alongside Your License
Somewhere to Run It
Your own hardware, your own cloud, or hosted by 3CX at the price in the table, which runs up to 256 simultaneous calls. Above that, or any time you would rather not run it yourself, Ahoy Telecom can host it at additional cost.
A SIP Trunk
You need a SIP trunk to make and receive calls. Our SIP trunks are 3CX Tested and approved, metered at $0.006 a minute inbound and $0.009 outbound, or $20 per channel per month unlimited. See 3CX SIP trunking.
Handsets, If You Want Them
3CX runs fine on softphones alone, but most offices want desk phones. We sell Yealink, Fanvil, Snom and Grandstream, and we ship them pre-provisioned for your PBX. They register themselves the moment they are plugged in, so there is no handset-by-handset setup at your end.
Setup and Support
If you would prefer full setup and ongoing support, check out our Fully Managed 3CX PBX service. This is our white-glove service where we handle everything for you from starting out to day-to-day operation and maintenance.
3CX Licensing Questions
How much does a 3CX license cost?
A 3CX license starts at $300 a year for 3CX Basic at 8 simultaneous calls, $395 for 3CX Pro and $575 for 3CX AI. Prices run up to 1,024 simultaneous calls, and every tier for all three editions is in the price list above with nothing held back for a sales call.
Is 3CX licensed per user or per extension?
Neither. A 3CX license is priced on simultaneous calls, meaning the calls happening at the same time, internal and external. That is why a busy twenty person office can need a larger license than a quiet sixty person one. Each tier does carry a ceiling on extensions, so headcount still sets your minimum.
What is the difference between 3CX Basic, Pro and AI?
3CX Basic covers core business telephony: apps, auto attendant, IVR, ring groups and the inbuilt SBC. 3CX Pro adds the call centre and CRM side, including call queues, call recording, queue reporting, switchboard and wallboard. 3CX AI adds AI agents, call transcription, summaries and sentiment, skill-based routing, inbuilt failover and Microsoft Teams Direct Routing.
How many extensions does a 3CX license allow?
It depends on the tier. Up to 24 simultaneous calls you get five extensions per call, rising to six from 32, seven from 96 and eight from 256 upwards. So a 16 call license carries 80 extensions and a 128 call license carries 896. These limits are enforced, and a system over its limit can lose access to 3CX technical support until it is corrected.
Can I upgrade my 3CX license part way through the year?
Yes. Upgrades happen at any time and we invoice only the difference for the remaining period, so there is no penalty for starting at the tier you need today. Downgrades take effect on the anniversary of your original purchase and come with a new license key.
How do I renew a 3CX license?
Renew through us and we handle it. You pay the annual maintenance and we take care of the key and the paperwork, so nothing lapses and no one has to diary a renewal date with 3CX directly.
Does a 3CX license include hosting?
No, the license and the hosting are separate. You can run 3CX on your own hardware or in your own cloud, take Hosted by 3CX at the price shown in the table for up to 256 simultaneous calls, or have Ahoy Telecom host it at additional cost.
Do I need a SIP trunk as well as a 3CX license?
Yes. The license is the phone system; a SIP trunk is what carries the calls. Ours are 3CX Tested and approved, metered at $0.006 a minute inbound and $0.009 outbound, or $20 per channel per month unlimited. See 3CX SIP trunking.
Why buy your 3CX license through Ahoy Telecom?
We are a 3CX Titanium Partner, we hold the 3CX Service Provider designation, and our SIP trunks are 3CX Tested and approved. That means the license, the phone system and the trunk can come from one company on one invoice, with US based engineers who work on 3CX every day answering the phone.
Get a 3CX License Quote
Tell us your simultaneous calls, your extension count and which edition you are after, and we will size it, quote it and get the key issued.
Ready to Start?What does 3CX licensing mean for your VoIP system?
At Ahoy Telecom, we help your business get the proper 3CX licenses to unlock the full potential of your VoIP setup. How does 3CX licensing improve your VoIP experience?
Scalability
With 3CX licensing, you can quickly expand your VoIP system by adding users and advanced features without additional hardware investments.
Cost Efficiency
Instead of overcommitting to features or hardware, you can select the licensing level that matches your current and future business needs.
Flexibility
3CX licensing offers options for both on-premises and cloud-hosted deployments, allowing you to choose the best infrastructure for your VoIP needs.
Advanced VoIP features
With the right 3CX licenses, you can access features like call management, video conferencing, mobile access, and CRM integration.
We’ll make sure your VoIP system is fully optimized for maximum efficiency and performance.