In short
Other business phone systems covered by Forever Group sites are Microsoft Teams Phone, our cloud phone system, Webex Calling and BT Cloud Voice. 3CX is licensed per system by simultaneous calls; the others are licensed per user. Each has its own specialist site, linked below. Forever Systems, a 3CX Partner, quotes 3CX here.
Get a quote for 3CX
Tell us roughly how many users and sites you have and we will come back to you with options and a quote.
3CX and the alternatives at a glance
| System | What it is | How it is licensed | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3CX | A software phone system with web, Windows, iOS and Android apps | One annual licence per system, by edition and simultaneous calls | 3CX phone system |
| Microsoft Teams Phone | Calling inside Microsoft Teams | Per user, added to a Microsoft 365 plan, plus a connection to the phone network | Microsoft Teams Phone on teamsphone.uk (opens in a new tab) |
| Our cloud phone system | A hosted phone system with desktop and mobile apps | Per user | Hosted phone system on cloudphone.cloud (opens in a new tab) |
| Webex Calling | Cloud calling in the Webex App | Per user | Webex Calling on cloudphone.cloud (opens in a new tab) |
| BT Cloud Voice | BT's hosted phone service | Per user | BT Cloud Voice on cloudvoice.cloud (opens in a new tab) |
Want a quote for 3CX? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will size the edition and simultaneous calls for your organisation.
Teams Phone vs 3CX
Microsoft Teams Phone adds calling to the Teams app your staff may already use for meetings and chat. It is licensed per user on top of a Microsoft 365 plan and needs a connection to the phone network, through a Microsoft Calling Plan, Operator Connect or Direct Routing.
3CX is a phone system first: queues, wallboards, recording and CRM integration are part of its PRO and AI editions, and the licence covers the system, not each user. The two also work together, with Teams users calling through 3CX; see 3CX Teams integration.
Our cloud phone system and Webex Calling
Forever Group (opens in a new tab)'s own cloud phone system is a hosted system licensed per user, with apps for desktop and mobile. Calling in the Webex App, alongside Webex meetings and messaging, is covered under Webex Calling. Both are covered in depth on cloudphone.cloud, linked in the table above.
Is 3CX the right fit for you?
We will check it against your users, call flows and systems and tell you what we would recommend.
BT Cloud Voice
BT Cloud Voice is BT's hosted phone service for businesses, provided and supported by BT. It has its own site, cloudvoice.cloud, run by Forever Communications.
When 3CX is the natural choice
- You would rather license the system than each user, for example with many occasional phone users
- A team answers calls together and needs queues, wallboards and recording in the phone system
- You want your CRM connected to calls, with lookup and logging
- You want a choice of where the system runs: hosted, your own cloud account or on-premise
3CX pricing and 3CX editions cover the detail, and choosing the best VoIP phone system gives you the criteria to compare any system.
Try 3CX free
If you are weighing 3CX against another phone system, use it first. 3CX has a free edition for up to 10 users and free trials of its paid editions. Try 3CX free (opens in a new tab) through our 3CX Partner link; 3CX free for business explains the options.
We can set it up with you and support your move to a paid edition when you are ready: contact us.
How Forever Systems helps with a VoIP phone system
We supply, host, set up and support 3CX phone systems. Forever Systems is a 3CX Partner.
- 3CX sized for you: the edition and the number of simultaneous calls matched to how your team takes calls
- Hosting and set-up: 3CX hosted for you, with call flows, users, queues and voicemail configured
- A requirements check of your broadband, network and router settings before anything goes live
- Numbers and porting: we can help you keep your existing business numbers and plan the move away from analogue and ISDN lines
- Changes afterwards: help with moves, adds and changes as your team grows
3CX works with the 3CX apps and with Yealink and Poly desk phones. We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations.
Frequently asked questions
What are the alternatives to 3CX?
The other business phone systems covered by Forever Group sites are Microsoft Teams Phone, our cloud phone system, Webex Calling and BT Cloud Voice. Each is licensed per user and has its own specialist site.
Is Teams Phone an alternative to 3CX?
It can be, where staff already work in Microsoft Teams. Teams Phone is licensed per user and needs a connection to the phone network. 3CX and Teams can also be used together through the 3CX Teams integration.
How is 3CX licensed compared with the alternatives?
3CX uses one annual licence per system, set by edition and simultaneous calls. Teams Phone, Webex Calling, our cloud phone system and BT Cloud Voice are licensed per user.
Which phone system do you quote on this site?
3CX. Forever Systems, a 3CX Partner, supplies, hosts and sets up 3CX. The other systems are quoted through their own sites, linked on this page.
Still deciding?
Ask us and a member of our team will get back to you.