In short
A hosted 3CX phone system runs 3CX in the cloud instead of on a server in your office. 3CX can be hosted by 3CX itself or in a cloud account, and the features are set by the edition, not by where it runs. Forever Systems, a 3CX Partner, can quote, host and set up 3CX and manage it with you.
Get a quote for hosted 3CX
Tell us roughly how many users or sites you have and we will come back to you with options and a quote.
What hosted 3CX means
Hosted 3CX is the 3CX phone system running in a data centre and reached over the internet. Your people sign in to the web client and apps; nothing has to be installed on your premises beyond the network you already have.
Hosted 3CX and "Hosted by 3CX" are not quite the same phrase. Hosted by 3CX is 3CX's own hosting service. Hosted 3CX is the wider idea of running 3CX in the cloud, which also covers a cloud account managed for you.
In the product
3CX hosting options
3CX describes three ways to deploy (opens in a new tab) its commercial editions:
| Deployment | Where 3CX runs | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| Hosted by 3CX | 3CX's own hosting, charged as a separate annual hosting fee by system size and included with SMB Free | Organisations that want no servers at all |
| Self-hosted in a cloud account | A virtual machine with a cloud provider such as Amazon, Microsoft Azure, Google or DigitalOcean | Organisations that want control of where data sits |
| On-premise | A Windows or Linux server on your site | Sites with an existing server estate or a need for local call handling |
3CX's pricing table shows Hosted by 3CX as unavailable for the Basic edition at 8 simultaneous calls and for systems of 384 simultaneous calls and above, so the hosting route is part of sizing. We recommend one when we quote.
Source (checked 11 November 2026): 3CX's licensing and pricing pages.
Not sure which edition fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right edition for your organisation, with a quote.
What we manage in a hosted 3CX service
- The build: extensions, menus, ring groups, queues, office hours, voicemail and recording
- The connection: a SIP trunk, your numbers and the porting date
- Updates and backups of the 3CX system, as agreed at quote
- Changes: new users, new call flows and new sites as you grow
- Renewals: the annual licence and hosting reviewed against how you actually use the system
You keep as much control as you want. Some customers ask us to make every change; others manage day-to-day users themselves in the 3CX console.
A managed 3CX phone system, not a box to look after
A phone system that nobody owns drifts: old users stay live, greetings go out of date and the licence stops matching the business. With a managed 3CX phone system, 3CX phone system management is part of the service. Before each renewal we review the edition and size with you, so the licence follows the organisation.
Is hosted 3CX the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
Moving to hosted 3CX
- Discovery: users, numbers, call flows and anything else on your current lines.
- Network check against our VoIP requirements checklist.
- Build and test alongside your current system.
- Porting on an agreed date; see port your business landline number to VoIP.
- Go-live, with users shown the apps.
If you already run 3CX on a server, 3CX's backup and restore tools are designed for moving a system between machines, so a move to hosted can be planned as a migration.
Pricing for hosted 3CX
A hosted 3CX quote has four lines: the annual 3CX licence, hosting, the SIP trunk with numbers and calls, and set-up. 3CX pricing explains what moves each one, and hosted VoIP explains the hosted model in general terms.
Try 3CX free
You can see 3CX running before you choose where to host it. 3CX offers a free edition and free trials, including a trial system hosted by 3CX. 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 is a hosted 3CX phone system?
It is the 3CX phone system running in the cloud rather than on a server in your office. Users sign in to the web client and apps, and the system is built and looked after for you.
What is the difference between hosted 3CX and Hosted by 3CX?
Hosted by 3CX is 3CX's own hosting service, charged as a separate annual hosting fee on commercial editions and included with SMB Free. Hosted 3CX is the general idea of running 3CX in the cloud, which also covers a cloud account managed for you.
Is hosting included in a 3CX licence?
Not on the commercial editions. 3CX says Hosted by 3CX is free for the product trial and then a separate annual charge based on the system size. Hosting is included with SMB Free.
Who are 3CX hosting providers?
3CX itself offers hosting, and 3CX Partners can host and manage 3CX in a cloud account. Forever Systems, a 3CX Partner, arranges the hosting and manages the system with you.
Can an on-premise 3CX system move to the cloud?
Yes. 3CX's backup and restore tools are designed for moving a system from one machine to another, so a server-based system can be migrated to hosted 3CX in a planned change.
Still have a question about hosted 3CX?
Ask us and a member of our team will get back to you.