Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FreeSWITCH VS FusionPBX

Compare FreeSWITCH VS FusionPBX and see what are their differences

FreeSWITCH logo FreeSWITCH

FreeSWITCH is an open-source media application designed to support popular protools such as SIP and WebRTC and provides a platform to develop voice and video applications.

FusionPBX logo FusionPBX

FusionPBX is an open source FreeSWITCH GUI.
  • FreeSWITCH Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-13
Not present

FreeSWITCH features and specs

  • Flexibility
    FreeSWITCH offers a wide range of features and supports multiple protocols, making it highly adaptable for various use cases including VoIP, video calling, and messaging.
  • Scalability
    FreeSWITCH can handle a large number of simultaneous calls and can be scaled horizontally by adding more servers to the system.
  • Open Source
    Being open source, FreeSWITCH allows for extensive customization and modification. This makes it easier for developers to tailor it to specific needs.
  • Cross-Platform
    FreeSWITCH can run on multiple operating systems including Linux, Windows, and macOS, giving users flexibility in their deployment environment.
  • Active Community and Support
    FreeSWITCH has an active community of developers and users who contribute to forums, documentation, and code, making it easier to find support and resources.

Possible disadvantages of FreeSWITCH

  • Complexity
    Due to its rich feature set and flexibility, FreeSWITCH can be complex to set up and configure, especially for those who are new to telecommunications systems.
  • Documentation
    While there is a lot of documentation available, it can sometimes be inconsistent or outdated, which may make the learning curve steeper.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running FreeSWITCH can be resource-intensive, requiring significant CPU and memory, especially when handling a large number of concurrent calls.
  • Commercial Licensing
    Although FreeSWITCH is open source, some advanced features and components might require commercial licensing, which could be a limitation for small businesses or individual developers.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    The platform’s extensive capabilities come at the cost of a steep learning curve, making it less suitable for inexperienced users without a telecommunications background.

FusionPBX features and specs

  • Feature-Rich
    FusionPBX offers a comprehensive set of features including voicemail, call recording, IVR, call routing, and more. These features cater to the needs of both small businesses and large enterprises.
  • Open-Source
    Being open-source, FusionPBX allows for extensive customization and flexibility. Users can modify the source code to tailor the system to their specific needs.
  • Cost-Effective
    Since it is open-source, FusionPBX can be deployed without expensive license fees. This makes it a cost-effective solution for organizations of all sizes.
  • Scalability
    FusionPBX is scalable and can handle a growing number of users and increased call volumes with appropriate hardware and configuration.
  • Community and Support
    A robust community of developers and users is available for support. Additionally, professional support and training options are available through the FusionPBX website.
  • Multi-Tenant Support
    FusionPBX includes multi-tenant support, making it suitable for service providers who need to offer isolated environments for different customers.

Possible disadvantages of FusionPBX

  • Complexity
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex for users without prior experience in telephony systems. It may require a steep learning curve.
  • Hardware Requirements
    Depending on the scale, FusionPBX can require significant hardware resources, which can add to the cost if not planned properly.
  • Documentation
    While documentation exists, it may not be as comprehensive or up-to-date as some commercial solutions, sometimes making it challenging to resolve issues quickly.
  • Security
    As with any open-source software, ensuring security requires diligence in applying updates and patches. Lack of regular maintenance can make the system vulnerable.
  • Technical Support
    Though there is community support, professional technical support may incur additional costs, potentially offsetting some of the savings from its open-source nature.
  • Compatibility
    Compatibility issues can arise with certain hardware or third-party integrations, requiring additional effort for testing and configuration.

Analysis of FreeSWITCH

Overall verdict

  • FreeSWITCH is generally considered a good choice for those seeking a powerful and flexible telephony platform. Its open-source nature, combined with its extensive features and broad protocol support, makes it a strong contender in the telephony space. While it may have a steeper learning curve than some commercial alternatives, its capabilities and community support often justify the investment.

Why this product is good

  • FreeSWITCH is a versatile and scalable open-source telephony platform designed to handle voice, video, and text communication. It is praised for its robust feature set, flexibility, and support for various communication protocols such as SIP, H.323, and WebRTC. Developers and businesses lean towards FreeSWITCH for its modular architecture, which allows for extensive customization and integration with other systems. Additionally, its vibrant community provides valuable resources, documentation, and support to users.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking to integrate telephony features into custom applications.
  • Businesses needing a scalable and customizable communication solution.
  • Organizations requiring a multi-protocol telecommunication platform.
  • Tech-savvy users and enterprises comfortable with open-source solutions.

Analysis of FusionPBX

Overall verdict

  • FusionPBX is considered a good choice for organizations seeking a flexible and feature-rich open-source PBX solution. Its scalability and comprehensive feature set make it a viable option for businesses of varying sizes and requirements.

Why this product is good

  • Features
    It provides a comprehensive set of features suitable for both basic and advanced telephony needs, including voicemail, call routing, call recording, and conferencing.
  • Open source
    Being open-source, FusionPBX allows users to customize the platform according to their specific requirements, along with the benefit of community support.
  • Scalability
    FusionPBX is designed to handle everything from small, single-location setups to large, multi-site organizations, offering flexibility and scalability.
  • Cost-effective
    As an open-source solution, FusionPBX can be a cost-effective alternative to proprietary PBX systems, reducing licensing costs while still providing robust functionality.
  • Active community
    It has a supportive community where users can exchange ideas, share documentation, and collaborate on improving the system.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses looking for a scalable telephony solution
  • Organizations with technical expertise that can benefit from a customizable open-source platform
  • Enterprises wanting to reduce telecommunication costs without sacrificing features
  • IT professionals and developers seeking a community-driven project for PBX customization

FreeSWITCH videos

FreeSWITCH Explained

More videos:

  • Review - ClueCon Weekly - Feb 10, 2016 - FreeSWITCH Team - Year in Review

FusionPBX videos

CC2018 28 Mark J Crane - FusionPBX and WebRTC

More videos:

  • Demo - FusionPBX / FreeSwitch - SmartOS Demo
  • Review - FusionPBX Domains (Multi-tenant)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FreeSWITCH and FusionPBX)
Communication
60 60%
40% 40
VoIP
59 59%
41% 41
Enterprise Communication
59 59%
41% 41
Tool
51 51%
49% 49

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, FreeSWITCH seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FreeSWITCH mentions (1)

  • Ask HN: What is the best privacy focussed video doorbell?
    I thought FREESwitch was the new hotness in PBX software? https://freeswitch.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

FusionPBX mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of FusionPBX yet. Tracking of FusionPBX recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing FreeSWITCH and FusionPBX, you can also consider the following products

Asterisk - An open source telephony switching and private branch exchange service for Linux.

freepbx - FreePBX is a web-based open source GUI that controls and manages Asterisk (PBX).

Kamailio - Kamailio® (successor of former OpenSER and SER) is an open source SIP server released under...

Wazo.io - The UCaaS Platform Built for MSPs​

XiVO - XiVO, première solution de téléphonie d'entreprise ToIP Open Source. TPE/PME Grande Entreprise / Centre de contact / Secteur Public. Contact: 04 37 49 78 10

3CX Phone System - 3CXPhone is a free VoIP phone available for Windows, iPhone or any Android based smart phone such...