Asterisk vs FreePBX: Features, Pricing, Deployment

Want to upgrade your PBX but don’t know which provider to choose? In this comparison, we will look at Asterisk vs FreePBX, specifically at their features, pricing, deployment, support, and more.

Learn more about what these providers offer and how to choose the right open-source PBX for your business communication needs.

Choosing the Right PBX Phone Solution

When building out your private branch exchange, you will find multiple on-premise, cloud, and hybrid solutions.

However, while these providers offer similar services, they differ in pricing, features, premium add-ons, and more. This is why it’s important to compare PBX and phone service providers before making a decision.

So, how do you choose the right phone service provider for your business? And what should you look for when comparing Asterisk vs FreePBX?

• Research the market
• Review pricing plans
• Compare features and services included
• Consider deployment methods and if they meet your needs
• Take customer reviews and testimonials into account
• Look for support and training

Now, let’s look at the differences between Asterisk and FreePBX in detail.

About Asterisk

Asterisk is an open-source communication solution offering voice and video communication. This software is available for free and easily integrates into existing business phone systems (both legacy and VoIP).

You can use Asterisk with your on-premise system or connect it to your cloud solution with SIP trunking. And it comes packed with PBX features such as IVR, conferencing, and voicemail.

As Sangoma, a global communications provider puts it: “Asterisk is, in fact, a communications toolkit. Not a ready-to-go PBX. It has a lot of functionality that someone needs to craft into something.” That’s where other open-source solutions, like FreePBX, come into play.

Year Established: 1999

Asterisk Top Features:

• Auto-Dialer
• Call Center Management
• Call Logging & Monitoring
• IVR / Voice Recognition
• Call Recording
• Call Routing
• Employee Directory
• Call Transfer
• Predictive Dialer
• Reporting & Analytics
• SMS Messaging
• Telemarketing Management
• Video Conferencing
• Voicemail

About FreePBX

FreePBX is a cloud-based, open-source platform. You can use FreePBX to control and manage a PBX system such as Asterisk. Specifically, FreePBX is a GUI (graphical user interface) built on top of Asterisk which makes it easier to build and run a PBX with Asterisk.

FreePBX works best when integrated with SIP trunking or UC services to provide users with a well-rounded communication system.

Year Established: 2004

FreePBX Top Features:

• Time-Based Call Routing
• Built-In Conference Bridge
• Fax to Email
• Hunt/Ring Groups
• Voicemail Blasting
• Find Me / Follow Me Calling
• Support for Video Calling
• Text to Speech
• Calling Queues (ACD)
• Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
• Three-Way Calling Support
• Voicemail & Voicemail to Email
• Caller ID Support
• Call Transfer
• Call Recording
• Call Waiting
• Call Detail Records
• Speed Dials
• Caller Blacklisting
• Call Screening
• WebRTC & Softphone Support
• Failover Devices

Asterisk vs FreePBX

So, which do you choose? This depends on what you and your teams need. Let’s look at the differences between Asterisk and FreePBX closely:

Using Asterisk or FreePBX with Global Call Forwarding

Global Call Forwarding is a global telephony provider that offers cloud PBX along with other cloud communications solutions.

You can use our voice service as it comes — with business calling features and services — or simply integrate our VoIP and SIP trunks with the PBX system you already have on-premise.

We have helped many businesses upgrade their phone system by integrating the right voice solution with their existing phone setup. Want to learn more? Speak with our experts today at +1 (561) 908-6171 or chat with us online!