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Free Asterisk alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

4 of the 5 Asterisk alternatives we track can be used for free (free, open source, or with a free plan). FreeSWITCH, FusionPBX and Google Voice rank highest, with facts last verified Nov 8, 2026.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1FreeSWITCH logoFreeSWITCHOpen source—NoLinux, Self-hosted5 of 568.8
2FuFusionPBXOpen source—NoLinux, Self-hosted4 of 462.6
3Google Voice logoGoogle VoiceFree plan + paid$10 per user/month (Starter)NoWeb, iOS, Android7 of 759.4
4FreePBX logoFreePBXOpen source—NoSelf-hosted, Web3 of 340.0
  1. FreeSWITCH logo

    1. FreeSWITCHTop pick

    Best for: Developers and providers building high-volume voice, conferencing or contact-centre platforms.

    Open sourceLinux, Self-hosted

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Asterisk

    Open-source engine built for high call volumes and multi-tenant platforms, with strong WebRTC and video support.

    Pros

    • Handles large call volumes and multi-tenant setups well
    • Built-in WebRTC, conferencing and media transcoding
    • Programmable through Event Socket and embedded scripting

    Cons

    • Package downloads require signing up for a SignalWire account
    • No office-style admin UI out of the box; needs a front end like FusionPBX
    • XML configuration and dialplan take time to learn
    Visit FreeSWITCH Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is FreeSWITCH a good Asterisk alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    First released
    2006
    Checked Nov 8, 2026signalwire.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Maintainer
    SignalWire
    Checked Nov 8, 2026signalwire.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Download requirement
    Free SignalWire account
    Checked Nov 8, 2026signalwire.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Editions
    Open source and commercial Enterprise
    Checked Nov 8, 2026developer.signalwire.com(opens source in a new tab)
    WebRTC
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026developer.signalwire.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Fu

    2. FusionPBX

    Best for: VoIP resellers and IT teams who want a self-hosted, multi-tenant PBX without per-user licences.

    Open sourceLinux, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Asterisk

    Ready-made multi-tenant PBX with a web admin, so you don't have to edit config files by hand.

    Pros

    • Full web admin over FreeSWITCH, with direct CLI access still available
    • Multi-tenant by design, suited to hosting phone systems for many customers
    • Long feature list including queues, IVRs, recording and phone provisioning

    Cons

    • Self-hosting means you handle security, firewalls and upgrades
    • No official softphone apps; relies on third-party SIP clients
    • Admin interface is dense and dated compared with commercial systems
    Visit FusionPBX Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is FusionPBX a good Asterisk alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Built on
    FreeSWITCH
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.fusionpbx.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Recommended OS
    Debian and Ubuntu
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.fusionpbx.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Multi-tenant
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.fusionpbx.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Voicemail to email
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026docs.fusionpbx.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Google Voice logo

    3. Google Voice

    Best for: US individuals and Google Workspace teams who want a cheap second number across phone and browser

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Asterisk

    Simple hosted business numbers tied to Google Workspace, for small offices that don't need a programmable PBX.

    Pros

    • Personal version has almost all US and Canada calls at no cost
    • Voicemail transcripts land in your inbox and are searchable
    • Works in the browser, on Android and iOS, and on supported desk phones
    • Business tiers plug into Google Meet, Calendar and the Workspace admin console

    Cons

    • No toll-free 1-800 numbers
    • Business plans require a Google Workspace subscription
    • Picking your own number is limited to US users
    Visit Google Voice Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Google Voice a good Asterisk alternative?

    Verified facts

    7 of 7 verified
    Free calls
    Most calls to the US and Canada (personal)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $10 per user/month (Starter)
    Checked Nov 7, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Voicemail transcription
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Toll-free numbers
    Not offered
    Checked Nov 8, 2026support.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, Android, iOS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Standard plan
    $20 per user/month
    Checked Nov 7, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premier plan
    $30 per user/month
    Checked Nov 7, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. FreePBX logo

    4. FreePBX

    Best for: IT teams and VoIP resellers who want a free, self-hosted Asterisk PBX managed from a browser

    Open sourceSelf-hosted, Web

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Asterisk

    Adds a browser-based admin panel on top of Asterisk so you don't edit config files by hand.

    Pros

    • Free, open-source GUI that hides most of Asterisk's configuration files
    • Modular, with a large community forum and long track record
    • Commercial modules and support available from Sangoma if needed

    Cons

    • Needs telephony and Linux knowledge to set up and keep secure
    • Some useful features, such as endpoint manager, are paid commercial modules
    • Upgrades between major versions can break modules
    Visit FreePBX Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is FreePBX a good Asterisk alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    What it is
    Open-source GUI for Asterisk PBX
    Checked Nov 8, 2026community.freepbx.org(opens source in a new tab)
    License
    GPL-3.0
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Installation
    FreePBX 17 install script
    Checked Nov 8, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)