3CX Alternative with Pay-As-You-Go Pricing - Telzio Fits the Bill
Explore fully hosted PBX services from Telzio and see why IT pros are choosing Telzio as an alternative to 3CX.
The best 3CX alternative should deliver scalable pricing, robust features, effortless management, and flexibility to make changes. While 3CX offers a PBX platform, it comes with complexity and license tiers that can make scaling and configuration expensive and restrictive for small businesses.
Telzio offers an all-in-one VoIP phone system that eliminates these pain points without sacrificing features. See why IT professionals are choosing Telzio in this comparison.
3CX Alternative with Pay-As-You-Go Pricing
One of the biggest differences between Telzio and 3CX is the pricing model.
- 3CX licenses are sold in tiers based on user capacity and concurrent calls, meaning you pay for a specific "batch" size whether you use it fully or not.
- This model can lead to overpaying for unused capacity or being forced to upgrade when you only need a small increase in users or calls.
Telzio, on the other hand, offers true pay-as-you-go pricing:
- No license tiers, user caps, or call restrictions.
- You pay only for the minutes you use, with unlimited users included.
- Costs scale directly with your business activity, not with artificial capacity limits.
This approach makes Telzio the ideal 3CX alternative for small businesses that want cost control and scalability without limitations.
Advanced Contact Center Features Built-In
Telzio includes enterprise-grade contact center capabilities built right into the platform, with no extra licenses or integrations required:
- Call Queues – Manage high call volumes and distribute calls evenly across your team.
- Live Call Reporting – Monitor performance and real-time call activity.
- Schedule-Based Call Routing – Automatically route calls based on business hours or time zones.
- Call Monitoring, Whisper, and Barge – Train and assist agents live without disrupting customer calls.
- Call Recording – Capture and store calls for training, compliance, and quality assurance.
With 3CX, many of these features require additional setup, configuration, or higher-tier licenses.
The Best 3CX Alternative: A Side-by-Side Comparison with Telzio
When comparing a 3CX alternative to the original platform, these key differences stand out:
| Feature | Telzio | 3CX |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Usage-based with no user limits | License tiers sold in batches of users |
| Setup | 100% cloud-based, ready in minutes | Requires installation and configuration |
| Maintenance | None, fully managed in the cloud | Ongoing software maintenance |
| Hosting | Included | Included with license |
| Support | Unlimited, included | Limited, only 5 support tickets with license |
| Users | Unlimited users included | Determined by license tier |
| Remote Work | Native mobile and desktop apps included | Requires setup and configuration |
| SMS/MMS Texting | Included | Limited, often requires third-party |
| Call Recording | Included | Requires configuration and storage management |
| SIP Trunking | Included with service | Requires setup and separate provider |
| Scalability | Add users and features instantly | Requires buying a higher license tier |
Expert Support Team At Your Service
When you choose Telzio as your 3CX alternative, you get direct access to knowledgeable support specialists, not a reseller or outsourced help desk.
- Unlimited tickets and calls to support, included in every plan.
- Assistance from people who understand small business needs and can resolve issues quickly.
- No hidden fees or "premium support" upcharges.
With 3CX, your license typically includes only 1 support ticket per year with the option to upgrade to 5 tickets at an additional cost, and additional help may require an upgraded support plan or going through a third-party provider.
Fully Hosted PBX - Leave the Heavy Lifting to Us
Telzio delivers a fully hosted PBX solution, meaning your entire phone system runs in the cloud:
- No servers to install or maintain.
- No software patches, security updates, or IT management required.
- Accessible from anywhere via web, mobile, or desktop apps.
3CX, by contrast, can be hosted in the cloud but often requires manual configuration and server management, either on your own hardware or through a hosting partner.
HIPAA & SOC 2 Compliance for a Secure 3CX Alternative
For businesses in regulated industries, security and compliance are non-negotiable. Telzio is built with data protection and privacy at its core:
- HIPAA Compliance – Safeguards for handling protected health information (PHI) in accordance with U.S. healthcare regulations.
- SOC 2 Compliance – Verified controls for security, availability, and confidentiality, giving you confidence your communications meet industry standards.
3CX offers encryption and security features, but achieving HIPAA or SOC 2 compliance often requires additional measures, hosting environments, and vendor agreements.
Premium VoIP Features Out-of-the-Box
Telzio does not hold back core functionality for higher-priced tiers. Premium features are included from day one.
- Auto Attendants – Multi-level phone menus with text-to-speech tools with multiple languages.
- Voicemail-to-Email – Audio files and voicemail transcriptions delivered directly to your inbox.
- Unlimited Extensions – Extensions for every user, department, or location at no additional cost.
- SMS & MMS – 10DLC compliant text messages on your business numbers.
- Call Analytics – Historical and live reports to track usage, agent status, and trends.
It is not just about what you get, but how quickly you can get it. Telzio’s setup is 100% cloud-based, so you can:
- Activate your phone system in minutes with no hardware or local server setup.
- Avoid complex PBX installation and ongoing IT configuration.
- Let Telzio handle all software updates, patches, and security maintenance automatically in the background.
With 3CX, setup typically involves:
- Installing software on your own server or choosing a compatible hosting provider.
- Managing SIP trunk connections and firewall configurations.
- Performing regular updates and security maintenance yourself or paying for IT support.
Telzio’s fully managed approach means you spend zero time on system upkeep, freeing you to focus on running your business instead of managing a phone system.
Key Advantages of Telzio as a 3CX Alternative
1. Simple, Cloud-First Setup
No servers, no PBX hardware, and no complex installation. Telzio runs entirely in the cloud and your phone system can be ready in minutes, not days.
2. Predictable, Affordable Pricing
Telzio charges only for usage, not for license tiers. You can grow from 5 to 50 users without buying a new plan.
3. Unlimited Calls and Users
No user caps, no SIP trunk limits, and no hidden upgrade requirements.
4. Advanced Features Included
Enterprise-grade features like auto attendants, call routing, voicemail-to-email, SMS/MMS, SIP trunking, call recording, contact center tools, and analytics are included at no extra cost.
5. Compliance & Security
Built to meet HIPAA and SOC 2 standards, Telzio ensures your communications are secure and compliant.
See how easy it is to set up a Telzio Call Flow in this tutorial.
Your Search for 3CX Alternatives Ends Here
If you want a 3CX alternative that is simpler, more flexible, and cost-effective, Telzio is the clear choice. With unlimited users, no maintenance, enterprise-level features out of the box, and compliance-ready security, Telzio is designed to help small businesses grow without IT headaches.
Get started now and go live with a fully featured phone system in minutes.
