# Asterisk Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra > With the help of Capterra, learn about Asterisk Software - reviews, pricing plans, popular comparisons to other Business Phone Systems products and more. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/60249/Asterisk --- # Asterisk Software Review 2026: Features, Integrations, Pros & Cons Last updated on March 13, 2026 Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Description](#description)[Use cases](#use-cases)[Alternatives](#alternatives)[FAQs](#faqs)[Features](#features)[Pricing](#pricing)[Integrations](#integrations)[Support](#support)[Reviews](#reviews) Asterisk ## What is Asterisk? Cloud and on-premise solution that enables enterprises to manage business phones via tools such as PBX, SIP trucking and more. ## What is Asterisk used for? [Business Phone Systems](https://www.capterra.com/business-phone-systems-software/)[Telephony](https://www.capterra.com/telephony-software/)[Unified Communications](https://www.capterra.com/unified-communications-software/) Top alternative Featured Overall rating Based on 44 user reviews Reviews sentiment Positive 91% Neutral 7% Negative 2% Starting price $595 Per User, Per Month Free trial available Capterra Shortlist charts the highest-rated and most popular products... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Our "Best of" badge program showcases products with the highest ratings... Do you work for Asterisk?[Manage this product listing](https://digitalmarkets.gartner.com/get-listed/claim-bx?url=https://www.sangoma.com&name=Asterisk) ## Compare with a popular alternative Capterra selects software alternatives based on relevant features, verified user reviews and user interactions. Placement may be influenced by client status. ### Asterisk 4.5 (44) VS. [4.8 (325)](https://www.capterra.com/p/29589/CallCenterNOW/reviews/) Starting Price $595 per user, per month Starting Price $25 Per User, Per Month Free Trial Free Version Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version Ease Of Use 3.5 (41) Ease Of Use 4.8 (324) Value For Money 4.8 (37) Value For Money 4.7 (251) Customer Service 3.4 (32) Customer Service 4.8 (316) ## Asterisk alternatives [4.4 (467)](https://www.capterra.com/p/158704/3CX/reviews/) Starting price $350.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 88% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.2 (462)](https://www.capterra.com/p/184709/Aircall/reviews/) Starting price $40.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 83% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.7 (881)](https://www.capterra.com/p/169627/RingOver/reviews/) Starting price $29.00 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 96% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [4.4 (505)](https://www.capterra.com/p/180158/Twilio-Communications-Platform/reviews/) Starting price $0.01 Per User, Per Month Pricing Options Free Trial Free Version User Rating 88% of reviewers rated it above 4 stars [View all alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/60249/Asterisk/alternatives/) ## FAQs about Asterisk Overview ### Which roles and teams benefit most from Asterisk? Asterisk is most used by IT leaders, system administrators, and infrastructure teams that manage business telephony, VoIP deployments, and network reliability. Operations executives and service managers benefit from its flexibility for call routing, support queues, and cost control, while technical teams use it to customize communications systems and maintain uptime. Answer based on 41 reviews Overview ### What company size and specific industries is Asterisk built for? Asterisk is designed for businesses of all sizes that need to manage telephony across public switched telephone network and VoIP environments. It fits organizations in any industry that depend on voice communications, including companies building or running phone systems for internal teams, customer support, and other call-based operations. Talk to an expert ### More questions? Ask our experts Features and Usability ### What are the key features of Asterisk? Asterisk offers VoIP, PBX, and IVR for call handling, plus call routing, call transfer, and automatic call distribution. It includes call logging, call monitoring, call recording, and call reporting, along with auto-dialer, predictive dialer, SMS messaging, video conferencing, voicemail, and API support. Integrations ### Which third-party tools and platforms does Asterisk integrate with? Asterisk integrates with ICR Evolution and connects with catalog-listed platforms such as Docker, Microsoft Teams, and StatsDrone. Its integration set spans communication and infrastructure tools, giving teams options for CTI-related workflows and platform connectivity within a broader telephony environment. Answer based on 3 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What training and onboarding options does Asterisk offer? Asterisk provides in person training, live online sessions, and videos to help teams get started. In person training supports direct instruction, live online sessions allow guided remote learning, and videos offer self-paced viewing for reviewing setup steps and product features as needed. Answer based on 3 reviews Getting Started and Support ### What customer support options does Asterisk offer? Asterisk offers Email/Help Desk, FAQ/Forum, Knowledge Base, Phone Support, 24/7 Live Rep, and Chat. Users often rely on the large community for setup and troubleshooting, though some note that the system can be difficult to configure and may require experienced support staff for smoother deployments. Answer based on 6 reviews Features and Usability ### Is Asterisk easy to set up and use? Asterisk works well once deployed, but initial setup and day-to-day administration often feel complex for non-technical teams. IT staff and telecom administrators like its flexibility, CRM integration, and SIP trunk options, while many smaller businesses note steep learning curves, sparse native tools, and extra effort for security and maintenance. Answer based on 13 reviews Features and Usability ### Does Asterisk have a good user interface? Asterisk offers flexible call control, but its built-in user interface is limited for many business deployments. Technical users can manage it effectively, especially with web tools like FreePBX, while less experienced teams often want clearer menus, better documentation, and native admin and end-user screens for everyday phone system tasks. Answer based on 10 reviews ## Features Features with the highest number of reviews are displayed first. Those that have no reviews appear next, sorted alphabetically. Call Center Management 2.4 (5) 0.00% of 5 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Manage all call center activities including call monitoring, call recording, call answering, call transfer, etc. VoIP Connection 5.0 (5) 40.00% of 5 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Place/receive calls through voice over IP connection Voice Mail 4.5 (4) 75.00% of 4 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Computer-based system that allows users to send and receive voice messages Caller ID 5.0 (3) 66.67% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Identify the number and contact information of a caller before answering the phone Call Routing 5.0 (3) 100.00% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Sends voice calls to a specific queue based on predetermined criteria Call Transfer 5.0 (3) 100.00% of 3 reviewers that rated this feature as important or highly important Transfers live calls to other agents Asterisk 25 features Application programming interface that allows for integration with other systems/databases System that automatically dials calls Distribute/route/connect calls Manage all call center activities including call monitoring, call recording, call answering, call transfer, etc. Collects essential call data such as call origin, call destination, call length, and other transaction details Listen to live phone conversations for the purpose of training and assessing agent performance Record the audio of phone conversations for quality assurance purposes Track and report on all incoming and outgoing calls Sends voice calls to a specific queue based on predetermined criteria Transfers live calls to other agents Identify the number and contact information of a caller before answering the phone Manage and track all internal and external communication conducted via calls, email, text, or chat Computer-telephony integration is the use of computers to manage telephone calls Manage, organize, and store contact information Access names, contact information, and roles of employees in a centralized repository Read and accept a combination of touch tone keypad selections and voice inputs and provide the appropriate prerecorded voice response Access software remotely via mobile devices Telephone system that allows users to connect internally as well as place and receive external phone calls System calls multiple numbers at once and connects the agent to the first number that answers View and track pertinent metrics to find patterns and gain insights from data Send messages via SMS Turns text into natural sounding speech Connect with meeting participants remotely over video Computer-based system that allows users to send and receive voice messages Place/receive calls through voice over IP connection Get Advice We can help you find the software with the features you need. Features 4.6 (40) 4.6 Based on 40 reviews ## Pricing Value for money 4.8 (37) Free Trial Free Version Basic $595.00 Value for money 4.8 (37) 4.8 Based on 37 reviews ## Integrations [ Microsoft Teams](https://www.capterra.com/p/168668/Microsoft-Teams/)[ Docker](https://www.capterra.com/p/148132/Docker/)[ StatsDrone](https://www.capterra.com/p/245841/StatsDrone/) Connect with a Capterra advisor for a free 15-minute consultation Get a personalized software list aligned to your business needs with guidance from our expert advisors. Our team has helped 1 million+ businesses like yours find options that fit their needs. ## Support, customer service and training options Customer Service 3.4 (32) Support - Email/Help Desk - FAQs/Forum - Knowledge Base - Phone Support - 24/7 (Live rep) - Chat Training - In Person - Live Online - Webinars - Documentation - Videos Deployment - Web - Android - iPhone/iPad Typical users - Freelancers - Small businesses - Mid size businesses - Enterprises Customer Service 3.4 (32) 3.4 Based on 32 reviews ## User reviews Overall rating 4.5 Based on 44 reviews Filter by rating 5(26) 4(14) 3(3) 2(1) 1(0) Mentioned topic Sorted by most recent ES Edwin S. CTO Computer & Network Security ### "PBX on Steroids" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 5.0 5.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 December 16, 2024 I couldn’t be happier with Asterisk. Having all the functionalities of a PBX combined with the power and flexibility of the IP protocol is simply amazing. Pros Where does one begin? Asterisk revolutionized the telecom industry by breaking free from the dominance of giants like Nortel. It brought the same—if not greater—resilience to the table while introducing IP technology. Asterisk didn’t just challenge the status quo; it redefined it, offering a flexible, open-source alternative that empowered businesses of all sizes. Cons Asterisk, by its very nature, can be a bit challenging for the general public due to its technical essence. In the early days, everything had to be configured manually, making it less accessible for non-technical users. However, from a functionality perspective, it’s flawless. Asterisk didn’t earn the nickname “Swiss Blade” for nothing—it’s versatile, powerful, and capable of handling just about anything you throw at it. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. SS Stefano S. Administrator Information Technology and Services ### "Asterisk is the world wide best software at no cost PBX!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 10/10 April 27, 2024 I use Asterisk since 20 years and it is absolutely the best sofwtare at no cost. Pros It ha no cost, it is open standard, fully customzable. AGI Scripts help to add features to asterisk and it is very easy to connect it to other softwares. Cons I like everything of Asterisk. It is really the best. Switched from [Cisco Unified Communications Manager](https://www.capterra.com/p/157096/Unified-Communications-Manager/) COsta and features. CIso is really expensive, diofficult to configure and few features Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. NT Nathan T. Network Infrastructure Manager Retail ### "Top Tier Phone System - Do Not Dismiss it!" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 2.0 2.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 October 27, 2023 Pros We use Asterisk in conjunction with FreePBX for our business phone solution, it's certainly no easy task to deploy or configure. The documentation available is vast however being an open source project you will run into a few issues dialling in your configuration to the best possible specification. Cost wise it's very cost effective and that's why I believe it's a top tier solution you should consider for any size of business. We have around 300 phones deployed with Asterisk / FreePBX and when comparing the costs against industry leading phone solutions we are saving tens of thousands of pounds per year. It's certainly not without it's faults but it's very feature rich and if you're willing to put in the hours and study you can develop your own applications or custom scripts to tailor the phone system to your businesses needs and whims. Cons As mentioned the difficulty of deployment is quite high, not every IT engineer will have the skill set to just stand up this system it does take time and you will run into a few gremlins but certainly you'll not be doing yourself any justice by passing this up. Alternatives considered [8x8 Work](https://www.capterra.com/p/187525/Virtual-Office/) Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. TM Tim M. IT consultant Information Technology and Services ### "Asterisk is the standard as a free and open-source PBX but use packaged distributions" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 1.0 1.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 1.0 1.0 Likelihood to Recommend 7/10 September 4, 2023 This is my go-to choice for larger deployments but a packaged version with extras and IT support staff are both necessary for successful deployments. For small organizations without trained Asterisk IT support staff, a hosted solution is better. Pros The product has a very long history (20+ years). I was using it back in the early 2000s writing my own AEL scripts to write call flows. However, while it is full featured, it has no built-in GUI, either for admins or users. Using a package like FreePBX is essential for business deployments. Cons No administration tools, no user interface, lack of commonly needed extensions like phone handset management and voicemail. Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. JR Jaime R. Technical Manager Marketing and Advertising ### "Herramienta CTI para uso de VOIP de forma sencilla" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 October 15, 2022 A través de Asterisk gestionamos la telefonía de diversas herramientas CRM, con integración y permitiendo que los consultores puedan realizar toda la actividad de forma simple y sin dificultad. Además, es posible configurar diferentes SIP Trunks para emitir llamadas con varios proveedores de forma simultánea, así como configurar DDI's específicos para cada estrategia de marcación. Pros La integración con diversas herramientas CRM que permiten la gestión telefónica para call center, así como la potencia y adaptabilidad de la herramienta. Cons Es algo complejo de configurar inicialmente, pero una vez que aprendes bien a usarlo, no puedes despegarte de el. Alternatives considered [Enghouse Contact Center](https://www.capterra.com/p/231432/Enghouse-Contact-Center/) [Avaya Experience Platform](https://www.capterra.com/p/212871/Aura-Call-Center-Elite/) Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. AN Anonymous User Software developer Marketing and Advertising ### "It’s a beast… but you need someone to tame it" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 2.0 2.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 July 31, 2022 Pros It’s infinitely customizable, and the price is right! Cons Dial plan is a convoluted and pretty wonky language for feature development Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Fernando R. COO Computer Software ### "Centralita telefónica por software muy intersante" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 4.0 4.0 Customer Service 0.0 0.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 May 3, 2022 Con Asterik tenemos montada una centralita que da servicio a nuestra oficina disponiendo de extensiones fijas con teléfonos IP y de extensiones virtuales en portátiles cuando estamos en remoto. Nos permite definir sistemas de gestión de colas y buzones de voz que permiten la gestión automatizada de nuestro sistema de call center Pros Gestión de colas, buzones de voz. Posibilidad de extensiones fijas y virtuales Cons Mayor claridad y agilidad en la interfaz de usuario. Mejora de la documentación Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. DS David S. CTO Telecommunications ### "Asterisk" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 3.0 3.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 3.0 3.0 Likelihood to Recommend 5/10 December 21, 2021 Pros It is free and open source. And because it is open source, you can customize many of features within Asterisk. Cons You need to have a strong technical team to manage and maintain Asterisk. Review source Incentivized review: software users are invited to submit an honest review and offered a nominal incentive for their time and effort. All incentivized reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Osama A. desginer Design ### ""A solid base for phone systems"" 4.0 Overall Rating 4.0 4.0 Ease of Use 5.0 5.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 8/10 August 5, 2021 Pros I've worked with Asterisk for a long time and believe it's a solid phone system platform. The system is straightforward and simple to comprehend. I also like that it's open source, which means we can get a lot of help from the community. Cons It entails a number of severe security threats. and We don't obtain the complete event of Outdial parameters in the Asterisk manager interface layer. need to keep an eye out for a variety of activities Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. Adolfo M. System Administrator Government Administration ### "Asterisk as a telephony platform between branches of the institution and in applications" 5.0 Overall Rating 5.0 5.0 Ease of Use 4.0 4.0 Features 5.0 5.0 Customer Service 4.0 4.0 Likelihood to Recommend 9/10 July 15, 2021 Our experience using Asterisk has been very good since it has allowed us to interconnect the institution's branches via VoIP and it has also been possible to scale without problems. In addition to integrating with applications towards the end user Pros Asterisk is a flexible VoIP platform that allows interaction with telephone systems within the institution nationwide, also allows integration with specific business applications Cons The implementation can be a bit complicated because the server cards and the services of the telephony provider have to be compatible. Alternatives considered [Avaya UCaaS](https://www.capterra.com/p/1174/CRM-Central/) Reasons for choosing Asterisk To achieve greater scalability and reduce costs Review source Non-incentivized review: any software user can leave a review for any product listed on our site. All submitted reviews are subject to our verification process prior to publication. [View all Reviews](https://www.capterra.com/p/60249/Asterisk/reviews/) ## Top-rated software of 2026 ### Fill out the form and we'll send a list of the top-rated software based on real user reviews directly to your inbox. Popular comparisons [Ringover vs Asterisk](https://www.capterra.com/compare/60249-169627/Asterisk-vs-RingOver)[VoIP.ms vs Asterisk](https://www.capterra.com/compare/60249-203084/Asterisk-vs-VoIP-ms) [3CX vs Asterisk](https://www.capterra.com/compare/60249-158704/Asterisk-vs-3CX)