In brief: 3CX’s Free Edition was significantly restricted in August 2024 — capped at 4 users and 2 simultaneous calls. New free licences issued after December 2022 expire after 60 days. Here is what SA resellers and small businesses need to know about the current limits and upgrade path.
What Changed with 3CX Free Edition in 2024?
3CX’s Free Edition was once a genuinely useful entry point for small SA businesses — up to 10 users, unlimited video conferencing, and no time limit. That era ended in 2024. Two significant restrictions now apply:
- From August 1, 2024: The Free Edition was capped at 4 users and 2 simultaneous calls — down from 10 users and higher simultaneous call limits on legacy free licences
- Free licences issued after December 15, 2022: Expire after 60 days. No permanent free tier is available for new registrations
- Legacy free licences (issued before December 15, 2022) are extended to December 31, 2026 — but must be upgraded to Version 20 to remain active
- Version 20 mandatory: Any free licence not running on V20 will be deactivated
The April 1, 2026 extension policy enforcement adds another layer: all licences must comply with 3CX’s maximum extension rules — for a 4 SC (simultaneous call) free licence, this means a maximum of 20–32 extensions depending on the specific licence tier.
What Does the 3CX Free Edition Actually Include in 2025?
For businesses or resellers evaluating whether the free tier is workable:
| Feature | Free Tier (2025) |
|---|---|
| Maximum users | 4 |
| Simultaneous calls | 2 |
| SIP trunks | 6 (restricted to 3CX-selected providers) |
| Video conferencing | ✅ Included (unlimited) |
| Live Chat | ✅ Included |
| Call recording | ❌ Not included (PRO+) |
| Microsoft Teams integration | ❌ Not included (ENT only) |
| CRM integration | ❌ Not included (PRO+) |
| Call reporting | ❌ Not included (PRO+) |
| Licence duration | Until Dec 31, 2026 (legacy) / 60 days (new) |
Is 3CX Free Still Viable for Small SA Businesses?
For micro-businesses with 2–4 staff and minimal concurrent calling: yes, just barely. A sole trader, small legal office, or micro-retailer where only 1–2 calls happen at a time can operate on the free tier for now. The video conferencing inclusion is genuinely useful.
For anyone with realistic calling volumes: no. Two simultaneous calls means if the owner is on a call and a client calls in, the second caller gets an engaged signal or voicemail. For a 4-person business with a receptionist, that is an unacceptable limitation. The SIP trunk restriction is also a problem — you cannot choose SA SIP providers like Wanatel or Saicom; you are locked to 3CX’s provider list, which may not have the best local rates.
The Upgrade Path: 3CX Paid Tiers in 2025
3CX pricing increased approximately 15% in November 2025. Current annual pricing for hosted or self-hosted deployments:
| Edition | Simultaneous Calls | Annual Price (USD) | Key Features Added |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 2 (4 SC licence) | $0 (legacy only) | — |
| Professional | 8 SC entry | From $350/year | Call recording, call queues, Microsoft 365 integration, CRM connectors |
| Enterprise | 8 SC entry | From $425/year | All PRO + Microsoft Teams integration, skill-based routing, custom IP phone branding, HA failover |
| Enterprise Plus | 8 SC entry | From $775/year | All ENT + AI transcription, advanced AI features |
For an SA business moving off the free tier, 3CX PRO at ~R6,500–R8,000/year for 8 SC (at current exchange rates) is the minimum paid entry point. For most SMBs needing call recording, this is the right tier. Teams integration requires ENT at ~R7,800–R9,500/year.
What This Means for SA Resellers
The 3CX Free Edition restrictions have changed the reseller conversation. You can no longer offer “try 3CX free indefinitely” — new free licences expire in 60 days. Use the free tier as a 60-day proof of concept rather than a long-term offering, then present the PRO upgrade path. The restrictions actually make the reseller role more valuable: customers need guidance to navigate the tier structure, and the PRO/ENT margin is where resellers earn.
For resellers with customers on legacy free licences expiring December 2026, now is the time to start the upgrade conversation — do not wait until November 2026 when customers will be scrambling.
About the Author
Mechelle Gindra
Mechelle Gindra is the managing editor and lead content strategist at Telecoms-Channel, South Africa's dedicated intelligence platform for telecoms resellers, ICT distributors, and channel partners. She oversees the editorial team's AI-assisted content production pipeline, ensuring vendor news, market analysis, and regulatory updates are accurate, timely, and actionable for the SA telecoms channel community. With deep expertise in the South African telecoms reseller ecosystem, Mechelle directs coverage of vendor partner programmes, ICASA regulatory developments, wholesale market dynamics, and channel business strategy. She is responsible for maintaining Telecoms-Channel's editorial standards, fact-checking processes, and corrections policy.
