In brief: From April 1, 2026, 3CX enforces a maximum of 5–8 extensions per simultaneous call (SC) licence. SA resellers must audit all customer deployments now: any system exceeding the 8:1 ratio needs an SC licence upgrade. About 15% of 3CX customers are affected. Failing to act means 3CX will flag non-compliant systems automatically.
3CX’s licensing model has gone through its most significant evolution since the platform launched. If you’re a South African reseller managing hosted or self-hosted 3CX deployments, the changes affecting your customers in 2025–2026 are not optional reading — they directly determine whether your customers’ systems remain compliant and whether your deal sizing is correct.
This article explains the current 3CX licensing structure, the maximum extension policy enforcement timeline, and what South African resellers need to do before April 1, 2026.
How 3CX Licensing Works: SC, Not Seats
3CX moved to a simultaneous calls (SC) model with V20, replacing the previous per-user/per-extension approach. The fundamental unit of licensing is the maximum number of concurrent active calls the system can handle — internal calls, external calls, and conference calls all count toward this limit.
This model advantages businesses with high user counts but low call concurrency (e.g., 100 staff but rarely more than 20 on calls at once). It penalises businesses with lower headcount but high call volume (e.g., call centres, busy reception desks).
Current 3CX Pricing Tiers (2025/2026)
| Edition | Annual Price (8SC) | Annual Price (1024SC) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| StartUP / Free | Free (hosted, up to 10 users) | — | Core PBX features, limited integrations |
| Basic | Available from 2025 | — | Core telephony, no AI or CRM integrations |
| Professional | ~$350/year | ~$34,995/year | AI features, CRM integration, advanced reporting |
| Enterprise Plus | ~$775/year | ~$43,750/year | Full feature set, advanced security, contact centre |
Pricing changes took effect in January 2026, with modest adjustments to smaller licence fees and reduced pricing gaps across larger licences. 3CX introduced a Basic Edition in late 2025 for customers who want core telephony without AI features or CRM integrations — useful for price-sensitive SME deployments.
Important pricing note for SA resellers: 3CX pricing is in USD. With current ZAR/USD exchange rates and reseller margin, SA customers should be quoted in both currencies to manage expectations around annual renewal fluctuations. A Professional 48SC licence at ~$2,995/year translates to approximately R55,000–R65,000/year at current rates depending on the exchange rate at renewal time.
The Maximum Extension Policy: What Changes on April 1, 2026
3CX announced that from April 1, 2026, it will enforce a strict maximum extension-to-SC ratio:
- Smaller licences (8SC–128SC): Maximum 5 extensions per SC (5:1 ratio)
- Larger licences (256SC, 512SC, 1024SC): Maximum 8 extensions per SC (8:1 ratio)
- System mailboxes do NOT count toward the extension limit
- Approximately 15% of 3CX customers are affected — but those 15% need to act before the enforcement deadline
What This Means in Practice
Example scenario: A customer has a 16SC Professional licence with 120 extensions provisioned. Under the new policy, a 16SC licence allows a maximum of 80 extensions (5×16). This customer is 40 extensions over the limit and will need to upgrade to a 24SC licence minimum to remain compliant.
A larger deployment: 512SC Enterprise Plus allows 8×512 = 4,096 extensions. Most large enterprise deployments will be comfortably within the ratio at this tier.
Legacy 4SC Free Licences: What Happens in 2026
3CX announced the following changes to legacy free licences:
- 4SC Free licences that were active through 2025 are reducing to 2SC for 2026
- 4SC instances can no longer be newly hosted by 3CX; existing keys can be renewed
- Trial licences are now issued as 8SC PRO (upgraded from 4SC), but validity has been reduced from 2 months to 1 month
Any customer still running a 4SC free instance for a real production deployment needs to migrate to a paid licence — typically the 8SC Professional as a minimum viable paid tier for small businesses.
Key Changes from V18 to V20 Licensing
- Extension-based to SC-based: V18 and earlier used per-extension or per-user models; V20 is purely concurrent calls
- Simultaneous calls cannot be downgraded — upgrades are permanent, no refund on SC reductions
- Fair Usage Policy enforced on hosted deployments — automated scripts, circumventing limits via multiple accounts, or proxying are grounds for suspension
- 3CX StartUP (formerly Free) remains genuinely free for up to 10 users including hosting — suitable for sole traders and micro businesses
Right-Sizing 3CX Deployments for SA Customers
A practical sizing methodology for SA resellers:
Step 1: Count active users
Establish the total number of staff who need a dedicated extension. System accounts (reception IVR, voicemail, fax-to-email) typically do not count but confirm with 3CX’s current mailbox exclusion rules.
Step 2: Estimate peak concurrent calls
For a typical SA SME: a reasonable assumption is that 15–25% of staff are on calls simultaneously at peak. For a 50-person company, peak concurrent calls = 8–13. A 16SC licence with room to grow is appropriate.
Step 3: Check the extension ratio
50 users ÷ 16SC = 3.1 extensions per SC — well within the 5:1 limit. Comfortable.
Step 4: Factor in growth
Size for 12–18 months’ growth. Upgrading SC mid-term is more disruptive (and potentially more expensive) than starting slightly higher.
Multi-Site Deployments
3CX supports up to 1,024 concurrent simultaneous calls per system. For organisations exceeding this, multiple 3CX PBXes can be bridged. When designing multi-site deployments, match the SC count on each 3CX system to the corresponding SIP trunk capacity from your SA carrier — there is no value in a 48SC licence if your SIP trunk only allows 20 simultaneous channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 3CX maximum extension policy?
From April 1, 2026, 3CX limits the number of extensions provisioned per simultaneous call (SC) licence. Smaller licences allow a maximum of 5 extensions per SC; larger licences (256SC+) allow 8 extensions per SC. System mailboxes are excluded from the count. About 15% of deployments exceed these ratios and need to upgrade.
What happens if my 3CX deployment exceeds the extension limit after April 2026?
3CX will flag non-compliant systems and may restrict functionality or enforce an upgrade. The enforcement period is informational through March 2026, giving SA resellers time to audit and upgrade affected customers.
How much does 3CX cost in South Africa?
3CX pricing is in USD. The Professional edition starts at approximately $350/year for 8SC (roughly R6,500–R7,500 at current rates, before reseller margin). Enterprise Plus starts at ~$775/year for 8SC. Exact ZAR pricing varies by reseller and the USD/ZAR exchange rate at renewal.
Can I reduce my 3CX SC count if I over-purchased?
No. 3CX does not allow simultaneous call count downgrades. Upgrades are permanent. Size correctly on initial purchase and factor in growth when recommending licence tiers to customers.
What is the difference between 3CX Professional and Enterprise Plus?
Professional includes AI call features, CRM integrations, advanced reporting, and productivity tools. Enterprise Plus adds enhanced contact centre capabilities, advanced security features, and priority support. The new Basic edition (2025) is a stripped-down option for businesses that only need core telephony.
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.
