3CX vs Telexico, honestly.
3CX is a software PBX licensed by simultaneous calls — genuinely cheap at scale if you have IT to run it. Telexico is fully managed, with local engineers — and we can even deploy and manage 3CX for you. Here's a fair comparison, including when 3CX is the better choice.
Both give you a full-featured phone system.
3CX and Telexico can both deliver a full-featured business phone system — extensions, queues, IVR, apps, call recording — over the internet. 3CX is a software PBX: you (or a partner) host it, either on-premise, on your own cloud, or on 3CX's hosting. It's licensed by simultaneous calls rather than per user, which is genuinely cost-efficient at scale, and it's carrier-independent so you bring your own SIP trunks.
That model is powerful if you have IT. The catch is that the cheap licence is only one part of the cost — you also need hosting, SIP trunks, SSL, updates, security patching and support, and the time to run all of it.
Telexico is the managed alternative: no servers to patch, no SIP to wrangle, no surprise support-ticket fees — local engineers run it for you. And if you genuinely want 3CX, we can deploy and manage it for you too.
Six things that aren't the same.
3CX is powerful for the technical. The difference is who carries the work and the real total cost.
Who runs it
3CX: Self-managed: you handle setup, hosting, updates, security patching, SIP and SSL. Support is via paid tickets or a partner.
Telexico: Fully managed: we run, monitor, update and secure everything. Nothing for you to patch or host.
Real total cost
3CX: The licence is cheap, but it excludes hosting, SIP trunking, SSL and support tickets — the 'savings' shrink once you add those and the IT time.
Telexico: One all-in monthly price that already includes hosting, support and a UK engineer.
Right-sizing
3CX: Best for mid-size teams (roughly 40–200 users) with dedicated IT. Under ~10 users with no IT, the savings usually evaporate the first time you debug SIP.
Telexico: Built for SMEs without a dedicated IT team — you get the phone system without the infrastructure burden.
Support
3CX: Community docs, paid support tickets, or a partner you appoint.
Telexico: A named UK contact included, plus local on-site engineers.
Local presence
3CX: Depends entirely on whether you appoint a local partner.
Telexico: Wolverhampton-based, on-site when needed.
Beyond phones
3CX: 3CX is the PBX software — nothing else.
Telexico: Full stack — phones, broadband, leased lines, WiFi, CCTV and AI — and we can manage your 3CX too.
What each typically costs in 2026.
3CX's licence looks cheap because it's only the licence — the real cost is hosting, SIP trunks, SSL and the IT time to run it. Figures below are indicative; the point is total cost of ownership, not the sticker price.
Phone system
- 3CX: licence from roughly £250–400/year for a small system (by simultaneous calls), PLUS hosting, SIP trunks, SSL and support tickets — and your IT time to run it.
- Telexico: from £15/user/month all-in, fully managed — hosting, SIP, support and engineer included.
Who carries the work
- 3CX: you (or a partner you pay separately).
- Telexico: us — monitoring, updates, security and fixes.
Beyond phones
- 3CX: just the PBX.
- Telexico: broadband, WiFi, CCTV and AI on one bill — and 3CX management if you want it.
3CX is excellent value if you have the IT to run it. The licence is cheap; the hosting, SIP, SSL, patching and support are not free — they're just not on the licence invoice. Telexico rolls all of it into one managed price.
What it might cost — 5 vs 10 users.
Illustrative monthly figures to show the shape of the difference, not a quote. Confirm current prices with each provider — competitor pricing changes and some isn't publicly listed. Telexico figures are typical all-in ranges; your quote depends on users, features and term.
| Scenario | Competitor (illustrative) | Telexico (illustrative, all-in) |
|---|---|---|
| 5 users | Licence from ~£250–400/year, PLUS hosting + SIP + support — and you run it. | from £90/month all-in, fully managed |
| 10 users | Licence stays cheap at scale, but add hosting, SIP and IT time. | from £170/month all-in, no IT overhead |
3CX's licence looks cheap, but the real cost is hosting, SIP trunks and the IT time to run it. The Telexico figure is all-in and managed.
When 3CX is genuinely the right answer.
3CX is a great fit for the right team. Here's when it genuinely wins.
You have dedicated IT and want self-hosted control. If you've got the in-house skills and want full control of your PBX, on your own infrastructure, 3CX is a powerful, cost-efficient choice.
You want carrier independence. 3CX lets you bring your own SIP trunks, pick your rates and failover, and avoid platform lock-in — genuinely valuable if you want that control.
You're a larger deployment (40–200+ users) where SC licensing wins. Simultaneous-call licensing is structurally cheaper than per-seat once headcount exceeds concurrent calls.
If you don't have IT to run a PBX, or you simply want it managed — installed, monitored, patched and supported locally — that's Telexico. And if you still want 3CX specifically, we can run it for you.
Moving from 3CX to Telexico.
We project-manage the whole switch. Here's exactly how the four things people worry about are handled.
Number porting
We port your existing numbers across to Telexico — they stay exactly the same. We submit the porting request, manage the dates, and keep your 3CX service live until the port completes.
Downtime
None, done properly. We build and test your new system alongside your existing 3CX service and only cut over once it's proven. Most switches complete in 7–14 working days.
Existing handsets
Standard SIP handsets used with 3CX re-provision easily; if you self-host, we migrate your configuration and numbers across.
Contract exit
3CX is a licence you own, so there's no provider lock-in — but you also hand off the burden of running it. We check your end date first and tell you honestly whether to move now or wait — we won't push an exit that costs more than it saves.
Businesses switching to Telexico near you.
We're Wolverhampton-based with engineers across the West Midlands — and we serve businesses nationwide. Switching is the same wherever you are: numbers kept, no downtime, a named UK contact after.
The services behind the comparison.
Everything we'd put in front of you instead — designed, installed and supported by a UK team.
Phone systems
Connectivity
AI & more
Compare it properly, with no hard sell.
Send us your current setup and bill. We'll review what you have, what you pay, and where we can simplify or improve it — and tell you honestly if you're better off where you are.
Frequently asked questions
Is 3CX cheaper than Telexico?
On the licence alone, yes — 3CX is cheap, especially at scale. But the licence excludes hosting, SIP trunks, SSL and support tickets, plus the IT time to run it. Once you add those, the gap narrows a lot. Telexico's price is all-in and managed, with no IT overhead for you.
Can Telexico manage 3CX for me?
Yes. If you specifically want 3CX, we can deploy, host, secure, update and support it for you as a managed service — so you get 3CX's flexibility without carrying the infrastructure work. We'll advise honestly on whether 3CX or our hosted VoIP fits you better.
What are the hidden costs of 3CX?
The licence is only part of it. You also pay for hosting (on-prem hardware or cloud compute), SIP trunks, SSL certificates if self-hosting, and support tickets — plus the staff time to maintain and patch it. None of that is on the licence price.
Is 3CX good for a small business?
If you're under ~10 users without dedicated IT, the savings usually disappear the first time something breaks and you spend a weekend on SIP issues. For small businesses without IT, a managed service like Telexico is typically better value once you count your time.
Will I lose carrier flexibility with Telexico?
No — we're carrier-agnostic too. You get the flexibility without having to manage the trunks and infrastructure yourself.
Is Telexico local?
Yes — Wolverhampton-based, engineers across the city daily, named local contact.