VoIP vs PBX: what's the difference?

A PBX routes calls inside the company, and VoIP is only how those calls travel.

Start with your own setup

A PBX can be fully VoIP, or it can still be an old copper system.

Treat the two words as different jobs, not as rival brands.

What the source data actually shows

Each range below is the published premium price, widened by that vendor's confidence band. State tax is not included, because it depends on where you are. Prices as published by each provider. Data as of 2026-10-04.

A TechEstimate is a range. A written proposal is the number you can hold a provider to.

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Providers, listed A to Z

These phone systems are alphabetical. This is not a quality ranking.

TechlyScore ranks them for your setup when you compare in real time.

123NET: $21 to $39 per user/month. 8x8: $26 to $30 per user/month. Aircall: $35 to $45 per user/month. AireSpring: $24 to $46 per user/month. Allworx (Windstream): $18 to $32 per user/month. AT&T Office@Hand: $26 to $34 per user/month. Avaya Cloud Office: $22 to $28 per user/month. BCM One: $19 to $35 per user/month.

More providers are in the same table. The list stays alphabetical.

What a quote can leave out

The first invoice can add fees that the ad price skipped.

Ask for the all-in total. If they will not say it, that is the answer.

A simple way to decide

Upload your bill if you have one. Or adjust your sliders if you are starting fresh.

You could pay less. You could also pay about the same and save the research time.

The next step on this page is to compare in real time.

Questions people ask

Is a PBX the same as VoIP?

No. A PBX is the system that routes calls inside your organization. VoIP is how calls travel. A PBX can be old copper based or fully VoIP.

Can a PBX use VoIP?

Yes, and most still in service now do. Connecting an existing PBX to VoIP is what a SIP trunk is for.

Do I still need a PBX?

Only if you want to run the system yourself. A hosted phone system provides the same routing without hardware on site, which is why most small offices no longer have one.

What is a hosted PBX?

A phone system that runs in the provider's data center rather than in a cupboard in your office. You get the features of a traditional PBX without owning the hardware.

Which is cheaper for a small office?

A hosted system, almost always. The hardware, the maintenance, and the lines into an owned PBX rarely make sense below a few dozen people.

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Data as of 2026-10-04.