Are VoIP calls free?
We covered a lot of the most crucial elements of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for business in our article, the Ultimate Guide to VoIP, so if you haven’t had a read of that, we highly recommend it.
However, if you find yourself reading because you specifically want to know if VoIP calls are free, then the short answer is no, they are not.
That said, the long answer is much more interesting, especially if you’re looking into cost effective communication solutions.
There’s no denying that VoIP has fast become a core component of just about every modern workplace, despite how little it may be understood by the general public.
However, one of the reasons for this, besides the many advantages we’ve spelled out for you in our article the Benefits of VoIP for Business, is just how cost-effective it can be, particularly compared to traditional telephone calls.
Here we will discuss the different costs associated with VoIP systems as there is a lot of variation in prices between different kinds of systems and the costs of international calls.
VoIP Pricing
VoIP prices will vary depending on the VoIP provider as well as the type of IP PBX system you purchase. Also, VoIP compatible hardware such as IP phones, adapters, and headsets can differ drastically in price.
In this article, we will give some general figures of how much VoIP systems can cost, however, without knowing your specific business needs and set up, it’s impossible to give figures that will be accurate for every case.
We’re very up front with our pricing and services, as you’ll see on our website. And, if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, we can tailor a solution just for your business with an obligation free quote!
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Cloud Hosted vs On-Premise
Cloud hosted telephony is far and wide the best choice for businesses, primarily because hosted VoIP is much cheaper, more reliable and more secure than the alternative.
Utilising an on-premise PBX system isn’t as much of an issue for larger businesses that have the capital, resources, as well as the IT know-how to manage the hardware. But even then, many companies would prefer to use cloud hosting to save in these areas too.
At C2 Communications, we have various 3CX Unlimited Call Hosted Packages starting at $199 per month, as well as Custom SIP Line 3CX hosting, where we tailor a package to suit your business needs.
These packages allow us to bundle the amount of SIP lines and Direct Inward Dialling (DID) numbers you need, along with cloud hosting, unlimited local, national, and mobile calls.
Check out our pricing to find a package that best suits your business. If you can’t find one that fits, reach out to us and we’ll help you put something together.
VoIP Equipment
If you’re looking for a VoIP phone, prices can vary depending on the quality.
VoIP equipment can be expensive too depending on what you require. IP Phones can start at $100 but go upwards of $500 per phone in some cases. Season border controllers, headsets, firewalls, switches, cabling, and other equipment costs are associated with setting up a business phone system, and it can be easy to get caught out if you don’t know beforehand.
C2 Communications recommends Yealink for all our handset, headset and conferencing solutions. Yealink is a supported IP Phone provider for the 3CX systems we sell, allowing seamless integration and ongoing support.
Call Costs
The cost of local, national, and mobile calls will vary depending on provider, however, we find our clients prefer to bundle their call fees into their monthly package, along with their SIP lines, cloud hosting fees and any other features included in their package. This way, they not only get a better deal, but they can expect a consistent outgoing each month and don’t end up with any nasty surprises.
For example, with our SIP trunking pricing (which has a 4 SIP line minimum), we have unlimited call options or pay per call options.
Unlimited local, national and mobile call SIP Lines are $49 each per month (this does not include international calls).
If you wish to pay per call, the SIP Lines are $10 each per month with local and national calls being $0.10 per call and mobile calls charged at $0.10 per minute (billed per second, no flagfall).
With other providers these prices will vary but what’s more important is the other aspects such as inclusions and associated costs that come with them.
C2 Pricing
International Calls
VoIP calls are always free when calling someone in the same country as you, however depending on which country you call there will be a rate you have to pay.
These rates usually vary at around $0.05 per minute to developed nations to upwards of $5 per minute to remote locations like Antarctica! That being said, it is still a lot cheaper than an international landline call.
That said, if the overseas call is made to someone within your organisation on a shared PBX system like 3CX, this will be free, and can be extremely cost effective for businesses operating globally.
Although VoIP isn’t free…
VoIP calling is generally very cheap, unless you’re hosting your own IP PBX and VoIP phone system, your business is going to be saving money through the low costs for a subscription and the low rates of an international call.
If you are thinking of purchasing a VoIP system for your business and need a reliable company to help, contact us here.
