Best PBX Phone Systems
Discover the best PBX phone systems for small businesses. Includes pricing, rankings, and frequently asked questions.
Updated on December 21st, 2023
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A PBX phone system is a private phone system that is used within a company. PBX stands for "private branch exchange." PBX systems use local or hosted servers to create private phone networks that communicate with each other or with outside callers.
Many businesses use PBX phone systems because they are secure and very affordable compared to other telephone configurations.
Our Pick
RingCentral Office
Full Featured Phone System, Fax, VoIP, and More
Get a QuoteFree trial available.
No contract required.
Includes call recording, call logs, conferencing, and more.
Why We Chose RingCentral:
RingCentral simplifies business communications with its voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP), cloud-based technology. It is easy to use and integrates well with leading apps on the market. You can also customize the phone system to suit your needs.
RingCentral is affordable with prices ranging from $19.99 to $49.99 per month, depending on your choice of plan. RingCentral will also store your call recordings for up to 3 months.
Things to Consider When Evaluating PBX Phone Systems:
- Take a count of the number of phones you will need in your offices so that you can make sure that the phone carrier can meet your requirements.
- Compare the voice quality as well as the ease of customization of your different options.
- Check out the companies' tech support and find out if there are extra costs involved.
Best PBX Phone Systems:
Rank | Name | Offer | Review | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | From $30.00 /user /mo. | Offers good customization and integration capabilities and 3-month storage for call recordings. | ||
2. | Contact for quote. | 8x8 is a reliable system that can handle large call volumes. | ||
3. | Contact for quote. | Offers many features and can handle large call volumes but can become quite costly. | ||
4. | From $23.00 /user /mo. | Slow Wi-Fi connections will compromise call quality but it is more scalable than other phones. | ||
5. | From $25.99 /user /mo. | Offers a wide range of features but limited customization. | ||
6. | From $14.00 /mo. | An easy-to-use option that can forward voice calls to mobile devices but that does not offer conference calls. | ||
7. | From $5.00 /user /mo. | Features good call quality and syncing capability but is lacking in integration capabilities. | ||
8. | From $9.95 /mo. | Per-minute charges can become costly. | ||
9. | From $31.00 /mo. | Offers a great voice-to-email feature but phone number porting processes are slow. | ||
10. | Contact for quote. | Offers tracking and reporting capabilities but no integration with Dropbox. |
Standard PBX Phone System Features:
Call recording.
Calls can be recorded and saved for playback at a later date. This is often useful in customer service and training environments.
Call forwarding.
Automatically forward incoming calls to another phone line within or outside of the network.
Caller ID.
The system gathers information about incoming calls and displays the number and name if it is available.
Conference calling.
A connection can be formed between three or more numbers to start a conference call.
Extension dialing.
Other lines within the PBX network can be dialed using an extension number instead of a full phone number.
Types of PBX Phone Systems:
Name | Description |
|---|---|
Traditional PBX | Uses physical hardware that is hardwired to a landline. |
IP PBX | Uses VoIP technology to make phone connections digitally. Still requires PBX hardware. |
Hosted PBX | Creates digital connections through a VoIP service. Hosted by a third party, so no hardware is necessary. |
Virtual PBX | Similar to a hosted PBX, but with limited features. |
FAQs:
What is a PBX phone system used for?
- Call recording.
- Call forwarding.
- Caller ID.
- Conference calling.
- Extension dialing.
How does a PBX phone system work?
PBX systems create private phone networks by using local or hosted servers. These networks communicate with each other or outside callers. Businesses use PBX phone systems because they are secure and cheaper in comparison to other telephone configurations.
What is the difference between PBX and PABX?
Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) differs from Private Branch Exchange (PBX) in that it is an automated process instead of manual. Today, all PBX systems are automated, so there really is no significant distinction.
What does an IP PBX do?
An IP PBX uses VoIP technology to make phone connections digitally. An IP PBX still requires PBX hardware.
What is the difference between PBX and VoIP?
PBX and VoIP differ in the way they connect users. A PBX system is a telephone network that uses standard telephone lines for connecting calls.
A VoIP system is less complicated since it transfers analog voice data over the Internet. It only needs an internet connection and a computer or an IP phone to work.
What is PSTN and PBX?
Public Switched Telephone Network (PTSN) is a typical landline phone connected by copper lines. It is a phone system that carries analog voice data through electronically switched networks.
How much is a PBX phone system?
If you are using a PBX business phone system that is hosted by a software company, as most small businesses do, then you can expect to pay between $5.00 and $30.00 per month. If you are hosting your own PBX system, it may cost you up to $1,000.00 per employee to implement.
What is a PBX switchboard?
A PBX switchboard is a telephone system that monitors telephone lines and networks by using switches, indicators, and a controlling apparatus for electric circuits.
What is an analog PBX phone system?
An analog system requires old-fashioned phone lines to make and receive calls. A digital PBX system does not need separate phone lines or a central switchboard since it forms connections via a central internet server.
What are the best office PBX phone systems?
Can I buy used PBX phone systems?
You can buy used office phones that plug into a PBX system. Used and refurbished phones can be purchased on Amazon, eBay, and other e-commerce sites.
What does PBX stand for?
PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange. A PBX system is a secure, private network that uses a server to create communication lines.