Comparison & migration
A 3CX alternative
An on-premise phone system you own — not one you rent.
Pentacomm is a self-hosted, standards-based alternative to 3CX: a single appliance you own — with PBX, call center, session border controller, GDPR-compliant recording and firewall included — and always-on encryption. Migrate while keeping your carriers, numbers and phones.
The problem
Why look for a 3CX alternative?
3CX is a popular choice — but it doesn't fit everyone. Businesses look for an alternative when they want their data fully in-house (not on a cloud instance), when they need mandatory encryption and GDPR compliance without extra configuration, when they prefer one platform over several servers to integrate, or when the annual licensing model doesn't suit them.
Pentacomm is an on-premise, standards-based alternative: a single appliance you own, with PBX, call center, SBC, compliant recording and perimeter security included — and always-on encryption. You migrate while keeping your carriers, numbers and phones, because everything speaks open SIP and WebRTC.
What you gain
What you gain by moving to Pentacomm
An on-premise, consolidated platform, encrypted from the start — one you fully own.
- You own the platform, fully — On-premises or private cloud, an appliance you control — not an instance you rent or that someone else hosts.
- Encryption that can't be turned off — TLS for signaling and DTLS-SRTP for media, mandatory — no unencrypted path that could be misconfigured.
- One stack, not separate servers — PBX, call center, SBC, recording and a built-in intrusion-prevention firewall — from one install and one console.
- GDPR-compliant recording from the start — Consent, opt-out, encryption, pause / mask and audit — built in, not left up to you.
- Multi-tenant for resellers — Per-tenant isolation enforced in the database; host many clients on one appliance, each fully separate.
- Keep your carriers and numbers — Open SIP and WebRTC: migrate without changing your trunks, numbers or compliant phones.
Comparison
Pentacomm vs. 3CX
Both are SIP-based phone systems. The difference is in ownership, encryption, and how much you get in a single system.
| Criterion | 3CX | Pentacomm |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting & control | Self-hosted on public cloud (your own instance) or hosted by 3CX / a partner; you manage the infrastructure. | A dedicated appliance you own — on-premises or private cloud. No third-party cloud component on the call path. |
| Data ownership | Data may land on cloud infrastructure, depending on the edition chosen. | Calls, recordings and customer data stay within your perimeter, under your control. |
| Encryption | TLS / SRTP available and configurable. | Encryption mandatory (TLS + DTLS-SRTP) — no unencrypted path to misconfigure. |
| Consolidated stack | PBX + call center; SBC and perimeter security are typically added separately. | PBX, call center, SBC, recording and firewall / IPS in one appliance, one console. |
| Multi-tenant | Multi-tenant for partners / MSPs. | Multi-tenant with isolation enforced in the database (row-level security), not just at the application layer. |
| Recording & GDPR | Recording available; GDPR compliance remains up to you. | Consent, opt-out, encryption, pause / mask and audit — GDPR compliance designed in. |
| Licensing model | Annual license, sized by simultaneous calls. | Modular licensing bound to the appliance; enable capabilities as you grow. |
| No vendor lock-in | Based on standard SIP. | Open SIP and WebRTC end to end — keep your carriers, numbers and phones; change provider without changing the platform. |
Comparison based on public information about 3CX at the time of publication; features may vary by edition and are subject to change. 3CX is a trademark of 3CX Software; Pentacomm is not affiliated with 3CX.
The bottom line
If you want your data in-house, mandatory encryption and a single platform you own — not rent — Pentacomm is the on-premise alternative to 3CX.
Frequently asked
Migrating from 3CX
Is Pentacomm a self-hosted / on-premise alternative to 3CX?
Yes. Pentacomm runs as a dedicated appliance on-premises or in your private cloud, on hardware or as a virtual machine. Calls, recordings and data never leave your perimeter and don't pass through a third-party cloud.
Can I migrate from 3CX without changing my carriers or numbers?
Yes. Pentacomm uses standard SIP and WebRTC, so you keep your SIP trunks, numbers and compliant phones or softphones. There is no proprietary protocol-level lock-in.
What does Pentacomm include beyond a classic PBX?
In one appliance: PBX, integrated call center (queues, agents, in-browser softphone, wallboard, QA), a session border controller, GDPR-compliant recording and an intrusion-prevention firewall — managed from a single console.
How does Pentacomm compare to 3CX on encryption?
Encryption is mandatory in Pentacomm: TLS for signaling and DTLS-SRTP for media, with no unencrypted path that could be misconfigured. rtpengine is the sole cryptographic media edge.
Is Pentacomm suitable for resellers and MSPs?
Yes. It's multi-tenant with isolation enforced in the database (row-level security), so a single appliance hosts many fully separate clients, each managed independently.
How much does it cost and how is it licensed?
Licensing is modular and bound to the appliance — you enable advanced capabilities (such as the call center) as your needs grow. For a quote on your scenario, contact us for a proof-of-concept or pilot access.
Considering a migration from 3CX?
Talk to us about a proof-of-concept on your real call flows, or about early pilot access. We'll show you the same features — plus your data fully in-house and always-on encryption.
Contact us for early access