FusionPBX vs VitalPBX (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, VitalPBX grades higher than FusionPBX: 2.4 against 2.0 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
VitalPBX grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
FusionPBX
Open-source multi-tenant PBX built on FreeSWITCH
VitalPBX
Asterisk-based PBX you install on your own server or VPS
Which one is for you
Pick FusionPBX if
- Fits if you can run a Linux server and want to own your phone system
- Works for hosts who want one multi-tenant PBX for many customers
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you don't want to run a server, as you host and maintain it yourself
- Tight if you need official support, which is sold in monthly hours from $300
- Pricey if you want call center tools or the API: those sit on the $500 and $1,000 memberships
- Watch out: it sells no phone numbers or calling, so you need a separate provider
- Watch out: memberships are per individual, and Gold covers 3 employees
Pick VitalPBX if
- Fits if you can run a Linux server and want a PBX with no per-extension fee
- Works for IT firms that host phone systems for clients
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you don't want to run a server, as you host and maintain it
- Watch out: the license has no calling service or phone numbers
- Tight if you stay free: 12 extensions, 2 WebRTC clients and forum support
- Pricey if you grow on VitalPBX One, which is priced by extension count
How we grade them
| 2.0GPAFusionPBXFair | 2.4GPAVitalPBXFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CSoftware that is only free if you host it yourself is a C. Memberships run $100 to $1,000 a month, per individual, for training and support hours. | CCommunity is free but self-hosted, which needs a server. Paid plans start at $225 a year for VitalPBX One, and Enterprise is $1,000 a year for unlimited extensions. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe software is free to download with community help only, so one person could live on it, but you need your own server. | BCommunity covers 12 extensions with unlimited calls, the full feature set and 2 WebRTC clients, enough for a small office. Support is forum only. |
| Features | CMulti-tenant PBX, voicemail, fax, conferencing and a browser phone, with call center reporting, wallboard and the API held back for the $500 and $1,000 memberships. | BSelf-hosted PBX, a call center suite, multi-tenant hosting, WebRTC and mobile clients and AI tools. Nothing missing from the core phone job. |
| Ease of use | DSelf-hosting on your own server with installer scripts. There's no rating on record. | DNo store rating on record. You install, host and maintain the server yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb interface only, with 3 integrations on record. It sells no calling service or phone numbers. | BWeb, Windows, iOS and Android clients, with Salesforce, Zoho, HubSpot, Odoo and Asterisk. |
| Best for | a phone system you host yourself | a PBX you install on your own server |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: FusionPBX and VitalPBX. How we grade
Price against what you get
FusionPBX starts at $100 a month and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. VitalPBX starts at $18.75 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3.
VitalPBX scores higher and starts $81.25 a month lower. Of the other business phone systems on the chart, 46 score higher than FusionPBX for less, and 8 score higher than VitalPBX for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- FusionPBX is open source, according to its own site.
- VitalPBX can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- FusionPBX also covers online fax.
At a glance
| FusionPBX | VitalPBX | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $100 per month (Green membership, optional) | $225 per year and up (VitalPBX One, priced by extensions) |
| Free plan | The FusionPBX software is free to download and install on your own server, with a free account for bug reports and public documentation. | Community plan: 12 extensions, unlimited simultaneous calls, the full feature set, 2 VitXi WebRTC clients, provisioning for 20 devices and forum support. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | FusionPBX | VitalPBX, LLC |
| Price read from | fusionpbx.com | vitalpbx.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
FusionPBX
- You host and maintain the server yourself; the project does not sell calling service or phone numbers.
- Official support is sold in monthly hours through membership levels; the free software comes with community channels only.
- Call center reporting, wallboard and the REST API are member applications at the Purple and Gold levels.
- Memberships are per individual; Gold covers up to three employees.
VitalPBX
- You install, host and maintain the server yourself; the license does not include calling service or phone numbers.
- The free Community plan stops at 12 extensions, 2 WebRTC clients and forum-only support.
- VitalPBX One is priced by extension count, so it grows with headcount, unlike the other commercial plans.
- The Windows softphone and the mobile apps are separate clients; Connect licenses are sold per device.
Key features
FusionPBX
- Multi-tenant PBX
- Runs as a single-domain PBX or a domain-based multi-tenant system, which hosting providers use to serve many customers.
- Built on FreeSWITCH
- Provides unlimited extensions, voicemail-to-email, call parking, call queues, a call center and phone provisioning.
- Browser phone and call transcription
- Version 5.6 release notes list a WebRTC browser-based phone and a feature to transcribe and summarize calls.
- Fax, conferencing and voicemail
- The same server acts as a fax, voicemail and conference server alongside voice.
- Installer scripts
- Install scripts are provided for Debian and Ubuntu, with FreeBSD and Raspberry Pi OS also covered; Debian 12 or 13 is recommended.
VitalPBX
- Self-hosted PBX
- Install from an ISO on your own server, run it on a virtual machine, or deploy it on a cloud VPS or marketplace image. You manage extensions, IVRs, queues and trunks in a web interface.
- Flat license, no per-extension fee
- Enterprise, Call Center and Multi-Tenant include unlimited extensions and unlimited simultaneous calls. VitalPBX One is the exception: it is priced by extension count.
- Sonata Call Center Suite
- Adds a live operator console, real-time and historical queue stats, an outbound dialer, call billing and recording search. The Call Center and Multi-Tenant plans include the full suite.
- Multi-tenant hosting
- The Multi-Tenant plan runs up to 100 isolated tenants on one server, each with its own extensions, routes and IVRs.
- WebRTC and mobile clients
- VitXi runs calls in the browser, VitalPBX Communicator is a Windows softphone, and VitalPBX Connect is a mobile app for iOS and Android.
- AI tools
- Voicemail and recording transcription, call sentiment summaries, an AI voice agent and Helpdesk AI. The AI Agent and Helpdesk AI are listed on the Call Center and Multi-Tenant plans.
Plans
FusionPBX
FusionPBX software$0
Open-source PBX you install and host yourself; no support hours included.
Green membership$100
per month, one individual
Training videos, member documentation, rebranding guide and member apps; no support hours.
Blue membership$300
per month, one individual
Green benefits plus up to 1.5 hours of official support a month.
Purple membership$500
per month, one individual
Up to 3 hours of priority support a month, plus the advanced call center applications.
Gold membership$1,000
per month, up to 3 employees
Up to 6 hours of priority support a month, the REST API and the Purple call center applications.
VitalPBX
Community$0
12 extensions, unlimited simultaneous calls and forum support only.
VitalPBX One$125
per month and up, priced by extensions ($225 per year and up)
Priced by the extensions you pick. Includes all commercial modules, Sonata Call Center Suite and ticket support.
Enterprise$100
per month for unlimited extensions ($1,000 per year, $4,000 one time)
One flat license with unlimited extensions, Sonata Switchboard, Billing and Recording, 50 VitXi WebRTC clients and 1 tenant.
Call Center$200
per month for unlimited extensions ($2,000 per year, $8,000 one time)
Unlimited extensions, all commercial modules, the full Sonata Call Center Suite, AI Agent and Helpdesk AI.
Multi-Tenant$250
per month for unlimited extensions ($2,500 per year, $10,000 one time)
Everything in Call Center for service providers, with up to 100 tenants on one server.
Ways to pay less
FusionPBX
No public discounts listed.
VitalPBX
- Annual discount
Two free months on annual plans
The pricing page says annual plans get two free months; for example Enterprise is $1,000 a year against $100 a month.
- Lifetime license
One-time license purchase
Enterprise, Call Center and Multi-Tenant can be bought once, at $4,000, $8,000 and $10,000, instead of billed monthly or yearly.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, FusionPBX or VitalPBX?
As of Nov 13, 2026, VitalPBX is cheaper to start with: $18.75 a month when paid by the year, against $100 a month for FusionPBX. FusionPBX starts at $100 per month (Green membership, optional), and VitalPBX starts at $225 per year and up (VitalPBX One, priced by extensions).
Which has a free plan, FusionPBX or VitalPBX?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both FusionPBX and VitalPBX have a free plan.
Which platforms do FusionPBX and VitalPBX run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only VitalPBX lists Windows, iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.