Asterisk VS freePBX

Asterisk vs FreePBX: Which VoIP Platform Is Right for You?

Asterisk and FreePBX are two of the most popular VoIP solutions used across the U.S. for business phone systems, call centers, and unified communication setups. Both allow you to create strong telephony systems, however there is a difference in the ease of use, configuration complexity and the amount of power that each will provide.

Asterisk is an open-source telephony engine that is highly flexible and also provides you with the full control of your PBX. FreePBX is a web based system which is developed on Asterisk and is easy to install, route calls and manage calls. But, which tool is right for you?

In this guide we will compare them across setup, usability, features, scalability, support, pricing, and more to help you choose the right VoIP system.

Key Differences Between Asterisk and FreePBX

• Architecture: Asterisk is the telephony engine, whereas FreePBX is a PBX platform that uses Asterisk behind the scenes.
• Best Use Cases: Asterisk is the best option for developers and custom deployments. FreePBX is the best option for businesses that need instant access to PBX phone features.
• Support Ecosystem: Asterisk relies mainly on community knowledge and documentation. FreePBX provides both community and commercial support.
• Learning Curve: Asterisk requires deep technical knowledge and is therefore steep. FreePBX is easier to learn, especially for non-developers.
• Maintenance: Asterisk is managed through CLI (command line interface), whereas FreePBX is managed through web controls for updates, modules, and routing.

Asterisk vs FreePBX: Comparison Table

Asterisk vs FreePBX: Ease of Use

If you use Asterisk, then you need to manually edit configuration files, understand dial plans and you must have a deep knowledge of Linux. This tool is designed for technical users who would like to develop systems from scratch.

FreePBX on the other hand, has the visual interface with call flows, IVR menus, queues and extensions. Users can easily handle it using simple menus. This makes FreePBX a great platform for newbies and IT departments.

FreePBX vs Asterisk: Setup and Deployment

Since users have to set up Asterisk manually, they must create SIP trunks, dial plans, extensions and routing logic using CLI. Furthermore, the initial set up cost can be high with Asterisk. Whereas, FreePBX has an installer, inbuilt modules and templates that are ready to use and make deployment easier. FreePBX can be installed easily compared to Asterix.

Asterisk vs FreePBX: Customization and Flexibility

Asterisk can be very flexible since there is no restriction on how you can build a PBX. FreePBX is built on top of the Asterisk modules that typically covers the majority of business requirements. Yet it might not permit highly custom logic without additional development. So, businesses in the US choose Asterisk over FreePBX for customization and flexibility.

Asterisk or FreePBX: Feature Set

Asterisk offers multiple features and It provides a vast toolkit of low-level components, although most of these features have to be built manually. FreePBX comes with the built in facilities such as IVR, call queues, conference rooms, voicemail to email, call recording and time conditions. Furthermore, since FreepBX is built on top of Asterisk, it offers a more accessible and ready-to-use feature set for building an IP PBX.

Asterisk versus FreePBX: Performance and Scalability

Both platforms have strong scalability features. Asterisk is more ideal for large-scale highly customized applications. FreePBX works great for small and mid sized businesses without complexities.

FreePBX versus Asterisk: Monitoring and Reporting

Asterisk provides detailed raw call data, so users need external tools or custom development to convert it into human-readable reports. It is for engineers who want complete control of the calling system. FreePBX also uses the same Asterisk data, but makes it easy to access the information through user-friendly dashboards, call detail reports, queue reports, and real-time wallboards.

When to Choose Asterisk or FreePBX

Final Verdict: Asterisk or FreePBX

If you are looking for a communication system that can be totally customized, Asterisk is definitely the right choice. If you like a straightforward PBX platform that is ready to use and very easy to operate, then FreePBX is your best bet. FreePBX is more convenient for most U.S. companies, whereas Asterisk is the favorite choice of developers and power users for custom jobs.

If you are still confused, then you can contact our software experts or the Techjockey Team for a free consultation on the best VoIP platform.