free license (self managed or on premise) no longer available?

[ATS_Tao]

a few of 3CX install we manage are on free standard license. I don't see any free license available apart from the hosted startup? is free license no longer available for self managed and on premise 3CX installs?

 

[bitn2]

No, it will be sure avaiable untill 30.06.23 and after that no one knows...

 

[ATS_Tao]

our first to expire is 18th March so I will report back as to what happens after that. if no free license is going to be available, our SME customers will have to move away from 3CX. Shame

 

[Evolute IT]

our first to expire is 18th March so I will report back as to what happens after that. if no free license is going to be available, our SME customers will have to move away from 3CX. Shame

You can use StartUP which is the new free offerring,

Or buy Pro licenses which are cheap.

Otherwise, yeah sure move away from 3CX. We'll wait for you to come back because every other platform is more expensive, so if free is necessary, good luck finding other things.

 

[GabrielaS_3CX]

Free licenses are an investment we do to create business opportunities for our partners. Free licenses have been a great tool to present to our customers the benefits of 3CX. We don't expect our Partners to create a business model offering free licenses.

For small companies, StartUP is the best option as customers will have a professional PBX managed by 3CX, therefore, our Partners will have all the time to focus on closing projects!

At the moment we are providing StartUP PRO to all customers so our partners can present the PRO functionalities to them. When the final version is released our Partners will be able to offer StartUP Free and StartUP PRO.

Trial keys are still available, they are valid for 60 days and we also offer 60 days of free 3CX hosting! Our Partners can request a PoC if they want their client to test a PRO or ENT edition.

This being said, I will share with you what is happening with the free keys:

• 3CX free edition = StartUP Free
• Free keys issued before the 15th of Dec 2022: will stop be extending
• Free keys issued on the 15th of Dec onwards: will be valid for 60 days only. Partners can buy an upgrade to these keys

 

[thomasdb]

i don't comprehend , wil this mean we can only use the webclient on 3cx hosted for free, because at the time login is not possible on the actual configuration there.
on a cloud instance it is accessbible and it works as one hosted on my windows computer under the free 4 sim calls licence but this option wil dissapear? i prefer to host self because of recording being ' in own hands' ?
i use 3cx on analog lines what trigger my door alarms and such then i receive a phone call of a sensor goes off, it works locally so it keeps logging etc without an internet connection this is important for tha use case

 

[Evolute IT]

i don't comprehend , wil this mean we can only use the webclient on 3cx hosted for free, because at the time login is not possible on the actual configuration there.
on a cloud instance it is accessbible and it works as one hosted on my windows computer under the free 4 sim calls licence but this option wil dissapear? i prefer to host self because of recording being ' in own hands' ?
i use 3cx on analog lines what trigger my door alarms and such then i receive a phone call of a sensor goes off, it works locally so it keeps logging etc without an internet connection this is important for tha use case

Then just buy a cheap Pro 4SC license and you'll keep all your config and on-prem stuff.

You just replace the key or upgrade it. Super simple.

 

[N_G]

I will make a detailed reply in the coming days... Gabriela made a great summary but existing keys however will be extended albeit with a few provisos....

 

[thomasdb]

@ConceptsWeb : sorry i dont consider 150$ for a 4sc local 3cx yearly cheap for hobby use. not even 50. i came to 3cx for it was free , had 8sc, capable of ring groups, and local. i'm not in need of cloud, ivr , videocalls and all extra's. i noticed recording also is not available free anymore. but, everything ?anyway probably will be out of luck for finding a locally hosted alternative program, so it wil be the end of that hobby . my 'older( but plenty ) 'ata's ed wil be rendered useless . i might be mistaking so i interestedly await the upcoming info.

 

[SnakeRiverWebDevelopment]

sorry i dont consider 150$ for a 4sc local 3cx yearly cheap for hobby use. not even 50. i came to 3cx for it was free , had 8sc, capable of ring groups, and local. i'm not in need of cloud, ivr , videocalls and all extra's. i noticed recording also is not available free anymore. but, everything ?anyway probably will be out of luck for finding a locally hosted alternative program, so it wil be the end of that hobby . my 'older( but plenty ) 'ata's ed wil be rendered useless . i might be mistaking so i interestedly await the upcoming info.

You could always use FreePBX!!! and $150/y is very cheap for what you get. WOW

 

[thomasdb]

@SnakeRiverWebDevelopment thanks for the advice i havent searched for it yet, since 3cx is stil here running locally. before that i used mizuVOIP what was basically a program in windows without webpage access ed. switched to 3cx for it handled bidirectional audio easier . i also liked i could integrate a chat window in my wordpress website
still, 150 is alot sorry if that sounds abnormal. it is not perpetual either

 

[N_G]

So in a nutshell:

New free self host/ on premise licenses are no longer available. Our new free offer is StartUP
Existing free licenses - one per customer account. Partners (bronze and up) can have more free licenses but within reason and should be registered to enduser. Of course we do expect partners to upsell to Pro or else move to StartUP free.
Mailings will be sent out and there will be ample time to rectify

 

[thomasdb]

First, thanks for this quick and clear reply.

Thus then i'm lucky because i already am a user of a free licence , am (very) thankfull to hear this.
But; for new users can i suggest for example keeping a 1 SC free licence locally hosted available ?
For my purpose or similar (-> (free)local home alarm with sensors), this would already suffice

morely also for i had fun playing around with it , 3cx is an excellent software , and it seems to me hobbyists wil have to miss out if it only has the webclient available later? i considered the learning and configuration very interesting and educational.

kind regards

 

[N_G]

Thank you for your feedback and nice words. Yes, the 4 SC is nice for learning but also became a support overhead. Nonetheless we will take your feedback onboard.

I do believe that the StartUP edition is very useful for learning too - you can configure IP phones, SIP trunks, Whatsapp etc everything except the actual OS... And the hosting is included for free. Its much easier and cheaper to manage for smaller installs compared to a full installation.

 

[bitn2]

Free licenses are an investment we do to create business opportunities for our partners. Free licenses have been a great tool to present to our customers the benefits of 3CX. We don't expect our Partners to create a business model offering free licenses.

For small companies, StartUP is the best option as customers will have a professional PBX managed by 3CX, therefore, our Partners will have all the time to focus on closing projects!

At the moment we are providing StartUP PRO to all customers so our partners can present the PRO functionalities to them. When the final version is released our Partners will be able to offer StartUP Free and StartUP PRO.

Trial keys are still available, they are valid for 60 days and we also offer 60 days of free 3CX hosting! Our Partners can request a PoC if they want their client to test a PRO or ENT edition.

This being said, I will share with you what is happening with the free keys:

• 3CX free edition = StartUP Free
• Free keys issued before the 15th of Dec 2022: will stop be extending
• Free keys issued on the 15th of Dec onwards: will be valid for 60 days only. Partners can buy an upgrade to these keys

Thx for clarification, but what happens with any pro or enterprise license when its not renewed? Will it fall back to a free one?

 

[SnakeRiverWebDevelopment]

So on the website it use to say that 3CX Standard is free forever… that’s no really true??!

Standard has been discounted and replaced with Startup, so the answer is you will have to upgrade to pro. if you want to use self hosted

 

[SteveITS]

on the website it use to say that 3CX Standard is free forever… that’s no really true??!

The wording above, "Free keys issued before the 15th of Dec 2022: will stop be extending" I think is confusing. 3CX emailed us (partners) today that "for the moment, nothing" changes for free keys from before Dec. 15. Free/PoC keys from that day forward will expire after 60 days and need to be replaced/upgraded.

 

[SteveITS]

The 10 users free is for StartUP Free. I understand your frustration but a Pro 4 SC is only $145 a year...what would be the breakeven on a hardware PBX? Counting hosting (or self-hosting) vs the inevitable hardware replacement?

If they are continuing the FREE license for existing accounts then I don't really see an issue with the word "forever" unless the question is a new FREE license acquired after Dec. 15, or they stop renewing the older ones.

 

[SteveITS]

So yours was acquired/set up in the last couple months? Then I guess you have a valid complaint, if that wasn't stated at the time. (I admit I hadn't paid close attention to the free versions)

 

[hitmusic]

I've been using self-hosted 3CX for a year now and choose it because we are a small not for profit organisation.

If the free key isn't extended it... for the occasional phone call we do receive - it will be cheaper to just go back to a normal phone line after racking up the cost.

I hope they re-evaluate this or even offer a life-time or cheaper option for charity and not-for-profit organisations who are already struggling in this current climate without this added cost.