Microsoft Teams Phone vs. 3CX: Which Is Right for Your Business?

More and more businesses are replacing their old phone system with one that runs over the internet. Two of the most common choices we set up are Microsoft Teams Phone and 3CX. Both are solid. The right one depends on how your team works.

Microsoft Teams Phone in a nutshell

Teams Phone adds regular phone calling to Microsoft Teams. If your team already chats and meets in Teams all day, calls simply show up in the same app on their computer or cell phone, and Teams-certified desk phones are available for people who want them.

• Best for: teams that already use Microsoft 365 and Teams every day.
• Good to know: each user needs a Teams Phone license, plus a way to connect to the phone network (a Microsoft calling plan or a phone carrier that connects to Teams).
• Strengths: one app for chat, meetings, and calls, managed alongside the rest of your Microsoft 365.

3CX in a nutshell

3CX is a dedicated business phone system. It can be hosted for you, and staff use desk phones, the 3CX app on their computer, or the 3CX app on their cell phone, all under your business number.

• Best for: businesses that want a full-featured phone system, call queues for a front desk or service team, or live chat on their website.
• Good to know: 3CX is its own app, separate from Teams.
• Strengths: call queues, auto-attendants, wide desk phone support, and website live chat that rings the same team that answers your phones.

How to choose

• Where does your team already work? If the answer is "in Teams," Teams Phone keeps everything in one place.
• Do you run a busy front desk or call queue? 3CX's queue and reporting features are a strong fit.
• Do you want website chat tied to your phones? That's built into 3CX.
• Who will manage it? Either way, someone needs to set up numbers, call menus, and business hours, and handle changes when people come and go.

What we recommend

There isn't one right answer for everyone, which is why we don't push a single platform. We set up and manage Teams Phone, 3CX, RingCentral, Cytracom, Yeastar, and Ubiquiti UniFi Talk. Tell us how your team works and we'll recommend what fits, then move your existing numbers over so customers keep calling the numbers they already know.