FreeSWITCH

Self-Hosted

Open-source cross-platform telephony platform for SIP and real-time communication

Overview

FreeSWITCH is a scalable, open-source telephony platform supporting SIP, WebRTC, VoIP, and traditional telephony. It enables building PBX systems, IVRs, conferencing, call routing, and unified communications solutions. Deployable via Docker, bare metal, or cloud; supports custom modules and scripting (Lua, JavaScript) for extensibility. Ideal for businesses, service providers, or developers needing flexible self-hosted communication infrastructure with robust security and compliance options.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE


version: '3'
services:
  free_switch:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: free-switch
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

Supports SIP, WebRTC, VoIP, and traditional telephony protocols
Extensible via Lua/JavaScript scripting and custom modules
Scalable for small businesses to enterprise/service provider use cases
Built-in PBX, IVR, conferencing, and call routing functionality

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is FreeSWITCH hard to install?

Installation varies: Docker images simplify setup for beginners, but bare-metal or custom deployments require familiarity with telephony concepts and server admin. Documentation and community forums help, but advanced configs need technical skills.

? Is it a good alternative to proprietary SIP platforms like Cisco Unified CM?

Yes—FreeSWITCH offers core features (PBX, IVR, conferencing) with greater flexibility and no licensing costs. It’s ideal for users preferring self-hosted control, though proprietary tools may have more out-of-the-box enterprise support.

? Is it completely free?

Yes—FreeSWITCH is open-source under MPL 2.0, so it’s free to use, modify, and distribute. No subscription fees exist, though commercial support or custom development services may incur costs if needed.

Top Alternatives

Cisco Unified Communications Manager Search Google

Avaya IP Office Search Google

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source

Category Communication - SIP

Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

⊕ Open-source (no licensing fees)
⊕ Highly customizable and extensible
⊕ Self-hosted for full privacy and control
⊕ Supports multiple communication standards

Cons

⊖ Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
⊖ Requires ongoing server maintenance
⊖ Advanced setups need telephony expertise