Introducing OpenWebPBX: An Open-Source, Self-Hosted Business Phone System

Asif Riaz — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 17:47:03 +0000

Business phone systems are essential for many organizations, but finding a solution that offers flexibility, control, and accessible source code can be challenging.

I'd like to introduce OpenWebPBX, an open-source, self-hosted PBX project built on FreeSWITCH and FusionPBX technologies.

I'm helping introduce this project to the developer community with the project's permission.

What is OpenWebPBX?

OpenWebPBX is a multi-tenant business phone system with a web-based administration interface inspired by the Windows 11 desktop experience.

The project aims to make everyday PBX administration easier while keeping the software self-hosted and its source code publicly available.

Key Features

OpenWebPBX includes:

Multi-tenant management: Manage separate organizations and their phone configurations.
SIP trunks: Configure providers and business calling connections.
Call routing: Set up office hours, departments, and incoming call destinations.
Call queues: Organize incoming calls and agent availability.
Receptionist tools: Manage calls, transfers, and related workflows.
Backups and restore: Support encrypted backups and recovery.
Android calling app: Use the companion OpenWebPBX Free Phone application.
Web-based administration: Manage PBX settings through a desktop-style interface.

Current Release: 1.0.16

Version 1.0.16 is available for the Debian 13 server and Android app.

This release includes Meet audio/video conferencing, voicemail access through extension 121, and optional native video calling between colleagues on Android.

The project also provides installation documentation, release downloads, and feature-coverage reports.

Some areas still require additional real-world verification, including physical phone behavior, carrier cutovers, certain network conditions, and broader device compatibility. Full feature parity with 3CX remains a roadmap goal rather than a completed claim.

Is OpenWebPBX Free?

The project states that no OpenWeb software license fee is charged.

However, self-hosting infrastructure, SIP carriers, and optional third-party services may have separate costs.

The project retains the applicable licenses and notices of its underlying components. Its native Android client is licensed under AGPL-3.0-or-later.

Getting Started

You can explore the project here:

Official website: https://openwebpbx.com/

GitHub repository: https://github.com/embire2/openwebpbx

Version 1.0.16 downloads: https://github.com/embire2/openwebpbx/releases/tag/v1.0.16

If you're considering a deployment, review the installation guide and feature-coverage documentation, and test your own SIP provider and phones before moving production calls.

Feedback Welcome

I'd be interested to hear from developers, system administrators, and VoIP enthusiasts:

What do you look for in a self-hosted PBX?
Which installation or configuration steps tend to be the most difficult?
What would you want to see improved in an open-source business phone system?

Feel free to explore the repository and share constructive feedback.

Thanks for reading!