VoIP Softphone | Definition & Features

A VoIP softphone is a program that installs to and runs from your computer. A VoIP softphone enables you to make calls with just your computer using a VoIP service. Skype, iChat, and GoogleTalk are some of the more popular services, but there are many different ones available for you to choose from.

A VoIP softphone is accessible wherever you have a computer with you and there are both paid and free VoIP softphones. Companies often offer their own proprietary softphones that are configured to work with their services like Cisco and Counterpath.

The VoIP softphones are designed to be intuitive to use and most resemble an actual phone handset. Or you can choose to have the layout show your contacts if that makes calls easier. You can either click the buttons on the interface to dial or use the number pad on your keyboard.

VoIP softphones are only a program on the computer, so a headset with a microphone or an internal microphone and speakers are also needed to make the calls. Headsets prices start at a very affordable $5-$10 for a standard configuration and can get up in the $100-$200 area for a high-quality wireless headset with a long battery life and interchangeable ear pieces.

Who Can Benefit From VoIP Softphones?

Softphones can be used by anybody with a computer. There are a few types of users who can really benefit from the features of a VoIP softphone:

VoIP beginners
Heavy travelers
Telecommuters
Call center employees
Small businesses
Frequent long-distance callers

Find out How Softphone can boost your business

VoIP beginners can quickly and cheaply explore how the service works by downloading a VoIP softphone to make free computer-to-computer or computer-to-phone calls. Heavy travellers can avoid racking up large bills on their mobile phones or at hotels by using a low-cost VoIP service with a VoIP softphone. Telecommuters can register a VoIP softphone with their office PBX system to enjoy the same call features available to them at the office while they are on the move. Call centre employees and small businesses can save on costs by pairing a VoIP service with a softphone to avoid purchasing and maintaining desk phones. International and long-distance rates are much lower when using a VoIP softphone so those making regular or frequent calls out-of-state or country can cut some major costs.

VoIP Softphone Features

VoIP softphones offer the same features that traditional phones offer and more:

Call forwarding
Call conferencing
Hold capabilities
Call transferring
Voicemail
Greeting capabilities
Text, IM, and video capabilities
Echo cancellation to improve sound quality
Contact list/address book

Softphones also use less energy than phone and phone system hardware, which saves on costs and is useful for green companies.

VoIP Softphone Protocols

VoIP service uses different protocols to determine how the data is processed and transferred over the network. Your VoIP softphone needs to support the same protocol your VoIP service uses.

Softphones like Skype and Gizmo are pre-configured with a VoIP service, but most other softphones support the SIP protocol and can be used with any SIP-based VoIP service. Other protocols supported by softphones are H.323, MGCP, Cisco’s proprietary skinny protocol SCCP, and Asterisk’s proprietary protocol IAX.

Examples of Softphones

Commercial Softphones

3CX – Powerful UC solution with integrated softphones for Windows out of the box. Includes: Presence, chat, setting up conferences and more.
Elastix – An out-of-the-box UC solution integrated with softphones for Mac & Windows, which also comes with additional free features such as, Presence, chat, integrated web conferencing and more.
gtalX – Voice-only client for Gtalk (using Google Voice technology).
Softphone.Pro – Windows 7/8/10 softphone for business users. Specially developed for call center agents, sales managers and phone receptionists. Provides essential integration features such as click-to-call, screen pop-up and call history for any 3-rd party webwindows CRM and Helpdesk software.

Soft Phones (Open Source)

Where the software source code is available for users to use, redistribute and modify.

Model	Description
ActXPhone	An ActiveX-Control SIP Softphone.
Coccinella	A Multi Platform XMPP Client with whiteboard written in Tcl/Tk. Since version 0.96.19 with enabled IAX2 phone.
Ekiga	SIP, H.323 audio and video softphone for various linux, solaris, windows, and various unix systems. Formerly GnomeMeeting
IAXComm	IAX2 softphone for Windows, Linux & MacOSX using IAXClient.
iDoubs	SIP 3GPP IMS softphone for iOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch)
IMSDroid	SIP 3GPP IMS softphone for Android.
Jitsi	SIP Java based softphone (formerly called SIP Communicator).
JsPhone	Java SIP softphone with video support.
Kiax	IAX softphone for Linux using QT (runs well also on GNOME), ported to Windows (QT4).
KPhone	SIP softphone for KDE.
JPhone	Juphoon open source business softphone SDK support Linux, Windows, Threax and more OS.
Linphone	Video softphone for Linux/Windows/MacOS, available also for mobiles: Android, iOS.
macPhone	Zero Config SIP softphone for Mac, based on Telephone.
MozPhone	IAX addon. Text and URL support, and manager interface. http://moziax.mozdev.org>MozIAX
OpenPhone	OpenH323.
OpenSoftphone	Simple SIP softphone based on PjSip.
Peers	Minimalist SIP softphone written in Java. Tested on Linux and Windows. ITU G.711.
SFLphone	Multiplatform softphone from Savoir-faire Linux, SIP, IAX.
Telephone	SIP softphone for Mac OS X written in Objective-C/Cocoa.
tSIP	Portable Windows SIP softphone with BLF, call recording, programmable keypad, click-to-dial.
Twinkle	SIP softphone for Linux.
wxCommunicator	SIP Windows, C++, based on sipXtapi.

Soft Phones (Free, not Open Source)

Soft Phones in this category should be completely free to use and not bound to only one or a few providers.

3CX VOIP Phone for Windows – Free SIP / VOIP phone for Windows
Billion Phone – Freeware SIP-phone for Windows with on-screen customer balance.
call.center softphone – Free and cross-platform SIP-based phone app for multi-party conferencing with innovative drag and drop UI.
Cubix – IAX and SIP Protocol support for Windows.
Dialplate Receptionist Console Softphone – SIP Softphone optimized for receptionist attendant use.
Diamondcard.us Softphone – Worlds first IAX softphone with a flash interface. Private label available. Easy install.
DIAX – IAX protocol softphone, iax1/2 vb client
Elasix VoIP for Linux and Windows – Free SIP phone for Linux and Windows
ENUM RTC Softphone – Windows Softphone with ENUM support
Express Talk Softphone – Express Talk SIP Softphone for Windows (free)
X-TAPI lite/Pro – TAPI-based SIP Softphone for MS Windows. 9,95 EUR. Also has a free soft phone.
iaxLite – IAX softphone with AU-100 USB phone set support.
IAXOCX – A free IAX2 ActiveX Control based on iaxclient by ipxchina.
JackenIAX – IAX2 Softphone for Macintosh Mac OS X 10.4.
MizuPhone – A new fully featured and costumizable softphone with G729 codec
NX-VNS – A tiny VoIP node simulator for testing VoIP systems It runs on Windows, available for SIP on IPv4/IPv6 (UDP/TCP/TLS), voice on sRTP with G.711/G.729, and with rich features for testing.
PCBest Network – A Free SIP ActiveX Control to download. It can be used in IE or Other Windows applications. It support multiple audio codecs and NAT, STUN.
Phoner Windows SIP softphone (also supports ISDN cards)
PhonerLite Windows SIP softphone
RAKETU – Voice, DialOut, All messengers, Media Player, SMS, RSS, IPTV/VOD, (Communication, Information, Entertainment)
sipc – SIP ua for Windows, Solaris & Linux. Includes support for Video & Whiteboard
sipLite – SIP softphone with G729 codec.
sipps – Free lite version of sipps
SJphone – SIP, H.323. Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Pocket PC.
Skylar Lite – Brotecs Technologies is releasing FREE version Skylar Lite, Next Generation Smart SIP Soft-Phone for iOS and Android.
Telesis XPhone – VoIP softphone for Telesis IP PBX systems. The applied VoIP protocol is Telesis xSIP (eXtended SIP) protocol
Tpad – The Global VoIP Network – Free PC VoIP SIP Softphone / Dialler for Windows 98/ME/2000/VISTA, SIP softphone supports STUN (stun.tpad.com) with choice of G711 / G729 codec.
Voix Phone – Free IAX/AX2 Softphone for Windows, Linux & MacOSX.
wxCommunicatorLite – A free SIP softphone for windows system. it is very easy to use!
Zoiper – IAX / IAX2 and SIP softphone, g729 (optional), customization packages, various features; for Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
Zultys phones – SIP softphone for Linux – basic free, extra features chargeable

Soft Phones which don’t fit into any of the above categories.

Adore Softphone for Mobile and PC user – SIP base White Label Mobile and PC Softphone Software
Bicom Systems gloCOM – A desktop and mobile business softphone that enhances and simplifies day-to-day business communications with drag-and-drop calling, instant messaging, fax, conferencing, presence, and more.
CrayWebphone – (pass: haslo) IAX WEBPHONE written in Java with GSM and uLaw codec. Very simple. Possibility to change appearance and to add new features.
CounterPath – formerly Xten – Bria 3.5, Bria Android Edition, Bria iPhone Edition, eyeBeam, X-Lite free download.
Database Systems Corp. Softphone – Windows and Linux Softphone software with IVR and Voice broadcasting features.
Dialexia – Dial-com Windows SIP phone
Dialplate Receptionist Console Softphone – SIP Softphone optimized for receptionist attendant use.
eScSoftphone – IAX softphone for Pocket PC runs on 3G and Wifi. Also available in Handango
eStara – Commercial SIP softphone for Windows
eyeP Media – SIP, MGCP, and H.323 softphones and SDK software
EZ-Phone from Flextronics
IAX Phone – IAX2 and IAX protocol Windows softphone
InstaVoIP™ Mobile by (Unicoi Systems, Inc.) – VoIP solution for Apple iOS (iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad®) and Google Android™ (VoIP/SIP SoftPhone demo included)
IP Blue – SCCP softphone for Windows
Keyyo Phone – SIP softphone for Android, iOS, Windows and Mac. Free download on the App Store & Google Play. Business Softphone for the entreprise with switchboard functionality. Communicate by voice, video and instant messaging. Proprietary software.
Localphone– Offer a free VoIP softphone with all accounts. Windows, Linux and Mac OS X versions available.
LoudHush – IAX softphone for MacOS X – the only truly native softphone for the Mac
Link 7 Technology Research (L7TR) – L7TR is a research and development company with focus on VoIP, Internet
of Things, Cyber-Physical Systems and Data Networks with two flagship products PXO+ and VPS+. PXO+ is a very flexible softphone with hundreds of configurable features ranging from fax and codecs to voice XML including the latest security enhancements. VPS+ is a distributed protocol emulator, tester and Quality Assurance tool that supports several state-of-the-art technologies including VoIP, IoT, CPS and data networks in general. Both PXO+ and VPS+ are free for personal and educational use.
MailVision – MailVision’s Commercial SIP Soft Phone, a demo can be obtained.
Microsoft Windows Messenger – SIP support
myJabber – SIP client for Windows, combined with Jabber Instant Messenger
Optima Dialer – A popular mobile dialer solution for VoIP service providers. It can work on low bandwidth networks and can deliver excellent voice quality even at 6 kbps bandwidth.
PBX in a Flash – A high-performance PBX solution with complete with unified communications features such as video conferencing, chat, presence, softphones for Windows and Mac and smartphone clients for iOS and Android.
PC-Tone – H323 softphone with NAT capability
Pulver Communicator – Video, Voice, IM, and RSS/Atom reader all-in-one program
SessionTalk – SIP Softphone for iPhone and Android. Features include Video and Messaging. G729 codec available as in app purchase.
SipLinks WebPhone – Customizable SIP WebPhone for Web sites
sipps – Commercial SIP softphone for Windows. Includes answering machine and proprietary encryption
Skylar – Brotecs Technologies is releasing Skylar, Next Generation Smart SIP Soft-Phone for iOS and Android.
TeamCenter – Commercial SIP client with Outlook integration, graphical voicemail manager and server based phone book.
Telesis WebPhone – Java SIP softphone or client applet hosted in Telesis IP PBX systems for web browser calls.
Tpad – The Global Phone Network – Audio/IM/Dialpad. Free SIP -based VoIP Softphone / Dialler, G711,G729, STUN Server (stun.tpad.com), custom SIP stack, address book, private contacts book, call forwarding and free voicemail / free $0.20 test call credit / free global SIP telephone number. (runs on XP / 2000 / VISTA)
Ubiquity SIP User Agent – Java based softphone
Voice Operator Panel – Professional SIP softphone for operators and receptionists with Outlook/LDAP/MSN/CRM integration, built-in web browser and e-mailer.
x164 Route for Profit – Is an Outsourced Telecom Service, including Hosted rates, routes and statistics, Online routing by highest profit, Call data records database, Online rate generator and Hosted softswitch. x164 is the official reseller of iXLink.

Soft Phones (discontinued)

Projects which are probably discontinued

ArrowPhone
ATCOM VoXPro
Atlasphone (Atlas OnLine)
Bicom Systems ACMON has been replaced by gloCOM
Bicom Systems AQMON has been replaced by gloCOM
Bicom Systems Presence Panel has been replaced by gloCOM
BonePhone || Linux SIP softphone in Java.
CPhone: H.323 Multi-platform
Discontinued – Firefly: IAX SIP protocol softphone for Windows , and With Wine on LINUX — Renamed to: Cubix.
GnomeMeeting: Replaced by Ekiga
GnoPhone: IAX protocol softphone for Linux. Abandonware!
IXC SoftPhone IXC SoftPhone
Jin300 software phone
minisip || Softphone for Linux with support for additional security features.
Mobile IAX || IAX softphone.
OpenZoep || Softphone engine.
PhoneGaim Linux and Windows softphone with instant messaging, SIP.
ReadyToPhone
SCS-Client from Siemens, discontinued?
SIPHON: SIP
SNOM softphone
TerraCall X-Pro Business Edition xten
ZiaxPhone || SIP and IAX softphone for the Sharp Zaurus PDA.

Soft Phones (Voice and Video)

Soft phones with video telephony support.

3CX – native softphones for Windows as well as a web client which all allow for easy web conferencing based on Google’s WebRTC standard.
Adore Softphone for Mobile and PC user – SIP base White Label Mobile and PC Softphone Software
Anveo Communicator can be used on a PC or from a web browser. Features include: HD Voice, FREE Video Calls, FREE Audio Calls, FREE chat, Video and Audio Group Calls, Make Phone Calls, Answer Phone Calls. It also includes business essential features such as Desktop Sharing, Business Grade XMPP based IM, Voicemail, Integration with Anveo Visual Call Flow, ability to monitor calls of employees and more.
BOL SIP Phone SIP softphone with G729A codec, available for private label and logo. Support multi profiles, 3 way conference, video conference and has a bypass VoIP blocking Solution ( for Windows )
Comdial – Audio/Video Soft Phones
CounterPath – formerly Xten – eyebeam SIP video softphone; with SUBSCRIBE / NOTIFY support (BLF)
CPhone H.323
damaka: SIP P2P voice and multi-party video w/IPTV, IP Radio, desktop sharing, voice commands, and IMConnectivity to Yahoo, AOL, MSN, Google
Ekiga: SIP, H.323 audio and video softphone for Linux (not still in Windows)
Elastix – Inclusive softphones for Windows and Mac as well as a web client which all allow for easy web conferencing based on Google’s WebRTC standard.
Eyeball Messenger – VoIP, Video Telephony, Presence and IM. SIP-based Soft Phones
Forever4035 UA Softphone for Alcatel OmniPCX – Windows .NET emulation of the Alcatel 4035 IP hard phone + video + toolbars for desktop & IE, telephony presence, first-party CTI & SDK (dll & xml-rpc).
GnomeMeeting H.323 now migrating to SIP with new version, Zeroconf support
http://www.globaliptel.com – PC-Phone (RTC) | A FREE “”after work”” Phone including advertising-engine
iDoubs – Audio/Video client for iOS (iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch)
IMSDroid – Audio/Video client for Android
Linphone: SIP free (open-source) softphone for Linux/Windows/MacOS with MPEG4, H264 and VP8 video codecs.
MailVision : MailVision’s Commercial SIP Soft Phone, a demo can be obtained.
Microappliances SIP Active-X Client Installable links on Websites
Microsoft Portrait
Microsoft Windows Messenger
Mirial Softphone – SIP & H323 Softphone, Conferencing, H261, H263+ and H264 codecs, QFIC, CIF, 4CIF and 720p resolutions up to 30 FPS, GUI Customization
MythPhone SIP
OfficeSIP Messenger A freeware SIP based audio/video/instant messaging communicator.
OmniSession : A SIP Multimedia Softphone, Audio/Video/Collaboration/Universal IM/Whiteboard and more
OpenWengo: GPL, multi-platform, SIP, voice+video
Pulver Communicato Video, Voice, IM, and RSS/Atom reader all-in-one program
SCS-Client from Siemens
Siemens Schweiz AG
SIP COMMUNICATOR Java based, supporting SRTP, ZRTP, and TLS
SmeetX ActiveX control integrated in IE and C# forms, H.323, SIP, H.264, MPEG-4, H.263+, AMR, Speex, iLBC, etc.
Tragofone: a white-label VoIP softphone backed by WebRTC and auto-provisioning is a perfect choice to maintain uninterrupted business communication anywhere, anytime.
Worksmart Multimedia Client: Provides voice, video, messaging, collaboration with Worksmart appliances and hosted service.]
Zap: A Mozilla based SIP Client, Windows and Linux support

What is a VoIP Softphone?