How We Evaluated SIP Trunk Providers
Choosing the right SIP trunk provider impacts your call quality, monthly costs, and the reliability of your entire phone system. We evaluated providers across six core criteria that matter most to businesses deploying SIP trunking in 2026.
Pricing Transparency
Are rates published clearly? Hidden fees? Per-channel charges vs. per-minute billing?
Call Quality
Codec support, network routing, and real-world audio performance on domestic and international calls.
Reliability & Uptime
Carrier redundancy, geographic failover, and published SLA guarantees.
Platform Compatibility
Works with Asterisk, FreePBX, 3CX, FusionPBX, and other popular PBX platforms.
Support Quality
Response times, availability of human support, and technical expertise of the team.
Scalability
Ability to grow from a few channels to hundreds without friction or renegotiation.
Disclosure: IPComms is our own service and appears in this comparison. We have done our best to present an honest, fact-based evaluation. All pricing data was verified as of February 2026. We encourage you to test multiple providers before committing.
#1 IPComms — Best Overall
IPComms is a US-based SIP trunking provider that has been serving businesses since 2002. Unlike many providers that have pivoted to API-first or UCaaS models, IPComms remains focused on delivering reliable, affordable SIP trunks with hands-on human support. There are no channel fees, no long-term contracts, and pricing is straightforward per-minute billing.
Pros
- ✓ No per-channel fees — pay only for usage
- ✓ No contracts or commitments required
- ✓ Human support from real SIP engineers
- ✓ In business since 2002 (20+ years)
- ✓ Supports Asterisk, FreePBX, 3CX, FusionPBX, and more
- ✓ Free test trunks available
Cons
- • Smaller provider (though this means more personal service)
- • No built-in API for programmatic voice (SIP-focused)
Pricing
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Outbound calls (US/CA) | $0.010/min |
| Inbound calls | $0.009/min |
| Channel fee | $0.00 (none) |
| DID numbers | From $1.00/mo |
| Setup fee | $0.00 (none) |
Best For: Businesses that want dedicated, human support and transparent per-minute pricing without channel fees or contracts. Especially well-suited for PBX users running Asterisk, FreePBX, or 3CX.
#2 Twilio — Best for Developers
Twilio is the go-to platform for developers who need programmable voice. Their Elastic SIP Trunking product integrates with their broader communications API platform, making it easy to build custom call flows, IVRs, and voice applications in code. However, this developer-first approach means the product is less accessible for traditional PBX administrators.
Pros
- ✓ Powerful API for custom voice applications
- ✓ Elastic SIP trunking scales automatically
- ✓ Extensive documentation and community
- ✓ Global coverage in 100+ countries
Cons
- • Support is ticket-based; no phone support on basic plans
- • Can be expensive at scale due to per-minute pricing
- • Requires technical knowledge to configure
- • Not ideal for simple PBX trunk connections
Pricing
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Outbound calls (US/CA) | $0.013/min |
| Inbound calls | $0.0085/min |
| Channel fee | None (elastic) |
| DID numbers | From $1.00/mo |
| Setup fee | $0.00 |
Best For: Developers and engineering teams building custom voice applications, programmable IVRs, or applications that need API-level control over call routing.
#3 Telnyx — Best for API + SIP Hybrid
Telnyx positions itself as a developer-friendly alternative to Twilio with a private IP network and competitive pricing. Their Mission Control portal gives you a mix of traditional SIP trunk management and API-driven programmability. Telnyx owns and operates its own network, which gives it more control over call quality than providers who resell capacity.
Pros
- ✓ Private global IP network for better quality
- ✓ Both API and traditional SIP trunk options
- ✓ Competitive per-minute pricing
- ✓ Mission Control portal is well-designed
Cons
- • Support can be slow during peak times
- • Interface can be overwhelming for non-technical users
- • Some features require API integration
Pricing
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Outbound calls (US/CA) | $0.010/min |
| Inbound calls | $0.010/min |
| Channel fee | Per-channel options available |
| DID numbers | From $1.00/mo |
| Setup fee | $0.00 |
Best For: Tech-savvy businesses that want both API programmability and traditional SIP trunk functionality in one platform.
#4 Bandwidth — Enterprise Wholesale
Bandwidth is a Tier 1 carrier that owns and operates its own nationwide voice network. Many well-known communications providers — including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and RingCentral — use Bandwidth as their underlying carrier. If you are a large enterprise looking for direct carrier access with custom pricing, Bandwidth is worth evaluating. However, they primarily serve high-volume accounts with dedicated sales engagement.
Pros
- ✓ Tier 1 carrier — owns its own network
- ✓ Powers many other major providers
- ✓ Enterprise-grade reliability and SLAs
- ✓ APIs available for number management
Cons
- • No public pricing — requires sales contact
- • Not practical for small businesses
- • Long onboarding process for new accounts
- • Minimum volume commitments typical
Pricing
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Outbound calls (US/CA) | Custom (contact sales) |
| Inbound calls | Custom (contact sales) |
| Channel fee | Negotiated |
| DID numbers | Varies by volume |
| Setup fee | Varies |
Best For: Large enterprises with high call volumes that need direct Tier 1 carrier access and are willing to go through a dedicated sales process.
#5 Vonage — UCaaS + SIP
Vonage (now part of Ericsson) offers SIP trunking as part of its broader Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) platform. If you are already using or considering Vonage for your unified communications needs, their SIP trunking integrates seamlessly. However, as a standalone SIP trunk provider, they tend to be more expensive than specialists like IPComms or Telnyx.
Pros
- ✓ Part of a complete UCaaS ecosystem
- ✓ Well-known brand with enterprise recognition
- ✓ Vonage Business Communications integration
- ✓ APIs available through Vonage Communications Platform
Cons
- • Per-line pricing is expensive compared to per-minute
- • Contracts often required
- • SIP trunking is not their core focus anymore
- • Support quality has declined post-acquisition
Pricing
| Item | Rate |
|---|---|
| Per-line cost | $14.99/line/mo |
| Metered outbound | $0.013/min |
| Inbound calls | Included with line |
| DID numbers | Included (1 per line) |
| Contract | 12+ months typical |
Best For: Businesses already invested in the Vonage UCaaS ecosystem that want to add SIP trunking alongside their existing unified communications tools.
SIP Trunk Provider Comparison Table
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the top SIP trunk providers across the criteria that matter most. All pricing reflects standard published rates as of February 2026.
| Provider | Outbound/min | Channel Fee | DID Cost | Contract | Setup Fee | Support | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPComms | $0.010 | None | $1.00/mo | None | Free | Human / Phone | Overall best |
| Twilio | $0.013 | None | $1.00/mo | None | Free | Ticket only | Developers |
| Telnyx | $0.010 | Optional | $1.00/mo | None | Free | Ticket / Chat | API + SIP hybrid |
| Bandwidth | Custom | Negotiated | Varies | Required | Varies | Dedicated AM | Enterprise |
| Vonage | $0.013 | $14.99/line | Included | 12+ months | Free | Phone / Ticket | UCaaS users |
| Flowroute | $0.012 | None | $1.25/mo | None | Free | Ticket / Chat | Small business |
| Voxbone | $0.010 | Per-channel | $1.50/mo | 12 months | Free | Ticket | International DIDs |
| Nextiva | Bundled | $21.95/line | Included | 12+ months | Free | Phone / Chat | All-in-one UCaaS |
| RingCentral | Bundled | $20.00/line | Included | 12+ months | Free | Phone / Chat | Large UCaaS |
| 8x8 | Bundled | $24.00/line | Included | 12+ months | Free | Phone / Chat | Global UCaaS |
Important Note: Per-line pricing (Vonage, Nextiva, RingCentral, 8x8) includes bundled minutes but charges a flat monthly fee per concurrent call path. Per-minute pricing (IPComms, Twilio, Telnyx) has no channel fees — you pay only for the minutes you use. For high-volume or variable traffic, per-minute billing is typically more cost-effective.
Best Provider by Use Case
The right provider depends on your specific situation. Here is our recommendation for each common use case:
Call Centers
Recommended: IPComms — Volume pricing, broad PBX compatibility, and no per-channel fees make IPComms ideal for high-volume call centers. Human support means faster resolution when you have an urgent issue affecting 50+ agents.
Read: SIP Trunking for Call Centers →Small Business (1-20 employees)
Recommended: IPComms — No minimums, no contracts, and human support that does not require navigating through layers of automated menus. Start with a free test trunk and scale as you grow.
Enterprise (100+ employees)
Recommended: Bandwidth or IPComms — Large enterprises that need a Tier 1 carrier with custom SLAs should consider Bandwidth. For enterprises that want the flexibility of no contracts with dedicated support, IPComms offers enterprise pricing for high-volume accounts.
Developers / Custom Applications
Recommended: Twilio — If you are building a custom voice application, IVR, or integrating voice into a software product, Twilio's API ecosystem is unmatched. Their documentation, SDKs, and community support make development faster.
PBX Users (Asterisk / FreePBX / 3CX)
Recommended: IPComms — IPComms has supported Asterisk and FreePBX since the early days of VoIP. Configuration guides, tested dial plans, and support engineers who understand PBX systems make the setup process smooth.
Read: IPComms for Asterisk →How to Choose a SIP Trunk Provider
Before signing up with any provider, work through these questions to narrow down the best fit for your business:
What is your monthly call volume?
Low volume (under 1,000 minutes) works well with per-minute pricing. High volume may benefit from negotiated enterprise rates.
What PBX or phone system are you using?
Asterisk, FreePBX, and 3CX users should choose a provider with specific configuration support. Not all providers test against all PBX platforms.
How important is human support?
If you have an IT team, ticket-based support may be fine. If you need someone to help configure your trunk, look for phone-based support.
Do you need international calling?
Providers like Twilio and Telnyx have broader international coverage. For US/Canada-focused calling, domestic specialists often offer better rates.
Are you locked into a contract?
If you are currently under contract, check your termination terms. Providers like IPComms, Twilio, and Telnyx offer month-to-month billing with no commitment.
Do you need API access?
If you are building custom applications or need programmatic control, Twilio and Telnyx are stronger choices. For traditional SIP trunking, IPComms is simpler.
Our Advice: Always test before you commit. Most reputable providers offer free test trunks or trial periods. Run a test call, check audio quality, and evaluate support responsiveness before porting your numbers. Read our complete SIP trunking pricing guide for a deeper dive into cost comparisons.
Ready to Try IPComms?
Sign up for a free test trunk and see for yourself why businesses choose IPComms for reliable, affordable SIP trunking with real human support.