What Does "Unlimited" Really Mean?
When SIP trunk providers advertise "unlimited calling," it rarely means truly unlimited. Almost every unlimited plan comes with restrictions that can significantly impact your actual costs and usage.
What They Advertise
- "Unlimited calls included"
- "Flat monthly rate"
- "No per-minute charges"
- "Predictable billing"
What the Fine Print Says
- "Fair use policy applies"
- "Subject to reasonable use limits"
- "Domestic calls only"
- "Maximum X concurrent calls"
Key Insight: Most "unlimited" SIP trunk plans define reasonable use as 2,000-5,000 minutes per channel per month. Exceed this, and you may face overage charges, throttling, or account termination.
When Unlimited Makes Sense
Despite the caveats, unlimited SIP trunking can be the right choice for specific use cases.
Inbound Call Centers
If you receive thousands of inbound calls monthly with predictable patterns, unlimited can provide cost certainty without fair use violations (inbound is usually treated more leniently).
High-Volume Sales Teams
Sales teams making 8+ hours of calls per day per agent may benefit from unlimited, assuming the plan genuinely supports that volume.
Budget Predictability Priority
If knowing your exact monthly telecom cost is more important than optimizing spend, unlimited provides that peace of mind.
Consistently Heavy Users
If you consistently use 10,000+ minutes per channel monthly and have verified the plan supports it, unlimited may be cheaper.
Break-Even Point: At IPComms' $0.009/min rate, unlimited typically becomes cost-effective around 5,500+ minutes per channel per month. Below that, metered is almost always cheaper.
When Metered is Better (Most Businesses)
For the vast majority of businesses, transparent metered pricing delivers better value. Here is why:
| Business Type | Typical Monthly Minutes | Metered Cost* | Unlimited Cost | Better Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Office (5 users) | 500-1,500 min | $4.50-$13.50 | $30-50/channel | Metered |
| Medium Business (20 users) | 2,000-4,000 min | $18-$36 | $30-50/channel | Metered |
| Professional Services | 1,000-3,000 min | $9-$27 | $30-50/channel | Metered |
| Retail/Restaurant | 200-800 min | $1.80-$7.20 | $30-50/channel | Metered |
| Call Center (per agent) | 8,000-12,000 min | $72-$108 | $50-80/channel | Depends** |
*Based on IPComms $0.009/min rate. **Call centers should request custom volume pricing.
No Contracts
Pay only for what you use, cancel anytime
No Fair Use Worries
Use as much or little as you need
Premium Routes
No quality sacrifices for low pricing
Cost Comparison Calculator
Enter your estimated monthly usage to see which pricing model works better for your business.
IPComms Metered
$0/month
Typical Unlimited Plan
$0/month
IPComms Approach: Fair Metered Pricing
At IPComms, we believe in transparent, honest pricing. Our metered model means you only pay for the minutes you actually use, with no hidden fees or fair use gotchas.
| Rate Type | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Outbound US/Canada | $0.009-$0.010/min | 6-second billing increments |
| Inbound | $0.009/min | Same low rate for all inbound |
| DIDs (Phone Numbers) | $1.00/month | Local numbers, toll-free available |
| Channels | Unlimited | No per-channel fees |
| E911 | $1.50/month | Per registered address |
What You Get
- Premium tier-1 routes for call quality
- No contracts or commitments
- Real-time usage dashboard
- TLS/SRTP encryption included
- 24/7 technical support
- Works with any PBX system
What You Avoid
- Fair use policy restrictions
- Hidden regulatory fees
- Per-channel monthly fees
- Long-term contracts
- Surprise overage charges
- Quality compromises
Typical Savings: Most businesses switching from unlimited plans to IPComms metered pricing save 30-60% on their monthly telecom costs while getting better call quality.
High Volume? Contact Us for Custom Rates
If your business consistently uses more than 50,000 minutes per month, we offer custom volume pricing that can be even more competitive than our standard rates.
50K+ Minutes
Custom volume discounts
Call Centers
Dedicated account support
Enterprise
SLA and priority routing
High-volume pricing includes:
- Rates as low as $0.007/min for qualifying volumes
- Dedicated account manager
- Priority technical support
- Custom routing options
- Flexible billing arrangements
Getting Started with IPComms
Ready to try transparent metered pricing? Getting started takes just a few minutes.
Create Your Free Account
Sign up at portal.ipcomms.net. No credit card required for testing.
Get Your SIP Credentials
Receive your trunk credentials instantly. Works with Asterisk, FreePBX, 3CX, and any SIP-compatible system.
Add a Phone Number
Choose from thousands of local and toll-free numbers, or port your existing numbers.
Start Making Calls
Configure your PBX and start calling. Pay only for the minutes you use.
Free Testing: We offer free test credits so you can verify call quality and compatibility before committing. See our free testing guide for details.
Try Transparent Metered Pricing
Join thousands of businesses saving money with IPComms fair, usage-based SIP trunking. No contracts, no hidden fees.