Asterisk vs FreeSWITCH
Asterisk
asterisk.org
FreeSWITCH
signalwire.comSide by side
| Figure | Asterisk | FreeSWITCH |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Voice APIs | 8.0 (#9) | 8.0 (#10) |
| Spec score · Interactive Voice Response Software | 8.1 (#5) | 8.0 (#7) |
| Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Integrations | The site says Asterisk can connect communications to applications, including Salesforce automation or CRM systems using AMI. | FreeSWITCH documents integrations through HTTP backends, embedded Lua, Perl, Python, JavaScript and Java, and SignalWire connectivity. |
| Purpose | Asterisk is an open source framework for building communications applications and turns an ordinary computer into a communications server. | FreeSWITCH is an open-source framework for real-time voice and video that can route calls, bridge video, transcode media, and connect protocols. |
| Support | Sangoma offers five support levels for core components of current open source Asterisk versions, with Level 5 reserved for customers requiring an SLA and engineering support. | The open-source edition has community support, while SignalWire offers commercial support, hardened builds, and priority patches through FreeSWITCH Pro. |
| Use cases | Asterisk powers IP PBX systems, VoIP gateways, conference servers, call centers, voicemail servers and IVR systems. | The maker describes FreeSWITCH as powering carriers, contact centers, and communication products. |
Plans
FreeSWITCH
- FreeSWITCH Open SourceFree
- FreeSWITCH AdvantagePriced on request
- SignalWire PlatformPriced on request
In their own words
Asterisk
Asterisk is a free, open-source framework for building communications applications and turning an ordinary computer into a communications server. It powers IP PBX systems, VoIP gateways, conference servers, call centers, voicemail servers, and IVR systems. Listed functions include call routing, recording, queuing, conferencing, voicemail, automated attendants, and call transfers. Computer-telephony interfaces include AGI, AMI, and the Asterisk REST Interface (ARI); listed VoIP protocols include SIP, H.323, IAX, Jingle/XMPP, MGCP, and SCCP. Asterisk can connect communications to applications, including CRM systems through AMI. The source code can be downloaded, and the project points users to installation on a modern cloud Linux instance. Building applications requires working knowledge of Linux, scripting, networking, and telephony. Asterisk is distributed under GPLv2; Sangoma offers commercial licensing for uses incompatible with that license. The Asterisk forum provides community help with installation, upgrades, and operation.
FreeSWITCH
FreeSWITCH is an open-source framework for real-time voice and video communications. It can route calls, bridge video, transcode media, and connect protocols, and is designed for use in carriers, contact centers, and communication products. Its Event Socket exposes call control, channel management, and internal events to external processes over TCP. Integrations include HTTP backends, embedded Lua, Perl, Python, JavaScript, Java, and SignalWire connectivity. The mod_signalwire module connects to SignalWire for inbound and outbound PSTN calling over a persistent WebSocket session. Linux installation guidance covers Debian and Ubuntu using SignalWire packages or a source build. A free SignalWire account is required to access packages and downloads. FreeSWITCH is licensed under MPL 2.0 and can run in production at no cost; self-hosting requires dedicated resources to maintain on-premises infrastructure. The open-source edition has community support, while FreeSWITCH Pro offers commercial support, hardened builds, priority patches, and commercial modules including answering machine detection and licensed G.729 Annex A encoding and decoding.