💻 A softphone is an app that turns your laptop, desktop, or tablet into a business telephone. You make and receive calls over the internet, with no physical desk phone required. The app registers with your Cloud PBX and behaves exactly like a hardware phone: dial, answer, transfer, hold, record.
How It Works
💡 In short: install the app, sign in once, and the computer you already own becomes a full business phone.
1️⃣ App installs on device
Download the softphone on a laptop, desktop, or tablet. No special hardware needed.
2️⃣ Registers to PBX
Sign in once with SIP credentials. The app stays connected and ready to ring at any moment.
3️⃣ Rings with business ID
Incoming calls show the business caller ID. Outbound calls display your office number.
4️⃣ Full call control
Transfer, hold, record, conference, voicemail, and directory work exactly like a desk phone.
💻 What a softphone unlocks: no hardware cost, work from anywhere, scale by installing an app, and one extension ringing on desk and mobile at the same time.
Types of Softphone
Softphones come in four main forms. Most businesses end up using at least two: a bundled desktop app plus a mobile counterpart for staff who travel or work from home.
🧩 Bundled with the PBX
Provider-supplied apps like Voxbi. Works out of the box, tuned for the provider's features.
🔌 Standalone SIP softphones
Independent apps like Linphone, Zoiper, or Bria. Connect to any SIP-compatible PBX or trunk.
🌐 Web-based (WebRTC)
Runs inside a browser tab, no install. Useful for shared PCs and quick guest access scenarios.
📱 Mobile-first apps
iOS and Android apps optimised for smartphones. See the Mobile Application page.
The Most Widely Used Desktop Softphones
If your Cloud PBX provider ships its own desktop app, use it. If not, or if you run a self-hosted system such as Asterisk, FreePBX, or FreeSWITCH, any of the independent SIP softphones below will connect to a SIP-compatible PBX. Voxbi is the desktop client for Mixvoip Cloud PBX users.
🏆 Voxbi Desktop — Recommended
Included with Mixvoip · Windows, macOS, Linux
Native desktop client for Mixvoip Cloud PBX. Business number, transfer, queues, presence, and CRM screen-pop.
Best for: any Mixvoip Cloud PBX customer.
🔓 Linphone
Free and open source · Windows, macOS, Linux
Fully open-source. SIP with TLS and SRTP encryption, video calling, and instant messaging included.
Best for: technical users and privacy-focused setups.
⚡ Zoiper Desktop
Freemium · Windows, macOS, Linux
One of the most widely used SIP clients. Easy setup with any SIP server, free tier covers basic calling.
Best for: quick rollout on any SIP-compatible PBX.
🎧 Bria (CounterPath)
Subscription · Windows, macOS
Enterprise-grade SIP client with HD voice, XMPP messaging, and support for all major SIP servers.
Best for: businesses needing premium voice on desktop.
🪶 MicroSIP
Free, Windows only · Windows
Lightweight SIP client with minimal resource use. Simple interface, strong stability over long sessions.
Best for: Windows-only shops wanting minimal overhead.
🌐 Jitsi Desktop
Free and open source · Windows, macOS, Linux
SIP and XMPP client with video and conferencing. Combines voice and secure messaging in one app.
Best for: teams blending voice with secure messaging.
Why It Matters for Your Business
💰 No hardware cost
✅ No desk phones to buy or replace
✅ No cabling or PoE switches needed
✅ Headset and internet are the whole kit
🌍 Work from anywhere
✅ Remote staff reachable on office number
✅ Works across LU, BE, DE, FR, and beyond
✅ Travellers stay on the same extension
🚀 Scale without complexity
✅ New hire means installing an app
✅ No waiting for hardware to ship
✅ Remove access instantly on departure
What to Look For
🎯 PBX compatibility
Some softphones are bundled with a specific PBX. Others connect to any SIP-compatible system. Confirm which model your chosen app uses before rolling it out.
🔋 HD codec support
Look for apps supporting Opus, G.722, or similar HD codecs. Call quality over internet depends heavily on the codec, especially on low-bandwidth connections.
⚖️ Desktop and mobile parity
A good softphone offers consistent behaviour on desktop and mobile. Staff should not relearn the interface when switching device, or lose features mid-call.
📦 Encryption (TLS and SRTP)
Reputable softphones encrypt signalling with TLS and audio with SRTP. Confirm both are supported by the app and enabled by the PBX before handling sensitive calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Do I need special equipment to use a softphone?
No special equipment is required beyond a device you already own. A laptop, desktop, smartphone, or tablet running the softphone app is enough. A headset with microphone improves call quality and comfort, particularly for longer calls, but is not mandatory. Built-in microphones work fine for occasional calls.
❓ Can I keep my existing business phone number?
Yes. Most Cloud PBX providers offer number portability, which allows you to transfer your existing business number to the new system. The process takes a few days and is managed by your provider. There may be a small one-off porting fee, but the number, dialling pattern, and caller recognition all stay the same.
❓ What happens if the internet goes down?
If your internet connection fails, your softphone will not receive calls. To handle this, most Cloud PBX systems allow you to set a fallback rule: for example, forward unanswered calls to a mobile number automatically. This ensures callers always reach someone even if your office connection is interrupted briefly.
❓ Is a softphone secure for business calls?
Reputable softphone apps and Cloud PBX platforms encrypt calls using TLS and SRTP protocols. This protects both the signalling and the audio from interception. Confirm that your provider uses encrypted transport before handling sensitive conversations over VoIP, and enable encryption in the app's settings where it is not on by default.
❓ Can one person use a softphone on multiple devices at the same time?
Yes. Most Cloud PBX systems allow a single extension to ring on several devices simultaneously. A sales manager can have the same extension active on a desktop softphone and a mobile app. The first device to answer takes the call, and the others stop ringing instantly without any manual action.
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