This is a comparison of voice over IP (VoIP) software that examines applications and systems used for conducting voice and multimedia communications across Internet Protocol (IP) networks. VoIP technology has transformed telecommunications by offering alternatives to traditional telephony systems while providing enhanced features and cost savings.
For residential users, VoIP services typically provide significant cost advantages compared to traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) services. These systems eliminate geographic restrictions on phone numbers, enabling users to maintain local numbers in any area code regardless of their physical location. For example, a user can operate a New York phone number while residing in Tokyo, facilitating global mobility and reducing international communication costs.
In enterprise environments, VoIP technology enables the consolidation of voice and data networks into a unified IP infrastructure. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate voice and data pipelines while providing advanced capabilities including:
Unified communications integration Presence management systems Advanced call routing Mobile device integration Multimedia conferencing capabilities
Softphone applications serve as the primary client-side implementation of VoIP technology. These applications transform standard computing devices into full-featured communication endpoints, supporting voice and video calls over IP networks while providing standard telephony functions. Most softphone clients utilize the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), an open standard that supports various audio and video codecs. Some systems, like Skype, operate on proprietary protocols but can integrate with SIP-based systems through specialized business telephone system (PBX) software.
The VoIP ecosystem encompasses various specialized applications beyond basic communication endpoints:
Core components
Conferencing servers for large-scale virtual meetings Intercom systems for internal communications Virtual foreign exchange services (FXOs) Hybrid systems supporting both VoIP and PSTN integration
Specialized applications
Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems Automated dictation platforms Professional call recording solutions Custom hold music and messaging systems
VoIP implementations generally fall into two categories:
Web-based solutions that operate through browsers, offering simplified deployment and platform independence
Standalone desktop applications that provide enhanced features, superior reliability, and advanced feature sets
Desktop applications
Program Operating systems License Costs Protocols Codecs Encryption Max conference peers Other abilities Latest release Blink Linux, macOS, Windows macOS version proprietary on App Store, free version limited to sponsored SIP provider; Windows version proprietary; Linux version open source ICE, SIP, MSRP, RFB (VNC), XCAP Opus, speex, G.722, GSM, iLBC, PCMU, PCMA No limit IM, file transfer, desktop sharing, multi-party conference, wideband Blink Qt Battle.net macOS, Android, iOS, Windows IM, multi-party conference Discord macOS, Android, iOS, Windows, Linux , Premium "Nitro" Subscription for Additional Features. RTP, UDP, WS, HTTPS Opus5000 soft limit for voice calls, 25 hard limit for videoIM, file sharing, desktop sharing, in-game overlay10.0.19045; Eyeball Chat Windows SIP, STUN, ICE, XMPP 5. EyeballChat.com. IM, Conferencing, Voice, Video and SIMPLE based presence Windows 3.2; FaceTime iOS, macOS IETF, technologies for traversing firewalls and NAT H.264 Video, AAC-ELD Audio, H.263 and VP8standards for delivering real-time and encrypted media streams for VoIP. 20 Video, voice, conferencing, with additional tools available as "Services". Fluxer Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iOS , premium "Plutonium" subscription for additional features (only required on the official instance). H.264, VP9, VP8, AV1, H.265 20 IM, file sharing, desktop sharing 2026.920.144558; IBM Sametime Linux, macOS, Windows, mobile SIP-SIMPLE, T.120 H.323 IM, File transfer, Voice, Presence, Server stored contact list, HTTP tunneling, plugins, embeddable in Lotus Notes"Telephony with Lotus Sametime software". IBM.com. Retrieved 2010-02-16 8.5.2; Jami Android, FreeBSD, iOS, iPhone, Linux, Microsoft Windows, OS X SIP, RTP, STUN per account, SRV, DHT, P2P Audio: Opus, Speex, G.722, G.711, GSM, VP8, G.729, iLBC. Video: H.264, H.263, VP8, MPEG-4 No limit Blockchain ID-management, Qt client, address book, multiple accounts, unlimited call number, call transfer, call hold-resume, call recording, multi-way conferencing Jitsi Linux, macOS, Windows (all java supported). Experimental Android builds are also available. SIP-SIMPLE, XMPP-Jingle STUN ICE, TURN SILK, G.722, Speex, Opus, G.711 (PCMU/PCMA), iLBC, GSM, G.729, H.264, H.263, VP8 Text messaging, audio-video telephony, IPv6 (often broken,Interview with Emil Ivov, Deploy360 blog P2P not supported), call recording, 64-bit Linphone Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry SIP Speex, Opus, G711, GSM, G.722, VP8 (WebM), H263, MPEG4, Theora and H264 (plugin) Video, IM, STUN, IPv6 (disables IPv4 support when enabled), P2P, Secure Encryption, User own Encryption via Provided API https://gitlab.linphone.org/BC/public/linphone-desktop 4.2.5; , provides daily snapshots via http://www.linphone.org/snapshots Messages macOS , only macOS and iOS SIP AIM ICQ XMPP H263, H264 Integrated, PBX independent 7.0; Movim Any, Progressive web application XMPP, STUN, TURN Depending the web-browser 2 IM, microblogging, social-network, OMEMO encryption, screen-sharing, file transfer Mumble Linux, macOS, iOS, Windows, Android ICE CELT, Speex, Opus No limit (limited only by server bandwidth and memory)Chat with (limited) embedded HTML, Automatic Gain Control, very low latency, Access Control Lists for user management, Customizable In-Game Overlay for OpenGL and DirectX, Directional Audio, Plugin Support, Nested Channels, Echo cancellation for headset free use, Global Public Server List, Logitech G15 support, Push-To-Talk and Voice-Activation 1.4.287; Nymgo Windows, Android, iOS SIP, RTP and RTCP No limitAddress Book integration, Call recording/export, Mute, On Hold, Caller ID definition 4.2.9; Phoner Windows SIP, TAPI, CAPI G.711a, G.711u, G.722, G.726, G.729, GSM, iLBC, speex, Opus 8 Conferencing, call redirection, call recording PhonerLite Windows SIP G.711a, G.711u, G.722, G.726, G.729, GSM, iLBC, speex, Opus 8 Conferencing, call redirection, call recording Roger Wilco GameSpy Windows Proprietary MELP Signal Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, iPhone RingRTC (WebRTC over Signal protocol)Opus 50 Signal also allows users to send text messages, files, voice notes, pictures, GIFs, and video messages over a Wi-Fi or data connection to other Signal users on iOS, Android and a desktop app. The app also supports group messaging, read receipts and typing indicators, both of which can be disabled. Skype Linux(with limited functionality), macOS, Windows 2000-XP-Vista-7-Mobile (unsupported), BREW, Windows Phone, Android, iPhone, PSP Proprietary P2P protocol SILK 25 starting with version 3.6.0.216. 10 with 2.x Conferencing, video, file transfer, voicemail, Skype to phone, phone to Skype, additional P2P extensions (games, whiteboard, etc...); depending on platform. Steam ChatWeb, Phones, Desktop WebRTC TeamSpeak Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, Android, iOS CELT, Speex (both until server version 3.5.0), Opus 32 unlicensed, 512 with Non-Profit License (available until September 2018), up to 1024 (Gamer License), 2000 Simultaneous server conferencing with tabs, 3D sound effects, scalable permissions system, firewall friendly file transfers, in-game overlay for DirectX & OpenGL games, global public server list, plugin system, IM. 6.0.0-beta3.4; TeamTalk Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Raspbian Opus, Speex, VP8 1000 Video, file sharing, desktop sharing, stream media files (MP3, AVI) 5.3.3; TeamViewer Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android (personal use only) Tuenti Android, iPhone, Windows Phone WebRTC, SIP, XMPP iLBC, Opus Yes Voice, video, Instant messaging, group chat, photo and video sharing, SMS and MMS, native and social network contacts integration, incoming call/IM push notifications. Twinkle Linux SIP G.711 A-law μ-law, G.726, GSM, iLBC, Speex narrow wide ultrawide 3 Conferencing, chat, file transfer, Firefox integration, call redirection, voicemail, support of VoIP-to-Phone services Ventrilo macOS, Windows, iOS, Android 8 Conferencing, chat, text-to-speech 3.0.8 Viber Linux, macOS, Windows, Android, Bada, BlackBerry OS, iOS, Series 40, Symbian, Windows Phone Varies by platform: Text, picture and video messaging on all, voice calling only on iPhone, Android and Microsoft's Windows Phone Wire Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web not free Audio: Opus Video: VP8 10 End-to-end encryption by default for everything, instant messaging, video call, video group call, file sharing, GIF sharing, push to talk, edit message, delete message (on both side), timed messages, doodling, identity verification, screen sharing (desktop only) Yate Client Linux, macOS, Windows SIP, IAX, XMPP, H.323 G.711a, G.711u, GSM 06.10, iLBC, Speex, G.723, G.726, G.728, G.729 6.0.0; Zfone Linux, macOS, Windows (with viewable source) SIP, RTP Beta 2008-09-04 (Linux 0.9.224), (macOS 0.9.246), (Windows 0.9.206)
Mobile phones For mobile VoIP clients: Program Operating systems License Open source Protocols Codecs Encryption Other abilities Latest release Jami iOS, Android Jami downloads SIP Video: H264, VP8, MP4V, H263, Audio: Opus 48000 hz, G722 PCMA, PCMU Version 202103261733 Line Android, iOS Signal iOS, Android WebRTC Opus End-to-end encryption by default for everything. CallKit and location privacy, one-to-one and group messaging, video calling, image/video sharing, timed messages, identity verification, screenshot blocking. Android only: SMS/MMS messaging, doodling, GIF sharing. Android 5.2.3 / 15 September 2023 iOS 6.41.1 / 15 September 2023 Desktop 1.33.4 / 13 September 2023 Tango iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Windows Phone , freeware VoIP, Wi-Fi out & in, SMS over IP, call-through & call-back, instant messaging, videoconferencing WhatsAppAndroid, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian, Windows Phone , freeware VoIP and instant messaging over Wi-Fi or a data connection.
Frameworks and libraries Program Operating systems License Protocols, based on, compatible with Encryption Other abilities Key and target markets Latest release Telepathy, Farstream Linux, macOS, Windows SIP, XMPP (Jingle), ICE (STUN/TURN), UPnP Multi-user A/V conferencing, IM, collaborative applications Mobile devices (Maemo, Meego), Linux desktop or embedded spec 0.27.2; OPAL Windows, Linux (including embedded variants), macOS SIP, H.323, IAX2, CAPI, VXML Multi-user A/V conferencing, IM, IVR Softphones, softswitches, telephony application servers 3.14.3; GNU oSIP Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry SIP, SDP Multi-user A/V conferencing, IM, IVR Softphones, embedded and mobile devices, telephony application servers 4.1.0;
Server software