VICIdial Pricing & Plans: Full Guide 2025

VICIdial markets itself as a free, open-source contact center solution. But is it truly free?

VICIdial is an open-source phone system built for businesses that need customizable tools to handle inbound and outbound calls. 

While the software itself is free, getting it up and running isn’t—you’ll need additional tools to be able to make calls and a lot of technical know-how to set it up, customize it, and keep it working smoothly.

In this detailed pricing analysis, we’ll break down VICIdial cost, features, and plans to give business leaders a clear understanding of what to expect before making an investment. Keep reading to find out!

Key Takeaways

• VICIdial offers two options for its users: Self-Hosted (Open-Source) and Hosted Service (VICIhost). Both of them provide access to the full suite of features.
• VICIdial might be an option to consider if you have an in-house tech-savvy team and your business needs something extremely tailored that is not available in the market. 
• CloudTalk offers a more predictable and cost-effective alternative, providing a more extensive feature set, native integrations, and AI-powered tools. This eliminates the need for complex infrastructure management and reduces the risk of unexpected costs.

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Overview of VICIdial Pricing and Plans

Unlike competitors that provide tiered plans, VICIdial has opted to offer its product in two distinct formats: Self-Hosted (Open-Source) and Hosted Service (VICIhost). 

The first option provides the VICIdial software free of charge, but you’ll need to handle hosting, system customization, and the maintenance of the entire tech infrastructure yourself.

For the second one, VICIdial offers its own hosting service, VICIhost, which is responsible for providing the server and the support you need.

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Open-Source Plan

It is an open-source call center software solution. It gives you free access to the software, allowing companies to install it and manage the system on their own servers.

Alternatively, you can also opt to pay VICIdial for installation and training services. This involves an upfront fee of $1,000 for provisioning the first server, with an additional cost of $500 for each subsequent server.

Best for:

Companies with their own servers and a team of savvy developers to handle open-source software.

VICIhost Plan

This call center solution allows companies to use the system without the need to manage the technical infrastructure, as it is fully hosted and maintained on VICIdial’s servers.

The costs include a one-time fee of $1,000 for installation and training services, which also covers the first month of VICIdial hosting. Afterward, each server is priced at $400 per month.

Best for:

Companies with simple calling needs who wish to outsource the hosting and technical operation of their telephone system. 

VICIdial Features

Despite the simplicity of accessing the software, VICIdial offers relatively advanced features compared to competitors at the same tier. In addition, there are no blocked features, even for users who have chosen to host it on their own.

Key Features:

• Skills-based Routing 
• Predictive dialing
• Call Recording
• 3-Way Calling
• Scheduled Callbacks
• Agent Scripting with Customer Data
• CRM Integrations
• IVRs and Voicemail boxes
• Inbound Queuing 
• Ring Groups
• Real-time Reports
• Local, toll-free, and international phone numbers

Is VICIdial really free?

While VICIdial is often touted as a free, open-source solution, the reality is more nuanced. Although the software itself is free to download and use, there are significant costs associated with implementing and maintaining it. Here’s what you need to consider:

Installation and Training

Unless your team includes a developer with expertise in Linux, Apache, MySQL, and Asterisk, you’ll need to hire external help for the installation process. Agencies or development teams typically charge an average of $100-$250/hour for installation services. VICIdial also offers installation and training services for a one-time fee of $1,000.

Maintenance and Development

The need for technical expertise doesn’t end with installation. Customizing and maintaining VICIdial requires an experienced developer, particularly one familiar with enterprise-class applications. 

These professionals typically charge $100–$200 per hour, and modifications or customizations can take months to complete. Moreover, every bug or technical issue will require additional support, which may lead to costly delays and extended downtime.

A Server Isn’t Enough 

Many people assume that once they have a server to host VICIdial, they’re all set to start making calls. However, that’s not the case. Hosting the software on a server is just one piece of the puzzle—you also need a SIP trunking service to actually connect your calls to phone lines.

Even though VICIdial handles the software side of things—like managing call queues or tracking customer interactions—it doesn’t include the ability to physically connect calls. A SIP trunking service bridges this gap by providing the infrastructure to transmit voice calls over the internet (VoIP) and connect to the public phone network.

And guess what? SIP trunking services aren’t free, and their costs depend on factors like call volume, the number of simultaneous calls, and call destinations. VICIdial uses Zoiper, which comes at a cost of $42.04/seat.

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Overview of CloudTalk Pricing and Plans

Starting at $19 and reaching up to $49 per user monthly, CloudTalk’s five main plans cater to a range of needs, with an additional custom plan available for specialized requirements. Here’s a breakdown of the options:

1. Lite: Design for early-stage startups focused on keeping costs low while scaling and companies transitioning from landline to VoIP solutions. For now, it is limited to the Americas (NAM + LATAM).
   
   Key Features: SMS/MMS, Business Hours, Personalized greetings & Music.
   
   Price: $19 per user/month
   
2. Starter: Ideal for small and micro-businesses, the Starter plan is easy to set up and provides essential features to get your call center operations up and running.
   
   Key Features: Click-to-Call, Voicemail, Call Flow Designer (CFD), Automatic Call Distribution (ACD).
   
   Price: $25 per user/month
   
3. Essential: This plan supports growing SMBs and MMBs by enhancing both inbound and outbound operations with advanced automation and customer experience features.
   
   Key Features: SMS/MMS, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), Skill-Based Routing, Callback, Integrations + Open API
   
   Price: $29 per user/month
   
4. Expert: Geared towards MMB and scaling businesses, the Expert plan equips teams with advanced tools to improve customer interactions, boost productivity, and drive operational efficiency.
   
   Key Features: Power Dialer, Smart Dialer, VIP Queues, WhatsApp Inbound & Outbound Messages, Call Monitoring.
   
   Price: $49 per user/month
   
5. Custom: For companies with complex, large-scale requirements, the Custom plan offers a fully tailored solution, allowing businesses to scale seamlessly and operate across diverse markets.
   
   Key Features: Custom Onboarding, Unlimited Outbound Calls with Flat Rates, Enterprise-Level Security, Developer Support
   
   Price: Based on selected features, team size, and other requirements.

CloudTalk vs. VICIdial Head-to-Head

We’ve put VICIdial and CloudTalk side by side to help you see how they compare in pricing, features, and adaptability.

CloudTalk Vs. VICIdial: Key Takeaways

To make things easier for you, we’ve laid out the key factors so you can confidently choose the solution that’s right for you.

• Ease of Use: Setting up CloudTalk is straightforward, thanks to its user-friendly interface and intuitive design, making it accessible to non-technical users. On the other hand, VICIdial demands technical expertise for both installation and ongoing customizations, often requiring specialized skills to configure effectively.
• Hosting: CloudTalk operates entirely in the cloud, taking care of all hosting and infrastructure needs without additional effort from users. In contrast, VICIdial users must either manage their own servers or opt for the paid VICIhost service, which comes with additional costs.
• Cost Structure: With CloudTalk, pricing is clear and based on tiered subscriptions, offering businesses predictability in costs. VICIdial, however, has a more complex pricing model involving upfront installation fees, monthly hosting charges, and additional expenses for SIP trunking and system maintenance.
• Scalability and Support: CloudTalk grows seamlessly with your business through easy subscription upgrades and dedicated support to address your needs. VICIdial, while offering flexibility, requires substantial technical work to scale and often depends on third-party expertise for support and troubleshooting.

VICIdial’s Best Features

Here’s what users appreciate most about VICIdial:

• Skills-based Routing: Directs calls to agents best suited to handle them based on predefined skills or expertise, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Predictive Dialing: Uses algorithms to dial multiple numbers simultaneously, assigning answered calls to available agents.
• Call Recording: Allows calls to be recorded for quality assurance, training, and compliance purposes.
• 3-Way Calling: Enables agents to connect with two other participants in a single call, facilitating conference calls or escalations.

VICIdial Pros & Cons

Reflecting on all the points we’ve discussed, we can clearly identify VICIdial’s standout strengths, along with some areas where it could use improvement.

CloudTalk: Veni, Vidi, VICI

Among VICIdial users, the most significant downsides reported refer to technical difficulties and lack of support to overcome them. That’s a recipe for frustration and business losses.

As if the high demand for technical expertise to configure the platform was not enough, users report being at their own risk when configuring the platform.

In contrast, this is one of the areas where CloudTalk stands out most from the competition. Its intuitive interface allows businesses to get started quickly, while the platform’s robust customer support ensures users always have access to help when they need it.

But beyond addressing technical hurdles, CloudTalk surpasses VICIdial with an advanced feature set, including AI-powered tools, seamless CRM integrations, and automation capabilities that streamline workflows. This enables businesses to focus on what truly matters rather than being bogged down by technical obstacles.

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