2022 Best Free VoIP SIP Softphone (PBX extension) on Android phone.
free sip account: There are many free SIP softphone in the past, but a few still keeps free in the Google play after one decade.
We have tested below free version of VoIP softphones ( Trust us! Don’t waste time to test others), which could be installed from Google Play on your Android phone.
- Grandstream Wave Lite ( GS Wave in the past)
- Zoiper
- Linphone
- Free
- Free G729, G722 and Opus codec
- Multi-account
- Support SIP message
- Support both Android or iPhone
- Support “Internal intercom” with hand-free
- Support the paging (force to turn on the speaker of Android phone when paging)
- No Push Notification
- Zoiper:
- Free version with only one SIP account
- Paid G729, G722 and Opus codec
- Support SIP message
- Paid Push Notification
- Support both Android and iPhone
- Free
- Multi-account
- Free G729, G722 and Opus codec
- Support SIP message
- Support Android only
- Push Notification not working
Softphone recommended: Grandstream Wave lite
Grandstream is the famous company providing many VoIP products.
It’s surprised they can provide this free softphone with powerful functions , which usually need to pay or upgrade paid version in other softphone.
As Grandstream Wave lite in Android phone can always run the background, it could make your Android phone as a replacement of regular Desktop IP phone in office.
In contrast, Grandstream Wave lite in iPhone is always killed by OS when iPhone begins to sleep. Meanwhile, auto-answer or intercom/paging only works when iPhone wakes.
Highlights of Grandstream Wave lite:
- Totally Free: No in-app purchase.
- Free G729, G722 and Opus codec: very useful when cellphone singal is so good
- Support SIP message: This function is almost same as cellphone text message, but you may not receive text message from some banks or government institutes, like verification via text message.
- Support Video call and meeting
- Support “Internal intercom” with hand-free: need to turn on this function on PBX (FreePBX)
- Support the paging (force to turn on the speaker of Android phone when paging)
- Setting Account setting Edit Account Auto Answer
- Auto Answer: Change “No” to “Enable Intercom/Paging”
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- Bluetooth speaker: You can connect android phone with a Bluetooth speaker for louder sounds when paging, but this Bluetooth speaker need to support phone voice.You can used old Android and Raspberry Pi to build home intercom/paging system
A Free Intercom/Paging system with Raspberry pi and old Android phones
Tips about SIP Softphone on Android Phone:
Low bandwidth codec:
As Smart phone use Wireless network connection either WiFi or 4G/5G, but might not be stable enough in places with poor signal. G729, G722 or Opus codec is recommended!
However, G729 is old technology, which may increase CPU’s load. The voice is actually lossy due to compressed too much.
Opus becomes popular recently years because it’s with ultra-low bandwidth, low CPU load and high-quality voice, so set Opus as the 1st priority if possible.
Text message
Many softphones support SIP message, which could be as alternative of cell phone’s text message, but some institutions like banks or government don’t send a versification text message to a VoIP phone number.
Push Notification
Either iPhone or Android will kill the app in the background to reduce energy consumption. If the softphone was killed after display turned off some time, you couldn’t receive an incoming call.
Fortunately, software could be woken up via push notification, which replays on Apple or Google notification server and will increase developer’s costs. This is why free softphone usually doesn’t come with push notification.
Moreover, phone consumes less power if using push notification.
However, Softphone on Android phone could be run in the background always, just consumes a little more power, so Push Notification is not a must on Android phone.
Energy Consumption
UDP or TCP protocol
SIP softphone usually uses either UDP or TCP protocol to connect PBX server. TCP consumes less energy.
UDP is default in most softphones, so you need to change UDP to TCP in setting if your PBX server supports TCP protocol.
Keep softphone running in background?
At present, only Android phone allows software or other apps working in background always.
iPhone seems to allow it in a little more time, but still kill softphone in background after display is turn off long time.
Remarks:
2022 Best Free VoIP SIP Softphone (PBX extension) on Android phone
This article is not sponsored by anyone. Just share our experience with interested one.