Cloud PBX Pricing Explained: Per-User, Unlimited & Pay-As-You-Go

Cloud PBX prices are hard to compare because providers bundle things differently. One charges per user with “unlimited” calling, another charges nothing per user but bills every minute. Here is how the three common models work and how to choose.

1. Per-user plans

You pay a fixed monthly fee for each user or seat, usually with a bundle of features and sometimes calling. Simple to budget, but you pay for every seat even when some people barely use the phone.

2. “Unlimited minutes” virtual PBX plans

• A higher per-user price that includes calls with no per-minute charge.
• Read the fine print: “unlimited” is usually limited to certain countries, inbound or outbound only, or fair-use limits.
• Best for teams that are on the phone all day to the same few destinations.

3. Pay-as-you-go

• No per-user subscription: you pay per minute, plus rental for the numbers you keep.
• Ideal when call volume varies month to month, or when most extensions make few calls.
• A prepaid balance means no surprise bills — calls stop when the balance runs out.

Work out which is cheapest

1. 1Estimate monthly minutes per user, split by destination (e.g. USA, UK).
2. 2Pay-as-you-go cost = minutes × per-minute rate (respecting billing increments) + number rental.
3. 3Per-user cost = seats × monthly price.
4. 4If pay-as-you-go comes out cheaper for most of your users, mix: unlimited seats only for your heaviest callers.

HelloPBX pricing

• Free account with your first SIP extension; extra extensions are a small one-time fee.
• Pay-as-you-go calling at the per-destination rates shown in your portal, with their billing increments.
• Numbers: DID and toll-free rental shown before you buy.
• PBX (Toll-Free) Monthly Unlimited Inbound — a per-user plan for unlimited inbound on internal or routed traffic (minimum 5 users).
• Everything is paid from a prepaid balance you can top up with Bitcoin or USDT.