Comparison of VoIP software

This is a comparison of voice over IP 'software' that examines applications and systems used for conducting voice and multimedia communications across Internet Protocol 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 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, 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 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
Hybrid systems supporting both VoIP and PSTN integration

Specialized applications

Interactive Voice Response 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	Opus		5000 soft limit for voice calls, 25 hard limit for video	IM, file sharing, desktop sharing, in-game overlay	10.0.19045;
Eyeball Chat	Windows			SIP, STUN, ICE, XMPP			5	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 VP8	standards for delivering real-time and encrypted media streams for VoIP.	20	Video, voice, conferencing, with additional tools available as "Services".
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	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. Experimental Android builds are also available.			SIP-SIMPLE, XMPP-Jingle STUN ICE, TURN	SILK, G.722, Speex, Opus, G.711, iLBC, GSM, G.729, H.264, H.263, VP8			Text messaging, audio-video telephony, IPv6, call recording, 64-bit
Linphone	Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, BlackBerry			SIP	Speex, Opus, G711, GSM, G.722, VP8, H263, MPEG4, Theora and H264			Video, IM, STUN, IPv6, 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	Chat with 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 limit	Address 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	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, macOS, Windows 2000-XP-Vista-7-Mobile, 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 ; depending on platform.
Steam Chat	Web, Phones, Desktop			WebRTC
TeamSpeak	Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD, Android, iOS				CELT, Speex, Opus		32 unlicensed, 512 with Non-Profit License, up to 1024, 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	3.5.5;
TeamTalk	Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Raspbian				Opus, Speex, VP8		1000	Video, file sharing, desktop sharing, stream media files	5.3.3;
TeamViewer	Linux, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
Telephone	macOS 10.10.2			SIP, STUN, ICE				Address Book integration	1.1.4;
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, timed messages, doodling, identity verification, screen sharing
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			SIP, RTP					Beta 2008-09-04,,

Mobile phones

For mobile VoIP clients:

Program	Operating systems	License	Open source	Protocols	Codecs	Encryption	Other abilities	Latest release
Jami	iOS, Android			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
WhatsApp	Android, BlackBerry, iOS, Symbian, Windows Phone	, freeware					VoIP and instant messaging over Wi-Fi or a data connection.

Secure VoIP software

VoIP software with client-to-client encryption

The following table is an overview of those VoIP clients which provide end-to-end encryption.