The Best Free and Open-Source IVR Software

Interactive voice response (IVR) software enhances the customer experience, positively impacts your company’s bottom line, and reduces stress on agents.

While IVR should not replace your entire customer service and sales teams, it automates busy work and gives agents more time to spend deepening customer relationships.

In this article we'll take a look at the top free IVR software solutions by reviewing features, pros & cons, and ideal use case comparisons.

Overview 0f 9 Free IVR Software Options

There are some basic features you should assess to determine whether or not free IVR software is a good fit for your company.

Beyond that, it’s important to determine the scope of the offer: is it good for perpetuity or a limited time, across numerous accounts or only one?

Here is a breakdown of nine different free IVR software options, followed by a detailed overview of each.

The Best Free IVR Software Providers

The following IVR solutions are categorized by three different types of free:

1. Totally Free: All features are free, for perpetuity.
2. Partially Free: Free versions of an expanded software, limited either in terms of features or number of accounts.
3. Free Trial: Freemium versions of a paid premium software.

Here're the providers:

• Ekiga
• MicroSIP
• Voxibot
• VBVoice by Pronexus
• Verboice
• Genesys Cloud CX
• Plum Fuse
• RingEX
• Dialpad

1. Ekiga

The only entirely free IVR software option to make it into the list, Ekiga is a softphone offering free SIP addresses. While you won’t benefit from call recording or voice customization, Ekiga will provide you and your customers with free audio and video calls, text to speech, and voicemail.

Ekiga uses SIP and H.323 protocols and works with any other SIP applications as well as Microsoft NetMeeting. Ekiga also supports several high-quality audio and video codecs such as GSM 06.10, H.261, and MPEG-4.

Pricing

Ekiga is an open source and completely free IVR software with no paid plans.

Standout Features

• Texting: Includes SMS texting, instant messaging, and chat functionality with emojis and message-waiting indications
• Basic Call Handling: Place calls on hold, set up automatic call forwarding, or transfer live calls
• Remote and Local Address Book Support: Includes authentication using the standard LDAP technology with local address support in Gnome (Evolution)

What Users Say

Here are some of the things that users like and dislike about Ekiga's platform:

Best For

Small teams with “jack-of-all-trade” agents responsible for a variety of customer service and sales interactions. Set up your Ekiga-connected phone line with “Call Auto-Answer” and you won’t need to worry about assigning an employee to your phone line at all times. Or, you can switch back and forth using a single phone line by setting up call forwarding when a line is set to a busy status.

2. MicroSIP

MicrosSIP is an open source softphone application that lets users select a cloud-based SIP provider from the open SIP protocol. MicroSIP users can build IVR menus with functions like pre-recorded audio, call recording, and call routing.

While MicroSIP does create custom-built solutions for a fee, its basic version includes every feature absolutely free. The open source free IVR software provides maximum customization for users.

Pricing

MicroSIP offers a completely free platform, but also offers custom virtual business communication systems with quote-based pricing starting at $161.

Standout Features

• Call Recording: Users can set up on-demand or automatic call recording

• Video: H.264 and H.263+ video codecs are supported with video capture and recording
• Call Logging: Detailed log file shows all calls, messages, and actions taken for debugging purposes

What Users Say

Here are some of the things that users like and dislike about MicroSIP's platform:

Best For

Companies looking for a reliable, visually appealing system will enjoy the latest updates to MicroSIP. However, you must have a technically competent staff member on hand to set up this software.

3. Voxibot

Voxibot is an AI-powered platform that enables users to deploy and manage a conversational voice assistant. Its aim is to cut costs by providing your call center with an automated agent. The software is free, with every feature available, for one channel.

The Voxibot callbot or Voice Assistant acts like an IVR system. It is used to manage incoming and outgoing calls autonomously, using natural language to understand and respond to customer requests.

Pricing

Voxibot is a completely free platform, but inbound/outbound calls are billed by the number of calls or by the minute depending on the package

Standout Features 

• Speech-to-Text Transcription: All voice interactions are transcribed and can be emailed to users with 100% traceability
• Reporting and Analytics: Metrics such as peak call times, number of new calls, etc. are displayed on standardized dashboards and can be exported
• SMS/MMS Texting: Users can send standard text messages and attach files and links

What Users Say

Here are some of the things that users like and dislike about Voxibot's platform:

Best For

Call centers can use Voxibot as an automated agent to enhance customer experience. Great for international teams, as Voxibot can handle calls in all common languages.

4. VBVoice by Pronexus

VBVoice by Pronexus is an IVR toolkit that helps businesses build both inbound and outbound IVR systems. VBVoice allows developers to fully manipulate programmable controls and create custom solutions.

Its features include a diagnostic log collector and remote diagnostic logging, automatic generation of crash dumps, and more.

Pricing

VBVoice is a completely free platform.

Standout Features 

• Custom Recordings: Users can record their own custom greetings and easily add to call flows

• Checking and Testing: Testing feature allows users to listen to call prompts and ensure all elements of call flows are connected before implementation
• Prompt Library: Developers build call flows using an intuitive graphical interface and prompt templates

What Users Say

Here are some of the things that users like and dislike about VBVoice's platform:

Best For

This toolkit is intended for developers who are creating solutions for their company. It is best for companies that only need an IVR system,  as it does not include other contact center features like texting and video calling.

5. Verboice

Verboice is a free and open-source platform for creating IVR systems. It provides a simple interface and access to such features as Call Flow Designer, Text-to-Speech and Speech Recognition, Call Recording, reporting and analytics, and more. 

Verboice integrates with almost any VoIP provider or can be installed on a local server with a dedicated phone line. Admins can use Verboice to create inbound IVR call flows or interactive outbound voice campaigns.

Pricing

Verboice is a completely free platform but must be combined with a VoIP service or local phone line.

Standout Features 

• Scheduler: Automatically places a call at a specific date and time set by the administration
• No-Code Flows: Users can create inbound and outbound IVR call flows using Verboice’s built-in tools (no code) or create new apps with code
• Call logs: System automatically captures important details from every call such as call length, caller ID, IVR selections, etc.

What Users Say

Best For

Used by diverse organizations, from the American Red Cross to the International Labour Organisation operating in Cambodia, Verboice is an open source, mission-critical communications support system.

6. Genesys CX Cloud

Genesys CX is a full-featured CCaaS platform that supports both inbound and outbound calling and multiple channels including webchat, social media messaging, and email.

Genesys' IVR software solution is accessible to nearly everyone. Its features are anything but simplistic, as it supports automatic speech recognition across dozens of languages, multiple prompts and versions, and more. CX Cloud’s end goal is to help you build better relationships with your customers.

Pricing

Genesys offers a full-featured 14-day free trial with usage limits (inbound only, up to 10 users, up to 200 chatbot conversations, etc.) Businesses can sign up for up to two free trials in 120 days.

Genesys offers three paid plans:

• Genesys Cloud 1 ($75 per user/mo.): Voice only, includes speech-enabled IVR and ACD
• Genesys Cloud 2 ($95 for voice, $115 for voice and digital per user/mo.): Adds on digital channels, omnichannel routing, web messaging, co-browsing
• Genesys Cloud 3 ($135 for voice, $155 for voice and digital per user/mo.): Adds on workforce engagement management (WEM) and speech/text analytics

Standout Features

• Omnichannel Bot Support: Enables admin to design and manage self-service flows by creating a bot and making it available automatically on any channel

• Speech Recognition: Users can leverage automatic speech recognition and NLU technology to create dynamic conversational IVR menus

• Visual IVR: Enables companies to create touchscreen navigation for customers to use instead of or alongside voice interactions
• Adaptive IVR: Users build dynamic self-service applications that adapt to a customer’s journey across channels in real-time

What Users Say

Here are some of the things that users like and dislike about Genesys' platform:

Best For

The drag-and-drop designer facilitates easy manipulation even for the non-tech-savvy customer service manager.

7. Plum Voice

Plum Voice’s hosted IVR platform (Plum Fuse) includes development tools to empower your self-service strategy, enabling you to easily automate even complex customer interactions. At the same time, Plum prides itself on obviating the need for “complex telephony infrastructure.” Plum Fuse offers conversational AI technologies and natural language processing.

Plum Voice also offers a high level of security with platform-wide HIPAA, PCI, and SOC2 certifications.

Pricing

Plum Voice offers a free trial as well as quote-based pricing. The 30-day free trial allows you to choose from three products:

• Plum Fuse: Low code GUI tool for voice and team collaboration applications
• Plum Dev: Voice XML tool for building IVR systems using code
• Plum Insight: customer feedback and agent performance monitoring and reporting

Standout Features

• Pre-built templates and modules: Library with over 37 prebuilt templates to use in IVR call flows such as payment reminder, CSAT survey, etc.

• Programmable voice and text tools: Omnichannel dialog tools lets customers place orders, make payments, get account info, schedule appointments, etc. on any channel
• Integration modules: The Plum Voice platform includes modules that support third-party apps such as Google Dialogflow, Amazon DynamoDB, and AWS S3

What Users Say

Here are some of the things that users like and dislike about the Plum Fuse platform:

Best For

Plum Fuse recommends its IVR software for medium- to large-sized enterprises across a wide variety of industries.

8. RingEX

RingCentral’s UCaaS platform, RingEX, is a complete business communications solution with messaging, video and phone capabilities. RingCentral's multi-level, intelligent IVR system is packed with advanced features such as speech recognition, natural language processing, and skills-based routing.

RingCentral's platform has a high level of security and reliability with SSO, end-to-end encryption, and 99.999% uptime.

Pricing

RingEX offers a 14-day free trial for up to 20 phone lines. The free trial includes all RingEX features (voice calling, video, IVR, etc.) except for SMS.

RingEX offers three paid plans:

• Core ($20 per user/mo.): Includes Unlimited domestic calling, IVR, and video meetings
• Advanced ($25 per user/mo.): Adds CRM integrations and auto call recording
• Ultra ($35 per user/mo.): Adds device analytics and alerts

Standout Features 

• Skills-based routing: Allows companies to designate skills to their call center agents, determine what skills are needed to resolve each customer call, and then route to the best available agent
• Business hours: Admins can customize how the IVR handles calls during business hours, after hours, and during weekends and holidays
• Customer surveys/Feedback management: Captures customer data and feedback across channels and offers actionable insight for improvement
• Self-service analytics: Real-time monitoring of how effective self-service tools like IVR and chatbots are in both serving the customers and reducing contact center interactions

What Users Say

Here are some of the things that users like and dislike about RingCentral's platform:

Best For

RingCentral is best for large call centers and enterprises that need IVR in addition to other contact center features such as video conferencing, SMS and MMS texting, and real-time analytics.

9. Dialpad

Dialpad is a leading business communication platform best known for its AI-powered Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and Contact Center solutions. Dialpad's IVR system allows users to create custom rules and route calls to any line, voicemail box, pre-recorded message, or automated call menu.

Dialpad's IVR feature is included with all Dialpad plans, which start at $15 per month after the free trial expires.

Pricing

Dialpad offers a 14-day free trial as well as three paid plans:

• Standard ($15 per user/mo.): Unlimited calling, SMS/MMS, team messaging, multi-level auto attendant (IVR), visual voicemail

• Pro ($25 per user/mo.): Adds CRM integrations and local number support in 70+ countries
• Enterprise: Adds 100% uptime SLA and SSO

Standout Features 

• Sentiment analysis: Automatically identifies and reports when a customer says something to indicate that they are pleased, frustrated, or dissatisfied
• IVR media management: Dashboard allows supervisors to see all mp3 recordings that have been uploaded in IVR Workflows, delete and copy files, and view what files are being used where
• Dial by name or number: Users can create an option for callers to reach an agent by inputting their name or extension number
• Real-time transcription: Leverages AI to transcribe all voice and video calls in real-time

What Users Say

Here are some of the things that users like and dislike about Dialpad's platform:

Best For

Dialpad is best for SMBs in a high growth phase that need to automate time-consuming tasks. Large enterprises and contact centers with remote and/or global teams will also benefit from Dialpad.

Choosing the Right Free IVR Software

There is significant overlap in the features offered by the free IVR software solutions available today. However, there are some clear differentiating characteristics of each platform.

What may stick out most to the customer service manager hoping to implement a free IVR software solution is that the above solutions vary in just how free they really are. You may opt for a more hands-on, totally free experience such as Ekiga. Or, perhaps you just want a free trial of a premium service like Zendesk Talk.

The IVR software you settle on will largely depend on the size and ambitions of your team. Thankfully, there are a number of free IVR software solutions to try out before you need to make your final decision.