Cloud PBX, hosted and managed for you
A PBX is the switchboard of a business: it holds the extensions, the hunt groups, the menus and the voicemail boxes. A cloud PBX keeps all of that and removes the hardware. With Youvoip the PBX runs in our cloud, we handle updates and capacity, and your admins manage extensions and call flows from a browser. Your people connect with apps or SIP desk phones from any location.
What is a cloud PBX, and how it differs from hosted PBX
The terms cloud PBX and hosted PBX describe the same idea: the private branch exchange is operated by a provider instead of sitting in your server room. Older hosted PBX offerings were often a single company's box in a data center, with a technician making changes on request. A cloud PBX like Youvoip is software you configure yourself, available on every device and updated without maintenance windows on your side. Both replace the on-premise system; the cloud version also removes the service ticket. If you are weighing the move, the VoIP vs landline for business guide covers the practical differences.
Classic PBX features, without the closet
Everything admins expect from a PBX is there, named the way you already know it.
- Extensions for each person, with direct numbers and a personal voicemail box.
- Hunt groups as ring groups, with simultaneous or sequential ringing.
- Multi-level IVR menus from the IVR system.
- Transfers, holds and forwarding to internal or external numbers.
- Time conditions for business hours and holiday schedules.
- Call queues with hold music and position announcements on Business.
- Call recording on every plan and a searchable call log.
Admin control in a browser
Admins create and remove extensions, change routing and reset voicemail PINs without touching hardware. Ultimate adds site-level admins for companies with several locations. Enterprise adds custom admin roles, an audit log of every change and SSO with SAML, Okta or Microsoft Entra ID, described on enterprise VoIP systems.
Moving from an on-premise PBX to a cloud PBX
Most companies move in stages. Numbers transfer through number porting at no charge, while the old system keeps answering until each port completes. Larger organizations on Enterprise can connect the existing PBX with SIP trunking, so both systems run together and departments move one at a time. Compatible SIP desk phones can be registered to the new extensions, so handsets do not always need to be replaced.
Extensions list, Main office
- 100
- Front desk, ring group, 3 members
- 201
- Anna Weber, desk phone and mobile app, voicemail on
- 202
- Marco Lee, desktop app, voicemail on
- 203
- Priya Shah, web softphone, forwarding to mobile after 20 seconds
- 300
- Support queue, hold music, position announcements
- 400
- Conference line, auto attendant option 9
- Time condition
- open 8:00 to 18:00, holidays from the company calendar
Around the PBX
The PBX core connects to the rest of the account: call routing software for rules, voicemail to email for messages with transcripts, call recording software and call analytics software for managers, and the softphone for staff away from a desk. For a broader overview, see cloud phone system and VoIP phone system.
Hosted PBX pricing per user
From $19 per user per month, billed yearly. No hardware to buy, no maintenance contract. Compare plans on VoIP pricing.
Cloud PBX questions
Is a cloud PBX the same as hosted PBX?
In practice, yes. Both mean the PBX is run by a provider. With Youvoip you manage it yourself in a browser, and we operate the platform behind it.
Can we keep our extension numbers?
Yes. You choose the extension numbers when you create users, so you can recreate the plan your staff already know.
Can our existing desk phones connect to the cloud PBX?
Compatible SIP desk phones can be registered to Youvoip extensions. Staff can also answer on the mobile app, the desktop app or the web softphone.
How do we connect an old PBX during migration?
On Enterprise, SIP trunking links your existing PBX to Youvoip so both run side by side until the move is complete.
Retire the PBX box, keep the PBX features
Create your account and rebuild your extensions and call flows in the browser. Or try the demo and build a menu first.