What 20 Phones Really Cost:
TX3 vs. Per-Handset VoIP and Traditional Phone Lines
A side-by-side monthly and yearly cost for a business with 20 handsets, each using 200 minutes a month (4,000 minutes in total). TX3 is priced on a platform fee plus usage, month-to-month, with features tailored to your business and no lock-in to features you don't need.
The scenario: 20 handsets x 200 minutes x $0.03 per minute = $120 usage, plus a $100 platform fee and $1.95 E911 for one primary location DID = $221.95 a month, or $2,663.40 a year.[1]
About the 200 minutes: This is an average, calculated by dividing total usage across all TX3 customers by the total number of TX3 handsets. This example assumes your business's usage is similar to that average.[2]
Price Cards: 20 Handsets, 200 Minutes Each
Each card shows the provider's published entry plan with unlimited domestic calling, per user, for 20 users. Superscript numbers link to the source, listed under Footnotes and Sources below.
TX3 Communications
Plan: Platform fee plus per-minute usage plus E911. Month-to-month, features tailored, no lock-in.[1]
Per user: about $11.10 per handset per month, effective ($221.95 / 20)
20 users, monthly: $221.95 ($100 platform + $120 usage + $1.95 E911)
20 users, yearly: $2,663.40
Difference vs. TX3: Baseline
RingCentral
Plan: RingEX Core[3]. Unlimited domestic calling (US and Canada).
Per user: $20 a month on annual billing, $30 a month on monthly billing
20 users, monthly: $400 (annual billing), $600 (monthly billing)
20 users, yearly: $4,800 (annual billing), $7,200 (monthly billing)
Difference vs. TX3: +$178.05 a month (+$2,136.60 a year) on annual billing; +$378.05 a month (+$4,536.60 a year) on monthly billing
Nextiva
Plan: NEXT Core[4]. The $15 rate requires a 12-month term (new customers, 1 to 100 employees).
Per user: $15 a month on annual billing, $23 a month on monthly billing
20 users, monthly: $300 (annual billing), $460 (monthly billing)
20 users, yearly: $3,600 (annual billing), $5,520 (monthly billing)
Difference vs. TX3: +$78.05 a month (+$936.60 a year) on annual billing; +$238.05 a month (+$2,856.60 a year) on monthly billing
8x8 (legacy list price, reference only)
Plan: X2 (legacy list price)[8][9]. 8x8 no longer publishes per-user prices. Get a quote from 8x8.
Per user: $24 a month on annual billing, $28 a month on monthly billing
20 users, monthly: $480 (annual billing), $560 (monthly billing)
20 users, yearly: $5,760 (annual billing), $6,720 (monthly billing)
Difference vs. TX3: +$258.05 a month (+$3,096.60 a year) on annual billing; +$338.05 a month (+$4,056.60 a year) on monthly billing
Dialpad
Plan: Connect Standard[5][6][7]. Unlimited calling in the US and Canada. The $23 monthly rate comes from third-party sources.
Per user: $15 a month on annual billing, $23 a month on monthly billing
20 users, monthly: $300 (annual billing), $460 (monthly billing)
20 users, yearly: $3,600 (annual billing), $5,520 (monthly billing)
Difference vs. TX3: +$78.05 a month (+$936.60 a year) on annual billing; +$238.05 a month (+$2,856.60 a year) on monthly billing
Lumen traditional phone lines (POTS)
Plan: Business flat line, Washington (Qwest/CenturyLink QC service area)[10][11]. Line rental only.
Per line: $53.50 a month, one rate, no separate annual rate published
20 lines, monthly: $1,070
20 lines, yearly: $12,840
Difference vs. TX3: +$848.05 a month (+$10,176.60 a year), before long distance, taxes and fees
Summary Comparison
Totals are for 20 users or 20 lines before taxes and fees. The last column is each provider's yearly cost minus TX3's $2,663.40.
Provider
Per user per month (annual billing / monthly billing)
20 users, monthly (annual / monthly billing)
20 users, yearly (annual / monthly billing)
Yearly vs. TX3 (annual / monthly billing)
TX3 Communications[1]
About $11.10 effective per handset
$221.95
$2,663.40
Baseline
What's Not Included
• Scenario: 20 handsets, 200 minutes per handset per month, 4,000 minutes in total.
• TX3: the $100 platform fee is treated as one flat monthly charge for the account, plus $120 usage at $0.03 per minute, plus $1.95 E911 for one primary location DID. Taxes, additional numbers and any other charges are not included.[1]
• Competitors: published list prices for the cheapest plan with unlimited domestic calling, per user. Taxes, E911 and regulatory fees, and phones are not included, so real totals could be higher. Promotions, billing term and account size can change the price.
• Annual-billing prices generally need a 12-month commitment. TX3 is month-to-month with no long-term contract.
• RingCentral shows separate price tabs by number of users, and the $20 and $30 rates are not confirmed for a 20-user account.[3]
• Dialpad's monthly rate varies by source ($23 here, a $27 figure appeared elsewhere), and one third-party site reports the $15 Standard rate is capped at 3 users. Confirm with Dialpad.[5][6][7]
• 8x8 does not publish current per-user prices. Its figures are last list prices reported by third parties and are shown for reference only.[8][9]
• Lumen: 20 lines at $53.50 is $1,070 a month. This is Lumen's Washington price for the former Qwest/CenturyLink QC service area; other Washington areas may be priced differently. Long distance for the 4,000 minutes, the FCC subscriber line charge, taxes, 911 fees and feature add-ons are not included.[10]
• Lumen has filed a notice that certain legacy business services are grandfathered in Washington, with no new orders. Plain business flat lines were not named in that notice, but confirm availability at your address with Lumen.[11]
• Plan features differ between providers, so this page compares calling cost only. Prices change, so confirm with each provider.
Want a quote for your own phone count and call volume?
Footnotes and Sources
Competitor figures were checked on Oct 31, 2026 unless a source date says otherwise.
[1] TX3 Communications scenario inputs. Rates supplied by TX3 for this example: $100 flat monthly platform fee, $0.03 per minute, $1.95 per month E911 for one primary location DID, month-to-month. Actual pricing is by quote.
[2] Average usage methodology and disclaimers. The 200 minutes per handset used in this example is an average: total minutes used across all TX3 customer accounts divided by the total number of handsets in service. An average does not reflect any single customer, and this example assumes your business's usage is similar. Actual usage varies by business, industry, staff count and call patterns. Higher usage increases usage charges at $0.03 per minute. All figures are illustrative estimates, not a quote or a guarantee, and exclude taxes and other regulatory fees. Competitor prices come from the published sources listed below as of the access date and are subject to change. Contact TX3 for a quote based on your actual usage.
[3] RingEX plans and pricing. ringcentral.com. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://www.ringcentral.com/office/plansandpricing.html
[4] Nextiva plans and pricing. nextiva.com. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://www.nextiva.com/pricing/
[5] Dialpad plans and pricing. dialpad.com. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://www.dialpad.com/pricing/
[6] Dialpad partner spotlight, Standard monthly and annual (published Sep 19, 2026). brightlio.com. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://brightlio.com/dialpad/
[7] Dialpad pricing and plans guide. forbes.com. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/dialpad-pricing/
[8] 8x8 pricing and cost per user, last list prices (updated Sep 21, 2026). youvoip.com. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://youvoip.com/blog/8x8-pricing
[9] 8x8 pricing in 2026, no longer published (Sep 10, 2026). nextiva.com. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://www.nextiva.com/blog/8x8-pricing.html
[10] Qwest Corporation d/b/a CenturyLink QC, Washington Catalog No. 2, Section 5, 15th Revised Sheet 32: business line $53.50 (effective Aug 1, 2026). centurylink.com. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://www.centurylink.com/content/dam/home/about-us/tariff/documents/wa_qc_ens_c_no_2.pdf
[11] Lumen notice on grandfathering legacy business services, effective July 1, 2026 (dated Jun 23, 2026). pscdocs.utah.gov. Accessed Oct 31, 2026. https://pscdocs.utah.gov/telecom/26docs/26049P08/345889PrcLst6-23-2026.pdf