Having a SIP account gives you the freedom to communicate through VoIP. Among the benefits is the ability to make and receive free phone calls to other SIP users worldwide, and to use the softphone software of your choice without being tied to what one VoIP service provider offers. Here are the best free SIP softphone apps and where to get them.

Bria is a popular SIP-based softphone app, widely used by individuals and business people. It’s well-designed with a lot of features, including QoS and a long list of codecs. CounterPath positions their free, entry-level app as an enticement for clients to purchase their more enhanced products such as EyeBeam.

  • Compatible with most VoIP services and IP PBXs.

  • Format text in instant messages.

  • Consumes system resources.

  • No support for commercial use.

Simplest Interface: Ekiga

Formerly known as GnomeMeeting, Ekiga is general public license software for GNOME (Linux) and Windows. It offers all the basic features needed for good, fluid SIP communication in a clean, clear interface. Ekiga also offers free SIP accounts. You can use Ekiga for voice calling and video conferencing.

  • Offers multiple VoIP codecs.

  • Edit the source code for a personalized experience.

  • Fewer features than similar apps.

  • No version for Mac users.

Best Open Source SIP App: Jitsi

Jitsi is a Java-built open-source instant-messaging (IM) application loaded with features. Along with other IM features, it also allows voice and video communication through SIP. Other interesting features include call recording, IPv6 support, encryption, and support for many protocols.

  • Works well on any operating system.

  • Excellent mobile support.

  • Time-consuming to configure properly.

  • Documentation lacks detail.

Make Calls on Any Device: LinPhone

LinPhone is open-source software for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus Android and iPhone mobile platforms. LinPhone allows voice and video communication with many interesting features, including codecs, support for IPv6, echo cancellation, bandwidth management, and more.

  • Well-organized interface.

  • Intuitive contact manager.

  • Lacks a clickable standard phone dialer.

  • Only supports VP8 video codec.

Blink is simple and has all the features you need to make voice and video calls over SIP. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, it’s distributed under a GPL license.

  • Easy Google Drive and OSX integration.

  • Offers a lite version for Mac users.

  • No hotkeys or redial button.

  • Hold feature can be finicky.

For Linux Only: Empathy

Empathy is more like an instant-messaging app that is also a fully featured SIP app. It works with many other protocols, as well. However, Empathy is strictly Linux software. It offers a full complement of features and compares well against instant-messaging tools that run on Android and other common platforms.

  • Geolocation tool keeps track of friends.

  • Very lightweight.

  • Features are basic and limited.

  • No Windows, Mac, or mobile versions.

Best Lightweight SIP App: MicroSIP

MicroSIP is a free, open-source app that allows high-quality VoIP calls through SIP. It gets the job done without any surplus features, making it light on resource usage and nice to use when you want to communicate simply and plainly. MicroSIP is a portable app.

  • Supports dozens of languages.

  • Thorough online documentation.

  • Complicated set up process.

  • Only available for Windows.

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