Zoiper alternatives in 2026: SIP softphones for Android, desktop and Linux

If you need a Zoiper alternative, start with the platforms you have. Zoiper, Linphone, Jami and Blink each run on Windows, macOS and Linux, and Zoiper, Linphone and Jami also ship Android and iOS apps. MicroSIP is a Windows app, Telephone is for Mac and Groundwire is mobile only. The facts below come from each vendor's own site or repository, checked on 29 October 2026; prices are left out because they change often.

How we checked the facts

For each vendor below, the facts come from its own site, download page or repository, read on 29 October 2026. If a vendor said nothing about a feature, this post says nothing about it either. We did not install or test these apps, so run a test call with your own SIP account before you commit to one.

What any SIP softphone needs

A softphone registers with something that accepts SIP accounts, such as a PBX or a SIP provider. Before you compare apps, collect these details from your PBX admin or provider:

• The server name or IP address.
• The username and password for the extension or account.
• The transport: UDP, TCP or TLS. The default port is 5060 for SIP over UDP or TCP, and 5061 for SIP over TLS (RFC 3261, section 18.1.1).
• The codecs the server accepts, such as G.711, G.722 or Opus.
• Whether the phone sits behind NAT or a firewall. The SIP and NAT guide explains what changes.

Those details are the same in every app, so moving between apps is mostly copying settings. For the bigger picture of how softphones, PBXs and trunks fit together, read the SIP trunks and hosted PBX guide.

Comparison at a glance

Platform lists and licenses are as of October 2026. Vendors change them with each release, so check the vendor's page before you deploy.

Android softphones

Linphone

As of October 2026, Linphone's English site links to Google Play and the App Store for mobile, and to downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux. It describes the softphone as a complete softphone for VoIP, video conferencing and instant messaging, and it lists ZRTP for end-to-end call encryption. The site offers the software under an open-source or a proprietary license, so check which terms apply to the build you install.

Zoiper

As of October 2026, Zoiper's download page lists Android and iOS apps, and desktop packages for Windows, Mac and Linux. The Linux packages are Debian and RPM packages and a tar.xz archive. The page does not describe Zoiper as open source. It links to Zoiper's General Terms, so read those before you deploy it.

Jami

As of October 2026, Jami's homepage lists Android, Android TV, iOS, Linux, macOS and Windows. It says the software is licensed under GNU GPLv3 or later, that it is completely peer-to-peer and does not require a server to relay data between users, and that it supports audio and video calls. The same page says Jami "can also function as a SIP client," but it does not explain how to register a SIP account. Test that path with your PBX before you rely on it.

Bria

As of October 2026, Bria's requirements page lists Windows 10 (with the Creators Update) and Windows 11, macOS 14, 15 and 26, iOS 15.0 or later, and Android 10.0 or later. Linux does not appear there. The Bria Solo product page describes combined voice and video calls, and it calls Bria "a secure and reliable UC application." The page does not list SIP transports or codecs, and its footer links to an EULA rather than an open-source license.

Groundwire

As of October 2026, Acrobits' FAQ says that neither Acrobits Softphone nor Groundwire is available as a native desktop application for Windows or macOS, and that both are designed for iOS and Android. For desktop, the FAQ points to Cloud Softphone, which it presents as a business product. If you need desktop calling on Windows or macOS, Groundwire is not the answer.

Windows and macOS softphones

MicroSIP

As of October 2026, MicroSIP's downloads page lists Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 and 11 under operating systems. Its homepage lists Linux, macOS and BSD with a link to WineHQ, but it does not claim native builds for them, and it lists Android, iPhone and iPad as not supported. The site lists the license as GNU GPL v2 and links to the source code. It describes video (H.264, H.263+, VP8 and VP9), TLS for SIP signaling, SRTP and DTLS-SRTP for media, DTMF (in-band, RFC 2833 and SIP INFO), and presence and messaging. The app is built on the PJSIP stack. The site lists Asterisk-based PBXs, FreePBX and 3CX under "supported and commonly used with," and it says it works with any SIP-compliant provider or server.

Telephone for macOS

As of October 2026, the GitHub repository for Telephone describes it in its README as "a VoIP SIP softphone for Mac" and labels the license GPL-3.0. The README covers build steps and names Opus as an optional codec, but it does not list features. Check the developer's current feature list before you rely on it, and test the codecs your server offers.

Blink

As of October 2026, Blink's site says it is available for Linux, Mac and Windows. Its feature list includes Opus audio, H.264, VP8 and VP9 video, and ZRTP encryption. The page does not state a license, so confirm the license with the developer before you deploy it.

SIP clients for Linux

Zoiper, Linphone, Jami and Blink all list Linux on their own sites. Bria's requirements page does not list it, MicroSIP offers a WineHQ link rather than a native build, and Telephone and Groundwire are not Linux apps. If Linux is your main desktop, test the install on your own distribution before you roll it out, because package formats differ.

Darwvin Softphone: Android and Linux, in Early Access

As of October 2026, the app is a SIP softphone for Android and for Linux desktop, and it is in Early Access. The Windows and macOS desktop apps are in development, and there is no iOS app. It supports SIP over UDP, TCP and TLS, with Opus, G.722 and G.711 codecs. It handles several SIP accounts, hold, mute, DTMF, call waiting, blind and attended transfer, a local three-way conference, voicemail indication (MWI), and BLF with presence. On Android, it offers encrypted call recording.

Call Doctor is a rule-based diagnostic, not an AI feature. It explains why a call failed or had bad audio. On desktop, you also get a SIP message ladder and RTP stream analysis. Calls can carry notes, tags and follow-ups.

Know the limits before you choose: there is no iOS app, and the Windows and macOS desktop apps are still in development.

How to choose

Pick by constraint, not by brand:

• One app on Windows, macOS and Linux. Zoiper, Linphone, Jami and Blink all list the three on their sites.
• A light Windows client for a desk phone replacement. MicroSIP is a Windows app built on PJSIP. If you also need video on Windows 10 or 11, Bria is worth testing.
• A Mac-only SIP app. Telephone is GPL-3.0 and Mac only. Its README gives build steps but no feature list, so check its features yourself.
• Desktop and phone with the same app. Zoiper, Linphone, Jami and Bria all list both.
• Mobile only. Groundwire covers iOS and Android but no desktop.
• Video calls. MicroSIP, Linphone, Jami, Bria and Blink list video on their sites.
• An open source license. Telephone (GPL-3.0), MicroSIP (GPL v2), Jami (GPLv3 or later) and Linphone (open-source option) state their licenses. Check the exact build you install.
• Peer-to-peer calls without a relay server. Jami's homepage says it needs no server to relay data between users. It does not say how that works with SIP accounts.

Moving an existing Zoiper account

A Zoiper account is a SIP account, so the settings you copy are the same ones any other app needs.

1. Write down the server, username, transport, port and codecs from the Zoiper account. Get the password from your PBX admin or provider rather than relying on the old app to show it. If your PBX is Asterisk or FreePBX, the connection guide covers the PBX side.
2. Create the same account in the new app and check that it shows as registered before you dial.
3. Make one outbound test call and one inbound test call. Use a test extension on your PBX or a number you control.
4. If audio runs one way, check the NAT settings and the codec list before you change anything else. The one-way audio guide lists the usual causes.
5. Keep Zoiper installed until both test calls work. Some PBXs limit how many devices can register on one extension, so check that before you run both apps at once.
6. Remove the old account once the new one has passed a week of normal use.

FAQ

What is the best SIP softphone in 2026?

There is no single best app. Choose by platform first, then by license and features, and test two candidates with your own PBX. The "How to choose" list above covers the common cases.

Which Zoiper alternatives run on Linux?

Linphone, Jami and Blink list Linux on their own sites. Zoiper does too, and Bria's requirements page does not list Linux. MicroSIP's site links to WineHQ rather than offering a native Linux build.

Is there an open source SIP softphone for Android?

Linphone and Jami both state open source licensing on their sites. Linphone also offers a proprietary license, so check which license applies to the build you install.

Do I need a PBX to use a softphone?

To reach your PBX extensions or the phone network, you need a SIP account from something that accepts SIP registrations, such as a PBX, a hosted service or a SIP provider. Without one, the softphone cannot reach them. The SIP trunks and hosted PBX guide explains the options.

Can one SIP account ring on two devices at once?

It depends on the PBX. Some PBXs limit how many devices can register on one extension, and some ring only one device. Check the extension's settings, then test with both devices before you rely on it.

References

• RFC 3261, SIP: Session Initiation Protocol (section 18.1.1)
• Zoiper, current download and platform page
• Linphone, official site (English)
• MicroSIP, official site
• MicroSIP, downloads page
• Bria Solo, CounterPath product page
• CounterPath Help Center, Bria system requirements
• Acrobits, Groundwire desktop availability FAQ
• Jami, official site
• Telephone for Mac, GitHub repository
• Blink, official site