Side by side
Halcyon vs SipPulse Softphone
Both stand on softphone and calling apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidLinux
Pick Halcyon if you need a free, Android-based SIP softphone and can work with its pre-1.0 status and PBX setup. Server-side push supports device wake-up for incoming calls; without it, the foreground service has a battery cost. Look elsewhere if you need iOS or a stable 1.0 release today.
Visit Halcyon
Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+4
SipPulse Softphone offers multi-platform communications with a free plan and a browser option. Note the SIP credential requirement for mobile users and the absence of a support commitment for free mobile use.
Visit SipPulse SoftphoneThe facts
| Halcyon | SipPulse Softphone | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, Linux | Android, Extension, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | halcyon.tel | sippulse.com |
| On softphone and calling apps | #8 of 33 | #12 of 33 |
Halcyon: what it does well
- Registers with a PBX over UDP, TCP or TLS.
- Supports multiple SIP identities with per-call account selection.
- Routes audio through Android Telecom for Bluetooth headsets and Android Auto.
- Lists SRTP encrypted media.
- Self-hosting uses a direct PBX-to-FCM push path.
What to know first
- There is no iOS version.
- Without server-side push, the foreground SIP service has the usual battery cost.
- The project is pre-1.0 and in active development.
- Video codecs are compiled only into the arm64-v8a build.
SipPulse Softphone: what it does well
- Browser access via WebRTC needs no installation.
- Voice, video and SIP MESSAGE are supported.
- Free plan includes unlimited users and installations.
- White-label publication under a client's brand is available.
What to know first
- Free mobile use does not include support or an SLA.
- Chrome extension is marked as coming soon.
- Mobile apps require valid SIP credentials.
Alternatives to Halcyon Alternatives to SipPulse Softphone The whole list