Linphone vs Zoiper

March 09, 2025 | Author: Adam Levine
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Linphone
Linphone is an open source Voice Over IP phone (or SIP phone) that makes possible to communicate freely with people over the internet, with voice, video, and text instant messaging.
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Zoiper
Zoiper, the free softphone to make VoIP calls through your PBX or favorite SIP provider. Available for iPhone, Android, WP8, windows, mac and linux.

Linphone and Zoiper, at first glance, appear to be two eerily similar creatures in the great and mysterious digital VoIP jungle. They both let humans talk to each other over the internet without the inconvenience of traditional telephones. They work on all sorts of devices, from desktops to those peculiar little slabs people carry everywhere. They encrypt conversations so that only the intended recipient—or, more likely, a sufficiently determined intergalactic cyber-entity—can decode them. They even let you see the other person’s face, which is either a feature or a bug depending on whether you’ve just woken up. And of course, both require some form of SIP wizardry to function, because nothing good in life is ever truly simple.

Linphone, born in France in the fabled year of 2001, is an open-source darling, meaning that anyone with an unhealthy curiosity and a talent for breaking things can poke around in its code. It’s a favorite of developers and businesses that enjoy crafting their own VoIP solutions, possibly while wearing capes. It even comes with command-line tools, which is a sure sign that it’s meant for serious people who type at terrifying speeds. If you need an SDK to integrate VoIP into your next unnecessarily complicated invention, Linphone is more than happy to oblige, possibly while sipping an espresso.

Zoiper, on the other hand, hails from Belgium (2003, for those who keep track of these things) and is a slightly different beast—more polished, less tinker-friendly and designed for people who just want a thing that works without needing a PhD in network engineering. It’s got a free version, but if you want the full magical experience, you’ll need to part with some of your Earth currency. Unlike Linphone, it also supports IAX, which is a protocol beloved by those who know what Asterisk PBX is and enjoy making phone calls in an entirely different way just because they can. Zoiper is, in essence, the VoIP equivalent of a comfortable business suit: reliable, professional and unlikely to demand you compile your own binaries.

See also: Top 10 SIP Softphones
Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com