Aria

Aria is a native SIP softphone for registering with standards-compliant SIP servers. It supports inbound and outbound calls, mute, hold, transfers, DTMF, presence, contacts, and call history. Audio features include Opus up to 48 kHz, G.711, an adaptive jitter buffer, and local WAV recording. The maker lists Asterisk, FreeSWITCH, and 3CX as compatible servers; Aria also works with its AriaRoute hosted PBX, which offers numbers, extensions, auto-attendant, ring groups, voicemail, and call recording. Desktop downloads are available for macOS, Windows, and Linux, with signed installers and in-app updates. The maker says iOS and Android apps are in testing and have no releases yet. For mobile apps to receive calls in the background, a self-hosted push gateway is required. An opt-in build feature can transcribe and summarize calls locally, but it is not part of the default download. The privacy policy says Aria has no telemetry or analytics, does not phone home, and stores credentials, call history, contacts, and recordings locally. Aria is free for personal and other non-commercial use; business use requires a separate commercial license.

Aria offers desktop SIP calling with call controls, audio options, and local storage. Mobile releases are not available yet, and commercial use requires a separate license.

Aria suits people using compatible SIP servers who want a desktop softphone for personal or non-commercial use. Businesses should note that commercial use requires a separate license.

Aria is a desktop SIP softphone for people who already have access to a SIP server and want a focused calling client. It suits personal callers who need multiple accounts and unrestricted calls; the main trade-offs are no released mobile apps and a separate licence for business use.

Overview

Aria connects to standards-compliant SIP servers rather than providing browser calling or a bundled phone service. The maker cites Asterisk, FreeSWITCH and 3CX as compatible examples, so it is a natural fit for people who already manage a SIP setup. Desktop versions are available for macOS, Windows and Linux, with signed installers and in-app updates. There is no browser version, and although iOS and Android apps are in testing, neither has a release yet.

Aria also works with the maker’s AriaRoute hosted PBX, which offers numbers, extensions, an auto-attendant, ring groups, voicemail and call recording. That gives users a hosted route if they need phone-system services alongside the softphone, though Aria itself remains a client for SIP calling.

Key features

Calling includes inbound and outbound calls, mute, hold, transfers, DTMF, presence, contacts and call history. Multiple accounts and unlimited calls on the free plan make it useful for a personal user juggling several SIP lines. Opus audio up to 48 kHz, G.711 and an adaptive jitter buffer provide meaningful audio options, while local WAV recording keeps recordings on the device.

SIP signalling can use TLS, and media can use SRTP with AES-128-CM and HMAC-SHA1-80. That is transport encryption, not end-to-end encryption, so users handling sensitive conversations should not mistake it for protection across every point in a call. The privacy policy says credentials, contacts, call history and recordings are stored locally and that the app has no telemetry or analytics and does not phone home.

An opt-in build feature can transcribe and summarise calls locally, but it is not part of the default download. That may appeal to users willing to choose a special build for local processing, but it is not a standard feature to count on in the regular install.

The mobile architecture is more involved than installing a released phone app: the self-hosted push gateway uses APNs and FCM, stores data in SQLite and exposes a REST API for device registration and call signalling. The gateway is required for mobile apps to receive incoming calls in the background. Since the apps remain unreleased, this is a future-facing option rather than a mobile workflow most users can adopt now.

Pricing

Free — free (billed $0 forever) covers personal and other non-commercial use, unlimited calls, multiple accounts and core softphone features. Community support is included. For an individual using SIP for personal purposes, this is unusually unrestricted on calls and accounts; it does not cover business use.

Commercial — custom pricing is the required business-use licence. It includes priority email support, custom branding and white-label options, custom development, a dedicated account manager and SLA guarantees. Those terms are aimed at organizations that need a licensed deployment and support commitments, but the cost must be obtained directly. There is no free trial.

Platforms

Released desktop downloads cover macOS, Windows and Linux. The product also lists iOS, Android, API and self-hosted support, but mobile releases are still in testing. Browser calling is not supported. Call recording is supported through local WAV recording.

Who it's for

Aria is best for personal SIP users who want a desktop client, multiple accounts, local call data and no call quota. It also suits people running compatible SIP infrastructure or using AriaRoute. Businesses should proceed only with the commercial licence, while users who need a released mobile app or browser calling should choose another option.

Pros and cons

• Pros: The free personal tier allows unlimited calls and multiple accounts, avoiding per-call and account caps for non-commercial use.
• Pros: Local storage and no telemetry or analytics, according to the privacy policy, suit users who prefer call records and credentials to remain on-device.
• Pros: TLS and SRTP options, several codec choices and local WAV recording give SIP users practical control over calling and audio.
• Cons: Business use requires a separately priced commercial licence, so the free tier is not an option for workplace deployment.
• Cons: There are no released iOS or Android apps, and background mobile calling would require a push gateway even when the apps arrive.
• Cons: Encryption is transport-level rather than end-to-end, which may not meet the expectations of users who need stronger call-path confidentiality.

Alternatives

For other options, browse Softphone Software. Choose Sip:phone if you want an iOS or Android option and already have a sipwise.com server account; its App Store download is free, while the commercial app has custom pricing. AGEphone is another freemium choice for personal use, with Android, iOS and Windows support; its free edition is personal-use only, and business use requires AGEphone Cloud or AGEphone Business.

Blink is worth considering if you need a wider platform mix, including web and mobile, or want a desktop client that requires a SIP account. Bria Solo may suit someone who prefers a paid option with a free trial and a low annual price: its free tier is limited to one device, one SIP/VoIP account and limited weekly calls for non-commercial use, while the paid plan is $2.95 a year.

Linphone is the alternative to consider when open-source licensing matters; it is available across desktop, mobile, web and self-hosted platforms, with GNU GPLv3 integration and proprietary licensing for closed-source projects. PortSIP Softphone is another free option. Siperb Mobile Softphone and SipPulse Softphone are additional alternatives.

Verdict

Choose Aria if you want a desktop SIP client for personal use, especially when multiple accounts, unlimited calls and local storage matter more than a mobile app. Its free plan covers the core needs well without call caps. Look elsewhere if you need a released mobile or browser client, or if your business needs depend on a licence price you can evaluate upfront.