Does Cradle integrate with FYI?

Yes. Cradle's FYI integration is included on every paid Cradle tier. Calls log themselves against the right FYI client, AI writes the follow-up summary into the activity feed, and voicemails are transcribed automatically. On FYI Elite with FYI AI, Cradle also drafts time entries against the right job. 3CX does not list FYI in its CRM integration framework. Read more at /integrations/fyi.

Does Cradle integrate with Xero Practice Manager (XPM)?

Yes. Cradle ships an XPM integration that logs calls against client records, surfaces client identity on inbound calls and supports click-to-call from XPM. 3CX's CRM template framework is built around general-purpose CRMs (Salesforce-shaped contact lookup), not XPM-shaped accounting workflows.

Does Cradle integrate with HubSpot?

Yes. HubSpot calling, recording and (on Professional and Enterprise) HubSpot conversation intelligence are live on Cradle. 3CX's HubSpot integration sits on top of its generic CRM template, so the click-to-call and contact-lookup pieces work, but the calling-app and conversation-intelligence depth that HubSpot itself exposes to Cradle is shaped differently. Read more at /integrations/hubspot.

Does Cradle integrate with Karbon?

Karbon is on Cradle's roadmap. 3CX does not list Karbon in its CRM integration framework. If a deep Karbon integration is decision-critical today, the right call is to ask each vendor about current state for your size of firm.

How does pricing compare?

Cradle is priced per user per month, with calling credit included on each paid tier and the FYI / XPM / HubSpot integrations included at no extra cost. 3CX has historically sold under a per-system simultaneous-call model with perpetual licence options, and more recently moved to a tiered subscription model. The pricing structures are different enough that comparing list prices column by column is misleading. Model your last three months of call volume against each vendor's current published price before deciding. Always check both pricing pages: Cradle at /pricing and 3CX at https://www.3cx.com/ordering/pricing/.

Which has more capable AI features?

Cradle ships AI call summaries and voicemail transcripts on Professional and Enterprise tiers, with summaries posted directly into the FYI activity feed against the right client and time entries drafted on FYI Elite with FYI AI. 3CX has added transcription and AI features through recent major versions; depth varies by tier and deployment. The substantive difference for accounting firms is the destination of the AI output. On Cradle the summary lands inside the practice tool you already use; on 3CX it lives in the PBX.

Can I keep my existing phone numbers if I switch from 3CX or another provider?

Yes. Cradle ports numbers from major New Zealand carriers including Spark, One NZ and 2degrees. Porting typically takes around two weeks. The Cradle onboarding team handles the LOA paperwork and the carrier liaison end-to-end.

Can I try Cradle without booking a sales call?

Yes. Cradle's pricing page exposes a free-trial path alongside the demo option, and there is no reseller in the middle of the sign-up. 3CX is usually purchased through a partner or MSP, although 3CX does publish a free tier on its own site. If you would rather start an account and dial a real number before talking to anyone, Cradle is the path of less friction.

What if I am currently on 3CX?

If you are happy on 3CX, stay on 3CX. It is a real product with a large installed base. If you are on 3CX and your firm runs on FYI, XPM or HubSpot, the integration gap is hurting, or you would rather not manage the PBX layer, get in touch. We will model what migrating looks like, including porting your numbers and bringing your team across with minimal disruption.

Is 3CX cheaper than Cradle?

On the licence alone, 3CX can look cheaper. The total cost of ownership (TCO) rarely is. 3CX carries line items the licence price doesn't cover and that aren't always obvious until you're a year in: SIP-trunk minutes billed by a separate carrier; installation, integration and ongoing support from a local IT company (3CX isn't generally self-manageable for the kind of changes a small business makes day-to-day, like adding a number, changing an after-hours greeting, or onboarding a new starter); server hosting and patching if you self-host; an SBC if your deployment needs one; and integration build-out time for each CRM or practice management tool you want calls to log against. Cradle's per-user subscription is the whole software bill. Calling credit, the FYI / XPM / HubSpot integrations, porting, and direct support from the team that builds the product all come on the same line. The only piece of hardware a Cradle user needs is a headset, which in 2026 is a baseline tool for any knowledge worker rather than a phone-system line item.

Which is better if my IT team or MSP has standardised on 3CX?

Recommendation: consider both. 3CX is a reasonable fit when your phone usage is occasional, your IT team or MSP already owns and supports the system, and the SIP-trunk and IT-management line items are accepted parts of the bill. Cradle wins when calls are central to the billable workflow, the FYI / XPM / HubSpot integrations meaningfully reduce admin time, or the firm wants to manage its own phone setup without filing tickets with an IT partner.

Which is better if I need AU and NZ porting and local support?

Recommendation: Cradle. AU and NZ onboarding team, AU and NZ business hours, no reseller in the middle of the support relationship, and number porting handled end-to-end on the major local carriers.

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Comparison

Cradle vs 3CX: cloud phone system comparison for AU and NZ accounting firms

3CX is a long-running IP PBX with a large reseller and MSP channel. Here is an honest comparison for accounting and professional-services firms in Australia and New Zealand: where the two products differ, where each fits best, and where the choice really comes down to whether you want a PBX or a SaaS.

Last verified: 14 May 2026

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Cloud-native, no PBX to maintain·FYI, XPM and HubSpot built in·AU and NZ support hours

Built for accounting

FYI, Xero Practice Manager and HubSpot are all live on every paid Cradle tier. The AI summaries post into the FYI activity feed against the right client, and time entries draft on FYI Elite with FYI AI.

Cloud-native shape

There is no PBX, no SBC and no reseller between your firm and the product. Provision in your browser, port your numbers, and dial out the same day.

Where 3CX wins

If your firm has an in-house IT team or an MSP that already runs 3CX, the per-user cost at large headcount on a self-hosted PBX can come out lower than a SaaS subscription. 3CX is also the more flexible product for organisations that need an on-premise option or have an existing PSTN trunk they want to keep.

Click around, it's interactive

Try Cradle in your browser

Click through the call log, in-call screen, messages and settings. Every contact-bearing row shows the FYI, XPM and HubSpot badges, so you can see what Cradle running inside your practice tools looks like before you book a call.

Sarah Mitchell

+64 9 555 0101