OSDial

OSDial is a call-center dialer and operations platform for inbound, outbound, and blended calling. It suits centers that can manage a dedicated Linux installation and want dialing, campaign, lead, and reporting tools without license fees. Its breadth is useful, but the drive-erasing installer and non-free add-on modules make deployment planning essential.

Overview

OSDial combines predictive, power, and manual dialing with IVR, campaign management, lead handling, and operational reports. The maker positions it for teams ranging from a few agents to several hundred; capacity depends on server capability. OSDial 4.0 is in development as a hosted solution, while downloadable legacy version 3.0 remains the installable option.

Its AGPL license and lack of required support hours keep the core option open to self-hosting without license fees. That does not mean every capability is included: OSDial Cluster, SQL Cluster, Multi-tenant, Archive, and E-mail Template are non-free modules.

Key features

Dialing and campaign control

Predictive, power, manual, adaptive, and broadcast modes cover different outbound workflows, while inbound and outbound IVR, custom dialplans, carrier failover, local presence, and skill routing give administrators ways to shape call handling. Call recording, answering-machine detection, and custom disposition codes support campaign operations. This is a broad toolkit for centers with varied calling workflows, though teams needing cluster, multi-tenant, or archive functions should account for paid modules.

Lead management and reporting

Lead import and export, custom fields, advanced search, list mixing, and external database access help teams work with campaign data. An API supports lead loading from an external webpage, alongside basic admin and agent APIs. Real-time and summary reports cover calls, leads, agents, lists, and server performance, including agent and lead performance. These tools make OSDial more than a dialer, but their value depends on a team being prepared to configure and operate its own system.

Access and security

Agents can log in remotely with a phone and web browser. International calling is disabled by default, and Asterisk is configured using security best practices. OSDial supports external databases and remote website lead insertion; its corporate page recommends Binfone and WSS Communications as carriers.

Pricing

OSDial offers a free plan, and the maker says the AGPL-licensed software has no license fees or required support hours. The core free option is best suited to teams willing to run the system themselves and accept the installation and administration responsibilities. Cluster, SQL Cluster, Multi-tenant, Archive, and E-mail Template are non-free modules, so organizations that need those capabilities should budget for add-ons.

An Annual Support Agreement includes upgrades, five support hours and one training hour per month, after-hours support availability, and priority over hourly customers. This is a better fit for organizations that want a defined support relationship; no price is given for the agreement. The downloadable installer is not a low-risk way to try the software on an existing machine: it erases the target drive and installs a CentOS-based operating system.

Platforms

OSDial supports API, Linux, self-hosted, and web environments. Downloadable OSDial 3.0.2 images are 32-bit and 64-bit Linux-based installs. Because installation replaces the target drive with a CentOS-based operating system, use a dedicated machine rather than installing over another system. The maker provides sizing guidance for deployments up to 480 seats and directs larger deployments to contact them.

Who it's for

OSDial fits call and contact centers that need multiple dialing modes, lead and campaign controls, and operational reporting, and that have the capacity to provision and maintain a dedicated Linux system. The maker identifies financial services, healthcare, retail, fundraising, and political campaigns as target industries. It is a poor fit for teams seeking a frictionless hosted deployment today or those unwilling to dedicate a drive to installation.

Pros and cons

Pros

• No license fees for the core software: AGPL licensing and no required support hours make self-hosting possible without a software license charge.
• Broad calling and campaign coverage: Multiple dial modes, IVR, lead tools, custom dialplans, and call recording serve varied contact-center workflows.
• Operational visibility: Real-time and summary reports cover both campaign activity and server performance.
• Flexible scale target: The maker provides sizing guidance for deployments up to 480 seats, with capacity tied to server capability.

Cons

• Installation destroys existing drive contents: The CentOS-based installer requires a dedicated target drive, ruling out casual installation over another system.
• Some capabilities cost extra: Cluster, SQL Cluster, Multi-tenant, Archive, and E-mail Template are non-free modules.
• The hosted direction is not the current downloadable release: Version 4.0 remains under development, while version 3.0 is the available download.
• Support adds a separate commitment: The Annual Support Agreement includes set monthly hours and priority, but its price is custom pricing.

Alternatives

For a hosted path to the next version, OSDial describes 4.0 as under development; if you need a different free or paid dialer, these alternatives may fit better:

• Voicent suits a reader who wants a freemium option with a free tier capped at 100 minutes/texts, or a Starter plan at $179 a month billed monthly with 6,500 minutes/texts per month and unlimited campaigns.
• ICTBroadcast is a paid self-hosted Linux option, with Enterprise 5 at $299 a month billed as a lifetime license for 5 lines/channels, or Enterprise 10 at $399 a month billed as a lifetime license.
• VICIdial is another free-plan option, with web, iOS, and Android platforms.
• Convoso is a paid, web-based alternative.
• CallTools is a paid option with API, browser, desktop, and extension platforms; its Power Contact Center plan is month-to-month or annual.
• Dialer360 is a paid option with a free trial and a PBX360 plan at $10 a month, billed monthly.
• Newfies-Dialer offers self-hosted, API, and web platforms, with a free plan and paid port-based plans.
• BatchDialer is a paid option with a free trial and Android, iOS, API, and web platforms.
• Predictive Dialer Software is a category list for comparing dialers.
• Call Center Software is a broader category list for comparing contact-center tools.

Verdict

Choose OSDial if your call center wants a no-license-fee, self-hosted system that brings dialing, campaign, lead, and reporting tools together—and can dedicate a machine to its installation. Its main appeal is that breadth under an AGPL license; its main reason to look elsewhere is the drive-erasing legacy deployment, especially if you need an easy hosted start or rely on modules that cost extra.