How to set your FlyNumber directly to VoIP
Setting a FlyNumber to VoIP means its incoming calls go straight to a SIP address you own (SIP is the standard that VoIP apps, PBXs and desk phones use). That can be your own PBX, a hosted VoIP provider, a softphone service or an AI voice platform. There's no per-minute charge on incoming calls: unlimited incoming minutes*.
In your panel, open the number, and in the Call Handling card pick Forward to SIP / VoIP Address. You can do the same while ordering a number. The form has four fields: Transport, Host, Port and Username. Only Transport and Host are required. Save, and the change takes effect right away.
Each field is explained below. For the full walkthrough, including examples for VAPI, LiveKit and other AI platforms, see Set to VoIP in our docs.
Transport
- The first thing we ask is how the call should travel to your server. The protocol is always
SIP;Transportdecides whether that SIP traffic is encrypted. UDPis the default. It's the fastest path and works with almost every SIP server and softphone. Signaling and audio travel unencrypted.TLSencrypts the leg between FlyNumber and your endpoint: signaling over TLS 1.2/1.3 and audio with SRTP. Your server must support SRTP (SDES), or the call won't connect.- Pick TLS when you actually need the encryption, otherwise UDP is fine. Some AI platforms, like ElevenLabs, require TLS. See what TLS does and doesn't cover.
Host
- Next we ask for a
Host: your SIP server's hostname or IP address. - When using a hosted VoIP provider this is the part after the
@in your SIP address. If your SIP address isjohn@sip.acme.com, the host issip.acme.com. - If you're not sure what your SIP address is, contact your provider or search their documentation for "SIP settings".
- When pointing a FlyNumber at your own PBX (Asterisk, FreePBX, 3CX, FreeSWITCH) this is the public IP address or hostname of that server. If your Asterisk box is reachable at
12.34.45.7, that's what you enter. - Domains, IPv4 addresses and bracketed IPv6 addresses like
[2001:db8::1]are all accepted. Single-label names such aslocalhostare rejected.
Port
Portis optional, and in most cases you should leave it blank.- With Port blank, we route the call using the DNS records your SIP destination publishes. That's exactly what hosted services like sip2sip.info, Twilio, voip.ms and most modern providers expect.
- Typing the standard ports,
5060for UDP or5061for TLS, is treated the same as leaving it blank. - Only enter a port if your own PBX listens on a non-standard one, say
6060. That overrides DNS and connects directly to that port on the host. - The most common setup mistake is a hosted provider's domain with a non-standard port. Calls then fail almost instantly, because the domain's public IP doesn't answer SIP. Clear the port and try again.
Username
- And finally the
Username, also called the user or extension. It's the part before the@in the SIP address we send the call to. - It's optional. Leave it blank and we use your FlyNumber as the username.
- With a hosted VoIP provider, enter your account username there. If your SIP address is
john@sip.acme.com, the username isjohn. - On a PBX, enter the extension the call should ring. If Asterisk or FreePBX has extension
101for a particular phone or user, enter101and incoming FlyNumber calls land on that endpoint. - AI voice platforms like VAPI and LiveKit expect your FlyNumber in international format, for example
+13025551234. See the AI platform examples.
Allow our server, then test
- Forwarded calls, both signaling and audio, come from one FlyNumber server:
sip.flynumber.comat138.197.42.26. If your PBX or platform filters by source IP (an ACL, "allowed addresses" list or firewall rule), allow that address first. Otherwise calls may ring but never connect. Codecs, RTP ports and DTMF details are on our IP addresses page and in the docs' technical specifications. - Make a test call after every change. If something's off, your call logs show a status that points to the cause, and the docs have a troubleshooting table for each one.
- Quick tip: set
Hosttoiptel.organdUsernametomusicto test your FlyNumber before your own server is ready. You'll hear music when you call the number.
Need to log in with credentials? Use FlyNumber SIP
Set to VoIP pushes calls out to your server anonymously, so it can't sign in to a provider or platform that requires a registered, password-protected SIP connection. The cleaner fix is to flip the relationship: switch Call Handling to FlyNumber SIP, and your device registers to us instead.
FlyNumber SIP gives you your own SIP credentials. Plug them into any softphone, desk phone or PBX and your FlyNumber rings there, on up to 5 devices. Outgoing calls show your FlyNumber as the caller ID and are billed per minute from your prepaid balance at our calling rates. Incoming calls are included with the number's monthly rate.
Voicemail and encrypted calls (TLS + SRTP) are built in, with no setup fee and no monthly fee for FlyNumber SIP itself. No SIP server to expose, no IP list to maintain. Some number types restrict outbound calling due to local regulations.
Set up FlyNumber SIPThe other ways to handle your calls
Note
Switch between them any time in your panel. A fifth option, Park the Number, stops the number ringing anywhere (callers hear busy) with no call charges.
Every option is included with a virtual phone number from any of the 90 countries on our coverage page. See pricing for monthly rates and the Rates page for per-minute calling.