Get started

Add anyone to a call with three-way calling.

VoIP lets you conference anyone into a call without hanging up.

Learn more

What is a three-way call?

Three-way calling is a phone feature that adds another person to an existing call. Once you initiate the second call, you can merge the phone calls together.

Also known as 3-way calling, it doesn’t need any conference call numbers or codes for three people to talk to each other.

Traditionally, three-way calling required call waiting and even use of the flash button. Establishing a three-way call was confusing and often resulted in dropping the first call to a dial tone.

Today, jumping on a three-way call is easy, and it works on your desk phone, computer, and smartphone. All you need is a VoIP phone system that includes these built-in features.

Benefits of 3-way calling

Setting up a three-way conference can be handy, even if you do it occasionally. This feature lets you:

  • Get answers fast. Bring on a second person to obtain answers quickly.

  • Maintain privacy. Place the first person on hold before you conference-in a second party.

  • Record calls. Document essential business conversations on the record in the cloud.

  • Save time. Add a second person to a call and keep everyone on the same page.

Grow your business faster with VoIP phone service.

Get started

The most trusted and successful brands use Nextiva.

Conan logo
Taco Bell logo
Stanley Steemer logo
Florida Panthers Logo
Ashley Furniture logo
Nothing Bundt Cakes logo

How to set up three-way call

VoIP Desk Phone

  1. Establish a call with the first caller and inform them you will place them on hold.
  2. Press the conference button, which is abbreviated "CONF" on most phones.
  3. Dial the phone number of the second person.
  4. After they answer, press the conference button again to merge the calls.
Z Line Feature Icon

NextivaONE App for Windows and macOS

  1. Establish a call with the first caller with the NextivaONE App and inform them you will place them on hold.
  2. Desktop app: Tap the "..." button to expand a menu and select Conference.
  3. Type the name of the person you wish to dial. Tap their name.
  4. Press the Call button to initiate the call.
  5. When ready, press the button with two arrows to merge the calls.

NextivaONE App for iOS and Android

  1. Establish a call with the first caller with the NextivaONE App and inform them you will place them on hold.
  2. Tap the Add Call button and dial the second party. Wait until after the person answers.
  3. Press the "..." button to expand a menu and choose the Merge call option.

All phones supplied by Nextiva support three-way calling. Check out Nextiva’s support articles for steps for your device.

Our customers said life became easier after switching to Nextiva.

Eric Siu "We love Nextiva's reliability and features like call pop, free online faxing, auto attendant, IVR and call routing. It gives us the appearance of a bigger, more polished business." Eric Siu CEO, Single Grain
Chris Brencans "Countless sales have been done on the Nextiva mobile app. We couldn't run our business without it. Since adopting Nextiva in 2016, we've seen 203% revenue growth." Chris Brencans CMO, On The Map Marketing
Business Phone Service Benefits

Why businesses choose Nextiva

Benefits Mark
Features

Modify your preferences and toggle features in minutes. Don't compromise on scale or flexibility.

Benefits Mark
Reliability

We handle more than one billion calls every year. Dependable 99.999% uptime you can trust.

Benefits Mark
Security

Nextiva is HIPAA and SOC-2 compliant, with a multi-million-dollar security budget.

Benefits Mark
Call Quality

High-performance data centers and HD Voice technology ensure superior voice quality.

Benefits Mark
Ease of Use

Anyone can set up and use Nextiva’s cloud PBX system, not just technical staff.

Benefits Mark
Amazing Service

Get live support your business needs from our in-house team available 24/7.

Three-way calling FAQs

A three-way call is a conversation that starts between two parties, and they add a third person later. One of the participants can dial a friend to join the call.

Three-way calling is a VoIP feature that lets you call more than one phone at the same time. Once you’ve dialed the number of the person to join the call, you can merge them into the call. You can repeat this for up to six participants with Nextiva. This is also known as an N-way call.

Since there’s no need to set up a conference bridge, it’s best for quick collaboration in small groups.

Any VoIP phone you buy from Nextiva supports three-way calling. Since three-way calling is a core SIP protocol feature, most other VoIP phones also support it, but functionality will vary.

The NextivaONE App also supports three-way calls. The NextivaONE App is available for Mac or Windows, as well as iOS and Android smartphones.

Yes, the N-way calling feature above three people is available upon request for any Nextiva plan. It supports up to six participants.

Long-distance charges don’t apply when outgoing calls are placed anywhere in the United States, Canada, or Puerto Rico.

When someone hangs up, as long it’s not you, the call will continue.

If someone disconnects, you can call them again. You may want to wait a minute before calling someone back, or you may receive a busy signal or a voicemail message. To end the call yourself, just hit the end call button.

Some premium VoIP phones support the option to split a three-way call or only to disconnect yourself, but that will vary by each device.

5/5 Network
Rating

via Downdetector.com

94% Customer
Satisfaction

according to Gartner

90% Willingness
to Recommend

according to Gartner

9.5/10 Easiest
to Use

via G2

Get more work done. See why we’re the best business phone service since 2008.

By clicking the button, you agree to Nextiva's Terms & Conditions.

Close Icon
XBert Hate filling out forms?
Just talk to a real human.
Chris Brencans, CMO

"Nextiva puts all my customer data in one place. I can view account history, notes and documents from one screen. Nextiva takes the guesswork out of customer relationships."

Chris Brencans, CMO
On The Map Marketing
We'd like to know you better so we can serve you better.

We'll give you an intro to the perfect solution that fits your business. Get started on your journey to fearless growth.

By providing information in this form, you agree to Nextiva's Privacy Policy

Close Icon
Nextiva Logo

Your personalized demo. What to expect:

  • Expect specifics. Tailored exactly to your business (we do our research).
  • Expect experts. Our product team will personally answer your questions.
  • Expect quickness. Personalized, specific, clear, and to the point - you’re busy!

Hate filling out forms?
Talk to us.

Call (800) 799-0600
Gartner. Leader: Peer Insights Voice of the Customer G2. Leader SUMMER 2023 GetVoIP Customer Reviews
Get started with this form

Request a demo

Fill in your info and we'll come prepared - spoiler, we do our research.

By providing information in this form, you agree to Nextiva's Privacy Policy.

Close icon
Use fewer apps, get more done.

Download the NextivaONE app.

Desktop

Mobile