1300 vs 1800 Number Difference Australia

A 1300 number is a local-rate service: charges from standard fixed services cannot exceed the applicable local-call charge, while mobile charges depend on the caller’s plan; the business may also pay receiving charges. An 1800 number is free from standard fixed-line services and generally free from most mobile services in Australia, although exceptions such as some satellite services can apply; the business pays the inbound call charges. This guide breaks down the real cost difference between 1300 and 1800 numbers for Australian businesses, including ACMA regulations, provider pricing in AUD, how both number types work with modern VOIP systems, and which option makes sense depending on your call volume, industry, and customer expectations. By the end, you will know exactly which number type fits your business, what it will cost each month, and how to set one up without overpaying.

The Core Difference: Who Pays for the Call

The fundamental difference between 1300 and 1800 numbers is cost allocation. Understanding this is the starting point for every other decision.1300 numbers (local-rate): When a customer calls your 1300 number from a standard fixed service, the charge cannot exceed that service’s local-call charge. Mobile charges depend on the caller’s plan and may be included or charged separately. Your business usually pays provider-set receiving charges, which vary materially by provider, plan, call origin and/or answerpoint.1800 numbers (free-call): Calls to an 1800 number are free from standard fixed-line services and generally free from most mobile services in Australia, but exceptions can apply on some services, including satellite services. Your business pays the full cost of every call. Receiving charges on 1800 numbers are higher than 1300, typically $0.10-0.30 per minute depending on whether the caller is on a landline or mobile.In both cases, the business is paying. The question is how much, and whether the customer also pays a small amount.

Cost Breakdown: What You Will Actually Pay

Here is what the numbers look like in practice for an Australian business using a business phone company. These are typical rates as of 2026. Actual rates vary by provider, so always get a quote.

Monthly Cost Example: 500 Inbound Calls Per Month

For a business receiving 500 calls per month with an average duration of 3 minutes (a mix of 60% mobile and 40% landline callers): The cost difference is roughly $50/month or $600/year for a moderate-volume business. For higher call volumes, the gap widens significantly. At 2,000 calls per month, the difference will depend on average call duration, provider rates, answerpoints and any bundled minutes; calculate it from a current provider quote. That said, many business phone companies offer bundled or unlimited inbound plans that flatten these costs. Always ask about bundled inbound minutes when comparing providers. For a detailed cost estimate, use our VoIP cost calculator.

Which Number Type Suits Which Business

1300 Numbers Work Best For

Most small to medium businesses. A 1300 number gives your business a national presence without the cost of 1800 free-call. It signals professionalism. Customers are accustomed to calling 1300 numbers and the local-rate charge is negligible to most callers. Specifically:

- Service businesses (tradies, consultants, agencies) that want a single memorable number instead of a geographic one
- Businesses with moderate call volume (under 1,000 calls/month) where cost control matters
- Businesses that advertise nationally but operate from one location
- Any business replacing a geographic number to appear larger or more established

Unless you have a specific reason to go 1800, start here.

1800 Numbers Work Best For

Businesses where the caller must not face any barrier to calling. The free-call proposition removes any hesitation a customer might have about picking up the phone. Specifically:

- Support and complaints lines where you want customers to call rather than escalate publicly
- Emergency or crisis services where cost must never be a factor
- High-volume inbound sales where every additional call directly generates revenue
- Government, health, and community services where accessibility is a regulatory or ethical requirement
- Businesses targeting customers on prepaid mobile plans where calls to 1300 numbers may not be included

If a missed call costs you more than the per-minute receiving charge, 1800 makes financial sense. For a plumber or electrician, 1300 is fine. For a crisis helpline or a business selling $10,000+ products over the phone, 1800 removes friction that could cost far more than the phone bill.

ACMA Regulations: What You Need to Know

Both 1300 and 1800 numbers are regulated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) under the Numbering Plan and the Telecommunications Act 1997. Key regulatory points that affect your business:Number portability: You own the right to use your 1300 or 1800 number. If you change providers, you can transfer the number. Your current provider cannot refuse a valid transfer request. For a straightforward 1300/1800 transfer, allow several business days to two weeks once account verification and routing setup are included. See our number porting guide for the full process.Number allocation: 1300 and 1800 numbers are allocated from ACMA's numbering plan through authorised carriers. A provider can issue a standard stock number; a smartnumber can instead be bought through ACMA’s numbering system and then connected by a telco. Standard numbers are typically free or low cost. New smartnumbers are currently sold through ACMA’s numbering system at classification-based prices; existing rights holders may also trade or license them.Call routing rules: 1300 and 1800 numbers can be routed to any Australian phone number, including mobiles, landlines, or VOIP endpoints. You can set up time-of-day routing (business hours to office, after hours to mobile or voicemail), geographic routing (route based on caller location), and overflow routing (if first line is busy, route to next). These routing capabilities are a core advantage over a standard geographic number.Caller cost disclosure: Any call-cost description should be accurate and explain that fixed-service and mobile charges depend on the caller’s provider and plan. The freephone designation guarantees a nil call charge from standard non-mobile telephone services; most ordinary mobile services also offer free 1800 calls, but exceptions can apply. From July 2015, the overwhelming majority of mobile operators introduced free calls to 1800 numbers under an industry framework, but this was not an all-carrier statutory guarantee.

How 1300 and 1800 Numbers Work With VOIP

If you are running a VOIP phone system (cloud phone system, SIP trunking, or a platform like Microsoft Teams), your 1300 or 1800 number integrates directly into your VOIP service. There is no special hardware required. The number is programmed into your business phone company's platform and calls are delivered to your handsets, softphones, or mobile app just like any other inbound call.This is one of the major advantages of modern VOIP over the old PSTN setup. With VOIP, the number is just another routing rule in your provider's cloud platform. You can:

- Route 1300/1800 calls to a ring group (all phones ring simultaneously)
- Send calls through an auto-attendant (press 1 for sales, 2 for support)
- Set up time-based routing directly in your provider's portal
- Forward calls to mobile if you are out of the office
- Record calls for training or compliance purposes
- View call analytics and reporting on your 1300/1800 trafficFeature availability depends on the inbound-number and phone-system provider; using an ATA does not by itself determine whether routing, IVR, recording or analytics are available. Moving to a proper VOIP service unlocks all of the above. The number itself ports across. For more on how this works with 1300 numbers specifically, see our dedicated guide.

Porting Between Providers: What to Expect

If you already have a 1300 or 1800 number and want to switch providers, the number is portable. Here is the process:1. Choose your new business phone company. Confirm they support 1300/1800 number hosting.

2. Submit a transfer request. Your new provider handles this. They will need your current account details and the number(s) to transfer.

3. Wait for the transfer. 1300/1800 numbers are not classified under the Cat A/Cat C local-number porting framework. They transfer under the Inbound Number Portability Code using the Industry Number Management Services (INMS) system. For a straightforward transfer, providers commonly advise several business days to two weeks. Confirm separately how long your new provider needs to recreate complex routing or other service features.

4. Do not cancel your old service before the transfer completes. Cancelling your old account before the transfer is confirmed can result in losing the number entirely. Keep both services active until your new provider confirms the transfer is complete.

5. Test the number. Once transferred, call the number from a mobile and a landline to confirm calls are routing correctly to your new VOIP system.The porting process is the same whether you are moving a 1300 or 1800 number. The key risk is downtime during the cutover window. A good business phone company will communicate the cutover timing and minimise disruption. For more detail on porting timelines and what can go wrong, see our number porting guide.

Vanity Numbers: Are They Worth the Premium?

Vanity numbers (also called "smartnumbers" or "gold numbers") spell out a word or have a memorable numeric pattern. Examples: 1300 TRADIE, 1800 FLOWERS, 1300 222 333. They are marketed as easier to remember, and for some businesses, that is genuinely true.The cost reality: Provider-stock numbers and ACMA smartnumbers use different pricing models: check the provider’s current setup fee separately from ACMA’s current smartnumber allocation charge. Some highly sought-after vanity numbers have sold for $50,000 or more at auction. Ongoing service charges depend on the telco and on whether the smartnumber is customer-owned, activated or leased; confirm them with the provider.Vanity numbers make sense if your business relies heavily on radio advertising, billboard signage, or vehicle wraps where customers need to remember the number without being able to click or tap. For businesses that primarily get calls from website visitors, Google search, or digital ads (where the number is clickable), a vanity number adds little value because customers are tapping, not dialling from memory.

What Most Businesses Get Wrong

Mistake 1: Defaulting to 1800 when 1300 would be fine. Many businesses assume 1800 is "more professional" and pay the premium without considering whether it matters to their customers. For the vast majority of Australian SMBs, 1300 is the right choice. 1800 is only justified when the cost of a customer hesitating to call is genuinely high, such as support lines, crisis services, or high-value inbound sales. If your average customer would not think twice about a local-rate call, save the money.Mistake 2: Overpaying for vanity numbers with no recall benefit. A vanity 1300 number makes sense if you advertise on radio or billboards. If 90% of your calls come from people clicking your number on your website or Google listing, they are not dialling from memory. A standard number with a simple repeating pattern (like 1300 123 456) is just as effective and costs a fraction of a vanity word number.Mistake 3: Not understanding that mobile callers may pay for 1300 calls. While most postpaid mobile plans include calls to 1300 numbers, some prepaid plans and budget MVNOs do not. If your customer base includes a significant prepaid mobile demographic (students, casual workers, elderly customers), this is worth considering. 1800 calls are free from standard fixed-line services and generally free from most ordinary mobile plans, including many prepaid and postpaid plans, but callers should check their service because exceptions can apply.A point frequently misrepresented by providers: both 1300 and 1800 numbers are portable. If you want to change providers, you can take your number with you. The transfer process for non-geographic inbound numbers uses the separate Inbound Number Portability process and the Industry Number Management Services (INMS) system rather than the geographic-number porting process. Allow several business days to two weeks for a straightforward transfer once account verification and routing setup are included, and confirm with your new provider that they support portability for 1300 and 1800 numbers before signing. A provider that tells you your 1300 or 1800 number cannot be transferred is either misinformed or creating a lock-in that does not reflect your legal rights.

Your Next Steps

Use this checklist to decide between 1300 and 1800, and to get set up without overpaying:1. Assess your call volume. How many inbound calls does your business receive per month? Under 500? Over 2,000? The higher the volume, the more the cost difference between 1300 and 1800 matters.

2. Understand your caller profile. Are your callers primarily on mobile or landline? Postpaid or prepaid? If callers’ mobile plans include 1300 calls, those calls may not incur a separate charge; check the relevant Critical Information Summaries rather than assuming this from postpaid status alone.

3. Calculate the cost difference. Use the pricing tables above or our VoIP cost calculator to estimate the monthly cost difference between 1300 and 1800 for your specific call volume.

4. Check your business phone company's 1300/1800 rates. Rates vary significantly between providers. Some bundle inbound minutes into their plan. Ask specifically about 1300 and 1800 receiving charges before signing up. See our VOIP cost guide for what to look for.

5. Skip the vanity number unless you advertise offline. Save $500-5,000+ and put it toward a better phone system or provider plan.

6. Set up call routing properly. Whether you choose 1300 or 1800, configure time-of-day routing, ring groups, and after-hours voicemail. The number itself is just the entry point. The call handling behind it is what actually improves your customer experience.

7. Consider starting with 1300 and adding 1800 later. You can always add an 1800 number for specific use cases (support line, complaints) while keeping 1300 as your primary business number. Many businesses run both.

Is a 1300 number free to call from a mobile?

It depends on the caller's mobile plan. Many mobile plans include calls to 1300 numbers, but inclusion depends on the specific plan and should be checked in its Critical Information Summary. However, some prepaid plans and budget MVNOs charge for 1300 calls or exclude them from included minutes. 1800 calls are generally free from ordinary Australian fixed-line and mobile plans, including many prepaid plans, but exceptions can apply on some services.

Can I port my 1300 or 1800 number to a different provider?

Yes. 1300 and 1800 numbers are portable under Australian regulations. You can switch business phone companies and take your number with you. For a straightforward transfer, allow several business days to two weeks once account verification and routing setup are included. Do not cancel your current service until the transfer is confirmed complete.

How much does a 1300 number cost per month?

Monthly number fees and inbound call rates vary materially by provider, plan, call origin and answerpoint; obtain a dated quote that states GST treatment and included minutes. Some providers offer bundled or unlimited inbound plans that include 1300 receiving charges in a flat monthly fee.

Can I have both a 1300 and 1800 number for the same business?

Yes. Many businesses use a 1300 number as their primary business number and an 1800 number for specific purposes like a support line or complaints hotline. Both numbers can route to the same phone system and ring the same handsets. Your business phone company can set up different routing rules for each number.

Do 1300 and 1800 numbers work with VOIP phone systems?

Yes. 1300 and 1800 numbers integrate directly with modern VOIP and cloud phone system systems. Calls are delivered to your VOIP handsets, softphones, or mobile app like any other inbound call. You get full access to features like ring groups, auto-attendant, call recording, and time-based routing. This is one of the main advantages of running these numbers on VOIP rather than a legacy PSTN setup.

What is a vanity 1300 or 1800 number?

A vanity number spells out a word or has a memorable numeric pattern, like 1300 TRADIE or 1800 FLOWERS. Smartnumber allocation charges and provider-stock number setup fees are separate pricing categories; compare the current ACMA charge with the chosen provider’s setup fee. Ongoing charges depend on the provider and the ownership, activation or leasing arrangement. Vanity numbers are most valuable for businesses that advertise offline (radio, billboards, vehicle wraps) where customers need to remember the number.

Can international callers reach my 1300 or 1800 number?

International reachability varies by number type and provider: some 1300 services accept calls from supported overseas locations, while Australian 1800 services are generally domestic-only unless a separate international service is arranged. If you need to receive calls from overseas, you will need a separate geographic number or a VOIP number with international reachability. Some providers offer international redirect services, but these add complexity and cost.