1800 Number Cost: Complete Pricing Breakdown
What 1800 Toll-Free Numbers Cost Your Business
Cost Overview
- Monthly plans from $10 with toll-free service
- Business pays 100% of call costs
- Customers call completely free
- All features included at no extra charge
- No contracts or cancellation fees
Understanding 1800 Number Costs
The cost of operating an 1800 toll-free number consists of two main components: your monthly plan fee and your per-minute call charges. Unlike 1300 numbers where costs are shared with callers, 1800 numbers require your business to cover 100% of call costs—this is what makes them toll-free for your customers.
Most businesses start with the $10 per month Prepaid plan, which includes $5 in call credit. This provides access to all features including call routing, voicemail, time-based scheduling, call recording, and the management portal. As your call volume increases, you can upgrade to plans with included minutes that offer better per-minute rates.
For comprehensive pricing details across all plans and call volumes, see our complete guide on 1800 numbers cost and pricing.
Monthly Plan Fees Explained
We offer four plan tiers to accommodate different business sizes and call volumes. The $10 Prepaid plan suits businesses testing toll-free service or receiving occasional calls. The $29 Plus plan provides better per-minute rates for moderate volumes. The $59 Business plan includes 100 minutes of calls. The $99 Premium plan includes 500 minutes and offers the best per-minute rates for high-volume operations.
Every plan provides identical features—call routing, voicemail-to-email, IVR menus, call recording, detailed reporting, and 24/7 portal access. You’re not paying for feature access; you’re choosing the call volume tier that matches your needs. Upgrading or downgrading between plans happens instantly with no penalties or fees.
Call charges apply to every call your 1800 number receives. Because 1800 numbers are toll-free for callers, your business pays both the connection costs and the routing costs. This makes per-minute rates higher than 1300 numbers where costs are shared.
Typical rates range from 22-28¢ per minute for calls from landlines and 28-35¢ per minute for calls from mobiles, depending on your plan tier. Higher-tier plans offer better rates—for example, the Prepaid plan charges 28¢ per minute while the Premium plan charges 22¢ per minute, a 21% saving that adds up quickly for busy lines.
These rates cover the entire call cost from end to end. Your customer pays nothing—their call is completely free from any Australian phone, whether landline, mobile, or payphone. This removes all barriers to customer contact, making 1800 numbers ideal for customer service, support lines, and businesses where maximizing inbound calls is critical.
Call costs are deducted from your account balance in real-time as calls occur. When your balance drops below a threshold, you’ll receive automatic email alerts prompting you to add credit. You can set up automatic top-ups to ensure uninterrupted service, or manually add credit through the portal as needed.
For businesses considering whether to buy an 1800 number, understanding these costs upfront helps with budgeting. See our guide on buying 1800 numbers for the complete setup process.
Comparing 1800 Costs with 1300 Numbers
The primary cost difference between 1800 and 1300 numbers is who pays for calls. With 1300 numbers, customers pay local call rates (typically 25-40¢ per call from landlines, or included in mobile plan allowances) while businesses pay 12-18¢ per minute. With 1800 numbers, customers pay nothing while businesses pay 22-35¢ per minute for the complete call cost.
This means 1800 numbers typically cost businesses 40-50% more per minute to operate. However, many businesses find the increase in call volume from offering free calling more than justifies the higher cost. Customers are more likely to call when it’s free, particularly for longer enquiries or support calls where they’d otherwise worry about their own phone costs.
The decision often comes down to your business type and goals. Customer service centres, support lines, and complaint handling benefit from 1800’s barrier-free calling. General enquiry lines, sales calls, and appointment bookings often work well with 1300’s cost-sharing model. To understand how toll-free service operates, read our guide on how 1800 numbers work.
Total Cost of Ownership
When calculating total 1800 number costs, consider both fixed monthly fees and variable call charges. A business receiving 50 calls per month averaging 3 minutes each would use 150 minutes. On the Prepaid plan at 28¢/minute, that’s $42 in call charges plus the $10 plan fee, totaling $52 monthly. The same business on the Business plan would pay $59 for 100 included minutes plus $14 for the extra 50 minutes, totaling $73 monthly but with better rates for growth.
Compare this to traditional phone systems that charge $40-60 monthly plus per-call charges, require hardware, and lack the flexibility of virtual routing. Or to other virtual phone providers that charge per-user fees on top of base costs. 1800 numbers provide enterprise-grade features at small business prices with no per-user charges—route calls to unlimited team members at no extra cost.
For detailed price comparisons and to see which plan suits your expected call volume, visit our 1800 number price comparison page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About 1800 Number Costs
Why do 1800 numbers cost more than 1300 numbers?
1800 numbers are toll-free—your business pays 100% of call costs so customers can call free. 1300 numbers share costs with callers, making them less expensive to operate. The toll-free experience typically costs 40-50% more per minute.
What’s included in the monthly cost?
All features are included: call routing, voicemail, IVR, call recording, time-based routing, failover, call reports, and portal access. You’re not charged per-feature—the monthly fee covers everything except call minutes.
Are there hidden costs with 1800 numbers?
No hidden costs. You pay the monthly plan fee plus per-minute call charges. Optional extras like phonewords ($50/month) are clearly priced. Number porting and standard features are free.
Can I control costs if call volume spikes?
Yes, set up low balance alerts and spending limits in your portal. You can pause the number temporarily, add call screening, or implement IVR menus to manage which calls reach live agents.
