The money question
Do 1800 Numbers Cost Money?
For your callers, from an Australian fixed line: no — the call is free. For your business: yes — a monthly plan from $10 plus per-second call charges for every call received.
- Callers: free from fixed lines
- Business: plans from $10/month
- Call charges: per second
Does it cost money? Follow-ups
Does calling an 1800 number cost the caller money?
Not from an Australian fixed line — the toll-free guarantee is unconditional there. From a mobile, the caller's carrier and plan set the charge.
Does running an 1800 number cost the business money?
Yes — the monthly plan ($10–$99) plus per-second call charges for traffic beyond any included value, at rates that differ for fixed-line and mobile origins.
How is that different from 1300?
On 1300 the caller contributes up to the local call rate, so the business pays less per call. Plans are identical on both formats — the difference is entirely in the call split.
Can the bill be predicted?
Reasonably: pick the cap plan whose inclusions match your call volume, and the fee is the whole bill until they run out. The first month's reporting confirms the fit.
Do 1800 numbers cost money? Both answers are true, for different people. For your callers, from an Australian fixed line: no — the call costs them nothing, anywhere in the country. For the business running the number: yes — a monthly plan from $10 plus per-second call charges, because on 1800 the business funds every call its number receives. That trade is the entire format: the free call is bought, not free.
The money, by side
| Side | Pays | What | |---|---|---| | Caller (fixed line) | Nothing | The toll-free guarantee | | Caller (mobile) | Plan-dependent | Set by their carrier | | Business | Yes | Plan ($10–$99/month) + per-second call charges |
The business-side bill is predictable by design: cap plans hold the charge at the flat fee until the inclusions run out, and beyond them the per-second rates — published on the pricing page — apply by call origin. The full model is in 1800 number cost, and the caller-side detail in are 1800 numbers free to call.
The comparison hiding in the question
Most "do 1800 numbers cost money" searches end up comparing with 1300 — where callers pay up to the local call rate and the business pays the rest. The plan ladder is identical on both formats; only the call split differs. Choose 1800 for the free-call promise, 1300 for the lower run rate at volume — 1300 vs 1800 numbers works the decision, and either way the numbers come from the available numbers pool. The product overview is at 1800 numbers.
The free call, funded
Get an 1800 number from $10 a month
The toll-free prefix for your business — with the bill published before you start.