Quick answers
1300 & 1800 Number FAQ
The questions we hear most about Australian 1300 and 1800 numbers — how they work, what they cost, who pays for calls, and how to get one — answered straight.
- Straight answers, no sales padding
- Costs, features, porting and calling
- Links to the detailed guides
The questions we hear most
How do 1300 numbers work?
A 1300 number is a virtual number: it is not attached to a line or address. Callers dial the ten digits, and the number's routing rules deliver the call to whatever phone the business points it at — a landline, a mobile, an overflow list or an IVR menu.
What does a 1300 number cost the business?
A monthly plan from $10 to $99 plus per-second call charges for traffic beyond any included value. Cap plans charge only the monthly fee until their included call value is used.
Are 1300 numbers free to call?
No — a 1300 caller pays up to the local call rate from an Australian fixed line, and the business pays the rest. The toll-free format is 1800, where callers pay nothing from fixed lines.
What is the difference between 1300 and 1800 numbers?
Only the cost split. Both dial the same way and share the same features. On 1300 the caller contributes up to the local call rate; on 1800 the business funds the entire call.
Can I use a 1300 number outside Australia?
No — 1300 numbers are part of Australia's domestic network and generally will not connect from overseas. Publish a +61 geographic number or online contact channels for international callers.
How do I get a 1300 number?
Two ways: pick a free-to-connect number from the available pool — quick and simple — or source a smart number or phoneword that spells your brand, which is a premium product acquired by auction over a couple of weeks.
Can I keep my existing number if I switch providers?
Yes. Existing 1300, 1800 and landline numbers can be ported across onto your chosen plan, so the digits your customers already know stay yours.
What features come with a 1300 number?
Call routing and forwarding, time-based, location-based, round-robin and overflow routing, IVR menus, voicemail-to-email, call recording, and call reporting — attached to the number, not to a handset.
The answers above cover the questions that reach us most often, drawn from how the products actually work. Where a question deserves more than a paragraph, the detailed guide is linked below — and if your question is not here, the contact page reaches a human.
By topic
- Costs: the plan ladder and call charges are itemised in 1300 number cost and pricing and 1800 number pricing, with current rates on the pricing page.
- Caller charges: what your customers pay is covered in are 1300 numbers free and is an 1800 number free in Australia.
- Choosing a format: the 1300-versus-1800 decision is set out in 1300 vs 1800 numbers.
- Mechanics: routing, features and the setup sequence are in how 1300 numbers work in Australia and how 1800 numbers work in Australia.
- Finding a number: availability checks live in 1300 number check, and memorable words in phonewords.
- Problems: failed calls are covered in 1300 numbers not working and 1800 numbers not working.
Answers into action
Get your 1300 or 1800 number
Search the available pool, pick a plan from $10 a month, and answer on the phones you already use.