Buy Australian Phone Number Options

There are three published options when you buy an Australian business number here: a 1300 number, an 1800 number or a Phoneword. They differ in what callers pay, whether the number spells a word and what the monthly plans cost. This page compares all three using the published record only — the buy an Australian phone number pillar carries the full context.

The three options at a glance

1300 number: a shared-cost business number. Callers pay a local call rate and the business pays the per-minute rates. Published 1300 plans start at $10 per month.
1800 number: free for customers to call in the stated Australian 1800-number context. The business pays the call charges. Published 1800 plans also start at $10 per month.
Phoneword: a 13, 1300 or 1800 number that spells a word on the telephone keypad. Published Phoneword pricing starts from $40 per month, with availability and desirability affecting the price.
Contracts: standard 1300 and 1800 plans are month-to-month with no lock-in. Premium numbers carry their own published contract terms — the pricing page sets them out.
All published pricing is ex GST.

How the options differ on caller cost

Caller cost is the clearest difference between the two numeric options. On a 1300 number the cost is shared — the caller pays a local call rate and your business pays the per-minute rates for the call. On an 1800 number the caller pays nothing in the stated Australian context, and your business carries the call charges. If you want to remove the caller's cost entirely, that is the 1800 option. If you want a nationally recognisable business number with cost sharing, that is the 1300 option.

A Phoneword can sit on either base: it takes a 13, 1300 or 1800 number and spells a word on the telephone keypad, so the caller-cost behaviour follows the underlying number type.

What each option costs per month

Published 1300 and 1800 plans run $10, $15, $39, $79 and $99 per month. The plan table on the pricing page lists each tier's per-minute call rates and included minutes — for example, the Cap39 plan includes 250 Fixed Line minutes plus 100 Mobile minutes per month, and call rates are per minute, billed per second. This page does not restate every rate; the pricing page is the source to check before buying.

Phonewords start from $40 per month on top of the plan, priced on the desirability and availability of the word. The published process confirms the exact number and price with you before anything is connected.

How availability works

The Find a Number search covers available 1300 and 1800 Phonewords, searchable by word or by the last six digits. Treat the results as a snapshot of current listings, not a reservation. No specific word or number is promised to be available or available at a particular price — availability settles when the number and price are confirmed with you before connection.

Choosing between the options

The comparison comes down to published, checkable differences. First, caller cost — 1300 shares it, 1800 removes it for the caller. Second, the number itself — a standard numeric number or a word. Third, the plan — compare the published monthly fees and inclusions against your expected call volume. Fourth, the terms — standard plans are month-to-month, while premium numbers carry their own published contract terms. Anything outside these published facts, such as which option will perform better for a particular business, is not established by this page.

Questions about buying an Australian business number

What is the difference between a 1300 and an 1800 number?

A 1300 number is a shared-cost number — the caller pays a local call rate and the business pays the per-minute rates. An 1800 number is free for customers to call in the stated Australian 1800-number context, with the business paying the call charges.

Can I buy a number that spells a word?

Yes — that is the Phoneword option. You can search available 1300 and 1800 Phonewords on Find a Number. Phoneword pricing starts from $40 per month, and the exact number and price are confirmed with you before connection.

Is any Australian business number available on demand?

No. The search shows current listings, and availability settles at confirmation before connection. This page does not promise that a specific number or word will be available, or available at a particular price.

Where do I check current plans and call rates?

On the pricing page, which lists the published monthly fees, per-minute rates and included minutes for every 1300 and 1800 plan, plus Phoneword pricing and add-ons. All pricing is ex GST.

For the step that follows the comparison, see Buy Australian Phone Number Setup. The published product properties are summarised on Buy Australian Phone Number Benefits, and pre-purchase answers are collected on Buy Australian Phone Number FAQ.