Create Phone Number Options

The three options you can set up

Creating a phone number for your business starts with choosing which type of number to publish. The options offered here are a 1300 number, an 1800 number and Phonewords. They differ on two points: what the caller pays and whether the number spells a word. The create phone number page walks through the setup side of each.

1300 number: a shared-cost business number. Callers pay a local call rate and the business pays the per-minute rate. Public plans start at $10 per month.
1800 number: free for customers to call in the stated Australian 1800-number context, while the business pays the call charges. Public plans also start at $10 per month.
Phoneword: a 13, 1300 or 1800 number that spells a word on the telephone keypad. Phoneword pricing starts from $40 per month, with availability and desirability affecting the price.

How the options differ in practice

The caller-cost difference is the practical divider. A 1300 number splits the cost of the call, which is why it is presented as a shared-cost option. An 1800 number removes the caller charge entirely in the stated Australian context, which suits support and service lines where you want no barrier to calling. Both run on the same published plan ladder.

The Phoneword option changes the number itself rather than the call economics. If customers need to remember the number after hearing it once, a word can do work that digits cannot — but the licence is priced separately from the plan, and availability is not promised for any specific word.

What to check before you choose

Caller cost: decide whether callers should share the cost (1300) or pay nothing (1800, in the stated Australian context).
Monthly plan: published 1300 and 1800 plans are $10, $15, $39, $79 and $99 per month, and the exact call rates and included minutes are listed on the pricing page. All pricing is ex GST.
Availability: you can search available 1300/1800 Phonewords with Find a Number, but no specific word is guaranteed to be available or priced the same as another.
Terms: standard 1300 and 1800 plans are month-to-month with no lock-in, while Phonewords carry a 12-month rolling contract and a $50 setup subject to number selection and availability. Review the terms and conditions before committing.

Which option suits which business

If you expect steady call volume from customers who chose you anyway, a 1300 number on the lowest plan tier is the entry point. If the calls you want are competitive or service enquiries, the 1800 option removes the caller's cost consideration. If the number itself is part of the brand — printed on vehicles, repeated on radio — a Phoneword is the option built for that. An honest way to decide is to read the numbers for business comparison, then price the shortlist on the pricing page.

Whichever option you shortlist, the setup is the same shape: choose the number, choose the plan and connect the service to the number your business answers.

Create phone number options: questions

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

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

What does each option cost?

Published 1300 and 1800 plans start at $10 per month, with tiers at $15, $39, $79 and $99. Phoneword pricing starts from $40 per month plus a $50 setup, subject to number selection and availability. All pricing is ex GST.

Can I check whether the number I want is available?

Yes, for Phonewords: Find a Number searches available 1300 and 1800 Phonewords. It does not promise that a particular word will be available or available at a particular price.

Are any of these options locked to a contract?

Standard 1300 and 1800 plans are month-to-month with no lock-in. Phonewords run on a 12-month rolling contract with a $50 setup.

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