1300 vs 1800 Numbers: Which is Right?

Choosing between a 1300 and an 1800 number is really a choice about who pays for an incoming call — and that depends on who your customers are and how much the call is worth to them. For the full picture on both, see our 1300 numbers page or our separate 1800 numbers page.

The Main Difference: Who Pays

• 1300 numbers are "local rate" numbers. The caller pays the cost of a local call, and your business pays a per-minute rate for calls received. It is simple and cheap to run.
• 1800 numbers are toll-free. Callers dial free, and your business covers all call costs — including mobile rates.

The other way to think about it: a 1300 number shares the cost between caller and business, while an 1800 number hands the full cost to the business.

The Comparison at a Glance

| | 1300 number | 1800 number | |---|---|---| | Who pays for the call | Caller pays a local-rate flag; business pays the landing rate | Business pays everything; caller dials free | | Entry cost at Simple Telecom | Plans from $10/month, billed per second | Plans from $10/month, billed per second | | Best for | Sales lines, enquiries, everyday business | Support lines, customer-first brands | | Image | The national business workhorse | The premium, put-the-customer-first signal |

The Cost Difference

On both number types there are no setup fees and no contracts — month to month with 30 days notice. The difference is in the per-minute rates you pay towards your calls:

• 1300 number — lower monthly plans, and callers absorb part of the cost with their local call flag.
• 1800 number — slightly higher per-minute rates, because your business covers everything.

For exact figures on a 1300 number — including what callers pay — see our 1300 number cost guide; both plan grids are on the 1300 and 1800 pricing page.

The Image Difference

Both number types make a business look established and national. The nuance in image:

• 1300 is the everyday business workhorse — enquiry lines, sales calls and national brand numbers.
• 1800 sends a put-the-customer-first message — support lines and premium service brands, where removing any caller barrier counts.

An 1800 number is often chosen by businesses that want the strongest, customer-focused impression, especially once they have a high contract value to chase or a long-average call length.

How to Choose — Who Are Your Callers?

• Sales and enquiry — a 1300 number. Customers with real intent will happily dial a local-rate number, and you keep the monthly costs down.
• After-sales support — an 1800 number. Remove every barrier for customers who are already yours.
• National advertising — either. With caller ID reporting you can track which campaign generated the call.
• Two audiences — many businesses run a 1300 for new enquiries and an 1800 for existing customers, routing both to the same phone system.

Changing Later Is Easy

You are not locked in. Numbers can be ported between providers, and Simple Telecom can move your existing 1300 or 1800 across without losing the number. If your audience changes, you can add or replace numbers with 30 days notice. And if you decide that being memorable matters more than anything, a vanity 1300 number helps callers recall you for life.

Not sure which range fits? Talk to a local expert — Simple Telecom's team can recommend the number type that best fits your customer base, call volume and budget.