Best Toll Free Number Providers in Australia
AVOXI compares the best toll free number providers in Australia by reviewing pricing, feature sets, hidden costs, strengths, weaknesses, and more. Compare the top 1800 service plans before choosing a provider!
Comparing Australia's Top 1800 Number Providers in 2021
Are you seeking the best toll free number provider in Australia? You’ve come to the right place! In this post, we’re comparing the very best providers for your business needs.
When it comes to comparing toll free provider services, telecom pricing can get extremely complicated - especially in Australia. In fact, in our experience as a global provider of hosted number services, very few regions can compare to Australia’s complex pricing structure, excessive costs for add-ons, and administrative charges.
On the bright side, most of these providers also offer additional services like live receptionist or bundling plans for your hosted number with high-quality Internet and PBX services. But, it does make it even more difficult to get an aligned, apples-to-apples comparison between toll free providers.
This where AVOXI comes in! In the review below, we’ll be comparing the top 5 toll free Australian providers including ourselves. We’ll be answering some of the most common questions asked about these services, including:
- How to get the best call rates for your business use-case
- Where to find the best Australia toll free number plans for several different business scenarios
- What to watch for if you want to avoid excessive admin fees or getting locked into a bad contract
Note: 1800 number pricing from these providers is shown in Australian dollars unless otherwise noted. At the time of this article, the applicable conversion rate is $1 USD to $1.30 AUD.
Common Questions About 1800 Number Plans
Are 1800 numbers free to call in Australia?
How much does an 1800 number cost in Australia?
What's the difference between 1300 and 1800 numbers in Australia?
Comparing Australian Toll Free Number Plans by Size
Business phone service pricing is complicated, so trying to calculate what you'll be paying for your service (and what exactly you're getting for your money) can be a nightmare when you aren't familiar with telecom terms and pricing structures already. That's why we're starting this article by taking care of as much of that for you as we can.
Below you'll find plan details from all 5 providers, including what you can expect to pay on your first two invoices if you choose them. We created this Australian toll free number plans comparison tailored for three levels of call volume that cover the common needs of entrepreneurs and startups, small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large enterprises.
Best 1800 Number Plans for Entrepreneurs and Startups
First, we're comparing 1800 number plans for startups or entrepreneurs looking for a simple, affordable service that isn't going to be a pain to deal with or beat you down with hidden admin fees. We did the math and estimated what a plan with about 200 minutes of talk time will look like from the top 1800 providers.
| Best plan | Basic ($19 but currently offering a $9 promotion) | Basic ($12.49 USD, or about $16.18) | $20 Call Pack |
| Call charges (forwarding to landline) | About $20 (200 minutes at 9.7¢ per minute) | Includes 134 minutes | Includes 320 minutes |
| When forwarding to mobile | About $48 (at 23.9¢ per minute) | Expect 127 minutes for $12.49 USD ($16.18) | Includes 140 minutes. $9 more to get you to 200 minutes. |
| Additional usage (per minute) | 10.7¢ mobile calls answered on landlines | 6.9¢ USD (8.9¢) forwarding to SIP; 8.6¢ USD (11¢) to landline; 9.8¢ USD (13¢) to mobile | 6.3¢ when answering on landline, 14.3¢ on mobile |
| Setup fees | $30 | None | $25 |
| Free features | Includes low call rates, Australia-based routing, state-based routing, time-based routing, no connection charge, and inbound call reports | Best set of free features on this list, including simple and complex IVR, time and day-boused routing, business intros, advanced call reporting and many more. No geographic-based routing or postcode prompting (most customers use IVR as a workaround). | Excellent set of included features compared to other Australian providers. No extra cost for simple IVR, state and time-based routing, business greetings, fax and voice to email, and many more. They lack some more advanced features, but that shouldn't be a problem at this call volume. |
| Add-ons | Gold phone number plans ($59 once-off), Platinum phone number plans ($99 once-off), IVR Pro, call routing, business intro, live answering service, fax- and voice-to-email (see details below). | Advanced features like live call monitoring, CRM integration, advanced call reporting, etc. available after purchasing user licenses within the platform. | Competitive pricing for customers that would like to bundle live answering or virtual receptionist services with their 1800 number plan. |
| 1st invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $68 (plan + setup + (200 minutes x landline call rate)) | $12.49 USD or about $16 | About $55 (plan + setup + number) with 120 additional minutes included |
| 2nd invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $38 (minus setup fee) | $12.49 USD or about $16 | About $30 (minus setup fee) |
| Cancellation and Porting Policy | Termination or cancel charges apply if service is cancelled within the first 12 months. 30-day advance written notice required. | Cancel or port out anytime. Enjoy a free month of calls when you port to AVOXI. | 30 days notice of cancellation. $40 to port out in first 12 months. |
| Additional notes | 1800NumbersAustralia has fairly expensive call rates and not a ton of call features to offset. Invoices can get very expensive with each individual feature added on to your Basic plan. | While we are your top choice if fowrarding most calls to mobile or internationally, easybound includes many of the same features as we do with their service plans, plus some we don't like geographic routing. Our flat admin fee of $4.99 USD is also noteworthy on a plan this small. | easyinbound offers great call rates and every plan includes a better set of small business features than most Australian 1800 providers at no extra charge. With low setup fees and very few of the admin fees and add-on costs you see many Australian providers charging, they are a great choice for most small business customers. |
| Recommendation | Even with high call rates, 1800NumbersAustralia does make a decent provider for those low volume companies that don't need any additional tracking, measuring, or enhancing features to get the job done. | Consider us if you are forwarding some calls to mobile, need complex IVR or call analytics, or will be forwarding calls to internationally. Not ideal for postcode prompting, geographic routing, bundled live answering packages, or bundled internet packages. | easyinbound is tough to beat here! They probably make the most sense for a majority customers at this call volume. Exceptions include customers that need advanced features they don't have, or who plan on forwarding calls overseas. |
| Best Plan | Secret Plan ($5.50) | Starter Plan ($10) |
| Call charges (forwarding to landline) | Includes 94 minutes. Additional 106 minutes brings total to about $18. | Includes 125 minutes. $9 more brings total to 200 minutes. |
| When forwarding to mobile | Includes 48 minutes. $34 more brings total to 200 minutes. | Includes 43 minutes. $55 more brings total to 200 minutes. |
| Additional Usage (per minute) | 11.7¢ on landline, 22.7¢ mobile | 12¢ to landline, 35¢ to mobile |
| Setup fees | $77 (Includes GST) | $10 |
| Free features | Looks like basic call routing included. Several advanced features available if you use their hosted PBX solution and buy user licenses. | The features included for free with your Zintel plan are not bad, but certainly not as impressive as some other providers on this list. Standard features include basic call forwarding, voice-to-email, call reporting, and call overflow. |
| Add-ons | Similar to AVOXI, you can unlock more features by buying user licenses in their platform. Lack of free features combined with the complexity of this setup may not be ideal for some customers with small call volumes. | Tons of features features that have add-on costs tied to them. Common features like simple IVR, business greeting, call blocking, time and day routing, call overflow and more can each add as much as $5 - $10 to your monthly bill. |
| 1st invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $95 (plan + setup + (200 - 94 minutes x landline call rate)) | About $44 (plan + number+ setup + $10 for silver pack features). Add $30 if Gold Pack features required (simple IVR, time and day-based routing, business greetings, etc.) |
| 2nd invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $18 (minus setup fee) | About $24 Add $30 if Gold Pack features are required. |
| Cancellation and Porting Policy | No specific early termination fees cited in critical information summary. | 30 days notice required. |
| Additional notes | At a glance, low monthly fee looks great if you're forwarding calls to a landline or VoIP phone, but high setup fee kills any savings you'll enjoy with VoIPLine unless you stay with them for several months at a minimum. Even still, easyinbound and AVOXI win out in most scenarios for customers in need a of a low volume plan. | Call rates look solid and no setup fees makes them stand out compared to many Australian providers. Although it's nice that they include call reprorting and voice2email for free, paying extra for basic features is where your invoice may sneak up on you. |
| Recommendation | VoIPLine's 1800 number plans are a little difficult to dissect. However, if you have simple needs, don't expect big spikes in your call volume, and plan to stay with them for at least a year, VoIPLine's low monthly fees can save you some money in the long run. | Zintel is not a stand-out winner in this category, but remains a solid option in many scenarios. |
Best 1800 Number Plans for Small and Medium Businesses
Next, we're comparing plans for a small or midsize business looking for a comprehensive service that's easy to self-manage, but also doesn't cost a fortune. We did the math and estimated what a plan with about 1,200 minutes of talk time will look like from the top toll free providers in Australia.
| Best plan | Standard ($29) | Standard ($52.99 USD, or about $69) | $79 Call Pack |
| Call charges (forwarding to landline) | About $68 (at 5.7¢ per minute) | Includes 801 minutes | Includes 1,200 minutes |
| When forwarding to mobile | About $203 (at 16.9¢ per minute) | Expect 675 minutes included with your plan | 550 minutes included. Add $93 to get to 1,200 minutes total. |
| Additional usage (per minute) | 6.7¢ mobile calls answered on landline | 5.8¢ USD (7.5¢) forwarding to SIP; 7.6¢ USD (9.8¢) to landline; 8.8¢ USD (11.4¢) to mobile | 6.6¢ when answering on landline, 14.4¢ on mobile |
| Setup fees | $30 | None | $25 |
| Free features | Includes low call rates, Australia-based routing, state-based routing, time-based routing, no connection charge, and inbound call reports. | Best set of free features on this list, including simple and complex IVR, time and day-based routing, business intros, advanced call reporting and many more. No geographic-based routing or postcode prompting (most customers use IVR as a workaround). | As we covered in our small call volume comparison, easyinbound's set of free features looks great compared to other Australian providers. Some customers of this size will be fine with those features, while some may not be able to get around the lack of complex IVR, integrations, advanced analytics, call scoring, etc. |
| Add-ons | Gold phone number plans ($59 once-off), Platinum phone number plans ($99 once-off), IVR Pro, call routing, business intro, live answering service, fax- and voice-to-email (see details below). | Advanced features like live call monitoring, CRM integration, advanced call reporting, etc. available after purchasing user licenses within the platform | Competitive pricing for customers that would like to bundle live answering or virtual receptionist services with their 1800 number plan |
| 1st invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $127 (plan + setup + (1200 minutes x landline call rate)) | About $69 ($52.99 USD) | About $114 (plan + setup + number) |
| 2nd invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $97 (minus setup fee) | About $69 ($52.99 USD) | About $89 (minus setup fees) |
| Cancellation and Porting Policy | Termination or cancel charges apply if service is cancelled within the first 12 months. 30-day advance written notice required. | Cancel or port out anytime. Enjoy a free month of calls when you port to AVOXI. | 30 days notice of cancellation. $40 to port out in first 12 months. |
| Additional notes | 1800NumbersAustralia's call rates are the least expensive in the Silver plan. While you still don't get the features you would get in Premium, you could use the savings accumulated from Basic to put forth into one or two much needed add-ons. | As the call volume increases, AVOXI's pricing gets more competitive and our free set of advanced features becomes more relevant. | Like before, easyinbound's call rates and included features make them a great choice for many midsize customers. However, their limited feature is a sticking point for some customers with at this call volume. |
| Recommendation | It's call rates are high, but for this amount of call volume it's okay but certainly not the most affordable. They do have great services for after-hour call pickup, making 1800NumbersAustralia.com a good provider to consider for those who have 24/7 support teams. | At this call volume, AVOXI is one of your top 2 choices in most situations. If you are forwarding a percentage of calls to mobile or overseas, we are the standout choice. | easyinbound looks good again! They aren't one of the stand out winners like they were for a lower call volume, but still an excellent choice for midsize call volumes as long as you don't need certain advanced features like complex IVR. |
| Best Plan | Plus Plan ($40) | Pro Plan ($60 plan +$5 number) |
| Call charges (forwarding to landline) | Includes 684 minutes. About $60 for additional 516 minutes. | 800 minutes included with plan. $40 more gets you to 1,200 minutes. |
| When forwarding to mobile | Includes 352 minutes on mobile. $192 more gets you to 1,200 minutes. | 348 minutes included. $196 more gets you to 1,200 minutes. |
| Additional Usage (per minute) | 11.7¢ on landline, 22.7¢ mobile | 12¢ to landline, 35¢ to mobile |
| Setup fees | $77 (Includes GST) | None |
| Free features | Looks like basic call routing included. Several advanced features available if you use their hosted PBX solution and buy user licenses. | The features included for free with your Zintel plan are not bad, but certainly not as impressive as some other providers on this list. Standard features include basic call forwarding, voice-to-email, call reporting, and call overflow. |
| Add-ons | Similar to AVOXI, you can unlock more features by buying user licenses in their platform. Lack of free features combined with the complexity of this setup may not be ideal for some customers with small call volumes. | At this call volume, we assume "Silver" and "Gold" feature packs are required for most customers ($10 and $30 add-ons). This covers call blocking, simple IVR, time/day-based routing, business greetings, and state-based routing. This does not included call recording, missed call alerts, complex IVR, etc. |
| 1st invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $177 (plan + setup + (1,200 - 684 x landline call rate)) | About $105 (plan + number + (1,200 - 800 x landline call rate)). Add $50 if Platinum Pack features required (inbound/outbound call recording, caller display, complex IVR, missed call alerts, etc.) |
| 2nd invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $100 (minus setup fee) | About $105. Add $50 if Platinum Pack features are required. |
| Cancellation and Porting Policy | No specific early termination fees cited in critical information summary. | 30 days notice required. |
| Additional notes | VoIPLine seems like a very good option for midsize companies that simply want a number they can plug into an existing system from a service with low call rates. Their high setup fees should be offset within a few months of savings at this call volume. | Call rates look solid and no setup fees makes them stand out compared to many Australian providers. Although it's nice that they include call reporting and voice2email for free, paying extra for basic features is where your invoice may sneak up on you. |
| Recommendation | If you have simple needs, VoIPLine can save you some money in the long run. However, you can get a fuller feature set for only a few extra dollars with AVOXI or easyinbound. | Just like in our previous scenario, Zintel may not be the stand-out winner, but it's competitive pricing and solid feature sets make them a good option for many situations. |
Best 1800 Number Plans for Enterprise
Finally, we're comparing plans for large enterprises looking for a safe, highly-reliable service that also provides the affordable call rates you should expect when managing high volumes. We estimated what a plan with about 3,000 minutes of talk time will look like from Australia's top 1800 services.
| Best plan | Premium ($39) | Premium ($106.99 USD, or about $138) | $5 Call Pack |
| Call charges (forwarding to landline) | About $291 (at 9.7¢ per minute) | Includes 2225 minutes | About $188 (at 6.3¢ per minute) |
| When forwarding to mobile | About $717 (at 23.9¢ per minute) | Expect about 1,783 minutes when forwarding to mobile | About $429 (at 14.3¢ per minute) |
| Additional usage (per minute) | 10.7¢ mobile calls answered on landlines | 4.8¢ USD (6.1¢) forwarding to SIP; 6.6¢ USD (8.5¢) to landline; 7.8¢ USD (10¢) to mobile | 6.3¢ when answering on landline, 14.3¢ on mobile |
| Setup fees | $50 | None | $25 |
| Free features | Includes low call rates, IVR, advance routing options, call recording, call analytics, voice to email, business introduction, and self-managed online portal. | Best set of free features of any provider in this article. No geographic-based routing (most customers use IVR as a workaround). | easyinbound's offers an excellent set of free features for small businesses and many midsize customers. In general, their lack of advanced features will be a sticking point for enterprise-level customers. |
| Add-ons | IVR Pro, call routing, business intro, live answering service, fax- and voice-to-email (see details below). | Advanced features like live monitoring, CRM integrations, scheduled reports, custom dashboards, and more available after purchasing user licenses within the platform. | Competitive pricing for customers that would like to bundle live answering or virtual receptionist services with their 1800 number plan. |
| 1st invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $380 (plan + setup + (3,000 minutes x landline call rate) | About $138 ($106.99 USD) | About $223 (number + plan + setup +(3,000 minutes x landline call rate)) |
| 2nd invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $330 (minus setup fee) | About $138 ($106.99 USD) | About $198 (minus setup fee) |
| Cancellation and Porting Policy | Termination or cancel charges apply if service is cancelled within the first 12 months. 30-day advance written notice required. | Cancel or port out anytime. Enjoy a free month of calls when you port to AVOXI. | 30 days notice of cancellation. $40 to port out in first 12 months. |
| Additional notes | The call features provided lack in comparison to others. Also, you could be paying a little more than 2X as much just by forwarding your calls to mobile. | Our pricing structure was set up to create competitive small business plans and unbeatable enterprise plans. Unlike other providers on this list, you can try our service without facing cancellation costs. We'll even port your number for free if you move to another carrier. | Once again, easyinbound is one of the most competitively priced options in this scenario. However, they are tailored to small businesses, and their lack of enterprise features and programmability will be an issue for many organizations with this call volume. |
| Recommendation | 1800NumbersAustralia is the most expensive provider on this list for the amount of call volume. The call features provided, coupled with this price, do not make this provider viable for enterprise companies experiencing high call volume. | If the math isn't convincing enough, give us a try! There's no cost to cancel, no setup fees, and we'll even port your number for free if you'd like to change carriers. | Even without many advanced features, easyinbound's pricing makes them a noteworthy option. If their feature set works for your needs, consider them if you won't be forwarding many calls to SIP, mobile, or international locations. |
| Best Plan | Value Plan ($80) | Ultimate Plan ($125 plan +$5 number) |
| Call charges (forwarding to landline) | Includes 1,368 minutes. Add $191 to get to 3,000 minutes. | 1,875 minutes included with plan. Add $90 to get to 3,000 minutes total. |
| When forwarding to mobile | Includes 705 minutes. Add $521 to get to 3,000 minutes. | 789 minutes included. Add $420 to get to 3,000 minutes total. |
| Additional Usage (per minute) | 11.7¢ on landline, 22.7¢ on mobile | 8¢ to landline, 19¢ to mobile |
| Setup fees | $77 (includes GST) | None |
| Free features | Looks like basic call routing included. Several advanced features available if you use their hosted PBX solution and buy user licenses. | Standard features include basic call forwarding, voice-to-email, call reporting, and call overflow. |
| Add-ons | Similar to AVOXI, you can unlock more features by purchasing user licenses in their platform. No way to add individual features based on need without adding users to their PBX system. | At this call volume, we assume Silver, Gold, and Platinum features packs will be required for most customers (add $10, $30, and $50 respectively). |
| 1st invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $348 (plan + setup + (3,000 - 1,368 x landline call rate)) | About $220 (plan + number +(3,000 - 1,875 minutes X call rate)) |
| 2nd invoice estimate (ex. fees) | About $271 (minus setup fee) | About $220 |
| Cancellation and Porting Policy | No specific early termination fees cited. | 30 days notice required. |
| Additional notes | As the call volumes increase, VoIPLine's pricing gets less competitve compared to our other scenarios. Their high setup fee should be less of a problem for customers of this size. | Invoice costs can fluctuate depending on your feature needs. If you don't need features like call recording, caller display, or multilevel IVR, subtract $50 from monthly cost. |
| Recommendation | While VoIPLine looks very good in our midsize scenario, their pricing structure is not as advantageous for larger customers compared to other services on this list. | Zintel is consistently one of the top 3 options in almost every scenario we look at. They may not be the best choice here based on their website information, but there's no reason to avoid getting a quote from them and comparing to other providers. |
Top Toll Free Services by Use-Case
Who is the best toll free number provider for geographic call routing?
Who is the best toll free number provider when forwarding calls internationally?
Where can I get the best deal for live answering service bundled with my toll free number?
What toll free provider can assist in optimizing call flow methodology?
Which provider can help my low call volume needs?
Looking Closer at Australia's 1800 Number Providers
| Provider | Great For | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800NumbersAustralia | SMEs with low call volume that need round-the-clock professional answering services. | ||||
| AVOXI | Businesses that forward calls to mobile devices or international locations and midsize to enterprise companies looking for volume discount rates. | ||||
| easyinbound | Small business plans and midsize businesses without complex service needs like advanced IVR or voice integrations. | ||||
| VoIPline Telecom | "Plug and play" or large companies that want competitive call rates to plug into their hosted PBX and forward to SIP. | ||||
| Zintel | Small and midsize companies that either need very few features and/or several features included with their service. | ||||
1800NumbersAustralia.com
1800NumbersAustralia.com is an Australian-based telco service provider that offers three packages for toll free numbers. This provider is a brand of the Alltel family, meaning they have similar pricing structures for their voice plans and add-on fees. We discuss Alltel in great detail in our article on 1300 Australian telephone numbers, which you can view here.
Customers of 1800NumbersAustralia.com can purchase these packages online, select the 800 number they want, and enhance their solution with features like live answering, business introduction, fax-to-email, and voice-to-email making them a good option for those seeking to maximize convenience under one provider.
Call plans start at $19 per month for their Basic package (but currently offering a $9 per month rate special), moving up to $29 for Standard, and $39 for Premium. The two bottom-tier packages include low call rates, free routing options, and complimentary inbound call reports to measure your success. However, it’s only in Premium where you get the features like IVR, call recording, analytics, and voice-to-email included. All three plans contain a once-off $30 setup fee, which will be included in your first invoice.
| Strengths | Weaknesses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powered by Alltel's industry experience and knowledge | Cancelling service in the first 12 months incurs charges, additional cost to port your 1800 number | ||||
| Provides several robust additional services for communication teams with 24/7 support needs | Basic call features offered as expensive add-ons, and excessive fees for simple services (like changing where your calls are forwarded) add up quickly | ||||
| Large inventory of premium and "smart" 1800 phone numbers | High call rates and excessive admin fees makes their 1800 plans expensive compared to other providers regardless of your call volume | ||||
1800NumbersAustralia Plans & Pricing
1800NumberAustralia.com pricing begins at $19 per month for their Basic plan, $29 per month for their Standard plan, and $39 per month for their Premium plan. While their plans identify call rates and setup costs, the minutes provided are not so clearly known. We can determine the amount of perceived talk time by dividing the given call rates by the monthly price.
Ex. $19 Basic rate / $0.097 inbound to landline (local & national) = 196 minutes
Whatever plan you choose, no matter the answerpoint destination, you can expect to pay an estimated $38 for Basic, $58 for Standard, and $78 for Premium excluding the setup fee and add-ons. Your first invoice will be the highest as it will include your monthly plan, add-ons, and setup costs for your plan and phone number.
Based on our findings, this provider will be a suitable option for businesses with relatively low call volume per month. Their Premium plan offers the most complimentary features, but only second best in allotted minutes compared to their other packages, which is likely to offset the added cost of the features on the provider’s end.
When you select your plan, you’ll be prompted to pick your number and add-ons. Some 1800 numbers are free, while others have a price tag. Several add-ons have associated setup fees and per month charges, including features like IVR Pro ($10/month), business intro ($10/month), fax- and voice-to-email ($10-29/month for each). 1800NumbersAustralia offers services like live answering ($39-250/month), IVR sub-menus, region- and exchange-based routing, and more.
The more you add on, the more costly your monthly invoice will be. Add-ons just for live answering can cost a minimum of $39 each month for 25 calls. Need additional sub-menus in your IVR system? That’s an additional $15 per month up to three additional menus. You could spend a minimum of $828 every year just by selecting the minimalist plans within each add-on. This telecom service provider has additional charges for several services and features. However, if you’re seeking a provider that can offer several services to assist your call center, 1800NumbersAustralia might just be the one for you.
1800NumbersAustralia.com Highlighted Features
- Exchange-Based Routing: Define your call collection areas based on Telstra’s exchange boundaries and direct calls to 1,000 different answerpoints. Over 5,200 collection areas to choose from.
- Expansive 1800 Inventory: Instantly obtainable Australian 1800 toll free numbers for purchase.
- 24/7 Live Answering: Professional operators answer phone calls in your business name and respond based on service arrangement. Concierge service will extend live answering capabilities with warm transfers to available teams or agents.
AVOXI
AVOXI is a leading provider of 1800 toll free numbers in Australia and inbound numbers in 170+ countries. Every plan comes with several business phone features at no extra cost, including unlimited IVR menus, time-based routing, call overflow rules, voicemail transcription, and much more. Advanced phone system features like live call monitoring, customer callback, and CRM integrations can be unlocked by setting up user licenses within our platform.
Unlike many other providers on this list, we don't offer state-based routing or postcode prompting, nor do we have bundled services for live answering (virtual receptionist). However, you won't find many admin fees, setup costs, or add-on charges for standard features like IVR and automated call routing, which seems to be normalized among 1800 service providers that focus exclusively on Australia.
| Strengths | Weaknesses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No setup fees, no early termination fees, no add-on fees for basic features, and no charge to get help from our service team at any hour | No geographic-based routing or postcode prompting feature | ||||
| Most affordable option in several scenarios, especially for medium-high call volumes or when forwarding calls to a mobile or overseas | Flat $4.99 USD admin fee makes it harder for our smaller calling plans to compete with providers focused on small businesses | ||||
| Intuitive interface with features like multilevel IVR, complex call routing, call reporting, voicemail transcription and many more included at no extra cost | Unlike other providers on this list, we don’t offer bundled services for live answering, virtual receptionist, Internet, or fax-to-email | ||||
AVOXI 1800 Number Plans & Pricing
Our transparent pricing plans tell customers exactly what they need to know: pricing, minutes, and call rate for each additional minute used. Compared to the other providers, AVOXI does have one of the most expensive plans for their upper-tier packages. However, it also provides you with the most minutes.
Plans begin at $7.99 USD (approximately $10.31 AUD) for their pay-as-you-go style Classic plan. As you move up plans, you are allotted more minutes. AVOXI’s Premium plan has the most amount of minutes. For $106.99 USD (an estimated $138.02 AUD), organizations receive 5,000 inbound call minutes.
There are no contracts or setup fees, and we include over 20 call features free of charge for our Australia 1800 number customers. Customers pay for services in USD.
AVOXI's Highlighted Services
- Intuitive Voice Platform: Manage your business phone service settings from an easy-to-use interface.
- Paid Porting Offer: Enjoy a month of free calls when you port an existing 1800 phone number to AVOXI!
- Advanced Call Forwarding: Every 1800 number plan includes multilevel IVR, time- and day-based routing, call overflow and ring rules, and many more business phone features at no extra cost.
easyinbound
easyinbound is an Australian voice provider that serves Australian toll free inbound phone numbers to startups and corporations around the country. Their online portal makes it easy to select the number and plan you want. Compared to other providers highlighted on this list, easyinbound is more upfront with their per month pricing, and they include several standard and advanced features in their plans at no additional cost.
Package plans at easyinbound begin at $5, followed by a $25 plan, $45 plan, and $79 plan for landline, mobile, or a hybrid package. They can also tailor a customized plan for large volume clients.
As mentioned above, they’re one of the few providers here that actually include call features in their plans free of charge. These features include simple IVR, call queuing, overflow routing, call whisper plus more advanced features like call recording, state-based routing, reporting, and statistics. Live answering service is also available for customers but for an additional fee per month.
| Strengths | Weaknesses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick, easy activation comparable to global services and better than most toll free Australian services | Although excellent for most small business needs, they lack some of the features and pricing perks that many midsize and most enterprise clients need | ||||
| The free features easyinbound includes with every plan is much better than most Australia-based providers, where extra fees for generic features is common | While not as bad as most Australian services, they still charge fees for things like changing your forwarding settings, handling service requests after hours, early termination and porting fees, etc. | ||||
| Excellent incoming call rates, affordable 1800 service plans, and plenty of free features makes easyinbound an excellent choice for most small businesses in Australia | General lack of advanced features such as smart IVR, CRM integrations, detailed analytics, etc. | ||||
easyinbound 1800 Number Plans & Pricing
easyinbound call plans for their 1800 numbers begin at $5 and increase to $25, $45, and $79 for their landline, mobile, and hybrid packages. Their pricing and allocated minutes for each plan are fairly straightforward, providing its customers with clear insight on the number of minutes received and call pack rate for each plan.
It’s refreshing to see a provider with clear pricing, but what’s not so abundantly clear are the fees associated with assistance from the customer care team. Changes to accounts can range from $14.95 to $25.95 per change depending on the complexity of the situation. Administration fees can really add up too. Fees that easyinbound charge their customers include after-business-hours-work, port-out per number, and service reconnection following a suspension or cancellation among others.
easyinbound provides its customers with several standard and advanced features complimentary with their service that other providers do not. They also offer additional features to enhance your business’s customer experience. Live answering is one of these services, and its basic call pack begins at $27.95 for 20 answer calls. Each additional call pack contains 5 for $5.95.
They also offer a virtual receptionist service. In your first month of service, you’ll be paying $199 for 100 answer calls. After that, setup fees will be excluded. SMS is available within both services. Based on their monthly pricing, call rates, allocated minutes, and service to New Zealand and Australia, easyinbound is an ideal solution for inter-region businesses selling products and services within the country that receives low-mid monthly call volume.
easyinbound Highlighted Features
- Call Recording: Automatically record all incoming calls and have both sides of the conversation emailed to you directly.
- Virtual Receptionist & Live Answering: Easily enhance your customer service by taking down contact or lead names, messages, and transfer them where they need to go within your organization.
- Call Distribution Routing: Direct inbound calls via state-based and time of day/week routing terms.
VoIPline Telecom
VoIPline Telecom is a telecommunications company with hosted PBX and voice coverage solutions in over 50 countries, including New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Before purchasing an 1800 business phone number solution, customers can enjoy a 14-day free trial with access to their advanced mPBX routing system and call flow monitoring capabilities.
Packages begin at $5.50 per month with their Secret plan, increasing in minutes and price as you move up. Their Value plan is their most expensive at $80 per month, but it comes with the most amount of call minutes compared to the other plans at VoIPline Telecom.
If you require more minutes than the 1,818 for mPBX, 1,368 for landline diverted to a landline, or 705 minutes for landline diverted to mobile, then you can get a customized quote for all of your call volume needs. There’s a $77 setup fee to get you started on all toll free voice plans, and VoIPline Telecom has a promotion going on for double call value - double your minutes without additional cost!
| Strengths | Weaknesses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voice coverage in over 50 countries | Pricing system makes sense, but very expensive for hosted, landline, and mobile top-tier plans | ||||
| Excellent call rates and plan pricing for companies that simply want to plug a number into their existing system or migrate to VoIPLine's platform | Fees for basic services like call recording and local number porting can be quite expensive | ||||
| Pricing isn't simple, but it is transparent (very few admin fees to worry about, G&S included in most of their pricing, etc.) | Pricing for 1800 toll free numbers can be pricey for short-term needs | ||||
VoIPline Telecom Number Plans
The Secret plan is this provider’s lowest-tier plan, which begins at $5.50 per month for 125 hosted mPBX minutes, 94 minutes for calls answered on a landline, or 48 minutes for calls answered on a mobile phone. The standard inbound call rate is $0.088 per minute for calls going through their cloud-based system, mPBX. Customers diverting their inbound calls through landlines will pay an extra $0.029 per minute ($0.117 total), and those who answer calls on their mobile device will pay an additional $0.139 per minute on top of the standard inbound rate ($0.227 total). Diverted calls to mobile devices are about 63% more in total cost with pricey call rates at $0.23 per minute. While relatively high, they’re consistent throughout each plan unlike others on this list.
This provider has one of the highest voice coverage counts on this list behind AVOXI. Comparatively, many Australia-based providers in this analysis strictly service Australia, whereas VoIPline Telecom also services Commonwealth Nations like New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom. VoIPline Telecom offers their customers four different plans at varying price points. Each plan has an allocated number of talk minutes, but it’s not immediately clear how many are included within each tier. To determine the number of minutes, you must divide the call rate you plan to use by the promotional price (which we’ve done for you below).
Ex. Plus - Landline Minutes: $80 (double value promotion) / (inbound rate ($0.088) + landline diversion rate ($0.029)) = 684 minutes
VoIPline Telecom’s integration functionality with Microsoft Teams and its unique hosting system, mPBX, makes it a viable solution for contact centers taking calls with a mid-volume range per month. While it’s one of the most expensive solutions on this list, its mPBX system stands out with a variety of included features, such as call parking, reporting, call recording, call queue wallboard, and drag-and-drop call flow map. This system helps companies to visualize their call flow methodology, helping call center managers streamline their telephony system for optimized call routing.
VoIPline Telecom Highlighted Services
- Microsoft Teams Integration: Allow Microsoft Teams agents the ability to make and receive calls within direct routing capabilities.
- Call Parking: Inbound calls can be sent to predefined lots, allowing agents to retrieve them from another phone in the business. Customers can set up parameters if the call is forgotten in the lot.
- Call Queue Wallboard: Monitor the status of inbound calls in real-time and make necessary changes in call routing allocation on drag-and-drop software.
Zintel
Zintel is a national provider of 1800 number voice offerings that fuel the Australian and New Zealand market. Customers of this provider can purchase an 1800 phone number through their simple three-step cart process:
- Choose 1800 number
- Select plan
- Add features
Upfront you're spending $5 for your 1800 phone number. Zintel plans begin at $0 for their Pay As You Go option, increasing in cost and minutes as you move up before landing at the Ultimate package, which includes 1,875 landline minutes or 789 mobile minutes for $125 per month and cheaper than VoIPline Telecom offering similar minutes.
Our analysis involves monthly pricing, but customers can opt-in to save upwards of 25% for annual bill pay. Several advanced call features can be added to your plan to enhance your solution, such as call recording, missed call alert SMS, and professional voice talent recording to give your customers total brand voice throughout their call journey. However, Zintel also charges extra for many standard features as well like simple IVR/keypress, business hour routing, call splaying, and more. Complimentary features that are included with all plans: voicemail to email, call forwarding and reporting.
| Strengths | Weaknesses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick, easy activation for inbound numbers in both Australia and New Zealand | Cost per minute (when forwarding to mobile) is not competitive, even in highest volume plans | ||||
| Setup costs and admin fees are notably smaller compared to most providers based in Australia | Although better than many Australian services, they still charge setup fees and some frivolous admin fees. These billing practices aggravate customers and are not often used outside of Australia anymore | ||||
| No add-on fees for call reporting, voice to email, call overflow (sequential), or self-service portal | Add-on fees for standard features like time-based routing, simple IVR, business greetings, and simultaneous ringing | ||||
Zintel 1800 Number Plans & Pricing
Zintel offers seven different voice plans for your 1800 needs. The Pay As You Go plan doesn’t cost anything per month. Instead, you pay for the minutes you use by multiplying them by the associated call rate. Their Starter plan begins at $10 and gradually increases in cost and minutes as you move up tiers and maxing out at $125 for the Ultimate plan. While this number provider offers a few specific call features within its plans, customers can enjoy the flexibility to select additional features that will be most impactful on their communications.
Customers of Zintel may choose to be billed annually and save 25% of their total monthly cost. Call rates are competitive for landline among the listed providers and very high when forwarding calls to a mobile device. This provider offers its customers a virtual receptionist service which is a unique service to this group. Just like live answering, this virtual service takes calls and messages on your behalf but sends you the details via SMS or email so you can follow up with those contacts. Customers must inquire about the price, as it’s not listed on their website.
Unlike other providers, setup fees are only required for PAYG and Starter plans. From our calculation, we can determine that Plus customers yield the most value (90% more) in additional minutes for landline and mobile minutes compared to the plans beneath. Interestingly, Premium and Ultimate plans share the same percentages for additional minutes, too. So if you go with one of the upper-tier plans, it’ll really just come down to how many minutes you average per month.
Inbound call rates for Zintel range from $0.08 to $0.12 for landline answerpoint and $0.19 to $0.35 for mobile answerpoint. PAYG call rate is high at $0.30 and $0.55, respectively. If you don’t need a suite of call features, then Zintel might be the right provider for you. While they have a couple of robust features, such as reporting and sequential call overflow, included within their plan, many of the add-on features they promote are standard features of other providers. Their features are stacked within tiered plans, which could save you $10 from a $90 total if you buy all three. Say you bought each individually. You could be spending up to $250 each month outside of your call plan for several industry-standard features, as well as some robust ones like inbound and outbound call recording and missed call alert SMS and Email. Postcode prompting, professional voice talent recording with a voice actor, and fax to email are additional features to add to your telecommunications.
Zintel Highlighted Features
- No Porting Fees: Easily transfer your legacy 1800 telephone number for free.
- Virtual Receptionist: Capture every contact 24/7 even if you can’t get to the call. Your virtual receptionist will email or SMS the lead’s contact information to you so you can follow up accordingly.
- Professional Voice Over: Get a consistent, professional sound with hundreds of voice actors to suit your brand.
Choosing the Best Toll Free Service for Your Business
Engaging with customers is easier with a reliable, high-quality toll free service supporting you! Even if you don’t choose AVOXI, we hope this article makes it easier to navigate the complicated world of telecom pricing and find the best Australia 1800 number plan and provider for your business!
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