Finding a 1300 number provider in Australia is not difficult. Finding one that does not lock you into a 24-month contract, charges transparently for routing features, and picks up the phone when something goes wrong — that is harder. This comparison covers the main providers, what they actually include, and what to watch for before you sign.
What to Look for in a 1300 Number Provider
Not all 1300 plans are structured the same way. A low headline price can quickly become expensive once routing features, IVR setup, and per-minute overages are added. Before comparing providers, know which criteria matter most for your business.
Pricing transparency. Some providers include routing features (time-of-day routing, overflow, IVR menus) in every plan. Others present them as paid add-ons. The base plan price tells you nothing unless you know what it covers.
Contract terms. Month-to-month plans give you flexibility to switch if your needs change or if the service disappoints. Some providers require 12 or 24-month commitments, and early exit fees can apply. Check the Critical Information Summary (CIS) before you commit.
Routing features at base plan level. For most small businesses, the essential features are time-of-day routing, call overflow, and basic IVR. Whether these are included at entry level or gated behind higher tiers affects your real monthly cost.
Activation speed. A new number can typically be activated same-day or within 24 hours. If you are porting an existing number, allow longer and confirm the provider will keep your service active throughout the transition.
Australian-based support. When something goes wrong — and at some point it will — you want to reach a local support team that understands your context and can act quickly. Offshore support desks vary significantly in resolution speed.
Call reporting and analytics. A good management portal lets you see call volumes, missed calls, duration, and routing performance. This data is useful for staffing decisions, marketing attribution, and identifying missed opportunities.
Free trial availability. A trial period before payment removes the risk of committing to a platform that does not suit your workflow. Not all providers offer one.
1300 Number Provider Comparison
Pickle
Website: thinkpickle.com.au
Pickle is an Australian business phone systems provider that positions itself at the intersection of transparent pricing and full-featured routing without the enterprise overhead. The platform is built for SMEs that want a professional inbound setup without being sold unnecessary complexity.
Pricing structure. Three publicly listed plans (excluding GST):
- Starter — $19/month, 50 included minutes
- Business — $39/month, 200 included minutes
- Unlimited — $69/month, unlimited minutes (fair use policy)
Per-second billing applies on all plans, which means you are not rounded up to the next minute on every call.
Routing features. All three plans include location-based routing, mobile call routing, time-and-day routing, and holiday/calendar routing as standard. The Business plan adds call overflow and team distribution. The Unlimited plan includes advanced routing and IVR menus. Importantly, these are not add-on charges — they are included in the plan price.
Contract terms. No lock-in contracts. Month-to-month with the ability to cancel at any time. No exit fees.
Support model. Australian-based support team. Number porting from existing providers is handled with the service kept active throughout the transition.
Free trial. 7-day free trial available across all plans.
Notable strengths. The combination of no lock-in contracts, routing features included as standard at every tier, per-second billing, and a 7-day free trial is a strong value proposition for small business owners who want predictable costs. Optional add-ons (AI call answering, call recording, SMS missed call alerts) are available but not mandatory.
Limitations to consider. Pickle is a focused SME provider. If you need highly complex multi-site routing with hundreds of agents or enterprise-grade SLA agreements, the offering may be more limited than a Telstra enterprise contract.
For a full breakdown of what is included, see Pickle's 1300 number cost guide and their call routing explainer.
Business 1300
Website: business1300.com.au
Business 1300 is one of the more established inbound number specialists in Australia, with a broad feature set included across its plans and a clear, publicly listed pricing structure.
Pricing structure. Six publicly listed plans (excluding GST):
- Starter — $5/month (pay-per-use call rates: 15c/min landline, 30c/min mobile)
- Business Lite — $15/month (200 landline mins + 100 mobile mins included)
- Business Mid — $30/month (500 landline mins + 250 mobile mins)
- Business Pro — $45/month (1,000 landline mins + 500 mobile mins)
- Corporate 200 — $200/month
- Corporate 500 — $500/month
Routing features. Business 1300 includes a strong set of features across all plans at no extra cost: time-based routing, state-based routing, call overflow, IVR menu prompts, call recording, voicemail to email, and access to their analytics portal. This is a genuinely inclusive approach that compares well against providers who charge separately for these features.
Contract terms. No lock-in contracts stated publicly.
Support model. Business 1300 operates a dedicated support team. Support channel specifics (Australian-based vs. offshore) are best confirmed directly with the provider.
Free trial. Not prominently advertised on public pricing pages — confirm with the provider before signing up.
Notable strengths. The Starter plan at $5/month is one of the lowest entry prices in the market, and the fact that features like IVR and routing are included even at that level makes it genuinely accessible. Call Tracking ($29/month) and AI Call Sentiments are available as premium add-ons for businesses that need them.
Limitations to consider. The $5/month Starter plan is pay-per-use, so businesses with consistent call volumes will find the per-minute rates add up quickly. Moving to the Business Lite or higher tiers is more realistic for most active businesses.
Alltel
Website: alltel.com.au
Alltel is a well-established Australian telecommunications provider offering 1300 numbers alongside a broader product range including hosted PBX, SIP trunking, and local numbers.
Pricing structure. Alltel's 1300 number plans are publicly listed across several tiers — Starter, Basic, Plus, Pro, Premium, and Enterprise — with monthly pricing starting from around $5/month for the entry tier. A one-time setup fee of $30 applies. Paying annually saves approximately 20% compared to month-to-month billing. For current exact pricing per plan, check alltel.com.au/1300-numbers/plans-pricing directly, as plan structures are periodically updated.
Routing features. Routing capabilities including state-based routing, time-and-day routing, and call overflow are available, though the extent to which these are included versus charged as add-ons at the entry tiers varies by plan — review the Critical Information Summary before committing.
Contract terms. Month-to-month options are available. Note that porting your number away from a Pro, Premium, or Enterprise plan attracts a $60 (ex. GST) fee.
Support model. Alltel is an Australian-based business with a local support team.
Free trial. Not prominently advertised — confirm with the provider.
Notable strengths. The breadth of Alltel's product suite makes it suitable for businesses that want a single provider for multiple telecommunications services. Their My Alltel portal offers call routing management, monitoring, and billing in one place.
Limitations to consider. The tiered plan structure means you need to read the CIS carefully to understand which routing features are available at your chosen plan level. The port-away fee on higher plans is worth noting if flexibility is a priority for your business.
Telstra
Website: telstra.com.au
Telstra offers 1300 inbound number services primarily through its enterprise and business divisions. As Australia's largest telecommunications provider, Telstra's inbound products are built around scale and network reliability.
Pricing structure. Telstra does not publish specific pricing for its 1300 number services online. Plans are quoted through its sales team and are tailored to business size and requirements. If cost transparency at the research stage matters to you, this is a meaningful difference compared to providers with publicly listed pricing pages.
Routing features. Telstra's inbound services include Area Code Manager, Time and Day Manager, Mobile Manager, Call Overflow, and reporting via Telstra Analyser Online. Additional features such as Advanced Mobile Manager and Postcode Manager are available as add-ons.
Contract terms. Contract terms are agreed through the sales process and vary. Minimum term agreements are common for enterprise accounts.
Support model. Telstra has Australian-based business support, though the experience can vary depending on the account tier and channel used.
Free trial. Not applicable in the standard sales process.
Notable strengths. Network scale, brand recognition, and the ability to bundle 1300 services with mobile, internet, and other Telstra products are the primary advantages. For businesses already embedded in the Telstra ecosystem, consolidation may be a practical benefit.
Limitations to consider. The lack of publicly available pricing makes comparison difficult at the research stage. For small businesses focused on cost clarity and contract flexibility, Telstra's enterprise-oriented approach may not be the right fit.
Zintel
Website: zintel.com.au
Zintel is an Australian inbound number provider with a tiered plan structure and a self-service portal. They offer 1300, 1800, and local virtual numbers.
Pricing structure. Zintel's pricing starts at $5/month for a basic plan, with tiers rising through a range of options up to $125/month for the Ultimate plan (which includes 1,875 landline minutes or 789 mobile minutes). A Pay As You Go option with no monthly fee is also available. Annual billing reduces the monthly rate by approximately 25%.
Routing features. The picture here is mixed. Zintel includes core features — call forwarding, voicemail to email, call reporting, and call overflow — with standard plans. However, features such as business hours routing, time-and-day routing, state-based routing, simple IVR, and call splaying are available at higher plan tiers or as add-ons. This is an important distinction: routing features that some providers include at entry level are not automatically included at Zintel's base tier. Check which features are included at your target plan level before signing up.
Contract terms. No lock-in contracts. Cancel at any time is stated publicly. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available.
Support model. Contact details and a customer portal are available. Support specifics (Australian-based vs. offshore) are best confirmed directly with Zintel.
Free trial. 30-day money-back guarantee in lieu of a traditional free trial.
Notable strengths. Zintel's range of number types (1300, 1800, local virtual, international toll-free) suits businesses that want to manage multiple number types through a single provider. The 30-day money-back guarantee provides some low-risk entry.
Limitations to consider. The feature gating model means businesses that need routing flexibility beyond the basics may find their real monthly cost higher than the advertised entry price. Researching the exact feature inclusions per plan tier is essential.
1300 Australia
Website: 1300australia.com.au
1300 Australia is a dedicated inbound number specialist offering 1300 and 1800 number plans with a focus on straightforward inbound call management.
Pricing structure. 1300 Australia publishes tiered inbound call plans. Entry-level plans are competitively priced; check their website for current plan pricing, as it is updated periodically.
Routing features. Standard routing features including time-based and overflow routing are offered. Confirm specific inclusions per plan directly with the provider.
Contract terms. Plan terms vary — confirm whether month-to-month options are available before committing.
Support model. Australian-based provider. Support specifics are best confirmed directly.
Free trial. Not prominently advertised — check with the provider.
Notable strengths. A specialist focus on inbound numbers can mean simpler onboarding and more knowledgeable support compared to large generalist carriers.
Limitations to consider. As a smaller specialist, the breadth of features and integrations may be narrower than providers with larger development teams.
Provider Comparison at a Glance
| Provider | Entry price | Routing included | Contract | Free trial | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pickle | $19/month | Yes — all plans | No lock-in | 7-day free trial | Australian-based |
| Business 1300 | $5/month | Yes — all plans | No lock-in | Not advertised | Confirm directly |
| Alltel | From ~$5/month | Varies by plan tier | Month-to-month available; port-away fee on higher plans | Not advertised | Australian-based |
| Telstra | Quote-based | Available; some features add-on | Quote-based; minimum terms common | Not applicable | Australian-based |
| Zintel | $5/month | Partial — advanced features are add-ons or higher tiers | No lock-in | 30-day money-back | Confirm directly |
| 1300 Australia | Plans vary | Confirm per plan | Confirm directly | Not advertised | Australian-based |
All prices exclude GST. Check provider websites for current rates as pricing is subject to change.
Who Each Provider Suits
Pickle suits small to medium businesses that want full routing functionality without paying add-on fees, prefer month-to-month flexibility, and want to trial the service risk-free before committing. The $19/month entry price with routing included makes it accessible from day one. Start a 7-day free trial here.
Business 1300 suits businesses that prioritise getting the widest feature set at the lowest entry price. The $5/month Starter plan with routing and IVR included is unusually generous, making it a competitive option for businesses with modest call volumes that still want professional call management tools.
Alltel suits businesses that want a well-established Australian provider with a broad product range, and who are comfortable reviewing the CIS in detail to understand exactly which features are available at their plan tier. It is also a reasonable choice for businesses that want to consolidate 1300 numbers with other Alltel services.
Telstra suits larger businesses or those already deeply integrated into the Telstra ecosystem, for whom network scale, brand trust, and the ability to bundle telecommunications services outweigh the premium pricing and lack of self-serve pricing transparency.
Zintel suits businesses that manage multiple number types (1300, 1800, local, international) and want a single portal for all of them. The 30-day money-back guarantee reduces the risk of trialling the service, but buyers should read the feature inclusions per plan carefully.
1300 Australia suits businesses that prefer a specialist inbound provider over a generalist carrier, and who want focused support from a team that works exclusively on inbound numbers.
Questions to Ask Any Provider Before Signing
The right provider will answer these questions clearly and without hesitation. If you get vague answers or are redirected to a sales call before any specifics are shared, that tells you something.
Are routing features — time-of-day, overflow, and IVR — included in the base plan, or charged as extra? This is the single most important question. A $5/month plan that charges $15/month for IVR and $10/month for time-of-day routing is not a $5/month plan.
Is there a minimum contract term or an exit fee? Ask specifically. "No lock-in contract" can still mean a minimum one-month billing cycle, and some providers charge port-away fees on higher-tier plans even when month-to-month billing applies.
Can I port my number away at any time? If you build a business around a 1300 number, you need to be able to take it with you if you switch providers. Most providers support porting, but some impose fees or conditions. Read more in Pickle's guide on how to port a 1300 number in Australia.
What is the per-minute answering fee after any included allowance? Included minutes run out. Know the per-minute rate for landline and mobile calls beyond your plan, because mobile rates are typically significantly higher than landline rates and can catch businesses off-guard.
Is support Australian-based? Ask whether first-level support is handled locally or offshore. For technical issues with your phone number routing — which can directly affect whether calls reach your business — local support with fast response times is worth prioritising.
Pickle's Position in the Market
Pickle is not trying to be the cheapest option at the surface level, nor the most complex enterprise solution. The positioning is deliberate: full routing features included from the entry plan, no lock-in contracts, per-second billing, Australian support, and a 7-day free trial that removes the risk of getting started.
For small to medium businesses in Australia, the most common pain points with 1300 number providers are unexpected charges for features that should be standard, difficulty reaching support when something goes wrong, and contracts that make it expensive to leave a provider that is not working out. Pickle's offer is designed to address all three directly.
The $19/month Starter plan suits a sole trader or small team establishing a professional phone presence. The $39/month Business plan covers most growing SMEs with call overflow and team distribution built in. The $69/month Unlimited plan suits businesses with high inbound call volumes who need IVR menus and advanced routing without counting minutes.
If you are currently with another provider and want to understand what a move would involve, read how to switch your 1300 number provider in Australia.
To get started or speak with the team: call 1300 688 588, email [email protected], or view Pickle's 1300 number plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the cheapest 1300 number provider always the best choice?
A: Not necessarily. A low monthly plan fee can obscure higher per-minute call rates, add-on charges for routing features, or inadequate support. The true cost of a 1300 number is the monthly plan fee plus per-minute rates on calls above your included allowance plus any feature add-ons you need to make the service functional. Calculate total monthly spend at your actual call volume before choosing based on headline price alone.
Q: Can I switch providers if I am unhappy with my current one?
A: Yes. You can switch 1300 number providers, and in most cases you can take your number with you through a porting process. The practical steps include checking your current contract for any exit fees or notice requirements, selecting your new provider, initiating the port, and confirming service continuity during the transition. See Pickle's guide on switching 1300 number providers for a step-by-step walkthrough.
Q: Do all providers let me keep my number if I leave?
A: Number portability is a right under Australian telecommunications regulation — you cannot be refused a port. However, providers can charge fees for the port-away process, and some do. The port-away fee, if any, will be listed in the provider's Critical Information Summary. Pickle does not charge a port-away fee.
Q: What is a per-minute answering fee and how does it affect my total cost?
A: A per-minute answering fee is the rate charged to the business (not the caller) for each minute a call is connected through the 1300 number, beyond any included minutes in the plan. Mobile call rates are typically higher than landline rates — often double — because calls terminating on mobile networks carry higher wholesale costs. If a significant portion of your callers are ringing from mobile phones, model your monthly spend using the mobile rate, not the landline rate. See Pickle's 1300 number cost guide for a full breakdown.
Q: Is there a government-run 1300 number service?
A: No. 1300 numbers in Australia are commercial services allocated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and provided through licensed telecommunications carriers and carriage service providers. There is no government-operated 1300 number service for businesses. You register and manage a 1300 number through a private provider of your choice.