What Is The Difference Between 1300 And 1800 Numbers?

What’s the difference between a 1300 number and a 1800 number?

Both numbers offer similar features and functions. They are nationwide and fully portable, not confined to specific telephone exchanges or regions.

1300 and 1800 numbers are non-geographic and allow businesses to receive incoming calls on a professional-looking line.

They also offer customisable call handling and routing options to fit individual business needs.

The key difference between a 1300 and 1800 number is call costs for mobile phone callers, landline callers and account holders.

For an account holder, the cost of using a 1800 number isn’t much different from a 1300 number.

The main differences between 1300 and 1800 numbers are:

• 1300 Numbers:1300 numbers are not toll-free, meaning that calls to 1300 are charged to both callers and account holders. They are inbound phone numbers that charge callers the local rate on a landline, and mobile callers are charged by their mobile phone provider.
• 1800 Numbers:1800 numbers are toll-free inbound numbers, ensuring that callers will not be charged a fee for their calls.

When to use a 1300 vs. 1800 number?

If your calls aren’t mostly local and landline-to-landline, there’s little cost difference between 1800 and 1300 numbers.

In this case, you might prefer a 1800 number, as it allows your customers to call you for free.

If most incoming calls are local and landline-to-landline, a 1300 number is the better option. The initial free minutes often cover most calls, so you’ll typically pay your monthly service fee.

The cost differences between 1300 numbers vs. 1800 numbers

The difference between 1300 and 1800 numbers lies in their charging method.

The cost difference between a 1300 and 1800 for business is decreasing, so the main disparities are for callers.

We’ve provided a call cost breakdown for 1300 and 1800 numbers for the caller and the business.

Charges for The Caller

1800 numbers: Free – no charge to the caller.

1300 numbers: When dialling from a landline, callers are charged at local call rates. Mobile phone rates vary depending on the service provider and specific phone plan.

For example, some phone plans include free 1300 calls, but callers might incur toll charges based on call duration or time of day for phone plans that do not cover 1300 calls.

Charges for The Business

1800 numbers: Businesses cover the total cost of inbound calls to their 1800 number, usually included in a monthly plan based on call volume.

1300 numbers: The cost of the 1300 number is shared between the business and the caller, making additional calls less costly for the business.

The customisation options for 1300 and 1800 Numbers

Both 1300 and 1800 numbers are very versatile and include optional features that you can use to align your business needs.

Telcoworks offers various customisation options for enhancing customer experience and managing call flows efficiently.

Advanced routing features

Advanced routing features are available for our 1300 and 1800 numbers, including:

• Time-based routing
• Day-Week Routing
• Routing Templates

These routing features streamline communication, optimising customer interactions for better customer service.

Boost your brand awareness with Smartnumbers

Smartnumbers (AKA phonewords) are numbers that are designed to be memorable.

‘Phonewords’ spell words on a phone’s keypad, and ‘number sets’ are repeated numbers that are easy to remember for callers.

Your business can use customised 1300 and 1800 Smartnumbers to establish a strong brand presence within the market. Smartnumbers can play a key role in boosting brand visibility for growing businesses.

Factors to consider when choosing the right number for your business

Consider these key factors when choosing the right number for your business.

Here, we will discuss how to decide whether a 1300 and a 1800 is the right choice for your business.

Align your number with your business strategy

Ensure your number aligns with your business strategy.

You can ask yourself a few questions, such as:

• Who is your target market, and what kind of number will make it easy for them to remember?
• What are your current and future strategic objectives?

You can also add call features to your number, like call routing and/or Smartnumber options, to help your team achieve customer service objectives.

When organising your business phone number plan, map out these goals and ensure they align with the number type and add-on options.

Future-proofing communication strategies with 1300 and 1800 numbers

Choose the right number for your scalability needs. Toll-free 1800 numbers are the best option for enterprises looking to expand significantly. However, our 1300 numbers are also scalable for considerable business growth.

Future-proof your communication strategies by selecting a number that can adapt and evolve to suit your business needs and grow with you.

How customers perceive 1300 numbers vs. 1800 numbers

In Australia, customers prefer 1800 numbers because they are toll-free, allowing them to call businesses without incurring charges.

However, customers also value 1300 numbers for cost-effectiveness, particularly when calling from landlines.

Ultimately a customer will generally trust a 1300 number as much as a 1800 number, with concerns about toll fees becoming less prominent in contemporary markets.

How to buy a 1300 or 1800 number

Get a 1300 number or 1800 number with us at Telcoworks through our user-friendly website. You can secure a FREE 1300 or 1800 number or lease a Smartnumber to boost memorability and brand image.

Our number plans guarantee a fixed monthly fee and no bill shock, so you can experience what our business phone numbers can do for your customer communication without breaking the bank.

The flexibility of our 1300 and 1800 numbers and the available call features make them an essential addition to any business for a positive image and effortless call management.