1800 vs 1300 Numbers: What is the Difference?

Without fail, every day someone asks: what is the difference between a 1300 prefix and an 1800 prefix, and which is best for my business? Good news — it is an easy choice once you understand the one practical difference. For an overview of both, start with our 1800 numbers page.

The One Key Difference

From the business owner's perspective there is virtually no practical difference between the two prefixes. The one difference that matters is on the caller's side:

• 1300 numbers — callers are charged at a local call rate (or the rate included in their mobile plan).
• 1800 numbers — the call is free for the caller.

That is it. Everything else — the monthly fee, the features, the routing options — works the same way.

What Stays the Same

Both prefixes share the same behaviour:

• National presence — no area code, so your business looks the same from every state.
• Same pricing — plans start at $10 per month with per-second billing.
• Same features — voice to email, call recording, IVR and call overflow included free.
• Same routing — connect to fixed lines, mobiles or VoIP and change answer points in real time.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose based on your customers, not on your own costs:

• Choose 1800 if you want to remove every barrier to calling — great for support lines, order hotlines and national marketing where call volume is the goal.
• Choose 1300 if you want a national number that still looks familiar and cost-effective, and your audience is comfortable with the local-rate charge.

Some businesses run both — an 1800 number for support and a 1300 number for sales. You can also add call tracking to either prefix to measure which campaigns are driving calls.

What It Costs You

The cost difference is minimal. Whether you choose 1800 or 1300, the monthly fee and call rates are structured the same way, starting at $10 per month with no contracts. For the complete fee and rate breakdown, see our 1800 and 1300 pricing page.