How much does a business phone system cost in Australia?
Short answer: a modern cloud phone system in Australia usually costs $20–$45 a month, with little to no upfront hardware cost. Providers charge either per user or per line, and the two are not the same thing. WiseCloud's cloud phone lines are $29.95 ex GST per unlimited line, not per user. Here's how the pricing actually breaks down.
Quick answer: Expect roughly $20–$45 per line/user per month for a hosted (cloud) business phone system in Australia. On-site PBX systems cost more upfront (often $5,000–$15,000+ in hardware) but less in monthly fees. WiseCloud is $29.95 ex GST per unlimited line, calls included. A WiseCloud line is one simultaneous call on a full 3CX phone system, not a bare SIP trunk. Per line is not per user: a 10-person office needing 4 lines pays $119.80 a month ex GST with WiseCloud, versus $299.50 at $29.95 per user. See per-line vs per-user pricing.
What a business phone system costs per month in 2026, by team size
WiseCloud charges $29.95 ex GST per unlimited line. A line is one simultaneous call, and every staff member still gets their own extension, mobile app and desktop app. Here is what that works out to per month, compared with the same price charged per user:
| Team | Lines needed | $29.95 per user | WiseCloud $29.95 per line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 staff | 2 lines | $149.75 | $59.90 |
| 10 staff | 4 lines | $299.50 | $119.80 |
| 20 staff | 7 lines | $599.00 | $209.65 |
| 50 staff | 15 lines | $1,497.50 | $449.25 |
Monthly prices ex GST. Per-user pricing only works out similar for very small teams where everyone is on the phone at once. Full breakdown: per-line vs per-user pricing.
The main things you pay for
A business phone system cost is made up of a few parts. Knowing each one makes it easy to compare quotes fairly:
- Monthly line or user fee — the recurring charge for each phone line or user. This is the biggest ongoing cost.
- Call charges — some providers add per-minute call costs on top; others include calls.
- Upfront / setup — hardware (an on-site PBX, or handsets), installation and configuration.
- Add-ons — call recording, IVR, reporting, integrations — sometimes bundled, sometimes charged extra.
- Number porting — moving your existing numbers across (often free with cloud providers).
Cloud (hosted VoIP) vs on-site PBX cost
A cloud phone system vs a traditional PBX is the biggest factor in your total cost:
- Cloud / hosted VoIP: little to no upfront cost, a predictable monthly per-line fee, and no maintenance. Best for most small and medium businesses.
- On-site PBX: a large upfront hardware investment (commonly $5,000–$15,000+ depending on size), plus ongoing maintenance — but lower per-month fees once installed.
Watch out for per-user pricing
Most cloud providers charge per user, so the bill grows with every staff member — even people who rarely make calls. WiseCloud charges per line, which is usually cheaper because you only pay for concurrent calls, not headcount. We break this down in per-line vs per-user pricing.
What WiseCloud's cloud phone system costs
WiseCloud's cloud phone system is $29.95 ex GST per unlimited phone line per month, built on the 3CX platform. That price includes:
- Unlimited local, national and mobile calls
- IVR auto-attendant, call queues and hunt groups
- Call recording and live call statistics
- Disaster-recovery call divert
- Free mobile & desktop apps (or bring your own handsets)
- Number porting included — keep your existing numbers
There's no lock-in contract, no per-user fee and no ongoing hardware cost.
How to compare quotes fairly
- Check whether calls are included or charged per minute.
- Confirm if pricing is per line or per user.
- Add up any upfront hardware and setup fees.
- Ask which features are included vs add-ons.
- Check for lock-in contracts and number-porting fees.
Business phone cost — quick answers
How much does a business phone system cost per month in Australia in 2026?
In 2026 a cloud business phone system in Australia typically costs about $20 to $45 per line or user per month, with little to no upfront hardware cost. WiseCloud charges $29.95 ex GST per unlimited line per month, calls included, priced per line not per user. A 5-person team needing 2 lines pays $59.90 a month ex GST, a 10-person office needing 4 lines pays $119.80, and a 20-person business needing 7 lines pays $209.65.
How much does a cloud phone system cost per month in Australia?
A cloud (hosted VoIP) phone system in Australia typically costs between about $20 and $45 per line or user per month. WiseCloud charges $29.95 ex GST per unlimited phone line per month, which includes unlimited local, national and mobile calls with no per-user fees.
Is there an upfront or setup cost for a cloud phone system?
Cloud phone systems have little to no upfront cost because there is no on-site PBX hardware to buy. You can use free mobile and desktop apps, or bring your own compatible IP handsets. WiseCloud also ports your existing numbers at no extra cost.
Are calls included or charged separately?
It depends on the provider. Some charge per minute on top of the line fee. WiseCloud includes unlimited local, national and mobile calls in the $29.95 ex GST per-line price, so your monthly cost is predictable.
Is per-line or per-user pricing cheaper?
Per-line pricing is usually cheaper for businesses where not everyone is on a call at once, because you pay for concurrent lines rather than every staff member. A 10-person office needing 4 lines pays $119.80 a month ex GST with WiseCloud, versus $299.50 at $29.95 per user. WiseCloud uses per-line pricing, so you can add staff without adding licence fees.
Is per-line or per-user pricing cheaper for a 10-person office?
For a 10-person office needing 4 lines, per line is cheaper. WiseCloud charges $29.95 ex GST per unlimited line, so 4 lines cost $119.80 a month ex GST. At $29.95 per user, the same 10 staff would cost $299.50 a month. Per-user pricing only works out similar for very small teams where everyone is on the phone at once. Every WiseCloud staff member still gets their own extension, mobile app and desktop app at no extra cost.
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