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A business phone system in Australia usually costs from about $10 to $30 per user per month, or around $150 to $400 per month for a small hosted PBX package. Your real cost depends on users, call volumes, handsets, setup, internet, features and contract terms.
For most small and medium businesses, a cloud phone system is now the simplest way to budget. You pay a monthly service fee instead of buying and maintaining a traditional on-site phone system.
The figures below are based on public Australian pricing and Critical Information Summaries available in 2025 and 2026. They are useful benchmarks, but your final quote may differ depending on your team and requirements.
What is the average business phone system cost in Australia?
A realistic starting point is $10 to $30 per user per month for VoIP, before GST where applicable. A packaged cloud PBX can cost more each month but may include multiple handsets, shared calling, numbers and unlimited Australian calls.
Public Australian pricing shows a wide range:
| Business phone option | Published price example | What the price covers |
|---|---|---|
| Basic hosted VoIP | $12.90 minimum per month | One local number, one user, one device and a PAYG calling plan |
| Softphone plan | $27.50 per month | One cloud phone extension using an app or browser |
| Entry-level business VoIP | $10.50 per user per month + GST | Basic user licence, with calls charged separately |
| Unlimited business VoIP | $25.50–$29.50 per user per month + GST | Unlimited Australian calling, depending on the plan |
| Small cloud PBX package | $159 per month incl. GST | Up to 10 handsets, two concurrent calls and unlimited Australian calls |
| Larger cloud PBX package | $239–$719 per month incl. GST | More concurrent calls and capacity for larger teams |
For example, VoIPline’s Hosted PBX Critical Information Summary, published in 2026, lists a minimum monthly charge of $12.90. That example includes one local number, one user, one device and a PAYG plan. Extra users, devices, numbers, call plans and features cost more.
Infinite Networks’ Business Phone Critical Information Summary, updated in June 2025, lists a $27.50 monthly softphone plan, a $33 monthly Flex plan and a $55 monthly Elevate plan. Its Flex and Elevate options also include setup charges.
These examples show why the cheapest advertised price is not always the cheapest system for your business. A low monthly fee may suit a small team with light call traffic. A higher plan may cost less overall if it includes the calls, features and support your team already needs.
How much does a cloud PBX cost in Australia?
Cloud PBX pricing in Australia generally starts at a low monthly rate for small teams and rises with the number of concurrent calls, handsets and advanced features. Some providers charge per user, while others charge a package fee for the whole system.
A current example is Caznet’s April 2026 Cloud Hosted PBX Critical Information Summary. Its published plans range from $159 per month for up to 10 handsets and two concurrent calls to $719 per month for up to 100 handsets and 16 concurrent calls.
The package model can work well where several staff share a smaller number of active calls. Per-user pricing can be easier to understand when each employee needs their own extension, app access or licence.
Check whether the quoted price includes:
Caznet’s published summary, for example, includes Australian local, national, mobile, 13, 1300 and 1800 calls on its listed plans. It separately identifies handsets, additional numbers, international calls and some installation work.
How much does VoIP cost in Australia per user?
Business VoIP plans in Australia can cost around $10 to $30 per user per month, with call charges either included or billed separately. The right plan depends more on call behaviour than on the number of staff alone.
A published Australian example is BITS’ business VoIP pricing. Its entry plan is $10.50 per user per month plus GST, with local and national calls charged per call and Australian mobile calls charged per minute. Its higher plans are $25.50 and $29.50 per user per month plus GST, with more Australian calls included.
| Plan type | Best suited to | Typical pricing approach | Main cost risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAYG VoIP | Light callers and occasional users | Low monthly fee plus call charges | Call costs can rise with usage |
| Timed VoIP | Regular callers with moderate usage | Monthly user or device fee plus per-minute rates | Long calls and mobile calls |
| Unlimited Australia | Teams making frequent local and mobile calls | Higher monthly fee with included calls | Paying for unused capacity |
| Cloud PBX package | Teams sharing numbers and call flows | Fixed monthly package | Handsets, extra channels or add-ons |
| Softphone-only system | Remote, mobile or hybrid teams | Per-user monthly licence | Device, headset or app requirements |
A plan with unlimited calls is not automatically better. If only two people make occasional calls, PAYG may be cheaper. If your sales or support team spends hours on the phone, an inclusive plan may make monthly costs easier to predict.
What makes an office phone system cost more?
The biggest cost drivers are the number of users, the number of simultaneous calls and the hardware each person needs. Advanced call handling, integrations, setup and contract terms can also change the total.
Your small business phone system options may cost more when you need:
Hardware is often the first cost businesses overlook. A softphone can use an existing laptop or mobile, while a physical handset adds an upfront purchase or monthly rental cost. You may also need headsets, network equipment, power backup or extra internet capacity.
Internet is another separate cost. A VoIP phone system uses your broadband connection, so the phone service price may not include internet access. The ACCC’s Measuring Broadband Australia final performance report, released in June 2026, shows why businesses should assess real-world broadband performance rather than relying only on the advertised plan speed.
Are business VoIP plans cheaper than traditional office phone systems?
VoIP can reduce upfront hardware and line costs, but the total saving depends on the system you are replacing and what the new plan includes. Compare the full cost over the contract term, not just the advertised monthly user price.
Traditional systems may involve:
Cloud systems usually move more of the cost into a monthly service. That can make budgeting easier, but you still need to check setup fees, handset costs, calling rates, minimum terms and cancellation charges.
Some older SIP pricing pages are also no longer suitable for a new purchase. Telstra’s Business SIP Critical Information Summary lists historic line, number and hardware charges, but states that Business SIP has not been available to new customers since 30 May 2025. This is an important check when comparing older office phone system cost guides.
What should be included in a business phone system quote?
A useful quote should show the monthly cost, one-off charges, included usage and contract conditions in separate lines. It should also make clear whether prices include GST.
Ask the provider to itemise:
| Quote item | What to check |
|---|---|
| Users or extensions | How many people, devices or licences are included? |
| Numbers | Are local, 13, 1300 or 1800 numbers included? |
| Calling | Are local, national and mobile calls included or usage-based? |
| Hardware | Are handsets bought, rented or excluded? |
| Setup | Is configuration, porting and training included? |
| Features | Are recording, queues, menus, SMS and integrations included? |
| Internet | Is broadband included, recommended or purchased separately? |
| Support | What support hours and response times apply? |
| Contract | Is it month-to-month or minimum term? |
| Cancellation | Are there notice periods, exit fees or hardware repayments? |
| GST | Is the advertised amount including or excluding GST? |
Do not compare two quotes until these items match. A $15 plan and a $30 plan may serve completely different use cases.
Before signing, read the provider’s Critical Information Summary and service agreement. The Australian Communications and Media Authority advises consumers to check the Critical Information Summary for phone charges, including charges for different number types and call destinations. Its guidance on call charges is written for mobile services, but the same checking habit is useful when reviewing business phone pricing.
How much should a five-person business budget for a phone system?
A five-person business might budget from roughly $55 to $150 per month for user-based VoIP, before any hardware, GST or usage charges. A packaged cloud PBX may cost more or less depending on whether it is priced for the whole system rather than per user.
| Five-person setup | Monthly service example | Possible extra costs |
|---|---|---|
| PAYG softphones | About $55–$75 | Usage, headsets and premium features |
| Standard per-user VoIP | About $125–$150 | GST, handsets and setup |
| Cloud PBX package | About $159 or more | Handsets, extra numbers and internet |
| Higher-volume setup | $150+ | More call capacity, queues, recording and support |
These are budgeting examples, not a quote. The final price may be lower if some staff only need occasional access, or higher if every employee needs a physical handset and advanced features.
For a growing team, it is worth checking how new users are added. A system that is cheap for five users may become expensive if every new employee requires separate hardware, setup or feature licences.
Is a cheap business phone system worth it?
A cheap business phone system can be suitable when your requirements are simple and your call volume is low. It becomes poor value when important features, support, hardware or call charges sit outside the advertised price.
Use the lowest-cost option when you only need:
Budget for a more complete system when missed calls affect sales, several people answer the same number, staff work across locations or customers need a consistent experience.
If you are comparing systems rather than just prices, see the full business phone systems range. For cloud-based options, review cloud VoIP phone systems and compare the features your team will use every day.
What is the best way to compare business phone system prices?
Compare the 12-month and 36-month total cost, including setup, hardware, calls, add-ons, GST and cancellation conditions. Then check that each quote supports the number of users and simultaneous calls your business actually needs.
A simple calculation is:
Total cost = monthly service + call charges + hardware + setup + internet changes + add-ons + GST
Ask each provider for the same scenario. For example: five users, two concurrent calls, one existing business number, softphone access, three desk phones, Australian calling and number porting.
That gives you a useful like-for-like comparison. It also helps expose costs that are easy to miss in a headline per-user price.
Get transparent per-user pricing for your team from Nexgen. Tell us how many people need access, how many calls happen at once and whether you need handsets, mobiles or softphones, and we can price the setup around your actual requirements.
What should a business phone system cost in Australia?
For many Australian businesses, a sensible starting budget is $10 to $30 per user per month for VoIP, or about $150 to $400 per month for a packaged cloud PBX. Hardware, setup, GST, call usage and advanced features can increase the total.
How much does VoIP cost in Australia for a small business?
Small business VoIP commonly starts around $10 to $15 per user per month for entry plans, while plans with more included Australian calling often sit around $25 to $30 per user per month. Always check whether the price includes GST, calls, numbers, devices and support.
Is cloud PBX cheaper than an office phone system?
Cloud PBX often reduces the need for on-site phone hardware and specialist maintenance, but it is not always the cheapest option for every business. Compare the full cost over the contract term, including internet, handsets, setup, add-ons and cancellation conditions.
What is the cheapest business phone system in Australia?
The cheapest option is usually a basic PAYG softphone or VoIP plan for a small number of light users. It may not be the cheapest overall if your team makes frequent calls or needs queues, recording, multiple numbers, physical phones or integrations.
Talk to Nexgen about your phone system
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