Virtual Receptionist Cost in Australia 2026
By Frontly
· Updated
Hiring a full-time receptionist costs an Australian business between $71,800 and $87,800 per year fully loaded. Most small and mid-market businesses can't justify that. The alternative most look at first is a virtual receptionist: a remote answering service that picks up the phone in your business name and bills per call or per minute.
In 2026 there's a second alternative: an AI front desk like Frontly. The useful comparison is not only what each costs, but how much of your front desk each one can actually run.
What is a virtual receptionist?
A virtual receptionist service answers your business phone remotely, in your business name. Well-known Australian providers include OfficeHQ, Receptionist HQ, Reception Connect and Smart Receptionist. Typically they offer:
- Inbound calls answered in your business name
- Message taking and email or SMS forwarding
- Some appointment booking, depending on the package
- After-hours coverage, often at a premium
Some now add AI answering with a person as backup.
How virtual receptionists are priced in 2026
There is rarely a single flat rate. Pricing usually follows one of three models:
| Model | How the bill grows |
|---|---|
| Per call | Every call adds a charge, whatever its length |
| Per minute | Every minute adds a charge, so long calls cost more |
| Monthly bundle plus overage | A set number of calls or minutes, then a per-call or per-minute rate |
As one published example, OfficeHQ lists live receptionist plans from $25 a month plus GST by service level, with per-call charges on top, and an AI tier running from $20 for 10 calls to $600 for 500 calls, then $1.50 for each extra call (officehq.com.au, September 2026). Rates change often, so check each provider's own pricing page rather than a comparison article, including this one.
What an AI front desk changes
| What your front desk needs | Typical virtual receptionist | Frontly |
|---|---|---|
| Calls answered at once | Limited by staff on shift | Every caller, no queue |
| Hours | After-hours often extra | 24/7/365 at the same rate |
| Languages | A few, where offered | More than 40, on one number |
| Returning callers | Not typical | Recognised across every call |
| Booking during the call | Some services | Yes |
| Record of the call | A message or summary | Full transcript and outcome in your dashboard |
| Changing how calls are handled | Script changes via support | A workflow builder you edit yourself |
| Outbound follow-up | Rarely | Campaigns from your own lists |
Frontly works the same way for dental practices, tradies, property managers, law firms and accounting firms: the workflow is built around the calls your industry actually gets.
What Frontly costs
Frontly is a flat monthly rate sized by call minutes, on annual or monthly billing, with plans for inbound answering, outbound campaigns, or both. There is no after-hours or weekend premium, and every rate, including minutes past your allowance, is published on the pricing page.
Compare every Frontly plan and rate
Where virtual receptionists still win
Don't read this as "AI always wins." A human answering service is the right pick when:
- Your call volume is genuinely tiny, a few calls a week, and you want to pay only when the phone rings.
- Your callers expect a human voice above everything else, as in some luxury and very high-touch professional services.
- You need a person on hand for complex judgement, and a service with human backup behind its AI fits that best.
For most growing Australian businesses, those edge cases don't apply. The phone rings, someone wants a booking or a question answered, and the value is in answering, booking and following up every time.
What to ask before you sign
When you compare quotes, ask each provider, including us:
- What counts as a call or a minute? Some round up, some count transfers, some count unanswered calls.
- What does after-hours cost? Nights, weekends and public holidays are often billed at a premium.
- What happens past the bundle? The overage rate is often higher than the in-bundle rate.
- Is there a setup fee? Frontly waives setup on annual plans and charges a one-off fee on month-to-month; the figure is on the pricing page.
- How long until it is live? Frontly is live in about an hour for a standard setup.
- Can it run outbound? Recalls, reminders and follow-up are where many answering services stop.
Summary
A virtual receptionist answers the phone. An AI front desk can run the call: qualify the caller, book the appointment, speak their language, remember them next time, and follow up. For most Australian businesses taking more than a handful of calls a week, that is the bigger difference than the monthly bill.
Try a free Frontly test call. You'll hear what the AI sounds like before you commit to anything.