- You're a sole trader or small team and calls come to a mobile.
- You want callers asked your questions and booked in, not just a message taken.
- You drive between jobs and want bookings grouped by area.
- You'd rather pay a flat monthly price than per minute or per call.
AI receptionists in Australia: what they do, what they cost and how to choose
Updated November 2026 by Gabe, founder of HeyVox. We make one of the products in this guide, so weigh that in. We've tried to keep it fair, and we say where something else is the better choice.
The short answer
The best AI receptionist depends on how your calls come in. For a sole trader or small business answering on a mobile, choose one that works on your existing number, speaks with an Australian voice, asks your own questions, books into your real availability and charges a flat monthly price. HeyVox is built for that, from $24.99 a month for founding members. If you need a real person on every call, a human answering service is still the better fit.
What an AI receptionist does
An AI receptionist answers the calls you can't, has a spoken conversation with the caller, and hands you the result. A good one greets callers as your business, asks the questions you've set, answers common questions from information you've given it, books a time if you take bookings, and flags anything urgent. You get a written summary instead of a voicemail you have to listen to.
It is different from voicemail, which only records a message, and from a human answering service, where a person takes a message on your behalf. Most AI receptionists answer several calls at once and work around the clock.
What it costs in Australia
Typical published pricing for a sole trader or small business, checked November 2026. Individual providers and plans vary.
| Feature | HeyVox | Carrier voicemail | Human answering service | Australian AI receptionists | Overseas AI apps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Answering the call | |||||
| Answers the call for you | Yes, on Receptionist plans | Records a message | Yes, a person | Yes | Yes |
| Australian voice | Yes | Not applicable | Yes | Yes | Usually American |
| Asks your questions and books the job | Yes | No | Usually takes a message | Most do | Some do |
| Several callers at once | Yes | Not applicable | Limited by staff | Varies | Varies |
| Tells callers it's a virtual assistant | Yes, every call | Not applicable | Not applicable | Varies | Varies |
| A real person on the line | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Your inbox | |||||
| Voicemail and receptionist calls in one inbox | Yes | No | No | Few do | Some do |
| On your phone and your computer | Yes, from Starter Pro | No | Email or text summaries | Some do | Some do |
| Summary, transcript and urgency on every call | Yes | No | No | Usually a summary | Varies |
| A suggested reply, ready to text | Yes | No | No | Rarely | Some do |
| Both SIMs on one phone, each set up its own way | Yes | No | No | Rarely | Rarely |
| Keeps your existing number | Yes | Yes | Yes | Most do | Often a new number |
| Bookings and your day | |||||
| Arrival windows, not fixed minutes | Yes | No | No | Some do | Rarely |
| Books by suburb and area day | Yes | No | No | Few do | Rarely |
| Plans the day's jobs for the least driving, with the drive between each | Yes, in the web app | No | No | Rarely | Rarely |
| Keeps locked jobs at their time, and texts customers who move once you confirm | Yes, texts with an SMS pack | No | No | Rarely | Rarely |
| Connects to job software | Zapier and Make today, direct connections coming | No | Some do | Some do | Some do |
| Cost and setup | |||||
| What it costs | From $6.99 a month, with the receptionist from $24.99 for founding members | Included with your plan | Usually per call, about $3 to $4 a call | Often $150 or more a month, or charged by the minute | Often in US dollars, per minute |
| A flat price with no overage bill | Yes | Included | Per call | Some are | Rarely |
| A plan for personal use | From $6.99 a month | Included | No | Rarely | Some do |
| Hear it live before you pay | Yes, no signup | Not applicable | Rarely | Some do | Some do |
| Setup fee | None | None | Sometimes | Varies | None |
| Getting started | Minutes, on your own phone | Already on | Days | Varies | Minutes |
Eight questions to ask before you choose
Does it work on the number you already have?
Moving to a new number costs you calls. Look for one that answers your existing mobile through call forwarding, and check whether your plan charges for forwarded minutes.
Does it sound Australian, and understand Australian callers?
Suburb names, accents and the way people describe a job all matter. Ring the demo yourself before you sign up.
Can you set the questions it asks?
A plumber needs the address and whether water's on the floor. A clinic needs new or existing patient. Fixed scripts collect the wrong details.
Does it book into your real availability?
Taking a message is not the same as booking a job. Check for windows, job lengths, travel time and, if you drive between jobs, booking by area.
What do you get after the call?
A summary you can read in a few seconds, the full transcript and urgent calls flagged. Check you can call or text back in one tap, and ask whether calls are recorded. HeyVox keeps the recording of a voicemail but doesn't record receptionist conversations.
How is it priced, and what happens at the limit?
Per minute, per call and per month all add up differently. Ask about setup fees, contracts and what happens when you go over. HeyVox switches your lines to voicemail until the month resets, with no overage bill.
Can you try it first?
A live demo you can ring tells you more than any page. Be wary of services you can't hear before you pay.
Where does your callers' information go?
Read the privacy policy: what's recorded, who processes it, and how long it's kept.
- You need a real person on every call. A human answering service does that.
- You need bookings to sync with practice or salon software. HeyVox keeps its own diary for now.
- Your business runs on iPhones today. HeyVox is launching on Android first.
- You run a large switchboard with many departments.
Common questions
What is the best AI receptionist in Australia?
It depends on how your calls come in. For a sole trader or small business answering on a mobile, the best fit is one that works on your existing number, speaks with an Australian voice, asks your own questions, books into your real availability and charges a flat monthly price. HeyVox is built for exactly that, from $24.99 a month for founding members. If you need a real person on every call, a human answering service is still the better choice.
How much does an AI receptionist cost in Australia?
Pricing varies a lot. Published monthly plans we checked start around $150 a month ex GST with a set number of minutes, others charge by the minute with no monthly fee, and some are by quote only (checked November 2026). Human answering services usually charge per call, around $3 to $4 a call. Overseas apps are often priced in US dollars per minute. HeyVox's receptionist is $24.99 a month for founding members, normally $39.99, with 150 answered calls and no setup fee.
Can an AI receptionist answer my mobile number?
Yes, if it works with call forwarding. HeyVox uses your carrier's standard forwarding for calls you don't answer, so your mobile keeps ringing as normal and you keep your number and plan. A few prepaid plans charge for forwarded minutes.
Can an AI receptionist book appointments?
Some can. HeyVox books into the windows you set, with job types of different lengths, area days so callers are only offered times when you're nearby, travel time between jobs, minimum notice and a daily limit. With an SMS pack it texts the customer a confirmation and a reminder.
Will callers know it's AI?
With HeyVox, yes: every call opens with the assistant introducing itself by name as the business's virtual assistant. Other services vary, so it's worth asking.
Can I try an AI receptionist before paying?
With HeyVox, yes. Call the live demo on (07) 3543 4090 with no signup, and once you install the app you can set up and test the demo receptionist before choosing a plan.
More: the full comparison, HeyVox pricing, and HeyVox for tradies, clinics, salons, real estate and mechanics.
Hear it answer before you decide.
Ring the demo line and hear it answer, the same way it will for your business, or open the web app with a year of sample calls. When you're ready, set it up on your own number.
Coming to Google Play for Android. iPhone is coming later. Get an email when it's out.