If you’re searching for the cheapest engine number, you deserve actual numbers — not marketing. Below is what engine number and prison-calling services in Australia publish on their own websites (prices as published, August 2026), followed by how to work out which is genuinely cheapest for your situation, because that depends on how often your loved one calls.
The Original — Trusted Since 2004
Australia’s original and leading engine number and 3CX service for prisoners. Over 30 million calls connected for more than 100,000 Australian families. All plans unlimited — long-term plans from just $0.92/day, the lowest published per-day unlimited engine number rate in Australia. More connected calls than any other Australian engine number service, on enterprise-grade 3CX infrastructure built for reliability. Every number works through each facility’s own contact-approval process — nothing connects without the prison approving it first.
Engine Number & Prison Call Provider Prices — Compared
| Provider | Cheapest advertised plan | Model |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Numbers (us) | $2.50/day, $10/week, $34/month — or $0.92/day on the yearly plan | Unlimited engine number |
| Prison Engine | $10/week, $34/month | Unlimited engine number |
| My Engine Number | $10/week, $35/month | Unlimited engine number |
| Prisoncall Australia | $49/month (advertised as 50% off $126) | Flat-fee landline |
| PrisonConnect | from $4.60/week + per-minute rates | Per-minute |
| Prison Calling | 17c/minute + monthly minimum top-ups | Per-minute |
How to Actually Pick the Cheapest Option
Calls most days?
Unlimited plans win, and per-day cost is the number that matters. Our yearly plan works out to $0.92 a day — the lowest per-day unlimited engine number rate published in Australia. Even our monthly plan ($34, about $1.12/day) undercuts most flat-fee alternatives.
Once or twice a week?
A per-minute service can be cheaper on paper — but watch for weekly number-rental fees, expiring credit, and top-up minimums, which are how per-minute services claw the difference back.
Not sure yet?
That’s what our $2.50 daily plan is for — the cheapest way in Australia to simply try an engine number without committing to anything. No other provider offers a daily option.
Watch for anchor pricing
A “$126 plan, 50% off, now $49” is a $49 plan. Compare the price you’ll actually pay, per day, against calls you actually expect.
Cheap Shouldn’t Mean Risky
A cheap number that stops working costs more than it saves — a blocked or unreliable number means missed calls you can’t get back. Things worth weighing alongside price:
Track record
We’ve operated since 2004 — 30M+ calls connected, 100,000+ families. Several cheaper-looking newcomers have existed for under a year.
Free transfer support
When your loved one moves facilities, we include the number change free. Some providers charge or make you start over.
No lock-in, no cancellation fees
You should never pay to stop needing a service like this.
Real support
An Australian team on 02 9070 9777 — not just a web form.
Cheapest Engine Number FAQs
What is the cheapest engine number plan in Australia?
Our $2.50 daily plan is the lowest entry price published by any engine number provider, and our $336 yearly plan ($0.92/day) is the lowest per-day unlimited rate.
Are there hidden costs with an engine number?
With us, no — the plan price is the price. Your loved one pays the facility’s standard local call rate ($0.30–$0.40 per call), which goes to the prison system, not to us.
Is a free engine number possible?
Anything advertised as “free” typically means a trial or a number that carries per-minute charges. There is no genuinely free unlimited service — a number costs money to operate.
This Is All We Do — And We Know Why It Matters
Prison communication is our only business. We pioneered engine numbers in Australia back in 2004, we know this industry back to front, and we’re still developing it every year — to make staying in touch more available, more reliable, and cheaper for the families who need it.
We also understand something the price table can’t show: having a loved one in prison is one of the hardest things a family can go through. If you’re experiencing genuine financial hardship, drop us an email. We will always extend payment for families who stay in touch with us — and in certain serious situations, we provide engine numbers free of charge.
Because we know exactly how much staying in touch matters.
Contact us: [email protected] · 02 9070 9777