Click2Call Direct Routing vs Microsoft Calling Plan

The short version: both put real phone calls inside Microsoft Teams — the difference is who provides the line. A Microsoft Calling Plan makes Microsoft your phone company: you buy calling plans and minutes from Microsoft, with number types and availability that vary by country. Click2Call Direct Routing makes Click2Call the phone company behind Teams: Australian local, 1300 and 1800 numbers, call recording and AI transcription, and an Australian support team — at a flat $25 per user per month ex GST, with your existing Microsoft Teams Phone licences.

Last updated: July 2026. Microsoft Calling Plan availability, inclusions and pricing are set by Microsoft and vary by region — check microsoft.com for current details. Both options require a Microsoft Teams Phone licence per calling user, obtained from Microsoft.

Key takeaways

  • Same result, different provider. Both let your team make and receive external calls in Teams. Direct Routing puts an Australian provider (Click2Call) behind Teams instead of Microsoft's own calling service.
  • Australian numbers. Click2Call provides local 02/03/07/08, 1300 and 1800 numbers and ports your existing numbers — the main reason AU businesses pick Direct Routing.
  • AI included. Every Click2Call Teams line includes call recording, AI transcription and summaries — not part of a standard Microsoft Calling Plan.
  • Australian support & flat pricing. $25/user/month ex GST, billed in AUD, supported by an Australian team — no separate Microsoft Calling Plan add-on to buy.
  • Same Teams app. Users dial from the normal Teams dialpad either way — Direct Routing changes what's behind Teams, not how staff use it.

Side by side

  Click2Call Direct Routing Microsoft Calling Plan
Who provides the calls Click2Call (an Australian Cloud PBX) connects Teams to the AU phone network. Microsoft provides the calling service directly.
Australian numbers Local 02/03/07/08, 1300 and 1800; existing numbers ported across. Number types and availability vary by region and Microsoft plan.
Teams Phone licence Required (you obtain it from Microsoft). Required, plus a Microsoft Calling Plan add-on.
Call recording & AI Call recording, AI transcription and summaries included on every line. Not part of a standard Calling Plan.
Pricing Flat $25/user/month ex GST (number + 300 outbound mins + unlimited inbound), billed in AUD. Set by Microsoft; varies by plan and region — see microsoft.com.
Support Australian support team for the phone service. Microsoft support model.
How users call The normal Microsoft Teams dialpad. The normal Microsoft Teams dialpad.
Contract No lock-in; month-to-month prepaid (one-time Direct Routing setup per user). Per Microsoft's licensing terms.

Click2Call prices are shown ex GST. Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams Phone and Microsoft Calling Plan are products of Microsoft Corporation; their availability, inclusions and pricing are set by Microsoft and may change — confirm current details at microsoft.com.

When a Microsoft Calling Plan might suit you better

A fair comparison cuts both ways. A Microsoft Calling Plan can be the right choice if:

  • •You want everything on one Microsoft bill and prefer a single vendor for licences and calling.
  • •You operate in multiple countries Microsoft covers and want one global calling arrangement.
  • •You don't need Australian local number ranges, 1300/1800 numbers, or call recording and AI transcription as part of the service.

If you want Australian numbers, AI on every call, local support and flat AUD pricing — with your existing Teams Phone licences — Direct Routing with Click2Call is the fit.

Add Australian calling to Microsoft Teams

Start a free 7-day trial, or read the step-by-step Direct Routing setup guide. Keep your existing numbers with zero-downtime porting.

Start Free Trial Microsoft Teams Calling Setup guide

Common questions

Do I need a Microsoft Calling Plan to make calls in Teams?
No. A Microsoft Calling Plan is only one way to connect Teams to the phone network. The alternative is Direct Routing, where Click2Call connects Teams to the Australian phone network instead. You keep your Microsoft Teams Phone licences, and Click2Call provides the calling, Australian numbers and AI features at $25/user/month ex GST — no Microsoft Calling Plan required.
What's the difference between Direct Routing and a Calling Plan?
Both add external phone calling to Teams. With a Microsoft Calling Plan, Microsoft is the phone company. With Direct Routing, a certified provider like Click2Call is the phone company behind Teams — providing Australian local, 1300 and 1800 numbers, call recording, AI transcription and Australian support, connected to Teams via a Session Border Controller.
What Microsoft licences do I need?
Each calling user needs a Microsoft Teams Phone licence (included in some Microsoft 365 E5 plans, or added to others), obtained from Microsoft. With Click2Call Direct Routing you do not need a Microsoft Calling Plan on top. See our guide, Setting Up Microsoft Teams Calling, for the full setup.
Can I get Australian local numbers?
Yes. Click2Call provides Australian local (02/03/07/08), 1300 and 1800 numbers for your Teams users via Direct Routing, and can port your existing numbers across. Full access to local Australian number ranges is one of the main reasons Australian businesses choose Direct Routing over a Microsoft Calling Plan.

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