Cheap Calls to the UK
From $0.03/min
Call any UK mobile or landline from your browser. London, Manchester, Edinburgh — from only $0.03/min to landlines.
Here's what nobody tells you about calling the UK: landlines are dirt cheap. Three cents a minute. Banks, NHS helplines, GP surgeries, HMRC — all landlines. Mobiles cost more ($0.64/min), but most of the calls that actually matter go to landlines anyway. Your mum in Manchester, your bank in London — all reachable without the carrier markup.
Trusted by 10,000+ callers worldwide
United Kingdom
Mobile rate
$0.64/min
Landline rate
$0.03/min
Common greeting
Hello / Hiya (informal)
Common goodbye
Cheers / Ta-ra (informal)
How far does your credit go?
7 min
166 min
15 min
333 min
31 min
666 min
78 min
1666 min
Credits never expire • Add more anytime from $5
How Much Does It Cost to Call the UK?
The UK should be one of the cheapest countries to call. Massive telecom infrastructure. Competitive market. Yet carriers worldwide still treat it like a premium destination. Compare your carrier's rate to GlobCall.
| Calling from | Typical carrier | Carrier rate | GlobCall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 Australia | Telstra / Optus | AUD 0.50–2.00/min | $0.03/min |
| 🇺🇸 USA | AT&T / Verizon | $0.25–1.50/min | $0.03/min |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Movistar / Orange | €0.30–1.00/min | $0.03/min |
| 🇦🇪 UAE | du / e& | AED 1.00–3.00/min | $0.03/min |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | Bell / Rogers | CAD 0.20–1.50/min | $0.03/min |
| 🇫🇷 France | Orange / SFR | €0.25–0.80/min | $0.03/min |
Carrier rates shown are standard pay-per-use without international add-ons (as of early 2026). Your actual rate may differ depending on plan and account type.
Telstra (Australia)
AUD 5–20
10 min to UK mobile
AT&T (USA)
$2.50–15
10 min to UK mobile
GlobCall
$0.30
Same 10 min to landline
A weekly 30-minute call to a UK landline costs about $47/year on GlobCall. The same calls through a carrier? $390–1,560 depending on where you live. See rates for all countries.
How to Call the UK from Your Browser
No calling card codes to memorise. No carrier add-on to activate. No app to download on their end. Five steps, under a minute.
Go to GlobCall.com and sign in
Or create a free account — takes 30 seconds with just an email.
Select United Kingdom 🇬🇧 from the dropdown
The country code +44 is added automatically.
Enter the phone number
Mobile (10 digits starting with 7) or landline (area code + local number). Drop the leading zero.
See the per-minute rate displayed
You know exactly what you'll pay before the call connects.
Click Call — connected in seconds
The call routes over your internet connection. Clear audio on any decent Wi-Fi or 4G.
Dialing format
- Mobile numbers: 10 digits starting with 7 (e.g., 7700 900123)
- Landline numbers: Area code + local number (e.g., 20 7946 0958 for London)
- Country code: +44 — GlobCall adds this automatically. Drop the leading 0.
Major UK area codes
On GlobCall, drop the leading 0. London 020 becomes 20, Manchester 0161 becomes 161.
Why GlobCall for Calls to the UK
Calling cards feel like 1998. Carrier add-ons cost more than the calls themselves. WhatsApp doesn't reach landlines. Here's what makes GlobCall different.
Landlines are dirt cheap
UK landlines cost $0.03/min. Banks, NHS, HMRC, GP surgeries — all landlines. A 30-minute call to your bank costs $0.90. Mobiles are pricier ($0.64/min), but most business calls go to landlines.
No expiring credit
Buy $5 and use it over the next year. We don't pull the calling-card trick of expiring your balance in 30 days. Your money stays yours.
Landlines, banks, NHS
WhatsApp can't reach your GP surgery, HMRC, or the DVLA. GlobCall connects to any UK number — mobiles, landlines, business lines.
Same rate worldwide
Calling the UK from Dubai, Sydney, Toronto, or Madrid? Same $0.64/min to mobiles. No "international surcharge" games.
Actually sounds clear
We route through Tier 1 carriers. On decent Wi-Fi, you won't know it's not a regular phone call. No robot voice, no 3-second delay.
Share with family
One account, multiple devices. If everyone in the family calls the UK, share a single balance instead of buying separate credit.
Also available: GlobCall for Business · All country rates
Who Calls the UK?
Over 4.7 million British citizens live abroad — one of the largest diasporas relative to population. Most of them call home regularly.
~1.2 million Brits abroad
The classic British expat destination. Sydney, Melbourne, Perth. Many moved for weather and opportunity but keep close ties — Sunday calls to mum are non-negotiable.
~300,000 Brits abroad
Retirees on the Costa del Sol. Young professionals in Barcelona. Post-Brexit paperwork made it harder, but the calls home didn't stop.
~700,000 Brits abroad
New York, LA, Miami, Austin. Tech workers, finance, entertainment. Different timezone means evening calls catch UK mornings — or vice versa.
~120,000 Brits abroad
Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Tax-free salaries, but everything else costs more — including phone calls. GlobCall fixes that last part.
~600,000 Brits abroad
Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary. Similar culture, better skiing. Many have UK family they call weekly — grandparents, siblings, old friends.
~150,000 Brits abroad
Paris, Provence, the Dordogne. Some bought cottages. Some work in finance. All need to call UK banks, solicitors, and family.
GlobCall works from all these countries at the same rate. See all country rates.
Good to know before you call
The UK has four major mobile networks: EE (largest), Three, O2, and Vodafone. Numbers are portable between networks, so the prefix doesn't tell you which carrier someone uses. GlobCall routes to all of them.
When to call
UK uses GMT (winter) and BST/GMT+1 (summer, late March–late October). Business hours are 9am–5:30pm. For personal calls, evenings 6–9pm work best. Brits generally don't appreciate calls after 9pm.
Country code
+44
GlobCall adds it for you
Emergency (UK)
Police / Fire / Ambulance 999 or 112
Special UK number types
UK has several number prefixes with different costs and purposes. GlobCall supports standard geographic (01, 02) and mobile (07) numbers.
- 01 / 02: Geographic landlines — the ones GlobCall reaches for $0.03/min
- 07: Mobile numbers — $0.64/min on GlobCall
- 0800: Freephone — often unreachable from abroad (or charged)
- 0845 / 0870: Non-geographic — variable handling, contact us for specifics
- 03: UK-wide numbers charged as local — works on GlobCall
Common reasons people call the UK
- Family: Parents, grandparents, siblings. British expats are loyal callers — Sunday catch-ups are tradition. WhatsApp video works until it doesn't, then you need a real phone line.
- Banking: Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, NatWest — all run phone-based customer service. Lost card abroad? Account issues? You're calling the UK.
- NHS & GP surgeries: Medical records, prescription queries, referrals. Your GP won't accept a WhatsApp message. You need to actually call.
- HMRC & Government: Tax questions, DVLA (driving licence), passport office, visa queries. All phone-based. All UK landlines.
- Solicitors & estate agents: Buying or selling UK property from abroad? Get used to UK phone calls. A lot of them.
WhatsApp limits for international calls · Skype alternatives 2026
Ready to call the UK?
Open the site, pick United Kingdom, enter the number. Your first call is on us.
Try it free30 seconds to sign up · works in any browser · rate shown before you dial
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cheapest way to call the UK from abroad?
Browser-based calling services like GlobCall. Mobile carriers charge $0.25–2.00/min depending on where you live. GlobCall is $0.64/min to UK mobiles and $0.03/min to landlines — no monthly fee, no contract.
Can I call a UK landline from another country?
Yes. UK landlines use area codes — 020 for London, 0121 for Birmingham, 0161 for Manchester. On GlobCall, enter the number without the leading zero, and the +44 country code is added automatically.
What is the UK country code?
+44. For mobiles, that's +44 followed by 10 digits starting with 7. For landlines, +44 plus the area code (drop the leading 0) plus the local number. GlobCall handles the formatting automatically.
How do I call a UK mobile number from overseas?
UK mobiles are 11 digits starting with 07. Drop the leading 0 and add +44. Example: 07700 900123 becomes +44 7700 900123. On GlobCall, just select UK and enter the number — we handle the rest.
Is WhatsApp enough for calling someone in the UK?
If they have the app and decent internet, yes. But you can't reach NHS helplines, GP surgeries, banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds), HMRC, or anyone who doesn't use WhatsApp. For those, you need an actual phone call.
What time should I call the UK?
UK uses GMT in winter (late Oct–late Mar) and BST (GMT+1) in summer. Business hours are 9am–5:30pm. For personal calls, evenings 6–9pm work well. Avoid calling during lunch (12–1pm) or after 9pm.
Do I need to install anything?
No. GlobCall runs in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge. Open the site, sign in, dial. Works on any device with a browser and microphone.
Are 0800 and 0845 numbers reachable?
GlobCall reaches standard UK geographic numbers (01, 02) and mobiles (07). Freephone (0800) and special rate numbers (0845, 0870) may have different handling — contact support for specifics.
How does billing work?
Buy credit from $5. The per-minute cost shows before you call and deducts as you talk. Your balance never expires. No surprises, no hidden fees.