Yes, for the person calling. Calls to UK 0800 numbers are free from UK landlines and mobiles, and they do not use up a caller's minutes or add a charge to their bill. The cost does not vanish, though: the business that owns the number pays to receive the calls.
This article explains who pays what, the few situations where a caller can still be charged, how 0800 differs from 0808, and how a small business can set one up without surprises. It is written for owners, sole traders, taxi firms and charities deciding whether a freephone number is worth having, and for anyone who wants to know what a call will cost before they dial.
TL;DR
- Calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers are free for callers on UK landlines and mobiles.
- The business pays its provider for the calls it receives, and the rate depends on provider and plan.
- Calls from abroad or through some business phone systems may not be free, so check the terms.
- 0800 and 0808 are both freephone; the difference is mostly about which ranges are available.
- Always verify a freephone number on the organisation's own website before you ring it.
Are 0800 numbers free for callers?
In the UK, yes. Ofcom, the communications regulator, sets rules that make calls to 080 numbers free from UK landlines and mobiles. That covers every 0800 and 0808 number, whichever network the caller uses.
Free means free at the point of the call. A caller on a pay-monthly mobile contract does not use allowance minutes, and a pay-as-you-go caller is not debited. There is no access charge and no service charge.
This is why freephone suits enquiries where the customer might hesitate: a quote line, a complaints line, a booking line for older customers, or a charity helpline. Nobody is watching the clock.
If you want the basics of how the service works behind the scenes, our explainer on what Freephone is and how it works for UK businesses covers it in more detail.
Pro Tip: Put the words "free to call from UK landlines and mobiles" next to the number on your website and van. Many people still assume a number that does not start with 01, 02 or 07 will cost them money.
Who pays for an 0800 call?
The business receiving the call. When a customer rings your 0800 number, your provider charges you for the minutes, often at a per-minute rate that differs from a normal inbound landline call. The rate depends on your provider, your plan and sometimes which network the call came from.
That is the trade-off. You are paying for the caller's convenience, and your bill rises with call volume and call length.
Some providers include bundles of freephone minutes in a monthly package. Others charge purely by usage, with a rental on top. Never assume the rate quoted for one number applies to another provider, because UK call costs vary by provider and plan.
What to ask before you sign up
- What is the per-minute rate for calls from landlines and from mobiles?
- Is there a monthly rental, and a set-up fee?
- Are there minimum call charges, or is each call rounded up to the nearest minute?
- Can you set a spending cap or receive usage alerts?
For the cost side in more depth, see our guide to 0800 numbers for UK businesses, their costs, set-up and scam checks. If you are still at the "what actually is one?" stage, our look at how 0800 numbers help UK SMEs is a good starting point.
When an 0800 call is not free
There are a few cases where the "free" label does not hold. They are uncommon, but they catch people out.
- Calling from abroad. The UK rules apply to calls from UK networks. From overseas, a caller may pay international rates, or the number may not connect at all.
- Roaming. A UK mobile used abroad is usually billed under the provider's roaming terms.
- Business phone systems. A company switchboard or VoIP service may route calls in a way that is billed differently. Check with the provider.
- Look-alike numbers. Numbers beginning 084, 087 or 09 are not freephone. Some can cost a good deal more, depending on the number and the caller's plan.
The Phone-paid Services Authority regulates premium-rate services, which are a separate category from freephone. If you are unsure what a number costs, ask the organisation or check with your provider before calling.
To see where freephone sits against the pricier ranges, our guide to premium rate numbers shows the difference.
0800 or 0808: is there a difference?
For the caller, no. Both are freephone numbers and both are free from UK landlines and mobiles. The difference sits with the number ranges and who holds them.
0800 numbers are often seen as the classic freephone choice, partly because they are widely recognised. 0808 numbers are used heavily by public bodies, helplines and charities, and they are also available to businesses. Ofcom's reserved drama range for 0808, 0808 157 0000 to 0999, is the kind of format you will see, for example 0808 157 0123 in a script or training material.
Memorable endings are what make a freephone number worth having. A repeating or easy-to-say sequence is easier to remember from a van side or a leaflet. Availability varies, so it is worth searching both prefixes rather than insisting on one.
If you are weighing freephone against other number types, our guide on UK free phone numbers: a buyer's guide for small businesses sets out what to look for.
Is a freephone number worth it for a small business?
It depends on who rings you and why. A freephone number can encourage calls from customers who would otherwise send an email or go elsewhere. It does not guarantee more enquiries, and it does cost you per minute.
It tends to suit:
- Firms with a national customer base and no local presence.
- Charities and support lines, where cost must never put someone off.
- Sales or quote lines where calls are short and each lead has value.
It tends to suit less well:
- Lines that attract long calls, because the cost scales with minutes.
- Businesses that serve one town and benefit from a local area code, such as a taxi firm whose regular customers already know the local number.
- Very small firms that cannot predict call volume.
A local number can signal "we are nearby", while freephone signals "we are easy to reach". Our comparison of freephone vs local numbers helps you decide which message matters more to your customers.
Pro Tip: Estimate your monthly bill before committing. Multiply likely calls by average call length by the provider's per-minute rate, then add the rental. If the total makes you wince, try a cheaper number type first.
Cheaper alternatives to 0800
If the idea of paying per minute worries you, there are other ways to look professional without a freephone bill.
An 03 number, such as 0333 or 0300, is set by Ofcom's rules to cost callers no more than a standard geographic call, and it usually counts towards inclusive minutes in landline and mobile plans, though callers should check their own plan. That makes it a sensible national number for firms that do not want to pay freephone rates. Our guide to the 0333 number and what callers pay explains it.
A geographic 01 or 02 number is another option. A Hampshire firm might choose 01329, while a London firm could take a 020 number. These are familiar, trusted and usually included in bundles.
Compare the choices honestly:
- Freephone: free for callers, you pay for the calls you receive.
- 03: standard call rates for callers, national feel.
- 01 or 02: local trust, familiar to customers.
For a wider look at the trade-offs, see choosing toll-free vs landline.
How to set up and route a freephone number
A freephone number is not a line in its own right. It points calls at somewhere else, and you choose where.
- Forward to a landline or mobile. The simplest route, and it works for a sole trader on the road.
- Ring several phones at once. Taxi Connect Direct can ring up to five phones together, which suits taxi firms and trades.
- Use a VoIP service. The XL Hosted Voice service runs the number on a Fanvil desk phone or the Zoiper app.
- Use a mobile SIM. An XL Mobile SIM on the EE network can answer the number on a handset.
Options such as a welcome announcement, queuing music and voicemail are worth adding if you are likely to miss calls. If you record calls, the Information Commissioner's Office has guidance on the data protection side, so read it before switching recording on.
Set-up times depend on the number and provider, so do not promise a go-live date to customers until it is confirmed in writing. If you later want to move a number to another provider, ask both providers how porting works and check Ofcom's guidance.
Spotting scams that use freephone numbers
A freephone number does not prove a caller is genuine. Fraudsters can say they are from your bank or an energy supplier and quote a number that looks reassuring.
Action Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. If you are unsure about a call, hang up and find the organisation's number yourself on its website or a bank card, then ring that. Use a different phone if you can, or wait a few minutes.
Good habits for small firms:
- Never give passwords, PINs or card details to an unsolicited caller.
- Do not trust a number just because it is freephone.
- Brief staff on what a genuine supplier call looks like.
Pro Tip: Tell your own customers which number you will always call from. If they know a genuine call from you, they are better protected from copycats.
Since 2014 we have seen freephone chosen for the right reason and the wrong one. The right reason is that callers might otherwise hesitate. The wrong reason is that it sounds big. We usually suggest working out your likely call minutes first, because a short sales line suits freephone far better than a long chat line. If the bill would sting, a good 03 or local number often does the job. Whatever you choose, make the number easy to say and easy to remember.
- The PhoneNumbers.Store team
About PhoneNumbers.Store
PhoneNumbers.Store has offered memorable UK numbers since 2014 from Fareham in Hampshire. If freephone is more than you need, you can search numbers across 01, 02, 03, 08 and 07 ranges, or browse phone numbers by area for a local code. Calls can be forwarded, rung to up to five phones with Taxi Connect Direct, or run on an XL Mobile SIM or XL Hosted Voice. See our products and services, or start at the PhoneNumbers.Store homepage. You can also speak to the team on 01329 007 007.
Frequently asked questions
Are 0800 numbers free from a mobile?
Yes. Calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers are free from UK mobiles and landlines, and they do not take minutes from your allowance. The exception is calls made abroad or while roaming, where your provider's international or roaming terms may apply instead.
Why do businesses pay for 0800 calls?
Because the caller is not charged, the cost passes to the business receiving the call. Its provider bills for the calls, and the rate varies by provider and plan. Some packages include a bundle of minutes, so compare the rental and call rates before signing up.
Is 0808 the same as 0800?
For callers, yes: both are freephone ranges and both are free from UK landlines and mobiles. The difference is mainly the range, and many helplines and public bodies use 0808. A business can choose either, depending on which memorable numbers are available.
Is an 0800 number safe to call?
The call is free, but that does not make the caller or the number genuine. Fraudsters can imitate organisations. If you are unsure, end the call and look up the organisation's official number yourself. Report suspected fraud to Action Fraud.
