UK Rates: Understanding Your Call, Text and Data Charges

Understanding how you’re charged is key to managing your mobile spending. Most of our customers enjoy unlimited UK calls and texts as part of their plan, but if you’re on Pay As You Go or calling a non-standard number, standard rates apply.

This guide breaks down the main rates you need to know for UK calls, texts, data, and special numbers.

For customers using Airtime Credit on Pay As You Go:

• Calls to UK landlines (starting 01, 02, 03): 8p per minute
• Calls to UK mobiles: 8p per minute
• Free UK minutes bundles are available as a cheaper alternative to per-minute charging

For customers on monthly rolling or contract plans, UK calls to any standard number are unlimited at no extra cost.

On Pay As You Go, SMS messages to UK numbers are charged at 6p per text.

MMS (picture messages) are charged at 40p per message sent.

On monthly rolling or contract plans, all standard SMS to UK mobiles are unlimited.

Sending texts to international numbers incurs higher charges — see our International Calls guide for details.

If you don’t have an active bundle and use data on Pay As You Go, the charge is typically 5p per MB.

This can add up quickly — just streaming a short video or using Google Maps for 10 minutes can use 50–100 MB.

For any regular data use, we strongly recommend buying a bundle: you’ll get far more data for the same money and avoid unexpected charges.

These numbers are charged differently from standard UK numbers and are not included in unlimited plans:

• 084, 087 numbers: 5p per minute access charge + the service charge (set by the company you’re calling)
• 09 numbers (premium rate): service charges can be very high — up to £3.60 per minute. Always check the cost before dialling.
• 070 personal numbers: up to 60p per minute
• Revenue-share numbers: can cost significantly more than normal calls

Directory enquiries (118 XXX) are operated by third parties and typically cost £2–£5 per call plus a per-minute charge. Use Google or an online directory to save money.

Voicemail retrieval from your own phone is usually free. Accessing it from another phone may incur charges.

Calls to 999 and 112 (emergency services), 101 (police non-emergency) and 111 (NHS) are always free.

To keep track of your usage and avoid unexpected charges:

• Check your balance and usage in the mobile app or online account.
• Set up usage alerts when you reach certain data thresholds.
• Review your recent activity after any large call or data session.
• Enable automatic bundle purchases so you’re never caught out paying standard rates.

Most of our customers never pay standard UK rates — because their plan already includes unlimited UK calls and texts.

The rates above mostly apply if you’re on Pay As You Go without an active bundle, or if you’re calling a non-standard number. Always check before dialling unusual numbers, and monitor your usage regularly to stay in control of your spending.