01 Numbers: Business User Overview
01 geographical phone numbers remain a reliable, low-cost way for businesses to present a local presence in the UK. An 01 number has the flexibility to route it to any landline, mobile or SIP, giving you easy full UK-wide coverage. This helps your business to maintain a sense of locality at an affordable price.
At-a-glance reasons to choose an 01 number:
• Instantly usable – set up within minutes
• Recognisable prefix – local callers recognise the prefix, viewing it as a standard number
• Flexibility – 01s can be routed to landline, mobile or cloud-based solutions and all are fully regulated
Call Cost Guide for 01 Numbers
Call charges to geographic numbers (i.e. those starting 01 or 02) are now largely set by phone providers, and they can vary depending on your call package/plan.
Here is a rough guide to typical rates (as of 2025):
| Caller Type / Provider Scenario | Typical Cost per Minute for 01/02 Numbers |
| Landline (with inclusive minutes bundle) | Often free (included in your plan) — if you have an ‘all-landline calls included’ package. |
| Landline (pay-as-you-go / outside inclusive calls) | Up to 16p/min in many cases. |
| Mobile (with calls included) | Often included in plan allowances (i.e. free within bundle) |
| Mobile (pay-as-you-go or outside allowance) | Rates can vary broadly, between 3p and 65p per minute, depending on the network and plan. |
| Example (mobile to 01 number) | For instance, on one major network pay-as-you-go tariff: 30p per minute. |
Remember: The exact call cost depends heavily on your provider and whether you are in a minute/allowance bundle. If you have unlimited UK landline calls, then calling your 01 number may be free.
Due to this variability, 01 numbers remain one of the most user-friendly and transparent business numbers for callers.
Why 01 Numbers still make sense in 2025 & beyond:
- No new national regulation has replaced geographic numbers. Geographic (01 / 02) numbers remain standard and are still widely recognised by callers.
- Calls remain among the cheapest standard options. Compared with premium-rate, non-geographic and mobile-rate numbers, 01 / 02 calls stay relatively affordable and transparent.
- Flexibility for businesses. As before, 01 numbers can be routed to landlines or mobiles, include features like call routing, voicemail-to-email, call queues – useful for SMEs, remote workers & call centres.
- Customer trust. Many callers still view a traditional geographic number as more trustworthy and professional than mobile or non-geographic numbers.
Want to set up an 01 or simply have more questions, call 0330 332 0400 or visit our online 01 page.
