2025 comparison across major providers
Whether you’re calling a phone number starting 01, the cost depends on your mobile or fixed-line provider, your tariff and whether the call falls inside any inclusive minutes bundle.
Below we summarise current call costs (as of Nov 2025) for several popular UK providers.
Price Comparison: 01 Number Calls
| Provider | Typical Cost to call 01 (per minute) |
| iD Mobile | £0.40 / min |
| Sky Talk | 11.5p / min (after inclusive allowance; may include a connection/access charge) |
| TalkTalk | 25p / min from TalkTalk mobile lines (when not free) |
| FreedomPop | Variable |
| Virgin Mobile | approx 24–25p / min for geographic calls (plan dependent) |
| giffgaff (PAYG) | 25p / min for calls to UK landlines 01/02/03 |
Note on ‘Inclusive Minutes’
Many pay-monthly or bundle plans from UK mobile or landline providers include calls to geographic numbers (like 01) within the monthly allowance. So, calls may effectively be free up to certain monthly minutes. Outside that allowance (or on PAYG), the per-minute rates shown above typically apply. This reflects standard industry practice.
As call costs can fluctuate (depending on tariffs, monthly bundles and legacy plans), the rates above are given as typical or standard ‘out-of-bundle / PAYG’ charges as of 2025.
Reasons for differences in cost?
The variation between providers boils down to a few key factors:
- Whether calls are included in a plan’s inclusive minutes: If the plan includes free calls to landlines, dialing 01 numbers might cost nothing until your allowance is used. Once exceeded or on PAYG standard per-minute rates come into effect.
- Provider’s standard PAYG or out-of-bundle rate: Each provider sets their own per-minute cost for calls outside any bundle. For example, iD Mobile lists 40p per minute for 01/02/03 calls.
- If there are connection or access charges: Some providers, especially landline services like Sky Talk, may include a connection/access fee in addition to per-minute charges for non-inclusive calls.
- Legacy or older tariffs: Some older deals or older PAYG plans may have different, (sometimes lower) charges than newer standard ones but they may no longer be available to new customers.
Regulatory guidance from Ofcom suggests that mobile calls to geographic numbers (01/02) when not covered by inclusive minutes, typically range between around 3p and 65p per minute, depending on the network and tariff.
Provider-by-Provider Snapshot
Here’s a quick breakdown of what each provider offers (or used to offer) for UK landline calls:
- iD Mobile: Charges 40p per minute for calls to geographic numbers when on PAYG or outside inclusive minutes.
- Sky Talk: Offers a low 11.5p per minute rate for landline 01 calls (calls outside any inclusive bundle may also carry a connection/access charge).
- TalkTalk (mobile): Offers 25p per minute for calls to UK 01 and 02 regional calls from their mobile service when not inclusive.
- FreedomPop: Their service model focuses more on data. So, we recommend checking directly with FreedomPop for the latest tariff details.
- Virgin Mobile: Calls to 01 numbers generally fall in the 24–25p per minute range under standard call tariffs (for many plans).
- giffgaff: For PAYG users, calling UK 01/02 geographic numbers costs 25p per minute.
What this means for you
- If you make frequent calls to UK landlines: pick a plan that includes landline calls within its monthly allowance. This can significantly reduce your per-minute costs.
- For occasional callers (or PAYG users): compare standard per-minute rates. Plans like Sky Talk or giffgaff offer relatively low out-of-bundle rates among the providers listed.
- Always check the small print: some providers may include extra connection or access charges for calls outside inclusive bundles.
- If your calls are rare, you may be better with a flexible PAYG provider rather than a monthly plan.
Conclusion
When calling UK landline numbers starting 01 (or 02/03), costs in 2025 vary across providers – from as low as around 11.5p per minute (with providers like Sky Talk under certain plans) to around 40p per minute (with providers such as iD Mobile) for PAYG or out-of-bundle calls. For many users, especially those on pay-monthly plans with inclusive minutes, calls may effectively be free up to a limit each month.
If you or your business makes regular calls to geographic numbers, it’s worth reviewing your mobile or landline plan and comparing providers. Choosing the cheapest option depends on how often you call, whether you exceed any included minutes, and whether the provider uses connection or access charges.
Are you a business looking to set up a local 01 number? Why not call 0330 332 0400 or visit our dedicated page?
