Prison Call vs Phone Savy Which Service Is the Best for Cheaper Prison Calls?

Staying in touch with someone inside prison isn’t just about emotional connection; it can be a lifeline. For many families, phone calls are the only way to maintain regular contact, but the cost of calling a mobile from a UK prison is notoriously high. Standard call charges can reach up to 25p per minute, which quickly eats away at the prisoner’s limited phone credit. That’s where services like Prison Call and Phone Savy come in.

Both providers promise to reduce the cost of calls from prison to the outside world by using virtual landline numbers, allowing prisoners to call at a much cheaper landline rate instead of the expensive mobile tariff. While they share a similar aim, the experience they offer can be very different. In this guide, we’ll compare both services in detail to help you decide which is the best option for you and your loved one.

Introduction to Each Service

Prison Call is a UK-based service built specifically to help families save money on prison calls. It works by giving you a virtual local landline number, which your loved one in prison can add to their PIN list. Instead of calling your mobile number directly, they dial the local landline, which costs them a fraction of the usual price. Prison Call focuses on making this process quick, simple and transparent.

Phone Savy offers a similar solution, also providing numbers designed to reduce call costs. Their service is based on the same principle: diverting expensive mobile calls through cheaper landline numbers. However, while both companies aim to achieve the same goal, the customer experience, pricing structure, and support levels can differ quite significantly.

Cost Comparison and Real Savings

For most families, cost is the single most important factor. Calling a mobile number from prison can cost up to 25p per minute, which means even short calls can become expensive. Prison Call typically offers rates from as little as 3p per minute, with no hidden connection charges. The savings can be substantial, especially if your loved one calls regularly. Over the course of a year, this can amount to over £100 in savings, which can make a huge difference to a family budget.

Phone Savy’s rates are generally higher, often starting around 5–7p per minute, and some users have reported additional service or top-up fees. While this is still cheaper than calling a mobile directly, the overall cost can be less predictable. For families trying to budget carefully, transparent pricing can make life a lot easier. This is one of the reasons many customers prefer the simplicity of Prison Call.

How Easy Is It to Get Started?

When someone goes to prison, the last thing their family wants is a complicated sign-up process. Setting up Prison Call is intentionally straightforward. Most users can sign up online in minutes, choose a number, top up their account, and have everything ready for their loved one to start calling the same day. Clear instructions are provided to help the prisoner add the number to their PIN list, and there’s no need for any technical knowledge.

Phone Savy also allows users to sign up online, but there are more reports of delays in number activation and occasional confusion during setup. While it works well for many people, the process isn’t always as smooth or as fast. For families already dealing with stress, a simple and reliable setup can make all the difference.

Reliability and Service Quality

Another important factor is how consistently the service works across different prisons. Prison Call is compatible with the vast majority of UK prisons, including major facilities such as HMP Birmingham, HMP Brixton, HMP Durham and HMP Five Wells. Because it uses standard local landline numbers, prisoners can usually make calls without any issues once the number is approved on their PIN list. Users frequently report stable call quality and minimal downtime.

Phone Savy also works across most prisons but has received mixed feedback regarding call quality and reliability. Some users experience delays, inconsistent connection quality, or occasional issues that can make it harder to stay in touch regularly. When you rely on calls to maintain contact, reliability is more than just a convenience — it’s essential.

Transparency Around Fees and Charges

Hidden charges can turn what looks like a cheap service into something much more expensive over time. One of the key advantages of Prison Call is its transparent pricing. There are no connection fees, no minimum contracts, and no small print to worry about. You simply top up as needed, and the credit is used at a flat rate per minute.

Phone Savy does advertise competitive rates, but some users have reported additional charges or confusing top-up structures. While these might not affect everyone, they can make it harder to keep track of how much you’re actually spending. Clear pricing gives families peace of mind, which is why Prison Call’s simplicity stands out.

Customer Support and Trust

Good customer support can make a big difference when something goes wrong. Prison Call offers UK-based customer support that is generally praised for being responsive and helpful. Whether through email, phone or chat, the support team tends to resolve issues quickly and clearly. Trustpilot reviews often highlight how friendly and efficient the service is.

Phone Savy also provides support, but feedback is more mixed. Some customers report good experiences, while others mention delays or difficulty getting a response. When communication with a loved one depends on the service working properly, quick and reliable support is vital.

How Well They Work Across UK Prisons

Every prison has its own policies, but both Prison Call and Phone Savy are designed to work within the existing prison phone system. Prison Call has been tried and tested in a wide range of facilities, which gives many users confidence in its reliability. Once the number is added to the prisoner’s list, calls are made at the lower landline rate, helping them get more value from their phone credit.

Phone Savy is also widely accepted, but again, user feedback points to occasional inconsistencies. Even a small difference in reliability can have a big impact when communication options are already limited.

Why Cheaper Calls Really Matter

Lowering the cost of prison calls isn’t just about saving a few pounds. Regular, affordable contact can make a genuine difference to people’s lives. For prisoners, staying in touch with family can help reduce isolation, support mental health, and maintain family bonds. For families, it means being able to talk without worrying about cost, keeping relationships strong through a difficult time.

By reducing call costs from around 25p per minute to just a few pence, services like Prison Call give families the chance to speak more often and for longer. Over weeks and months, that can make a huge difference.

Making the Right Choice

Both Prison Call and Phone Savy aim to make prison calls more affordable, and both can help reduce costs compared to calling a mobile directly. However, the difference lies in the details. Prison Call offers lower call rates, faster setup, more transparent pricing, and stronger customer support. Phone Savy provides a similar service, but some users experience more issues with pricing clarity and reliability.

For most families who want something straightforward, transparent, and dependable, Prison Call comes out as the stronger option.

Getting Started with Prison Call

If you decide to use Prison Call, getting started is simple. You can sign up online in just a few minutes, choose your number, top up your account, and get everything ready for your loved one to call. Once they add the number to their PIN, they can start calling at landline rates instead of expensive mobile prices. Many families are able to make their first call on the same day they sign up. The process is quick, simple, and designed to remove stress rather than add to it.

Real Customer Experiences

The best way to understand how these services compare is to look at what real people say. Prison Call customers often mention how easy it is to sign up, how much money they’ve saved, and how reliable the service has been over time. Many families note that being able to talk to their loved one more often has had a real, positive impact.

Phone Savy customers have more mixed experiences. Some are happy with the savings they’ve made, while others mention issues with top-ups, unexpected costs, or communication delays. It’s not that the service doesn’t work — it’s that the overall experience can vary more from person to person.

Choosing between Prison Call and Phone Savy ultimately depends on what matters most to you. If you want the lowest possible call rates, fast setup, no hidden charges and reliable customer service, then Prison Call is likely to be the better fit. If you’re already using another service, it’s worth comparing the real per-minute costs and overall experience to make sure you’re getting the best value.

For families, affordable communication isn’t a luxury — it’s essential. It helps maintain relationships, support rehabilitation, and bring comfort during challenging times. That’s why choosing a service that works consistently and clearly matters so much.