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Cut the cost of every call by over 55% with a virtual landline that forwards straight to your mobile. No app, no setup fee, same-day number.
Start saving today!Prison calls in the UK are charged per minute from the prisoner's phone credit. The rate depends on one thing: the type of number being called. Calls to standard UK landlines cost 2.48p per minute on weekdays. Calls to mobile numbers cost 5.50p per minute — more than double. Most families in the UK no longer have a traditional home landline, which means most prisoners end up paying the expensive mobile rate by default simply because it is the only number they have been given.
The fix is a virtual landline. A virtual landline is a standard UK local phone number, for example an 020 London number or a 0161 Manchester number — that automatically forwards all calls to your mobile. Your loved one adds it to their prison PIN list instead of your mobile. When they call it, the prison system sees a landline and charges the cheaper rate. You receive the call on your mobile as normal. No app. No special phone. Nothing changes on your end.
The rates below are the confirmed national HMPPS tariff in place since 1 April 2025. They apply to all publicly managed prisons in England and Wales and are fixed until 31 May 2027. Most privately managed prisons have aligned to the same tariff.
The table below shows the monthly cost of calls at different frequencies, comparing calls to a mobile versus calls to a Prison Call virtual landline number. The saving column is what stays in the phone credit account every month without any extra money needing to be sent in.
These savings come directly from the prisoner's phone credit. The same amount of money sent in each week goes more than twice as far, meaning longer calls, fewer top-ups, and less financial pressure on both sides.
Sign up and get your number
Choose a plan, pay your first month, and receive a local UK landline number by email within minutes. No setup fee.
Pass the number to your loved one
They add it to their prison PIN list through the in-cell kiosk or with wing staff. Approval typically takes two to five days.
Every call is cheaper automatically
When they call, the prison system charges the landline rate. The call comes straight to your mobile. No app, no changes on your end.
All plans include a local UK landline number, same-day activation, no setup fee, and no app required. Cancel anytime with no penalty. Every plan comes with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.
Cheapest plan on the market, great value for casual callers
Best value on the market, calls direct to one mobile at a landline rate
Our most premium package perfect for frequent calls and support
There are a few services offering virtual landlines for prison calls. The table below shows how Prison Call compares on the things that matter most to families.
These savings come directly from the prisoner's phone credit. The same amount of money sent in each week goes more than twice as far, meaning longer calls, fewer top-ups, and less financial pressure on both sides.
Your Prison Call number stays the same. If your loved one moves to a different prison, they simply need to add your number to the PIN list at the new establishment through the normal process. You do not need to change anything or sign up again. The number works across every UK prison, so the saving continues from the moment the new PIN list is approved.
Yes. Because the virtual landline forwards to your mobile, you can receive calls wherever your mobile has a signal. Standard international roaming charges from your mobile network may apply when receiving forwarded calls abroad, so it is worth checking with your network provider if you travel regularly.
No. A call to your Prison Call virtual landline number sounds exactly the same as any other call on your mobile. There is no quality difference compared to calling your mobile directly. You will hear the same prison announcement at the start of the call telling you it is from a prison and that it may be recorded — that is a standard feature of all prison phone calls regardless of the number type.
If credit is still running down faster than expected after switching to a virtual landline, the most likely reason is that your loved one has other numbers on their PIN list being called at the mobile rate, or that they are making short calls throughout the day each of which incurs the 10p minimum charge. Longer, less frequent calls are generally better value than multiple short ones.
Scotland uses a separate system run by the Scottish Prison Service. Prisoners in Scotland receive 200 free call minutes per month. After that, calls cost 5p per minute for all UK numbers regardless of whether they are a landline or mobile. A virtual landline is still worth having for prisoners in Scotland who make more than 200 minutes of calls per month, as it ensures they are always calling a number that works reliably on the approved list.
Phone credit is purchased from the prison canteen using the prisoner's private cash balance. You top up that balance via the official GOV.UK service at gov.uk/send-prisoner-money, paying by debit card. The service is free and funds typically arrive within one to three working days. Bank transfers, cheques, and postal orders are no longer accepted.
Give your loved one a virtual landline number from Prison Call instead of your mobile number. When they call it, they pay 2.48p per minute instead of 5.50p, a saving of over 55%. The call forwards to your mobile with no app needed. Plans from £19.99 per month.
A virtual landline is the cheapest way. It gives your loved one a local UK number to call at the lower landline rate. Prison Call plans start from £19.99 per month with same-day activation and no app required on any plan.
Every plan forwards calls directly to your mobile as a normal incoming call. Some other providers require an app for their cheapest tier, with Prison Call, no app is ever needed.
Calls to UK mobiles cost 5.50p per minute on weekdays and 3.60p at weekends. Calls to UK landlines cost 2.48p per minute on weekdays and 2.20p at weekends. Minimum charge is 10p per call. Rates are fixed until May 2027.
On a 20-minute daily weekday call, switching to a Prison Call virtual landline saves around £13 per month over £160 per year. Use our free savings calculator at callfromprison.co.uk/resources/savings-calculator to see your exact figure.
Yes. Prison Call numbers work in every UK prison across England, Wales, and Scotland. They are standard local landline numbers accepted on all prison PIN systems.
Your number arrives by email within minutes of signing up. Your loved one then adds it to their PIN list, which takes two to five days to be approved by prison staff.
Both offer virtual landline numbers for prison calls. The key difference is that Prison Call requires no app on any plan calls go straight to your mobile. Second Ring's cheapest plan at £2.50/month requires their app to answer calls. Prison Call also includes a 30-day satisfaction guarantee and a Family plan that diverts to three mobiles simultaneously.
