- Cost to call
- Free from UK landlines & mobiles
- Who pays
- The called organisation
- Common ranges
- 0800, 0808
- Good for
- Sales, support & donation lines
What are 0800 & 0808 freephone numbers?
0800 and 0808 numbers are freephone numbers: they are free to call from all UK landlines and mobiles. The cost of the call is paid entirely by the organisation you're calling, not by you.
Who uses 0800 / 0808 numbers?
Freephone numbers are used by businesses, charities and helplines that want to remove any cost barrier to getting in touch - sales lines, customer service, donation lines and support services.
How much do 0800 / 0808 numbers cost to call?
Calls to 0800 and 0808 numbers are free from UK landlines and mobiles. This has been the case for mobiles since July 2015, when Ofcom made all 080 calls free. The legacy 0500 freephone range was withdrawn in 2017.
Scam & cost warnings
Because they look reassuringly official, freephone numbers can be used by scammers in adverts and fake 'support' pop-ups. A free number is not proof that a caller or advert is genuine - always verify the organisation independently.
How to check a 0800 / 0808 number
Not sure about a number you’ve been given or called by? Paste it into the
UK phone number checker — it identifies the
type, the area (for geographic numbers) and the provider Ofcom allocated the range
to, using official data refreshed every Wednesday. For example, try 0808 157 0000 in the checker above.
Had an unexpected call from an 0800 / 0808 number and want to know whether it’s safe to ring back? See our plain-English guide: Who called me from an 0800 number?