How much does it cost to call a 0808 number?

Free from UK landlines and mobiles. The organisation you call pays for the call.

Is a call from a 0808 number a scam?

It can be. Caller IDs can be spoofed and scammers favour official-looking prefixes, so treat unexpected calls with caution: never share personal, banking or one-time-code details, and verify the organisation on a number you find independently.

Can I get a 0808 number for my business?

Yes - 0808 numbers can be set up on a hosted phone system and pointed at any line or device. Use The Geeks can provision one (or port an existing number) as part of a hosted telephony setup.

0808 Numbers – Cost, Who Uses Them & Range Holders

Prefix: 0808
Number type: Freephone
Cost to call: Free from UK landlines and mobiles
Geographic: No – UK-wide
Ofcom blocks in range: 404
Blocks in service: 401
Range holders: 81

What are 0808 numbers?

Numbers starting 0808 are UK freephone numbers in Ofcom’s 0800 & 0808 freephone numbers range. They are not tied to any town or city. Ofcom currently lists 404 number blocks under 0808, of which 401 are allocated to 81 providers.

0808 157 0000 is in the range Ofcom reserves for TV and radio dramas, so it can never connect to a real subscriber — that’s why we use it as the live example above.

Who uses 0808 numbers?

Sales lines, customer service, helplines and donation lines that want to remove any cost barrier to calling.

Who holds 0808 number ranges?

Range holder (allocated by Ofcom)	Number blocks	Example range
Vodafone Ltd (C&W)	124	`0808 101 XXXX`
Vodafone Limited	100	`0808 000 XXXX`
TalkTalk Communications Limited	15	`0808 108 XXXX`
GCI Network Solutions Limited	14	`0808 150 XXXX`
Barritel Limited	13	`0808 229 XXXX`
EE Limited ( TM)	12	`0808 121 XXXX`
BT	8	`0808 100 XXXX`
Gamma Telecom Holdings Limited	8	`0808 164 XXXX`
Magrathea Telecommunications Limited	7	`0808 120 XXXX`
Voxbone SA	5	`0808 134 XXXX`
Colt Technology Services	4	`0808 109 XXXX`
TTNC Limited	4	`0808 192 XXXX`

…and 69 more providers hold smaller allocations in this range.

Ofcom’s data shows the provider each number range was originally allocated to — not who holds an individual number today. Numbers are frequently moved (ported) between providers, and no public database reveals the person or business behind a specific number, so treat any service that claims to with suspicion.

Scam & cost warnings

A free-to-call number is not proof an organisation is genuine: fake 'support' lines and refund scams use freephone numbers because they look reassuring. Verify the organisation independently before sharing any details.

Check a specific 0808 number

Paste the full number into the checker above to see its range holder and allocation status from this week’s Ofcom data — free, no sign-up.

Run mobiles for a business? See our business mobile network comparison or get a quote.

Related 080 prefixes

0800

0800 & 0808 freephone numbers guide › · All UK number ranges ›

0808 numbers – cost & who uses them