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