Free Call to UK from US — $0.021/min (2026)
Call the UK for free with WhatsApp or FaceTime. Need to call a UK landline or mobile? BubblyPhone charges $0.021/min — less than a penny. Rate comparison, dialing guide +44, Skype replacement.
The UK is one of the cheapest countries to call from the US — around 2 cents a minute across every serious VoIP service, including BubblyPhone at $0.021/min. And if both people have WhatsApp or FaceTime, it's completely free.
Whether you're calling family, a business in London, or a UK landline, here's every option from free to the cheapest paid rates.
Free: App-to-App Calls
Both people need the app and internet. No charges, no limits.
1. WhatsApp — Most Popular in the UK
WhatsApp is the most-used messaging app in the UK, with over 35 million users. Voice and video calls are free and crystal clear on UK 4G/5G networks (among the best in Europe). This is the simplest option for staying in touch with family and friends.
2. FaceTime — If Both Use Apple
iPhone market share in the UK is over 50% — higher than most countries. If both you and your UK contact use iPhones, FaceTime audio and video calls are free with excellent quality. No setup needed — it's built into the phone.
Pro tip: FaceTime audio calls often sound better than regular phone calls because they use a wider frequency range.
3. Facebook Messenger
Widely used in the UK. Free voice and video calls. Good option if the person you're calling uses Facebook but hasn't set up WhatsApp.
4. Signal or Telegram
Growing in the UK, especially among privacy-conscious users. Both offer free voice calls with end-to-end encryption. Signal is particularly popular among professionals and journalists.
Calling UK Phone Numbers — Incredibly Cheap
The UK has some of the lowest international calling rates of any country. Competition between VoIP providers keeps prices near rock bottom:
| Service | Mobile Rate | Landline Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.021/min | $0.021/min | Browser, iOS, Android — no app or Google account needed |
| Google Voice | $0.01/min | $0.01/min | US Google account required |
| Rebtel | $0.02/min | $0.01/min | Unlimited plans available |
| Viber Out | $0.019/min | $0.019/min | Convenient if already on Viber |
| AT&T / T-Mobile | $0.22-3.00/min | $0.22-3.00/min | Up to 500x more expensive |
The math: A 60-minute call to a UK landline costs $1.26 with BubblyPhone vs $0.60 with Google Voice vs $60-180 through your US carrier. Google Voice is cheaper on landlines; against a US carrier every VoIP option is a rounding error.
How to Dial the UK from the US
# From a US phone:
011 + 44 + number
# From a mobile (or VoIP app):
+44 + number
# Example — calling a London landline:
+44 20 7946 0958
# Example — calling a UK mobile:
+44 7700 900123
# Example — calling Manchester:
+44 161 123 4567
Important: UK numbers start with 0 domestically. When dialing from the US, drop the leading 0: 020 becomes +44 20, 07 becomes +44 7.
Major Area Codes
- London: 020
- Birmingham: 0121
- Manchester: 0161
- Edinburgh: 0131
- Glasgow: 0141
- Liverpool: 0151
- Leeds: 0113
- Bristol: 0117
Mobile Prefixes
- 07XXX: All UK mobile numbers
- EE: 074, 075, 077, 078
- Three: 073, 074, 075
- O2: 074, 075, 078, 079
- Vodafone: 074, 075, 077
- Note: UK mobile prefixes are mixed across carriers due to number portability
Which Method Should You Use?
Calling family or friends in the UK
WhatsApp or FaceTime — free, and UK internet is excellent. Everyone has one or both.
Calling a UK business or office landline
BubblyPhone ($0.021/min) — call directly from your browser, no app needed. A 30-minute business call costs $0.63.
Calling a UK mobile without WhatsApp
Google Voice ($0.02/min) or BubblyPhone ($0.021/min) — effectively tied on mobiles. Both are far cheaper than your US carrier.
Calling UK government services or NHS
Many UK government numbers (0345, 0300) and NHS lines are charged at local rates. Use BubblyPhone — it handles these numbers at the standard UK rate.
Tips for Calling the UK
- UK internet is excellent — 4G/5G coverage is nearly universal. WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are consistently high quality across the UK
- Skype shut down in 2025 — if you previously used Skype to call UK landlines, switch to BubblyPhone ($0.021/min) or Google Voice ($0.01/min for landlines)
- Time zone: UK is GMT (UTC+0) in winter, BST (UTC+1) in summer. That's 5 hours ahead of EST in winter, 4 hours in summer. Call noon EST = 5 PM GMT
- 0800 numbers are free within the UK but may not be reachable from international VoIP services. Try the direct landline alternative if available
- Bank holidays — the UK has different public holidays from the US (Boxing Day, May bank holidays, etc.). Avoid calling businesses on these days
Frequently Asked Questions
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Call the UK for About 2¢ a Minute
Open BubblyPhone in your browser and dial +44. No app needed.
Try Free — Call the UK Now