International calls: cheapest UK mobile networks ranked
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We find the best networks for making international calls to popular places like Europe, USA, Pakistan, India and beyond. Last updated: 21st June 2023.
In our best international calling network guide
Calling abroad usually costs extra on every network
When you make calls to international numbers you will typically be charged per minute on top of your regular monthly mobile bill. So it’s worth knowing which network offers the cheapest rates to the locations you want to call.
This can be complicated by the fact that networks offer different ways of paying for international calls. This can make it harder to know which networks give you the best overall value for calling abroad.
Essentially there are three different systems of paying. You can pay-per-min for your international calls, you can take an add-on to get a bundle of international calls, or you can join one of the few networks that offer inclusive international mins on your plan.
In our eyes the best networks for international calling are the ones that offer inclusive minutes with your plan. But cheap international rates outside of that are also good. Add-ons can be decent value, but it’s best to get inclusive or cheap calls in the first place.
Useful link: Skip to our best-rated networks
Best networks for international calls
1st: Lebara - some inclusive international calls on all plans
✔ International calls outside your plan typically cheapSee their rates
at mobile.lebara.com
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What we like:
Every plan comes with inclusive international minutes
International calling rates typically very cheap
Decently priced plans in the first place
Great UK network via Vodafone
What we don't like:
Not every country covered by inclusive minutes
Calls to some areas can still be expensive
Lebara are our number one network for international calls as they’re one of only two networks to offer inclusive international minutes at no extra cost on their plans. Calls to these 42 countries are included in your Lebara plan.
You get a different allowance of international calls depending on the plan you take. Typically the more expensive your plan the more international minutes you get. And if you go over your allowance, Lebara offer very cheap calls to lots of destinations.
Take any of these plans to get unlimited minutes to selected international countries (click to see all countries):
If you’re out of inclusive minutes, calls to Europe, India, North America, China, Australia and New Zealand are all only 1p per minute (see all their rates here). On top of that calls to Pakistan are only 3p per minute.
If you’ve got family in South Africa or Nigeria (or any other African countries) you can’t call them using your inclusive minutes. But Lebara’s rates to these countries are the cheapest of all networks at 5p - 7p per minute.
Further afield is where calls can vary largely in price. Calls can be between 15p - 99p per minute depending on the location. Make sure to check the rates of the country you’re calling before topping up and using your credit.
Useful link: Our full Lebara network review
2nd: Lycamobile - international minutes included on most plans
✔ Only a few plans don’t include international callsSee their plans
at lycamobile.co.uk
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What we like:
Most plans include international mins
Already well priced plans
Great call signal coverage on O2
What we don't like:
Lots of countries not covered by inclusive calls
Standard rates are fairly pricey
Calling remote areas can be expensive
No WiFi/4G calling
Lycamobile offer a similar benefit to Lebara by offering a different amount of inclusive calls to these 41 worldwide countries on most of their plans. Only their very cheapest plan doesn’t include international minutes:
These Lycamobile plans come with at least 500 international minutes:
But outside of their inclusive minutes, their rates can be a bit pricier than Lebara. Their standard rates for India are 3p per min. Calls to Eastern Europe are 6p per min and calls to the USA are 7p per min, a lot higher than on Lebara.
On top of that, calls to Western Europe are significantly more expensive on Lycamobile at 19p per min. And calls to South Africa and Nigeria are 19p and 15p respectively.
Calls beyond these destinations are fairly similar between Lebara and Lycamobile. So, which network is better comes down to which country you want to call.
Overall, Lycamobile fall just behind Lebara in our eyes, because they don’t have WiFi calling and calls outside your plan can be more expensive. But the fact they even offer inclusive minutes puts them comfortably in second place ahead of the rest of the UK networks.
Useful link: See rates on Lycamobile
3rd: Talk Home Mobile - cheap calls to lots of countries
What we like:
Calls to lots of countries are very cheap
Good value deals in the first place
Great coverage via EE’s network
Cheap calls to some more remote countries
What we don't like:
International minutes are not inclusive
Rates to some countries are a bit high
No WiFi/4G calling
Talk Home Mobile were initially set up as a cheap provider for international calls (hence their name) and they still have some of the lowest rates for calling abroad of all networks.
Their cheapest rates are to East Europe, India, Bangladesh and Australia at just 1p per min. Calls to Pakistan are cheap at 4p per min, calls to South Africa are 7p per min and calls to Sri Lanka are 9p per min.
Here are the best value deals on Talk Home Mobile:
They even provide cheap rates to surprising countries. Calls to Angola are just 5p per minute, for example. Check the country you want to call here as you might be surprised how cheap it is.
Calls to Western Europe and the USA are relatively high at 5p per min, they don’t have WiFi calling and there are no inclusive international mins. But overall they’re a great network for calling abroad.
Useful link: See all international rates on Talk Home
4th: spusu - inclusive EU calls but expensive beyond that
What we like:
Inclusive calls to lots of EU countries
Good value deals already
Excellent coverage on EE’s network
What we don't like:
No inclusive minutes beyond the EU/EEA
Non-inclusive international mins are expensive
No WiFi calling
spusu were originally set up in Austria with the aim of allowing users to make calls across Europe. As such, they include international minutes to these 32 EU countries, letting you call at no extra cost.
Typically they include 500 EU mins on all their plans, which is excellent considering they offer some of the best value deals of all networks. However, calls outside of your inclusive mins can get expensive.
Calls to European countries once you’ve run out are charged at 10p per min, which is the same rate for North America, New Zealand and India. Calls to Australia are 20p per min and to South Africa it’s 40p per min.
The fact that calls to EEA countries like Switzerland aren’t included is another strike against them. spusu are a great choice for calls to the EU, but there are better choices for calls beyond the EU.
Useful link: See spusu’s price guide for all their international rates
5th: giffgaff - cheap calls to a long list of countries
What we like:
Calls to a lot of countries are very cheap
Cheap deals in the first place
Excellent coverage via O2’s network
What we don't like:
No inclusive international calls
Calls to Australia and New Zealand are pricey
No WiFi/4G calling
Unlike the top two networks on this list, giffgaff don’t offer any inclusive international minutes. But we were surprised to see how cheap their international calls are compared to some networks.
Calls to Eastern Europe are the cheapest at 1p per min. Calls to India, Western Europe and North America come next at only 2p per min (excluding Hawaii and Alaska which are 3p per min). And calls to South Africa and Nigeria are only 9p - 10p per min.
However, calls to Bangladesh are 5p per min, for Pakistan they’re 8p per min and calls to Australia and New Zealand are 10p per min. They’re still decently priced, but quite a bit higher than on Lebara.
One advantage giffgaff do have is that they’re among the lower-cost networks in the UK for SIM only plans. So if you’re only going to make a few international calls, you won’t be spending much in total on giffgaff:
Like Lycamobile, giffgaff are missing WiFi calling, which makes connecting to calls potentially harder when you’re indoors, even on O2’s widespread network. The best thing to do is to use their coverage checker in your area before you buy.
Useful link: Our full giffgaff network review
6th: Tesco Mobile - lots of cheap calls but Western Europe is pricey
✔ Get money off your monthly bill with Clubcard pointsRead more
at tescomobile.com
(opens in new window)
What we like:
Cheap calls to a lot of worldwide countries
Excellent call signal coverage via O2’s network
Works with their unique Clubcard scheme
What we don't like:
Deals are a bit pricier than some networks
Calls to Western Europe more expensive than some networks
No WiFi/4G calling feature
Tesco Mobile are another provider on O2’s network that offer cheap rates for calling abroad to certain countries. However some of their rates are pricier than the networks above.
Calls to North America are surprisingly cheap at 2.5p per minute. For Eastern Europe and for India their rates are only 1.5p per min. For Bangladesh that goes up to 2.2p per min and for Pakistan it’s 4p per min, both of which are still low-cost.
And calls made to South Africa and Nigeria are only 10p and 11.5p respectively, making them a good choice for users wanting to call these countries. For more remote locations calls can vary between 18p - 80p so check their rates here.
There are a few things holding Tesco back. Firstly, calls to Western Europe are 5p per min which is a bit more than some of the networks above. And Tesco Mobile are a bit pricier than them in the first place, but you can get some money off your bill with their Clubcard scheme.
Overall, Tesco are a good choice for international calls, but it depends heavily on where you want to call whether or not they’ll be a better choice for you than the networks above.
Useful link: Our full Tesco Mobile review
7th: Three - add international minutes for just £10 a month
✔ Add 100 or unlimited international mins every monthSee destinations
at three.co.uk
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What we like:
Add international calls at any time during your contract
The cheapest main UK network for SIM only deals
Great WiFi/4G calling scheme
Only main network offering unlimited international min add-ons
What we don't like:
No inclusive international minutes
Lots of countries not covered by the add-on
Potentially weaker call signal coverage
Three are the next main network on this list. Their regular rates are very expensive, but you can work around this by taking their Call-Abroad add-ons that give you either 100 or unlimited international mins depending on which one you take.
This extra covers 55 different countries which you can call using your extra international minutes. Once you’ve used up those minutes (or are calling a country that isn’t covered) you’ll pay at their standard international rates.
These can work out as pretty good value, especially since Three are already the cheapest of the four main networks. But it’s only worth committing to an Add-on if you use all the minutes (else you’re better off paying as you go elsewhere).
Here are the best deals currently on Three:
There are also a few destinations not covered by the extra. Countries like Pakistan, Somalia, Jamaica, Ukraine, Afghanistan are not covered. These are some pretty huge omissions that you’ll have to pay steep rates to call.
But the fact you can get unlimited calls to their covered destinations as an extra puts them ahead of the three other main networks.
Useful link: Our full review of the Three network
8th: EE - international calls and reduced international rates offered as extras
What we like:
Calls as cheap as 1.14p per min with add-on
Get international mins as an extra
Great mix of signal coverage
Excellent WiFi/4G calling scheme
What we don't like:
Rates without the extra are unusably expensive
Already one of the priciest networks
Add-ons are quite pricey
Usually international rates on EE are eye-wateringly expensive. Calls to Europe are 19p per min and beyond that their rates go up to £3.42 per min! That’s on top of EE already being one of the priciest networks.
But if you take their International Pack you’ll get a 1000 international mins to these 50 countries included on your plan. The pack costs £11.40, so if you used all 1000 minutes, that would work out to just 1.14p per minute.
Or if you take their International Pack Extra you’ll get 500 international mins to call 100 locations. The pack costs £22.80, so if you used all 500 minutes, that would work out to just 4.57p per minute.
Here are the best value SIM only deals you can get on EE right now:
Ultimately, if you’re going to make that many calls with either pack then they can be good value. If not you could be spending money on minutes you won’t end up using. But either way, EE are a decent choice for international calls overall.
Useful link: Our review of EE’s network and benefits
9th: Vodafone - international call bundles offered as extras
✔ Get 100 or 500 international calls on top of your planRead more
at vodafone.co.uk
(opens in new window)
What we like:
Add international minutes onto your plans
Excellent call signal coverage via Vodafone’s network
WiFi/4G calling included on every plan
What we don't like:
No inclusive international minutes
Add-ons themselves are very pricey
Some countries not covered by benefit
Very expensive plans in the first place
Vodafone are the last of the main networks on this list. And like the other main networks they offer add-ons to help with the high cost of their international rates. You can take their International Saver Extra for 100 or 500 international minutes.
These last for a month and let you make calls to 100 countries in Europe, North America, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and even some more remote places like the Philippines and Namibia.
Or if you’d prefer, with their Call Abroad extra you can get 75 or 200 minutes to a longer list of 200 countries. Those include the same locations as their International Saver Extra, with a lot more remote areas on top of that.
Vodafone’s SIM only plans tend to be on the higher end of the price range, but here are their best value deals at the moment:
Ultimately you’ll get more value out of Vodafone’s add-ons than paying per min on the networks below. But if you’re looking for the best possible value there are much better value options above.
Useful link: Our full review of the Vodafone network
10th: O2 - reduced international calling rates for a monthly cost
What we like:
Excellent call signal coverage
Potentially cheap international calls with extra
International Bolt-on included on premium plans
Good WiFi/4G calling scheme
What we don't like:
No inclusive minutes
Only available as a paid add-on with most plans
Already one of the priciest UK networks
O2’s pricier plans come with “Extras” included. These are added benefits that you can choose from, and one of them reduces the cost of all international calls you make. It’s called their “International Bolt-on” (not to be confused with their International Travel Bolt-on).
Their regular international rates are very hefty, but with the benefit you can make calls to Europe for 5p per min, calls to North America for 2p per min, calls to India for 2.5p per min and calls to Australia/New Zealand for 12p per min.
Otherwise, calls to Pakistan are 6p per min, calls to South African and lots of other African countries are 19p per min. Those are very competitive rates compared to some of the networks higher up the list.
The major downside is that you don’t get any inclusive international minutes like you do with some networks above. And you only get the benefit included on O2’s more expensive plans, O2 already being one of the priciest networks.
Here are the best deals you can get on O2 that let you take an added benefit:
You can add it separately to your plan for £3 a month which might work out as decent value, but they’re behind what the networks further up the list offer.
Useful link: Our full review of O2’s network and benefits
Joint 11th: Sky Mobile - reduce the cost of calling abroad
What we like:
Potentially very cheap international rates with add-on
Already decently priced deals
Excellent call signal coverage via O2’s network
What we don't like:
No inclusive international minutes
Lots of countries aren’t covered by the benefit
Benefit only available as a paid add-on
WiFi/4G calling scheme isn’t great
Sky Mobile tie with their network hosts O2 when it comes to international calling as the two offer very similar benefits. With Sky you can pay for a monthly add-on to reduce the cost of international calls.
Sky’s benefit lowered rates to these countries down 5p per min which can be added to your account for £3 a month. That makes them worse value for North America and India compared to O2, but much better for calling Australia and African countries like Nigeria.
Here are Sky Mobile’s best value SIM only plans at the moment:
That 5p rate also applies to some more remote destinations like Peru, South Korea and others (see full list here). If you make a lot of calls to these countries then you can get some good value out of this benefit compared to other networks.
But there are a lot of countries that aren’t covered by this benefit. For those you’ll have to pay at Sky Mobile’s international rates which can be eye-wateringly expensive.
We think Sky’s benefit works best if you make a lot of calls, as that way you’re getting the best value out of it. But considering you’re still paying per min even with the benefit, we think you’d just be better off on one of the networks higher up the list.
Useful link: Our full Sky Mobile review
Joint 11th: Honest Mobile - decent rates to some countries, pricey to others
✔ Calls to Europe and North America are 7p per minSee their rates
at honestmobile.co.uk
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What we like:
Calls to Europe and North America are decently priced
WiFi/4G calling offered on all plans
What we don't like:
Calls to other countries can get expensive
Already pricey deals in the first place
Potentially weaker call signal via Three’s network
We’re now getting to the networks that don’t offer any cheap or inclusive international calls. On these networks calls abroad can add up fast. Honest Mobile are a smaller provider on Three’s network who offer decent rates for certain locations.
Calls to Western and Eastern Europe as well as North America are 7p per minute. That sounds high compared to the networks above, but compared to some networks those rates are actually decent.
If you want to call India, Australia or New Zealand (or these other countries) it’s 30p per min. Beyond that it’s 42p per min. For India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and some other countries you’ll pay significantly more than you would on the networks above.
However, for more remote locations their rates are kept at 42p per min. If you need to call the Cook Islands that’s definitely a good thing (but the next network in this list offer cheaper rates for this).
Here are the best value deals you can currently get on Honest Mobile:
Honest Mobile are also pricier than the above networks in the first place. And call signal coverage isn’t as strong on Three’s network as the others. They do have WiFi/4G calling to help with this. In any case you should check coverage in your area here.
Useful link: Our review of Honest Mobile
Joint 11th: 1pMobile offer relatively cheap rates for remote locations
✔ Calls to most remote areas are only 20p per minSee all tariffs
at 1pmobile.com
(opens in new window)
What we like:
Decent rates for North America and Australia
Comparatively cheap rates for remote countries
Excellent coverage via EE’s network
WiFi/4G calling offered on all plans
What we don't like:
Rates to India and other countries can get expensive
Rates for Europe are relatively pricey
No inclusive international mins
1pMobile are a provider that use EE’s excellent network to provide signal, with WiFi/4G calling as a back-up. Despite the name, they don’t offer 1p per minute international rates. Typically they’re mid-range for international costs.
1pMobile are largely a Pay As You Go network. Here’s their main tariff:
But they do offer some good value monthly SIM only deals too:
Their lowest international rates are to Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Calls to these locations are charged at 9p per minute. That’s a bit pricier than some of the networks above, but still decent across all networks.
Calls to South Africa, Nigeria and other African destinations are all charged at 20p per minute. That 20p rate also applied to some surprisingly remote areas. So if you want to call the Seychelles, Somalia, or Zimbabwe then 1pMobile are the best network for you.
But calls to India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are also charged at that 20p per min rate, making them a worse choice than some networks for calling these countries.
In all, we think only users who want to make calls to remote countries or prefer using EE’s network will find 1pMobile a suitable choice. Otherwise they’re not great. You can see what sort of coverage you’ll get in your area using their coverage checker here.
Useful link: Our full 1pMobile network review
Joint 11th: iD Mobile - cheap calls to India but expensive for Western Europe
What we like:
Cheap rates for India
Decent rates for USA, South Africa and Nigeria
Cheap deals in the first placer
WiFi/4G calling offered on every plan
What we don't like:
Rates for Europe, Australia and New Zealand are high
Rates for remote countries can be very expensive
No inclusive international calls
Potentially patchy coverage via Three’s network
iD Mobile are a smaller provider on Three’s network offering some of the cheapest deals of all networks. Their international rates are a bit of a mixed bag, so it depends on where you want to call if they’ll be the right network for you.
iD Mobile’s SIM only deals tend to be some of the best value of all networks. Here are their best current plans:
Their cheapest rates are to India at only 2p per min. Calls to North America are 6p per minute, which is decent, and calls to South Africa and Nigeria are 8p and 15p which is great value compared to other networks.
Calls to Pakistan are middle-of-the-road for price at 12p per minute, and calls to Bangladesh are a decent 7p per minute. And calls to certain remote locations (such as Angola) can be as low as 16p per minute.
However, for Western Europe iD Mobile have high rates of 18p per minute (9p per min for Eastern Europe). And calls to Australia and New Zealand can also add up fast at 19p per minute. For calls to these countries you're best off looking elsewhere.
While their hosts Three’s call signal coverage isn’t as widespread as other networks, iD Mobile do offer WiFi calling/4G calling if you struggle to get signal at home (check here). So you shouldn’t struggle to make calls indoors if your device is supported.
Useful link: Our review of iD Mobile
12th: Talkmobile - very cheap deals but international calls can get pricey
✔ Calls to lots of countries are 19p per minuteSee all rates
at talkmobile.co.uk
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What we like:
Very cheap deals in the first place
Great call signal coverage via Vodafone’s network
What we don't like:
Calls abroad can get expensive fast
Particularly high rates for Europe
No inclusive international mins
You might struggle to get WiFi calling to work
We’re now getting into the networks with pricey international calling charges for all countries. Talkmobile are a smaller provider who use Vodafone’s network who offer some of the cheapest deals of all networks. But their international calling rates are quite high.
Talkmobile usually offer some of the best value deals of all networks. Here are their best current ones:
Calls to lots of the most popular calling locations are charged at 19p per minute. For calls to Pakistan and South Africa that’s decent value when compared to other networks. But calls to Europe are charged at the same rate, which is comparatively high.
Australia, New Zealand, North America and India are all also charged at that 19p per minute rate, so if you’re wanting to call these countries we think there are much better options above.
Calls to Nigeria and other African countries are charged at 30p per minute. That’s considerably higher than what most of the above networks charge. And calls to remote locations can be between 30p - £1.49 which adds up very fast.
While Talkmobile use Vodafone’s excellent network, you might run into indoor blackspots if you’re far from the mast. Talkmobile do offer WiFi calling, but we struggled to get it to work on any of our test phones, so you might be stuck with poor indoor signal.
Useful link: Our full network review of Talkmobile
Joint 13th: SMARTY - international calls can get expensive fast
What we like:
Already cheap deals
WiFi/4G calling offered on all plans
What we don't like:
International rates are pricey
No inclusive international minutes
Potentially weaker call signal coverage via Three’s network
SMARTY are a sub-brand of Three and are usually one of the best value networks for SIM only deals. But the same can’t be said for international calls outside your plan which can add up very quickly.
SMARTY typically offer some of the cheapest SIM only deals of all networks. Here are their best current ones:
Calls to Europe, North America, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand (and a few other countries) are made at 19p per minute. That could end up being quite pricey if you make a lot of international calls.
Other than that, calls to South Africa and Nigeria are made at 30p per minute. And calls to more remote locations can be between 30p - £1.20 per minute, which will add up very fast.
Being on Three’s network means their call signal coverage is patchier than most other networks. SMARTY do at least offer WiFi/4G calling to help with indoor and outdoor blackspots, and their scheme is very good in our eyes.
SMARTY are an excellent network if you want cheap, flexible deals. But if you need to make lots of international calls every month, we’d probably steer clear of them for the most part.
Useful link: Our full SMARTY network review
Joint 13th: Co-op Mobile offer some expensive international rates
✔ Rates for USA some more remote countries are alright valueSee their rates
at broadband.yourcoop.coop
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What we like:
Excellent coverage via EE’s network
Rest of the world rates are decent
What we don't like:
Most of their rates are relatively high
Expensive SIM only deals in the first place
Co-op Mobile are a smaller provider on EE’s network who offer low-frills but high-cost SIM only deals. Their international rates range from middle-of-the-road to very expensive and calls can add up very quickly with them.
Here are the best deals you can get on Co-op Mobile right now:
Their best rates are to the USA at 12p per min. That’s decent value, but bear in mind that’s only the USA and not North America. So, Canada for example falls into their “Rest of the World” zone charged at 42p per min.
For certain remote locations that 42p per min rate can work out as alright value. And their rates for Europe are 16p per minute, which is slightly better than some of the networks above, but still on the pricier end.
Their most expensive rates compared to other networks are calls to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are all 49p per min. And calls to Australia and New Zealand which are charged at 20p per min.
Co-op are an alright choice for some countries and a bad choice for others. If you’re set on joining them then we’d recommend looking at EE’s coverage checker before you buy (bearing in mind Co-op don’t offer WiFi calling to help indoor signal).
Useful link: See pricing on Co-op Mobile
Last place: the networks with high rates and no international call add-ons
✖ Calls on these networks will get expensive fast
At the bottom of our rankings are the networks that have very high rates for calling abroad without any way to buy bundles of international mins or get the cost reduced. Calling for even just a few minutes will add up fast on these networks.
Out of the three BT have the highest rates for Europe at 20.65p. For North America, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria and South Africa their rates are £1.02 per minute. For any other country it’s £1.36 per minute.
Plusnet’s rates are 18.9p per minute for Europe, £1 per minute for North America, £1.50 for India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Nigeria. Beyond those countries it’s £2 per minute.
Finally Virgin Mobile’s rates are 19p per minute to Europe, £1.20 to North America and for any other country their rates are £1.50.
As you can see you’ll rack up a large bill on any of these networks for even just a short call abroad. Which one is worse depends on the network and location, but we recommend steering clear of these networks for international calls altogether.
We’re quite surprised Virgin Mobile and BT Mobile don’t offer international calling add-ons as they’re fairly large providers with a good amount of extra benefits. Plusnet are comparatively low-frills, so it’s no shock that they don’t offer any international calling benefits.
Overall we’d recommend looking at the networks above if you want to make international calls that won’t put you out of pocket.
Useful link: Compare SIM only deals