If someone you care about is in prison, telephone calls can become one of the most important ways of staying connected.
That often leads families to ask:
How much do prison calls actually cost in the UK?
There is not one single price that applies to every prisoner in every prison. Telephone arrangements can vary depending on the establishment, the prison telephone system being used and the type of number being called.
What is consistent is that the prisoner normally makes the outgoing call, and in many establishments the prisoner has to purchase telephone credit before making calls. GOV.UK guidance for Manchester Prison, for example, states that prisoners have to buy phone credit and can then call approved friends and family.
Who pays for prison phone calls?
Normally, the cost of the telephone call is paid from the prisoner’s telephone credit or prison account rather than by the family member receiving the call.
The prisoner may obtain funds from prison earnings or money available to them under the prison’s rules.
The exact arrangements can differ by establishment.
This is why families should check the official information for the prison concerned rather than assuming that every prison operates identically.
Is there one national prison call price?
No.
There is no simple figure that can safely be quoted as the cost of every prison telephone call across the UK.
Prison systems differ between:
- England and Wales;
- Scotland;
- Northern Ireland;
- individual establishments; and
- different telephone arrangements.
Even within England and Wales, the circumstances in which prisoners make calls can differ.
Current HMPPS policy governs prisoner communications in England and Wales, but individual prison pages remain important for establishment-specific arrangements.
Do calls to mobile phones cost more than calls to landlines?
Historically, this has often been the case.
Government and prison research has documented circumstances where calls made from prison to mobile numbers cost more than calls to landlines.
There are also current examples elsewhere in the UK showing a difference.
For example, Scottish Prison Service information for HMP Addiewell states that calls to UK mobiles cost 15p per minute, compared with 5p per minute to UK landlines. That is an example from a specific Scottish establishment and should not be treated as the universal price for prisons across England and Wales.
The important point for families is:
The type of number being called can matter.
Why can a landline number be useful for prison calls?
If the relevant prison telephone system charges less for calls to a UK landline than for calls to a mobile, a landline-style number may be useful.
However, the potential saving depends entirely on the actual tariff being used by the prison.
Families should therefore avoid assuming that a landline number will always produce a particular saving.
Instead, check:
- which prison the person is in;
- how that prison’s telephone system works;
- whether landline and mobile rates differ;
- whether the number needs prior approval; and
- any conditions attached to the telephone service you are considering.
How do prisoners pay for calls?
At many prisons, prisoners purchase telephone credit.
For example, Manchester Prison’s GOV.UK guidance explains that prisoners use in-cell phones and have to buy phone credit before calling approved friends and family.
Foston Hall also states that prisoners call approved friends and family and that new arrivals are given a small amount of initial telephone credit.
The exact amount of credit available and the way it is purchased can vary.
How much might a prisoner spend on calls?
This depends heavily on:
- how often they call;
- how long each call lasts;
- whether they are calling mobiles or landlines;
- the relevant tariff;
- their available funds.
For example, an Independent Monitoring Board report for Bedford Prison previously described calls to mobiles costing £1.40 for 20 minutes and noted that a prisoner trying to maintain frequent family contact could spend a significant amount each week. That report relates to a particular prison and period, so it should not be used as a current universal tariff.
That distinction is important for your website.
We should educate, not advertise an old figure as though it applies everywhere today.
Why does the cost of prison calls matter?
For families outside prison, a short telephone call can seem relatively insignificant financially.
For somebody in prison, it may be very different.
Prisoners generally have limited disposable income.
Telephone credit may be competing with other things they wish to purchase from their prison account.
Regular contact with:
- partners;
- children;
- parents;
- siblings; and
- friends
can therefore become a meaningful expense.
Maintaining family contact is nevertheless recognised as an important part of prison life and rehabilitation. Government guidance and policy specifically provide for prisoners to maintain communication with family and friends through authorised telephone systems.
Are prison calls free?
Ordinary telephone calls are not necessarily free.
Prisoners may have to purchase telephone credit to make social calls.
There are some other forms of communication that can have different arrangements.
For example, secure social video calls are available in prisons in England and Wales, with GOV.UK stating that eligible prisoners are offered a monthly allowance of secure video calling.
Video calls are a separate service from ordinary prison telephone calls.
Can family members put money toward telephone calls?
Families can send money to prisoners through authorised channels, subject to prison rules.
That money may become part of the funds available to the prisoner, although how much they can spend and how prison accounts operate depends on the relevant rules.
You should always use the official GOV.UK or prison information when sending money.
Do not send money using unofficial methods offered through social media or private messages.
Are prison telephone calls monitored?
Most ordinary prison calls can be listened to or recorded.
GOV.UK says prison staff can listen to and record most types of telephone calls, with certain protected calls, such as some legal communications, treated differently.
HMPPS also has a current policy framework covering interception, monitoring and security of prisoner communications.
Families should therefore assume that ordinary social calls may be monitored.
Can prisoners call mobile phones?
Generally, yes, if the number is approved and permitted under the relevant prison’s arrangements.
However, the cost of calling a mobile may differ from calling a landline depending on the telephone system.
That is why families sometimes investigate dedicated UK landline numbers for prison calls.
For more information, read:
Can Prisoners Call Mobile Phones in the UK?
This should link internally to your existing article.
Can I call someone in prison myself?
Usually not.
The prisoner normally makes the outgoing call using the prison telephone system.
The family member receives the call.
GOV.UK confirms that prisoners call people who are named on their approved friends-and-family list.
For more detail, read:
Can You Call Someone in Prison in the UK?
Again, make that an internal link.
How Unli Prison Call fits in
Unli Prison Call is separate from the prison's own telephone charges.
This distinction is very important.
Unli Prison Call provides customers with a dedicated UK landline number that can be used as part of their prison-call arrangements.
Your current service price is:
£6.99 per month
Setup is normally completed within:
1–2 business days
Calls made to the dedicated Unli Prison Call number are then forwarded to the customer’s nominated mobile according to the service setup.
The prisoner still uses the prison’s authorised telephone system.
The relevant prison still decides whether the number can be added or approved.
Does £6.99 mean the prisoner gets unlimited free calls?
No.
This needs to be extremely clear on the website.
The £6.99 monthly fee is for the Unli Prison Call service.
It does not mean that:
- the prison gives the prisoner unlimited calling time;
- prison telephone charges disappear;
- the prisoner receives unlimited free calls;
- the number automatically receives prison approval.
Prison telephone access and any charges incurred by the prisoner remain subject to the relevant prison’s system and rules.
This wording will protect you from customers misunderstanding the offer.
Can Unli Prison Call save money?
The honest answer is:
It depends on the relevant prison telephone tariff.
If a prison charges less for calls to the type of UK landline number provided than it does for calls to a mobile, there may be a saving.
However, tariffs vary and can change.
For that reason, I would not advertise a guaranteed percentage saving unless you have current evidence covering the relevant prison and tariff.
A safer statement is:
A dedicated UK landline number may help reduce the cost of prison calls where the prison telephone tariff charges less for landline calls than mobile calls. Check the relevant prison’s current rates.
That is much more defensible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a prison phone call per minute?
There is no single per-minute charge that applies to every prison. Check the current information for the specific establishment.
Are mobile calls more expensive?
They can be. Some prison telephone tariffs distinguish between landline and mobile numbers.
Who pays for the call?
Normally the prisoner pays for outgoing social calls using telephone credit or funds available through the prison system.
Do I pay when I answer a prison call?
Your normal mobile or telephone arrangements may apply on your side, but the prisoner's own call charge is handled through the prison telephone system.
Is Unli Prison Call £6.99 per call?
No.
It is a £6.99 monthly subscription for the Unli Prison Call service.
Does the £6.99 include the prisoner's telephone credit?
No.
The prisoner’s telephone credit and prison telephone charges are separate.
Does Unli Prison Call guarantee cheaper calls?
No.
Any potential saving depends on the relevant prison’s current telephone tariff.
The key point
So, how much do prison calls cost in the UK?
There is no single answer.
The cost depends on:
the prison + the telephone system + the type of number called + the length and frequency of the calls.
In some systems, calls to landlines may cost less than calls to mobiles.
That is one reason families may choose to use a dedicated UK landline number.
Need a dedicated UK number for prison calls?
Unli Prison Call provides a dedicated UK landline number for:
£6.99 per month
with setup normally completed within:
1–2 business days.
Learn How Unli Prison Call Works →
Unli Prison Call is an independent telephone service and is not affiliated with HM Prison and Probation Service, the Ministry of Justice or any individual prison.