BEST APP JAIL CALLS ~ CHEAPEST PRISON CALL SERVICE
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Cheap Prison Calls – Straightforward Comparison, No Nonsense
Trying to work out which prison-call service is actually cheapest is a headache. Everyone shouts about “unlimited”, “discounted” and “from just £X”, but the real costs hide in the small print. This page is written to cut through that and help you get the lowest possible price – because every pound wasted on calls is a pound that could stay in your pocket.
GateCall is built around one simple idea: give you a cheap local landline that diverts to your mobile, so the person in prison pays landline rates instead of mobile rates, and you pay a clear, low monthly amount with no nasty surprises.
How Prison-Call Pricing Really Works
Most specialist providers sell the same basic thing – a virtual landline that forwards calls on – but they charge in different ways:
Per-minute bundles
Some services sell 200, 500, 1,000+ minutes a month. It looks cheap at first, but once you go over the allowance, extra minutes are often charged at a higher rate. When you add those extra minutes in, GateCall works out cheaper per minute in real day-to-day use.“Unlimited” plans with fair-usage caps
Others claim “unlimited” but hide a fair-usage policy or soft cap. Go over that, and they either slow you down, cut you off or ask you to upgrade. GateCall is priced so that even if you’re on the phone a lot, you still end up paying less overall than these “unlimited” deals once you actually total up a month’s calling.Low headline price, high add-ons
A few services tempt you in with a very low monthly figure, then stack on joining fees, connection fees, per-call charges, or higher rates to certain numbers. When you strip those extras out and just look at what a normal family spends in a month, GateCall comes in cheaper almost every time.App-only services
Some solutions look cheap because they use an internet calling app, but you still need a solid data connection or Wi-Fi and they’re not always treated as a standard landline by the prison. When you compare like-for-like (a normal 01/02 landline the prison system understands, diverting to your mobile), GateCall is still the lowest-cost option in most realistic calling patterns.
The whole point of this comparison is simple: whatever style of plan you’ve seen elsewhere, once you add up real-world usage, GateCall is designed to beat it on price.
How GateCall Works (Same Mechanism, Less Money)
All these services, including GateCall, work on the same basic principle:
The person in prison calls a local UK landline (01/02/03).
The prison system charges them at the cheaper landline rate.
The call is then diverted to your mobile, home phone or app.
GateCall uses that exact method – no tricks – but cuts out as much cost and overhead as possible so you don’t pay over the odds for something so simple.
Why Prison Calls Are So Expensive Without This
Inside:
Calls to landlines (01/02/03) are relatively cheap per minute.
Calls to mobiles are much more expensive and burn through credit fast.
Outside, most people only have mobiles. So every time your loved one rings you directly, they’re paying the higher mobile rate. A service like GateCall swaps a mobile number for a landline number, so:
They pay landline prices from inside.
You pay a single, low, predictable charge outside.
What GateCall Actually Gives You
A dedicated local landline number.
You add it to the prisoner’s approved PIN list.
When they call it, the prison system bills it as a standard landline.
GateCall instantly forwards that call to your mobile, home phone or app.
Result: more minutes for them, lower, clearer costs for you.
Who This Kind of Service Helps Most
Families who want regular, affordable contact, not one rushed call a week.
Partners and friends who only use mobiles but still want long chats.
Support workers, mentors and charities trying to stretch tight budgets.
Anyone outside who receives calls for someone on remand or serving a sentence.
Legal, Transparent and Within the Rules
Used properly, this setup is fully within UK prison rules:
The number you get is a genuine UK landline.
It is openly declared and approved on the prisoner’s PIN list.
Staff can see and verify the number like any other contact.
There’s no attempt to hide who is being called or bypass security. Calls are still recorded and may be monitored, just like any other social call.
Things This Service Does Not Do
It does not give prisoners phones or SIM cards.
It does not bypass monitoring or security.
It does not magically make everything free – prison time limits still apply.
It simply makes sure that, whatever rules you’re already working under, you’re not paying more than you have to.
Why GateCall Is Different
Most prison-call companies are standard commercial outfits. Their goal is to make a margin on every minute you talk. GateCall is set up as a community interest company, run by someone who has been in prison themselves, which is why prices are pushed right down – it’s built first and foremost as a service, not as a profit-making machine.
About us
Cheap Prison Calls Made Simple
Staying in touch with someone in prison shouldn’t cost a fortune. Our service is designed to cut the cost of prison phone calls by giving you a local landline number that diverts straight to your mobile. The person in prison dials a normal landline from the prison phone, and you receive the call on your mobile – without them paying mobile rates.
We keep it simple, legal and affordable so families and friends can talk more, worry less and stay properly connected.
What We Do
We give you a dedicated local landline number.
You add that number to the prisoner’s approved PIN list.
When they call that number from the prison phone, it’s billed as a standard landline call.
Our system instantly forwards the call to your mobile, home phone or app.
Result: they pay landline prices from inside. You pay a fixed amount for the service, instead of getting hammered by high mobile call rates every time they ring.
Why Prison Calls Are So Expensive
Prison phones don’t treat all numbers the same.
Calls to 01 / 02 / 03 landlines are usually charged at a relatively low rate.
Calls to mobiles are much more expensive and burn through credit quickly.
Most people outside only have a mobile. That means every call home eats up the prisoner’s credit at the higher mobile rate. Our service changes the number they dial – not the person they speak to – so the system charges the cheaper landline rate instead.
How Our Service Works
Sign up
You create an account and choose your plan. We set up your dedicated UK landline number.Get your virtual landline
We give you a local number (for example, starting 01 or 02). This is your new “prison contact” number.Add it to the prisoner’s PIN list
You pass that number to the person in prison. They add it as an approved number through the normal prison PIN process. Once staff have authorised it, it’s ready to use.They call, you answer
The prisoner dials your virtual landline from the prison phone.
The prison system charges them for a landline call.
Our system catches the call and forwards it automatically to your chosen destination.
Your phone rings like any normal call – you just answer.
You both save
They spend less of their phone credit. You avoid unexpected high charges and know exactly what you pay each month.
Who This Service Is For
Families of prisoners who want regular, affordable contact.
Partners and close friends who mainly use mobiles but still want longer calls.
Support workers, mentors and charities who need reliable contact without burning budgets.
People on the outside who answer calls for someone still on remand or serving a sentence.
Benefits for People in Prison
More minutes for the same money – landline calls are cheaper than mobile calls.
Less stress about credit – they’re not watching their balance disappear in a few short calls.
Regular contact – being able to speak more often helps mental health and keeps routines steady.
Better communication with family – longer, calmer calls instead of rushing every conversation.
Benefits for People Outside
Predictable costs – you pay for the service, not for surprise per-minute mobile charges.
Answer on your mobile – you don’t need to sit next to a landline. Calls can follow you.
Easy to use – no PINs or access codes on your side; your phone just rings as normal.
Flexible setup – forward calls to a mobile, a home phone or an internet calling app (where supported).
Is This Legal?
Yes – when used correctly.
The number we give you is a genuine UK landline.
The prisoner adds it to their PIN list in the usual, approved way.
Prison staff can see and check the number like any other contact number.
We do not provide any way to hide who is being called or bypass security. Calls are still subject to monitoring and recording in line with normal prison rules. If a number is not allowed by the prison, it will not be authorised and cannot be used.
What About Call Recording and Monitoring?
In UK prisons, most social calls:
Are recorded.
May be monitored by staff.
Must be made only to approved numbers.
Our service does not change that. We simply change the type of number being dialled (to a landline) so that it is cheaper. Content, monitoring and rules stay the same as standard prison calls. Calls to legal advisers or protected lines still follow the prison’s own rules and must not be routed through our service.
Key Features
Local UK landline number dedicated to you.
Call forwarding to mobile or landline – you choose where the call rings.
Fixed-cost plans so you know what you’re spending each month.
Fast setup – your number can be live quickly; authorisation inside depends on prison admin.
Simple for the person in prison – they just dial like any other approved landline.
You don’t need new hardware, special SIM cards or complicated access codes. If you can answer a phone, you can use the service.
Common Situations We Help With
Your loved one keeps running out of phone credit after just a few calls.
You only have a mobile and the prison charges them high mobile rates.
You live far away and rely on phone calls instead of visits.
You want a clear monthly cost instead of random top-ups and bills.
You need to share the same contact number with more than one person (for example, family members answering at different times).
Example: How You Save
Without a virtual landline:
Prisoner calls your mobile directly → charged at the higher mobile rate per minute.
Credit disappears quickly → fewer, shorter calls.
With a virtual landline:
Prisoner calls your dedicated 01/02 landline → charged at the cheaper landline rate.
Same credit buys more minutes → more frequent and longer conversations.
You pay a stable amount for the diversion service.
What Our Service Does Not Do
It does not give prisoners phones or SIM cards.
It does not bypass prison monitoring or security.
It does not make calls truly free or unlimited for everyone – usage is still subject to the prison’s own rules and your chosen plan.
It is simply a smart, lawful way to reduce the cost of staying in touch.
FAQs (Short Version)
Can I use this for remand and sentenced prisoners?
Yes, as long as the prison allows them to add and use approved numbers, our service works the same.
Does the person in prison see my mobile number?
No. They dial the landline we give you. Our system forwards the call; they see and dial the same landline each time.
What if I change mobile number?
You don’t need to change the prison PIN number. We can redirect your virtual landline to your new mobile.
What if the prisoner moves prison?
As long as the new prison allows the number to be added and approved, they can keep using the same landline. If not, we can help you adjust your setup.
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