Stay Connected Without the High Costs
Virtual Landline offers an unlimited prison phone call service from as little as £4.50 per month by downloading our app to receive calls on your mobile, PC or laptop.
Staying connected with a loved one in prison is important, but it shouldn't come at a premium. Unfortunately, many families are unaware that prison phone systems have traditionally charged significantly more for calls to mobile numbers than calls to landlines, meaning valuable phone credit can disappear much faster than expected. Virtual Landline acts as a cost-saving bridge between inmates and their friends and family, allowing prisoners to call a landline number at a lower rate while friends and family receive the call conveniently through the app on their smartphone, tablet, PC or laptop.
The Problem: Why Calling a Mobile from Prison Costs So Much
Many people are surprised to learn just how much more expensive it is for someone in prison to call a mobile phone compared to a landline. Historically, prison phone systems have charged inmates around 18.4p per minute to call a mobile number, compared to approximately 8.4p per minute to call a landline. This means a call to a mobile can cost significantly more than the same call to a landline, rapidly reducing an inmate's available phone credit. For families who regularly top up a loved one's prison phone account, these higher mobile call rates can reduce the amount of time they are able to stay in touch.
By using a Virtual Landline number, prison calls are routed to a landline number instead of a mobile, allowing inmates to benefit from the lower landline call rates while you continue to receive calls conveniently on your mobile through the app. As a result, the same amount of prison phone credit can provide substantially more talk time, helping families maintain regular contact without needing to spend as much on top-ups.
Calling a Mobile vs. Using Virtual Landline
Keeping in touch with loved ones in prison can be costly, especially when calls are made directly to a mobile number. Because prison phone systems typically charge significantly lower rates for calls to landlines than mobiles, using a Virtual Landline can help inmate phone credit go much further. The comparison below shows how much can be saved on a typical 30-minute call, how much extra talk time a £10 top-up can provide, and the additional flexibility of receiving calls through the Virtual Landline app. Rates are approximate and based on published prison phone call charges of around 18.4p per minute to mobiles and 8.4p per minute to landlines.
Metric |
Direct Call to Your Mobile |
Calls via Virtual Landline |
|---|---|---|
| Inmate Rate (Approx.) | 18.4p/min | 8.4p/min |
| Cost of a 30-Min Call | £5.52 | £2.52 |
| Talk Time for £10 Top-up | 54 minutes | 119 minutes |
| Your Location | Must answer on your mobile | Answer anywhere via the Virtual Landline app |
| Subscription Cost | £0 | From £4.50/month |
Using Virtual Landline for Prison Calls: How It Works
A friend or family member in prison calls your dedicated Virtual Landline number. They speak to you via the app on your mobile phone/PC/Laptop or tablet, paying a low call rate for calls to you.
Many families send money into prison to add to the inmate’s call credit. Using our app increases their talk time and makes your money go much further.
Virtual Landline uses your mobile data or Wi-Fi connection via the app. The service does not use your mobile minutes. You will need to ensure that you are in an area where you have a stable Wi-Fi or Mobile data connection. We strongly recommend that you have a minimum of a 4G connection.
We do recommend that you check that the prison allows calls to virtual landlines before purchasing. 0800 and 03 numbers may not be accepted as they are non-geographic and not linked to a location.
With Virtual Landline you don’t have to sit waiting for a call. Install the app on your mobile phone and calls to your Virtual Landline number will be received on the app. This means that no more waiting for that daily call next to a fixed landline in a fixed location.
Prison phone calls: How much do they cost?
Prison phone calls needn’t be expensive with Virtual Landline. The Prison Reform Trust published that the cost of calls to landlines is at 8p while calls to mobiles at 18p. Currently, prisoners using payphones pay around 8.4p per minute to call a landline and 18.4p to call a mobile.
What Is the Process for Inmates to Make Phone Calls
- Prison staff will provide a form for the inmate to write a list of telephone numbers. For example, family, friends and a solicitor.
- Prison staff then authorise the list of phone numbers.
- Prison staff will provide a PIN number. The PIN number must be entered before every phone call.
- Calls are paid for using credit. This is where money is paid at the start and every time a call is made, the cost of the call is taken away.
How Does the Inmate Pay for the Calls?
Prisoners are required to cover the cost of their phone calls from their private cash or earnings.
We will give you a landline number, which when called, rings on your mobile. The inmate calls your Virtual Landline number, and because it is a landline number, the BT payphone inside will only charge as little as 6p per minute off peak.
The friend or family member in prison saves money by calling a landline instead of calling a mobile number, which can be as much as 18.4p per minute from a standard prison BT payphone.
How do I set up Virtual Landline?
Virtual Landline has a simple set up process:
1. Select the local landline number you want
2. Select the Starter plan at £4.50/month
3. Select the app to download to your phone
4. Once payment is made you will receive your activation email
5. Download the app onto your mobile phone
6. Open the app
7. Scan the QR code and you’re ready to start receiving calls
8. Send the details of the landline number to the inmate who will be making the calls for them to add to their list of PIN numbers
If you are in an area with poor signal, so no 4G, 5G or Wi-Fi, calls can still be received directly to your mobile number.
Please ensure you follow these steps to allow inbound calls to the app:
1. Log into www.virtuallandline.co.uk
2. Click ‘My Account’
3. Click ‘Apps and Devices’
4. On the ‘Enable inbound calls to the app or device’, Click Yes (Yellow box should be on yes)
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I set up prison calls for a family member in the UK?
With Virtual Landline, you can purchase a dedicated number and submit it to the prisoner's approved contact list. Once the prison has verified the number and authorised it, the prisoner can call you using the prison phone system. Virtual Landline is popular with family members of prisoners due to the low cost, £4.50/month, and ease of set up.
When can prisoners make phone calls?
Prisoners can usually make phone calls during designated periods set by the prison. Contact the prison directly for details of its current calling arrangements.
How long does it take for the prison to approve my new virtual number?
Approval times vary by prison, but most prisons process new numbers within a few days to a couple of weeks. The exact timeframe depends on each prison's security and verification procedures.
What happens if the inmate is transferred to a different UK prison?
If a prisoner is transferred, the new prison may require the approved phone list to be reviewed or re-approved. In most cases, you can continue using the same Virtual Landline number, but the prisoner may need to add it to their contacts again according to the new prison's procedures.
What is the Virtual Landline prison call solutions phone number if I need support?
You can contact the Virtual Landline support team via Livechat, calling 0203 488 0088 or email support@virtuallandline.co.uk. Our team can assist with purchasing a number, call forwarding setup, account management, and questions about receiving prison calls.