International calling cards let you ring family and friends abroad from any UK mobile or landline without changing your SIM or using the internet. You buy a card, get a PIN by email, dial the card’s UK access number, enter the PIN and then the number abroad. The call is paid from the card’s credit, not your phone bill.
This guide walks you through each step, explains which access number to dial and what extra charges the card brands themselves list, shows how to pick a card for the country you call, and compares calling cards with Lebara and Lycamobile SIMs and internet calling apps.
How does an international calling card work?
A calling card is prepaid credit for phone calls. Talk Home, one of the brands we sell, describes it as “prepaid telecommunication credit” you can use for local or international numbers. Every card we sell works the same basic way:
- Buy the card. Choose the brand and amount online or in the shop.
- Get your PIN by email. When you buy online from us, your PIN is emailed to you within minutes. There’s nothing to post.
- Dial the access number. This is a UK phone number that connects you to the card company. Call it from your mobile or landline.
- Enter your PIN when the voice prompt asks for it.
- Dial the number abroad, including the country code, when you’re asked for it. You’re then connected, and the call is paid from the card.
Talk Home says its cards work from mobiles and landlines, on pay as you go or pay monthly. You don’t need an app, Wi-Fi or data, which is why calling cards still suit people calling relatives who only have a basic phone or a landline.
Local, London or freephone: which access number should you dial?
Most cards give you a choice of access numbers. The one you pick can change both what your own network charges you and how many minutes you get from the card. Here’s what the brands’ own websites (Talk Home and White Calling) said when we checked them on 8 November 2026:
| Access number type | What the card brand says |
|---|---|
| Local and London numbers (Talk Home) | Talk Home lists local access numbers starting 0330, 0207, 0208, 0844 or 0845 and says local access “lends you more minutes” on your card. |
| 0800 freephone (Talk Home) | Talk Home’s rates page says an extra 1p/min (using a landline) or 5p/min (using a mobile) is charged when you use the 0800 access number. |
| 0207 London number (White) | White Calling says call rates are 1p/min more than the rates shown on its website. |
| 0800 freephone (White) | White Calling says call rates are 2p/min more than the rates shown. |
So a freephone number isn’t free in practice: you don’t pay your network, but the card takes more credit per minute. For the other brands we sell (Baby Talk, Talk Direct, Safari Talk, Maxi Talk, Minute Master and Pure Minutes), use the access numbers and terms that come with your PIN. If they aren’t clear, message us before you start calling.
Your own network’s charges matter too. Ofcom, the UK telecoms regulator, says 03 numbers cost the same as calls to 01 and 02 numbers, while 084 and 087 numbers “might be charged extra”, so check before you call. If your mobile plan has inclusive minutes, an 0330 or 020 access number is usually the safer choice. Talk Home’s advice is the same: check with your own provider.
Connection fees, monthly charges and expiry: what to check
The price of a call isn’t only the per-minute rate. Before you rely on a card, check three things:
- Connection or maintenance fees. Some cards take a set charge per call or per week. Talk Home says it has no hidden charges and no monthly charges on its one-time or rechargeable cards. We couldn’t find official pages for the other brands we stock, so ask us if you’re unsure.
- Expiry. Talk Home says the validity period starts when you first use the card. On its standard cards, £5 lasts 30 days, £10 lasts 60 days and £20 lasts 90 days. It says rechargeable cards never expire. If you only make the odd call, a smaller card you’ll use up in time makes more sense.
- The rate to your country. Rates vary by country, and often between landlines and mobiles in the same country. Talk Home also says rates “might differ” depending on the access number you use.
International calling cards we sell, and prices
All of these are sent by email. Prices are from our shop on 8 November 2026:
| Card | Price at Mobile Links |
|---|---|
| White International Calling Card | £1 card £1.49, £5 card £5.99 |
| Baby Talk Calling Card | £1.49 |
| Talk Home Calling Card | £5.99 |
| Talk Direct Calling Card | £5.00 |
| Safari Talk Calling Card | £5.00 |
| Maxi Talk Calling Card | £5.00 |
| Minute Master Calling Card | £2.50 |
| Pure Minutes Calling Card | £1 or £2.50 |
You can see them all on one page in our calling cards category.
How to choose the best international calling card for your country
No single card is cheapest everywhere. Each brand prices every country differently, so the best international calling card for a call to Lagos may not be the best for a call to Dhaka. To choose one:
- Know what you’re calling. Note the country, and whether the person has a mobile or a landline.
- Check the rate for that country. Some brands have a rate checker on their own website. Talk Home and White Calling both do. Talk Home’s help pages say its rates start from 1p/min, but your rate depends on the country and the access number. For the other cards, ask us for the current rate to your country on WhatsApp.
- Plan which access number you’ll use. Look up the extra charges in the table above, and check that your own plan covers that number.
- Try a small card first. With White, Baby Talk and Pure Minutes from £1 to £1.49, a cheap calling card lets you test the call quality and how many minutes you actually get before you buy a bigger one.
Calling cards vs Lebara and Lycamobile SIMs vs calling apps
A phone card for international calls isn’t the only option. Here’s how the three compare:
| Calling card | Lebara or Lycamobile SIM | Internet calling app | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you need | Any UK phone and the card’s PIN | An unlocked phone and the SIM | A smartphone with data or Wi-Fi |
| The person abroad needs | Any phone, including a landline | Any phone, if their country is included in your plan | Usually the same app and an internet connection |
| How you pay | A one-off card, from £1 at our shop | A 30-day plan with international minutes included | Usually free between app users. Calls to normal numbers are charged by the app |
| Keeps your number | Yes | Only if you move your number to the new network | Yes |
Lebara: on 8 November 2026, Lebara’s SIM-only page listed 30-day plans from £5 with 100 international minutes, a £15 plan with 500 international minutes, and £20 and £30 plans with unlimited international minutes. Lycamobile: its UK plans page listed 30-day plans from £3.50 to £12.50, each with 100 international minutes included. Both networks decide which countries the minutes cover, so check that your country is on their list before you switch.
A SIM makes sense if you call abroad every week and are happy to use a new number or move yours across. We sell Lebara SIMs (£1.99) and Lycamobile SIMs (£0.99), and our guide to the best pay as you go SIM in the UK compares the networks. If your phone is locked to one network, see how to unlock a phone in the UK first. Apps are hard to beat when both people have smartphones and good internet. A calling card is the simple choice for occasional calls, for calling a landline or basic phone, or when you don’t want to change anything on your phone.
Where to buy international calling cards in the UK
- Online from Mobile Links: pick a card in our calling cards range, pay by card, PayPal or bank transfer, and the PIN is emailed to you. There’s no postage because nothing is posted.
- In our shop in Plaistow: buy over the counter at 396 Barking Road, E13 8HJ, and ask which card has the best rate to your country.
- From the card brand: some brands sell direct. Talk Home, for example, says you can buy its cards from local shops or its website.
Tips to make your calling card credit last
- Avoid the 0800 number if you can. Talk Home and White both charge more per minute through freephone access.
- Use an access number your plan includes. Ofcom’s rules say calls to 03 numbers must count towards inclusive minutes in the same way as 01 and 02 calls, from mobiles too.
- Compare landline and mobile rates. The rate to a landline and to a mobile in the same country can differ, so check both if the person you call has a choice.
- Save the access number as a contact so you don’t misdial or pick the wrong type of number.
- Skip the PIN on Talk Home cards. Talk Home says that if you press #1 straight after entering your PIN, the phone you’re calling from is linked to the card, so you don’t need to type the PIN next time. Press #2 after dialling the access number to remove the link.
- Use the credit before it expires. On Talk Home’s standard cards, the countdown starts at your first call.
- Keep the PIN email. It’s your only copy of the PIN, so don’t delete it.
Topping up your own UK number is a different thing. If that’s what you need, see our guide on how to top up with a mobile voucher.
Questions people ask
Can I use a calling card from my mobile?
Yes. Calling cards work from UK mobiles and landlines. Talk Home says its cards work on pay as you go and pay monthly phones. You dial the access number, then the card’s credit pays for the call abroad.
Is the 0800 access number free?
Your network doesn’t charge for it, but the card company may take more credit. On 8 November 2026, Talk Home’s site listed an extra 1p/min (landline) or 5p/min (mobile), and White Calling’s listed an extra 2p/min.
Do international calling cards expire?
Some do. Talk Home’s standard cards last 30, 60 or 90 days from first use, depending on the amount. Check the terms that come with your PIN.
I’ve lost my PIN. What do I do?
If you bought the card from us, the PIN is in the confirmation email (check your spam folder). Still can’t find it? WhatsApp us on 07440 482830 with your order number.
Which calling card is cheapest?
It depends on the country you call and whether you call a mobile or a landline. Compare rates for that country, or ask us on WhatsApp and we’ll tell you which card to try.
Can I call a landline abroad with a calling card?
Yes. A calling card connects to normal phone numbers, both landlines and mobiles, so the person you call doesn’t need a smartphone, an app or the internet.
Walk in or order online
Get your calling card at Mobile Links, 396 Barking Road, Plaistow, London E13 8HJ, open Monday to Sunday 10am to 8pm. Not sure which card to choose? Call 0203 689 8083 or WhatsApp 07440 482830 and tell us the country you’re calling. Or order online from our international calling cards and get your PIN by email within minutes. You can also browse SIM cards, top-up vouchers or contact us.
