Many families wonder whether prisoners are allowed to call mobile phones. In most UK prisons, prisoners can call both landline and mobile numbers, provided the number has been approved by the prison.
However, while mobile calls are usually allowed, they are often more expensive than calls to landline numbers. This is why many families look for ways to reduce the cost of prison phone calls.
If you are new to prison phone systems, you may want to read our guide explaining how prison phone calls work.


Yes. In most UK prisons, prisoners are allowed to add mobile numbers to their approved contact list.
Before a number can be called, it must normally be verified by the prison. This helps ensure calls are made only to authorised contacts.
Once approved, prisoners can call the number using the prison phone system.
Although prisoners can call mobile phones, these calls are often more expensive than calls to landlines.
This is because prison telecom systems typically charge different rates depending on the type of number being called.
You can read more about prison call pricing in our guide explaining how much prison phone calls cost.
In many cases, calling a landline can be cheaper than calling a mobile phone from prison.
This is why some families choose to provide a landline number instead of their mobile number when receiving prison calls.
However, many households today no longer have a traditional landline installed.
A common solution is to use a prison call forwarding service.
This provides a UK landline number which automatically forwards calls to your mobile phone. The prisoner calls the landline number, but you receive the call on your mobile.
Because the prison system treats the call as a landline call, this can help reduce the cost of prison phone calls.
You can learn more about this in our guide to reducing prison phone call costs.
If you want to receive prison calls on your mobile while keeping costs lower, a forwarding service can provide a simple solution.
Our prison call forwarding service provides a UK landline number which redirects directly to your mobile phone.
Regular communication with friends and family can be very important for people in prison. Phone calls are one of the main ways prisoners stay connected with the outside world.
Understanding how prison phone systems work can help families stay in touch while managing the cost of calls.