Cheapest Way to Call Philippines from the UK
Every option compared honestly — WhatsApp, Rebtel, VoIP apps and eSIMs. The right answer depends on your situation, so we cover all of them.
Calling Philippines from Your UK Mobile
Your standard mobile network will charge 50p–£1.50 per minute for international calls to Philippines. Here are the two options that actually make sense.
Rebtel
The key advantage over WhatsApp: the person you're calling doesn't need a smartphone, internet connection, or any app. Rebtel routes your call over the internet on your end but delivers it as a normal phone call at the Philippines end. Rates from around 1–3p per minute.
WhatsApp (Free — with a caveat)
Completely free if the person you're calling has WhatsApp and a reliable internet connection. That caveat matters — if they have unreliable WiFi or data, call quality suffers. Best for regular calls to people you know are online.
Used Skype to call Philippines?
Microsoft shut Skype down in May 2025. The best direct replacement for calling Philippines landlines and mobiles is Rebtel — same principle, no account needed. For free app-to-app calls, WhatsApp is the natural replacement.
Travelling to Philippines? Avoid Roaming Charges
If you're visiting Philippines, your UK SIM will cost you significantly more than you expect. EE charges up to £8.45 per day for data outside Europe — which adds up to over £59 on a week's trip just for mobile internet. An eSIM costs a fraction of that and activates before you board.
Airalo
Best for most travellers. Buy a data plan before you leave, scan a QR code, and you have local data rates the moment you land in Philippines. No physical SIM swap, no queues at the airport. Plans start from around £3.
Holafly
Better for longer stays or heavy data users. Unlimited data plans mean you never worry about running out — useful if you're making lots of WhatsApp video calls home, using Google Maps constantly, or working remotely during your trip.
Use code ADM for 5% off any plan, or 10% off your first 12 months
Get a Philippines eSIM on Holafly →ℹ️ eSIMs are data-only — calls and texts still go through apps like WhatsApp. Your UK number stays active on your phone's physical SIM alongside the eSIM.
Calling Philippines from a UK Home Phone
You can still make cheap calls to Philippines from a landline — you just need to use Rebtel. Rebtel gives you a personal UK number to ring; your call goes via the internet on Rebtel's side but arrives as a completely normal phone call at the Philippines end. No internet needed in your home, and nothing needed at their end either.
Rebtel — from your landline
Sign up at Rebtel, get a dedicated UK number for Philippines, then dial that number from your home phone whenever you want to call. The person you're calling receives a normal phone call — no app, no internet, no smartphone needed at their end.
📋 BT Digital Voice switch-over (January 2027)
BT is migrating copper landlines to Digital Voice (internet-based) by January 2027. Rebtel works with Digital Voice landlines just as it does with copper — no changes needed on your end.
All Options at a Glance
Not sure which suits you? Here is a quick summary — use the cards at the top of the page to jump straight to the right section.
| Method | Typical Cost | Needs Internet | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Free | Both ends | Best if both online |
|
|
~1–3p/min | UK end only | Mobile & landline |
|
Standard UK Mobile
EE / O2 / Vodafone — international direct dial
|
50p–£1.50/min | No | Avoid — very expensive |
💡 The most important caveat on WhatsApp: it is genuinely free — but only works if the person you are calling also has a good internet connection. For calling elderly relatives or anyone without reliable WiFi or data, you need a paid option.
How to Dial Philippines from the UK
📞 Dialling format
Dial 00 + the country code + the full local number (omitting any leading zero).
Dialling code for Philippines
The dialling code for Philippines is +63.
When calling Philippines from the UK you must dial 0063 followed by the Philippines number in full.
When using our service to make cheap calls to Philippines, you need to:
- Dial the access number
- When you hear the voice prompt, dial the Philippines number starting with 0063
- When you have finished inputting the number, wait to be connected.
That’s it….easy!
Best time to call Philippines from UK
The time in Philippines is 8 hours ahead the time in the UK (GMT +8). On that basis the best time to call Philippines is 8am until 1pm UK time. The whole of Philippines is covered by a single time zone so you don’t need to worry about which part of Philippines you are calling.
Philippines Area Codes
| City | Philippines dialing codes from UK |
| Angeles City | 0063 455 |
| Bacolod City | 0063 34 |
| Cavite | 0063 46 |
| Cebu City | 0063 32 |
| Dagupan City | 0063 75 |
| Davao City | 0063 82 |
| General Santos | 0063 83 |
| Iloilo | 0063 33 |
| Manila | 0063 2 |
| Masbate | 0063 56 |
| Puerto Princesa City | 0063 48 |
| Quezon City | 0063 2 |
| San Fernando | 0063 818 |
| San Jose | 0063 309 |
| San Pablo City | 0063 93 |
| Santa Cruz | 0063 831 |
| Tacloban City | 0063 53 |
| Tarlac | 0063 452 |
| Zamboanga | 0063 62 |
