Cheapest Way to Call Argentina from the UK
Every option compared honestly — access numbers, WhatsApp, VoIP apps and eSIMs. The right answer depends on your situation, so we cover all of them.
All Your Options at a Glance
There is no single best way to call Argentina from the UK — it depends on whether both ends have internet, whether you're on a landline or mobile, and how often you call. Here is an honest comparison of every option.
| Method | Typical Cost | Needs Internet | Best For | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Free | Both ends | Regular callers with WiFi on both sides | Best if both online |
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Coming soon | No | UK landline callers, elderly relatives with no smartphone | 🔔 Notify me |
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~1–3p/min | UK end only | UK mobile callers, no app needed on other end | Best for UK mobiles |
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Free / low | Both ends | If your contact already uses the same app | Good if app matches |
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From £3 | For data calls | Travelling to Argentina | Travel only |
|
Standard UK Mobile
EE / O2 / Vodafone — international direct dial
|
50p–£1.50/min | No | Emergency calls only | 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.
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Calling from Your UK Mobile
Your standard mobile network will charge 50p–£1.50 per minute for international calls to Argentina. 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 Argentina 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 Argentina?
Microsoft shut Skype down in May 2025. The best direct replacement for calling Argentina landlines and mobiles is Rebtel — same principle, no account needed. For free app-to-app calls, WhatsApp is the natural replacement.
Also Need to Send Money to Argentina?
Many people calling Argentina from the UK also send money home regularly. Your high street bank is typically the worst way to do it — most add a hidden margin of 3–5% on top of the exchange rate before charging a transfer fee. These two services are consistently cheaper.
Wise
Uses the real mid-market exchange rate — the same one you see on Google — with a small transparent fee shown upfront before you send. No hidden margin buried in the exchange rate. Used by over 16 million people worldwide.
Remitly
Built specifically for diaspora remittances — very popular for UK–Argentina transfers. Competitive exchange rates with an on-time delivery guarantee: if your transfer is late, they refund the fee. Supports bank deposit, cash pickup and mobile wallet.
💡 Compare both before sending — rates shift daily. The cheapest for your amount this week may differ from last week.
Travelling to Argentina? Avoid Roaming Charges
If you're visiting Argentina, 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 Argentina. 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.
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.
How to Dial Argentina from the UK
📞 Dialling format
Dial 00 + the country code + the full local number (omitting any leading zero).
Dialling code for Argentina
The dialling code for Argentina is +54.
When calling Argentina from the UK you must dial 0054 followed by the Argentina number in full.
When using our service to make cheap calls to Argentina, you need to:
- Dial the access number
- When you hear the voice prompt, dial the Argentinan number starting with 0054
- When you have finished inputting the number, wait to be connected.
That’s it….easy!
Best time to call Argentina from UK
The time in Argentina is 3 hours behind the time in the UK (GMT -3). On that basis the best time to call Argentina is 12am to 9pm UK time. The whole of Argentina is covered by a single time zone so you don’t need to worry about which part of Argentina you are calling.
Travel Information (provided by the FCO)
Argentina Area Codes
| City | Dialing Code |
| Bahía Blanca | 0054 291 |
| Buenos Aires | 0054 11 |
| Comodoro Rivadavia | 0054 297 |
| Concordia | 0054 345 |
| Córdoba | 0054 351 |
| Corrientes | 0054 3783 |
| Formosa | 0054 3717 |
| Jesús María | 0054 3525 |
| Junín | 0054 2362 |
| La Plata | 0054 221 |
| La Rioja | 0054 3822 |
| Mar del Plata | 0054 223 |
| Mendoza | 0054 261 |
| Mercedes | 0054 2324 |
| Neuquén | 0054 299 |
| Paraná | 0054 343 |
| Posadas | 0054 3752 |
| Resistencia | 0054 3722 |
| Río Cuarto | 0054 358 |
| Río Gallegos | 0054 2966 |
| Rosario | 0054 341 |
| Salta | 0054 387 |
| San Francisco | 0054 628 |
| San Juan | 0054 264 |
| San Luis | 0054 2652 |
| San Martín | 0054 408 |
| San Nicolás de los Arroyos | 0054 3461 |
| San Pedro | 0054 424 |
| San Rafael | 0054 2627 |
| Santa Fe | 0054 342 |
| Santa Rosa | 0054 2954 |
| Santiago del Estero | 0054 385 |
| Santo Tomé | 0054 3756 |
| Tandil | 0054 2293 |
| Trelew/Rawson | 0054 2965 |
| Ushuaia | 0054 2901 |
| Viedma | 0054 2920 |
| Zárate | 0054 3487 |
