Cheapest Way to Call Cuba 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.

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20+ Years Helping UK Callers PocketDial has been helping people in the UK make affordable international calls since 2003. We know this space inside out.

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Honest Comparisons We compare every option — including free ones — because the right answer depends on your situation, not on what earns us a commission.

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More Than Just Calls We also cover money transfers, eSIMs and travel data — everything you need if you regularly call, travel to, or send money to family abroad.

All Your Options at a Glance

There is no single best way to call Cuba 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
WhatsApp / FaceTime Free — but only if both ends have a reliable connection	Free	Both ends	Regular callers with WiFi on both sides	Best if both online
PocketDial Access Number UK landline dial-around — no internet, no account	Coming soon	No	UK landline callers, elderly relatives with no smartphone	🔔 Notify me
Rebtel VoIP app — connects as a regular call at the Cuba end	~1–3p/min	UK end only	UK mobile callers, no app needed on other end	Best for UK mobiles
VoIP Apps (Viber, Telegram) Free app-to-app only — both ends need same app	Free / low	Both ends	If your contact already uses the same app	Good if app matches
Cuba eSIM Local data for when you travel there	From £3	For data calls	Travelling to Cuba	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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PocketDial Access Numbers — New Supplier Coming Soon

We are upgrading our dial-around service to a new supplier offering better rates to Cuba. Leave your email below and we will notify you the moment new access numbers go live — you will be among the first to know.

One email when numbers go live. No spam, ever.

In the meantime:

Rebtel offers competitive per-minute rates to Cuba from your UK mobile — the person you're calling does not need any app or internet. Try Rebtel →

Calling from Your UK Mobile

Your standard mobile network will charge 50p–£1.50 per minute for international calls to Cuba. Here are the two options that actually make sense.

⭐ Recommended

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 Cuba end. Rates from around 1–3p per minute.

No app needed at the Cuba end Works on any UK mobile Calls landlines and mobiles

Call Cuba with Rebtel →

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.

Completely free over WiFi Video calls too Requires internet on both ends

Download WhatsApp →

Used Skype to call Cuba?

Microsoft shut Skype down in May 2025. The best direct replacement for calling Cuba 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 Cuba?

Many people calling Cuba 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.

⭐ Top Pick

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.

Mid-market exchange rate 74% of transfers arrive in under 20 seconds All fees shown upfront — no surprises

Send money with Wise →

Remitly

Built specifically for diaspora remittances — very popular for UK–Cuba 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.

On-time delivery guarantee Cash pickup option available Strong UK–Cuba corridor

Send money with Remitly →

💡 Compare both before sending — rates shift daily. The cheapest for your amount this week may differ from last week.

Travelling to Cuba? Avoid Roaming Charges

If you're visiting Cuba, 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 Cuba. No physical SIM swap, no queues at the airport. Plans start from around £3.

Instant digital activation — no SIM swap Plans from £3 — data only Keep your UK number active on same phone

Get a Cuba eSIM on Airalo →

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.

Unlimited data — no monitoring required 24/7 customer support Longer stay plans available

Get a Cuba 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.

How to Dial Cuba from the UK

📞 Dialling format

Dial 00 + the country code + the full local number (omitting any leading zero).

Dialling code for Cuba

The dialling code for Cuba is +53.

When calling Cuba from the UK you must dial 0053 followed by the Cuba number in full.

When using our service to make cheap calls to Cuba, you need to:

Dial the access number
When you hear the voice prompt, dial the Cuba number starting with 0053
When you have finished inputting the number, wait to be connected.

That’s it….easy!

Best time to call Cuba from UK

The time in Cuba is 4-5 hours behind the time in the UK (GMT -4/-5). On that basis the best time to call Cuba is 1pm until 9pm UK time. The whole of Cuba is covered by a single time zone so you don’t need to worry about which part of Cuba you are calling.

Travel Information (provided by the FCO)

Cuba Area Codes

City	Dialing Code from UK to Cuba
Abreus	0053 43
Aguacate	0053 64
Aguada de Pasajeros	0053 43
Alquízar	0053 67
Alto Cedro	0053 24
Amancio	0053 31
Antilla	0053 24
Artemisa	0053 63
Baguanos	0053 24
Bahia Honda	0053 86
Banes	0053 24
Baragua	0053 33
Bartle	0053 31
Bartolome Maso	0053 23
Batabanó	0053 62
Batalla de Las Guasimas	0053 32
Bauta	0053 680
Bayamo	0053 23
Bejucal	0053 66
Biran	0053 24
Boca de Jaruco	0053 6929
Bolivia	0053 33
Brasil	0053 32
Buey Arriba	0053 23
Cabañas	0053 63
Cacocum	0053 24
Caimito del Guayabal	0053 680
Calimete	0053 5
Calixto Garcia	0053 24
Camaguey	0053 32
Camalote	0053 32
Camarioca	0053 5
Camilo Cienfuegos	0053 692
Camino	0053 61
Campechuela	0053 23
Canasí	0053 6929
Candido Gonzalez	0053 32
Cárdenas	0053 45
Cascorro	0053 32
Catalina de Güines	0053 62
Cauto Cristo	0053 23
Cayo Coco	0053 33
Cayo Largo	0053 5
Ceba Mocha	0053 5
Ceballos	0053 33
Ceiba Nuevo	0053 680
Cespedes	0053 32
Chambas	0053 33
Chile	0053 22
Cidra	0053 5
Ciego de Ávila	0053 33
Ciénaga de Zapata	0053 59
Cienfuegos	0053 432
Ciro Redondo	0053 33
Colón	0053 5
Communidad Pueblo Nuevo	0053 32
Consolación del Sur	0053 8
Contramaestre	0053 22
Cortés	0053 84
Cristino Naranjo	0053 24
Cueto	0053 24
Dos Caminos de San Luis	0053 22
El Cobre	0053 22
El Cristo	0053 22
Enrique Varona	0053 33
Entronque de Herradura	0053 8
Felton	0053 24
Florencia	0053 33
Florida	0053 32
Floro Perez	0053 24
Frank Pais	0053 24
Gibara	0053 24
Gramma	0053 23
Guaimaro	0053 32
Guanajay	0053 686
Guane	0053 84
Guantánamo	0053 21
Guantanamo Bay Naval Air Stati	0053 21
Guardalavaca	0053 24
Guaro	0053 24
Guatemala	0053 24
Guayabal	0053 31
Guayacanas	0053 33
Güines	0053 62
Güira de Melena	0053 67
Guisa	0053 23
Haiti	0053 32
Havana	0053 7
Havana (Ciudad La Habana)	0053 7
Holguin	0053 24
Imias	0053 32
Isabel Rubio	0053 84
Isla de la Juventud	0053 61
Jagüey Grande	0053 59
Jaruco	0053 64
Jiguani	0053 23
Jimaguayu	0053 32
Jobabo	0053 31
Jovellanos	0053 5
Jucaro	0053 33
Julio Antonio Mella	0053 225
La Boca	0053 31
La Coloma	0053 8
La Demajagua	0053 61
La Fé	0053 61
La Jagua	0053 32
La Reforma	0053 61
La Salud	0053 66
La Victoria	0053 61
Las Martinas	0053 84
Las Mercedes	0053 23
Las Ovas	0053 8
Las Parras	0053 31
Las Tunas	0053 31
Limonar	0053 5
Lopez Peña	0053 85
Los Palacios	0053 8
Los Reynaldos	0053 22
Lugareño	0053 32
Mabay	0053 23
Maceo	0053 24
Madruga	0053 64
Majagua	0053 33
Majibacoa	0053 31
Manati	0053 31
Mangos de Baragua	0053 225
Mantua	0053 84
Manzanillo	0053 23
Marcane	0053 24
Marea de Portillo	0053 23
Mariel	0053 63
Martí	0053 5
Matanzas	0053 52
Mayari	0053 24
Media Luna	0053 23
Melena del Sur	0053 62
Menendez	0053 31
Minas	0053 32
Minas de Matahumbre	0053 8
Mir	0053 24
Miraflores	0053 338
Moa	0053 24
MOBILE PHONES	0053 789
Najasa	0053 32
Neuvitas	0053 32
Nicaragua	0053 32
Nicaro	0053 24
Niquero	0053 23
Nueva	0053 62
Nueva Gerona	0053 61
Nueva Paz	0053 62
Omaja	0053 31
Orlando Gonzalez	0053 33
Pablo de Torriente	0053 86
Palma Soriano	0053 225
Pedro Betancourt	0053 5
Peralejo	0053 23
Pilon	0053 23
Pinar del Rio	0053 82
Playa Baracoa	0053 680
Playa Garón	0053 5
Playa Girón	0053 5
Playa Santa Lucia	0053 32
Primero de Enero	0053 33
Puerto Esperanza	0053 8
Puerto Marti	0053 31
Puerto Padre	0053 31
Quivicán	0053 67
Rafael Freyre	0053 24
Rio Cauto	0053 23
Rodolfo Ramirez Esquivel	0053 32
Ruta Invasora	0053 33
Sábalo	0053 84
Sagua de Tanamo	0053 24
San Antonio de Las Vegas	0053 64
San Antonio de Los Baños	0053 650
San Jose de Las Lajas	0053 64
San Juan y Martínez	0053 8
San Nicolás de Bari	0053 62
Sancti Spíritus	0053 41
Sanguili	0053 33
Santa Cruz del Norte	0053 692
Santa Cruz del Sur	0053 32
Santiago de Cuba	0053 226
Sibanicu	0053 32
Siboney	0053 32
Silvio Caro	0053 63
Sola	0053 32
Tacajo	0053 24
Tamarindo	0053 33
Tapaste	0053 64
Unión de Reyes	0053 5
Urbano Noris	0053 24
Varadero	0053 5
Vasquez	0053 31
Velasco	0053 24
Venezuela	0053 33
Vertientes	0053 32
Villa Clara	0053 42
Viñales	0053 8
Yado del Yeso	0053 23
Yara	0053 23
Yarual	0053 338

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest way to call Cuba from the UK?

If both ends have reliable internet, WhatsApp and similar apps are free. For UK landline callers, PocketDial access numbers offer competitive per-minute rates with no account needed. For mobile callers, Rebtel is a strong option.

How do I dial Cuba from the UK?

Dial 00 followed by the country code for Cuba, then the full local number omitting any leading zero.

Can I send money to Cuba from the UK?

Wise and Remitly both offer competitive exchange rates for international transfers, significantly better than banks. Both deliver funds quickly and have good mobile apps.

What happened to Skype — and what should I use instead to call Cuba?

Microsoft shut Skype down in May 2025. Microsoft Teams, its replacement, does not support outbound calls to regular phone numbers for ordinary users. The best direct replacement for calling Cuba landlines and mobiles is Rebtel, which works on any UK mobile and requires no app at the Cuba end. For free app-to-app calls, WhatsApp is the natural alternative — it works on the same principle as Skype video calls and is now used by 87% of UK adults.

What if the person I'm calling in Cuba doesn't have internet?

WhatsApp and other internet-based apps will not work if the person you are calling has no reliable data connection. For calling people without smartphones or internet access — including elderly relatives — your best options are PocketDial access numbers (from a UK landline) or Rebtel (from a UK mobile). Both connect as a regular phone call at the Cuba end, with no internet or app required there.

Is it cheaper to send money or buy credit to top up a phone in Cuba?

For supporting family in Cuba, sending money via Wise or Remitly is almost always better value than buying international calling credit. A money transfer gives the recipient full control of the funds, arrives in minutes, and the transfer fees are lower than the per-minute costs that accumulate over regular calls. Many families use a combination: occasional calls via a VoIP app, with monthly transfers for living expenses.