The quick comparison
| Number type | What callers pay | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 0800 / 0808 | Free from landlines and mobiles | Sales lines, helplines, national advertising |
| 0330 / 0333 | Same as a local call, included in most bundles | National businesses that do not want freephone costs |
| 0300 | Same as a local call, eligible organisations only | Charities and public sector |
| 01 / 02 local | Standard local rate | Local services, multi-town presence |
| 0845 / 0870 | Access charge plus a service charge | Generally best avoided for new numbers |
When to choose 0800
Choose freephone when cost could stop someone calling: sales enquiries, customer service, support lines and advertising. Since July 2015 calls to 080 numbers have been free from mobiles, so the old objection that 0800 numbers cost mobile callers money no longer applies.
When to choose 0333
03 numbers are a fair middle ground. Callers pay the same as a local call, usually nothing extra because of inclusive minutes, and you avoid paying for every inbound minute.
When to choose a local number
People trust their own area code. If most customers are local, or you want to look local in several towns, geographic numbers work well. With virtual numbers they can ring any phone.
Use more than one
Many businesses run a national 0333 or 0800 number alongside local numbers for each branch, plus campaign numbers for call tracking. All of them can route into the same phone system.