When setting up a professional phone number for your UK business, the two most popular choices are 0800 (Freephone) and 0333 (National) numbers. Both give your business a national presence, but they work quite differently.

This guide will help you choose the right one.

The Key Difference: Who Pays?

  • 0800 Numbers: You (the business) pay for the call. It is free for your customer.
  • 0333 Numbers: The caller pays standard local rates, but it is typically crucial free because 03 numbers are included in mobile bundles.

Detailed Comparison

Feature0800 Numbers0333 Numbers
Best ForSales teams, marketing campaigns, attracting new customers.Customer support, general enquiries, professional presence.
Caller CostFree (from landline & mobile).Local Rate (or free in bundled minutes).
Your CostYou pay a per-minute rate for receiving calls.Usually lower cost to receive calls than 0800.
Mobile Friendly?Yes (since 2015 regulations).Very. Included in almost all monthly plans.
Image“We value your call enough to pay for it.”“We are a professional, national company.”

When to Choose an 0800 Number

Choose an 0800 number if your primary goal is to increase enquiries and sales.

  • Marketing Gold: “Call us Free” is a powerful call-to-action on ads and websites.
  • Remove Friction: Customers are more likely to pick up the phone if they know it costs them absolutely nothing.
  • Sales Lines: Perfect for “Sales” or “New Enquiries” departments where every missed call is lost revenue.

When to Choose an 0333 Number

Choose an 0333 number if you want a professional national look without the cost of premium numbers.

  • Modern Choice: 0333 numbers are increasingly becoming the standard for modern UK businesses.
  • Customer Service: Ideal for after-sales support where you don’t necessarily want to subsidize every minute of the call, but still want to be fair to the customer (unlike 0844 numbers).
  • Complaint Lines: By law, customer helplines must be charged at basic rate (01, 02, or 03). You cannot use 084/087 numbers for post-sales support/complaints.

Can I Have Both?

Yes! Many businesses use a blended strategy:

  • 0800 for the Sales Team (to maximize leads).
  • 0333 for Customer Support (to manage costs).

Conclusion

  • Want more calls? Go 0800.
  • Want a professional look included in mobile minutes? Go 0333.

Ready to start? You can register both 0800 and 0333 numbers instantly with CallFactory and manage them from a single dashboard.