Comparing phone number prices is harder than it looks, because providers charge in different ways. Here’s what each charge means and how to estimate what you’ll actually pay.
The charges you’ll see
| Charge | What it is | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Rental of the number | Every number, every month |
| Setup fee | One-off activation | Some ranges and countries |
| Inbound per-minute | Cost of receiving calls | Mainly toll-free and some mobile ranges |
| Forwarding per-minute | Cost of calling your mobile or landline | Only when forwarding to a phone number |
| Channels / capacity | Simultaneous calls | Depends on the plan |
| Porting | Moving numbers in or out | Varies by country |
Why toll-free costs more to run
On a toll-free number the caller pays nothing, so the cost of the call is billed to you per minute. Mobile-originated calls to toll-free numbers can cost more than landline calls in some countries. For a busy support line, inbound minutes quickly outweigh the monthly fee.
Why SIP delivery is cheaper than forwarding
Delivering calls to your SIP trunk, PBX or Microsoft Teams keeps the call on IP. Forwarding to a mobile means paying for a second call to that mobile. If you take a lot of calls, moving from forwarding to a softphone or PBX can cut costs noticeably. See forwarding to a mobile.
Estimating your monthly bill
A simple formula:
- monthly fees × number of numbers
- + expected inbound minutes × inbound rate (toll-free and some mobile ranges)
- + forwarded minutes × forwarding rate (if forwarding)
- + any capacity charges
Example: one UK local number delivered to Teams, plus one UK 0800 number receiving 3,000 minutes a month. The local number costs its monthly fee only. The 0800 number costs its monthly fee plus 3,000 × the per-minute inbound rate.
Hidden costs to ask about
- minimum contract terms
- charges to change routing (there shouldn’t be any)
- porting-out fees
- charges for verification or document review
Volume pricing
At 25 or more numbers, or with meaningful toll-free traffic, ask for volume pricing. Consecutive blocks and wholesale agreements are usually priced differently from single numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I see a number’s exact price?
Each number in search results shows its monthly and any setup fee before checkout. Usage rates are in the portal rate card.
Is there a contract?
Self-serve numbers are typically month-to-month. Volume agreements may have committed terms in exchange for lower prices.
See pricing details