International call charges don't have to be complicated. With Tesco international calling, you have two main options: you can either pay as you go with standard per-minute rates, or you can buy a monthly international calling add-on for a fixed price.
As a budget-friendly provider that’s built its name on value for UK calls, Tesco Mobile treats international connections as a separate, paid-for service. This guide will cover both calling international numbers from the UK and using your phone while travelling abroad.
Your Guide to Tesco Mobile International Options
Tesco Mobile is one of the UK's biggest mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). People choose them for affordable, simple plans. Their international calling service works fine for the occasional short call, but it may not be the best value for frequent, longer conversations.
A Trusted UK Network
Launched in 2003 as a joint venture with O2, Tesco Mobile had signed up over 2.5 million UK customers by January 2011. They scored a 92% net promoter score in a 2024 survey of UK subscribers.
They're good at cheap UK plans, but international calling is a different story. If you're considering a different SIM for better international rates, you might first need to unlock a network locked phone.
Calling Abroad from the UK: How Much Does It Cost?
When you're with Tesco Mobile, calling another country from the UK is straightforward. They use a simple pay-as-you-go system, meaning you're charged by the minute for every international call you make. The cost is simply added to your monthly bill or deducted from your credit balance.
While there are no surprise fees, the per-minute rates can sneak up on you. For example, a call to a landline in France or the USA will cost you 25p per minute. However, if you're trying to reach a mobile in Australia, that rate jumps to a steep £1.50 per minute. A quick 15-minute catch-up with someone on their Australian mobile could end up costing £22.50.
The International Calling Add-On
If you find yourself calling abroad often, Tesco Mobile offers an International Calling add-on. You pay a set amount each month for a bundle of minutes that you can use to call 36 specific countries. This can save you money if your family, friends, or business contacts are in places like Poland, India, or the USA.
The catch is that the add-on is only useful if the countries you call are on that list of 36. If they're not, you’re back to paying the standard per-minute rates, which can quickly make the add-on feel like a waste of money.
For a couple of short calls a month, the standard rates are manageable. But if you're having long, regular chats overseas, even the add-on might not be enough value.
This is where a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service like CallSky becomes relevant. VoIP typically offers lower per-minute rates to a wider range of countries without a monthly fee.
Tesco Mobile Standard International Rates vs CallSky (Per Minute)
Let's look at a direct comparison. The table below shows how different the standard pay-as-you-go rates from Tesco Mobile can be compared to a specialised VoIP service like CallSky.
| Destination Country | Tesco Mobile Rate (Landline) | Tesco Mobile Rate (Mobile) | CallSky Rate (Landline/Mobile) |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | £0.25 | £0.25 | £0.01 |
| Australia | £0.25 | £1.50 | £0.02 |
| France | £0.25 | £0.25 | £0.01 |
| India | £0.25 | £0.25 | £0.02 |
| Nigeria | £0.25 | £0.25 | £0.08 |
The difference is large, especially for calls to mobile numbers in countries like Australia. While Tesco Mobile charges a flat 25p for many popular destinations, a VoIP service can drop that cost to a penny or two.
Using Your Tesco Mobile While Travelling Abroad (Roaming)
Here's how your Tesco Mobile works overseas, and what to watch out for on your bill.
If you're travelling within Europe, Tesco Mobile's 'Home From Home' feature covers 48 European destinations and lets you use your regular UK allowance of calls, texts, and data at no extra cost. You can use your phone as you would at home without hunting for a Wi-Fi hotspot.
Understanding the Rules and Limits
It's a generous offer, but it's important to know the rules. 'Home From Home' is designed for periodic travel, not for someone living abroad permanently. If you spend more time in a 'Home From Home' destination than you do in the UK over a four-month period, you'll likely start seeing extra charges. It's a holiday pass, not a permanent relocation tool.
Always double-check if your destination is on the 'Home From Home' list before you go. Step outside those 48 zones, and you'll be hit with standard roaming fees. These can get expensive fast, especially for data.
Before you fly, set a spending cap in the Tesco Mobile app. It stops your bill from running up if you accidentally roam outside the included zones.
When you're paying per minute, the difference between a mobile network and a dedicated calling service adds up.
The chart shows how much a specialised service can cut those costs, particularly when you're outside the inclusive EU zones.
For any travel beyond Europe, roaming costs add up fast. The simplest workaround is Wi-Fi at your hotel, a cafe, or the airport. With an internet connection, you can make calls for pennies compared to what your mobile provider charges.
This is where understanding what Wi-Fi calling is helps. A service like CallSky uses that Wi-Fi connection for calls worldwide without touching your network's roaming rates.
When Does a VoIP Calling Service Make Sense?
For many people, Tesco Mobile’s international options are more than enough. If you’re just making the odd call abroad—perhaps a quick happy birthday to a cousin or a short chat with a friend on holiday—their standard rates won't cause any major financial stress.
But that all changes when calling overseas becomes a regular thing. For expats keeping in touch with home, small businesses with clients around the world, or families spread across continents, the costs can add up surprisingly fast. This is where a pay-per-minute model, even with an add-on, starts to show its limitations.
A Smarter Way to Call: VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) uses the internet to carry your voice instead of traditional phone lines. Because it doesn't rely on the same infrastructure, the per-minute costs are much lower.
Services like CallSky route your call through your Wi-Fi or mobile data instead of phone lines. That's why the international rates are so much lower.
VoIP services can call both landlines and mobile phones anywhere in the world, often for just pennies a minute.
Is It Time for You to Switch?
If any of these sound familiar, it's probably time to look into a VoIP service like CallSky:
- You're a frequent caller: You’re on the phone all the time with family, friends, or colleagues in other countries.
- You run a small business: Your day-to-day involves calls to international clients, suppliers, or partners.
- You're watching your budget: You’re tired of unpredictable phone bills and want total control over your international calling costs.
If Tesco international calling is where you're starting, VoIP is the logical next step when the costs stop making sense.
Why CallSky Is a Smarter Way to Connect Globally
While Tesco Mobile is a household name for a reason, if you're making international calls regularly, a dedicated service like CallSky will likely cost you less. It's built for global calls, not UK-to-UK.
CallSky uses a pay-as-you-go credit system. You can top up with as little as £5, and that credit never expires. You only pay for the minutes you use, with per-minute rates starting from 2p.
Built for Families and Businesses
For families with loved ones scattered across the globe, CallSky has a web dialler and a dedicated app. No bundles or hidden charges, just per-minute rates.
For businesses, there are features that a standard mobile plan doesn't offer.
- Shared Team Credit: Pool your calling credit for the whole team and manage it from one central account.
- Centralised Contacts: Keep a single, shared address book so everyone is on the same page.
- Detailed Call Analytics: Get a clear picture of call times, costs, and patterns to keep your budget in check.
CallSky covers over 180 countries with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. You can see the full details on their official site.
Frequently asked questions about Tesco international calls
Here are answers to the most common questions about using Tesco Mobile for international calls.
How Can I Check the Rate for a Specific Country?
The best way to avoid any billing surprises is to check the cost before you call.
Head straight to the official Tesco Mobile website and use their international calling rate checker. Enter the country you want to call and it will show you the exact per-minute price for both landlines and mobiles.
Should I Get the International Calling Add-On?
This one really comes down to how often you're calling abroad.
If you only make a couple of quick international calls a month, you're likely better off just paying the standard rates. But if you find yourself having longer chats with people in one of the 36 countries covered by the add-on, it could save you a good chunk of money.
Work out how many minutes you typically spend on international calls each month. If paying the standard rate costs more than the add-on price, the add-on is worth it.
What Happens if I Roam Outside the "Home From Home" Zone?
Travelling outside of the 48 "Home From Home" destinations? Be careful. Using your phone in these other countries means you'll be hit with standard roaming charges, and they can add up fast, especially for data.
Before you go, look up Tesco's roaming fees for your destination. You can also use Wi-Fi and a VoIP app to make calls without the roaming charges.
Can I Use My UK Call Allowance for International Numbers?
Unfortunately, no. Your standard UK call allowance is strictly for UK numbers—those starting with 01, 02, 03, and standard UK mobiles.
Any call you make from the UK to an international number is a separate charge. It will either come out of your pay-as-you-go credit or be covered by a specific international calling add-on if you have one.
CallSky lets you call 180+ countries with pay-as-you-go credit that never expires. No subscription needed.