Toll-Free Number
Short answer: A toll-free number is one callers can dial free of charge because the number's owner, not the caller, absorbs the cost of the call. Each country sets its own toll-free prefixes, like 800, 888 or 877 in the US and Canada, and these numbers are a common choice for support and sales lines.
Toll-free numbers project an established business and remove the hesitation some customers feel about paying for a call.
Definition
A toll-free, or freephone, number lives in a national range set aside for calls billed to the recipient rather than the caller. Exact prefixes and rules vary from country to country.
How it works
When someone dials the number, their carrier spots the prefix and skips billing them. The call then routes to the number owner's provider and lands on a line, PBX or SIP account. Some toll-free numbers only accept calls placed from within their own country, and SMS support differs by country and number.
Toll-free numbers, the essentials
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who covers the cost of the call | The number's owner; whoever dials in pays nothing |
| Where it can be reached from | Some toll-free numbers only work when dialled from their home country |
| Texting support | Depends on the country and the specific number |
| Price on SMS Conecta | Matches other number types, starting at $1.80/month on annual billing ($21.60 per year) |
How it applies to SMS Conecta
SMS Conecta sells toll-free numbers right alongside mobile and local numbers, at exactly the same price as every other type: starting from $1.80 per month on annual billing ($21.60 per year). Each one includes unlimited incoming calls, SIP credentials, call forwarding and the web dialer.
Related terms
- Local number
- Mobile number
- DID
- IVR
Frequently asked questions
Does the owner pay nothing for a toll-free number?
No, the owner still pays for the number itself; it is only the caller who is spared the cost of the call.
Can someone overseas call a toll-free number?
Frequently not. A large share of toll-free numbers only work for callers inside their home country.
Is pricing higher for toll-free numbers at SMS Conecta?
No, every number type in every country shares the same price.
Can toll-free calls be forwarded to a mobile?
Yes, forwarding to any phone comes included.
Related pages
- toll-free number for business
- local, mobile or toll-free
- local number
- mobile number
- IVR
- customer support use case
- pricing
- STIR/SHAKEN
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)