First decide what you are buying
The live deals above show regular UK SIM prices, data, contract terms and each card's own View Deal route. They do not prove that the individual offer includes a call to every Brazilian +55 number. If Brazil minutes are the reason to buy, the product's international allowance is a separate condition you must check.
| Your situation | Most useful starting point | The cost that can change the result |
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| You need one new UK SIM for data and regular conventional calls to Brazil | An eligible Lyca or Lebara international-minute plan | Full renewal price, actual Brazil minutes, UK reception and excess charges |
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| You already like your Vodafone UK service | A Brazil-eligible International Saver Extra, if offered to your account | Extra fee and monthly renewal on top of your existing plan |
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| You are already on eligible EE Pay As You Go | Its Brazil-inclusive Rest of World calling option, if available to your account | Calling-pack validity, allowance, top-ups and what happens afterwards |
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| You make very few conventional calls | Existing-SIM Brazil PAYG or a paid app-to-phone service | Number-specific rate, credit minimum, rounding and connection/access fees |
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| Both people can use WhatsApp or another app | App-to-app calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data | Data access and connection quality; it will not normally ring a landline |
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| You call Brazilian office lines or services | A product expressly covering the exact mobile, geographic landline or business number | Non-geographic or special-rate exclusions; some numbers cannot be dialled from overseas |
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A change of UK provider makes the most sense when the new SIM replaces a service you already pay for and also supplies usable Brazil calling minutes. If the current line is staying, the relevant question is the additional price of contacting Brazil, not the advertised cost of a second full UK plan in isolation.
Lyca or Lebara for regular calls to Brazil?
Neither brand has a permanent claim to “cheapest” or “best overall”. Their UK host networks differ, and so can their offer-specific allowances, renewal costs and included number types. The better buy is the eligible plan with the lowest sensible whole-service cost for the calls you actually make.
Lebara: Brazil in its international calling destinations
Lebara uses Vodafone's UK network and has published Brazil among the countries covered by its international calling offering. The operator explains that eligible included international minutes cover standard mobile and landline calls, with separate charges if the allowance is exceeded or the destination is not included. The precise minutes and UK service can differ between individual SIM plans.
Consider Lebara if you want one line for UK data, ordinary domestic calls and regular voice calls to Brazil, especially where Vodafone-based reception suits your home, work and commute. If you call landlines for business, confirm that your recipient is an ordinary geographical line rather than a special-rate, corporate or redirected destination; a country appearing in an eligibility list does not override exclusions.
Use our tracked Lebara UK SIM listings for live deal-card prices and commitment periods. Then check Lebara's international calls through our approved Awin route. Match its eligible Brazil minutes, out-of-allowance costs, any shared-country minutes and renewal terms to the same product that you intend to order. Historical country lists are evidence of published coverage, not a lifetime promise for a newly purchased tariff.
A low UK data price is not automatically a cheap Brazil calling price. A plan with less useful UK data and too few overseas minutes may cost more in top-ups than an alternative plan whose monthly charge is higher. Conversely, a customer who makes only app calls could be better off with a simpler UK SIM and no unused international allowance.
Lyca Mobile: Brazil on selected standard UK products
Lyca uses EE's underlying UK network, and its published UK international destination information names Brazil. Selected ordinary SIM products list both standard mobile and landline eligibility, subject to their own terms. You need not assume a Brazil-only bundle is required merely because you dial +55 numbers.
Look carefully at what the named plan includes. Different bundles can have different international-minute quantities, other destinations competing for the same allowance, activation conditions and later renewal charges. Brazil appearing in a generic Lyca country list does not add Brazil minutes to every card in our catalogue, including a card showing a large UK data allowance.
If EE-based reception suits you, compare the Lyca deals currently in our catalogue with a comparable Lebara tariff, and use our confirmed Lyca International Plans route to establish the precise Brazil entitlement. If you intend to pay for extra minutes rather than buy a larger bundle, Lyca's international rates via our partner link provide a starting point for checking the current charge.
Five checks for a fair Lyca versus Lebara comparison
Take two genuinely eligible product choices and compare their UK data and reception, usable Brazil voice minutes, type of Brazilian number covered, total cost over the same dates, and rate after included minutes end. A family calling only one São Paulo mobile needs a different calculation from someone making short calls to businesses in several DDD areas.
Our Lebara vs Lyca Mobile guide explains the wider UK network and service differences. This page stays focused on what happens when you call Brazil. Do not choose on the basis of a provider's international reputation without establishing the benefit attached to the specific tariff.
Already on a UK network? You may not need to switch
An international Extra can be attractive when your main UK service is reliable, already paid for or subject to an early-exit charge. But an add-on advertised by your network is not necessarily available to every PAYG and Pay Monthly account, and Brazil can appear in one destination list but not another.
Vodafone UK: check International Saver first
Vodafone's published International Saver Extra destination list names Brazil. This is an important distinction from ordinary Vodafone UK minutes: being a Vodafone customer does not automatically make your Brazilian calls inclusive. For an eligible customer, an Extra sits alongside the existing UK plan.
Compare the combined bill — regular Vodafone charge plus Extra plus any out-of-allowance Brazil calls — against an eligible replacement SIM from Lyca or Lebara. Check account type, which Extra is offered, supported numbers, how it renews and whether you need to cancel it manually after a busy calling period. The account type is particularly important: Vodafone lists Brazil under Pay Monthly International Saver and selected PAYG Plus international Extras, but not in its published ordinary PAYG Extra 50 International Minutes destination list. Those are different products. Do not buy the PAYG 50-minute Extra assuming it covers Brazil, or transfer an entitlement from a PAYG Plus list to a standard PAYG account.
If you are considering a new UK Vodafone tariff as well, see the Vodafone plans DealPriceCheck tracks. But taking out a new contract solely to access a calling Extra may be costlier than one all-in-one SIM or a separate paid calling method.
EE Pay As You Go: Brazil has appeared in Rest of World minutes
EE has published Rest of World minutes for eligible PAYG customers with Brazil listed among the destinations. This is not the same product as an EU minutes pack, and an EE-branded PAYG benefit cannot simply be assumed for an EE Pay Monthly account or for Lyca because it uses EE's network.
If you already use EE PAYG, check whether the Rest of World option is currently available on your tariff, how long the allowance lasts, whether it covers the number you dial and what you pay after the included minutes. A convenient pack for an existing customer is different from the cost of joining EE with a new plan. Compare the UK service itself using our EE provider offers if switching is on the table.
O2: a discounted Brazil rate still means paying per call
O2 offers an International Bolt On for eligible Pay Monthly customers that reduces the charge per minute to supported overseas destinations. The Bolt On's own fee and the actual Brazil mobile or landline rate both matter; a discounted rate is not a free bucket of Brazil minutes. O2 PAYG arrangements have separate terms.
Suppose you only make a few short calls in a month: a Bolt On fee can cost more than the money saved on those calls. If you regularly ring a Brazilian office or family landline, the calculation may change. Look up the full Brazil destination rate for the exact O2 account rather than applying a headline 'from' price to every number. Our O2 SIM comparisons cover the UK plan cost separately.
Three: standard Call Abroad does not establish Brazil inclusion
Three's published Call Abroad destination lists reviewed for its mainstream Pay Monthly and PAYG options did not name Brazil. That does not prevent a normal chargeable call to +55, or rule out other or future options. Do not buy a standard Call Abroad pack expecting Brazil minutes without confirmation for your exact account.
If you already use Three, ask for the current per-minute rate to your particular Brazilian mobile or landline and compare the extra cost with a stand-alone international service or switching. Our Three SIM-only page is about standard UK plan economics, not evidence of Brazil-minute eligibility.
1pMobile: UK Boosts are not international calling credit
1pMobile's UK Boost allowances do not automatically turn into international minutes. A conventional Brazil call can require separate PAYG balance at the relevant destination rate. If you mostly use WhatsApp and want EE-based UK coverage, keeping such a SIM may be reasonable; if you place long conventional Brazil calls, confirm the cost rather than extrapolating from the domestic headline.
See our current 1pMobile UK offers only when comparing your normal domestic service. An international calling method should be costed separately.
Dialling Brazil from the UK: +55, DDD and the missing carrier code
Brazil is different from countries where you simply remove one leading national zero. The standard international format is +55 + two-digit DDD + local subscriber number. The country's regulator, Anatel, specifies eight digits for an ordinary landline or nine digits for an ordinary mobile after that two-digit area code. This makes the UK-to-Brazil dialling sequence a practical eligibility check, not just a formatting detail.
| Number you're calling | International format from a UK mobile | What to notice |
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| São Paulo mobile | `+55 11 9XXXX XXXX` | `11` is the DDD, followed by a nine-digit mobile beginning with 9 |
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| Rio de Janeiro mobile | `+55 21 9XXXX XXXX` | `21` is the Rio DDD, not a Brazilian carrier-selection code here |
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| Brasília mobile | `+55 61 9XXXX XXXX` | The mobile still needs nine subscriber digits |
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| São Paulo geographical landline | `+55 11 XXXX XXXX` | Eight subscriber digits, not nine |
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| Salvador geographical landline | `+55 71 XXXX XXXX` | Two-digit DDD plus eight-digit landline |
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The `X` characters are placeholders, not real phone numbers. Where supported, dialling `00 55` is an alternative to `+55`, though `+55` is simpler for a smartphone address book.
DDD versus CSP: why Brazilian domestic dialling can mislead you
Brazilian contacts sometimes write domestic long-distance numbers as 0 + carrier-selection code (CSP) + DDD + subscriber number. The CSP identifies a Brazilian long-distance carrier used for calls placed inside Brazil. It is not part of the international destination number when you dial from a UK SIM.
For example, if someone gives you a domestic sequence containing `0` plus an operator-selection code before the São Paulo DDD `11`, don't blindly prepend `+55` to the entire string. Ask for the full international-format contact, or isolate the actual DDD and subscriber digits. The digits 21 can represent Rio's DDD in the correct position or be part of a domestic carrier-selection sequence in a different position. This is why guessing where an area code begins can cause a failed or misdirected call.
Anatel's official Brazilian numbering plan confirms the country code, area code and subscriber lengths. Its CSP guidance explains the separate domestic carrier-selection sequence. You do not need to select a Brazilian long-distance carrier when calling a normal +55 number from a UK mobile.
Does the ninth digit always belong on a Brazilian mobile?
For standard current Brazilian mobile numbers, yes: Anatel's mobile numbering format uses a nine-digit subscriber number beginning with 9, after the DDD. If your contact information contains an older eight-digit mobile number, ask the recipient to confirm the up-to-date nine-digit number rather than trying to guess or assume it still works.
A landline normally retains eight subscriber digits. The regulator distinguishes ordinary fixed, mobile and specialised number categories; not every non-standard service follows the ordinary mobile pattern. Brazilian 0800 freephone and 0300 shared-cost numbers are non-geographic service numbers, not ordinary `+55 + DDD + subscriber` destinations. They may be unreachable from the UK or excluded from inclusive international minutes. The same caution applies to short codes and specialist services. Anatel explains the non-geographic number categories. If a bank or business provides only a domestic service number, request an ordinary geographical or internationally reachable contact instead. Do not assume a Brazilian 0800 call is free when dialled internationally.
Mobile-network portability and number-based tariffs
Brazilian mobile networks include Vivo, Claro and TIM, but a familiar prefix is not a dependable indicator of the network carrying a number today. Brazil permits number portability. If a calling provider charges by Brazilian network or limits eligible number ranges, confirm the actual routing or eligibility of the full number with that provider, rather than treating the original prefix as proof.
This matters especially for paid app-to-phone services, where landline and mobile rates — and sometimes individual mobile-network rates — can differ. Don't infer that the cheapest advertised 'Brazil' rate applies to every +55 destination.
Compare the full cost of three ways to call Brazil
The misleading comparison is to place a full replacement UK SIM price next to an international add-on fee, without counting the service you continue to pay for. A fair comparison includes either the same UK service in all options or the actual new UK plan replacing it.
Here is a fully fictional worked example. None of these prices or minute allowances belongs to Lebara, Lyca, Vodafone, EE, O2 or any other actual provider. All three imaginary options serve the same eligible standard Brazilian numbers for the same period, have identical billable-minute rounding and no connection or setup fees; the hypothetical new SIM meets the customer's normal UK needs.
- A — Keep the existing UK SIM and pay per minute: £9 for UK service, plus 10p for each billable Brazil minute.
- B — Replace the UK SIM: £13 all-in for UK service and 100 eligible Brazil minutes, then 20p per billable extra minute.
- C — Keep the UK SIM and buy a calling add-on: £9 UK service plus £8 for 200 eligible Brazil minutes, then 12p per billable extra minute.
| Brazil minutes in the period | A: current SIM + PAYG | B: replacement SIM | C: current SIM + Extra | Cheapest fictional total |
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| 20 | £11.00 | £13.00 | £17.00 | A |
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| 75 | £16.50 | £13.00 | £17.00 | B |
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| 150 | £24.00 | £23.00 | £17.00 | C |
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| 300 | £39.00 | £53.00 | £29.00 | C |
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| 850 | £94.00 | £163.00 | £95.00 | A again |
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The maths is reproducible. At 40 billable minutes, A and B tie; at 120, B and C tie; at 800, A and C tie. So A is the cheapest below 40, B from 41 to 119, C from 121 to 799, and A again above 800; the relevant options tie at each boundary. A bigger bundle, a lower excess rate or a spending cap could change these results for real products. These figures are illustrative, not live tariffs.
What to include in your own cost comparison
Record four weeks of normal +55 calling, including how many separate calls you make. A hypothetical tariff rounding every started minute upwards could bill 20 minutes for ten calls of 65 seconds, despite only about eleven minutes of conversation. Rates, increments, connection charges and whether minutes are pooled between different countries vary by service.
When replacing your main SIM, count the full renewal price, UK coverage and data, any early termination charges, and the Brazil calling allowance. When keeping your UK SIM, count only what the extra method truly adds to your current bill. For a second SIM or eSIM, both subscriptions can continue. Some paid calling apps require a minimum top-up or have credit-expiry conditions even without a monthly bundle.
Compare on the same number of days. Twelve consecutive 30-day packages cover 360 days, not a 365-day year; uninterrupted annual use may need a further period. A promotion lasting only the first few payments is not evidence of the normal long-term cost.
When a calling app is cheaper than any international SIM
If both parties use WhatsApp, FaceTime Audio or a comparable app, an app-to-app voice call travels over Wi-Fi or mobile data rather than deducting conventional international minutes. For a contact with reliable internet in Brazil, keeping a good UK data plan can be more valuable than buying a large international voice allowance. This is particularly common for long family conversations and video calls.
There are two important exceptions. First, an ordinary Brazilian landline cannot usually answer a free WhatsApp-to-WhatsApp call. Second, the other person may have a basic handset, unreliable connectivity or no shared app. A paid app-to-phone service can sometimes ring a normal +55 mobile or landline without requiring the recipient to install anything. That is not a free app-to-app call: it is a separate purchase with its own per-minute or credit rules. Some such services dial a UK access number; account for any UK call charge as well as the service fee.
Your handset's network Wi-Fi Calling is also different from WhatsApp. Calling +55 through your standard phone dialler over Wi-Fi can still be treated as a conventional international voice call under your UK operator's pricing. Wi-Fi connectivity does not automatically make it free.
If you only need UK data for app calls, our UK mobile data usage guide can help you choose a suitable allowance before browsing the full UK SIM-only catalogue. Do not buy a bigger international minute pool purely because you spend a lot of time on internet video calls.
Keep your UK number, add a line or switch completely?
Changing to an eligible Lyca or Lebara SIM does not mean you must permanently lose your existing UK number. If the new provider meets your domestic service needs, you can normally move that number using the UK switching process. But an unnecessary port can complicate banking messages, work contacts and an otherwise satisfactory long-term agreement, so first check whether an add-on or second line will solve the Brazil calling problem.
Text PAC to 65075 from the UK mobile number you want to keep, then give the code to the new provider. To review switching information and possible exit charges, text INFO to 85075. Do not manually cancel the old line before a number transfer is arranged. Our keep-your-number switching guide explains the practical steps and Ofcom's official guidance sets out the rules.
A dual-SIM phone can retain the primary UK number for banking texts and everyday calls while another line handles calls to Brazil. Check whether your selected plan is actually available on eSIM, how your phone supports simultaneous lines and which SIM is selected for outgoing international calls. Accidentally calling from the wrong line can turn an apparently inclusive call into a standard charge on the other UK account.
Be clear about location, too. Calling a +55 number from the UK is international calling. Using a UK SIM while physically in Brazil is roaming. A Brazil voice allowance does not automatically cover roaming data on holiday, and an EU roaming benefit says nothing about Brazil. If your relative is in Brazil but still uses a +44 UK number, you are generally dialling a UK number from your side; any roaming charge to that person is a separate issue.
Which option should you take to checkout?
If you need a new UK SIM and make regular conventional +55 calls, compare eligible Lebara and Lyca offers first. Start with the six live UK deals above, shortlist a plan with suitable UK data, reception and full renewal cost, and use its Full plan details to identify the exact offer. Confirm that this same offer includes calls to your Brazilian mobile or landline, along with the usable international-minute allowance and excess rate. Then use its existing tracked View Deal route if it fits. For other Lyca/Lebara international products, use the approved partner links near the start of this guide instead of assuming a generic UK card includes Brazil. No brand is a permanent price winner.
If you are settled on Vodafone UK or eligible EE PAYG, an international Extra may be the more economical route. If conventional calls are rare, check your present tariff's verified Brazil rate or a paid app-to-phone alternative before committing to another recurring SIM. If every conversation is app-to-app, prioritise UK data, reception and monthly cost instead.
For wider advice covering more countries, see our UK international calling SIM guide. That hub covers general product types; this page focuses on Brazil's specific +55 format, mobile/landline eligibility and the total cost of reaching a Brazilian phone number.
Calling Brazil from the UK: FAQs
Which UK SIM is best for calling Brazil?
Start with an eligible Lyca or Lebara UK plan that names Brazil and covers the standard mobile or landline you need. If you already have a UK SIM, compare the added cost of a Brazil-eligible pack, PAYG or a paid calling service with replacing your whole UK plan. No single provider wins at every calling volume or coverage location.
Does Lebara include Brazil in its international minutes?
Lebara has published Brazil among the destinations of its international SIM offering, and it describes standard mobile and landline eligibility on qualifying products. The specific allowance, number exclusions and excess charge belong to the individual tariff, not the brand as a whole.
Can I call Brazil on a normal Lyca Mobile UK SIM?
Selected ordinary Lyca UK plans have listed Brazil in their included international destination information. You may not need a specialist Brazil-only product. Do not assume every Lyca deal includes the same minutes: check the bundle you are buying and its exact destination terms.
Does Vodafone International Saver cover Brazil?
Brazil appears on Vodafone UK's published International Saver destination list. You need an eligible account and an applicable Extra, which is priced separately from the UK tariff. Check renewal, the type of Brazilian number covered and the charge after the allowance is used.
Can EE PAYG customers get inclusive Brazil minutes?
EE has published a Rest of World PAYG calling option that includes Brazil among its destinations. Confirm that the option is currently available to your account and covers the calls you make; it is not an automatic benefit of every EE Pay Monthly tariff or every provider using EE's network.
Does Three Call Abroad include Brazil?
Brazil was not included in the mainstream Three Call Abroad Pay Monthly and PAYG destination lists reviewed for this guide. That does not prevent normal chargeable calls to Brazil. Check the live Brazil rate and any newly available option on your exact Three account before purchase.
How do I call a Brazilian mobile from a UK phone?
Dial +55 + the two-digit DDD + the nine-digit mobile number. A São Paulo mobile follows the pattern `+55 11 9XXXX XXXX`. Do not copy a Brazilian domestic `0 + carrier-selection code` into the international number.
Why does a Brazilian mobile have an extra 9?
Anatel's standard mobile numbering scheme uses nine subscriber digits beginning with 9 after the two-digit DDD. Ordinary landlines have eight. If you have an old eight-digit mobile contact, request the recipient's current number rather than guessing the correct format.
Can I call a Brazilian 0800 or 0300 number from Britain?
Not reliably. Brazilian non-geographic, freephone and special-service numbers may only work domestically or may be excluded from your international calling allowance. Ask the organisation for an ordinary geographic or internationally accessible contact number.
Are WhatsApp calls to Brazil free?
App-to-app voice calls over Wi-Fi avoid conventional international voice charges when both people use the same service and have connectivity. Broadband or mobile data costs still exist, and it is not a free route to arbitrary Brazilian landlines through the normal phone dialler.
Can I keep my existing UK number when changing SIM?
Usually, yes. Text PAC to 65075 from your old UK SIM and supply the code to the new provider when arranging the transfer. Check your current contract for any outstanding charges and avoid cancelling the old line yourself beforehand.
Bottom line: choose the calling method that actually reaches your Brazilian number, then compare the total cost of your UK service and the Brazil minutes you will use. Lyca and Lebara are useful partner-supported starting points when you need a new everyday SIM; an existing-network Extra, occasional PAYG or internet calling can be better when you do not.
DealPriceCheck compares selected UK offers, not the whole calling market. Prices, destination lists, product availability and eligibility may change; confirm the exact terms and checkout price. Some links may earn us commission at no extra cost to you.