Started using Xpatfone and planning on porting my number over… while it’s okay I still probably wouldn’t recommend it.
Details that are useful for reference: VOIP provider that you can port a real phone number into, usable over WiFi/5G to make calls and texts to UK.
Benefits: Subscription based, don’t have to worry about my phone number expiring like I would with Giffgaff after 6 months and when I need to make calls back to the UK it comes through with my actual phone number (not always an issue, but is some of the time, Chase (looking at you)).
Negatives: App is a little clunky, but one thing I mentioned did get fixed (iOS 26 Liquid Glass buttons were styled like iOS 18 buttons, which they’ve since changed). My texts aren’t going through either after the first one and… I’ve accidentally called because the app isn’t as fast as possible.
Edit: App seems very much focused for businesses as well, probably could do with a second app rather than bundling this into their main app. It’s also a little expensive (£8,99 a month).
Contacts don’t update to match phone contacts and there’s no “delete contact in app only” setting (or at all) and there’s no way to filter out non-UK contacts (for example, I don’t want to call Chinese numbers with the app).
I’m sure there’s something else but I’ll think of it later. I guess all I can do is try it out for a month or two and port back to Giffgaff if I need to.
£1.20 per month for one number, that includes a number that you have ported in.
Incoming texts and calls are free.
Texts can be set to go to email and calls to voicemail (which is emailed), so no app needed to for example receive the text required to log into a bank website.
Any standard VOIP app with SIP registration can be used, for example I use Zoiper (on an android phone). You are not tied a provider’s own app.
This sounds like the one for me when I tootle off to Australia. It even has my name on it
So, am I right in thinking that with this, I could be living in Australia but keep my UK phone number and use it as if I were still in the UK?
Next task is to get some post redirection service to keep a UK address so I can get, mainly i suspect, new debit and credit cards but also some statements.
You can set up your phone with an Australian phone number and data plan, then use the A&A service on a VOIP phone app. Your phone will then ring when someone calls your UK number.
Most UK banks will accept a foreign address and mail your cards and statements to Australia. A major exception to this option is America, because of the US reporting requirements many UK financial institutions will close accounts if the owner is US tax resident.
The major banks will, but building societies (apart from Nationwide) and the fintechs will generally close your account.
The Charles Schwab account seems to be a reasonably useable US account which you can open from the UK. They dropped their previous $25000 minimum. It’s got an American card so comes with American features, notably CDW and it refunds all ATM fees. Free FX, though you need to get the cash into dollars in the first place obviously.
