Recharging PIN
Cheap calls to Zambia from Australia start at 25.4c a minute on Monster Minutes, plus 49c a call. With no connection fee, Zambian landlines start at 30.4c on Golden Banana and mobiles at 45.5c on African Dream. Here is every card ranked, the best card for the way you call, and what regular calls cost a month.
Cheap Calls to Zambia: Find the Cheapest Card
Pick landline or mobile and how long you usually talk. The calculator checks every card for that exact call.
Enter how long you talk to see the cheapest card.
International Call Rates to Zambia: Every Card Ranked
Each row shows the landline and mobile rate, the connection fee, how the card rounds up your minutes, and what a 20 minute call to a Zambian landline costs.
| Card | Landline | Mobile | Connection fee | Billed in | 20 min landline call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Monster Minutes | 25.4c/min | 41.4c/min | 49c | 4 min blocks | $5.57 |
| 2. Golden Banana | 30.4c/min | 59.1c/min | None | 1 min blocks | $6.08 |
| 3. Smile | 32.4c/min | 88.4c/min | 49c | 2 min blocks | $6.97 |
| 4. Mr Calls | 40.1c/min | 40.1c/min | 89c | 3 min blocks | $9.31 |
| 5. Click Too | 47.4c/min | 62.4c/min | None | 2 min blocks | $9.48 |
| 6. African Dream | 45.5c/min | 45.5c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $9.55 |
| 7. Marathon | 50.3c/min | 50.3c/min | None | 4 min blocks | $10.06 |
| 8. White | 45.1c/min | 45.1c/min | 89c | 3 min blocks | $10.36 |
| 9. Day to Day | 50.3c/min | 82.3c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $10.56 |
| 10. Omega | 55.3c/min | 55.4c/min | 59c | 3 min blocks | $12.20 |
| 11. Diamond | 59.4c/min | 74.4c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $12.47 |
| 12. Hello World | 60.2c/min | 60.2c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $12.64 |
Top 12 of 36 cards, sorted by the cost of a 20 minute call to a landline. See all 36 cards.
Best Card for the Way You Call
| If you make | Best card | Cost per call | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short calls to a landline (5 minutes) | Golden Banana | $1.52 | 30.4c/min, no connection fee, 1 min blocks |
| Short calls to a mobile (5 minutes) | African Dream | $2.73 | 45.5c/min, no connection fee, 3 min blocks |
| Long calls to a landline (1 hour) | Monster Minutes | $15.73 | 25.4c/min, 49c a call, 4 min blocks |
| Long calls to a mobile (1 hour) | Mr Calls | $24.95 | 40.1c/min, 89c a call, 3 min blocks |
What Regular Calls Cost a Month
Small differences per minute add up when you call Zambia often. These are the cheapest cards for three common calling patterns.
| Calling pattern | Best card | About a month |
|---|---|---|
| A 10 minute call every day to a mobile | Monster Minutes | $163.74 |
| Three 20 minute calls a week to a landline | Monster Minutes | $72.41 |
| One 1 hour call a week to a mobile | Mr Calls | $108.03 |
A month is counted as 30 days or 4.33 weeks. Prices exclude what your own provider charges for calling the local access number.
How to Make Cheap Calls to Zambia
A prepaid calling card is the cheapest way to make calls to Zambia from any mobile or landline in Australia. It is the simplest way of making cheap international calls, with low rates from 25.4c a minute.
- Calling card. You call a local access number, so the card needs no internet connection. The access number is a local dial-in number, so your phone provider charges it as a local call. With one card you can call any landline number or mobile in Zambia, and you add credit with a recharge. Call quality is the same as a regular phone line. You pay for calling credit up front, so there is no bill.
- Calling apps (VoIP). Calls via the internet are free when both people have the same calling app and a good internet connection. An app for calls to Zambia needs mobile data or Wi-Fi at both ends. An app cannot reach a landline for free.
- Your phone plan. Many plans charge more per minute for international calls to Zambia, or need an add-on. Check your call rates before you call.
The country code, or calling code, for Zambia is +260. To make international calls to Zambia, dial 0011 260, then the number without its first 0.
Card Sizes and Bonus Credit
| Card | Card sizes |
|---|---|
| Golden Banana | $10, $20, $50 (+$5 bonus) |
| African Dream | $5, $10, $20, $30 (+$3 bonus), $60 (+$6 bonus) |
| Monster Minutes | $10, $20, $30 (+$2 bonus), $60 (+$4 bonus) |
| Mr Calls | $10, $20, $30 (+$3 bonus), $60 (+$6 bonus) |
Bigger cards come with bonus credit on some brands. Credit lasts 6 months from your first call or last recharge, and a recharge brings back any credit that has expired.
How to Call Zambia with a Calling Card
- Buy the card online. We email you the PIN and the local access numbers.
- Dial the access number for your city, then your PIN.
- Dial 0011 260 and the number without its first 0, then press #. A mobile written 0977 123 456 becomes 0011 260 977 123 456.
Compare every card that calls Zambia, with landline and mobile rates and talk time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to call Zambia from Australia?
With a phone card, a 10 minute call to a landline in Zambia costs $3.04 on Golden Banana. A 1 hour call costs $15.73 to a landline on Monster Minutes and $24.95 to a mobile on Mr Calls. Prices include any connection fee and are for calls from a local access number.
What is the cheapest way to call Zambia from Australia?
A prepaid phone card is usually cheapest when the person you call is on a normal landline or mobile. The lowest rate is 25.4c a minute on Monster Minutes plus 49c a call. With no connection fee, landlines start at 30.4c on Golden Banana and mobiles at 45.5c on African Dream.
Do calls to Zambian mobiles cost more than landlines?
Yes. With no connection fee, the lowest rate is 30.4c a minute to a landline on Golden Banana and 45.5c to a mobile on African Dream. Check the mobile column in the table if you mostly call mobiles.
How do I dial a +260 number from Australia?
Dial 0011 260, then the number without its first 0 if it has one. A mobile written 0977 123 456 becomes 0011 260 977 123 456. On a mobile phone you can type +260 instead of 0011 260.
What is the area code for Lusaka?
Lusaka is 0211. From Australia drop the 0 and dial 0011 260 211, then the 6 digit number. Old listings that show 1 for Lusaka are out of date.
What is the time difference between Australia and Zambia?
Zambia is on UTC+2 all year and has no daylight saving. It is 9 hours behind Sydney in mid January and 8 hours behind in mid July.
Can I call Zambia for free from Australia?
Internet calling apps are free when both people have the same app and a data or Wi-Fi connection. To reach a landline, a basic mobile or someone with weak internet in Zambia, a phone card costs from 30.4c a minute to a landline and 45.5c to a mobile, with no connection fee.
Do phone cards expire?
Our cards stay active for 6 months from your first call or your last recharge. A recharge restores any credit that has expired.
