How Long Does It Take to Get an InmateAid Local Number?

Once an InmateAid local number is requested and payment is processed, the number is typically assigned and ready to send to your inmate within an hour. That is fast enough that you can include it in a letter the same day or pass it along through the next available phone call.

The setup fee for the local number service is $19.95. Whether that cost makes sense depends on how much the number actually saves per call and how frequently your inmate calls. At $0.70 savings per call, for example, you would need to receive roughly 29 calls just to break even on the setup cost. For someone whose inmate calls several times a week that math works in your favor fairly quickly. For someone receiving one or two calls a week it takes considerably longer to see a return.

InmateAid evaluates this on a case by case basis and will be upfront if the numbers do not work in your favor. In situations where the per-call savings are too small relative to the setup cost, the team may recommend holding off or issue a refund rather than let you spend money on a service that will not deliver meaningful value in your specific situation. That kind of transparency is not something every service provider offers, and it reflects the way InmateAid approaches the relationship with families who are already managing tight budgets.

If you have decided you want the number regardless and your inmate calls often enough to justify it, reaching out directly will get it set up within the hour as promised.