Is calling an 855 number free?
The short answer
855 is one of the seven US toll-free codes (800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888). The party you call pays for the call; you don't pay per-minute toll charges from a US phone.
Edge cases
On mobile plans with limited minutes, the call still consumes airtime. From outside the US, +1-855 numbers are generally not free — international rates apply and some carriers block toll-free ranges entirely. And a business can refuse toll-free charges from certain origins, in which case the call simply won't connect.
Why so many 855 scam reports
Toll-free numbers are cheap to rent in bulk, so fraud call centers use them for callback traps: a robocall or text urges you to 'call your bank' at an 855 number. Always find the real number independently instead of using one a message gave you.
Bottom line
If the digits after +1 are 855, the call costs you nothing from a US line. What deserves attention is not the price but who gave you the number: an 855 number you found on an official site is customer service; an 855 number from an unsolicited text is a callback trap until proven otherwise.
Sources
FAQ
Can I text an 855 number?
If the owner enabled text on it, yes — many businesses run text-enabled toll-free lines. Delivery depends on the business's setup.