How to Make Cheap International Calls in 2026

Why do international calls still cost money?

The traditional phone network (PSTN) is separate from the internet. It's a global infrastructure of switches, cables, and agreements between phone companies that predates the web by a century. When you call a phone number, your voice must connect to this network, and phone companies charge termination fees—typically $0.01-0.05/min depending on destination.

Your carrier might charge $1.50/min while paying $0.03/min in termination fees. That 50x markup is where savings opportunities exist. VoIP services use the same underlying network but take smaller margins—charging $0.05-0.15/min instead of $1.50/min.

App-to-app calls bypass the phone network entirely. When both people use WhatsApp, the call travels over the internet without touching phone infrastructure. No termination fees, no carrier margins. That's why those calls are free.

What's the cheapest way to call internationally?

Options fall into a clear hierarchy from cheapest to most expensive. Start at the top and work down only when cheaper options don't fit your situation.

1. Free: App-to-app calls

Cost: $0 (uses internet data only—roughly 1MB per minute)

WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, FaceTime, LINE, WeChat. If the other person has the same app with decent internet, voice and video calls cost nothing. Calling someone in Japan costs the same as calling someone next door: nothing.

Works when: Both people have smartphones, same app installed, reasonable internet connections.

Doesn't work when: Calling landlines, calling people without smartphones, calling businesses or government offices, calling people in areas with poor internet, calling people who won't install apps.

This should be your default. Before looking at any paid option: can I just WhatsApp them?

2. Cheap: VoIP services ($0.02-0.15/min)

Cost: $0.01-0.30/minute depending on destination

VoIP (Voice over IP) services let you call real phone numbers—landlines, mobiles, any number—at rates far below what traditional carriers charge. Your voice travels over the internet until it reaches a gateway that connects to the phone network near the destination.

Typical savings: VoIP rates are often 5-20x cheaper than carrier rates. A call that costs $1.50/minute through your carrier might cost $0.08/minute through VoIP.

Trade-offs: Requires internet connection. Quality depends on your connection. Some services have expiring credit or hidden fees. Slightly more setup than just dialing a number.

3. Moderate: Carrier international plans ($5-20/mo + reduced rates)

Most phone carriers offer add-on packages for international calling. You pay a monthly fee and get reduced rates or included minutes to specific countries.

When it makes sense: If you call the same country frequently and the math works out. If you value the convenience of just dialing normally without apps or separate services.

When it doesn't: If you call occasionally or to many different countries. The monthly fee is wasted if you don't use enough minutes to justify it.

4. Expensive: Standard carrier rates ($0.50-3.00/min)

If you just dial an international number from your regular phone without any special plan or service, you're paying your carrier's standard international rates. Almost always the most expensive option.

When it makes sense: Emergencies. Very rare calls where the convenience of just dialing outweighs the cost. Business calls you can expense without scrutiny.

When to avoid: Any regular international calling. The markup over actual costs is enormous.

What about domestic calls?

For calls within your own country, the options differ slightly.

Mobile plans with unlimited calling

In most developed countries, unlimited domestic calling is now standard in mobile plans. If you're paying for any modern phone plan, domestic calls are probably already included in your monthly fee.

Check your plan. If you're still paying per-minute for domestic calls, you're likely on an outdated plan. Switching could save money even if the new plan costs slightly more per month.

WiFi calling

Most smartphones support WiFi calling—making regular phone calls over WiFi instead of cellular networks. Useful in areas with poor cellular coverage but good WiFi. The call still uses your regular phone number and plan minutes (if applicable).

WiFi calling is usually free to enable and doesn't change what you pay. It just gives you better coverage.

Google Voice (US only)

For US residents, Google Voice offers free calls to any US or Canadian number. You get a separate phone number and can call from the Google Voice app or website. This is genuinely free, not a trial or limited offer.

VoIP for domestic calls

If you don't have a mobile plan with unlimited calling—or you're calling from a location without cell service—VoIP services work for domestic calls too. Rates to domestic numbers are typically $0.01-0.02/minute.

Which VoIP service should I use?

Google Voice

Free calls to US/Canada. International from $0.01/min. Credit doesn't expire.

Catch: Only available to US residents with a US phone number to register. If you're outside the US, this option doesn't exist for you.

Viber Out

Calling feature within the Viber messaging app. Rates from $0.019/min with $4.99 minimum credit.

Pros: Competitive rates to certain countries. Good if you already use Viber for messaging.

Cons: Credit expires after 180 days. Viber isn't widely used in all regions, so you might be installing an app just for calling.

LINE Out

LINE is dominant in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. LINE Out lets you call phone numbers from the LINE app.

Rates: From ~$0.02/minute. LINE Out Free lets you watch an ad for 1-3 free minutes.

Pros: If you're in Japan or calling Japan, this is convenient. Supports local payment methods in Asian countries.

Cons: Credit expires. The free tier (watching ads) is too limited for real conversations.

Rebtel

Focuses on unlimited calling plans to specific countries rather than per-minute rates.

Rates: Monthly subscriptions from $10/month for unlimited calls to one country.

Pros: If you call one country heavily, unlimited calling can be very cheap per minute. Good call quality.

Cons: Expensive if you call occasionally or to many countries. Subscription means paying even when you don't call.

DialHard

Browser-based service—no app to install. Works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari.

Rates: From $0.03/minute. Minimum credit $20.

Pros: Credit never expires—important if you call infrequently. No app to install. Transparent pricing. In our data, 94% of calls to mobile numbers in Latin America connect on first attempt, and calls to US toll-free numbers (1-800) complete 98% of the time and are free.

Cons: Higher minimum purchase than some competitors. Browser-based only (no mobile app yet).

What hidden costs should I watch for?

Advertised rates don't tell the whole story. Watch for these:

Connection fees

Some services charge a flat fee just to connect each call—typically $0.02-0.10 per call regardless of duration. This makes short calls proportionally expensive. A 1-minute call with a $0.05 connection fee and $0.02/minute rate actually costs $0.07/minute.

Billing increments

Services bill in increments—1 second, 6 seconds, 30 seconds, or 1 minute. A service billing in 1-minute increments rounds every call up. A 2-minute-and-5-second call costs you for 3 minutes.

Over many calls, this adds up significantly. A service with $0.03/minute rates and 1-minute billing can cost more than one with $0.04/minute rates and 1-second billing.

Expiring credit

Many services expire your credit after 90-180 days of inactivity. If you call infrequently, you might buy $10 of credit, use $3, and lose the remaining $7 when it expires.

For occasional callers, a service with non-expiring credit (even at slightly higher rates) can be cheaper overall.

Maintenance fees

Some services, especially calling cards, charge monthly "maintenance" or "service" fees that slowly drain your balance even if you don't make calls.

Mobile vs. landline rates

A service advertising "$0.01/minute to India" might mean landlines only. Calling Indian mobile numbers—which is what most people need—might cost $0.03/minute or more.

Always check rates for the specific type of number you'll actually call.

Currency conversion

If a service prices in USD but you pay in another currency, your bank or card company adds a conversion fee—typically 1-3%. Not huge, but it's part of your true cost.

How much can you actually save?

Real example: 30 minutes/month calling mobile phones in the Philippines—a common scenario for workers abroad calling family.

Worst vs. best (excluding WhatsApp): $45 vs. $4.17—a 10x difference for identical calls.

If family members have smartphones with internet, WhatsApp costs nothing. But for calling elderly relatives with basic phones, VoIP services save over $40/month compared to carrier rates.

What about call quality?

The cheapest option isn't always the best. Here's how to think about quality:

When to prioritize cost

Long personal calls: Catching up with family for an hour. Minor audio imperfections don't matter much when the alternative is a $50 phone bill.

Frequent routine calls: Daily check-ins where perfect quality isn't critical.

Calling areas with poor infrastructure: If the destination has unreliable phone networks anyway, premium routing won't help much.

When to prioritize quality

Business calls: Poor audio quality undermines professionalism. Worth paying slightly more for reliability.

Important conversations: Medical discussions, legal matters, sensitive topics. You don't want to ask someone to repeat news about their health because of audio dropout.

Weak internet connection: If your internet is marginal, budget VoIP options might not work well. Higher-quality services handle poor connections better.

How VoIP quality works

VoIP quality depends on your internet connection and the routes the provider uses. With stable WiFi or 4G/5G, call quality often rivals traditional phones.

The cheapest VoIP options use "grey routes"—indirect paths that cost providers less but can have worse quality: more latency, occasional echo, or choppy audio. Premium services use direct routes with better audio but higher rates.

Before writing off free apps for quality reasons, test them. WhatsApp and similar apps have improved dramatically. The weak link is usually the other person's connection, not the app itself.

Cheap calling for specific situations

Calling elderly relatives abroad

Common scenario: you want to call elderly parents or grandparents in another country who have a landline or basic mobile phone—not a smartphone.

Best option: VoIP service with competitive rates to that country. Check rates for multiple services since they vary by destination.

Important: Set up caller ID if possible. Elderly people often won't answer unknown numbers. Some VoIP services let you configure what number displays on the recipient's phone.

Business international calls

For business, the cheapest option isn't always best. Consider:

Reliability: A dropped call with a client looks unprofessional. Use services with good quality reputations.

Caller ID: Calling from a recognizable number improves answer rates. Some services offer local numbers in various countries.

Recording: If you need to record calls for compliance, choose a service that supports this.

Even business-grade VoIP is far cheaper than carrier international rates.

Traveling abroad

When you're traveling, calling home becomes "international" even though you're calling your own country.

Avoid roaming: Using your home carrier abroad typically incurs steep roaming charges—often $1-5/minute.

Use WiFi + VoIP: Connect to WiFi and use VoIP services or apps. This bypasses roaming entirely.

Local SIM: Buying a local SIM card gives you local rates and data. You can use WhatsApp or VoIP to call home cheaply.

Calling from countries with expensive rates

Some countries have unusually high outbound international rates—even from local carriers. In these cases, VoIP becomes even more valuable.

However, some countries block or restrict VoIP services (UAE, China partially, others). Check before relying on VoIP.

Calling to expensive destinations

Some countries are expensive to call regardless of what service you use—the termination fees are high. Examples include certain African countries, Cuba, and some Pacific islands.

VoIP is still cheaper than carriers for these destinations, but expect to pay $0.20-0.50/minute rather than $0.02/minute. Compare rates across multiple services; they vary more for expensive destinations.

How do I set this up?

A few minutes of setup can save significant money over time:

Step 1: Audit your calling patterns

Look at your phone bill. Where are you calling? How often? How long are calls? Are you calling landlines, mobiles, or people who have apps?

This determines which solution fits best.

Step 2: Install the apps

Install WhatsApp, Telegram, and any regional apps (LINE, WeChat) relevant to the countries you call. They're free and don't hurt to have available.

Step 3: Choose a VoIP service for phone numbers

Pick one VoIP service for calling real phone numbers. Compare rates for your specific destinations, check for expiring credit, and buy an initial amount to test.

Step 4: Do a test call

Before relying on any service for important calls, make a test call. Check audio quality, connection reliability, and whether caller ID works as expected.

Step 5: Save the access method

Bookmark the website or keep the app readily accessible. The cheapest option only saves money if you actually use it instead of defaulting to expensive carrier calls.

Quick decision guide

Can you use a free app?

→ Yes: Use WhatsApp, Telegram, FaceTime, etc. Cost: $0.

→ No (need to call a phone number): Continue below.

Are you in the US calling US/Canada?

→ Yes: Use Google Voice. Cost: $0.

→ No: Continue below.

Do you call one country very frequently?

→ Yes: Consider an unlimited plan (Rebtel, carrier add-on). Calculate if the monthly fee is worth it.

→ No: Continue below.

Do you call occasionally to various destinations?

→ Yes: Use a pay-per-minute VoIP service. Choose based on rates to your destinations and whether credit expires.

Most people overpay for international calls because they never set up alternatives. 15 minutes of setup—installing apps, creating a VoIP account—can save hundreds per year. The technology is straightforward; the savings are real.