How to Call Abroad from the USA: Complete Guide for 2026

How do I dial an international number from the US?

Before comparing services, here's how international dialing actually works from an American phone.

The format

To call abroad from the US, dial:

011 + country code + phone number

The "011" is the US exit code—it tells the phone system you're dialing internationally. Every country has a unique country code (1-3 digits), followed by the local number.

Examples:

United Kingdom: 011 44 20 7946 0958 (44 is the UK country code, 20 is London)

Mexico: 011 52 55 1234 5678 (52 is Mexico, 55 is Mexico City)

India: 011 91 98765 43210 (91 is India)

Philippines: 011 63 917 123 4567 (63 is Philippines)

Germany: 011 49 30 1234567 (49 is Germany, 30 is Berlin)

Using the + symbol

On mobile phones, you can use "+" instead of "011". Hold down the 0 key until + appears, then dial the country code and number. The phone automatically converts it to the correct exit code.

So +44 20 7946 0958 works the same as 011 44 20 7946 0958.

The + format is universal—it works when dialing from any country and is what you'll see in most contact lists.

Drop the leading zero

Many countries use a leading "0" for domestic calls that you must remove when calling from abroad. A UK number written as 020 7946 0958 becomes +44 20 7946 0958 (drop the 0). A German number 030 1234567 becomes +49 30 1234567.

This applies to the UK, Germany, France, Australia, Japan, and most of Europe and Asia. Mexico and most of Latin America don't use leading zeros, so you dial the number as-is.

What are my options for calling abroad?

Americans have several choices for international calls, ranging from free to expensive.

Option 1: Free calling apps (WhatsApp, etc.)

Cost: Free

If the person you're calling has WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, FaceTime, or a similar app, voice and video calls are completely free. The call travels over the internet without touching the phone network.

This is the obvious first choice when it works. Before paying for any international call, ask: does this person have WhatsApp?

When it works: Both people have smartphones with the same app and decent internet.

When it doesn't: Calling landlines, calling people without smartphones, calling businesses or government offices, calling areas with poor internet.

Regional apps: Different countries use different apps. WhatsApp is global, but use LINE for Japan/Taiwan/Thailand, WeChat for China (WhatsApp is blocked there), KakaoTalk for South Korea.

Option 2: Google Voice (free to 50+ countries)

Cost: Free to many destinations, cheap to others

Google Voice is a significant advantage for US residents. It's a free service that gives you a separate phone number and lets you call real phone numbers—landlines and mobiles—at no cost to many countries.

Free destinations include: Canada, Mexico (landlines and most mobiles), UK landlines, France landlines, Germany landlines, and about 50 other countries (mostly landlines). Check Google's current rate sheet for the full list.

Cheap destinations: Countries not on the free list cost $0.01-0.20/minute. Even "expensive" destinations are far cheaper than carrier rates.

How to set up:

1. Go to voice.google.com and sign in with your Google account

2. Choose a Google Voice phone number (free)

3. Link it to your existing phone for verification

4. Make calls from the Google Voice app or website

Limitations: Only available to US residents with a US phone number. Quality depends on your internet connection. Some users report occasional call quality issues.

If you're in the US and make international calls, setting up Google Voice should be your first step. It takes 5 minutes and covers a huge range of destinations for free.

Option 3: VoIP services (DialHard, Viber Out, etc.)

Cost: $0.01-0.30/minute depending on destination

VoIP (Voice over IP) services let you call any phone number worldwide through the internet. You buy prepaid credit, then pay per minute based on where you're calling.

VoIP is useful for destinations where Google Voice isn't free, for better reliability, or for features Google Voice doesn't offer (like non-expiring credit or caller ID options).

Viber Out

Calling feature within the Viber messaging app.

Rates: From $0.019/minute to some destinations.

Minimum purchase: ~$5

Downside: Credit expires after 180 days. The app is primarily a messaging platform—calling feels like an afterthought.

DialHard

Browser-based calling service. No app installation required—works in Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Rates: From $0.03/minute.

Minimum purchase: $20

Key advantages: Credit never expires—good for occasional callers who don't want to lose unused credit. Calls to US toll-free numbers (1-800, 1-888, etc.) are free with a 98% completion rate. Premium routes to popular destinations (Mexico, India, Philippines, UK) complete 94% of the time.

Downside: Higher minimum purchase. Browser-only (no mobile app yet).

Rebtel

Specializes in unlimited monthly plans to specific countries.

Rates: From $10/month for unlimited calling to one country.

Best for: Frequent callers to a single destination. If you call Mexico or the Philippines daily, unlimited for $10-15/month can be very economical.

Downside: Monthly commitment. Not cost-effective for occasional calls or calling many different countries.

Option 4: Carrier international plans

Cost: $5-15/month plus reduced per-minute rates

AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and other carriers offer international calling add-ons. You pay a monthly fee and get discounted rates or included minutes to specific countries.

T-Mobile: Many plans include unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada. Some include landline calling to 70+ countries. Check your specific plan.

AT&T: International Day Pass ($10/day) for travel, or monthly packages for calling from the US.

Verizon: International calling plans starting around $5-15/month with discounted rates.

When it makes sense: If you're already on a plan with international features, use them. Check your plan details—you might have included minutes you're not using.

When it doesn't: Adding a $10/month plan for occasional calls often costs more than just using VoIP. Do the math based on your actual calling pattern.

Option 5: Carrier standard rates (avoid if possible)

Cost: $0.50-3.00/minute

If you just dial an international number from your phone without any special plan or service, you pay your carrier's default international rate. These are almost always outrageously expensive.

Examples of standard per-minute rates:

Verizon: $1.49/minute to UK, $1.49/minute to Mexico mobile, $2.89/minute to India

AT&T: $1.00-3.00/minute depending on destination

A 20-minute call to India could cost $50-60 at these rates. The same call through VoIP would cost $0.20-0.60.

Standard carrier rates are only justified for true emergencies when you don't have time to use alternatives.

Which countries are most commonly called from the US?

Here's what you need to know for the most frequently called countries from America.

Mexico

Country code: +52

Mexico is the most-called international destination from the US. Millions of Americans have family, friends, or business ties there.

Cheapest options:

• Google Voice: Free to landlines and many mobiles

• T-Mobile: Many plans include unlimited Mexico calling

• WhatsApp: Free if they have the app (very common in Mexico)

VoIP rates: Around $0.02-0.04/minute to mobiles

For most US callers to Mexico, between Google Voice, T-Mobile plans, and WhatsApp, you can likely call for free.

Canada

Country code: +1 (same as US)

Canada shares the +1 country code with the US. Many US phone plans treat Canada as domestic, meaning calls to Canadian numbers may be included in your regular minutes.

Check your plan: Most modern US plans include Canada. If yours doesn't, Google Voice calls to Canada are free.

India

Country code: +91

Large Indian diaspora in the US, plus significant business ties.

Cheapest options:

• WhatsApp: Free and widely used in India

• Google Voice: ~$0.01/minute (very cheap)

• VoIP services: $0.01-0.03/minute

India is one of the cheapest international destinations to call due to low termination rates and high competition.

Philippines

Country code: +63

Large Filipino-American community, significant remittance corridor.

Cheapest options:

• WhatsApp/Viber: Free if they have the app. Viber is particularly popular in the Philippines

• Google Voice: ~$0.08/minute to mobiles

• VoIP services: $0.10-0.18/minute to mobiles

The Philippines is moderately expensive compared to other destinations because mobile termination rates are higher. If the person you're calling has a smartphone, pushing them to install Viber or WhatsApp saves significant money.

China

Country code: +86

Business ties and Chinese-American family connections.

Important: WhatsApp is blocked in China. For app-based calling, you need WeChat. Make sure your contact in China has WeChat installed.

Cheapest options:

• WeChat: Free if they have the app

• Google Voice: ~$0.02/minute

• VoIP services: $0.01-0.03/minute

China is cheap to call via VoIP, but app-based calls require using the apps that work there (WeChat).

United Kingdom

Country code: +44

Business, family, and tourism ties. Remember to drop the leading 0 from UK numbers.

Cheapest options:

• WhatsApp: Free

• Google Voice: Free to landlines, ~$0.02/minute to mobiles

• VoIP services: $0.02-0.05/minute

Germany

Country code: +49

Cheapest options:

• WhatsApp: Free (very common in Germany)

• Google Voice: Free to landlines, ~$0.10/minute to mobiles

• VoIP services: $0.02-0.10/minute

German mobile rates are higher than landlines. If possible, call the landline.

Nigeria

Country code: +234

Growing Nigerian diaspora in the US.

Cheapest options:

• WhatsApp: Free if they have reliable internet

• Google Voice: ~$0.08/minute

• VoIP services: $0.08-0.15/minute

Nigeria is a moderately expensive destination. Internet can be unreliable in some areas, making app-based calls hit or miss.

Brazil

Country code: +55

Cheapest options:

• WhatsApp: Free (extremely popular in Brazil)

• Google Voice: ~$0.05/minute to mobiles

• VoIP services: $0.05-0.12/minute

WhatsApp adoption in Brazil is nearly universal. Almost everyone has it.

How much does it cost to call each country?

Approximate cost of a 10-minute call to a mobile phone:

*Use WeChat for China instead of WhatsApp

How do I make my first international call?

If you've never called abroad before, here's the simplest path:

If they have a smartphone

1. Ask if they have WhatsApp (or WeChat for China, LINE for Japan)

2. If yes, install the same app and call through it. Done—it's free.

If they have a landline or no smartphone

1. Set up Google Voice at voice.google.com (takes 5 minutes)

2. Check if your destination is free on Google Voice

3. If free: call from Google Voice

4. If not free: compare Google Voice rate vs. VoIP services. Use whichever is cheaper for your destination.

If you call one country frequently

1. Check if your carrier plan includes that country

2. Compare: carrier add-on vs. Rebtel unlimited vs. pay-per-minute VoIP

3. Calculate based on your actual monthly minutes

What mistakes should I avoid?

Using carrier rates without checking alternatives: This is the most expensive way to call internationally. Always check Google Voice or VoIP first.

Forgetting to drop the leading zero: UK, Germany, France, Australia, and many other countries use a leading 0 in domestic numbers. Drop it when calling from the US.

Not checking if WhatsApp works: Before paying anything, verify whether the person has WhatsApp. Billions of people do.

Buying credit that expires: If you call internationally only occasionally, choose services where credit doesn't expire. Losing unused credit to expiration is wasted money.

Ignoring time zones: Before calling, check what time it is at the destination. India is 9.5-12.5 hours ahead of the US depending on your location. The UK is 5-8 hours ahead. Japan is 13-16 hours ahead. Calling at 9am Eastern might mean calling at 10:30pm in India.

Using WhatsApp for China: WhatsApp is blocked in China. Use WeChat instead.

Summary

Best free option: WhatsApp or similar apps when both people have smartphones.

Best option for US residents: Google Voice. Free to many countries, very cheap to others. There's no reason not to set it up.

Best for calling phone numbers: VoIP services (DialHard, Viber Out). Far cheaper than carriers.

Best for frequent calls to one country: Check carrier plans or Rebtel unlimited. Calculate whether the monthly fee is worth it.

Avoid: Standard carrier international rates unless it's an emergency.

The savings are substantial. A call that costs $25 through your carrier might cost $0.20 through VoIP—or nothing through WhatsApp. Five minutes of setup can save hundreds of dollars per year.