10 Best Ways to Call International Numbers For Free (Mobile & Landline)

When you make phone calls with a telecom network outside of your home country, you will be subject to high roaming fees. This will happen when you dial a foreign phone number while in your home country. High roaming fees are also common when you travel abroad and your home SIM card connects to foreign cellular networks to make a call.

The apps that we list in this guide use a combination of Wi-Fi, cellular data, and phone calling to help you make calls to foreign mobile numbers and foreign landline numbers with reliable connection. They help you avoid roaming charges at the same time. Some of these apps, like Keepcalling, even let you make unlimited international calls to certain countries for free.

How To Call International Numbers For Free

To avoid high roaming costs while still staying connected internationally, we've tested and listed the best apps and methods to make cheap and free international calls:

Keepcalling: Best Overall For Cheap International Calls

Keepcalling is hands-down the most reliable app I have used to make calls to both mobile and landline cell phones while abroad. I have also used it to call foreign numbers with reliable connection while at home in the US.

The app uses a unique "Local Numbers" technology. When you call an international number, Keepcalling routes your call through local phone lines in both your country and the recipient's country. The two calls are bridged together, creating a seamless connection.

This method bypasses traditional international calling routes, reducing costs and improving call quality, especially in areas with poor internet connectivity.

Keepcalling Costs

The app displays real-time credit balance and call duration during conversations. Keepcalling has no hidden fees, connection charges, or minute rounding either.

Calls to US phone numbers are free and unlimited. Other countries have monthly plans. Otherwise, you can use pay-as-you-go rates, which start from 1¢/minute, varying by country. All of Keepcalling's rates by country are transparently listed on the app.

How To Call International Numbers For Free With Keepcalling:

1. Download the Keepcalling app;
2. Create an account using your email or phone number;
3. If needed, add credit to your account;
4. Import your contacts or manually add international numbers;
5. Tap on a contact in the app and make a call;
6. You can make the call if you are connected to Wi-Fi, data, or a telecom network.

MAJORITY: Ideal for Newcomers to the US

MAJORITY operates as a digital finance platform, partnering with Axiom Bank, N.A. to provide checking accounts in multiple languages and multi-lingual customer support at $5.99 per month. For members, the app supports unlimited free international calling to the following 25 countries:

• Australia, Austria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Guam, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Romania, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To make international calls with the app, simply navigate to the "Call" section in the app and dial the number. You'll be able to call any mobile or landline phone, with no data required to make the call.

MAJORITY Costs

• $5.99 monthly subscription fee (first 30 days free).
• Comes with a checking account, Visa debit card, international money transfers to select countries, and mobile top-ups.
• No fee ATM withdrawals at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs; fees may apply at other ATMs.

Tello: Great for Calling Canada, Mexico, and India

Tello supports free calls to Canada, Mexico, and India. Otherwise, Tello's plans start at $5/month for 100 international minutes. Pay-as-you-go rates for international calls start as low as 1¢/minute, with no contracts or activation fees. Tello also has data plans available.

The company operates as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator using T-Mobile's network, combining traditional cellular service with VoIP technology for international calling. To get started with Tello, sign up for a plan on their website or app. You'll receive a SIM card or have the option to activate an eSIM. Once you've inserted the SIM or activated the eSIM on your phone, you can dial international numbers directly from your phone app, just as you would with a traditional carrier.

Tello Costs

• 100 Minutes: $5/month
• 300 Minutes: $6/month
• 500 Minutes: $7/month
• Unlimited Minutes: $8/month

Google Voice: Ideal for Calls Between the US and Canada

Google Voice offers free calls within the US and Canada, with no monthly fees for basic personal use. International rates vary, starting from 1¢/minute. It uses VoIP technology integrated with Google's infrastructure, allowing call forwarding to multiple phones and voicemail transcription.

To set up Google Voice, sign in with your Google account and choose a Google Voice number. Link your existing phone number(s) to your Google Voice account. Once configured, you can make calls through the Google Voice app or website. The service integrates with other Google products, making it convenient for those already using the Google ecosystem.

Google Voice Costs

• Free for calls within the US and Canada.
• International rates vary, starting from 1¢/minute.

Yolla: Best for Frequent International Callers

With Yolla, rates vary by country, starting from 4¢/minute. While it does not support free calling, their minute rates are competitive compared to traditional carriers. Yolla uses a hybrid system of VoIP and local access numbers, routing calls through internet protocols when possible and using local numbers in various countries to reduce costs.

To use Yolla, download their app from your app store and sign up with your phone number or email. You'll need to add credit to your account. Once set up, you can select a contact or dial a number directly within the app to make an international call.

Yolla Costs

• Rates vary by country, starting from 4¢/minute.

Viber: Best for Messaging and Calling Combo

Viber offers free Viber-to-Viber calls and text messages. For calls to non-Viber numbers, Viber Out credit is required, with rates varying by country but competitive compared to traditional carriers. However, Viber's rates are not as low as those from Keepcalling or Google Voice.

Viber uses VoIP technology for internet-based calls and messages, offering end-to-end encryption for secure communication. To use Viber, download the app and verify your phone number. The app will sync your contacts to find other Viber users. You can then make free calls to other Viber users or purchase credit for calls to non-Viber numbers.

Viber Costs

• International rates vary, starting from 1¢/minute.

VoIP Apps (e.g., WhatsApp, FaceTime)

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) apps transmit voice and video data over the internet instead of traditional phone lines. Most VoIP apps offer free app-to-app calls globally, requiring only an internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular data). The main limitation is that the person who you want to call needs to also have the same app. They also rarely support calls to landline numbers.

To use a VoIP app, download your chosen app (such as WhatsApp or FaceTime for iOS) from your device's app store. Set up an account, usually linked to your phone number or Apple ID. The app will typically sync with your contacts to find others using the same service. You can then initiate voice or video calls directly through the app, with just a tap on the contact's name.

VoIP App Costs

• Free calls to other app users if you have internet connection.

Globfone: Best for Quick Calls

Globfone offers free calls for most destinations, with no registration or credit card required. However, calls are typically limited to 5-10 minutes, and daily call limits will apply. Globfone uses WebRTC technology to facilitate browser-based calls, routing them through internet protocols and converting them to traditional phone signals at the destination.

To use Globfone, simply visit their website on any web browser. Enter the country code and phone number you want to call, then click "Call" and allow microphone access when prompted.

Globfone Costs

• Free calls typically limited to 5-10 minutes.
• Globfone sustains itself through running advertisements.

PopTox: Limited Free Calling

PopTox provides free calls to most countries, with call duration usually restricted to 5-10 minutes. They also impose daily call limits. Despite its free services, customer reviews have cited poor quality calls or dropped calls.

Like Globfone, PopTox uses WebRTC technology for browser-based calling and connects to traditional phone networks. Visit PopTox.com in your web browser, select the destination country from the dropdown menu, and enter the phone number you wish to call. Click "Call" and grant microphone permissions when prompted.

PopTox Costs

• Free calls typically limited to 5-10 minutes.
• Basic: $10/month for unlimited calls to 51 countries
• Standard: $20/month for unlimited calls to 75 countries
• Premium: $50/month for unlimited calls to 134 countries

Any Call: Ad-Based International Calling App

Any Call is an advertisement-based app that offers limited free calls. Daily call limits will apply. By watching ads, you gain credits to use toward phone minutes.

To use Any Call, download the app from your device's app store. Watch ads or complete certain tasks within the app to earn credits, which garner you more call minutes. You can dial the number you want to call within the app once you earn enough credits.

Any Call Costs

• Free international calls limited by number of credits.
• Earn credits by watching advertising videos.