How To Call Kenya Cheaply

One of the downsides of working or living abroad is having to pay hefty bills for long-distance phone calls. Or at least that’s how it used to be. Nowadays, you can call your associates, friends, and family in Kenya without leaving a dent in your pocket.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to call Kenya cheaply so you don’t break the bank whenever you need to make a phone call. We’ll cover several cheap international calling options, and you can look through each to find the most suitable one for you.

How To Call Kenya from Abroad

Before we cover all the alternative options available to you, let’s look at the traditional way to make phone calls using your country’s phone network. You can use your Kenyan network provider to make calls even when travelling abroad.

Safaricom, Telkom, and Airtel all have roaming services that allow you to make and receive voice calls outside the country. You can send airtime or data through our top-up pages.

If you want to call your relative, colleague, or friend in Kenya, simply follow the following steps:

1. Enter the Proper Exit Code

You must enter the international dialling prefix to make an international phone call. The code is typically between two and five digits, and it varies depending on the country you’re in. You can ask your phone carrier or search the internet for your country’s exit code.

2. Enter Kenya’s Country Code

The exit code shows you’re calling a number outside your country, and the country code shows where your call is going. Country codes are unique to every nation, and Kenya’s is 254.

3. Enter Your Recipient’s Phone Number

Ensure you have the recipient’s phone number. Once you’ve entered the required codes, you can dial their phone number, typically an eight-digit code unique to the person you’re calling.

The cost of your international phone call will depend on your phone carrier network. You can buy a prepaid international plan from your network provider based on your budget. You can also opt to purchase minutes instead.

Now that we’ve covered how to call Kenya the traditional way, let’s look at some alternative options for making affordable phone calls to Kenya from abroad.

Cheaper Alternatives to Call Kenya

Even with competitive roaming rates, international phone calls can be expensive. Here are alternative ways to call Kenya cheaply and sometimes for free.

Use International Calling Cards

If you’re traveling and experiencing problems using your personal SIM card for phone calls, you can turn your phone into an international phone using calling cards. You can purchase calling cards at the supermarket, airport, gas station, and online.

International calling cards are prepaid, which means you pay as you go. The amount you’ll pay depends on the company’s rates for calling specific countries. One of the advantages of using these calling cards is they’re usually a lot cheaper than standard network rates.

Additionally, using the cards is pretty easy. Simply top up the card and dial the number you wish to call in Kenya.

Use Free Online Calling Apps

Here are the best apps you can use for free online calls. All you’ll need is a stable internet connection.

1 Skype

Skype is well known worldwide as a video-calling platform, but did you know you can also use it to make cheap long-distance phone calls? You can download the app on any phone or computer and use its audio call feature to make domestic and international phone calls from your account. 

Skype allows you to make free international calls to other Skype users worldwide, provided you both have a stable internet connection. If you’re using WiFi, then the calls are free, but if you’re using data, data charges apply. The amount you spend will depend on your network provider. 

2. Facebook Messenger

If you have a Facebook account, then you’re familiar with Messenger, the feature that allows you to send texts and make audio and video calls. All you have to do is tap on the camera or phone symbol in the chat box next to their profile to start the call. 

You can use the Facebook Messenger calling feature on both the mobile app and the desktop website. An added advantage is that you can add multiple people to your call, and there’s no time limit on calls. 

Plus, there are fun touches like filters you can use to delight others on the video call. 

3. WhatsApp

WhatsApp is known mainly as an online texting app, but it’s also among the top apps to make cheap calls to Kenya. You can download the WhatsApp app on your iPhone, Android, and Windows phone. 

Whatsapp is one of the most popular methods people abroad use to stay in touch with family and friends back in Kenya, especially considering it’s the most used app in the country. 

You can use Whatsapp to make free international calls to Kenya, provided both of you have an internet connection. If you don’t have WiFi, you can use data to make the call instead. You can also use the app for video calls and conference calls, depending on who you want to get in touch with. 

4. Viber

If you’re still wondering how to call Kenya cheaply, you can try Viber, a voice-over IP and messaging app with cross-platform features. You can use the Viber app for video and audio calls, instant messaging, and group chats.

You can use the Viber app or desktop site to call your colleagues, friends, and family in Kenya over WiFi. If there’s no WiFi, you can use your data. Viber is available to iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows PC users. So you can use it on basically any device.

One of the greatest perks of Viber is its cross-platform capabilities. Even if your recipient does not have the Viber app, you can use the Viber Out feature to call their mobile phone. This saves you the money you’d have used to purchase an international calling plan. 

5. Facetime

If you own any Apple device- an iPhone, iPod, iMac, or iPad- then you’re familiar with Facetime, the video-call app you can use to make calls over WiFi or your data plan. Facetime comes built into the device, so you don’t have to download it. 

To use Facetime, simply sign up using your Apple ID and choose the contact you wish to call. The app allows you to make audio and video calls, and you can use it to make free international calls to Kenya. The only downside to using Facetime is both users must have an Apple device.

Use Paid Calling Apps

All the options we’ve covered above are great ways to call Kenya cheap or for free, but sometimes access to the internet can be a challenge. Here are two service providers that offer pretty decent call rates. 

1. Rebtel

Rebtel is a popular platform that offers traditional phone services. The app uses landlines instead of WiFi, so you get clear audio even without access to the internet. The app is easy to navigate, and you can choose a plan depending on your needs. 

Rebtel has different pricing options, so it comes down to you. You can choose their international plan if you travel from one place to another. If you’re staying in one country, you can pay for unlimited calls to Kenya or another specific country for a month. 

2. Localphone

Localphone is another reliable app you can use to make cheap international calls. It offers both pay-as-you-go and subscription plans, meaning you don’t have to commit to a year subscription if you don’t want to. 

Localphone does not offer features like video conferencing, as they focus mostly on reducing the cost of international calls.

You can use several companies and services to make cheap and free international phone calls to Kenya. With all the above options, you now know how to call Kenya cheaply.