Whether it’s to friends, family or colleagues, many of us have to make international calls at some point.
At the rate of about 5¢ to $1.40 or more per minute, it’s not exactly cheap to keep in touch.
Sure, you can keep the cost down by getting a better and cheaper cell phone plans or by using prepaid calling cards, but if you call often, it can still be pricey.
Thankfully, there are many apps and providers that allow you to call friends and family overseas no matter where they are located.
If you want to avoid the sky-high costs of calling people abroad, then you should definitely consider using one of the apps or services below.
Most of these providers have free international calls apps for both iPhone and Android devices. Some also have apps for windows as well.
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How to Make Free International Calls
“How can it be free when I pay a monthly free for local calls?”
It’s crazy, isn’t it?
Well, it is all thanks to the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology.
What is VOIP, you ask?
It’s an awesome piece of technology that lets you make voice calls through a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line.
Depending on the VOIP service provider, you may be able to only call other people who have the same service or anyone who has a phone number.
You know how major news networks like CNN always have guests from overseas?
You guessed it, they are using VOIP (mostly Skype) to communicate.
Ok, ready for free phone calls to overseas?
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Here are the best apps you can use to make free international calls immediately…
1. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is the most popular and, arguably, the best app on this list.
It’s incredibly easy to use, it allows you to call anyone, anywhere.
Best of all, it is completely free!
Over a billion people in 180 countries use this app to talk to friends, family and work colleagues on a global scale.
WhatsApp uses your phone’s Internet connection to allow you to send messages and call your contacts.
Here’s what else you can do with it:
- Send videos
- Share photos
- Leave voice messages
- Create and participate in group chats
- Call or message anyone for free, even if they’re in another country.
You don’t need a username or PIN to use this app. It works with your phone number, so you essentially use your phone like you normally would, except you make calls and send messages through the app.
Please note that if you aren’t using Wi-Fi to access the Internet on your phone and you’re using your data, then data charges may apply.
Where to get it:
2. Viber
Another app that works in a similar way to Whatsapp is Viber.
With this app, you can call and text people for free, regardless of what country they are in.
Essentially, it’s an instant messaging and VoIP app that you cannot only use on your mobile but on your desktop computer too.
Like Whatsapp, Viber uses your phone’s internet, whether that’s WiFi or 3G, to make calls and send messages.
It’s easy to use and integrates with your phone’s contact list.
Where to get it:
3. IMO
With IMO you can stay in touch with friends, family and work colleagues no matter what country they’re in.
IMO allows you to:
- Send unlimited messages
- Make free voice calls
- Make video calls for free
- Participate in group chats
- Share photos
Like the apps above IMO uses your phone’s internet – a system known as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) – to make calls and send messages.
I use IMO to keep in touch with my mom and brothers back home. In fact, I used IMO’s free video calling feature to see my mom for the first time in over 15 years.
Where to get it:
4. PopTox
Another service that allows you to make international calls for free is PopTox.
It’s not an app like Whatsapp, Viber or IMO, but, rather a web browser-based service.
PopTox is super easy to use, as you don’t have to download any app or plug it to make calls with it.
With it, you can make free international calls online without registration.
It connects your call to more than 1000 carriers globally.
If you want to make free international calls from a PC, then you should definitely consider PopTox.
Where to get it:
All you need to do is visit this page and then simply type the number that you want to call into the phone on the screen. You will then phone that number from within your web browser.
5. Skype
Skype is one of the most well-known calling services, and with good reason.
It’s super reliable, incredibly easy to use, and it’s free, making it one of the best services on this list for calling overseas for free.
Here’s what you can do with it:
- Make video calls
- Participate in video calls with up to 25 people
- Send instant messages
- Participate in a group chat through instant messaging with up to 300 people
- Make voice calls
- Take part in group voice calls with up to 25 people
- Share photos and video messages
Calls made and messages sent to other Skype users are always free, even if you’re in different countries.
Where to get it
6. Voxofon
If you’re looking for an app that gives you free international calls for iPhone or Android devices, then check out Voxofon.
This app, which you can also use from your desktop computer, you can:
- Make free unlimited international calls to anyone with the app.
- Send free unlimited texts and messages internationally.
- Share photos and videos
Where to get it:
7. Fring
Another good free international call app is Fring.
With this app, you can make free calls to others, regardless of what country they’re in.
With it, you can make both voice and video calls. You can even participate in group calls.
Where to get it:
8. Vonage Mobile
You can dial family and friends in other countries who are also users of Vonage Mobile with the Vonage Mobile app.
With this app you can:
- Send texts for free
- Participate in free video chats
- Send video messages
- Share photos
Where to get it:
9. VoipStunt
VoipStunt is another service that allows you to call people for free worldwide.
With the app, which you can use from your desktop PC, as well as mobile devices, you make calls using the Internet, as you do with Viber and WhatsApp.
Where to get it:
10. Tango
Tango is another app that can be used to call people for free.
With the app, you can:
- Make video calls for free
- Send free messages
- Make free calls
- Participate in group chats
- Share photos and videos
The app works on both smartphones and tablets.
Where to get it:
11. VoxOx
VoxOx is a service that lets you make free calls internationally.
All you need to do is register for a VoxOx account, and download the app.
Once you’re registered, you can make free, unlimited international calls to other VoxOx Users.
Where to get it:
12. LINE
LINE is an app that allows you to make free international calls from your mobile.
With the app, which has 600 million global users, you can:
- Make free international voice calls
- Send free messages
- Make group calls with up to 200 people
- Share photos
Where to get it:
13. ooVoo
Another app that offers much more than just free long distance calls.
It also offers free messaging and video chats. With video chats, you can have a group video call with up to 12 people at a time (get the whole family in!)
Where to get it:
Resources for Making Cheap Long Distance Calls
Making a phone call, whether domestic or international, seems simple enough. But there are actually many things that could make the process much easier and quicker.
And if you’re not using free calling apps and have to actually pay for the call, there are things you can do to make it cheaper.
Here are a few awesome resources:
- International Long Distance Calling Made Simple Tip Sheet: Federal Communications Commission
- A Guide to Prepaid Phone Cards: Federal Trade Commission
Most major service providers also have separate plans for long distance calling.
So, if for some reason you can’t use any of these free apps, take a look at your current service provider’s plans and offers to see if there is anything that can save you money.
Here are international data/calling plans from a few major phone companies:
- International Calling, Messaging and Data Plans, Rates, Packages, & Apps: AT&T
- Global and International Services: Verizon
- Calling Abroad | Stateside International Services: T-Mobile
- Sprint International Calling & Texting Plans: Sprint
Bottom Line
Please keep in mind that the majority of these apps and services only work if you’re calling someone that also uses them.
For example, if you want to make a free call with WhatsApp, then the person you’re attempting to call also needs to have that app installed.
But they are free, and each app can be installed in a few seconds. So that’s not really a setback.
Don’t forget to share your tips in the comment section below if you know any other free call apps or ways to make free international calls without registration or download.
I use WhatsApp on my phone and Skype on my PC.
The only bad thing though is, a call via WhatsApp isn’t always crystal clear and it sometimes gets interrupted. But I use it anyway, Skype on my phone was so slow, I deleted it.
Okay, so Google Hangouts is shutting down in early 2021. :-( This was the only app I know of that I could use to call NUMBERS DIRECTLY, just as with any regular phone. All the other phone apps I know of has to have the client installed on both ends. That will not work if I want to call my bank or credit card company in North America long distance. Any suggestions on a free app that will do this going forward? not at all interested in chat – I want to CALL numbers.