If you're still calling internationally through your carrier, you're paying 10-50x what you should. Here's the actual landscape of international calling in 2026, from cheapest to most expensive.
If both you and the person you're calling have the app installed, calls are free. WhatsApp has 2.4 billion users, so for most countries, the person you're calling already has it. Quality is excellent on Wi-Fi, very good on 4G/5G.
Best for: Calling friends and family who have smartphones. Works to any country. Catch: Both parties need the app. Doesn't work for landlines or people without smartphones.
Free between Apple devices. iOS 17+ added FaceTime audio calls that work on Wi-Fi to any other Apple user.
Best for: Family with iPhones. Catch: Both parties need an Apple device.
Free from US to Canada. Calls to other countries are 1-3¢/minute for most major destinations. Setup requires a US phone number.
Best for: US users with frequent international calling needs. Catch: US-only signup. Some destinations are excluded.
Skype-to-Skype is free. Calls to landlines and mobiles are 2-25¢/minute depending on country. Subscriptions ($3-15/month) bring this lower for frequent callers.
| Destination | Per-minute |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom landline | 2.3¢ |
| India mobile | 1.7¢ |
| Philippines mobile | 17¢ |
| Mexico landline | 1.5¢ |
| Germany landline | 2.4¢ |
Similar to Skype Credit. Slightly cheaper for some destinations. Lower minimum top-up.
Specialized in international calling, often cheaper than Skype for African and Asian destinations. Good app reliability.
Free US calls + cheap international rates. Ad-supported in the free tier.
If you make occasional international calls and want simplicity, US carriers offer monthly add-ons:
These are good for travelers but expensive for regular international callers from home.
Without an add-on, calling internationally on your normal carrier plan costs:
| Carrier | Average rate to most countries |
|---|---|
| AT&T | $1.50-3.00/min |
| Verizon | $1.50-3.50/min |
| T-Mobile | $0.20-2.99/min |
A 30-minute call from AT&T to Germany without an add-on can cost $90. The same call on Skype costs $0.72. Always check before dialing internationally on cellular without an app.
| Calling to | Best free option | Best paid option |
|---|---|---|
| Europe | Skype (2-3¢/min) | |
| Latin America | Google Voice (1-2¢/min) | |
| India | Skype (1.7¢/min) | |
| Philippines | Viber Out (15¢/min) | |
| China | WeChat (only option) | Skype (2¢/min) |
| Africa | Rebtel | |
| Russia | Telegram | Skype |
| Japan | LINE | Skype (2.3¢/min) |
| Korea | KakaoTalk | Skype |
If you're calling someone with a smartphone, use WhatsApp. It's free, the quality is good, and it works in 200+ countries. For landlines or feature phones, Skype is the universal cheap option. The only time you should use carrier rates is when you're somewhere without internet access and you absolutely have to make a call right now.