Where to Find the Cheapest International Call Rates
If you ever been assigned to work internationally or have a loved one who is or maybe you have family in another country, you know how expensive international calling rates can be. And you don’t want to have to sacrifice your relationships due to the prohibitive costs involved in calling internationally.
The good news is that VOIP has provided some excellent, super cheap international call rates opportunities. I’ll cover the rates involved with some of the most popular low cost international call plan providers out there. It’s time to ditch that old calling card!
Google Voice
Right now all calls made within Google Voice in the U.S. are free to Canada and the U.S. But did you know that you can also purchase low cost international minutes via Google Voice? You can make the calls via your mobile phone, by calling in to Google Voice with any phone, or even through a Google Chat window. And the international call rates are cheap.
Here is a list of Google Voice international rates by country.
- Canada – Free
- China – $0.02/minute
- U.K. – $0.02/minute
- Mexico – $0.10/minute ($0.02 to Mexico City)
Outside of international calls, Google Voice is free.
In order to make international calls with Google Voice, you’ll need to first purchase credit in your GV account. Click ‘Add Credit’ on the left side of your inbox or on the Billing tab of your Google Voice Settings.
Check out my instructions on Google Voice number porting if you’re looking to use GV as a primary means of communication.
Skype
Skype to Skype calls are free worldwide, making it a great fit if those you are communicating with also have a Skype account. If they don’t, and you are calling a land-line or mobile with your account, Skype international rates are still pretty cheap:
Canada – $0.023/minute- China – $0.023/minute
- U.K. – $0.023/minute
- Mexico – $0.105/minute ($0.023 to Mexico City)
Skype also offers up different packages for where you call the most:
- Unlimited U.S./Canada – $2.99/month
- Unlimited North America (U.S./Canada/Mexico) – $7.99/month
- Unlimited World (~50 top countries) – $13.99/month
- Unlimited World + (includes Unlimited World plus a $15 Skype credit) – $19.99/month
Compared to Google Voice, Skype would be a better method if both parties have a Skype account. Otherwise, Google Voice is a bit cheaper.
Ooma
I’m a big fan of Ooma because it can completely eliminate your land-line costs and cut your cell use, all while enjoying the same user experience and clarity that a land-line provides. And if you make a lot of international calls, Ooma becomes an even better deal.
You have a few different options with Ooma, but if you buy in bulk or via a 500 or 1,000 minute plan, you really have a chance to save. The monthly plans allow you to call 70 of the most commonly called countries (including Canada, China, UK, Mexico, France, and Australia) at no additional charge. 1,000 minutes only cost $9.99 (less than $0.01 per minute). Without a plan, Ooma international call rates are still pretty low:
Canada – $0.014/minute, bulk – $0.01/minute- China – $0.025/minute, bulk – $0.02/minute
- U.K. – $0.03/minute, bulk – $0.01/minute
- Mexico – $0.136/minute, bulk – $0.06/minute
Check out my Ooma Review for more on the Ooma VOIP system.
Vonage
Vonage is a bit on the pricier end from a monthly subscription standpoint. You’re probably better off going with an Ooma if you want a VOIP unit that you don’t need to have a computer turned on to use or a cheap data plan to burn through. Both Ooma and Vonage are stand-alone units that replicate a land-line experience.
International calls to Canada, China, U.K., and Mexico are all included in the Vonage World Plan, which is $14.99 for the first 3 months, and then $25.99 each month after. Comparatively, an Ooma would pay itself off within about a year, excluding an international plan. Spend $10 a month or less for their international plan and you’ll come out ahead between year 1 and year 2.
Cheap International Call Rate Discussion:
- What other methods have you found to make cheap or free international calls?
- What is your preferred international call provider? Why?
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I am G.E. Miller, & 
Good comparisons. Do you have any information on Magic Jack? Ive always heard its the one good “made for tv” product!
I wasn’t able to find Magic Jack’s international rates. And I haven’t heard the greatest about them.
I use Skype very often to call abroad and I haven’t compared the prices with the competition because I am happy with their service (voicemail, landline number that rings directly in skype, quality of the communication,etc…). How do the other companies compared to Skype in regard to the audio quality?
Ooma is excellent – better than landline, in my opinion. Google Voice is good, but probably not as good as Ooma. I have not used Skype or Vonage.
Thank you for your answer. I think I will try Ooma and I will report back on how it compares to Skype.
My wife calls her family in the Philippines. Looks like per minute rates is best w/ Google Voice at 11 cents/minute calling a landline over there. I’ll have to explore the OOMA (which I own) 1000 or 500 min plan to see if it would be worth our while. I don’t believe my wife currently uses $10 worth a month using Verizon Int’l calling cards ($0.11/min when bought on sale BOGOF).
Looks like the 500 min plan is only an additional (we have the Premier package) $4.99/month which comes out to 1 cents/min if she uses the entire 500 min/month. I wonder if when she uses it all up it is just gone or is she allowed to go over the 500 min and be charged the ‘normal’ rate?
It doesn’t matter anyway since the Philippines is not on OOMA’s list of supported countries.
Can’t find cheap int’l calling for this country.
The one thing I can say is that the Skype calling plans are misleading, even when you have the highest paid international plans – it’s still misleading. Many countries you can’t call cells phones, but can call landlines, but in the list they are listed as countries you can call. I ended up going though all my skype credit because I didn’t realize cell calls not allowed to a particular country, only land lines are.
I prefer calling with Ooma for international calls.
Skype has the added benefit of video!
Interesting to know about Google voice. Will try that out sometime.
I prefer Skype for not only cheap rate. The quality of video and voice they are providing.. Specially I got great service of voice quality in New version of skype.
What is the rate for calling other countries (not included in the 40 counries) to call mobile or landline with unlimited worldwide plan for $13.99