Cheapest Way to Call Internationally in 2026

The cheapest way to call internationally is free: an app call to someone who uses the same app, such as WhatsApp or FaceTime. When you need to ring a real landline or mobile, internet calling is almost always cheaper than your mobile carrier's international rates. Which internet service is cheapest depends on the country you call and on whether you also need a number people can call back. LimePhone, for example, includes calls to the US, Canada and the UK in its plans and charges $0.032 a minute to Mexico, $0.0374 to France and $0.0992 to Indian mobiles.

Key points

• App-to-app calls are free, but only reach people on the same app.
• For landlines and mobiles, compare the per-minute rate for the two or three countries you call most. Rates vary by more than 20 times between destinations.
• Calling a mobile often costs more than calling a landline in the same country.
• If people need to call you back, a service with a real number is worth more than the lowest rate.

Every way to call abroad, cheapest first

1. App to app (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal, Messenger): free over Wi-Fi or data. Both people need the app.
2. Internet calling to a phone number (VoIP services and calling apps): usually cents a minute. Works from a browser or an app.
3. An international add-on from your mobile carrier: a fixed monthly fee for a bundle of minutes to selected countries. Reasonable if you call one country a lot.
4. Prepaid calling cards: cheap rates on paper, but access numbers, connection fees and expiry dates eat into them. See calling cards vs VoIP.
5. Your mobile plan's standard international rate: usually the most expensive way to call a landline or mobile abroad, and roaming adds more on top.

What international calls cost on LimePhone

Calls to the US, Canada and the UK come out of your plan's outbound minutes. Every other destination is charged per minute at its rate. A sample, checked October 24, 2026:

Every destination is on the rates page.

Is LimePhone the cheapest option for every country?

No, and it is worth being straight about that. LimePhone is strong value for calls to the US, Canada and the UK, which are included in the plan, and for Western Europe, Mexico, Australia and India, which cost a few cents a minute. For some destinations, such as the Philippines, Nigeria or the Gulf, a prepaid calling app built for that one corridor can charge less per minute.

What LimePhone adds is the number. You get a real US, UK or Canadian number that rings in your browser and on Android, texting on the same number, and voicemail with transcription. If you only ever make the odd call home, a prepaid app may cost less. If clients, banks or family need to reach you, the number matters more than a fraction of a cent.

How to pay less on every international call

• Use free app calls whenever the other person has the same app.
• Call landlines where you can; mobile termination is often the more expensive rate.
• Check the rate before you dial. The LimePhone dialer shows it for the selected country.
• Avoid calling from a mobile while roaming. Use Wi-Fi and an internet calling service instead.
• Avoid services that charge a connection fee per call or let your balance expire.

How we checked

LimePhone prices and per-minute rates in this article come from the live LimePhone rate table and plan list, checked on October 24, 2026. Rates change; the current figures are always on the rates page and pricing.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to call internationally?

Free app calls when both people have the same app. For landlines and mobiles, internet calling is usually cheapest; compare the per-minute rate for the countries you call most.

Is it cheaper to call internationally over Wi-Fi?

Through an internet calling service, yes, usually much cheaper than a mobile carrier's international rate. Note that your carrier's own Wi-Fi calling feature still bills international calls at the carrier's rates.

How much does it cost to call Mexico from the US?

On LimePhone, $0.032 a minute to Mexico, so a 30-minute call costs under a dollar.

Are international calls free on LimePhone?

Calls to the US, Canada and the UK are included in your plan minutes. Calls to other countries are charged per minute at the rates on the rates page.

Do I need a calling card?

No. Internet calling does the same job without access numbers, PINs or expiring balances.

About the author

Vincent Hawley writes LimePhone's guides to business phone numbers, international calling and calling over the internet.

More answers

Make calls online

• Call internationally from your browser
• Call without a phone using Wi-Fi
• Call without a SIM card

Cheap international calls

• Best Skype alternative for calls
• Cost to call India from the USA
• Calling cards vs VoIP

Call numbers abroad

• Call a US 1-800 number from outside the USA
• Call toll-free numbers abroad
• Call airlines and hotels abroad
• Call your bank from abroad
• Virtual number for expats

Business phone solutions

• Phone number on your website
• Add a phone number to Shopify
• Best Shopify phone system
• Pay-as-you-go vs monthly phone plans
• Virtual number for business