Apps for cheap international calls: prices and monthly costs

We make CallSky, one of the services discussed here. This guide explains our prices and when a different kind of calling service may cost you less.

First, check whether you need a paid calling app

If you and the person you want to reach both use WhatsApp or another internet calling app, you may already have what you need. Calls between app users do not use international calling credit, though mobile data or roaming charges can still apply.

Calling a bank, a hotel reception desk or a relative's landline is different. You need a service that connects to ordinary telephone numbers. A prepaid app can do that, but check your existing phone plan first: it may already include the destination.

The cheapest option depends on where you call and how often. A low monthly subscription can be good value for regular calls. For a few calls spread across the year, paying for each minute may cost less.

Five international calling services to compare

We checked the linked provider pages on September 10, 2026. These picks cover different calling habits; the numbering is not a call-quality ranking. We make CallSky and have not carried out comparative call testing.

1. Yolla: worth checking for calls to the US

Yolla's US rate page lists pay-as-you-go calls to mobiles and landlines from $0.01 per minute. It also advertises 200 US minutes for $0.99 over 30 days, with automatic renewal. If most of your calls go to the US, those offers deserve a look: CallSky's US starting price is $0.03 per minute.

Check the offer in your account before buying. A monthly bundle only helps if you use the minutes, and that US price says nothing about another destination.

2. Rebtel: compare plans for regular calls

Rebtel offers unlimited subscriptions, minute bundles and prepaid minutes. It also supports connections through local phone lines alongside Wi-Fi and mobile data. That makes it worth investigating if you call the same country often or need an alternative to internet calling.

Check destination coverage, fair-use terms and whether local-line calling is available where you live. Compare the full monthly bill with the worked examples below.

3. Talk360: prepaid calling with account-specific rates

Talk360 connects calls to mobiles and landlines without requiring the recipient to install an app. It uses prepaid credit. Its rate selector depends on the country code of the number you register, so select your own account country before comparing prices.

Occasional callers should also read its inactivity terms: a balance expires after 12 months without an outbound call or credit purchase.

4. Localphone: another option for small top-ups

Localphone advertises credit top-ups from $1, plus subscriptions and several ways to call, including mobile apps and VoIP devices. A small top-up can be useful when you want to try a service before leaving much money in the account.

Choose your calling method before comparing the total cost. Its homepage still includes a historical Skype comparison; use the destination quote rather than that savings table.

5. CallSky: browser calls with credit you can keep

CallSky suits occasional calls from a browser or app. Credit starts at $5, does not expire and has no monthly subscription. Our September snapshot lists starting prices of $0.03 per minute to the US, $0.04 to the UK and $0.09 to India.

We are not the cheapest choice for every destination. Yolla's published US starting rate is lower, and a suitable subscription may cost less for regular calls. CallSky also rounds connected calls up to whole minutes. Check your exact number in the dialer before topping up.

CallSky starting prices for international calls

These are country starting prices from our September 10, 2026 rate snapshot. They are not separate landline and mobile quotes. The number you call and the caller ID you use can change the price. Check the quote in CallSky before placing a call.

CallSky uses prepaid credit and has no monthly calling subscription. Credit starts at $5 and does not expire. Calls are billed in one-minute increments, so a connected call lasting 61 seconds uses two billable minutes.

Compare your carrier's allowance before buying credit

Check the international calling section of your own plan. An included call can cost you less than any prepaid app, even one with a low advertised rate. Be careful with travel packages: an allowance for using your phone abroad may not cover calls from home to another country.

If your carrier offers a paid add-on, divide its price by the minutes you expect to use. A hypothetical $10 bundle costs $0.10 per minute if you use 100 minutes, but $1 per minute if you use only ten. Confirm that the bundle covers the specific country and network you call, and check when it renews.

Our guides to EE international calls and AT&T international plans explain what to look for. Your carrier's current plan terms determine what you will pay.

Two examples using the updated starting prices

Suppose you make one 30-minute call each week, or about 130 minutes a month averaged over a year. The examples below assume the number qualifies for the listed starting price. They are estimates, not quotes for every mobile or landline in that country.

• India: 130 minutes at $0.09 per minute comes to $11.70 a month.
• Philippines: 130 minutes at $0.39 per minute comes to $50.70 a month.

For the Philippines example, a subscription costing less than $50.70 could save money if it includes those 130 minutes to the right network. For India, it would need to beat $11.70. There is no universal point at which a subscription wins.

You can work out your own break-even point: divide the monthly subscription price by the prepaid rate quoted for your number. Then check any connection fees, fair-use limits and excluded networks. Use billable minutes rather than talk time if calls are rounded up.

Fees worth checking

CallSky has no connection or maintenance fee, and purchased credit does not expire. We do round calls up to whole minutes. At a quoted rate of $0.39, for example, a 61-second call costs $0.78.

Which pricing model suits your calls?

Prepaid credit for occasional calls

A credit balance is useful when you do not know how much you will call next month. Compare the quote for the same number across services, along with their minimum top-up and inactivity rules. Our SkypeOut replacement guide covers prepaid options and credit expiry.

A country plan for regular calls

If most of your calls go to one country, compare the monthly total with a country plan from a provider such as Rebtel. Check whether the plan includes mobiles as well as landlines. A plan that excludes the network you need is not a saving.

App calls when both people have internet

For friends and family who use the same app, an internet call may be enough. You can keep a small prepaid balance for the calls that need a telephone number. Our WhatsApp calling guide explains the data costs to watch for.

Where CallSky fits

We built CallSky for calls to ordinary phone numbers using prepaid credit. You can call from the browser or an app, and keep unused credit for later. That suits occasional calls to different countries without committing to a monthly plan.

CallSky is for voice calls, so you will need another app for video or messaging. If you call the same country for hours each month, compare a subscription before topping up. For other destinations, our dialing guides help you find the correct number format; the quote before your call gives you the price.

Quick answers

Is there an app that makes international calls completely free?

Calls between users of apps such as WhatsApp can be free apart from internet access. Calls to ordinary phone numbers may be included in a phone plan or funded by an ad-supported service. Check destination coverage and limits before relying on a free offer.

Why can mobile and landline rates differ?

Providers can charge different prices for different networks within a country. The country starting prices above do not tell you the separate landline and mobile rates. Check the quote for the full destination number.

Do I need a SIM card to call over Wi-Fi?

You can make internet calls over Wi-Fi without using a SIM for the call itself. Account setup or phone verification may still require access to a phone number. See our guide to calling without a SIM for the details.

How do I find the exact current rate?

Enter the full destination number in CallSky and check the price before calling. Use the table in this article for an initial comparison; it is a dated snapshot of starting prices.

To compare a destination, open CallSky and check the rate for the number you want to call. You can then compare that quote with your carrier or another app before buying credit.