Skype shut down in May 2025, and millions of people who relied on it for cheap international calls had to find something else. If you're on Android and need to call actual phone numbers abroad — landlines, mobiles, office lines — this guide is for you.
We're not covering WhatsApp, Telegram, or other messaging apps. Those only work when both people have the same app installed. This list focuses on apps that connect to the public telephone network (PSTN), so you can dial any number in any country, whether the person on the other end has a smartphone or a rotary phone on a desk.
We tested seven international calling apps for Android and compared their per-minute rates, call quality, features, and quirks. Here's what we found.
Quick comparison: rates to popular destinations
Before diving into each app, here's what you'll actually pay per minute to five of the most-called countries. All rates are in USD, pay-as-you-go.
| App | UK mobile | India | Philippines | Nigeria | Mexico |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Voice | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.12 | $0.12 | $0.03 |
| CallSky | $0.02 | $0.07 | $0.25 | $0.22 | $0.02 |
| Rebtel | $0.04 | $0.012 | $0.22 | $0.20 | $0.03 |
| Viber Out | $0.059 | $0.015 | $0.087 | $0.077 | $0.012 |
| Talk360 | $0.04 | $0.03 | $0.20 | $0.13 | $0.04 |
| Boss Revolution | $0.05 | $0.033 | $0.15 | $0.12 | $0.019 |
| Yolla | $0.10 | $0.024 | $0.144 | $0.129 | $0.011 |
Rates checked March 2026. All are pay-as-you-go; subscription plans may differ. CallSky rates shown are Economy tier. Viber Out rates are "from" minimums and vary by caller location. Rebtel USD rates sourced from third-party comparisons (their site shows GBP for UK visitors).
No single app wins on every route. Google Voice has the cheapest rates to most destinations but only works for U.S.-based users. The rest depends on where you call.
What to look for in an Android calling app
A few things matter more than others when picking an international calling app for Android:
- PSTN access. Can it call real phone numbers, not just other app users? This is the dividing line between a messaging app and a calling app.
- Pay-as-you-go vs. subscription. Subscriptions make sense if you call the same country daily. For everyone else, pay-as-you-go is cheaper — you don't lose money during weeks you don't call.
- Call quality and routing. Some apps route through a single carrier. Others have fallback providers. The difference shows up when you're calling countries with less reliable telecom infrastructure.
- Credit expiration. Some apps expire your balance after 30-90 days of inactivity. Others don't. Read the fine print.
- Android experience. Not all apps were built for Android first. Some are iOS ports with rough edges — laggy dialers, missing notifications, poor battery management.
The 7 best international calling apps for Android
Google Voice
Best for: U.S.-based callers who want the cheapest per-minute rates
Google Voice gives you a free U.S. phone number and some of the lowest international rates available. Calls to the UK and India cost $0.02/min. It integrates with Gmail, Google Calendar, and the rest of the Google ecosystem, which makes it useful for people already invested in Google's tools.
The catch is availability. Google Voice only works if you have a U.S. phone number to link during setup. If you're outside the U.S. or don't have an American number, this option is off the table. Voicemail transcription and spam filtering are included, and call quality over WiFi is consistently good.
Pros
- Lowest rates to most countries ($0.02/min to UK, India; $0.03/min to Mexico)
- Free U.S. number included
- Deep Google Workspace integration
- Voicemail transcription built in
Cons
- Only available to U.S.-based users
- No emergency (911) calling support
- Business version starts at $10/user/month
CallSky
Best for: Former Skype users, families calling abroad, and business teams
CallSky launched on Android in March 2026, adding to its existing iOS and web apps. It connects to landlines and mobiles in 180+ countries through a pay-as-you-go credit system — no subscriptions, no monthly fees. Credits never expire, so you won't lose your balance if you go a few months between calls.
Under the hood, CallSky uses dual-provider routing. Each call is sent through whichever carrier offers the best rate and quality for that specific route. If the first provider drops the connection (which happens on routes to parts of Africa and Southeast Asia), the app automatically fails over to the second. Most competing apps rely on a single carrier, so a problem on that network means a failed call with no fallback.
For business teams, there's an admin dashboard with shared credit pools, verified caller IDs, and exportable call history. The same login works across the Android app, iOS app, and web app, so team members can use whatever device they have.
Pros
- Credits never expire
- Dual-carrier routing with automatic failover
- Works on Android, iOS, and web with the same account
- Business features: shared credits, verified caller IDs, call analytics
- End-to-end encrypted calls
Cons
- Android app is new (March 2026) — still building its Play Store review count
- Rates aren't the absolute cheapest on every single route
Rebtel
Best for: Frequent callers to a single country who want the lowest per-minute rate
Rebtel has been around since 2006 and focuses on immigrant communities calling home. Their pay-as-you-go rates are low — $0.012/min to India, $0.04/min to the UK — and they also offer unlimited calling plans to specific countries for a flat monthly fee.
The unlimited plans are where Rebtel stands out. If you call India or Mexico several times a week, paying $5-10/month for unlimited minutes is cheaper than any pay-as-you-go alternative. The app uses "local access numbers" to connect calls, which means your regular carrier minutes count toward the call rather than using data. That's useful when WiFi is unreliable, but it does mean the call shows up on your phone bill as a local number.
Pros
- Some of the lowest per-minute rates available
- Unlimited country plans for heavy callers
- Works over regular phone lines (no data needed)
- Been in business since 2006
Cons
- Uses local access numbers, which can be confusing at first
- App interface feels dated
- Credit expires after 365 days of inactivity
Viber Out
Best for: People already using Viber who occasionally need to call a landline
Viber is one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, and Viber Out is its paid add-on for calling real phone numbers. If you already have Viber installed for free messaging with family, adding Viber Out means you don't need a separate calling app.
Rates are middle-of-the-road — $0.015/min to India, $0.059/min to the UK. They also offer subscription bundles for frequent callers: unlimited calls to specific countries for a few dollars per month. The calling interface is built right into the main Viber app, so there's no switching between apps.
Pros
- Built into Viber, which you may already use
- Subscription bundles for frequent callers
- Low rates to India ($0.015/min) and Mexico ($0.012/min)
- Free Viber-to-Viber calls included
Cons
- Credit expires after 6 months of no purchases
- UK and European rates are higher than some competitors
- Main app is bloated with stickers, stories, and ads
Talk360
Best for: Calling Africa and South Asia from anywhere in the world
Talk360 is a South African company that specializes in calls to developing countries. Their rates to Nigeria ($0.13/min) and India ($0.03/min) are lower than most alternatives, and they've built their network around routes that other apps tend to neglect.
The app works in 196 countries — both for where you're calling from and where you're calling to. You don't need a SIM card or a local number. Just WiFi or data, credit on your account, and a number to dial. The recipient doesn't need the app or even a smartphone.
Pros
- Strong coverage of African and South Asian routes
- Works from almost any country (196 supported)
- No subscription required
- Recipient doesn't need the app
Cons
- Rates to Western countries (UK, US) aren't the cheapest
- Smaller user base, fewer reviews
- Credit must be used within 365 days
Boss Revolution
Best for: Budget callers in the U.S. who frequently call Latin America
Boss Revolution started as a calling card company and moved to an app. Their strength is Latin American routes: $0.019/min to Mexico, $0.05/min to UK mobiles. They also have retail locations across the U.S. where you can top up with cash, which matters for users who don't have (or don't want to use) a credit card.
The app lets you earn rewards points on calls that convert to free minutes. Quality is generally good on major routes, though calls to rural areas in some countries can be hit-or-miss.
Pros
- Cheap rates to Latin America and the Caribbean
- Cash top-up at retail locations across the U.S.
- Rewards program for frequent callers
- UK landline calls at $0.02/min, mobile at $0.05/min
Cons
- 1.5 cent/min surcharge when using toll-free access numbers
- App can feel slow on older Android phones
- Primarily focused on the U.S. outbound market
Yolla
Best for: Light callers who value a clean, modern Android app
Yolla is a smaller player, but their Android app is polished and fast. Rates start at $0.011/min to Mexico and $0.024/min to India. The app shows your remaining balance and estimated call time before you dial, which helps avoid surprises.
Where Yolla falls short is scale. Fewer users means fewer reviews and a less-tested network. They don't have the routing redundancy of larger providers, so call quality can vary more on difficult routes. But for occasional calls to common destinations, it works fine.
Pros
- Clean, well-designed Android app
- Shows estimated call time before dialing
- Good rates to India ($0.024/min) and Mexico ($0.011/min)
- Caller ID displays your real number
Cons
- Smaller company with less network redundancy
- Credit expires after 120 days of inactivity
- Limited business features
What about WhatsApp, Telegram, and other messaging apps?
Messaging apps aren't on this list because they solve a different problem. WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and similar apps let you call other people who have the same app installed. That's great when both sides have smartphones and data connections.
But if you need to call a landline number at a business in London, a family member's mobile in Lagos, or your parents' home phone in Manila, messaging apps can't help. The apps on this list connect to the telephone network, so you can dial any number, anywhere.
Tips for getting the best call quality on Android
A few settings can make a noticeable difference:
- Use 5 GHz WiFi when available. The 2.4 GHz band is more crowded, which causes jitter and dropped audio. If your router supports both, connect to the 5 GHz network for calls.
- Disable battery optimization for your calling app. Android aggressively kills background apps to save battery. Go to Settings > Battery > select the app > "Don't optimize." This prevents the app from being suspended mid-call.
- Close other apps during calls. Streaming video, large downloads, and even some social media apps compete for bandwidth. Close them before dialing.
- Test on cellular data too. Modern 4G and 5G connections are often more stable than congested public WiFi. If your hotel WiFi is struggling, switching to mobile data may give you a clearer call.
Which app should you pick?
It depends on who you call and how often.
- U.S.-based, occasional caller? Google Voice. It's free and has the cheapest rates.
- Call the same country every week? Rebtel's unlimited plans will save you the most money.
- Former Skype user who wants a direct replacement? CallSky has the closest model — pay-as-you-go credit, no subscriptions, credits that never expire, and the same app works on Android, iOS, and web.
- Already using Viber? Add Viber Out rather than installing another app.
- Calling Africa regularly? Talk360 has the best-optimized routes.
- In the U.S. calling Latin America? Boss Revolution's rates and cash top-up options are hard to beat.
If you're not sure, most of these apps let you try with a small credit purchase ($2-5). Start with the one that matches your most-called country in the rate table above.
For a broader look at WiFi calling apps across all platforms, see our complete ranking of the 12 best WiFi calling apps.
CallSky is now on Android, iOS, and web. Pay-as-you-go credit, 180+ countries, no subscription needed. Get it on Google Play.