How to Make Free Internet Phone Calls

Thanks to the internet, making free phone calls is easier than ever. Discover the easiest ways to make free internet phone calls today.

Pick Your Device

There are multiple devices you can use to make internet phone calls. Generally speaking, here are the different devices you can use:




Smartphone to Smartphone: Install a mobile app (like Skype) on your phone, then ask your recipient to install that same mobile app. Typically, smartphone to smartphone internet phone calls are free around the world as long as you’re using the same app.

Computer to Computer: Use your computer’s internet connection to make calls to other computers. Just like with smartphones, this is easier when you have the same software installed on both computers.

Tablet, Computer, or Smartphone to a Landline or Mobile Phone: This involves calling landlines and mobile phones with a computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can use software like Skype to call people from a computer to a phone for free. However, to call traditional land line numbers and mobile phones over the network, you’ll likely need to subscribe to a VoIP service plan.

Generally speaking, all of these technologies rely on VoIP communications to transmit voice data either to and from digital devices, or to and from traditional phone lines and digital devices.

Keep reading below to discover the top apps and services that allow you to make free internet phone calls today.

Editor’s Note: Looking for information on VoIP Phone Systems? Use the questionnaire below and our vendor partners will contact you to provide you with the information you need:

Skype

Skype is the world’s most popular VoIP communications technology. If you’re trying to call someone’s computer, tablet, or phone, then Skype should be your first choice because it’s so ubiquitous.

Skype allows you to make free unlimited internet phone calls to anybody in the world – provided that person has Skype installed on their computer, smartphone, or tablet.

You will, however, have to pay to call “real” phone numbers using Skype. If you want to call someone’s mobile device outside of the app, for example, then you’ll need to pay Skype a per-minute rate. You’ll also need to do this when calling landlines.

With 600 million users around the world, Skype is the biggest name in VoIP. Download the mobile apps or desktop software today.

Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts is Google’s unified calling, chatting, and video platform. Like the other services listed here, you can call other Hangouts users for free. The vast majority of Android devices sold today come with Hangouts pre-installed – so if you’re calling from an Android tablet to a smartphone, then Hangouts is an excellent option.

Hangouts also gives you the ability to call landlines and mobile devices – although you’ll need to pay an extra per-minute rate to do so.

Apple Facetime

Apple’s Facetime is the best solution if you’re calling between Apple devices. If you want to call someone’s iPhone using your iPad, for example, then Facetime is the best way to do it because you already have it installed on all devices.

Facetime is available on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. All devices running iOS 7 or later also have the ability to make audio-only calls (previously, the service only allowed you to make video calls between users).

All you need to do to use Facetime is turn it on using your Apple ID. On newer Apple devices, Facetime is available over both mobile networks and Wi-Fi. On the iPhone 4 and earlier, however, the service is only available over Wi-Fi.

Be careful when using Facetime for longer chats: a 10 minute Facetime call will use about 30MB of mobile data.

WhatsApp

Popular around the world, WhatsApp just launched free calling between its users in 2015. Today, the app is available on a wide range of platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry.

WhatsApp is free to download for the first year, after which you’ll be required to pay about $1 USD/year.

One of the main benefits of WhatsApp is that it’s available across multiple operating systems. If you need to call from an Android tablet to an iPhone, for example, then WhatsApp works perfectly fine across platforms.

Meanwhile, WhatsApp Web lets you access WhatsApp through any normal internet browser. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to make calls from a computer to a mobile device – you can only send messages.

The main downside to WhatsApp is that audio quality isn’t great. If you’re looking for better-quality cross-platform calling, Skype is still your best option.

Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger lets you chat over any web browser, tablet, or smartphone. Calls are typically high-quality and you can chat using strictly voice or through video.

The key advantage of using Facebook Messenger is being able to contact anyone on your Facebook friends list. Some people don’t have Skype, or you might not have their mobile number, in which case Facebook Messenger is an excellent solution.

The main restriction of Facebook Messenger is that you won’t be able to call landlines, toll-free numbers, or mobile numbers using the service. This is strictly for calling other Facebook users within the app – so it won’t suit everybody’s needs for making internet phone calls.

Viber

Viber is a popular VoIP communication service that’s used by millions around the world. It works in a similar way to all of the other services listed here, allowing you to make free Viber-to-Viber calls to anyone who has the mobile app installed on their computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Viber, however, has the added benefit of working as a complete internet phone calling service. You can install an additional app called Viber Out to make calls to landlines and mobile devices.

Call quality with Viber Out is typically better than the quality you’d get with other providers. If you’re calling landlines and non-Viber mobile users, then you’ll need to pay a per-minute rate.

Vyke

Vyke’s name seems to be a combination of Viber and Skype, or something like that. It’s relatively new in the world of VoIP, but offers competitively-priced plans that put it right up there with some of the industry’s bigger names.

Vyke actually works in a slightly different way to traditional VoIP communications. Like others listed here, you can call anyone using the Vyke app – as long as they also have the Vyke app installed.

Where Vyke differs from other providers is in how to handles Vyke-to-landline calls. Vyke first transfers you to a network provider, then transfers you to the number you called. Vyke claims to do this to improve call quality, leading to better service than you would get over a traditional Wi-Fi connection.

Vyke also has a unique feature called VykeZone, which lets you call any landline in a list of eligible countries (including Australia, China, and the United States), and you pay around 15 to 20 cents for a full one hour call.

Vyke has a free trial that lets you enjoy 10 minutes of free calling to numbers in certain countries.

Vonage

Vonage is one of the world’s most popular VoIP providers. With Vonage, users enjoy competitive international calling rates and a full range of features to meet your personal needs or the needs of your business.

Like with other services listed here, you can make calls to other Vonage users for free. If you’re calling non-Vonage mobile users and landlines, however, then you’ll need to pay a small fee.

Vonage also gives you the option to add plans to your account instead of constantly paying a per-minute rate. One plan, Talk World, for example, gives you 400+ monthly minutes of calling to India, Nigeria, and Bangladesh. Choose from other plans that give you access to different countries around the world.

Tango

Tango is a mobile app that offers similar service to Skype, WhatsApp, and other messaging platforms. You can make internet phone calls over 3G, 4G, and Wi-Fi across iOS, Android, Blackberry, and Kindle devices.

Both voice calling and video calling is available to other Tango users – although you won’t be able to make internet calls to landlines. All calling through Tango is free.

GlobFone

GlobFone is both an online messaging system and a full-service VoIP provider.

It’s one of the few services on the list that lets you make a free phone call directly from your web browser without needing to sign up for anything. Just visit this page and type in the number you wish to dial: https://globfone.com/call/

The site is supported by advertisements. If you’re using AdBlock, then the site will actually block you from loading everything until you disable AdBlock.

The phone caller system itself is 100% JavaScript-based. As long as you have the latest version of JavaScript, you’ll be able to enter your number into that dialer and make a call. You can call from your internet browser to any landline or mobile device.

You can even make international calls using that free internet phone: just type in the international country code prior to dialing and you’ll be able to instantly connect.

The only restrictions with GlobFone is that you have a limited duration for your call. After your call connects, you’ll see a countdown timer appear on the side. When that timer runs out, you’ll be out of time and the call will be disconnected. The length of your call depends on factors like destination cost and current service usage.

Outside of the online free calling interface, GlobFone lets you video chat, make online phone calls, and text online to anyone, anywhere in the world.




Editor’s Note: Looking for information on VoIP Phone Systems? Use the questionnaire below and our vendor partners will contact you to provide you with the information you need: