A Quick Guide: 3 Ways to Call Abroad in 2024
Do you cringe at the thought of sky-high international calling fees? You're not alone. Despite colossal strides in technology that have shrunk our global village, the cost of reaching a friend or loved one internationally can still pack a hefty punch.
That is unless you're armed with the right tools, savvy tips, and cost-effective apps to dial abroad.
In this short guide, we go over the three ways you can reach your friends or loved ones in a foreign country:
Method 1: Calling App
Using a calling app like Rebtel, Boss Revolution or Yolla, you can make low-cost-per-minute mobile or landline calls to countries across the globe.
In particular, we like Rebtel in this category, which is an affordable international calling app that provides you with a seamless solution for international calling. Rebtel is an app you can download, and with it, you can convert your foreign contact's phone number to a local one, allowing you to make local phone calls and enjoy exceptional affordability, reliable connections, and user-friendly features. In our opinion, all of this makes Rebtel the go-to option for staying connected with loved ones abroad!
Here's how Rebtel works step by step:
Register for free
Register for Rebtel on their website or mobile app by selecting the country you want to call.
Connect your phone number
Enter your mobile number (which you'll need to verify by SMS) and your card details. You can cancel your subscription anytime.
Add your contacts
Add your contacts to the Rebtel app. For each international number you add, you'll instantly get a local phone number associated with that contact.
Make a (local) phone call!
You can then call that phone number as a local phone call! Since neither the caller nor the receiver needs to have an internet connection, you can even use a landline. All of this makes Rebtel's rates significantly cheaper than the big networks.
Method 2: VOIP
A popular way to call somebody overseas when you're in a foreign country is using voice-over-IP (VOIP) calls. This is a type of call where you use an app connected to the internet to call somebody else using the same app. Here are a few of the most well-known and widely-used apps that support VOIP calls between different countries:
- Google Meet
- Skype
- Telegram
- Facebook Messenger
- FaceTime
The advantage of using these platforms is that they're extremely cheap. They require you and the person you're calling to use the same app and have an internet connection. (It's often said that these calls are free, but this isn't strictly true since mobile data or WiFi costs are involved, but these are typically quite small.)
On the other hand, the disadvantage of calling via VOIP is that neither you nor the person you're calling will always have an internet connection or even a phone capable of connecting to the internet. If you don't have a WiFi connection, though, you can always consider getting an eSIM to allow you to get mobile data in dozens of countries worldwide.
Method 3: Direct Calling
Your third option (sadly, still popular) is to pick up your mobile or landline and call an overseas phone number directly via your regular phone function.
While this might sound convenient (and it is), it comes with one big drawback: the cost. You'll generally be charged by the second for making an international call—even for the ringing at the beginning of the call! Big mobile network operators tend to charge exorbitant rates for international calling, so we generally recommend against this method unless you're ready to swallow the costs.