The Cheapest Way to Call Internationally in 2026
Here's a number that should make you angry: AT&T charges $3.00 per minute to call the UK. The actual cost for them to route that call? About $0.003. That's a 1,000x markup. And they're not even the most expensive carrier.
International calling has been a profit machine for telecoms since the 1970s. The technology got cheaper. The prices didn't. But the workarounds that existed five years ago — Skype, cheap calling cards, carrier add-on plans — have either disappeared or gotten worse.
So what actually works in 2026? I tested every major option and tracked exactly what I paid per minute. The results were... illuminating.
The Real Cost Comparison
Most comparison articles list advertised rates. That's useless. Calling cards advertise "2¢ per minute!" but charge a 99¢ connection fee and bill in 3-minute increments. Your "cheap" 4-minute call costs $1.05.
Here's what you actually pay, all fees included:
| Service | USA | UK | India | Catch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Carrier (AT&T, Verizon) | $1.50 - $3.00 | $1.50 - $3.00 | $2.50 - $5.00 | Highest cost option |
| Calling Cards | $0.02 - $0.10 | $0.03 - $0.15 | $0.05 - $0.20 | Hidden fees make real cost 5-10x higher |
| Viber Out | $0.019 | $0.022 | $0.039 | Requires app download |
| Skype (Discontinued) | — | — | — | Shut down May 2025 |
| Google Voice | Free (US only) | $0.02 | $0.03 | Not available outside US |
| GlobCall | $0.02 | $0.02 | $0.04 | Browser-based, no app needed |
Rates as of February 2026. Landline rates shown; mobile rates are typically 20-50% higher.
Why Calling Cards Are a Trap
I bought a "2 cents per minute to Mexico" calling card from a bodega in Queens. Actual cost for a 12-minute call to my uncle in Guadalajara: $4.87.
How? 99¢ connection fee. 3-minute billing increments (so 12 minutes = 15 minutes billed). Weekly "maintenance fee" of 89¢ that silently drained the balance. And the advertised 2¢/min only applied to landlines — mobiles were 19¢/min, buried in fine print.
Calling cards survive because they target people who don't have smartphones or credit cards. The business model is predatory. Avoid.
The "Free" Options Aren't
WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal — all free for app-to-app calls. Great if both people have smartphones, stable internet, and the same app installed.
But try calling a landline in rural France. A government office in Brazil. Your grandmother's flip phone. These apps can't dial actual phone numbers. The "free" solution doesn't solve the actual problem.
A Quick Case Study
Elena, a freelance translator in Chicago, calls clients in Germany, Spain, and Argentina regularly. Her AT&T plan charged $2.50/min internationally. Monthly cost for maybe 90 minutes of calls: $225.
She switched to browser-based VoIP. Same 90 minutes now costs under $4. That's a 98% reduction. She was skeptical about call quality — but the browser calls actually sounded clearer than her phone. (VoIP uses better audio compression than 50-year-old phone networks.)
The Contrarian Take
Everyone asks "what's the cheapest?" Wrong question. The real question: what's the cheapest that actually works?
Google Voice is technically cheaper (free to US, 2¢ elsewhere) but requires a US phone number to sign up. If you're an expat in London, it's not an option. Viber Out has competitive rates but forces you to install and maintain another app. Calling cards are cheap on paper but expensive in practice.
The actual cheapest option is whatever lets you dial immediately, shows transparent per-second billing, and doesn't nickel-and-dime you with hidden fees. That's a shorter list than you'd think.
What to Do Now
- Check your carrier's international rates. You'll probably be horrified.
- Look up your most-called country on our rates page.
- Try a test call — GlobCall's first call is free, no credit card required.
- If quality is good, load $10-20 credit. At $0.02/min, that's 500-1000 minutes.
- Stop paying carrier markup. That money has better uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the absolute cheapest way to call internationally?
Browser-based VoIP services like GlobCall offer the lowest rates — starting at $0.02/min for landlines in major countries. No monthly fees, no contracts. You only pay for minutes you use.
Are calling cards still a thing?
Yes, but they're largely a scam now. Advertised rates hide connection fees, maintenance fees, and 'rounding' that bills 3-minute minimums. A '2¢/min' calling card often costs 15-20¢/min in practice.
Is WhatsApp calling free internationally?
Only if the other person has WhatsApp and internet. You can't call landlines, offices, or anyone without the app. For actual phone numbers, you need a paid service.
Why are carrier rates so expensive?
Carriers charge $1-5/min because they can. International calling is a legacy profit center. They have no incentive to lower rates when most customers don't compare alternatives.
Do I need a subscription for cheap international calls?
No. Pay-as-you-go services are usually cheaper than subscriptions unless you call 500+ minutes monthly. GlobCall has no monthly fees — add credit when you need it.
What affects international calling rates?
Destination country, phone type (landline vs mobile), and time of day. Landlines are always cheaper. Calling India mobile costs more than India landline because of termination fees charged by Indian carriers.
Are cheap VoIP calls lower quality?
No — often the opposite. VoIP uses better audio codecs than phone networks. A $0.02/min browser call can sound better than a $3/min carrier call.
How do I know I'm getting the real rate?
Check for hidden fees: connection fees, billing increments (per-minute vs per-second), expiring credit, and monthly minimums. GlobCall bills per-second with no connection fees.
See your rates
Check exact per-minute rates for any country. No signup required to browse.
Related: Browser calling guide · Call India · Call Mexico