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Do you want to call the world for free? Or maybe at the lowest rates possible? If you didn't know, there are many Internet services that allow you to make low-cost phone calls to any mobile or landline phone on the planet, using only your computer, mobile phone or even a traditional telephone set.
In this guide you will find all of the best services that can help you make free, or almost-free, phone calls to anywhere in the world.
Photo credit: Photo-Dave
To make cheap international phone calls via the Internet, you can utilize one among the many Internet-based VoIP services out there.
All of these VOIP calling services allow you to place a phone call via one or more of your preferred communication devices:
- Computer: Instant messaging tools enhanced with VoIP capabilities like Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, Live Messenger and others, allow you to make cheap international phone calls among other users (e.g. Skype users can call other Skype users for free), but also let you call landline or mobile phones for very low rates.
- Mobile phone: Recent mobile phones and smartphones that support fast networking technologies like 3G or HSDPA can seamlessly make international calls. You only need to download and install the mobile application of your preferred service to get started.
- VoiP-enabled telephone: Several manufacturers produce telephones or external phone adapters that support the VoIP protocol. You can call the world for free just like you would make any other standard domestic call. The only difference is that your phone must be connected to the Internet either via Wi-Fi or via a standard Ethernet cable.
Once restrained only to computer-computer communications, the VoIP protocol has come of age during recent years and now allows you to get in touch with other people also from your landline phone, your Internet-connected mobile and any other device that are able to connect to the web at much lower rates than with traditional telephones.
Let's see an example of how you can save money to make an international phone call using Skype, one of the services that has greatly fostered the adoption of VoIP technology all over the world.
- The first step is to register online with Skype and to buy some pre-paid phone credit. You can do this by using your credit card or an online payment service like PayPal.
- With that phone credit you can now dial, directly from your computer, any telephone number, landline or mobile out there on the planet while paying much lower rates than those charged by your traditional telecom provider.
What many people do not know yet, is that services like Skype, can be accessed not only from desktop PC or laptop but also from mobile phones that are Internet-enabled, as well as from traditional telephones when matched to one of these low-cost international calling services.
In essence, you can make cheap international phone calls by using any of the services reviewed in this guide, some of which allow you to call (and some even to receive) from your computer, while others allow you to make phone calls directly from your mobile phone or traditional landline.
To make it easier for you to evaluate the best service to call the world for free, in this guide you will find a comprehensive mindmap, a comparative table and a set of mini-reviews to help you make the right choice.
Here the criteria I have used for my comparison:
- Receive phone calls, not just make phone calls.
- Send / receive SMS text messages
- Voicemail service
- Availability of a mobile phone version
- Operating system supported
Here's a roundup of the best tools to call the world for free available out there.
N.B.: The present list of tools is updated on an ongoing basis. You may want to bookmark this page (simply hit CTRL+D on your Windows keyboard or CMD+D on your Mac keyboard), as I am always adding more services.
As a side note, I would always recommend to use a headset if you want superior phone call quality. In fact, even a headset is not compulsory, having an external mic and headphones can greatly help in reducing echo and ambient noise.
Call the World for Free - The Services
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VoIP Club
VoIPClub is a VoIP calling provider that you can use to make calls from your computer, landline phones or mobile devices (iPhone, iPad and Android) at low rates in a pay-as-you-go fashion. Just download the free software (Windows, Mac and Linus) to start placing your calls. VoIPClub is suitable for both domestic and corporate use. You need to register to use the service. Other features: SMS text messaging, call forwarding function and virtual number (your own number in different countries).
https://www.voipclub.biz/en/
Phone Power
Phone Power is a VOIP service that allows you to place Internet-based phone calls to the US, Canada and abroad. All you need is a piece of equipment in your house or office that routes all your incoming and outgoing calls over the Internet. The services also offers feature like call forwarding, number portability, call blocking, and more. Calls to US and Canada are always free, and you also get 20 free hours of international calls per month with every plan.
Phone Power call rates
http://www.phonepower.com/
Free IP Call
Free IP Call is a web-based service to make and receive free PC-to-PC calls and mobile or landline phones (Premium plan only). To start placing your calls, go register and choose the best plan for your needs if you want to call using a SIP Phone, a landline phone connected to a SIP adaptor or a SIP softphone. Free IP Call supports voicemail and SMS text messages only in the paid version of the service.
Free IP Call call rates
http://freeipcall.com/
VoIPWings
VoIPWings is an online VoIP calling facility for Windows that helps you make low-cost, long-distance phone calls from your PC to any landline or mobile phone. For placing your calls, you need only to register and purchase credits of $5, $10, $25, $50 and $100. After you select the amount of credits you want to spend on your calls, you will receive a PIN number via email that allows you to make and receive your calls. Additional features include: SMS text messaging, calls recording and caller line identification management.
VoIPWings call rates
http://www.voipwings.com/
FreeCreditPhone
FreeCreditPhone is a free online service that you can use to make and receive international phone calls by using landline phones, mobiles, PCs, smartphones (iPhone and Android) and Google Voice. To get started, just create a free account on the website. Then, add the contacts you want to call and get your free calling credits. Then, you can start placing your calls. FreeCreditPhone supports SMS text messaging, but it does not support voicemail.
FreeCreditPhone call rates
http://freecreditphone.com/
VoIPTalk
VoIPTalk is a free software for Windows that lets you make free and low-cost international calls from your mobile or landline phone, both for residential and business purposes. Just sign-up to the service and choose whether you want to pay with a monthly fee or in a pay-as-you-go fashion. Main features include: SMS, voicemail, free PC-to-PC calls (you need to have and configure a VoIP softphone first), a selection of incoming VoIP numbers for you to choose from, multiple business solutions, such as your own business broadband and VoIP number porting.
VoIPTalk call rates
http://www.voiptalk.org/
VoIPCheap UK
VoIPCheap UK is a VoIP software for Windows to make low-cost international phone calls from your PC to any landline or mobile phone. Mac and Linux users can also utilize this software, but they will have to download a free softphone first.
You need to register for free to VoIPCheap UK to buy credits and start making your calls. PC-to-PC calls are always free and unlimited. VoIPCheap UK offers free calls to some destinations in the world, such as France, the U.K and Canada, via the VoIPOut Rates functionality. The service supports SMS text messages and voicemail as well.
VoIPCheap UK call rates
http://www.voipcheap.co.uk/
JustVoIP
JustVoIP is a VoIP calling provider (Windows only) that offers both residential and business solutions to receive and to make low cost international phone calls from your mobile and landline phones or PC. To utilize the service, just register and buy credits to start placing your calls. Buying credits entitles you to call some destinations (please check the website for more details) for free for 120 days. Additional features include: SMS text messaging, voicemail and calls forwarding to another JustVoIP user.
JustVoIP call rates
http://www.justvoip.com/en/
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