How Much Do International Calls Cost?

Last Updated on December 29, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

An international call is a telephone call made between two different countries. Telephone calls made between two countries are handled through international gateway changes. International call costs vary depending on the destination country and are typically higher than domestic rates.

How much do international calls cost?

The cost of an international call can be anywhere from as little as $0.01 per minute to as much as $7 per minute. The cost range will greatly vary based on several factors such as whether the call is made from a landline or mobile device, the type of international call plan you have, the provider, and the country to where the call is made.

Take into consideration that the costs can differ based on the company you sign up for and whether you have a monthly plan or not.

For instance, Xfinity, a dedicated company and one of the most common phone service providers in the United States listed its prices for international calls with no monthly payment toward different countries, and you can find the costs in the table below:

The costs are subject to change. We recommend contacting the company you work with for an accurate cost list for international calls.

Based on our research, international call costs per minute may differ, and basic rates are usually higher if you don’t sign up for a monthly plan. For instance, in the table below you can see the difference between these two options provided by the AT&T company:

Take into consideration that the rates listed in the table above, apply to minutes in excess of the 300 minutes included in the plan.

Also, several other phone service companies have listed their lowest prices for international calls per minute. See the table below:

Keep in mind that the costs for international calls are subject to change and can differ depending on the plan you choose.

RingCentral provides a monthly plan with a per-minute rate for international calls of $30 per month.

However, GoTo Connect offers a $32 monthly plan per user, with unlimited calls to 50+ countries. Contact the company for more information about their available plans, costs, and what is included.

The cost range for a monthly plan can be anywhere from $9.99 to $30 or even more. These costs will greatly depend on the phone service provider that you choose and what the plan includes.

You might also like our articles about the cost of Verizon Frontline, Cable TV, or telephone poles.

Another common provider, Verizon, provides the Global Calling plan for $10 per month which includes unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada, and international calling to 220+ countries with costs starting from $0.05 per minute.

Also, they provide Global Choice where you can choose from 140 countries and get up to 300 calling minutes to a country of your choice, you have discounted calls for over 220 countries and unlimited calls to Mexico and Canada. Look on their official website, Verizon.com, for accurate costs and call plans.

Some plans also include texting benefits.

Skype offers a variety of affordable calling plans that allow you to make calls within certain regions or even globally. For instance, you can subscribe to an unlimited monthly calling plan (which also includes a Skype number) for just $2.95 and make calls to the US and Canada without any limits.

Google Voice charges a fixed rate for every minute of the call, which varies based on the country. The charges can be as low as $0.01 per minute or as high as $7 per minute. On average, the cost of making a call is less than $0.50 per minute. For a comprehensive list of the rates charged in different countries, contact the Google department for international calling.

Extra costs of international calling plans

Take into consideration that there may be extra taxes, fees, and surcharges that may be not included in the cost rates.

International calls terminating on mobile phones or other wireless devices may incur an extra per-minute charge.

Important things about international rates

When signing up for an international phone call plan, always read the fine print, as there may be certain restrictions.

The international fee is applied solely to outgoing international calls, not to the recipients.  If you did receive a phone call, if you were on a minute-based plan, it would just use your minutes.

The costs per minute between landlines, VoIP, or mobile may differ. It would be wise to ask about this aspect when signing up.

Take into consideration that there are multiple call service providers, and each offers different plans and costs for international calls. Search for the best deal that suits you, depending on your budget and needs.

How can I save money?

If you make these types of calls several times each month, it is always cheaper to add an international speak plan with any of the major cellphone carriers. On T-Mobile, for example, if you add the Stateside International Talk plan for $20 per month, you can make unlimited calls to France, but it would cost around $3 per minute without the $20 add-on plan.

During our research, we found that VOIP services usually provide the most affordable international calling rates. Companies like Vonage, Nextiva, RingCentral, and Phone.com offer discounted plans that are often much cheaper than popular cell phone providers.

However, it is important to note that you need to use a landline-type phone that is connected to your home network. It is also recommended to compare different providers as the rates may vary depending on the country you want to call. Always choose a service provider that offers the best rate for the country you frequently call.

LifeHacker.com states that you can make free Wi-Fi calls all around the world through Google Meet, Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram.