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How to Make Free Calls While You’re Overseas! (The Other Person Does NOT Need an App)

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    If you need to make a call when you’re traveling overseas, international phone plans can get expensive.  Especially when you only need to make a call or two.

    And apps such as Viber aren’t an option when you want to call friends and family who don’t have the app.  Or when you need to call a business like your credit card company.

    Luckily, When You’re Overseas There Are Easy Ways to Call the US for Free!  And the Person You’re Calling Only Needs Their Phone!

    Free International Calls to US Landlines

    Sometimes when you’re traveling internationally you need to call back home.  Apps like FaceTime, Viber, and WhatsApp are great for calling folks who have the same app.

    But sometimes you need to call a landline.  Maybe you want to tell your Aunt Mildred, who isn’t familiar with too many apps, “Happy Birthday.”  Or you need to call your credit card company to verify you’ve made a purchase with your card overseas.

    Here are 2 apps you can use to make calls for free without the person you’re calling having to do any work!

    Google Hangouts

    Many folks have heard of Google Voice.  If you still have the old Google Voice app, it doesn’t work well anymore.  And Google Voice has now been integrated with Google Hangouts.

    You only need a gmail address to sign-up and you can make Google Hangouts calls with a Wi-Fi or data connection using:

    Most calls to the US and Canada are free.
    Phone Home for Free With Google Hangouts!

    But Google Hangouts calling isn’t available in every country.  So if you don’t see the option to make calls it could be you’re in a country where it’s not supported.

    There’s a charge for calling someone outside the US and Canada.  For example, calls to Mexico are 5 cents per minute and calls to India are 1 cent per minute on mobile and 2 cents per minute for a landline.

    Skype

    With Skype you can call your credit card company, a hotel to make a reservation, or any other business with a toll-free number for free.

    Use Skype to Call Toll-Free Numbers in 5 Countries at NO Cost!

    For all other Skype calls, you’ll either need to purchase credits or the person you’re calling will also need a Skype account.

    You can use Skype by using the mobile app or on your computer.

    T-Mobile’s Mobile Without Borders

    The T-Mobile “Mobile Without Borders” gives you unlimited calls and texts between the US, Canada, and Mexico.

    Mobile Without Borders is free with the SimpleChoice plans, which start at $50 per month for unlimited texts and data in 140+ countries, plus 2 gigabytes of 4G data. And you’ll also get cheaper calls at 20 cents per minute for calls to other countries..

    I know folks from Canada who are living in the US who travel back and forth and carry around 2 phones with 2 different phone plans, so this may be a better option!

    Get Unlimited Calls & Texts in the US, Canada, and Mexico With T-Mobile’s “Mobile Without Borders”

    Bottom Line

    Having the ability to make calls to the US when you’re traveling overseas is essential when you need to reach your bank or friends and family.

    With Google Hangouts you can call just about any number in US or Canada for free!  And the person you’re calling doesn’t need a special phone or app.

    And you can call certain toll-free numbers at no charge with Skype to reach your credit card company, hotel, airline, or other businesses.

    But if you travel outside the US frequently you might consider T-Mobile “Mobile Without Borders” because it comes with a Simple Choice plan and you get unlimited texts and calling between the US, Canada, and Mexico.  Plus, with Simple Choice (starting at $50 per month) you get unlimited texts and data in 140+ countries.

    Check out my other tips for staying connected when you’re traveling outside of the US.

    Do you know more ways to make free international calls without the person on the other end of the line needing a special app?

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)