The best VoIP for international calls is essential businesses needing to connect with customers or teams in different locations. The good news is international VoIP apps can reduce your phone bills by around 50%, offer significantly better call quality, and include advanced call management features not offered by traditional landlines.
However, not all VoIP apps are suitable for international calls. I’ve tested and researched the best international VoIP services,. My product review process included ensuring the VoIP software offers affordable international numbers, decent international call quality, fair call rates, and even free international VoIP calls.
The Best Business VoIP Software For International Calls Tested by Our Experts
Vonage — Best VoIP service for reliability and international calling numbers
Phone.com — Best pay-as-you-Go option for international VoIP calls
Sonetel — Best international VoIP service for easy setup and support
The Top 10 VoIP Software For International Calls Ranked
- Ooma — Best international VoIP for SMBs
- Zoho Voice — Best international calling app for call centers
- RingCentral — Best international VoIP for simplicity and integrations
- Vonage — Best VoIP service for reliability and international calling numbers
- CloudPhone — Best international VoIP calling app for startups
- Nextiva — Best for cheap international VoIP calls
- Phone.com — Best pay-as-you-go option for international VoIP calls
- MightyCall — Best international VoIP service for unlimited minutes
- Voiply — Best VoIP for free international calls
- Sonetel — Best international VoIP service for easy setup and support
- Show Full Guide
The Best International VoIP Services Reviewed
To create the list of the top providers that offer the best VoIP for international calls, I’ve factored in calling rates, features offered, countries covered, and customer support:
1. Ooma — Best International VoIP for SMBs
Starting Price | $19.95/month |
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Free Version | 60-day trial |
Key Features | PureVoice technology, Free Ooma-to-Ooma calls, Advanced firewall |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | ✅ |
Ooma is one of the best VoIP services for making international calls because of its cheap international calling rates. Its Premier Plan offers unlimited local phone services for free VoIP calling to the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Ooma also offers international calling plans for 60 other countries with its World Plan ($17.99/m), and 70 on the World Plus plan ($25.99/m).
If you do choose to buy a phone set, you’ll receive additional discounts, but this isn’t mandatory as all features work on mobile. You’ll also get a free toll-free number, so you can receive calls from anywhere at no extra cost.
I liked that Ooma can also double up as an intercom to make announcements through certain extensions, or as a pager to send one-way messages to team members.
Ooma’s latest May 2024 update includes an Auto-Dialer feature, which saves a significant amount of time for agents who make multiple calls daily. This feature allows you to place calls with a single click, eliminating the need to manually enter phone numbers.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Doubles as an intercom or pager
- Unlimited VoIP international calls for free
- World and World Plus plans cover 60-70 countries
Cons
- World plans can be pricey for startups
- Complex setup
2. Zoho Voice — Best International Calling App for Call Centers
Starting Price | $34/month |
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Free Version | 15-day trial + free solo business plan |
Key Features | IVR, call whisper and barge, bulk SMS |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | ✅ |
Zoho Voice should be the first pick for customer-facing teams. It offers powerful messaging and calling capabilities that are invaluable for call centers, for example.
You’ll be able to make unlimited calls in the US, to Canada, and Australia and send bulk SMS promotions to over 100 countries. You can also integrate it with your CRM and helpdesk software to streamline your customer support and lead generation.
If you manage multiple departments, I found that you can add everyone to one account using extension calling. You’ll also have access to IVR, which lets you automatically forward customers to the right agent, and grants access to call forwarding and voicemail transcription.
Zoho Voice lets you record calls — and you can listen in and guide the agent on a live call, too. Your agents can take notes during a call that they can refer back to later. You’ll also have access to call analytics and your team’s performance metrics.
I liked that it allows customers to rate the service they received after calls, which can help you ensure your business is delivering quality support and you can provider the necessary training where needed.
Pros
- No equipment needed
- Works on web browsers and mobile
- Listen in or record calls
- Local and toll-free numbers
Cons
- Some features like call monitoring are add-ons
- Quite complex to use
3. RingCentral — Best International VoIP for Simplicity and Integrations
Starting Price | $20/user/month |
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Free Version | 14-day trial |
Key Features | 300+ integrations, AI meeting insights, Live transcription, Encryption |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | ❌ |
RingCentral remains one of the top international calling apps for global businesses with international customers. This is thanks to RingCentral Global MVF, which offers a single cloud phone system to manage all communications with end-to-end encryption.
That said, calls are charged as per current tariff rates, regardless of the plan. If, for example, you’re calling from the US to Australia, France, or South Africa, it’ll cost $0.039 per minute.
RingCentral does offer a 99.999% uptime, which is only five minutes of downtime each year. It is worth noting that any additional international virtual phone numbers will cost an extra $5.99 per user, per month.
One standout feature I found during testing was its powerful AI meeting insights, which generates video “highlight reels” and searchable text summaries from your RingCentral meetings.
Pros
- Affordable international calling tariffs
- Global MVF offers free, global extension-to-extension calls
- Live meeting transcriptions
- Integrates with leading CRMs, like Salesforce
Cons
- Additional one-time fee of $25
- No unlimited international calling
4. Vonage — Best VoIP Service for Reliability and International Calling Numbers
Starting Price | $13.99/month |
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Free Version | 14-day trial |
Key Features | Integrations, HD calls, Receptionist console |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | ❌ |
While Vonage does provide unlimited domestic calling, it’s definitely not among the cheapest international calling apps. It divides countries into two groups (Tier 1 and Tier 2) and each is priced accordingly.
The cheapest minutes plan starts at $50 per month. However, I still recommend it owing to its high call quality. Every conversation is supported by HD audio quality and a guaranteed 99.99% uptime.
Another benefit of using Vonage for international business is it gives you local phone numbers, 1800, toll-free, and international virtual phone numbers. It also offers many calling features, including call recording.
Beyond this, you can increase your call volume (at the same price) by adding another line without needing a second business phone system.
Pros
- HD audio quality
- Call recording on demand available
- Can add secondary line on same device
- Get a local, toll-free, 1800, and international number
Cons
- Can be expensive
- No free version
5. CloudPhone — Best International VoIP Calling App for Startups
Starting Price | $24/month |
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Free Version | 30-day trial |
Top Features | Automated assistant (IVR), SMS automation, User role management |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | ❌ |
CloudPhone is a small-business VoIP solution that offers free unlimited calls in the US and Canada on all plans. It offers three plans designed for small businesses and solopreneurs.
To call outside your country, you’ll need to choose its top-tier plan. Its worth noting that its basic Solo plan offers call recording, auto-replies, automated SMS, an IVR assistant, and voicemail transcription, which are normally locked to higher tier plans.
The top plan offers handy extras like automatic spam detection, analytics, and reporting.
Even though CloudPhone is a fairly new service, it does include the necessary features offered by other providers. However, I did find that it is currently missing out on a few advanced features, like integrations. This is why I wouldn’t recommend this international calling app to larger businesses.
Pros
- Ideal for solopreneurs and partnership ventures
- Unlimited calls in the US and Canada
- Fully customizable plans
- Offers 1-month free trial
Cons
- Top-tier plan required for international calls
- Lacks lots of advanced features
6. Nextiva — Best for Cheap International VoIP Calls
Starting Price | $20/user/ month |
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Free Version | 7-day trial |
Top Features | Caller AI, Real-time system status alerts |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | ❌ |
Nextiva supports international calling in 7,505 area codes, including 100+ countries. The lowest rate is $0.01/minute for calls to Paris and the UK, making it one of the cheapest business phone systems.
Its Engage plan ($40 per user, per month) is great for businesses wanting to set up an international call center. It includes features like call recording, local and toll-free VoIP numbers, and call routing.
During testing, I found that you can queue as many as 525 calls at a time, but this is an add-on. That said, I also noted that it would be a great international calling app for small businesses. This is because it offers three plans with free unlimited calling in the US and to Canada.
I also liked its Caller AI feature, which displays all the customer’s information, such as their call journey, surveys, and customer experience score on the screen.
Pros
- Offers a special VoIP plan for call centers
- Caters to 7,500+ area codes
- Great customer support
- Ideal small business VoIP solution
Cons
- Most integrations only available on top plan
- No unlimited international calling
7. Phone.com — Best Pay-As-You-Go Option for International VoIP Calls
Starting Price | $12.74/user/month |
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Free Version | Free demo |
Top Features | Text messaging, Advanced call management, Call screening, and Blocking |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | ✅ |
Phone.com has a pay-per-user model, which makes it an ideal international calling app for small businesses. A plus here is that, unlike Nextiva, which has a 45-minute cap on each meeting, Phone.com offers 500 unlimited minutes across its plans.
Moreover, international phone calls to countries like France, Italy, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, USA, and iNUM global numbers are billed at US rates and are already included in the plans. I founud that calls to India, Australia, New Zealand, and Ireland, can be made at 3.9¢/minute.
Local numbers in countries like Italy, France, Denmark, and 25 others will cost $4.99/month. Local numbers for countries like Columbia, Chile, Mexico, and 22 others are a bit higher, at $14.99 per month.
Pros
- Leading call-tracking software
- Offers call transcription and voice tagging
- Excellent call screening and blocking
- Pay-per-user-based pricing
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a free trial
- Caller analytics cost extra
8. MightyCall — Best International VoIP Service for Unlimited Minutes
Starting Price | $15/user/month |
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Free Version | 7-day trial (100 minutes) |
Top Features | Call verification, Multi-level IVR, Unlimited minutes on all plans |
Money-Back Guarantee | ❌ |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ❌ |
Unlimited International Calling | ❌ |
MightyCall is a popular VoIP phone system that offers unlimited messages, minutes, and MMS on all plans. You can also get an international phone number for just $10.
With the first two plans, you also get two local or toll-free numbers, and I was impressed that the service supports 2,700 area codes. The lowest rate from its list of countries was $0.05/minute for Mexico.
On average, this international calling app’s rates range between $0.5 to $2, depending on the country. You can make calls to countries like Italy, New Zealand, and Germany for just $0.07 per minute.
MightyCall offers numerous features, including call recording, call notes, and even call verification to protect against robocalls and caller ID spoofing.
Pros
- Many call management features on all plans
- Easy number porting
- Desk phone and softphone support
- Can form VIP and block lists to avoid or prioritize calls
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations
- No unlimited international calls
9. Voiply — Best VoIP for Free International Calls
Starting Price | $4.96/month |
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Free Version | ❌ |
Top Features | Automated phone provisioning, Unlimited in 50+ countries, Multiple calls per line |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | ✅ |
Voiply offers VoIP free international calls to 50 countries on its basic plan, with the option to call more locations at additional rates.
During testing, I found that Voiply’s strength is that it’s a plug-and-play solution and requires no hardware or installation while promising a 99.999% uptime.
Its other features are also on par with other international calling apps, including call queues, ring groups, call recording, missed call alerts, and even an auto-attendant.
A noteworthy point is that its plans are custom and are based on the number of users (up to 15). Apart from the Voiply adapter, which is free, you can also get a Wi-Fi desk phone or you can connect your own.
Pros
- A 24/7 responsive customer support
- Easy to set up and launch
- Very affordable
- One of the best VoIP services for home
- Offers unlimited calling in 50 countries
Cons
- Not transparent about international calling rates
- No free version
10. Sonetel — Best International VoIP Service for Easy Setup and Support
Starting Price | $9.95/user/month |
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Free Version | ✅ |
Top Features | AI features, IVR and voicemail-to-text, Call recording |
Money-Back Guarantee | 14-days |
Unlimited Calling (US & Canada) | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calling | Free to 40+ countries |
Sonetel has an incredible reputation and is trusted by over 2.5 million businesses worldwide. It also has one of the cheapest VoIP call plans and offers one of the most feature-rich free plans. However, you don’t get access to a free number or free calls to 40+ countries.
For example, although limited, you get voicemail-to-email and AI services like meeting minutes. Even some of the premium features are included as a trial, giving you the ability to test the platform before committing.
While the free plan allows you to get a phone number for practically any area code for under $4/month, this is a recurring cost. Its paid plans include free numbers.
Besides free calling to 40+ countries on the paid plans, the rates for others are among the cheapest you’ll find because all calls are charged as local calls.
I also like that Sonetel includes AI capabilities, unlike other international calling apps. Users can get AI text summaries for voicemails (even on the free plan), suggestions on how to respond to customer queries, and an AI writer for blogs. You’ll also get the standard features, like call recording or an IVR to help clients reach the right department or agent.
Pros
- Highly rated
- Professional customer support
- The process is quick and easy
- Transparent pricing and call rates
- Comprehensive free plan
- Intuitive user interface
Cons
- The app can be buggy
- Outbound call limitation on new accounts
The Best VoIP International Calling Apps Compared
Below, I’ve created a table highlighting the key differences between the best international calling apps:
Providers | Ooma | Zoho Voice | RingCentral | Vonage | CloudPhone | Nextiva | Phone.com | MightyCall | Voiply | Sonetel |
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Starting Price | $19.95/month | $34/month | $20/user/month | $13.99/month | $24/month | $20/user/month | $12.74/user/month | $15/user/month | $4.96/month | $9.95/user |
Free Version | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days | ❌ | 30 days | 30 days | 14 days |
Unlimited Calls (US & Canada) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Unlimited International Calls | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (in select countries) | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (40+ countries) |
How We Review And Test VoIP Services
We base our recommendations on first-hand testing. All the VoIP products we feature, have been tested based on the following criteria:
- Features: We explore the platform’s general call and video conferencing capabilities and unique features like automation, call queuing, call recording, and IVR features.
- Integrations: We assess whether it offers integration support for popular business apps such as CRMs, project management platforms, helpdesk software, and others.
- Reliability: We test the call quality on offer with the VoIP platform, and we only include services that offer an uptime guarantee of close to 100%.
- Security and Compliance: We check whether the platform offers industry-standard encryption, access controls, compliance with regulations like GDPR, and firewalls.
- Numbers: We factor in whether the platform offers a variety of number options like local, toll-free, international, and vanity numbers.
- Ease of Use: We test the VoIP service on its available platforms to ensure we can give accurate insight into its usability.
- Value for Money: After our hands-on testing, we’re able to better analyze whether the price point is fair to offer insight into the feature-to-price value on offer.
- Reviews and Reputation: Beyond our hands-on testing, we explore third-party reviews to see if we need to investigate certain aspects of the VoIP service further. This combined allows us to offer a good overview of what our readers can expect from the platform.
What is VoIP?
Unlike traditional landline phone networks, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) connects phone calls over the Internet. Voice signals are converted into data packets that are transmitted to the user.
While there are VoIP providers that only offer domestic services, there are international calling apps (like the ones on this list) that allow you to make international calls. The benefit here is that you will have access to high-quality audio, clear communication channels, and access to a host of other features not usually offered by traditional business landlines.
How Does International VoIP Calling Work?
The format for making an international VoIP call is the same as calling from a landline. Start by adding the international dialing prefix, followed by the country code, area code, and local code.
You may need to buy a standard phone connected to a VoIP router, or you may be able to dial directly from the connected device using the VoIP app.
Can You Make Free International VoIP Calls?
Yes, many VoIP solutions, including services like Ooma, Voiply, and Sonetel, let you make international calls for free, but it largely depends on your chosen plan and, sometimes, the country.
For example, Ooma offers unlimited international calling to over 60 countries and unlimited calls to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Others follow standard VoIP international call rates.
International VoIP Pricing: How Much Does International VoIP Calling Cost?
If you’re looking for an international calling solution, there are different approaches you can consider, depending on the frequency of your calls.
VoIP Pay-Per-Minute Models
Your existing VoIP phone system or international calling app will usually provide per-minute rates that differ from country to country. Depending on the destination of your call, you’ll pay between $0.01 and $2 per minute.
Calls to countries such as the U.S., Canada, Mexico, or the UK can often be cheaper than more far-flung locations, so be sure to look at the particular countries you think you’ll be calling most often.
Unlimited VoIP Calling
If you’re going to be placing regular international calls, paying per minute may not work out cheaper. In this case, consider an unlimited international calling plan, which allows you to place calls to certain agreed-upon countries without worrying about racking up hefty phone bills.
These plans can be as cheap as $10-$15 per month, so definitely work out cheaper if you’ll be making more than just a couple of calls.
Do I need International VoIP Calling?
With the imminent phase-out of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) in the US, transitioning to VoIP will soon become essential so as not to suffer service disruptions and costly last-minute pricing increases.
Regardless of the switch being rather involuntary, we’d still opt for VoIP over traditional phone systems for international calling.
If you make a lot of international calls, consider switching to a VoIP system. It can save you a significant amount of money compared to traditional phone systems. You can make unlimited international calls with both voice and video in stunning HD quality.
Additionally, many VoIP providers offer monthly plans with a set amount of international minutes, so you won’t have to worry about per-minute rates.
Benefits and Advantages of an International VoIP Phone System
The benefits and advantages of adopting an international VoIP phone system are numerous. Below, I’ll run through some of the most pressing reasons to upgrade.
Plain and simple, VoIP typically makes international calling substantially cheaper than calling via traditional telephone. This is due to inclusive international calling bundles and competitive pay-per-minute rates.
If you’re traveling away from home, having a VoIP phone system means you can make calls to various locations as long as you have a compatible device and an internet connection.
VoIP systems often support 99.99% uptime, meaning the chance that your connection will fail is very slim. Also, as long as your connection is solid, you can enjoy crystal-clear call quality.
How to Choose An International VoIP Provider
To find the best VoIP service provider for international calls, here are some important factors to consider:
Beyond local and toll-free numbers, to source the best VoIP service providers for international calling, I prioritized those that offer cheap international phone numbers for both residential and business VoIP calling needs.
Not every service offers a VoIP international number, and it can often depend on your plan. Beyond this, some offer international calling add-on services that aren’t included with the base plans.
VoIP international calling rates were another key factor I took into account when forming our list of the best VoIP international calling services. Overall, I found that the call costs, even on metered international calling services, are pretty standard across VoIP apps.
When looking for VoIP international calling service, be sure to check its international presence and the countries supported. VoIP providers with global reach will offer favorable rates, tailored plans, and excellent sound quality to guarantee reliable service delivery. Also, look out for coverage maps and region-specific features.
An easy-to-use VoIP phone service with an intuitive interface will save you valuable time and simplify the installation and navigation process, for you and your employees. It’s also best practice to ensure the apps are compatible with your operating systems.
Find a provider that offers consistent connections, reliable uptime, impeccable voice transmission, redundancy measures, and data centers. I’d recommend using any free trials or guarantees to test this.
The main benefit of a VoIP phone system is that it offers businesses multiple communication channels and numerous collaboration and customer-focused features.
Look into the provider’s feature set and make sure they meet your calling requirements. This can vary depending on the plan. Here are some must-haves to look out for:
- Multi-level auto attendant
- Call forwarding and multi-device call routing
- Call and voicemail transcription
- Team conferencing
- Call queues for call centers
- VoIP Interactive Voice Responses (IVR)
- Call reports
- Intelligent call routing
One of the main advantages of a VoIP service is that most allow third-party integrations, increasing end-user experiences and productivity. Compatibility with collaboration tools, email clients, and CRM platforms streamlines workflows.
Cost can vary depending on the provider and the package. It’s important to consider one-time charges, add-on features, and other hidden fees. These additional fees could include maintenance and setup costs and the price for international phone numbers. While some international calling apps will let you make free or cheap VoIP international calls, others do apply standard rates.
Reliable customer support is essential, so be sure to assess the VoIP provider’s availability, channel support (email, chat, messaging, website, and phone), and average response time.
How to Make VoIP Phone International Calls
Here's a quick rundown for you using the Ooma phone system.
Create an account with Ooma
Go to Ooma’s website and create an account. Ooma offers 3 pricing plans, and for prepaid accounts, the international call charges vary depending on the country you want to call. Select a plan depending on the countries you call the most.Dailing instructions
Ooma includes calls to the US, Canada, and Mexico in your monthly calling package, so you don’t have to pay extra. For other countries, you’ll need a prepaid account. You’ll usually be charged on a per-minute basis, and the rate will depend on the country you’re dialing.Choose the phone or mobile app
Get the Ooma mobile phone app from the Play Store and App Store to make a call. Alternatively, you can use an IP phone, analog phone, and an Ooma DP1 desk phone by dialing 011 along with the country code and phone number.Make international calls
Make unlimited VoIP international calls with crystal clear quality, and monitor the charges and rates through the app.
FAQs
Can I use VoIP to call internationally?
How do you make a call internationally using VoIP?
Can I make free international VoIP calls to landlines?
How much do VoIP international calls cost?
Is Ooma or RingCentral the best international VoIP service?
Is VoIP the same as Wi-Fi calling for international calls?
References
- What is a Toll-Free Number, and How Does it Work? (FCC)
- Caller ID Spoofing & Phone Scams (University of Puget Sound)
- iNum – One Global Number (The Tech Edvocate)
- End-to-End Encryption (Session)