The cell phone is a highly useful and effective tool. It helps us communicate with people, access the internet, and create content for social media and our everyday life. If you are like most people, you use your smartphone almost constantly throughout the day.
However, one of the problems that comes from using your phone is that you may start to rack up a big bill from your cellular service provider. Fortunately, there are several applications that you can download that will help you make free calls or send free text messages from your phone or mobile device.
In this article, we will look at some of the best apps for making free calls on iPhone or Android devices so that you can save money and enjoy more freedom with your phone.
Best Apps For Free Calling
- Talkatone: The Best Free Calling App
talkatone
Talkatone has been around for a while and is one of the most well-known free US calling apps on this list. It’s gone through a lot of changes over the years, but now it offers unlimited free calls and texts to any number within the US and Canada. You can also buy credits to make international calls; those rates vary.
It’s packed full of features such as custom voicemail greetings, passcode protection (so no one else can access the app), and call blocking.
Talkatone handles the basics with ease, and the one-time $10 purchase to remove banner ads is inexpensive compared to some of the subscription models in this list. Its interface is straightforward, modern, and a breeze to navigate.
Ultimately, this free phone number app is a good place to start if you want to try calling the US or Canada for free and aren’t really sure what options are available.
Download: Talkatone for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
- TextNow: The Top Free Phone Number App for Calling and Texting
TextNow lets you call the US for free, as well as call Canada for free, but with a slightly different design and much more customization. The app has a menu that slides in from the left side, and you can change the theme’s colors to match your needs.
It even lets you sync your texts with your computer; this is a huge bonus when compared to the other apps on this list.
TextNow used to operate on a subscription model: you had to pay $3 per month to retain your number and access features like voicemail and call forwarding. Today, that’s not the case. It is a free number app that lets you make free calls within the United States without restrictions. You can remove the ads if you’re willing to pay.
TextNow also lets you call internationally, though you will need to either complete in-app surveys or buy minutes to do this.
Download: TextNow for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
- FreeTone/TextMe Up/Text Me: Make Free Phone Calls to the US and Canada
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freetone (1)
freetone (2)
FreeTone, TextMe Up, and Text Me are all the same free phone number app with different color schemes. FreeTone is a seafoam greenish-blue, TextMe Up is light blue, and Text Me is nearly royal blue. They all provide a free phone number for calling and texting, and they all offer a free phone number app for Android
If you download FreeTone and make an account, you’re given a number. If you then download TextMe Up, you’ll automatically be signed in with the same number. They’re all made by the same company, TextMe. We’re not sure why it chose to make three separate apps.
Whichever app you end up downloading, they all work well. Calls and texts to the US and Canada are free, but you can purchase credits to call internationally (or earn credits by watching sponsored videos). There’s also a web messenger that you can log into on any device using the built-in QR code scanner.
Its ads are more integrated than the easily ignored banner ads of other apps, which is sneaky. It feels like the ads are too mixed in with the content. It costs $2 a month to remove them.
Download: FreeTone for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
Download: TextMe Up for Android (Free, in-app purchases available)
Download: Text Me for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
- textPlus: A Solid International Calling App
textPlus offers free texts and free inbound calls, but not free outbound calls. Outbound calls within the US cost around $0.02 per minute, or you can watch videos to get free credits if you’d prefer.
The interface is separated into five tabs. The first tab provides your balance and lets you earn credits. Oddly, the second seems to closely replicate the first. The other three are your texts, calls, contacts, and settings. In the settings, you can easily change your number for a new one in any US area code.
Without free outbound calls to the US and Canada, we can’t see many reasons to choose textPlus over any of the previous options unless they have cheaper calling rates to a particular country you need to call frequently.
Download: textPlus for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
- Dingtone
For a long time, Dingtone looked dated, which was a shame. The app has some unique features but the interface turned people away. Thankfully, a redesign has remedied those problems. Today, it sports a sleek Material Design interface that’s easy to use and navigate.
And what about those unique features? We particularly like Callback; Dingtone can ring you and the other person then connect your calls, thus reducing fees. The app also supports adding a second and third number to your other devices. You can have one number for your phone, another for your tablet, and so on.
As you would expect, you can also set up voicemail, call forwarding, and call blocking. To make international calls to landlines and cell phones in more than 200 countries, you can earn free credits by watching videos.
Unfortunately, calling prices are obscured by the fact that Dingtine doesn’t charge by cents per minute, but instead by credits per minute. This can make it really easy to overspend.
Lastly, while the other apps only give you access to US numbers, Dingtone can provide you with a number in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Belgium, and the Netherlands. As such, for non-US residents, it’s a solid choice.
Best calling app for android
10
Imo
Side bye side images showing how the call app Imo works for Android
Imo’s fun, streamlined interface makes voice or video calling as easy as it can possibly be. Imo users can make as many calls as they want to each other and even set up group video calls with the click of a button. There is also an Imo desktop app for computers.
However, Imo relies on an in-app subscription model, and it doesn’t do much for its free users beyond providing free video chats and calls to those who have installed it.
9
Telegram
Side bye side images showing how the call app Telegram works for Android
The major draw for Telegram is its ability to encrypt its phone calls and text messages for users. Telegram also lets users sync their contacts across any device for easy access.
Most of the app’s features are related to its text messaging function, and its call options are limited beyond the ability to phone or video chat with other Telegram users. There is no option to call non-users, which can be a pain point for a lot of people.
8
Skype
Side bye side images showing how the call app Skype works for Android
Obviously, Skype is one of the most popular WiFi calling apps, meaning millions of people have downloaded it onto their phones, tablets, computers, and other devices. Skype users can text, call, or video chat with each other for free. They can also conduct group calls.
But in order for users to call actual phone numbers or get their own online phone number, they have to pay for credits.
7
Signal
Side bye side images showing how the call app Signal works for Android
App users who value their privacy more than anything else will be pleased with Signal Private Messenger. This full end-to-end encrypted app allows those who download it to voice call, video chat, or text each other for free with total security. No other calling app guarantees this, making this one quite special.
Signal relies on an existing user’s phone number and contacts, so anyone without a phone data plan will not be able to use it. It’s also impossible to call non-Signal users.
6
Viber
Side bye side images showing how the call app Viber works for Android
Viber began as a basic VoIP service targeted toward international travelers, but it now offers a full range of services. Users can now call, text or video chat with each other for free. With over 1 billion users worldwide, Viber boasts a large base.
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Still, in order to call non-users, Viber users must pay a fee. Users must subscribe in order to receive local phone numbers in various locations around the world.
5
Facebook Messenger
Side bye side images showing how the call app FB Messenger works for Android
Using Facebook Messenger for calls is a quick, convenient way to stay in touch for free. Facebook Messenger also supports video chats, making for an engaging experience. Considering how many people are active on Facebook, it’s almost guaranteed that any user will be able to contact whomever they need.
Facebook Messenger won’t work as a calling app for anyone who doesn’t have an account though. It also doesn’t allow users to call landlines or any real phone numbers.
4
WhatsApp
Side bye side images showing how the call app WhatsApp works for Android
Facebook owns WhatsApp, a messaging service with hundreds of millions of users. WhatsApp users can also call each other for free on an array of devices. When users download WhatsApp, they have the option to find users from their existing contacts.
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Users must already have an existing phone number in order to get started, and there’s no option to call people outside the app, which is a recurring trend with even the best free calling apps for Android users.
3
Dingtone
Side bye side images showing how the call app Dingtone works for Android
For starters, Dingtone gives its users a free phone number, which can be used as a primary or secondary line. It also offers unlimited texts and calls between Dingtone users over data or WiFi.
However, in order to call phone numbers outside of the Dingtone app, users must either earn free credits through ads and promotions or spend money.
2
TextNow
Side bye side images showing how the call app TextNow works for Android
A full-service communication app, TextNow allows users to call, text, and accept voicemails across a number of Android devices. TextNow also provides its users with a free phone number. With the app, users can send text messages to anyone in the US or Canada for free – even those who don’t use TextNow.
For international calling, users need to purchase in-app credits. Luckily, these are reasonably affordable.
1
Google Voice
Side bye side images showing how the call app Google Voice works for Android
Easily, Google Voice is the most comprehensive Android app for making free calls over the Internet. It provides its user with a free phone number, call forwarding options, and a voicemail inbox. It runs on both computers and mobile devices for added convenience.
All that is required is a Google Account to get started. Users can only call Canada or the United States for free. International calls cost money.
Conclusion
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