Whenever you call your loved ones abroad, are you worried about draining your wallet?  Are you looking for affordable solutions that come in handy for you? Well, you might not be alone here. Well, you might not be alone. Many people today struggle to call abroad because of the huge calling cost involved.

In a world where communications are narrowed down from post letters to Facetime, connecting with people worldwide has never been that easy and important. Even more, finding the most affordable and good way to stay in touch is still challenging, and that is where an international calling app comes in handy.

In this blog post, we are going to discuss in-depth some of the most affordable international calling apps and things to consider while selecting one.

Things to consider when choosing an international calling apps

There is a multitude of apps that provide international call services; therefore, it is a challenging task to choose one that aligns with your needs.

Here are some metrics based on which you can choose the best international calling app:

1.Call quality

When selecting an international calling app, your top priority should be crystal-clear call quality. After all, you want your conversations to be smooth and uninterrupted no matter where in the world you are. Look for apps that prioritize advanced audio codecs to minimize background noise and distortion.

In addition, you'll want an app that ensures that your voice comes through loud and clear, even in areas with less-than-perfect reception.

2.Cost

We all like to save a few bucks, right? Well, the same goes for international calling. Hence, when choosing an international calling app, you should take a close look at the pricing plans of different apps.

Also, ensure you're not just comparing the rates for international calls but also checking for any sneaky additional fees. Some apps offer competitive rates for specific countries, while others might surprise you with free calls to certain destinations as part of their service packages. Keep an eye out for those hidden gems!

3.Compatibility

Imagine trying to call your friend only to find out your app isn't compatible with their device. To avoid this headache, make sure the app you choose runs nicely with all the devices and operating systems you and your contacts use.

Look for apps that support a wide range of platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS, to ensure seamless communication across different devices. Compatibility with popular messaging and social media platforms may also be beneficial for integrating contacts and communication channels.

4.Ease of use

Let's face it: nobody wants to fumble around with a complicated app just to make a simple call. You want something that's as easy as pie to use.

Look for an app with a user-friendly interface and straightforward setup process. It should be so intuitive that you can start making calls right away without needing a user manual. After all, your time is precious—you shouldn't have to waste it figuring out how to use an app.

5.Features

Who doesn't love a little extra flair? When choosing an international calling app, consider the additional features it offers beyond basic calling. Whether it's messaging, video calls, group chats, or file sharing, these features can take your communication game to the next level. Think about what features are important to you and your contacts, and choose an app that ticks all the boxes.

6.Network connectivity

You’re in the middle of an important call, and suddenly, the connection drops by a little bit, and your call cuts. You don’t want that to happen at all. That’s why selecting a calling app that can handle different network conditions is vital for international calling.

Look for one that supports multiple connection types, including 3G, 4G, 5G, and WiFi. Additionally, it would be great if the calling app offered features like network optimization and bandwidth management to ensure a reliable and stable connection.

7.Customer reviews

Before making your decision, take a peek at the reviews and ratings from other users. Pay attention to what they're saying about the app's performance, reliability, and customer support. After all, there's nothing like real-world feedback to help you make an informed choice. So, listen to what your fellow users have to say—it could save you a lot of hassle down the road.

Top 5 Most Affordable International Calling Apps

Some of the best affordable international calling apps are:

1. WhatsApp

WhatsApp comes at the top of our list of best international calling apps for its free, instant, and convenient international calling features. Acquired by Meta, WhatsApp is a widely used VoIP service for international calling and messaging, with more than 3 billion users worldwide. With WhatsApp, you can make free voice calls, chats, and even video calls to friends and partners from other countries.

Additionally, WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption, providing users with high privacy and security. The main reason behind putting WhatsApp the first of our list is its business oriented features. You can either create a personal account or a business account on WhatsApp. With WhatsApp Business, you are provided with tools to automate, sort, and quickly respond to messages to deal with your international clients more efficiently.

Features

• Calling and instant  messaging
• Voice Message
• Multimedia Sharing
• Contact Blocking
• Dedicated Business Account
• Analytics Tools

Compatibility

Android, iOS, Web, Windows, MacOS

Pros

• Available on multiple platforms
• Simple and easy-to-use interface
• It is free.

Cons

• Limited to WhatsApp Users only
• Emergency Services like 911 can’t be used
• No advanced call management features

Pricing

• Free of Cost (Personal Account)
• For WhatsApp Business, Contact WhatsApp Sales

2.Viber

Viber is a free and secure popular messaging and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) app used by more than 1 billion users worldwide. Developed by Rakuten Viber, a multinational internet company headquartered in Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan,  Viber became one of the leading giants in the market of VoIP services, allowing users to make free voice and video calls, send text messages, photos, and videos, and share locations with other Viber users over the internet.

Along with Viber-to-Viber calls, Viber also offers Viber-Out to make calls to someone who doesn't have Viber or if you need to make calls to landline or mobile numbers is a feature that allows you to make low-cost international calls to any phone number, even if the recipient doesn't have Viber installed.

Features

• Free Viber-to-Viber calls and messaging
• Video Calling
• Multi-media sharing
• Viber-Out calls for placing calls to landlines and mobile numbers

Compatibility

MacOS, Android, iPhone, Web, Windows

Pros

• Available on multiple platforms.
• Offer free unlimited voice and video calls.
• It is free.

Cons

• Faced criticism for Privacy Concerns
• Resource-intensive, Consumes significant amounts of battery life and data
• Not well-suited for businesses
• Annoying and Frequent Advertisements within the app

Pricing

• Free for Viber-to-Viber calls
• Contact the Sales team for Viber-Out calling

3.KrispCall

KrispCall, virtual cloud telephony, is a Singapore-based one-stop solution for any individual and business professional’s calling-related problems. Trusted by more than 4500 businesses in over 100+ countries with a reliable and guaranteed uptime of 99.99%, KrispCall definitely deserves to be on this list of most affordable international calling apps.

KrispCall is completely flexible and can fit diverse individual and business needs. It offers almost all of the basic and advanced cloud telephony features required to handle any sort of international or local business/personal calls. The combination of these qualities, coupled with flexible pricing plans, has elevated KrispCall to an established leader across diverse markets, serving startups, freelancers, small businesses, remote teams, and even large corporations.

Features

• Virtual Numbers of more than 100 countries
• Third-party CRM integrations
• Call forwarding, re-routing, transferring, recording
• Advanced Admin control with call analytics and monitoring
• IVR and ACD
• Number-sharing with multiple members

Compatibility

Android, iOS, Web, Web Extension

Pros

• Wide range of features.
• Affordable pricing structure.
• Excellent customer service.

Cons

• Not Available in Linux and Mac
• No Short Numbers or shortcodes
• Limited Integrations

Pricing

Plans	Price (per month)
Essential	$15
Standard	$40
Enterprise	Customizable

 

4.Skype

Skype is one of the first affordable international calling applications and the pioneer of VOIP. It was founded in 2003 by Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis. It was initially developed to allow peer-to-peer voice calls on computers, but later, it did facilitate long-distance communications. With the demand of time, Skype has gone through various updates and technological advancements.

Skype, with its user-friendly interface and versatile features, has made communications advanced. The core features of Skype are free voice calls and video calling between users at any location in the world. It allows users to receive and send messages and files instantly, promoting real-time collaborations. The web version of it will enable you to make phone calls from a computer. Moreover, it offers screen-sharing features that facilitate work presentations, tech support sessions, and virtual meetings.

Features

• Video and  group calling options
• Instant messaging
• Voicemail and video recordings
• Instant notifications
• Platform integration
• Screen sharing options
• Provide skype numbers

Compatibility

Windows, Android, iOS, Smart TVs, Amazon Alexa, MacOS

Pros

• Offer unlimited international free voice calls.
• User-friendly interface.
• Offers screen-sharing features.

Cons

• Limited on small file transfer 
• Call quality issues
• Privacy concerns

Pricing

• Free Skype to Skype calls
• Skype credit ( $5 per month)
• Subscription-based starts at $6.99 in the USA

5.FaceTime

FaceTime is an application developed by Apple and is exclusively available on all Apple devices, such as iPads, Mac computers, and iPhones. The idea behind Facetime was developed by the work initially done for Game Center. It also has a code name, “Venice,” which reflects Apple's internal development process. FaceTime was designed to provide a crystal audio and video call experience.

It supports up to 32 participants in a single call at a time. Also, with its cross-platform compatibility through web browsers, you can connect to people on other platforms as well. As per the demands of time and advancement, FaceTime has been updated with SharePlay to allow users to share experiences while making a call.

Features

• High-quality audio and video 
• Smooth integration with Apple devices
• Dynamic tiles that resize the active user
• Live photos and low-light mode
• End-to-end encryption

Compatibility

iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch

Pros

• Supports up to 32 participants in a single call.
• User-friendly interface.
• Offer crystal clear audio calls.

Cons

• Limited compatibility
• Unsuited for work-related applications
• Limited participants for group calling
• Security concerns

Pricing

• Free of cost

Conclusion

In an era where people are established in different corners of the world, connectivity has never been more important. People are exploring different affordable apps to make international calls that offer quality calls. Some of the best affordable apps you can try to make international calls are WhatsApp, Viber, KrispCall, etc.

Likewise, one can identify the best app simply by grading apps using metrics such as call quality, cost, compatibility, ease of use, connectivity, and more.

FAQs

1. How can I make a free international call from a PC?

In order to make free international calls from your PC, use VOIP services such as Skype, WhatsApp web, Google Voice, etc. You can simply download the web version of the app and use it on your PC.

2. How much do international calls cost?

The cost of international calls depends upon the country you are calling into and the service provider. For example, For Denmark, the rate per minute is 7.10.