The right international calling app depends on who you're ringing. If the other person can install the same app, free app-to-app calling over data or Wi-Fi is the simplest route; if you need to reach an ordinary mobile or landline abroad, you need an app that dials any phone; and teams need a business phone system. Ten apps follow, in no particular order.
Ringing abroad on your normal phone plan is where surprise charges come from, which is why most people switch to an app for it. But there are two very different kinds of calling app, and choosing the wrong one means the call won't reach the person you need.
The ten below are alphabetical and in no particular order, and each description comes from the app's own website, as of Nov 2026. I've left call rates out on purpose, because they vary by destination and change often, so check them in the app before you ring.
Ten calling apps for ringing abroad
| Tool | Type | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Dialpad | Business calling platform | Team calls to over 190 countries |
| Dingtone | Second number that dials any phone | A second number for calls over Wi-Fi or data |
| imo | Free app-to-app video calling | Free video and audio calls on phone and computer |
| LINE | Free app-to-app messenger | Free voice calls and messages between users |
| Nonoh | Dials any phone, free to some destinations | Free calls to a listed set of countries |
| Rebtel | Dials any phone abroad | Calls to mobiles and landlines, no internet needed |
| Signal | Free encrypted app-to-app messenger | Private calls over your phone's data connection |
| TextNow | Free US number that dials any phone | A free US number with free calls to Canada |
| Viber | Free app-to-app messenger with public accounts | Free calls and messages with friends and family |
| Zangi | Private encrypted messenger | Encrypted calls with data kept on your device |
App-to-app, dial-any-phone and business calling apps
Dialpad
Best for: Companies rather than individuals: a business phone system whose page lists international calls to over 190 countries, with a free trial offered.
Dingtone
Best for: People who want a second phone number for calls and texts over Wi-Fi or data without using cell minutes, with forwarding, voicemail and spam blocking.
imo
Best for: Families who'd like free video chats and audio calls on Android, iOS, Windows and Mac, as long as everyone has the app installed.
LINE
Best for: Friends and family already on the messenger, which its page says lets you make free voice calls and send free messages.
Nonoh
Best for: Callers ringing the countries its page lists as free, such as Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, once they've signed up.
Rebtel
Best for: Ringing relatives on ordinary mobiles or landlines abroad, since the page says calls don't need an internet connection and your first call is free.
Signal
Best for: Privacy-minded callers who want an independent nonprofit messenger with end-to-end encryption, ringing contacts who also use it.
TextNow
Best for: US users who want a free number with calling and texting in the app, reaching 230+ countries and destinations and showing the rate before they dial.
Viber
Best for: Groups of friends and family already on the app, which also offers public accounts for brands and well-known people.
Zangi
Best for: Anyone after end-to-end encrypted calls and messages, with a private number and, per the page, data that lives only on their device.
Free app-to-app calls versus apps that dial any phone
The app pages split neatly into two camps. App-to-app services such as Signal, Zangi, imo, LINE and Viber are free, but the person you're ringing needs the same app. Dial-any-phone apps such as Rebtel, Dingtone, Nonoh and TextNow reach ordinary mobiles and landlines, which is what you need for a grandparent without a smartphone or a business without a messenger account.
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The small print sits in the entries below. One dial-any-phone app says its calls don't need an internet connection at all, another shows the rate before you dial and lets US numbers call Canada free, and a third lists destinations it calls free but only once you've signed up. On the app-to-app side, one messenger points out that it uses your phone's data connection, so you avoid SMS and MMS charges.
What each kind of calling app needs from you
- App-to-app calling needs both of you on the same app with an internet connection, over Wi-Fi or mobile data. Calls between users are free on the apps here, and several add video calls or end-to-end encryption.
- Dial-any-phone calling reaches a normal number abroad. Rates vary by destination, so check the country you're ringing in the app before you call.
- Business calling is a different product: a phone system sold to companies, not an app for ringing your family. If that's what you need, my list of Dialpad alternatives covers more platforms built for teams.
And if everyone you ring already uses WhatsApp, read my guide to making international calls on WhatsApp before you install anything new. Travelling yourself? My comparison of the best eSIM for international travel covers staying connected while you're away.
Five questions before you download a calling app
- Does the person you're calling have a smartphone and a data connection, or only an ordinary phone?
- Do you need to call mobiles and landlines, or only other people on the same app?
- Will you be on Wi-Fi when you call, or do you need calls that work without an internet connection?
- Do you want a second number, so people can ring you back without seeing your own?
- Is this for you and your family, or for a team that needs a business system?
Do you make an international calling app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice for calling abroad
Start with what the people you ring already use. If they're on a messenger, a free app-to-app call is the easy answer. If you're ringing someone on a landline or an older mobile, you need a dial-any-phone app, so check the rate for that country in the app and try a short call first. Keep the two jobs separate: plenty of people use a free messenger for family and a dial-any-phone app for everything else. And if you're calling for work, a business phone system is the tidier route, because the calls, numbers and records stay with the company.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What's the free way to call someone abroad?
Use an app-to-app service that you and the other person both have installed. Calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data between users are free on the messengers on this list.
Can I call a landline abroad from an app?
Yes, with a dial-any-phone app. App-to-app messengers only reach other users of the same app, so a landline needs an app built to dial ordinary numbers.
Do international calling apps need Wi-Fi?
Most use Wi-Fi or mobile data. One app on this list says its calls work without an internet connection at all.
Are app-to-app calls encrypted?
Some are. Two messengers on this list describe end-to-end encrypted calls on their own pages, so check the privacy page of the app you choose.
Can I get a second phone number for calls abroad?
Yes. A few of the apps here give you a second or private number, which keeps your own number private and lets people ring you back in the app.
What should a business use for international calls?
A business phone system rather than a consumer app. The business platform on this list says it calls over 190 countries, and it keeps calls and numbers under the company's control.
