International Calling Costs: Everything You Need to Know

What are international calling costs?

International calling costs are simply the per-minute rates you’re charged when placing a call to another country. These rates vary widely depending on your carrier, whether you’re calling a mobile or landline number, and whether you have an international calling plan.

Without a plan, basic pay-per-minute rates add up quickly. Many major carriers publish their nondiscounted international rates, and the differences can be dramatic. For example:

• AT&T lists pay-per-minute rates as high as $2 to the U.K. and Sweden and $3 to Australia, the Philippines and more.
• Verizon’s standard global calling rates often range from $1.99 to over $3 per minute, depending on the country.
• T-Mobile charges around $3 per minute for many countries when you’re not on an international plan, and can even go as high as $5.

These steep rates explain why most businesses use international calling plans or VoIP services, which typically offer deeply discounted international rates or unlimited calling to specific countries. For companies that call overseas frequently, those savings add up quickly.

What affects international calling costs?

International calling rates can vary a lot, and the price you pay per minute depends on several factors — including your phone provider, the type of plan you have, whether you’re using VoIP technology or a traditional landline, and the specific countries (and sometimes even cities) involved. Below, we break down the biggest factors that influence what you’ll actually pay.

Rate differences by country and city

International calling rates differ for each country and can vary dramatically based on your provider and technology. If you’re using VoIP, your costs may also change depending on which city within a country you call and whether you’re reaching a landline or mobile phone. 

For example, current Xfinity international voice rates show how prices vary across popular destinations:

Rate differences for VoIP vs. traditional phone lines

Your international rate also depends on the type of phone system you’re using — in other words, whether you’re calling over a VoIP phone system or a traditional landline. Generally, VoIP setups come with lower hardware and service costs than legacy hardwired systems, which is important to keep in mind when you compare international calling rates.

VoIP providers also tend to offer more competitive per-minute pricing. Many publish separate rates for landline and mobile calls and offer discounted pricing for high-volume destinations. For example:

• Zoom Phone charges about 3 cents per minute to call landlines in Mexico on its Monthly starting-commit plan.
• Traditional carriers like Verizon show international calling rates that start around 49 cents per minute, with many destinations costing well over $1 or even $2 per minute without an international plan.

Your total international cost will also depend on the type of calling plan your company chooses. Many VoIP providers sell low-cost add-on plans — usually an extra five to 10 dollars per user each month — that include a block of international minutes or unlimited calling to select countries. These plans can be a smart way to control spending, but it’s still important to read the fine print. Some bundles only apply to specific countries or number types, so if you’re not careful, you could end up paying higher per-minute rates than you expected.

What are international numbers?

An international number is a phone number that lets your company receive calls from customers in multiple countries through one consistent, centralized line, even when each country has different dialing rules.

When setting up an international number, you can choose either a virtual phone number or a Universal International Freephone Number (UIFN). 

• Virtual phone number: A virtual phone number, sometimes called direct inward dialing (DID), routes incoming calls to any line you choose, such as a VoIP extension or a mobile phone. You can set it up with a local number format (so callers see a number familiar to their region) or a toll-free format.
• UIFN: A UIFN works differently. It adds an extra digit to a standard toll-free number so the same toll-free number can be used across participating countries. This can streamline branding, simplify marketing materials and make vanity numbers easier to use worldwide.

International numbers: Local and 800

There are two main kinds of international numbers: local and toll-free.

Local international numbers

Local international numbers are the most common option for businesses expanding globally. Each provider handles them a little differently, but the concept is the same: You rent a local number in another country so customers there can call you as if you were in the same city. For example, if you obtain a local number in Mexico City through a VoIP provider like RingEx or 8×8, your number will carry the same area code as local businesses. Some providers don’t charge extra for incoming calls, though you’ll still pay standard international rates for outbound calls.

Many major VoIP platforms let you purchase local international numbers as an add-on. For instance:

• RingEx sells international local numbers starting at $5.99 to $14.99 per month, depending on the country. (See our RingEx review to learn more about this option’s features and functionality.)
• Zoom Phone offers additional phone numbers (including international formats) starting at $5 per number per month on its add-on page. (Our Zoom review explains more about this robust platform.)
• 8×8 provides international direct numbers in more than 100 countries, typically starting at around $5 to $10 per month, depending on the region. (Our 8×8 review gives you a complete look at this popular service.)

With any of these options, the number is local to the country, but international calling rates usually still apply to incoming and outgoing calls based on your provider’s policies. The advantage is that customers calling from their area pay only local rates — not international — making this a popular choice for companies looking to establish a local presence abroad.

International 800 numbers

International 800 numbers are less common, and not all providers support them. They’re also more expensive than local international numbers because they function like in-country toll-free lines: Callers pay nothing, and you pay the full cost of the call. For example:

• RingEx lists international toll-free numbers at $14.99 per month plus a one-time $30 setup fee, with per-minute charges for usage.
• 8×8 and Ooma Office also offer international toll-free numbers in select countries, typically ranging from $10 to $25 per month, depending on the destination and number type.

These numbers operate much like a U.S. toll-free line but work inside the destination country. Anyone calling your international 800 number from within that country pays nothing, while your business covers both the inbound toll-free charges and any international outbound minutes. Companies that want to appear established, trustworthy and easy to reach, especially in customer-service-heavy industries, often choose this option despite the higher monthly costs.

How you can save on international calling costs

Once you understand the costs behind international calls and international numbers, the next question is obvious: How do you keep those expenses down? Here are a few smart ways to lower your bill:

• Look at your phone system as a whole: Good international rates don’t mean much if they come with high monthly fees. Compare traditional phone systems with VoIP options and evaluate the total cost, not just the per-minute number. In most cases, VoIP will be far more affordable.
• Be willing to switch providers: Your current provider may not have the best international rates. If your business makes frequent overseas calls, it’s worth shopping around. Switching takes a little effort, but the long-term savings can be significant.
• Choose a provider with low rates in the countries you call most: Every vendor prices each country differently. A company with great rates in one region might be expensive in another. Focus on the places your team actually calls.
• Read the fine print: Some “great rates” only apply to certain countries or number types. Make sure you understand the restrictions before signing up so you don’t get hit with higher-than-expected charges.
• Use communication apps when possible: For noncritical conversations, tools like Microsoft Teams, Zoom Phone or Google Meet can reduce or eliminate international calling fees when both parties have internet access.
• Consider bundles: If you’re calling multiple countries regularly, regional or global add-on bundles can be more cost-effective than paying per minute.

Examples of international calling costs

International calling rates can vary widely depending on the provider, the country you’re calling, your plan type and, in some cases, even the specific city.

A practical example helps show these differences. Suppose you’re calling a supplier in Mexico. To illustrate how pricing varies, we compared a VoIP provider (Zoom Phone) with a traditional landline carrier (Xfinity). Note that your total cost also depends on whether you’re calling a landline or a mobile number. 

To keep the comparison consistent, the chart below uses each provider’s standard pay-as-you-go rates rather than monthly commit plans or unlimited international calling packages, which can lower or even eliminate per-minute charges for certain countries.

All rates shown are standard pay-as-you-go charges for outbound calls from the U.S.

As this example shows, the cost difference between providers can add up quickly, especially when calling mobile numbers. A 30-minute call to a Mexican landline costs about $1.50 with Zoom Phone and $2.70 with Xfinity, while a 30-minute mobile call shows a larger gap — roughly $5.10 with Zoom versus $8.10 with Xfinity.

Rates can vary just as much in other countries. For example, Zoom Phone charges about 6 cents per minute to landlines in Japan and about 14 cents to mobile numbers, while Xfinity charges 9 cents and 23 cents, respectively.

For companies that make frequent international calls, even small per-minute differences add up quickly. A business that logs 10 hours of international calls in a month could save more than 30 dollars simply by choosing a provider with lower rates. Those savings can add up significantly over the course of a year.