International Calling Rates: How Much Do International Calls Cost?

International calling rates have become more economical as phone services transition to voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) technology, but they can still add up quickly. We compared the international calling rates from several top VoIP providers and found Vonage offers the best prices, with rates as low as $0.02 to the United Kingdom, India, and Brazil.

Per Minute International Calling Rates Comparison

We researched the international calling rates at Vonage, Nextiva, RingCentral, 8×8, and Phone.com, using 15 of the most common calling destinations for United States-based small businesses to see how their costs compared. We found that per-minute costs varied widely by provider and that Vonage and Phone.com were the lowest priced on average, as noted on this chart with sample pricing.

International Calling Rates & VoIP Provider Summary Table

Example International Calling Costs: Vonage

To get an idea of what your monthly costs would look like with a VoIP service provider and service plan with international calling rates, we ran some numbers for you. Here’s an example of a subscription to a mid-level service plan with Vonage for 15 users making international calls to the U.K.:

• $27.99 monthly fee
• 2 cents per minute times 2,400 minutes = $48
• $75.99 total

Depending on your particular calling needs, a higher priced monthly package may result in a lower overall monthly cost if it includes international calls to the destinations that you call the most.

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VoIP Provider Monthly Cost & Rate Comparison

When comparing the international calling rates of VoIP phone service providers, it’s important to consider their monthly service fees. Depending on your calling needs, you may find higher per minute rates are offset by lower monthly fees. Similarly, higher monthly service fees may include lower per-minute rates to the international destinations you call the most.

VoIP Monthly Service Fee Comparison Table

* Lower prices typically available as volume discounts on accounts with 100 or more users.

Some service providers also include unlimited international calls to select destinations in their monthly service fees, although you may need to subscribe to a higher pricing tier to access the feature. However, depending on your calling needs, the higher monthly fee may be offset by what you save on per-minute fees for international calls.

For example, using the numbers from our Vonage example above for a mid-level service plan with 15 users, here’s how it compares to a similar plan from RingCentral:

Vonage vs RingCentral Total Monthly Cost Comparison Table

As you can see, even though Vonage’s monthly fee is higher than RingCentral’s, the overall monthly cost is significantly lower once international calls are added in because of its lower per-minute international calling rates.

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Vonage International Calling Rates

Vonage is a VoIP business phone service with international calling rates outside the U.S. and Canada. Vonage offers three service plans with industry-average pricing from $19.99 to $39.99 per user, per month. Features include unlimited domestic calling and short message system (SMS), mobile apps, an auto-attendant, faxing, call recording, customer relationship management (CRM) integrations, and video conferencing.

Vonage service plans are priced based on the number of users on the account:

• Mobile: $14.99 to $19.99 per user, per month
• Premium: $24.99 to $29.99 per user, per month
• Advanced: $34.99 to $39.99 per user, per month

Vonage per Minute International Calling Rates

Vonage customers give the phone service provider high marks for its range of features, helpful customer support, and easy-to-use dashboard. However, some customers say the service tends to get expensive as your business grows and more lines and features are needed.

Nextiva International Calling Rates

Nextiva, our top-rated VoIP provider for small business, offers international calling rates outside the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Nextiva has competitively-priced service plans starting at $19.95 to $27.95 per user, per month. Features include unlimited domestic calling, free local and toll-free phone numbers, SMS messaging, and a conference bridge.

Nextiva’s service plans are priced based on the number of users on the account:

• Office Pro: $19.95 to $30.95 per month
• Office Pro Plus: $20.95 to $33.95 per month
• Office Enterprise: $27.95 to $40.95 per month

Nextiva per Minute International Calling Rates

Nextiva customers give the phone service favorable reviews, emphasizing its excellent call quality and reliable customer service. However, users also report occasional issues with dropped calls and some customers say the user interface could be more intuitive.

RingCentral International Calling Rates

RingCentral is a VoIP business phone system provider with international calling rates outside the U.S. and Canada. RingCentral offers a range of plans for every budget, from $19.99 per month for up to 10 users to $44.99 per month for unlimited users. Features include unlimited calling and unlimited audio and video meetings.

RingCentral’s pricing tiers are:

• Essentials: $19.99 to $29.99/user per month for up to 10 users
• Standard: $22.99 to $34.99/user per month for up to 999 users
• Premium: $32.99 to $44.99/user per month for up to 999 users
• Ultimate: $42.99 to $59.99/user per month for up to 999 users

RingCentral per Minute International Calling Rates

RingCentral customers say the phone service offers robust functionality with easy-to-use features. However, some users find its prices higher than RingCentral competitors and say customer support can sometimes be slow to respond.

Phone.com International Calling Rates

Phone.com is a VoIP business phone system with international calling rates outside of the U.S, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Puerto Rico, and the U.K. Phone.com’s robustly priced service plans cost between $29.99 and $59.99 per user, per month and support unlimited users with unlimited calling, SMS messaging, and local or toll-free numbers.

Phone.com’s service plans are:

• Base: $29.99 per user, per month
• Plus: $37.99 per user, per month
• Pro: $59.99 per user, per month

Phone.com per Minute International Calling Rates

Phone.com customers are happy with the phone service for its range of features and because it includes unlimited calling to several countries outside the U.S. with its service plans. However, some users say customer support is unreliable, and its agents are rude.

8×8 International Calling Rates

8×8 is a VoIP service provider that offers international calling rates outside the U.S and Canada as well as unlimited calling to select countries. Service plans run from $25 per user, per month to $55 per user, per month for unlimited calling to up to 47 countries. This makes it a good value for global calling.

8×8’s service plans are:

• X2: $25 per user per month for unlimited calling to 14 countries
• X5: $35 per user per month for unlimited calling to 32 countries
• X8: $55 per user per month for unlimited calling to 47 countries

8×8 Per Minute International Calling Rates

8×8’s customers report satisfaction with the phone service provider for its affordable pricing and service plans that include unlimited calling to several countries outside the U.S. However, some users report regular system disruptions and an unresponsive customer support team.

How to Save on International Calling Rates

Low per-minute calling rates are only part of the picture when it comes to keeping your international calling costs under control. Here are some steps to take to ensure your business is paying as little as possible for your international calls:

Evaluate Your Business Phone System

International calling rates are only part of your total phone costs. You may be getting good international rates but paying more than you need to in monthly service fees or vice-versa. If you’re still using a traditional landline, it may be time for your company to switch to a VoIP phone service.

Be Willing to Switch Providers

Odds are you already have a business phone provider. However, they may not be the best solution for your specific needs. If you make a lot of international calls and truly want to cut costs, you must be willing to switch to a provider that can make that happen. The short-term inconvenience will be more than compensated by the long-term savings.

Consider a VoIP Business Phone Service

Where outdated landline technology relied on the physical copper wires from your local phone company, newer VoIP technology takes advantage of your business’ high-speed internet connection to convert voice into data. Because the physical distance between the two phones is no longer a contributing factor to cost, VoIP international calling rates are generally much cheaper than calls made with a landline.

Audit Your Calling Habits

Different phone providers have different international calling rates for different countries, and some may even include the destinations you call the most in their monthly service fees. Audit your business’ calling habits, then find the provider that offers the lowest total rates for the destinations you call the most.

Read the Fine Print

Some phone providers advertise great international calling rates and plans, but when you read the fine print, there may be conditions, restrictions, or introductory offers that increase the overall cost quickly. Do your due diligence and make sure you know what you are signing up for.

Get a Virtual Phone Number

If you’re located in the U.S. but do most of your business in another country, virtual phone numbers are another way to save money. Virtual phone numbers forward incoming calls to your personal mobile phone or internet-enabled device and make outbound calls from those devices appear as if they’re originating from the same number. They differ from VoIP phone services in that they generally offer a more limited set of features for a lower price.

When you subscribe to a virtual phone number service, most service providers allow you to choose a phone number that’s based in another country. By doing this, your inbound and outbound calls will be “local” to that country — even if it’s on the other side of the world.

However, there are two important considerations to make before choosing a virtual phone number for your business:

• Because your phone number will be local to another country, this may confuse your local customers
• Because your phone number will be local to another country, any calls to and from your local customers will be charged international rates

For example, if you do the majority of your business in the U.K. and choose to have a virtual phone number that’s based in the U.K. even though you’re physically in the U.S., your local customers might think that you’re based in the U.K. Also, any calls to and from your local customers will be charged at the international rate from the U.K. to the U.S.

The Bottom Line

International calls are a necessary expense for your business. However, by understanding how international calling rates work and shopping around until you find the best match for your particular needs, you can significantly reduce your international calling expenses.

For most businesses that make international calls, Vonage offers the most economical option. Its slightly higher monthly service fee is offset by its cheaper per-minute international rates, which adds up to a lower overall cost. Click here to learn more.

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