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. If you’re wondering how much international calls cost, it pays to shop around between different service providers to find a package that most closely aligns with your business’ calling patterns.

Per-minute International Calling Rates Comparison

We researched international rates for Phone.com, Ooma, Nextiva, RingCentral, and 8×8 using 15 common calling destinations for United States-based businesses to see how their costs compared. We found that per-minute costs of Phone.com were among the lowest priced on average, and they also offer unlimited calls to select countries with their unlimited calling plans. However, some services might offer a greater range of countries you can call for no extra charge.

It is worth mentioning that vendors can change their international rates at any given time. Additionally, there could be extra fees for calls in each country depending on what region and whether you are calling a landline or cellular phone in that country. So, if you find yourself asking, “How much do international calls cost?”, please check current rates with any service provider that you are considering adopting.

International Calling Rates & VoIP Provider Summary Table

Example International Calling Costs: Phone.com

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 user with an unlimited Phone.com subscription who makes frequent calls to the United Kingdom:

• $29.99 monthly fee per user, per month
• International calls: Free
• $29.99 total, plus any applicable taxes in your area

Phone.com generally has low prices on international calling. While it may not have per-minute rates as cheap as its competitors for some countries, we find it is still a good fit for making calls to Canada, the U.K., Israel, and other popular locales where Americans do business.

Visit Phone.com

VoIP Provider Monthly Service Cost & Rate Comparison

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

VoIP Monthly Service Fee Comparison Table

* Phone.com also offers a pay-as-you-go plan.
** Lower prices typically available as volume discounts on accounts with 100 or more users.
*** Pricing is for one-to-four 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 Phone.com example above for a midlevel service plan with 15 users, here’s how it compares to a similar plan from RingCentral.

Phone.com vs. RingCentral Total Monthly Cost Comparison Table

As you can see, Phone.com’s overall monthly cost is significantly lower for anyone making frequent calls to the U.K. Even though the service itself is more expensive, its international calling rates are much more affordable. Click the link below to learn more about Phone.com.

Visit Phone.com

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 unlimited service plans cost between $29.99 and $59.99 per user, per month, and support unlimited users with unlimited calling, short message service (SMS) messaging, and local or toll-free numbers.

Phone.com’s unlimited calling 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.

Ooma International Calling Rates

Ooma is a VoIP business phone service with international calling rates outside the U.S. and Canada. Unlike many of its competitors, Ooma only offers one pricing package for business users. At $19.99 per user, per month, it is a lot more affordable than the likes of RingCentral and 8×8.

Ooma per-Minute International Calling Rates

It is also worth noting Ooma customers give the phone service provider high marks for its core features, usability, and helpful customer support. However, some customers say the service’s mobile app could use some improvement.

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 $35 to $55 per user, per month, for up to four users. 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. Pricing also changes depending on whether you choose annual or monthly pricing:

• Basic: $20 to $35 per user, per month
• Pro: $25 to $38 per user, per month
• Enterprise: $30 to $55 per user, 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 to $44.99 per user, per month, on an annual basis. Features include unlimited calling and unlimited audio and video meetings.

RingCentral’s pricing tiers are:

• Essentials: $19.99 per user, per month, for up to 99 users
• Standard: $24.99 per user, per month, for up to 99 users
• Premium: $34.99 per user, per month, for up to 99 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 the service to have technical problems at times and say customer support can sometimes be slow to respond.

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 reasonable 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 genuinely want to cut costs, you must be willing to switch to a provider that can make that happen. The long-term savings will more than compensate for the short-term inconvenience.

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 quickly increase the overall cost. 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; and,
• 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 actually 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.

Bottom Line – How Much Do International Calls Cost?

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 reduce your international calling expenses significantly.