You might consider signing up for the lowest cell phone plan and relying on free text and call apps if you are looking to save money and you do not spend much time in places with reliable Wi-Fi such as your office. These are seven apps that offer free calling on Android and iOS. All offer unlimited calling and SMS text messaging. Some of them offer both landline and mobile phone calls. Continue reading to find out more.
1. TextNow
You’ll quickly discover that many apps that offer free calling have a major caveat: you can only call other people who have the app installed. You cannot call regular landlines or mobile phones. TextNow is one exception. You can make unlimited phone calls to any number in either the US or Canada as long as you are located in these countries. You will have to pay if you wish to call international numbers. However, you can earn international calling credit by fulfilling offers. You can also get voicemail transcripts and caller ID. Call forwarding is available as well as your own inbound number. TextNow is available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
2. Text free
Pinger created Text Free, a Wi-Fi calling app that provides free texting for many years. Although it is similar to TextNow there are important differences. It is free to make Wi-Fi-based app calls as well as inbound calls. You will need to pay if you wish to make outbound calls from a regular telephone number. You can get minutes by viewing videos and participating in partner offers. You can also grab 100 outbound minutes at $1.99 if you prefer to pay. The minutes can be used to call anywhere around the globe. You can also choose a US phone number to give to family and friends. You can select an area code and then choose your preferred combination. Text Free is available for both Android and iOS. Download: Text Free for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is not free to use for calls, so there are some limitations. WhatsApp can’t be used to call landlines and cell phones. It can only make calls to people with WhatsApp installed. A growing number of small and large businesses now have WhatsApp accounts. You might still be able order pizza from your favorite restaurant if you feel hungry at night. WhatsApp supports video calls and group calling, unlike TextNow and Text Free. WhatsApp’s userbase is the best thing about it. WhatsApp is the most used messaging app in the entire world. This means that there’s a high probability that the person you wish to contact has one. WhatsApp is now available for both Android and iOS. The web app cannot be used to place calls. iOS (Free)
4. Google Duo
Google Duo allows you to make free Wi-Fi calls for other users using the Android or iOS operating systems. Other features include group chat support up to 32 persons, in-call photo feature and voice-only calls. Google Duo’s Family Mode is our favorite. You can use it to doodle while on video calls, transform your screen persona with stickers, masks, and other features. Download: Google Duo for Android | iOS (Free)
5. Dingtone
Dingtone is another great free calling and texting app. You can send unlimited text messages to any number (both local and international) and you can also call landlines free of charge via Wi-Fi. This app is particularly useful if you need a second number to do business or if you need a private number other than the one that your friends have. The second number could be used to play pranks on your friends. Download: Dingtone for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
6. Talkatone
Talkatone is available for iOS and Android. It provides a free US number that you can use to send and get texts and make calls to any US-based phone, including landlines. Talkatone can be used to make calls via WiFi or cell data. Although the data allowance for Talkatone will be drained, it will not use any minutes that you have left if your data allowance is low. While the app is compatible with US phones, it cannot be used outside of the US. Foreign phone numbers can be blocked. Download: Talkatone for Android | iOS (Free, in-app purchases available)
7. Skype
Although Microsoft’s app may not enjoy the same market dominance as it did once, it is still a major player in the free Wi-Fi calling app world and remains popular with business users. Calls to other Skype users remain free, once again. You will need to sign-up for one of Skype’s payment plans if you wish to call landlines or cell phones. There are many plans available. Each plan offers different numbers of minutes and supports different countries. Remember, Office 365 subscribers get 60 minutes of free calls every month to any international number. Unused minutes cannot be transferred between months. If you prefer to look elsewhere, check out these best Skype alternative. iOS (Free)
Wi-Fi calling is the future
Popular apps allow you to choose a number and make free Wi Fi calls to other users. It’s difficult to imagine a future where these apps don’t play an increasing important role in the mobile phone plan landscape. They could easily be the Netflix of the telephone call sector. Which app should you choose? It all depends on what you need. WhatsApp and Google Duo offer the best options for calling other apps. You will need to use one of these other options if you want to make outbound calls to cell phones and landlines.
