I and my fiancè use Googlefi to text/ call eachother. Were in a long distance relationship (UK-USA) and I've now switched from my UK provider completely to googlefi. Its 60 dollars each for unlimited data, calls and text not sure if this is in your budget but remember that plan includes everything and you could use it as your main phone number / plan. Hope that helps, also I can give a referral code for a free $20 if you'd like & if that's allowed.

https://www.zipcall.com/international-calls/

If your country is listed amongst the few zip call does, it’s free (just uses standard airtime minutes)

Lyca has a £10 -£15 plan that might suit you.

Skype

Which country do you need to call?

Just sign up with a VoIP service from that country that lets you get a local number and call 'local' (ie. Within that country) numbers for free.

Solid recommendations dude! I think even JustCall is at par with some of the solutions you've mentioned in your list. They offer international numbers, free dialing minutes every month, caller ID management, help with 10DLC registration, and other important features like call logging, call recording, IVR setup, etc.

People I know who use it say even their AI suite is a bang for the buck, and their dialers are great for executing high-volume outbound campaigns. (This features are of course a part of their higher plans)

I thought I'd put it out here for other people who might have similar requirements.

If international calling is your priority, look for providers with flat-rate packages to avoid surprise bills. I've been using net2phone for our business that regularly calls clients in Europe and Asia. Their plans include unlimited calling to 40+ countries and they offer local virtual numbers in over 50 countries, which has been great for establishing regional presence. The call quality has been consistently clear even on international calls. You can check their international coverage at https://www.net2phone.com to see if your frequent destinations are included.

Would you want it to contact back home or for service while out of the country? Are you staying within the same country for your whole trip?

If you don't care about sms/MMS to back home, just get a sim or esim in the country that you're traveling to

Google Fi Unlimited! Coverage most everywhere and no excess or crazy fees.

Switch to T-mobile (I sound like an ad lol); they offer free international text and data, and cheap phone calls for up to three months. I switched from Verizon for that reason, but the icing was that t-mobile’s monthly charge is lower :)

+1 I always use Airalo esims when travelling since I discovered it. Very easy to install, fairly priced and has the advantage of being able to keep my own sim with number alongside it for when I need 2 factor authentication or in case there's an emergency and someone needs to call me on my number

Lebara has portugal - free calls on XL or XXL plans.

https://www.lebara.com.au/prepaid-plans/rates/

Depends on where you want to call. I have a Coles prepaid SIM. They use Optus‘s network. I pay for 12 months at the lower data tier, there are two data tiers, currently $190 for 365 days and 140 GB of data included, or $240 for 365 days and 210 GB of data.

You get unlimited local calls and SMS as well as unlimited calls and SMS to 15 international locations: Canada, mainland China, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Kingdom and United States.

Use whatsapp, google/teams meetings, zoom, messenger etc if you are calling people you know

Why not FaceTime?

https://account.viber.com/en/call-portugal

I use Viber. $5.99 USD per month, unlimited calls to mobile and landline numbers (with your caller ID showing).

Very handy if you travel to multiple overseas destinations also. As you can return peoples calls (global roaming), via the Viber app. They'll see your caller ID just like any other normal domestic call.

Good2Go includes unlimited calling to 60 countries. The cheapest plan is $60/year ($5/mo).

The only way to get unlimited international calling is by using an APP called rebel. You can even share it with 5 people in the family.

Most cheap mobile services that offer international calling will limit you to a certain amount of minutes each billing cycle as outlined in the terms of use (ex. Tello limits international calling to 1000 minutes on unlimited voice plans) and/or limit the number of different international numbers you may dial within any billing cycle (ex. US Mobile and Good2Go Mobile limit to 15 different international numbers). Unless you are working for yourself, see if your organization will pay for a line with international calling or a VOIP application that allows international calling.

Tello offers 1000 minutes of international calling per 30 day period to 60 countries.

The limit for international calls is set at 1000 min/30-day billing cycle and this balance is not rolled over. In case of abuse of usage, we reserve the right to suspend, terminate or restrict your ILD Services without any prior notice.

The cheapest unlimited call and text plan with no data is $8/mo.

https://preview.redd.it/0wa8pcyt7hae1.png?width=864&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=adf302c55409c1adcb336e85f2e69e1290223d5f

Tello has unlimited to 60 countries, and caps it at 1000 minutes or 16 hours per 30 days for international use. I suggest voip number or just using Whatsapp through data and won't have to worry about long distance calls.

Ive been in the uk for 5 years not sure where ur going but id recommend suspend ur verizon account and just whatever local carrier there is or a google fi sim card and then just get skype usa unlimited calling subscription its like 2.99 u can even get a permanent us phone number as well for like another 5

TMobile by far. Their mil international plan basically uses your stateside plan overseas and it’s unlimited. I used it the whole year I was in Turkey. Plus you don’t have to worry about overseas carrier costs. (Verizon was charging me out the ass for those if I made phone calls.)

I've heard Tmobile is good. Googlefi is good for data, but their international calling rates suck.

Google Fi if you are solely reliant on cell network for data. T Mobile if you will be on WiFi most of the time in most countries. G

Google Fi probably edges out because T Mobile has a clause that says they can shut you down if you are international for too long (intended for temporary trips)

TMobile is the best hands down. That said if you are STAYING somewhere overseas just ditch your USA number and get a local plan. Check with your carrier about unlocking you phone before you go or plan to buy local when you get where you are going.

Google Fi, the best plan for traveling people yet nobody knows about it.

I love Google Fi!

Just tried Verizon’s for a week in Italy. It worked for three days and then never worked again. Next time I’ll just buy the SIM card.

I have unlimited calling to the USA through an O2 flat rate. It costs me 5 Euros per month. Otherwise you can check the newspaper for cheap numbers that let you call out to the USA, that's what I used to use before I got my flat rate.

If you want a US number than get a VoIP app. I can call and receive calls on my German phone via the app. I use openphone and it cost me 10€ per month.

Any VOIP provider should do: Satellite, easybell, …

I usually use skype, but they arent cheap unless ig u try the monthly subscription. There might be better options out there but thats the only i know.

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Downvoting OP and their comments shows how people can be so tone-deaf. If it wasn’t clear before, it definitely should be, by now- but as we all know, if only common sense was actually…well, ‘common’.

OP might be looking for a cheap method of “offline calling”, and not internet-based calling as we have on FaceTime, Discord, Teams / Skype, Google Meet, Instagram, Snapchat, Messenger, WhatsApp, Telegram, and so on.

I don’t know the reason why OP wishes that, but that’s not the point here if the condition of the requirement is definitively specified - “it has to be a normal call” and by “normal”, presumably “offline” call.

My guess? Probably privacy.

Can phone carriers tap into such offline calls? Probably. Yes actually, why not? They are tracked by law enforcement, whenever that’s deemed necessary.

But online calls? Lmao, we know how that works like…

I know about Signal and all that, but again, if OP wishes for offline calling, then Signal or any other such alternative would be irrelevant.

Jumping straight to the answer now, well, I believe Jio is one of the cheapest carriers that might allow OP have what they are looking for, hopefully it’s cheap enough for them.

Cheers 👋🏼

Skype 🤣

Whatsapp, Facetime, Telegram, Signal. No?

Ok so this is much easier than just calling.

Most comments here are stupid. People have no concept of a landline number. Let's say I need to call Chase or Citibank or Walmart customer service? I need to make a real phone call. Let's say I have to call the Hilton in Warsaw or Paris? Again, I would need a real phone call. Let's say I ordered some product or service and need to call them? Things like WhatsApp or Telegram don't work.