If you’re calling clients across borders or just trying to stay in touch with family abroad, switching to a good international VoIP provider can save you a lot of money, and headaches!
We’ve suffered through dropped calls, lag, and hidden fees. But don’t worry you don’t have to do the same.
If you’re a small business owner who needs local numbers in multiple countries or simply someone looking for a cheap way to call overseas, this guide will help you find what actually works.
First, let’s define what you really need.
Personal vs. Business: Know What You Need
- Personal use: For personal use, you can definitely look for something cheap or free for calls abroad, this is often app-to-app like WhatsApp or Viber.
- Business use: For your company or business, a real phone number in multiple countries should include AI receptionists, CRM integrations, and 24/7 routing.
In this second case, if you’re building a global presence, you better look for:
- Unlimited international calling areas
- Local numbers in the countries you serve
- Supported languages for greetings or AI agents
- Transparent international rates
- Reliable call quality over Wi-Fi
What Makes a Great International VoIP System
1. Unlimited global coverage
If you operate in several markets, you’ll want unlimited minutes across your key regions like Europe, North America, and LATAM.
2. Local numbers that build trust
Customers are more likely to answer when your caller ID looks local. Allo, JustCall, and RingCentral make this easy.
3. Multilingual AI receptionist
Ideal for global teams to greet and route calls in English, French, Spanish, or German automatically.
4. Transparent pricing
No hidden “per-minute” international fees, or if yes, know exactly the price for future calculation.
Our Selection Methodology
When it comes to international VoIP, features alone don’t tell the whole story. What matters most is reliability, and whether the provider actually fits how you work or live.
Here’s what we focused on when testing:
- Unlimited calling area: how many countries you can call without per-minute fees.
- International rates: how affordable it is to call countries outside the unlimited zone.
- Local number availability: whether you can look “local” to your clients abroad.
- Supported languages for AI features: especially useful for multilingual customer bases.
- Reliability: call quality, uptime, and how the app handles low-WiFi conditions.
Allo: Best For SMBs
What is Allo?
Allo is a mobile-first business phone system designed for small teams who need to stay reachable from anywhere.
It combines calling, texting, and voicemail-to-text in one app, with AI-powered summaries, integrations, spam blocking, and an AI receptionist that can answer calls when you’re busy.
Unlike legacy tools built for call centers, Allo is made for real businesses like gyms, restaurants, constructions, schools, and anyone who needs to sound professional while working.
Why Allo Is a Great Pick for International Calls
- Biggest unlimited calling area: 20+ countries across North America and Europe.
- Affordable international rates: much cheaper than RingCentral or Zoom Phone for global calls.
- Local numbers available in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Spain, and more.
- Multilingual AI receptionist: English, French, and Spanish are available.
- Mobile-first setup: create your account, buy a number, and start calling in minutes.
When it’s not the right fit
- You’re an enterprise with hundreds of seats needing detailed compliance or SSO (Single Sign-On).
- You need desk phones, call queues, or live supervision (RingCentral handles that better).
- Your team relies mostly on desktop systems or complex internal call routing.
Allo is ideal for SMBs with clients in multiple countries, like real estate agencies, travel services, or international e-commerce sellers who want to appear local everywhere they operate.
Pricing
Allo’s Business Plan ($32/month) includes unlimited calling to over 70 destinations across Europe, North America, and Latin America, both fixed and mobile lines.
For the rest of the world, Allô offers competitive pay-as-you-go rates starting at just $0.005 per minute. Popular destinations include:
- 🇫🇷 France: $0.005/min (fixed) or $0.015/min (mobile)
- 🇺🇸 United States: $0.011/min (fixed & mobile)
- 🇧🇷 Brazil: $0.022/min (fixed) or $0.047/min (mobile)
These rates are among the lowest in the market. Cheaper than traditional VoIP players like Rebtel or Vonage, and come with no setup fees, no hidden charges, and free local numbers in 20+ countries.
If your business regularly handles international calls, Allo makes global communication feel local without complex billing or per-country restrictions.
What This Means if You’re Unsure What You Need
If your team is under 300 people, you work internationally, and your business runs from your phone, Allo is built for you.
It’s affordable, easy to set up, and gives you global reach without enterprise complexity.
If your organization requires advanced compliance with a dedicated IT administration, then a heavier UCaaS suite (like RingCentral or Zoom Phone) might make more sense.
Demo
Decision checklist
- Do you or your team make daily calls to clients abroad?
- Do you want an AI receptionist or call summaries instead of manual note-taking?
- Do you need a second business number that works from anywhere?
- Do you prefer managing everything directly from your mobile?
- Is transparent, predictable pricing more important than complex bundles?
If you answered yes to most of these, Allo will cover your needs instantly.
Google Voice: Best for Personal Use and Occasional International Calls
What Is Google Voice?
Google Voice is a simple internet calling service from Google that gives you a free U.S. phone number to make calls, send texts, and check voicemail, all from your computer or smartphone.
It connects directly with Gmail, Calendar, and other Google apps, so you can handle personal or occasional work calls without juggling SIM cards.
Why Google Voice Is a Good Pick for International Calls
For individuals, Google Voice is a great low-effort way to manage calls across devices.
- Free U.S. number: perfect if you live abroad but want to keep a U.S. identity.
- Works anywhere with Wi-Fi: no carrier needed.
- All-in-one inbox: calls, texts, and voicemails in one place.
- Easy to set up: sign in with your Google account and start calling in minutes.
When it’s not the right fit
- You’re running a business that requires multiple users or shared inboxes.
- You need features like AI receptionists, call routing, or local numbers in different countries.
- You want international numbers (Google Voice only issues U.S. numbers).
- You plan to make daily business calls abroad because rates will add up fast.
It’s not designed for large teams or global businesses because there’s no shared inbox, AI assistant, or advanced call routing, but it’s perfect for personal calls or freelancers who just need a simple, flexible number.
Pricing
Google Voice is one of the cheapest ways to stay in touch globally, it’s ideal for freelancers, travelers, expats, or anyone who calls abroad occasionally. For professional use, you need to add the Google workspace subscription.
What this means if you’re unsure what you need
If you just want a personal number for occasional international calls, Google Voice is perfect for you. It’s free, stable, and works anywhere you have Wi-Fi.
But if you manage clients or a business that depends on phone communication, you’ll quickly hit its limits. In that case, a business-grade tool like Allo or Zoom Phone gives you more flexibility, AI help, and global reach.
Demo
Decision checklist
- Do you mainly call friends or family abroad occasionally?
- Do you already have a Google account and want something simple?
- Do you need a U.S. number while living or traveling overseas?
If you said yes to these, Google Voice is the easiest and cheapest option you’ll find.
RingCentral: Best for Mid-Size Companies With Offices in Multiple Countries
What Is RingCentral?
RingCentral is a full UCaaS suite. Think business phone, team messaging, video meetings, analytics and admin controls in one system. It supports desk phones, softphones, and mobile apps. It is built for IT-managed environments with many users and defined roles.
Why RingCentral Is a Good Pick for International Calling
- Country coverage. You can buy local numbers in many countries and route them to one global system. It’s perfect if you want a local presence in several markets or run teams across time zones.
- Admin and compliance. Strong user provisioning, number management, call recording controls, retention policies, and audit logs. Helpful if you have an IT owner and regulatory needs.
- Scalability. Handles hundreds or thousands of seats, supports multi-site and desk phone fleets.
When it is not the right fit
- If you are a small team that lives on mobile and wants to self-serve in minutes, a lighter phone system like Allo will feel faster and cheaper.
- If you need unlimited international calling included by default, note that RingCentral usually treats this as an add-on or uses per-minute rates outside the domestic region.
Pricing
RingCentral prices per user per month, with volume discounts and annual terms common. The entry pricing is $30 per user, excluding taxes. Unlimited calling usually covers the domestic region such as the United States and Canada.
For international calling you have two paths.
- Buy an international number add-on to unlock unlimited calls to a defined list of countries. This is useful if your team calls the same regions every day.
- Use pay-as-you-go per-minute rates for destinations that fall outside your plan. This works if international calls are occasional.
What This Means if You Are Unsure What You Need
- If you operate in 3 or more countries, need local numbers everywhere, want an IVR and call queues, and you have someone to administer the system, RingCentral is a safe enterprise-grade option.
- If your team is under 25 people, works on the go, and wants the simplest setup with AI help and transparent pricing, Allo will likely get you live faster and for less.
Demo
Decision checklist
- Do you need desk phones, extension dialing, and detailed permissioning?
- Do you require recording policies, retention controls, SSO, and audit trails?
- Do you run queues for sales or support with supervisors coaching live?
- Do you expect heavy daily international calling?
If you answered yes to these questions, the best option for you is RingCentral.
Zoom Phone: Best for Companies Already Using Zoom Meetings
What Is Zoom Phone?
Zoom Phone is Zoom’s cloud telephony product. It turns the same platform used for video meetings into a full phone system: one app for voice, video, and chat. It connects to desk phones, computers, or mobile devices, and it can replace your traditional PBX entirely.
It sits somewhere between Google Voice and RingCentral. It is easier to manage than a UCaaS suite but more robust than personal VoIP apps.
In short, Zoom Phone is ideal for companies that already use Zoom for meetings and want to unify everything under one login.
Why Zoom Phone Is a Good Pick for International Calling
- Global coverage. Local numbers in 45+ countries and regional data centers. You can show a local caller ID or receive calls on a number that looks native to your clients abroad.
- Integrated experience. Calls, video meetings, and messaging all happen in the same app. No switching between tabs or managing two tools.
- Flexible routing options. IVR menus, call queues, and automatic routing based on time zones make it suitable for distributed teams.
When it might not be ideal:
- The setup process is heavier than for self-serve mobile systems like Allo. You’ll often need an admin or IT contact to configure users, policies, and numbers.
- International calling is not fully unlimited by default. You’ll need an add-on plan to include certain regions, or else calls are billed per minute.
- Pricing can rise fast if you have a small team. For example, the per-user structure and optional add-ons add up quickly.
Pricing
Zoom Phone uses a per-user model, with add-ons depending on where your team calls.
- U.S. & Canada Metered Plan: $15/user/month. Includes inbound calls and pay-as-you-go outbound minutes.
- U.S. & Canada Pro Plus Plan: $21/user/month. Unlimited domestic calling within North America, optional add-on for international numbers.
For international destinations outside the unlimited zone, Zoom’s average rates are:
- 🇫🇷 France: ~$0.03/min
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: ~$0.02/min
- 🇧🇷 Brazil: ~$0.06/min
What This Means if You’re Unsure What You Need
- If your company already uses Zoom Meetings and you want to keep all communication (voice + video) in one platform, Zoom Phone is the most natural next step.
- If you have global offices and need local presence in many countries, Zoom Phone’s Global Select plan gives you strong coverage with reliable quality.
- If you’re a mobile-first or smaller team, setup may feel heavy. Allo or Google Voice will get you up and running faster.
Demo
Decision checklist
- Are your employees already using Zoom daily for meetings?
- Do you need both voice and video under one license?
- Do you have internal IT or an admin to handle number provisioning?
- Are most of your calls international but recurring in the same regions?
If you answered yes to most of these, Zoom Phone is likely a fit. If not, a mobile-first solution like Allo will offer the same clarity and quality without the setup.
Dialpad: Best for AI-Driven Teams That Need Insights From Every Call
What Is Dialpad?
Dialpad is a cloud business phone system with built-in AI features, combining voice, video, and messaging in a single platform.
Dialpad serves a middle-ground audience: small to mid-size businesses that want more intelligence and integrations than Google Voice, but less setup overhead than RingCentral.
It’s fully cloud-based, meaning no physical hardware or local PBX is required.
Why Dialpad Is a Good Pick for International Calling
- Global coverage: Dialpad offers local numbers in more than 70 countries and lets you route calls worldwide.
- AI-powered transcription and call summaries: Every call is automatically transcribed, key moments are highlighted, and next steps are generated.
- Smart call routing: Custom IVR menus, time-zone-based routing, and simultaneous ring for distributed teams.
Dialpad shines when your team works across several countries and you want AI to save time on notes and follow-ups, not just handle the voice connection.
When it’s not the right fit
- Your business runs mainly on mobile, and you want a lightweight, plug-and-play app. Allo will be faster and simpler.
- You’re an enterprise that needs heavy customization, call center dashboards, or regulatory compliance features. RingCentral will fit better.
- You’re mainly calling within one country and don’t need transcriptions or AI. Google Voice or Zoom Phone may be more cost-effective.
Pricing
Dialpad uses a per-user model, with three main plans:
- Standard: $27/user/month with unlimited calling within your country and the U.S./Canada.
- Pro: $35/user/month with global SMS and international number support.
- Enterprise: Custom quote
For international destinations not covered by your plan, rates are pay-as-you-go, usually between $0.02 and $0.06 per minute, depending on the country.
What This Means if You’re Unsure What You Need
If you’re a remote or hybrid team that handles customer calls daily like sales, support, or operations, and you want AI-powered note-taking and call visibility, Dialpad is a strong choice.
If you don’t have time or appetite to manage multiple communication tools, Dialpad gives you one workspace for all. But if mobility and simplicity are your top priorities, Allo delivers a similar experience optimized purely for phone workflows at a lower cost.
Demo
Decision checklist
- Do you manage a mid-size team that works across several countries?
- Do you already use tools like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Slack and need deep integrations?
- Are you comfortable with a desktop-first interface?
If you said yes to most of these, Dialpad will likely fit your needs.
JustCall: Best for Sales and Support Teams
What Is JustCall?
JustCall is a cloud phone system built specifically for sales and customer support teams.It focuses less on traditional telephony and more on productivity, integrating calls, SMS, and WhatsApp into CRMs and help desks like HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zendesk, and Intercom.
Unlike heavier UCaaS systems like RingCentral, JustCall is simpler to deploy, but more specialized than tools like Google Voice or Zoom Phone.
Why JustCall Is a Good Pick for International Calling
- Global presence: local and toll-free numbers available in 70+ countries, including the U.S., U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and India.
- Multichannel: combine phone, SMS, WhatsApp, and even voicemail drops for global outreach campaigns.
- Deep CRM integration: automatically logs calls, recordings, and transcripts in your CRM.
If your calls are part of your customer acquisition process, this is what it was built for.
When it’s not the right fit:
- You don’t rely on a CRM or track calls as part of your workflow because much of JustCall’s value would go unused.
- You need advanced compliance, complex admin roles, or hybrid video calling. For this, Zoom Phone or RingCentral are better suited.
Pricing
JustCall offers three main plans, billed per user per month:
- Team: $39/user/month with local numbers in 70+ countries and unlimited domestic calling.
- Pro: $69/user/month with AI transcription and sentiment analysis and advanced analytics and live coaching tools.
- Pro Plus: $109/user/month with AI review assist, and SMS bundles.
International calls are billed per minute when outside your unlimited calling area. Rates vary by country but typically range from $0.02 to $0.05 per minute, depending on the destination.
What This Means if You’re Unsure What You Need
If you’re a sales-driven team, make frequent international calls, and rely on tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive, JustCall is a strong fit.
If your team is smaller and you want exactly the same features, Allo gives you a leaner setup with built-in AI reception and global coverage at a lower cost.
Demo
Decision checklist
- Do you make outbound calls daily for sales or customer success?
- Do you already use a CRM like HubSpot or Salesforce?
- Do you manage agents in multiple time zones?
- Do you want one tool for calls, SMS, and WhatsApp outreach?
If you answered yes to most of these, JustCall will fit right into your stack.
Frequently Asked Questions About International VoIP
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Can I use VoIP internationally?
Yes. That’s exactly what VoIP was designed for. International VoIP lets you call and receive calls from anywhere in the world, as long as you have internet access.
You can even buy local phone numbers in foreign countries to appear local to clients or partners. For example, having a +33 French number while working from Miami. Providers like Allô, RingCentral, and JustCall make this possible in over 70 countries.
Can I keep my current number when switching to a VoIP provider?
In most cases, yes. This process is called number porting. You can transfer your existing mobile or landline number to your new VoIP provider so your clients keep dialing the same number. With Allo, you can either port your number or buy a new one instantly in minutes.
Can I receive calls abroad with a VoIP number?
Absolutely. That’s one of the main benefits. You can receive calls on your VoIP number wherever you are, as long as you have Wi-Fi or mobile data.For example, if your business has a French number and you travel to the U.S., incoming calls ring on your phone through the app, at no extra cost.
Can I use Google Voice to call internationally for free?
Not exactly. Google Voice is free for calls within the U.S. and Canada, but international calls are pay-as-you-go. Rates start at $0.01 per minute for countries like France or Mexico, and can go higher depending on the destination.
It’s a great option for personal or occasional calls, but if your business calls clients abroad daily, a plan like Allo (€32/month) with unlimited international calling will end up far cheaper, and gives you extra features like AI transcription and local numbers.
Is international VoIP reliable?
Yes, as long as you choose a provider with solid telecom infrastructure. Top players like Allo, Zoom Phone, and RingCentral use Tier-1 global carriers and redundant servers to ensure call stability and 99.99% uptime.Poor-quality VoIP usually comes from cheap or free apps that rely on peer-to-peer routing instead of dedicated voice networks.
Is VoIP free for international calls?
It depends. Some providers include unlimited international calling in their plans (like Allô’s Business Plan), while others charge per minute.
Apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime offer free VoIP, but only between users of the same app; you can’t call real phone numbers. Business VoIP systems, on the other hand, connect to the public phone network, so calling a landline or mobile abroad usually involves a small fee unless it’s covered in your plan.
What countries support local VoIP numbers?
Most developed countries allow local VoIP numbers. Providers like Allo, JustCall, and RingCentral offer numbers in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Australia, and more. Some countries (like Mexico or Israel) may require extra documentation, such as proof of address or business registration.
Will I need to buy additional hardware to use international VoIP?
No, you don’t need any special equipment to use VoIP internationally. Most providers, including Allo, Zoom Phone, and Dialpad, work directly from your smartphone, tablet, or computer. You just need a stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or 4G/5G).
Some larger companies still use desk phones, but that’s optional. If you’re a small business or freelancer, everything can run from an app, including voicemail, call routing, and even AI receptionists.