Most carriers still charge $1–$3 per minute for international calls — but with ZenCall, you get transparent, flat rates starting at just $0.02/min. No contracts, no hidden fees, just clear global calling.
In 2025, understanding international calling rates is more important than ever. With global families, remote work, and online businesses on the rise, millions of people are making cross-border calls daily. But what should you actually be paying?
In this guide, we'll explain:
Let's make sense of the numbers—and save you some money.
International calling rates refer to the per-minute charges applied when you make a phone call from one country to another. These rates depend on:
The problem? Most companies don't show you the full picture. Their advertised rates might look low but often exclude:
Most mobile carriers and landline providers still operate on outdated pricing models. Let's compare:
| Provider | Avg. International Rate | Hidden Fees | Contract Required | Mobile/Landline Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verizon, AT&T, etc. | $1.00–$3.00/min | Yes | Often | Yes |
| Skype Out | $0.10–$0.30/min | Sometimes | No | Yes |
| Phone Cards | $0.05–$0.50/min | Often | No | Yes |
| ZenCall (VoIP) | $0.02/min | None | No | Yes |
This isn't just about pennies per minute. If you make 300 minutes of international calls per month:
That's a 50x difference in cost—and ZenCall still delivers clear, reliable voice quality.
The answer is simple: infrastructure, middlemen, and profit margins.
Carriers still route calls through older telecom networks that incur higher costs. These costs are passed onto the user—even when using Wi-Fi.
Calls may be handed off between multiple telecom partners in different countries, each adding a small fee.
If you're using a mobile phone abroad, even incoming calls can trigger high roaming charges. Outbound calls can skyrocket without warning.
Many providers obscure real costs with "bundles" or postpaid charges. You won't see the true rate until the bill arrives.
Providers like ZenCall use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology, which routes calls through the internet instead of legacy telephone infrastructure. This innovation is the reason behind ZenCall's ability to offer competitive rates such as $0.02/min.
VoIP drastically reduces the cost of making international calls because:
By optimizing the network and cutting out middlemen, ZenCall passes the savings to users—offering flat rates as low as $0.02/min for many destinations.
Even with VoIP providers, not all calls cost the same. Here are key factors that can influence the price:
Countries with strict telecom regulation or higher termination fees (e.g., Cuba, Somalia) cost more. Conversely, calling the UK or Nigeria is typically much cheaper.
While VoIP itself is low-cost, your internet connection quality can impact the clarity and reliability of the call.
Some apps offer a lower base rate but charge:
ZenCall offers a pay-as-you-go model: no subscription, no expiry, just low per-minute pricing.
Let's say you live in Canada and need to make daily calls to Nigeria for work.
That's $441 in monthly savings—for the same or better audio quality.
Before you make a call, always check the provider's rate sheet.
On ZenCall, it's easy:
You can also use ZenCall's rate calculator to know your cost before you dial.
Other tips:
ZenCall makes it incredibly easy to start calling abroad:
Whether you're calling Nigeria, India, the UK, Colombia, or the Philippines, the process is the same. Save frequently called numbers with ZenCall's contacts feature for even faster dialing.
It's important to be honest—no rate is one-size-fits-all. A $0.02/min rate is unbeatable for most international calls, but you may want alternatives if:
For 99% of real-world use—calling friends, family, or business partners on mobile or landlines—$0.02/min is an industry-low rate without the fine print.
Most traditional systems use a confusing combination of:
Flat-rate providers eliminate this complexity. With ZenCall:
No guesswork, just results.
The global economy is more interconnected than ever. Whether you're calling relatives, freelancers, business contacts, or long-distance partners, it shouldn't cost more than a coffee to stay in touch.
Understanding international calling rates gives you power:
In 2025, there's no reason to settle for $1/minute calls or unreliable "free" apps. For reliable service, real phone numbers, and crystal-clear quality, $0.02/min is a deal that makes sense.
Try ZenCall today and experience transparent international calling like never before. 🌍 Make your first international call.