landline vs mobile calling

Aug 13, 2025 Pricing & Transparency

International Calling Rates Explained: Where Your Money Goes

If you’ve ever looked at your phone bill after calling another country, you know international calling rates can be confusing — and expensive. Why does calling the UK cost a fraction of what calling Egypt does? And why do some providers offer much cheaper rates than others? In this guide, we’ll break down how international calling rates work, what factors influence pricing, and how you can bring your costs down to as low as $0.02 per minute without sacrificing quality. What Are International Calling Rates? An international calling rate is the per-minute charge a provider bills when you call a phone number in another country. These rates can differ based on: Destination country Type of phone number (landline or mobile) Provider infrastructure Interconnection fees between networks How Providers Set Their Rates 1. Termination Fees When you place a call to another country, your provider has to pay the local telecom company to “terminate” the call — in other words, to connect it to the recipient’s network. These fees vary widely. Example: UK landline termination: very low Egypt mobile termination: significantly higher 2. Infrastructure Costs Providers with their own network infrastructure in multiple countries can often charge less because they avoid paying middlemen. 3. Markup Even if two providers pay the same termination fees, they can choose to add very different markups. Traditional carriers often have higher margins than VoIP-based services. 4. Billing Increments Some providers round up your call time to the nearest minute or even 5 minutes. A 2-minute call could be billed as 5 minutes, inflating your cost. Why Rates Vary by Country Countries set their own telecom regulations, taxes, and interconnection fees. For example: Calling Canada is often cheap for US customers due to shared infrastructure. Calling Pacific island nations can be expensive due to limited connectivity options. Understanding Landline vs Mobile Rates In some countries, calling mobile numbers costs more than calling landlines because mobile carriers charge higher termination fees. However, some modern providers like ZenCall offer flat rates for both, simplifying pricing. How to Pay as Little as $0.02/Min Browser-based VoIP platforms like ZenCall cut costs by: Using internet-based routing instead of traditional phone networks Negotiating direct agreements with carriers Eliminating hidden fees and connection charges ZenCall rates start at $0.02/min for many popular destinations, making it one of the most competitive international calling options available. Example Rate Comparison Country Major Carrier Rate Popular App Rate ZenCall Rate UK $0.23/min $0.023/min $0.02/min India $0.15/min $0.014/min $0.02/min Egypt $0.50/min $0.25/min $0.15/min Australia $0.27/min $0.027/min $0.02/min Common Myths About International Calling Rates Myth #1: You have to sign up for an expensive monthly plan to get cheap rates. Reality: Pay-as-you-go platforms like ZenCall let you skip monthly fees. Myth #2: Cheap calls mean poor quality. Reality: With the right technology and codecs, calls can be crystal clear at low rates. Myth #3: Calling cards are the cheapest option. Reality: Hidden fees often make them more expensive than they appear. Tips for Reducing Your International Calling Costs Use a VoIP service with transparent rates – Avoid providers that hide fees in small print. Check landline vs mobile pricing – Choose the cheaper option when possible. Top up in larger amounts – Some providers offer volume discounts. Use a wired internet connection – Better call quality means less wasted time repeating yourself. FAQs Q: Why are some calls free between apps but expensive to phone numbers? Because app-to-app calls use only the internet, while calling a phone number requires paying termination fees to a carrier. Q: Are international rates always per minute? Most providers bill per minute, but some offer per-second billing. Q: Do all VoIP providers have the same rates? No — rates vary depending on the provider’s agreements and business model. The Future of International Calling Rates As more communication moves online, rates are expected to drop further. Providers that leverage cloud infrastructure and global carrier partnerships will continue to outpace traditional telecom companies on price. The Bottom Line Understanding how international calling rates are set can help you make smarter choices. With a provider like ZenCall, you can bypass inflated carrier markups, skip hidden fees, and pay as little as $0.02 per minute to many countries. Next time you need to make an international call, check the rate before you dial — a few cents’ difference per minute can save you hundreds over time.

Jul 19, 2025 International Calling Guides

Calling Egypt Without a Phone Card: Here’s How

If you’ve ever tried calling someone in Egypt from abroad, you’ve probably run into one of two problems: either it’s expensive, or you’re stuck using outdated phone cards with long PINs and unreliable minutes. In 2025, there’s a better way. You can now make cheap calls to Egypt starting at just $0.15/min, directly from your web browser — no app, no SIM card, and definitely no more scratching off calling cards. Here’s how it works — and why it’s a smarter, simpler way to stay connected. Why People Are Still Using Phone Cards (And Why They Shouldn’t Be) Phone cards were once the go-to solution for international calling. They’re cheap at face value, easy to buy at a store or online, and give you access to global numbers. But in 2025, the downsides are impossible to ignore. ❌ Hidden Fees Everywhere That $5 calling card? It might only get you a few minutes once you factor in: Connection fees “Maintenance” charges Minute rounding (calls charged in 3-minute blocks) Service fees for toll-free access numbers These hidden charges make calling cards far more expensive than they seem. ❌ Inconvenient and Clunky Using a calling card typically means: Dialing an access number Entering a long PIN Dialing the international number Hoping it connects the first time If you make multiple calls or need to redial, this gets annoying fast. ❌ No Support When Things Go Wrong Calling cards often have limited or nonexistent customer service. If your minutes disappear or a card stops working, you’re usually out of luck — especially with cards bought at bodegas, convenience stores, or gas stations. A Better Way in 2025: ZenCall ZenCall is a modern browser-based calling platform that lets you dial any landline or mobile number in Egypt — no apps, downloads, or hardware needed. And yes, it really does start at just $0.15 per minute. Whether you’re calling family in Cairo, a small business in Alexandria, or a government agency in Aswan, ZenCall makes it fast, private, and affordable. Why ZenCall Works So Well for Egypt ✅ 1. Fully Browser-Based There’s nothing to install. ZenCall works right in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and most modern browsers. Just: Sign in Add call credit Dial the number (e.g. +20 2 1234 5678) Start talking ✅ 2. No More PINs or Scratch Cards Forget the hassle of entering long codes. With ZenCall, your account holds your balance securely. You can redial contacts, save numbers, and track usage from your dashboard. ✅ 3. Calls Start at Just $0.15/min ZenCall offers clear, per-minute rates with no hidden charges. Unlike phone cards, you always know exactly how much a call will cost. Here’s how it compares: Method Actual Cost/Min Hidden Fees Ease of Use Phone card $0.20–$0.30+ Yes ❌ Mobile carrier $0.50–$1.00+ Sometimes ❌ ZenCall $0.15 No ✅ ✅ 4. Call Landlines or Mobiles ZenCall isn’t limited to other app users like WhatsApp or Viber. You can call: Homes and businesses on Egypt’s landline networks Mobiles with carriers like Vodafone Egypt, Etisalat, Orange, and WE Offices, hotels, embassies, and more Common Reasons to Call Egypt Whether you’re living abroad, traveling, or managing cross-border business, you might need to call Egypt for: Talking to family back home Checking in with friends or loved ones Calling a hotel, travel agency, or airline Contacting Egyptian government services Speaking with local vendors, clients, or employees ZenCall covers them all — no apps or phone cards needed on either side of the call. How to Call Egypt Without a Phone Card You can get started in 60 seconds: ✅ Step 1: Create Your Account Go to zencall.com and sign up — no credit card required to start browsing rates. ✅ Step 2: Add Credit ZenCall uses a prepaid model, so you’ll always know what you’re spending. Add as little or as much as you want (no subscription required). ✅ Step 3: Dial the Number Use the in-browser dialer and enter the full number, including Egypt’s country code: +20 followed by the local number. Click call — and you’re connected in seconds. Example: Calling Cairo from the US Let’s say you want to call your cousin in Cairo. Here’s what that looks like with ZenCall: Dial: +20 2 XXX XXXX (for landline) or +20 10X XXX XXXX (for mobile) Rate: $0.15/minute No access numbers, no PINs, no third-party app And yes — call quality is crystal clear, even if you’re calling from the U.S., Europe, or Latin America. Why Not Just Use WhatsApp, Skype, or Messenger? Great question. These services are only useful when: The other person has the same app They’re online You both have stable internet You don’t need to reach landlines or business numbers If you want to call a: Parent who only has a home phone Business that doesn’t use messaging apps Landline number in Egypt Government agency Or anyone who’s not tech-savvy ...you need a service that can call real phone numbers. That’s exactly what ZenCall does. ZenCall vs Calling Cards vs Mobile Apps Feature Phone Card Mobile App ZenCall Works with landlines ✅ ❌ ✅ Works with mobile phones ✅ ✅ ✅ No app needed ✅ ❌ ✅ Transparent pricing ❌ ✅ ✅ Hidden fees or surcharges ✅ ❌ ❌ Call quality ❌ Varies ✅ Rate to Egypt $0.20–$0.30+ "Free" (app-only) $0.15/min Tips to Save Even More Use Wi-Fi: ZenCall works great on home or café Wi-Fi — no mobile network needed. Top up in bulk: Fewer payments = fewer processing fees. Use redial & favorites: Save frequently called numbers to skip dialing again. Set alerts: Track credit balance so you never run out mid-call. Secure and Private by Design Phone cards and mobile carriers log every call — sometimes even for marketing or surveillance. ZenCall is browser-based, encrypted, and does not monetize your data. Your calls are private, secure, and only stored for billing purposes. Perfect for: Business professionals Journalists Humanitarian workers Anyone calling from or into privacy-restricted countries Final Thoughts: Make the Switch in 2025 Calling Egypt should be easy — and affordable. Don’t waste money on shady calling cards or fumble with clunky PINs. And don’t rely on apps that only work if the other person’s online. ZenCall is the simplest, most reliable way to make cheap international calls to Egypt, from any device with a browser. ✅ No SIM ✅ No app ✅ Just $0.15/min ✅ Full support for landlines and mobiles