Most providers charge you a fee per minute. It can be as low as $0. 15 and as high as over $3. It may cost more to call a landline vs. a mobile phone. If you make a lot of international calls, you might want to sign up for an international phone plan. You’ll receive a discount on international call rates.

Some countries may have an exit code that contains digits. You can use “+” instead of the exit code. If you’re calling from a business line, you may need to type “9” first to reach any external phone line.

For instance, the United States, Canada, Guam, and a lot of the Caribbean countries use “1” as their country code. [3] X Research source

You can also google the location you’re trying to call along with “area code” to find the correct number. For example, if you’re calling San Francisco, search “San Francisco + area code. "

For example, in England, a landline number may start with 02, while a mobile number starts with 07.

If the phone number starts with a 0, do not include it. Known as a trunk code, 0 is used for domestic calls in some countries. The only exception is Italy, where area codes start with 0. [7] X Research source

To make sure you aren’t using data, you can turn it off in your phone’s settings. On an iPhone, for instance, go to Settings, then choose Cellular. Switch the toggle button next to “Cellular Data” off. A lot of places offer free WiFi now. Try a hotel, restaurant, library, or coffee shop.

VoIP is often cheaper than traditional international phone calls. If you’re calling a landline or calling someone without the VoIP service, there will likely be a charge. Some of the most common VoIP apps include Skype, Google Voice, and WhatsApp.

Look for headsets or microphones at an electronics store or an online retailer. If you want to make a video call, you’ll also need to hook up a webcam.

Many apps can access your phone’s address book if you’re calling someone from your contact list.