WhatsApp has become one of the most popular messaging apps worldwide, with over 2 billion users. One of the app’s key features is the ability to make voice and video calls over an internet connection. For many people, this provides a convenient way to stay in touch with friends and family abroad without incurring expensive international calling fees. But are international WhatsApp calls really free? Let’s take a closer look.
The basics of WhatsApp calling
WhatsApp introduced voice calling in 2015 and later added video calling capability as well. To make calls through the app, both you and the person you are calling need to have WhatsApp installed and use the same phone number that you registered with WhatsApp.
Calls made between WhatsApp users within the same country are entirely free. You don’t get charged any call rates or airtime minutes for them. This is because WhatsApp routes the calls over the internet rather than the user’s cellular network.
For international WhatsApp calls between users in different countries, the voice and video call capabilities work the exact same way. The calls are still routed over the internet. However, whether they are free or not depends on the specific countries involved.
Calls between some countries are free
The good news is that WhatsApp offers free international calling between users in many country pairs. As of 2022, WhatsApp provides free international calls between users in the following countries:
| United States | Canada | Mexico |
| United Kingdom | France | Germany |
| Australia | New Zealand | Singapore |
As you can see from the table, calls are free when both callers are located in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. The same applies for callers in the United Kingdom, France, or Germany. And users in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore can call each other on WhatsApp for free too.
This is a huge perk for people who have friends, family, business contacts, and other ties between these country pairs. They can avoid paying hefty long distance and international call charges and instead chat for free on WhatsApp.
But other countries have fees
Unfortunately, not all international WhatsApp calls are free. For country pairs that are not included in the list above, WhatsApp charges a fee per minute to cover the cost of routing the international call over the internet.
These per-minute charges apply when calling from:
- United States to other countries (except Canada & Mexico)
- United Kingdom to other countries (except France & Germany)
- Australia to other countries (except New Zealand & Singapore)
And also when calling to the United States, United Kingdom or Australia from countries not mentioned already.
The exact per-minute rate depends on which countries the call is originating and terminating in. According to WhatsApp’s fee chart, rates range from $0.005 to $0.058 per minute.
While these rates are cheaper than traditional international calling plans, they can still add up if you make frequent long WhatsApp calls to friends and family abroad. For just a 1 hour call per week, you could end up with nearly $20 in extra fees per month.
Data charges may also apply
In addition to the per-minute rates, keep in mind you need an internet connection to make WhatsApp calls. If you don’t have unlimited data, this can incur data usage charges when making international calls:
- On cellular data, international WhatsApp calls use around 5MB of data per minute. Heavy use may eat into your monthly data allowance.
- On WiFi, foreign network roaming fees may apply if connected to a local hotspot overseas.
To avoid surprises, check with your cellphone carrier and confirm costs for international data roaming and overage fees. Also use WiFi sparingly when traveling internationally or set your phone to airplane mode to prevent unwanted roaming charges.
Tips for saving money on international WhatsApp calls
If you routinely make long WhatsApp calls internationally and are racking up hefty fees, here are some tips to reduce costs:
- Use WhatsApp’s free messaging instead of voice/video calling if possible.
- Consider an international calling plan or VoIP service – rates may be lower than WhatsApp’s per-minute charges.
- Buy an international add-on package from your cellphone carrier when traveling.
- Use WhatsApp’s data settings to reduce data usage on calls.
- When on WiFi, ensure it is a safe and trusted network to avoid incurring roaming fees.
- Download WhatsApp content when on WiFi to view later instead of streaming on cellular data.
- Consider switching to a different international calling app that offers lower rates or unlimited plans.
With some prep work, you can definitely reduce the cost of staying in touch abroad via WhatsApp calling. But ‘free’ international WhatsApp calls are generally limited to only a few country pairs where the service waives fees.
The bottom line
To recap, here are the key points on whether international WhatsApp calls are free:
- WhatsApp calls within a country are always free.
- International calls between select countries like the US, Canada and Mexico are free.
- But for most other country combinations, WhatsApp charges per-minute fees that can add up.
- You also need an internet connection, so may incur cellular data or WiFi roaming charges.
- Use call time and data judiciously to control costs.
While WhatsApp can make international communication more affordable, ‘free’ calls are not guaranteed across all countries. Be sure to check the rates for your destinations in order to manage your calling budget appropriately. With some wise use of WiFi and diligent monitoring of talk time, WhatsApp can still provide a good value for staying in touch globally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WhatsApp truly free to use internationally?
WhatsApp is free to download and use for messaging internationally. However, voice and video calls incur per-minute fees when made between most countries. Only calls within or between a few select countries are entirely free.
Why are WhatsApp international calls not completely free?
Routing calls internationally over the internet has bandwidth costs. WhatsApp incurs fees to connect calls between countries and needs to charge per minute in order to recoup those costs for destinations that are not covered by their free allowance.
Can I call a landline internationally on WhatsApp?
No, you cannot call a landline phone number on WhatsApp. Both the caller and recipient need to have the WhatsApp app installed on their mobile devices. The service cannot connect to traditional landline telephones.
Are WhatsApp calls secure and private?
Yes, WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption for all voice and video calls. This prevents third parties from accessing your call data while it is in transit between devices. Calls are secured and kept private from everyone except the participants.
Can I reduce data usage on WhatsApp international calls?
Yes, go into WhatsApp Settings > Data Usage and enable the Low Data Usage option. This restricts call quality slightly but lowers the amount of mobile data consumed on each call. You can also download calls when on WiFi to reduce cellular data demands.
Conclusion
WhatsApp has simplified international calling by allowing users worldwide to connect via an internet-based voice and video service. But the convenience comes at a cost unless you are calling between a handful of select countries where the app offers free international calling. To avoid surprises, know the rates based on your locations and use data judiciously. With some care taken to minimize fees, WhatsApp can provide an affordable way to stay connected with friends and family abroad.