Home phone Providers

Guide to international calls

Updated: Tuesday 17 January, 2012

By Anthony Hill - anthony.hill@consumerchoices.co.uk

Comparing charges for international calls could shave loads off your bills. International calls are the biggest drain on UK phone bills, but there are some companies that specialise in cheap calls to the particular places you call the most.

• Compare international calling plans
• Who offers cheap international calls?
• Is VoIP the cheapest way to make international calls?
• How do I keep an eye on what I’m spending?
• How can I compare international call rates?

Compare international calling plans

Who offers cheap international calls?

Calling abroad doesn’t have to be expensive - many providers offer discounts and add-ons that will help reduce the rates for international landlines. There are even some deals that include calls to foreign mobiles.

Some of the larger providers, such as Post Office (www.postoffice.co.uk), include some international destinations in their free call allowance. If a provider does offer free international calls though, be certain to check the terms and conditions and the countries that are included, as calls are normally restricted to only 60 minutes and not all destinations will be included.

Is VoIP the cheapest way to make international calls?

The main advantage of using VoIP is the cost. All calls to VoIP users are free and landline calls are usually free also, if not lower than other service providers’.

VoIP phone calls are made over your existing broadband connection and not through your regular phone line (or network) like most traditional phone companies such as BT or TalkTalk. By taking ordinary analogue signals and turning them into digital signals, it allows you to ring people using your broadband connection.

For example, Vonage allows you to make unlimited calls either to the UK and/or abroad, all for a low-cost, set monthly fee with prices starting at only £5.99. They currently have 6 call plans to choose from; V-Plan UK offers unlimited anytime calls to UK landlines, while V-Plan US and V-Plan 2 through to V-Plan 5 offer unlimited calls to up to 45 countries including the UK. Visit www.vonage.co.uk for more information.

How do I keep an eye on what I’m spending?

Many companies offer online account management, which allows you to regularly check your balance and the costs of your calls.

How can I compare international call rates?

Use our online calculator to compare home phone suppliers, simply choose the package that most suits your needs e.g. anytime calls. You will then be able to compare prices and use the international calling rate finder in the individual product pop-ups