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5 Best Free Calling Apps for iPhone and iPad
Make calls over the internet for free
By Nadeem Unuth Nadeem Unuth Freelance Contributor University of Mauritius Nadeem Unuth is a former freelance contributor to Lifewire who specializes in information and communication technology with a focus on VoIP. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 7, 2021 Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Reviewed by Jerrick Leger Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses. lifewire's editorial guidelines Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apps Best Apps Payment Services If you have an iOS device, FaceTime is an option for making audio and video calls, but you're limited to calling only iOS or Mac users unless you're running iOS 15 or later. If you are, you can invite Android users to FaceTime calls you have in progress by sending them a link. To more easily make free calls over the internet to anyone in the world, on any platform, you can also consider a free calling app. Free calling apps enable you to cut down or even eliminate your voice plan. All you need is Wi-Fi access to make a phone call. Here are our picks for the five best free calling apps for your iOS device. These apps are all available for a variety of platforms, including iOS and Android devices and web browsers. 01 of 05 Skype
What We Like Works on nearly every device. Send voice messages, videos, and images. Supports texting and video calling. Logging in is easy with an existing Microsoft account. What We Don't Like Its many features could be overwhelming to some. Read Our Review of Skype Skype is the service that kicked off the VoIP craze. The Skype app offers free local and international calls to other Skype users and low-cost plans to any international number of non-Skype users. Many devices support Skype, which also can make HD video calls. The Skype app is available for iPhone and iPad. It also works with Android, Windows 10 Mobile, Kindle Fire HD, Windows, macOS, Linux, and more. Skype is also accessible from a web browser. Download Skype 02 of 05 WhatsApp Messenger
What We Like Supports texting and video calls. Doesn't store communication details on its server. Group chats support up to 256 people. Shares PDFs, spreadsheets, and more. What We Don't Like No iPad version of the app. Read Our Review of WhatsApp WhatsApp is the most popular VoIP app for mobile devices. According to Facebook, which owns the app, WhatsApp has more than 1 billion users. WhatsApp's security focus sets it apart from other internet calling apps. The company says, "Privacy and security are in our DNA." Because end-to-end encryption is enabled, WhatsApp makes sure nobody can spy on your phone calls. In addition to its iPhone app, WhatsApp is available for Android and Windows Phone devices as well as Windows and macOS computers. Voice messaging, texting, and file sharing work through WhatsApp in a browser, as well. Download WhatsApp Messenger 03 of 05 Google Hangouts
What We Like Simple and clean design. Google Voice integration for voicemail. Group chats can contain up to 150 people. Video calls support 10 people at once. What We Don't Like Requires a Google account. Read Our Review of Google Hangouts The Google Hangouts app is a well-designed tool with plenty of features and a huge community of active users. Use this calling app to connect at any time with other Google Hangouts users for free video and voice calls, and link your Google Voice account for voicemail integration. You can also send text messages to share photos, videos, GIFs, and more. Google Hangouts also supplies emojis and stickers for self-expression. In addition to iPhone and iPad, this free calling app is available for Android devices and the web. Download Google Hangouts Note
Google Hangouts replaced previous messaging products from Google, such as Google Talk, Google+ Messenger, and the Hangouts feature of the now-defunct Google+. 04 of 05 Facebook Messenger
What We Like Allows group calling. Built-in emojis, GIFs, and stickers. Chat with Facebook friends outside of the Facebook app. What We Don't Like Supports a limited number of devices. Requires a Facebook account. Read Our Review of Facebook Messenger If you're one of the billions of people worldwide who use Facebook, you'll like Messenger. The iOS calling app uses the internet to make free voice and video calls, and it can send texts, images, videos, and more to your Facebook friends. Calling is just a tap away; use names or phone numbers to find your friends on the social networking giant. In addition to the iOS Messenger calling app for iPhone and iPad, the service is also available for Android devices. The Messenger website supports calls, as well. Download Facebook Messenger 05 of 05 Viber Messenger
What We Like Clearly marks free-to-call contacts. Lets you send 30-second video messages. Text chat with up to 250 participants. Call protection with end-to-end encryption. What We Don't Like Requires access to a phone number to sign up. Read Our Review of Viber Messenger Hundreds of millions of people worldwide use Viber Messenger. It's a free calling app that supports phone calls, video calling, and texting. The app uses your phone number to identify you on the network and integrates seamlessly with your contact list to indicate who you can call on Viber for free. The Viber iOS calling app works with iPhones and iPads. The app also can be installed on Android mobile devices and Windows, macOS, and Linux desktop devices. Download Viber Messenger All the apps listed here require a data connection, so while Wi-Fi is free, using a calling app via your data plan uses data. If you have a limited data plan, monitor your consumption and use calling apps sparingly. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire Best Free Internet Phone Calls Apps (October 2022) Make Free Calls on Your iPad How to Use Your iPad or iPad Mini as a Phone Can You Get FaceTime for Windows and PCs? The 5 Best Apps to Make Free International Calls (2022) 10 Best Mobile Messaging Apps of 2022 How to Make WhatsApp Calls on a PC or Mac The 8 Best Free Skype Alternatives of 2022 Can You Download FaceTime For Android? What Are Some Alternatives to Viber? How to Set up and Use the Google Duo Chat App The 22 Best Free iPad Apps of 2022 How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone Free iPhone & iPod Touch Texting Apps How to Use Skype The Best Group Video Call Apps in 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies