The 6 Best Apps for Making Internet Calls 2023

For simple internet calling to landlines and mobile numbers, you can’t beat Google Voice. It provides free calling within the United States and a free phone number.

If you need to make international calls, you can add up to $70 in credit using a bank account or credit card stored in your Google Account. Google’s international calling rates start at $0.01 per minute and depend on your call’s destination.

You can access Google Voice by signing in to voice.google.com in a web browser or mobile app (Android, iPhone/iPad). The service also includes text messaging, voicemail, and free voicemail archiving.

If, for some reason, you stop using Google Voice for a spell (maybe a year), Google removes the free phone number from your account. You have 45 days to reclaim the number after that. If you miss the deadline, Google assigns the number to a different account. You must then go into the Google Voice settings and select Get a Number.

Pros:

• Free nationwide calling
• Free phone number

Cons:

• No emergency calling
• No direct customer support

For a universal solution, Skype is the tool. While it’s native on Windows-based devices, you can also use it in a web browser, on a Mac, Linux—even the Xbox One gaming consoles and newer.

Skype-to-Skype calls are free, but unlike Google Voice, you must pay to call national landlines and mobile numbers. Calls require Skype Credit to pay for minutes, or you can use a subscription starting at $2.99 per month.

To receive calls from landlines and mobile numbers, you need a Skype Number. Microsoft bills you monthly ($5.99), quarterly ($18.53), or annually ($52.26).

Skype also includes instant messaging, video calling, screen sharing, and more. It’s a native pre-installed app on Windows 10 PCs, but you can download the desktop client that feels less integrated into the operating system. The desktop client is also available for macOS and in three flavors for Linux.

Pros:

• Native to Windows
• Widely available

Cons:

• Requires a second subscription to receive landline calls
• Offers no free nationwide calling

Like Skype, there’s more to Viber than making calls to landlines and cellphones. You can make video calls to other Viber users, start group chats, send instant messages, create stickers and GIFs, and set a self-destruct timer to delete your messages after a specific time. It also provides a community component for building and managing unique places to chat.

And like Skype, the calling aspect—Viber Out—isn’t completely free. You can purchase credit to pay for minutes used or subscribe to a monthly plan. For instance, you can call any landline and mobile number within the United States for $1.99 per month, making it more expensive than Google Voice.

Unfortunately, Viber does not have a web client for browsers. You must install a mobile app or desktop software to use this service.

Pros:

• Supports stickers and GIFs
• Deletes messages automatically after a specific time

Cons:

• No web client
• No free nationwide calling

Messenger needs no introduction. Just over three billion people actively used Facebook by the second quarter of 2023, most of whom are likely already familiar with Messenger’s video and voice calling features. That places this service at the top of our app-to-app list due to its widespread use and familiarity.

If you have kids younger than 13, you can install Messenger Kids to send them messages or chat through video. Parents can manage their kids’ contact lists, monitor their activity, and add their friends. Kids can block contacts as needed, too.

If you use Windows and Mac, Facebook provides a Messenger app on the Microsoft Store and the Mac App Store, or you can use the web version in your favorite browser.

Pros:

• No cost
• Voice and video calls

Cons:

• Can’t call landlines
• Can’t call contacts outside Facebook

Google Duo is Google’s response to Apple’s FaceTime. The difference here is you can get Google Duo on an iPhone, but you can’t get FaceTime on an Android phone. That gives Google the upper hand in the multidevice battle for your calling needs.

Google Duo supports both audio and video calls on the internet. It also features a Family Mode that lets you doodle on the screen during video calls. The service is free to use and requires a phone number, but you need a Google Account to use this service on multiple devices and platforms.

Finally, Google Duo provides end-to-end encryption for all voice and video calls. Encryption prevents hackers from listening and watching your conversation as you communicate across the internet.

Pros:

• Make video calls between Android phones and iPhones/iPads
• Call kids using Family Mode

Cons:

• No instant messaging
• Limited group calling

WhatsApp uses your phone number to eliminate the typical security risks associated with username and password combinations. There are ways to use WhatsApp without a SIM card, but one must be in place to receive a verification code when creating an account. You don’t need a Facebook account to use this service, even though Meta owns WhatsApp.

WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption is enabled by default, meaning all calls and messages are protected from hacker eavesdropping while they are in transit. You can manually enable two-step verification for added security that uses a six-digit pin, so even if someone obtains your phone number and password combo, new devices require a PIN code to access the account.

Other notable features include group chat, document sharing, and a built-in camera—it doesn’t use your phone’s default camera app.

Pros:

• No login credentials required
• End-to-end encryption

Cons:

• Requires a phone number
• Requires QR code scan for web version use