Making international calls no longer needs to be seen as an expensive action, with numerous apps available across multi-platforms including iPhone, Android and Windows phones. Such apps can save users a lot of money over traditional carrier charges for international dialing, and can usually be used with Wi-Fi, therefore also reducing drain on data plans.

Google Voice offers cheap international calling rates, voicemail with transcription, options for personalising voicemail messages for callers, and forwarding calls to different phones. Sadly, Google Voice is still largely restricted to users in the US, and thus isn’t the best option if calls need to go both ways. Google Voice has official apps for Android and iOS, and an unofficial option called GoVoice for Windows Phone.

Rebtel has apps for making international calls from nearly any type of device, including iPhone and Android. International calling is inexpensive and easy with Rebtel’s low rates and “local numbers” functionality which means that you pay a local rate to call an international number. 

Skype is one of the best known VoIP options, with free calling in many cases between users who both have Skype, and reasonable rates for international VoIP calls. Video chat is also available. The main downside is that audio quality on Skype can be unpredictable. Skype apps for international calls are available for Android, iOS, and Windows Phone.

Vonage is similar to Skype, except without the video chat feature. Vonage offers cheap international rates, free calls to other Vonage customers, and uses HD audio for VoIP calls, so call quality is great. The Vonage app is available for Android and iOS, and if you are a Vonage home customer, you can use the Vonage Extensions app for Android or iOS to use your home plan on your mobile device.

Fring is an original app that gained a jump-start on Skype in the mobile market. It offers the same video chat, messaging, and VoIP calling options as Skype. The downside is that Fring’s mobile apps have received critique for poor, buggy performance at times. The Fring app is available for Android and iOS.

Viber is another app that allows cheap international calls using Wi-Fi between Viber users. The app scans your contact list, and notes those who already have the Viber app on their own phone. The downside is that incoming calls on the mobile carrier network usually result in an in-progress Viber call being dropped. There are Viber Apps for: iOS (iPhone), Android, Windows Phone and Blackberry.