How much are international calls in 2025?

With so many landline alternatives emerging, many wonder, “How much are international calls supposed to cost?” Pricing can vary widely as several factors come into play.

Base rates can range from a few cents per minute among apps. Meanwhile, calls outside the U.S. can cost more than $1, depending on your carrier and the destination. Moreover, “hidden fees” can increase the final cost of your bill.

This article aims to shed light on these fees so you can truly determine the answer to “how much does it cost to call internationally?” You'll also discover the reasons behind varying rates and the available options for affordable overseas calling.

Do international calls cost money in 2025? 

"Does it cost money to call internationally?" might still be a question that lingers in your head, given the abundance of mobile apps and browser-based calling platforms online.

Meanwhile, standard landline and mobile phone plans involve duration and location-based charges. Furthermore, you may incur additional fees from government-imposed surcharges on operators for handling the call. This tax, which varies from one country to another, may appear as a separate line item on your bill or bundled into your per-minute rate.

How much are international calls with major U.S. carriers?

To ease your search on “how much do international calls cost,” we gathered the per-minute rates of seven major U.S. providers. The chart below shows each of their fees to the three most frequently dialed countries: Mexico, China, and India. This overview can help you quickly determine the provider offering the best value for your specific overseas calling needs.

*Rates checked: November 2025. Rates vary by plan, promotions, and carrier updates. Always check the latest pricing. 

International calling rates depend on the country you're calling and the call option you subscribed to, whether it’s a per-minute usage or a monthly package.

For instance, does it cost money to call Mexico? Providers like AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Mint Mobile include them in their basic plans and don't charge for such calls.

However, it's not the same for the two other destinations. In particular, how much does it cost to call China? Connecting to China and India will incur a few cents per minute. The maximum call duration also varies.

Why do international calling rates vary so much?

The cost of international calls significantly varies among providers due to network costs and pricing decisions. Here are six factors that contribute to the varying rates among overseas calling solutions. 

Settlement fees

Your carrier pays a "termination fee" to the destination carrier to use their local infrastructure, including undersea fiber-optic cables and international switching centers.

Mobile versus fixed network costs

Mobile phone calls typically cost more because they require more expensive network infrastructure to get through, compared with landline calls. Acquiring government licenses for specific frequency bands to operate a mobile network requires a large investment.

Moreover, mobile phone operators have to build an extensive network of cell towers and base stations and manage constantly evolving technology.

Premium destinations or services

Satellite phone and premium rate line use costs more. At the same time, the farther the destination country, the higher the rate due to routing complexities and unique infrastructure involved. Moreover, in markets with limited competition or state-owned monopolies (such as Cuba and remote islands), rates can be artificially high. Meanwhile, rates tend to be lower in highly competitive and deregulated markets like the U.S. and Europe.

Carrier markup

International calls made via traditional phone services typically rely on "middleman" networks. They are intermediary operators that facilitate the transfer of a call between countries. Each company in this chain charges a termination fee for completing the connection and handling the call traffic. The accumulated costs from multiple "middlemen" boost the final price of an overseas call.

Regulatory and interconnect fees

Some regulators may require fees to fund "universal service" programs or efforts to expand local telecom infrastructure in underserved or rural areas. 

Peak time surcharges

Although less prevalent now with flat-rate international plans and VoIP, some legacy pricing structures follow peak and off-peak pricing — higher charges during peak hours.

Hidden fees that make international calls more expensive

Although your carrier or platform advertises its per-minute rates, you might be surprised to discover your international calls cost more than you expected. Knowing these hidden charges makes all the difference to the real challenge facing us, budget-conscious callers: it's not "how much?" but "how expensive are international calls?"

Connection fee and minute rounding

Some providers round up call durations to the nearest full minute or even to the next three minutes.

International long-distance activation fee

This refers to the payment for making calls outside your country from your home location. It's typically a fixed — one-time or monthly — rate, regardless of call duration or distance.

Roaming fee

In comparison to international long-distance fees, roaming charges are what your home provider bills you (usually per minute) when you’re travelling abroad and connect to a foreign partner network for texting, mobile data, or calls.

Regulatory recovery fee

This surcharge aims to help carriers recoup or offset their internal expense related to complying with government regulations.

Access surcharge

An international carrier may pay a fee to a local network operator for using the latter's infrastructure to complete the international call. The cost is passed on to the consumer as a surcharge.

Carrier-specific markup

A markup is your provider’s profit margin applied to various services, including the wholesale costs paid for roaming and network access, which aren't included in the base rate.

Cheapest ways to make an international call in 2025

Thanks to a new wave of communication platforms, you can reach loved ones and business colleagues worldwide for free or at affordable rates. Here are the most common ways people save on overseas call expenses. Discover how they compare in terms of convenience, reliability, and final costs.

1. App-to-app calls

Connecting with others through apps like WhatsApp (global favorite), FaceTime (Apple-only), Viber (cross-platform), or BOSS Revolution (the best WhatsApp, Skype, and Zoom Phone alternative) is the simplest method. It answers what many users ask: "Does it cost money to call internationally if I’m calling through an app?" Not when both people are on the same platform.

2. Low-cost VoIP

You can access VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services through a pay-as-you-go credit system that requires no subscription. However, a monthly plan is advisable if you often call a specific country, as the VoIP provider may offer unlimited calls for that destination.

That's why people compare providers to determine “how much does an international call cost when routed over the internet instead of a mobile network?” This alternative remains economical provided the other party has a stable internet connection.

3. Local access number services

Local access numbers are country-specific phone numbers that let you call overseas without relying on traditional international direct dialing. After dialing this number, the provider routes your call from its local network to the destination country. You bypass your phone company's standard—and expensive—per-minute rates for such calls. This method also gives you more predictable international calling rates without relying on Wi-Fi.

4. International calling apps with transparent pricing

International calling apps with upfront pricing enable you to know exactly how much international calls cost before you dial. You can refer to their rate cards or country list to check the cost to any destination in advance.

BOSS Revolution is an example in this category, offering several useful features that help track and manage your costs comfortably.

• Low, stable rates in over 200 countries
• No hidden fees (what you see is what you pay)
• PIN-free calling for faster dialing 
• Works even without internet by routing calls through a local access number
• Cheaper than AT&T or Verizon's rates in about 90% of destinations, based on publicly listed per-minute rates

Time to get unstuck from high international calling rates

When making calls overseas, you have plenty of options besides your landline or mobile phone network's international calling plan. From 2025 and beyond, apps with transparent pricing will help you budget for all types of upcoming calls with loved ones and business partners outside the U.S. BOSS Revolution, which is the best Skype alternative, has become a reliable solution in this space as it enables you to dial overseas phone numbers even without Wi-Fi. By knowing the right tool, you stay connected without draining your finances.

Sources: all third party information obtained from applicable website as of December 4, 2025

1. https://www.att.com/international/pay-per-use-rates/

2. https://www.att.com/international/long-distance/

3. https://www.att.com/international/day-pass/

4. https://www.verizon.com/plans/prepaid/international-calling/

5. https://prepaid.t-mobile.com/connect/international-calling-rates

6. https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/international-calling

7. https://voice.google.com/rates

8. https://support.google.com/voice/answer/7491761?hl=en

9. https://www.xfinity.com/international-voice/rates

10. https://www.mintmobile.com/features/international-calling/

11. https://www.mintmobile.com/features/international-calling/

12. https://www.mintmobile.com/features/international-roaming

This article is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to address every aspect of the matters discussed herein. The information in this article is not intended as specific personal advice. The information in this article does not constitute legal, tax, regulatory or other professional advice from IDT Payment Services, Inc. and its affiliates (collectively, “IDT”), and should not be taken or used as such by any individual. IDT makes no representation, warranty or guaranty, whether express or implied, that the content in this article is current, accurate, or complete. You should obtain professional or other substantive advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the information in this article.