How to Call Internationally on WhatsApp – Free or Not?
Nov
WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging apps in the world, available in over 180 countries and trusted by more than 2 billion users.
With such a global reach, international calling has become one of its most valuable features, helping people stay connected no matter where they live or travel.
Whether you’re calling family abroad or joining a work meeting from another country, WhatsApp makes international communication easy and affordable across any device.
But here’s the big question: How do international calls on WhatsApp actually work, and how can you use them without paying extra fees?
If you’re planning to travel and want to avoid expensive roaming charges, keep reading—you won’t want to miss this!
Are WhatsApp International Calls Free?
Wondering if international calls on WhatsApp are free? The answer is yes — they are!
WhatsApp doesn’t charge for international calls, but there’s one thing to remember: you’ll need an internet connection, which means paying for the data you use.
If you’re relying on data roaming while traveling, you’ll likely be charged per megabyte or need to purchase an international daily pass — which usually costs between $10 and $15 USD per day with most US carriers. That can quickly add up! You can even use a data usage calculator to estimate how much your WhatsApp calls contribute to your total mobile bill.
A smarter, more affordable option is to use a Twise eSIM with unlimited data, which lets you stay connected and make international WhatsApp calls without worrying about roaming charges or extra fees.
Twise eSIM plans start from just $6.90 USD, giving you unlimited data to call, text, and browse freely wherever you are.
How to Make Voice and Video Call Internationally on WhatsApp
Are you unsure how to make voice or video calls on WhatsApp?
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help you place calls while abroad or to an international contact.
First, make sure the person you want to call has an active WhatsApp account – otherwise, the call won’t connect.
If the contact isn’t already stored in your phone, open your Contacts/Phone app and create a new entry.
Type in their phone number (with the correct country code) and confirm it’s the same number they use on WhatsApp.
Add a name for the contact and tap “Save” to finish.
Next, open WhatsApp and search for the contact by name.
Once you open the chat, tap the phone icon to start a voice call, or tap the video camera icon to begin a video call.
Stay on the screen until the other person picks up—and that’s it! You’re connected!
Can You Make WhatsApp Calls on Desktop or Web?
You can also make WhatsApp voice and video calls from your laptop or desktop computer, although the process works a bit differently than on mobile.
First, add the person’s phone number to your contacts on your smartphone, then open WhatsApp Web or the WhatsApp Desktop app and use the search bar to find the chat.
Once you open the conversation, you’ll see the “Video camera” and “Phone” icons at the top of the chat—these allow you to start a video or voice call directly from your computer.
Click the voice call icon, and a separate call window will appear on your screen while the call is in progress.
How Much Data Do WhatsApp Voice and Video Calls Consume?
WhatsApp calls typically use around 0.15–0.20 MB of data per minute, which is relatively low compared to other communication apps – as confirmed by our 2024 research on mobile data usage.
Still, it’s a good idea to check your individual call data usage to know how much data you’ll need while traveling.
Here’s how to do it step by step:
- Open the WhatsApp app on your phone.
- Tap the “Calls” tab.
- Select one of your recent calls to view the details.
- Once you tap the call, you’ll see how long it lasted and how much data it used.
This process works the same on both iPhone and Android.
Note: You can’t view call data usage on WhatsApp Web or Desktop – this option is only available on mobile.
How to Reduce WhatsApp Call Data Usage
It’s easy to spend more data than expected when calling international contacts on WhatsApp—especially because it feels so simple and convenient. So that brings us to an important question: how can you save data on WhatsApp calls?
Here are the most effective ways to reduce data usage on WhatsApp:
1. Use WiFi whenever possible
The best way to save mobile data is to stay connected to a WiFi hotspot. Since WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption, even public WiFi is generally safe for calls.
2. Keep calls short
If you need to call someone, try to make the conversation brief. Shorter calls = less data consumed.
3. Call to get attention, then switch to chat
You can quickly ring the person so they notice your message and then continue the conversation via text. This keeps data usage very low.
4. Avoid international video calls
Video calls can use up to 20 MB per minute, so data can disappear quickly—leading to high roaming fees or exhausted data plans.
5. Use an unlimited data plan
If you make frequent WhatsApp calls abroad, an unlimited data eSIM (like Twise) is the easiest way to stay connected without worrying about data limits or extra charges.
Read more: WhatsApp in China: Can You Access It and How?
