I was using Viber for a few years which only cost pennies but they have become a lot more expensive. Just top up $10 here and there and can talk for an hour for a few dollars. And often if calling a bank, company etc back home can be on hold for some time. I sometimes need to call back home, mainly companies or banks that only have normal phone numbers or don't have LINE or Messenger etc. Is there something like that not too expensive?

I don't know if there are any free apps, because the local phone companies charge to connect those calls.

 

I use Skype, which is very cheap to the USA and some other countries. When I call my bank in the USA I can use a toll free (800) number and there is no charge from Skype. When I put $10.00 in my Skype account it seems to last forever.

 

Paul Laew

Just now, Paulaew said:

I don't know if there are any free apps, because the local phone companies charge to connect those calls.

 

I use Skype, which is very cheap to the USA and some other countries. When I call my bank in the USA I can use a toll free (800) number and there is no charge from Skype. When I put $10.00 in my Skype account it seems to last forever.

 

Paul Laew

I think that's the problem with Viber now...... your credit did used to last forever. I think 2c per minute to Australia. Simply top up when you need to. But now its a monthly thing. Still not that expensive I guess but when you buy credit only good for a month. After the month lose all your credit and payment renews automatically

I think I gave Skype $35 for an annual subscription that allows me to make unlimited calls to landlines in the US. I used to top up in increments of $10, but given my usage, this was cheaper.

Google Voice is free to make calls to US/Canada, but you need a US SIM card/number to sign up.

2 hours ago, shdmn said:

Google Voice is free to make calls to US/Canada, but you need a US SIM card/number to sign up.

That is true.

 

After I had used Google Voice for several years, they started periodically asking me to re-verify my landline/cell.  Fortunately I could use an Ooma device to re-verify.  I haven't had to re-verify GV for over a year so maybe they've abandoned that policy.  Once you've verified a US based number hopefully they won't ask again.  Perhaps you can use the number for a US based relative/friend to get GV up and running.

Why not just use FaceBook Mesenger which cost nothing

2 minutes ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Why not just use FaceBook Mesenger which cost nothing

How well does your facebook messenger call landlines ????  ????

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

I sometimes need to call back home, mainly companies or banks that only have normal phone numbers or don't have LINE or Messenger etc.

 

7 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

Why not just use FaceBook Mesenger which cost nothing

My BIL won't use FaceBook because he believes they are commies. So I'm stuck trying to call him with a voice phone.

Kenny,   a good one that I've used before is called  mytello    .....  you just top up a few dollars and you can call anywhere very cheap,  also the voice quality is fine.   Just google '  mytello '  

WhatsApp works swell for me, of course you and the caller must have the app on your mobile, but works great and the cost is zero! ????????????????

Go to settings on your phone and see if your supports wi fi calling.

If yes turn it on,

Then you may call any number you like whether mobile or landline.

I think half of the people have trouble reading and others have no clue what he is talking about.

 

Its about land lines, not someone with a mobile that has facebook or whatsapp on it. That is easy, the OP was talking about landlines and companies.

 

I think skype and viber and stuff like that is it. Phone companies still need to make money so totally free will be hard. 

31 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

My BIL won't use FaceBook because he believes they are commies. So I'm stuck trying to call him with a voice phone.

You can download free Messenger as a separate app without Facebook. But your friend must also have Messenger. 

Magic Jack, under $50 a year, LOOK FOR WHEN ON SALE @$39.  Unlimited inbound and outbound ( no video ) via your WiFi, then ALSO put the MJ apk on your mobile - uses your data unless you connect mobile to your / any WiFi. and you have a US "" land line "" number ringing on your Thai mobile phone.  Call any US LAND LINE.

Also works for a fax machine when connected to MJ device.

 

Get yourself a skype account.

Cost me $15 (AUD) quarter for unlimited calls to landlines to Oz.

TALK 360 is the app that you need

perfect for calling banks etc.

11 hours ago, Paulaew said:

I don't know if there are any free apps, because the local phone companies charge to connect those calls.

 

I use Skype, which is very cheap to the USA and some other countries. When I call my bank in the USA I can use a toll free (800) number and there is no charge from Skype. When I put $10.00 in my Skype account it seems to last forever.

 

Paul Laew

I have exclusively used Skype for many years for calling overseas landlines, and the quality is now excellent.  I cannot remember the last time I lost a connection.  You can set up an auto-debit to a credit card for when your balance drops below, say, $10.  It seems to last forever at (usually) 3.5cents a minute to landlines.  Or, if you exclusively call a certain country, Skype has monthly packages offering unlimited or many minutes to that country that may work out cheaper

Where is "back home"?

 

You have a mobile phone? Android?

 

You have WiFi?

 

 

I have been using Magic Jack for over 15 Yrs to make and receive calls to/from the USA. It costs $35 for the year and is unlimited. They just had a promotion for 5 Yrs for $120. Here is the link.
https://www.magicjack.com/account/mjLandingpages.do?page=how-it-works

I have not tried but an app called Telz  does cheap internet calls to many countries. starts at 0.16 baht per minute

 

9 minutes ago, VirgoSG said:

I have exclusively used Skype for many years for calling overseas landlines, and the quality is now excellent.  I cannot remember the last time I lost a connection.  You can set up an auto-debit to a credit card for when your balance drops below, say, $10.  It seems to last forever at (usually) 3.5cents a minute to landlines.  Or, if you exclusively call a certain country, Skype has monthly packages offering unlimited or many minutes to that country that may work out cheaper

Skype rates to landlines in the USA, Canada, UK and Australia are 2.3 cents per minute. As some posters have noted, Skype also has some bulk plans which are very cost effective for frequent callers. Note that toll free numbers are typically free (to the USA and Canada anyway).

 

The call quality tends to be very good, and I haven't had a problem with dropped connections. I usually use Skype from my mobile so I can use other apps if I'm on hold.

 

There are certainly other VoIP applications that you can use, but I'm not sure there is a high quality service that is cheaper. Of course you want to use Line or Whatsapp or similar if you're calling a mobile.

 

Paul Laew

 

I use a device called, Magic Jack. It cost me $39.95 for a year usage. It carries a USA phone number. I connect the device from my landline phone to my computer or router and I can call any number in the USA free. And any of my family can call me free at anytime. I use it when dealing with my banks and business stuff. Since it has a USA phone number, everyone when talking to me, thinks I am in the USA. Of course there are other methods out there, but I like think one. They also have a way where you can connect the device up to your cell Thai cell phone. 

I also recommend Skype. I use it to call my elderly mother's landline and as others have mentioned, US$10 goes far with it. Being able to call US or Canadian 1-800 toll free numbers at no cost is an added bonus. I've done that many times when calling an airline, hotel or other organization. 

12 hours ago, Kenny202 said:

I think 2c per minute to Australia.

 

So, assuming home is Australia, and you're only interested in making calls to Australia....

 

VIBER Out: https://account.viber.com/en/call-australia

 

Skype PAYG: https://www.skype.com/en/international-calls/Australia

 

LINE Out: https://line.me/en/call/price-table/au

 

 

per minute pricing varies, you can do the math(s).

 

 

 

For calls to, or receiving from, the U.S. there are plenty of free apps. Google Voice is ideal but challenging to sign up for outside of the U.S. 

 

Ad-supported apps like Talkatone work well. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.talkatone.android&hl=en&gl=US

 

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=free calls&c=apps&hl=en&gl=US

 

37 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Where is "back home"?

 

You have a mobile phone? Android?

 

You have WiFi?

 

 

He probably should've mentioned Australia as back home.

When I need to call a landline in the US (rarely), I just use the DTAC international calling number (00400), it's only 1 baht a minute.  No extra monthly/yearly fees, no extra app to download. 

 

https://www.dtac.co.th/en/prepaid/services/tourist-sim-international-call.html

Skype

We use Line or Whatsapp for free calls, but of course both sides need to be able to use it.

 

I use Mytello for other calls, very cheap for most countries and I've found it to be reliable
https://www.mytello.com/en_TH/?gclid=CjwKCAiAo4OQBhBBEiwA5KWu_3Goan1aqTEmFaYQOA6UTnztNfA13kygVEdj2mqNX677OrXr4BsgoBoCchQQAvD_BwE

The one I use is named FONGO. Free to the area codeS THAT ARE FREE WHEN MADE FROM THE AREA CODE chosen during the application set-up.

I have been using that application for many years.

It has a few issues, because of this VOIP to landlines. It may hang sometimes, or just close. Through experience, I found that if I have to make an important long call, I re-start my phone mobile before.

Been a long time, but if I recall correctly, when you set ti up, it will ask to choose a phone number. And calls are free from your FONGO application to all landlines normally accessible free at home.

I could send a picture of what it looks like on my phone..

Regards