With no Skype, how to make toll-free phone calls to US from EU?

Thank you for your advice on making low cost phone calls to toll-free (landline) phone numbers. From Sweden to US, it seems like VOIP, Viber, Toolani and Tello are options. I don’t have a US based phone number so Google Voice may not be an option, but I’ll check it out.

Great to have other options now that Skype is gone. However someone did say that Skype does still exist… you just have to dig through some arcane menus on Microsoft Teams.

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gentleBabyFarts@reddit

I use Talk360 and it works quite well.

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henriquev@reddit

I had the same problem recently, and ended up subscribing to Viber for a month in order to be able to call such a number.

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Adventurous-Cry-7462@reddit

Maybe its time to live in the 21st century and use the internet to talk to them instead

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

I wish that too. Unfortunately, United States state agencies (IRS, Dept of Education, etc….) are terribly archaic. They make it challenging to be an American expat when it comes to communication. They all use landlines.

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Feisty-Oven3039@reddit

Create a (free) AWS account, spin up an instance of Amazon Connect, claim a number, make outbound calls. I think the free tier is 50 mins a month and then it’s a whooping 0,018 usd per minute.

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No_Drummer_1059@reddit

Facebook Messenger for audio and video calling if other person has FB Messenger. FaceTime for calling from iPhone to iPhone or Mac. I am in Finland and call to the States every day.

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Euphoric-Craft-6803@reddit

Data-based apps for calling contacts, depending on who’s on what platform (signal, whatsapp, facetime). I have a prepaid plan so if I have to call an official number like a business in the US, I just use some of my prepaid credit now. I miss Skype. Haven’t tried Google Voice.

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

Yeah same here, I use Apple FaceTime and WhatsApp. It’s an option with my phone provider to get a prepaid service to call international calls. But I’ll check out Google Voice or Viber.

I know, Skype was great. Sad that they have dismantled it.

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Formal-Box-610@reddit

set watsapp to use wifi instead of your data and it becomes free. for some reason every one that recomended you free options like watsapp and discord got downvoted. don't listen to these ppl trying to recomend you these apps no one ever heard of. they are trying to get access to your data or worse.

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Formal-Box-610@reddit

discord. also you can set watsapp to call using wifi and call each other on watsapp. Just turn if your mobile data wile doing so, so that it uses internet instead of cell towers making it free.

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allanrjensenz@reddit

You can use the app Viber, you put credit in and you can make phone calls internationally for cheap.

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ore-aba@reddit

Tello plan, 5 usd / month

Can be activated from anywhere, works with Wifi calling

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BusySecretary169@reddit

I have this ( it's like 6$ with tax) works great for calling the back or getting codes texted to you

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kulukster@reddit

The cheapest I have seen tello is 10 a month. Or are you on a long term contract?

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GleesBid@reddit

I got mine for $7/month a few months ago. It's a month-to-month plan and automatically renews until I cancel.

So far I'm really impressed with Tello. I have multi-sim functionality on my Google Pixel 8, and it works perfectly when I need to receive a text or a call on the US number.

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ore-aba@reddit

Nah

No data + 100 minutes is $5 dollars / month

Those 100 minutes can be used for calls to 60+ countries. unlimited calls can be purchased for $8 / month

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kulukster@reddit

Thanks I'll check it out...again..

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NotABotStill@reddit

Guys and gals - WhatsApp can't call landlines or anything else other than other WhatsApp users, so please stop.

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connectezcom@reddit

I think we should sponsor this sub :D

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NotABotStill@reddit

That reminds me - we don’t allow advertising.

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connectezcom@reddit

That's actually a good thing. I realized this feature is public service, dont have the budget for it.. hope it helps someone.

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dpilawa@reddit

Try dasfone.com - no subscriptions, pre-pad calling up with $5 minimum top-up, you will not be able to call toll-free numbers for free but US is 3c/min . Good thing is that you will be able to set your own caller ID (your number) so whoever you need to call may recognise you.

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pandasinski@reddit

Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Discord, Telegram?

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

Those are great suggestions, do you think it’s possible to call the US Dept of Education using those apps?

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EquivalentScience675@reddit

My husband has called the US dept of Ed using Google Voice in Denmark, so probably

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

Tusen takk! I’ll check out Google Voice.

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PapaFranzBoas@reddit

I do all my state side calls that aren’t family/FaceTime on Google Voice for over 4 years here in DE. Granted I had to set things up in advance or get help to “link” it, but it works fine. I’ll be using it to call the IRS soon.. hooray. The only bummer is if you set it up tk for calls ti come through to you, you also get spam.

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x3medude@reddit

You only need to link it if you want your calls to ring on that number. I stopped linking it, despite the reminders

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PapaFranzBoas@reddit

Huh. Maybe I misunderstood but I thought it wouldn’t work as inbound without it being linked to a number after I ported my number over.

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x3medude@reddit

Once you've done everything, you can in the settings and choose where you want it to ring. You don't have to have any other number linked after that. You'll have a prompt to explain this when you let the linking expire

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x3medude@reddit

You have to be stateside to get Google voice. I gave my friend my Gmail and a temporary password that was in the US, they set up GV for me, then I changed my password back and was able to log in

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

OK, cool. Thanks for the heads up.

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Vadoola@reddit

Entirely different, Google Voice is a VoIP service that can call standard telephone numbers. Those other apps can only make calls to other users inside the same app.

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

Exactly what I thought too.

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pandasinski@reddit

in EU a lot of places and companies are on WhatsApp

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PapaFranzBoas@reddit

Based on their comment OP is probably trying to call the US. WhatsApp is not a common or popular service in the States. I used to work in a marketing and communications department and when I explained that Americans don’t really use a WhatsApp and I used it more after moving here, they were shocked.

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nicethingsahead@reddit

It all depends on whether they have an account in those platforms, so download the apps and try to search the phone number.

My personal bet is I don’t think they will attend these calls from said apps, but it’s free to try lol

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

I agree. The likelihood is zero for state agencies. Private businesses, sure, but most likely not for United States agencies.

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ricdy@reddit

They literally asked to call phone numbers. And neither of the apps you mentioned let you do that.

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pandasinski@reddit

I mean I’m in Netherlands where most of the places you can reach by WhatsApp

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ricdy@reddit

OP specifically asked for toll-free numbers to the US. ;)

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Tall-Firefighter1612@reddit

You can call phone numbers with whatsapp

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mushpuppy@reddit

I've never had a problem using whatsapp btwn the US/EU.

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ricdy@reddit

You can't call a phone via WhatsApp.

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mushpuppy@reddit

? I do it all the time. ??

Ohhhhhh. You're saying not over a cell network. Yeah I get it.

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ricdy@reddit

Yes. To a number.

You're assuming said number is on WhatsApp. I'm assuming they aren't.

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grogi81@reddit

Calls to numbers, exp. official offices, not just to.people in your list.

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Timely_Meringue1010@reddit

i don't think completely free options exist

because in the toll-free model, the number owner pays for the call, not the caller

that's why toll-free calls are free only within the US, otherwise number owners will go bankrupt if the whole world would start calling them, and they have to pay the international rates

but you can try dialhard (it's my web app) for calling US toll-free numbers from abroad. the first 5 minutes of daily calls to toll-free numbers are free

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Excellent_Coconut_81@reddit

But OP wants to be able to call free number, and not call for free.
Most answers lack of reading skills...
Or just troll a serious question.

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Timely_Meringue1010@reddit

no, op asks how to make FREE phone calls

you lack reading skills, lol

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cr1zzl@reddit

But they also said “like Skype” which was a paid service. They are basically looking for an alternative to Skype, which is Google voice, so they’ve got their answer without the need to explain how toll-free numbers work.

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Timely_Meringue1010@reddit

psa: google voice is not a skype alternative

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cr1zzl@reddit

Hm, a lot of other people who have used it seem to think it is. Why do you think it doesn’t? You know it doesn’t have to be exactly the same yeah?

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Timely_Meringue1010@reddit

well, for starters, it's available only for US residents who can verify their residency via play store

moved abroad and need to call irs? have fun signing up for google voice

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Tall-Firefighter1612@reddit

Get an usa sim card

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intoirreality@reddit

It's insane that people are suggesting WhatsApp to you and then downvoting you lmao. Try https://www.yadaphone.com, it's not free but very cheap.

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Tall-Firefighter1612@reddit

Honest question, why is whatsapp bad advice?

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Trankkis@reddit

Try calling a plumber, a library, a school, customer support, a police station, a local restaurant and a gas station using WhatsApp. Even in Europe odds are very small you’d get through.

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Tall-Firefighter1612@reddit

Why would you need to call any of these numbers in the us while living in Sweden. I get why you need to call the bank but you dont need to call them that much. I cant even remember the last time I called my bank

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sentient-tampon@reddit

The other person has to have WhatsApp so you can’t call an old person who doesn’t have a smart phone

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afiendindenial@reddit

I had this issue. Grandda doesn't have a mobile so I haven't been able to talk him since Skype went away. Hopefully that will change when he's at my mum's for a late Thanksgiving this weekend.

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connectezcom@reddit

Where's granddad located usually?

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laughing_cat@reddit

You can’t call your bank, for example, on WhatsApp.

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billdietrich1@reddit

For some reason, Yadaphone is reliable (at initiating calls) for me only on Edge browser, not chromium or Firefox. But I have a small sample size. Is it reliable for you ?

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

Hahaha! I know, right? I’m surprised the MODs haven’t stepped in yet.

Thanks for the advice, I’ll check out that app.

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x3medude@reddit

We don't check every post, and especially not every comment. So without reports, we sometimes miss things.

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jptsr1@reddit

It's almost like a cult. Here in Asia if you don't use WhatsApp you can't really get anything done. It's kind of like Apple snobbery in the US. It's weird though how they always complaine about FB and IG but have no problem being completely dependent on WhatsApp. I use it constantly so I'm not hating but it's useless if the person on the other side can't or won't use it. Not to mention Meta's track record regarding security.

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External_Tangelo@reddit

Skype still exists and works! You have to dig through some rather arcane menus of Microsoft Teams to get there but it’s still fully functional

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brickne3@reddit

What?! This is the first I've heard of this, tell us more!

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External_Tangelo@reddit

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/skype/how-do-i-make-a-call-in-the-skype-dial-pad-3e16f318-3716-40c3-bf51-c1580022fc7c#id0ebf=web

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FeelingIncoherent@reddit

Can you just get a Google phone number?

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WitnessTheBadger@reddit

I'm in France, but I have a VOIP landline as part of my internet package and get free calls to any US number, including toll-free ones, or at least all the ones I've tried. I feel like it was the same when I lived in Belgium, but it's been quite awhile and I could be misremembering (or things could have changed).

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

Oh wow, what a nice option! Sadly that’s not an option here that I’m aware of, but I’ll check it out. Thanks!

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knuthf@reddit

Check that. Both Telia and Telenor had routers that supported VOIP. Once you were on VOIP, you could dial anywhere in exchange for a fee.

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

OK Toppen! Tack! I’ll check it out.

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knuthf@reddit

This is also used as fax gateway. My router had 2 telephone lines with one voice and one fax line this is backed by the full ISDN infrastructure. Another gateway is "CRM" - call centre like they have in America. This have the ability to interact, and this is a Linux app - "Call Centre:" and all interfaces is regukar browser screens. (I am project director for delivert of complete telco for AT&T)

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Kind-Can3567@reddit

Get a phone plan with unlimited international calling, it's really easy to find these cheap. For my US Mobile plan it's a 3 dollar addon. I use it to call my close friend in Germany.

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dwwhiteside@reddit

Have you tried Google Voice. That's what I've been using since I got my Mexican phone number.

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x3medude@reddit

The only fee is to port your number

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Picnut@reddit

Tossible Digits can give you a US number for about $7/mo

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NordicJesus@reddit

Get a US eSIM with WiFi calling. Tello, Ultramobile or Helium. Helium is free, the others are about $5 a month.

You can also use Google Voice, which is free as well, as long as you only receive calls or call toll-free numbers. It will require an existing US number to sign up, but this could be a friend’s number.

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Excellent_Coconut_81@reddit

I've found not solution for calling toll-free numbers from abroad, I've used Skype before M$ killed it, and I wasn't aware this option worked...
But most places have alternative non-free number that you can call from abroad.

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connectezcom@reddit

Try https://tollfree.connect-ez.com

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connectezcom@reddit

You can make absolutely free toll-free calls to the US from https://tollfree.connect-ez.com

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move2usajobs-com@reddit

I'm currently using two virtual phone numbers from Zadarma, and honestly — they’ve been absolute lifesavers.
I use my Israeli number primarily for banking, while my American number handles everything else — from registrations to sharing contacts.

What I love most is the seamless functionality: automated voicemail, SMS support, and even Telegram alerts. All my voicemails are conveniently delivered straight to my email inbox — no hassle at all.

I'm genuinely impressed with how smooth and reliable the service has been.
P.S. You can register a number from almost any country — which makes it incredibly versatile no matter where you are.

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wb7qni@reddit

https://cuencahighlife.com/with-skype-and-other-internet-phone-services-ending-whats-the-best-way-for-expats-to-connect-overseas/

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photogcapture@reddit

Whatsapp, Facebook, both are wifi enabled and are free. Neither go to landlines.

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TheRensh@reddit

To make calls to US nos and toll free nos, Talk360 works well. Of course WhatsApp is probably best app for all communications.

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Vladigraph@reddit

Whatsapp is very common across the world, great video chat quality too.

If you and your friends have Google accounts you can install Google Meet (different from Google voice, doesn't require US phone number). If your phone is Android it's probably already pre-installed. It also offers both voice and video chats

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CarliniFotograf@reddit

WhatsApp or Viber

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Competitive-Leg-962@reddit

VOIP Buster Pro

Same thing really, but you might need to top it up with $5 to activate, even if the actual call is to a free number.

You can bin your phone number to it by receiving a one time password and then it will also show you as caller ID, really helpful when calling banks and such that authenticate you this way.

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No-Conference-4156@reddit

What’s app or signal

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Jinniblack@reddit

Google Voice. I’ve used it for years for US based texting. I had to try it with Skype out of commission and it worked better than Skype. Wish I’d tried it earlier!

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bisikletci@reddit

"Sorry, Google Voice isn't supported in your country yet" (Belgium)

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Jinniblack@reddit

Ah...I set it up in the US maybe 20 years ago, but use it in Hungary, Germany, Italy, and France.

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Tall-Firefighter1612@reddit

Use a vpn

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PapaFranzBoas@reddit

VPN or have someone in the US help set up the account. After that you won’t have problems.

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majoroutage@reddit

Make a US-based Google account.

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Striking_Peach_257@reddit (OP)

Awesome! Thank you! I will try that out.

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DutchSherrif@reddit

Discord is similar to skype

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ihavenosisters@reddit

Yolla as an alternative to vibed, cost is similar to Skype. You need to add a couple of $ and each call is a couple of cent

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EdgyJezzy@reddit

If you call through WhatsApp its should just use data and not cost you anything besides that. Why not use that?

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ihavenosisters@reddit

Because you can not call a landline with it for example. Or a phone number without Internet.

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736384826@reddit

Viber

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Tall-Firefighter1612@reddit

Use whatsapp

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Empty-Blacksmith-592@reddit

You can use Skred. Great app with high quality video calls without phone numbers.

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Andagonism@reddit

Contact them on social media and ask

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PapaFranzBoas@reddit

You can’t contact US state and federal offices for official business via WhatsApp or social media platforms. I have a case with the Internal Revenue Service I have to follow up with. My only options are post or phone call. For WhatsApp the other user must have a WhatsApp account too. That’s why when you type in a contacts number it validates their WhatsApp.

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