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Best free VoIP phone service for personal use in 2024
Free VoIP services such as TextNow, Google Voice, or WhatsApp offer the best way to make calls over the internet without additional charges.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services have forever changed the way we make calls, taking them from cellular services over to the internet. And while many such services can cost a pretty penny, there are free alternatives that allow you or your company to connect with people without expanding your budget.
But which free VoIP phone service should you choose? Follow along as we take a closer look at some of the top options, complete with their features and other things worth noting.
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What is VoIP?
VoIP is a technology that allows you to make phone calls over the internet instead of a traditional phone service. The technology has been used by businesses to cut down on costs as well as individuals simply looking to talk without using up the minutes on their mobile plan.
Chances are that you’ve been using VoIP services for years, even if you’ve never referred to them as such. In fact, you may use them daily without even thinking about it, as companies such as Skype, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp have all built their call functionality on VoIP.
Top 7 free VoiP phone apps for personal use
There is no single free VoIP service that we could call the best, simply because each has its own set of features. At the end of the day, the best service is the one that suits your needs the best, not the one others tell you to use. Let’s take a look at some of the top free VoIP services to help you make your choice.
1. Google Voice
Google seems to have a service for everything nowadays, and VoIP calls aren’t an exception. You can get a US phone number with the service or link it to your own phone number if you’re from the US or Canada. Once you set up your account, it’ll be automatically linked with your Google Contacts, so you can start calling immediately.
On top of allowing you to make calls, Google Voice is also capable of transcribing voicemails and filtering out spam calls to help you avoid any unwanted callers.
Unfortunately, the service is only available in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA. If you’re not in using your cell phone in the USA or one of the other countries on the list, you won’t be able to use the service.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Unlimited calls and messages on a single number
- Voicemail transcription
- Spam filtering and blocking
Cons
- Not available worldwide
2. WhatsApp
WhatsApp is easily one of the most popular VoIP services worldwide. Many users use it as an alternative to SMS messages and regular phone calls. It also has a dedicated business app, which is free to use, just like WhatsApp’s personal service.
All in all, WhatsApp is easy to use and is freely accessible to everyone. However, unlike some other services on this list, it doesn’t include a free VoIP phone number and only works by linking the service to a phone number you already own.
This effectively means that using WhatsApp isn’t completely free, as you have to pay a carrier for your phone number. That said, most people do it anyway, so unless you don’t have a phone number at all, using WhatsApp internationally or locally won’t add any extra costs.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Unlimited calls and messages
- Available worldwide
- Free business app
Cons
- Doesn’t provide separate VoIP phone numbers
3. Zoom
Most people probably associate Zoom with conference video calls at work, but it aims to provide a full communications experience with a VoIP service as well. That said, Zoom’s free service leaves a lot to be desired, though it’s still a great option for group calls or one-on-one video calls.
You can invite groups of up to 100 people for calls of up to 40 minutes long, or enjoy up to 30 hours of one-on-one conversations with the free plan. If you want a full VoIP service, complete with unlimited calling and SMS messaging, you’ll need to go with one of their paid plans.
Pay-as-you-go plans start at $120, while monthly plans can cost up to $180, so the service is obviously aimed more towards businesses that make a lot of calls, rather than for daily use of individuals.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Great for big group calls
- Up to 30 hours of one-on-one video calls for free
Cons
- Only paid plans include a phone number
- SMS messaging only with paid plans
- Paid plans are quite expensive
4. Skype
For many people, Skype offered the first experience of making calls online. And while it may not be as popular as it once was, Skype is still a great option for making calls online.
While most commonly used to make calls between Skype users, it’s also a VoIP phone service provider that gives you a phone number and allows you to make calls and send messages directly to other phones. That said, regular phone calls and SMS messages aren’t free and are only included in Skype’s paid plans.
So as far as free VoIP services go, it’s limited to Skype-to-Skype calls only. It does offer a good sound and video quality even with the free plan, making it a solid option for catching up between friends and family.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Unlimited Skype-to-Skype calls
- Good sound and video quality
Cons
- VoIP phone number only included in paid plans
- SMS messaging and phone calls only with a paid plan
5. Viber
Viber is very similar to WhatsApp in the sense that it’s an intuitive, convenient app that’s normally linked to your regular phone number rather than a separate VoIP phone number generated by the service.
When you connect your account with your phone number, you can immediately access all of your contacts who also own Viber accounts for unlimited phone calls and messages free of charge. All you need to do is check your data usage and make sure you don’t run out of data.
That said, if you want to make phone calls to people without Viber accounts, you’ll have to use Viber Out, Viber’s paid phone call service. With Viber Out, you have to top up your credit to start making local or international calls with low rates.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Unlimited calls and messenger between Viber users
- Instantly connects with your contact list
- Easy to use
Cons
- Doesn’t provide a VoIP number
- Calls to people without Viber aren’t free
6. TextNow
If you’re looking for free VoIP number providers, not only services that allow you to make calls via the internet, TextNow is one of the best options out there. It’s a completely free service that allows you to either use your own phone number of acquire an alternative number just for VoIP use.
You can use the service on your WiFi or pick up a SIM card activation kit for $0.99 and enjoy the same benefits on a cellular service. Of course, TextNow needs to make money somewhere to keep up with the maintenance costs, so you can expect to see quite a lot of ads whenever using the free service.
That said, it’s the only global VoIP provider on this list to provide a phone number as well as unlimited calls and messages completely free, so the ads can be forgiven. If they seem like too much, you can always pay an extra fee to remove all ads.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free VoIP phone number
- Unlimited calls and messages
- No hidden costs
Cons
- Additional features may cost extra
- A lot of ads with the free service
7. Facebook Messenger
Facebook is one of the largest social media platforms in the world, and it allows users of the platform to stay in touch with Facebook Messenger. Facebook’s VoIP isn’t linked to a phone number at all. Instead, it’s simply linked to your Facebook account and allows you to call or message other people on the platform.
Many users opt to only create a Messenger account and aren’t active on Facebook itself, so it’s also a viable option even if you’re not a fan of social media.
Because of how Messenger is set up, it doesn’t offer VoIP numbers, which means that there’s no option to call people without a Messenger account. However, when it comes to ease of use and convenience for connecting with friends and family, Messenger is one of the best options out there.
All you need is an internet connection and you can enjoy free calling and messaging both for private conversations and group chats. Messenger never feels like a free trial, as is the case with some other VoIP providers. It doesn’t have any paid options at all. So you’re getting the best that the service can offer at all times.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Unlimited calls and messages
- No upsells
- Easy to use
Cons
- Doesn’t offer VoIP numbers
- No way to call people outside of the platform
How to get a free VoIP service with a phone number
Simply put, there are plenty of apps that offer VoIP calls, but few free VoIP providers also offer a separate phone number for your calls. Google Voice and TextNow are two of the best options if you need a free VoIP phone number. Just keep in mind that Google Voice only works in a few countries worldwide.
Alternatively, you can use a free VoIP phone service that can be linked to your own phone number, such as WhatsApp or Viber.
Stay connected while you travel
No matter which VoIP phone service you choose to go with, one thing remains the same — you’ll need an internet connection to make VoIP calls. Thankfully, staying connected while traveling has never been easier.
All you need to do is get an eSIM from Holafly and have an eSIM-compatible phone. All Holafly plans include unlimited data, so you can make as many calls and send as many messages as you need whenever you’re abroad.
FAQs
Yes, there are many free VoIP apps and services that you can use to make calls via the internet at no extra cost. WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Skype are just a few of the best known examples of free VoIP services, with plenty more available online.
You can get voice over IP for free simply by downloading and setting up one of the free VoIP apps, such as TextNow, Google Voice, WhatsApp, or Messenger.
TextNow and Google Voice both offer free phone service with VoIP phone numbers, making them the cheapest options on the market.
Yes, you can use VoIP without a cellular service provider. Google Voice and TextNow can offer their own VoIP phone numbers, while services like Facebook Messenger don’t require a phone number at all.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
