How to call France from the US
Short answer
To call France from the US, open RobinPhone in your browser, dial +33 and the number, and pay $0.02 per minute to landlines or $0.13 to mobiles. There is no app, SIM or subscription, and your first 1-minute call to a French landline is free.
Americans with French family, a house in the Dordogne, a French pension or a trip to plan keep running into offices and small businesses that only deal by phone, and whose 08 and 3xxx numbers won't connect from the US.
How to dial
Start with +33 and drop the leading 0, so 01 23 45 67 89 becomes +33 1 23 45 67 89.
Paris landline
+33 1 XX XX XX XX
Regional numbers start 2 to 5, internet-box lines start 9
Mobile
+33 6 XX XX XX XX
French mobiles start with 6 or 7
What a call costs
| Call to | Per minute | 10 minutes | 30 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| France landlines | $0.02 | $0.20 | $0.60 |
| France mobiles | $0.13 | $1.30 | $3.90 |
Live rates in US dollars, billed per minute with no connection fee. The price is the same wherever you call from. Prepaid credit never expires.
Best time to call
France is six hours ahead of the US East Coast and nine ahead of the West Coast for most of the year. Call first thing in your morning: 8 to 11 am in New York is 2 to 5 pm in Paris, before offices close.
6 hours ahead
Paris compared with New York, today
3 am to 11 am
New York time, when it is 9 am to 5 pm in Paris
Who people in the US call in France
- Tax, health and town hallThe tax office (impôts), the CPAM health insurance office, the mairie and notaires still do a lot by phone. Guide: French administration numbers from abroad
- Banks and utilitiesFrench banks, EDF and water companies often want a phone call to change or close an account. Guide: calling a bank abroad
- Hotels, gîtes and restaurantsSmall places in rural France frequently take bookings by phone only. Guide: calling a hotel or airline abroad
Chat apps only reach other app users. Why WhatsApp can't call a landline
Common questions
Can I call a French landline with WhatsApp?
No. WhatsApp only connects to other WhatsApp users, so it cannot reach landlines, offices or hotlines in France. RobinPhone places a normal phone call, so any number that can ring will ring.
Do I need a SIM or phone number from the US?
No. RobinPhone works in your browser over Wi-Fi or mobile data, on a laptop or a phone. You do not need any SIM or calling plan.
Is it cheaper to call France from the US than from other countries?
The price is the same wherever you are. RobinPhone charges by the destination you call, per minute, with no connection fee.
Can I call toll-free or short hotline numbers in France?
Usually not from abroad, with any service. Most agencies and banks publish a separate number for callers overseas. Look for "calling from overseas" on their contact page and dial that number with +33.
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. Every new account gets one free test call: 1 minute to a French landline, or a short one to a French mobile, with no payment details needed. After that, prepaid credit starts at $5 and never expires.
Related routes
Call France in the next minute
No app, no SIM, no subscription. Pay only for the minutes you talk.