Cheap international calls compared
There are a lot of ways to call abroad: apps, a US-only number, a shut-down service, or your carrier's pricey per-minute rates. Here's how RobinPhone stacks up, and which option fits which situation.
Short answer
For occasional calls to landlines and offices abroad, a browser-based pay-as-you-go service like RobinPhone is usually the cheapest and simplest. Monthly plans from Viber Out, Rebtel or PopTox only pay off if you call one country for many hours a month, and Google Voice is only available to people in the US.
Head-to-head comparisons
Each page compares one service with RobinPhone on what it can call, what you install, how you pay and what it costs to a few common destinations. Competitor facts come from their own websites and are dated on each page.
Which option fits your situation
| If you… | Usually best | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Call a bank, tax office or hotel abroad now and then |  RobinPhone | Pay per minute, nothing to install, works on hold queues and phone menus. |
| Used Skype Credit for landlines | RobinPhone | Same job, no app, credit never expires. |
| Live in the US and mostly call US numbers | Google Voice | Free domestic calls and a free US number; international billed per minute. |
| Already use Viber with family and call them for hours | Viber Out | App-to-app is free; a plan can be cheaper for heavy use to one country. |
| Talk many hours a month to one or two countries | PopTox or a Rebtel plan | A fixed monthly fee beats per-minute pricing past the break-even point. |
| Need to reach a landline, and the person has no smartphone | RobinPhone | WhatsApp and Telegram can't ring a landline at all. |
At a glance
| Feature | RobinPhone | Skype | Google Voice | Viber | Phone carrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Active | Shut down (2025) | US-focused | Active (app) | Active |
| Call abroad | From $0.02/min | — | Free US; intl per-min | Viber Out credit | High per-min |
| App required | No — browser | — | Yes | Yes | No |
| Countries | 175+ | — | Limited | App users only | Varies |
| Subscription | None | — | None / paid tiers | None | Contract |
| Works in a browser | Yes | — | Limited | No | No |
Common questions
What's the cheapest way to call abroad in 2026?
For occasional calls, pay-as-you-go per minute from a browser is usually cheapest because you pay nothing between calls. For many hours a month to one country, a monthly plan from Viber Out, Rebtel or PopTox can cost less. Carrier roaming is almost always the most expensive.
What replaced Skype for calling landlines?
Microsoft retired consumer Skype in May 2025. Browser-based services like RobinPhone do the same job (real calls to landlines and mobiles, pay per minute), and app-based options include Viber Out and Rebtel.
Can I use Google Voice outside the US?
Personal Google Voice is only available in the US, according to Google. Google Workspace offers a paid business version in a handful of countries.
Do any of these call landlines without the other person installing anything?
Yes. RobinPhone, Viber Out, Rebtel, Google Voice and PopTox all ring ordinary phone numbers. WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal only call other users of the same app.
Related guides: Why WhatsApp and Telegram can't call a landline · How to call a bank abroad · Call your grandparents' landline abroad · All rates for 175+ countries
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