Buy International Phone Credit Online
You can pick up international SIM cards cheaply (often for free) and you just top up as you go. Alternatively, you can speak to your mobile contract provider to find out the cost of a bundle to call home.
The biggest name in international SIMs, Lycamobile will dish you out a SIM, free of charge. You can then choose to go PAYG, topping up credit when necessary, or go for one of their international bundles.
Again, you'll be able to get your hands on a free SIM, and as the bundles are only 30 days long, you're able to renew or cancel whenever is suitable. The bundles give you a set number of minutes that you can use for international calls.
At the time of writing, one 10 package includes 15GB of data, unlimited national calls to the UK, 100 international minutes to 44 countries and unlimited UK texts. The other has 6GB of data, unlimited national calls to the UK, 500 international minutes and unlimited UK texts.
You'd be forgiven for forgetting that audio calls and video calls are also available via Facebook Messenger. Just look out for the phone or camera symbol next to their name in your chat box, and click to make a free call.
LINE is one of the lesser-known online calling apps in the UK, but it's massive in Asia. This is a fun one to use, as the app has the most ridiculously massive catalogue of stickers to add to your chats.
The app also has a feature that lets you make a free domestic or international call of up to five minutes if you watch an ad. This call can be made to mobiles or landlines, so it's ideal if the other person doesn't have the LINE app or access to the internet.
Note that both you and the person you're calling need to be signed up to each app to contact each other through it. Some of the online call apps offer "real world calls" to landlines and mobile phones if you buy credit, but this isn't cost-effective. If you want to call someone on their phone number from an online service, read the next section.
To get started, you just need to create an account with 18185, register your number and set up a Direct Debit. To make a call from a mobile, you'll need to dial the access number (0808 1 703 703) for free, and then enter the actual phone number you'd like to call.
You can buy an international calling card online or in some shops, like the Post Office. You'll usually have the option to buy one with a preset value (like 5, 10, 20, etc.), and depending on where you buy your card, you'll either have to scratch the back of the card to reveal a unique access number to call or have it emailed to you instead.
Here's how it works: We gather information about your online activities, such as the searches you conduct on our Sites and the pages you visit. This information may be used to deliver advertising on our Sites and offline (for example, by phone, email and direct mail) that's customized to meet specific interests you may have.
If you prefer that we do not use this information, you may opt out of online behavioral advertising. If you opt out, though, you may still receive generic advertising. In addition, financial advisors/Client Managers may continue to use information collected online to provide product and service information in accordance with account agreements.
Also, if you opt out of online behavioral advertising, you may still see ads when you log in to your account, for example through Online Banking or MyMerrill. These ads are based on your specific account relationships with us.
Limited-time offer; subject to change. Register code within 30 days of activating qualifying new Internet line. If you have cancelled Internet lines in past 90 days, you may need to reactivate them first. $200 via virtual prepaid Mastercard, which you can use online or in-store via accepted mobile payment apps; no cash access & expires in 6 months. The Virtual Prepaid Mastercard is issued by Sunrise Banks N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Incorporated. Mastercard is a registered tra