The days of looking for a cell signal to make phone calls are over. WiFi calling — which allows you to easily reach your contacts using a WiFi connection — is becoming the norm for many businesses. Switching to WiFi calling is a simple way to save on phone plans and give your team the flexibility to call from any device.
However, not all internet phones are equal. We’ll introduce you to seven of the best WiFi calling apps so you can choose a platform that fits all your business needs.
Comparing the best WiFi calling apps
Here’s a quick rundown of the top WiFi calling options:
Provider | Starting price | Unlimited calling to US & Canada | SMS/MMS to US & Canada | Shared phone numbers | Additional phone numbers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
OpenPhone | $15 per user per month | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $5 per number per month |
Google Voice | $10 per user per month, plus $6 per month for Google Workspace | Unlimited calls to Canada from the US only | US customers only | Requires upgrade (ring groups only) | X |
Google Meet | Starts with a free plan | Requires add-on | Requires add-on | X | X |
Skype | Free between Skype users | Other Skype users only | Other Skype users only | X | ✓ |
Free | Other WhatsApp users only | Other WhatsApp users only | X | X | |
Viber | Free for personal use | Other Viber users only | Other Viber users only | X | X |
Talkatone | Starts with a free plan | ✓ | US customers only | X | X |
7 best WiFi calling apps
WiFi calling apps let you make calls over the internet with a quick download.
One of the big advantages of WiFi calling is that you don’t have to buy new Apple or Android devices or landlines for every team member or purchase expensive phone plans. The best WiFi calling apps also offer features that traditional phones can’t.
Here are seven of the best WiFi calling apps you can use to take your phone communications to the web with just a WiFi connection.
1. OpenPhone: The best business phone solution
Pros
- Unlimited calls and texts to the US & Canada
- Integrations with Zapier, Slack, and HubSpot
- Shared phone numbers
- Quick context in a single-view inbox
- Auto-attendant (IVR) for inbound calls
Cons
- No verification through two-factor authentication*
*Nearly all virtual phone numbers share this problem. For safety reasons, companies like Facebook, Uber, and Google rarely let you authenticate accounts through a virtual phone number.
OpenPhone is a VoIP phone service that supports free calls and texts (SMS and MMS) in the US and Canada from virtually any device. You can also make international calls for as little as 2 cents per minute. Check out our international calling and texting rate page for a full breakdown of the cost to call customers abroad.
What makes OpenPhone stand out is its ability to function as far more than a replacement for a physical phone. It makes business calls easier to manage than ever before. You can share phone numbers — including toll-free, Canadian, and US phone numbers — with your teammates so anyone who’s available can answer incoming calls and texts.
Every OpenPhone plan lets you schedule texts so you can reach customers at a later time or date. You also have the option to set up auto-replies so customers get an immediate response even when you’re busy.
You can integrate OpenPhone with business apps like Zapier and Slack to streamline your workflows (along with other tools via the OpenPhone API) or set up an auto-attendant to get clients to the right person faster.
Try out OpenPhone for a week to confirm it’s a great fit. Sign up for a free seven-day trial.
Key features of OpenPhone
- Free calls and texts in the US and Canada
- Text and call from your computer, smartphone, or tablet
- Free phone number porting
- Affordable international rates
- Shared phone numbers
- Business app integrations
- IVR
- Call recording
- Call routing
- Voicemail transcriptions
- Automated texts
OpenPhone pricing
- Starter: $15 per user per month for unlimited calls in the US and Canada, on-demand call recording, shared phone numbers, one free local or toll-free US or Canadian number per user, and more
- Business: $23 per user per month for phone menus (IVR), AI call summaries and transcripts, call groups, analytics, and more
- Enterprise: Contact for a custom plan and price to unlock priority support, a dedicated account manager, an audit log, and more
2. Google Voice: Best for Google Workspace users
Pros
- Free plan for personal use
- Integrates with other Google Workspace apps
Cons
- Limited business phone features
Google Voice is a WiFi calling and texting app available on iPhones, Android phones, and the web. The free personal plan is only available in the US and isn’t designed for business since you can only have one user and phone number for each account, and it lacks business features like ring groups.
However, Google Voice for business does offer more advanced features — for example, you can make unlimited calls and texts in the US. However, if you’re not part of Google Workspace, you need to purchase both a Workspace and Voice subscription to access this app (minimum of $16 per user per month total).
While both Google Voice for personal and business offer voicemail transcriptions and integrations with Google Calendar, Google Sheets, Google Docs, and Google Meet — which put it a step ahead of your average cell phone — you won’t get much more support for your company’s needs even with their business phone app. You can get a better bang for your buck and bring together more of your tech stack to save time with other apps.
Key features of Google Voice
- Free unlimited calls to the US and from the US to Canada
- Free unlimited texts in the US
- Voicemail transcriptions
- Integrations with Google Calendar and Google Meet
- Auto-attendant (requires upgrade)
- Call recording (requires upgrade)
Google Voice pricing
- Starter: $10 per user per month (max 10 users) for unlimited domestic calls, voicemail transcriptions, call forwarding, and set business hours
- Standard: $20 per user per month for multi-level auto attendant, ring groups, ad-hoc call recording, and desk phone support
- Premier: $30 per user per month for advanced reporting with BigQuery and automatic call recording
3. Google Meet (formerly Google Duo): Best for video calling
Pros
- Record meetings
- Have one-to-one calls for up to 24 hours
Cons
- No desktop app
Google Meet is a free WiFi calling app that supports video and voice calls. Using Meet’s Android, iOS, or web app, you can start calls with up to 100 people by hopping on almost any device for up to 60 minutes per meeting on its free plan.
While Google Meet is one of the best WiFi calling apps for consumers, it isn’t built for business use. There’s no way to call non-Meet users, which means you can’t reliably reach all your clients. Plus, Meet doesn’t offer free phone numbers. You’ll need to use your personal phone number or email address to sign up, and users will contact you using your existing contact details.
To access Google Meet’s premium features, you need to pay for a Google Workspace subscription, which starts at $6 per user per month. If you already pay for a Google One Premium plan, you can use Google Meet features like noise cancellation and call recording, which are still limited.
Unless a situation calls where you need to video call your clients as a fish or a cactus, the app’s only special feature — its augmented reality (AR) effects — won’t really help your team succeed.
Key features of Google Meet
- Free unlimited video and voice calls with Meet users
- Digital whiteboarding
- Breakout rooms
Google Meet pricing
- Google Meet: Free (up to 100 participants) for group meetings with a duration of one hour
- Business Starter: $6 per user per month (up to 100 participants) for business email, security and management controls, US or international dial-in phone numbers, digital whiteboarding, and more
- Business Standard: $12 per user per month (up to 150 participants) for noise cancellation, meeting recordings saved to Google Drive, polling and Q&A, and more
- Business Plus: $18 per user per month (up to 500 participants) for attendance tracking, breakout rooms, and more
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing (up to 1,000 participants) for in-domain live streaming, hand raising, and more
4. Skype: Best for calling other Skype users
Pros
- Caller ID
- Free voice and video calls with other Skype users
- Free calls to US toll-free numbers
Cons
- Making calls and sending texts to landlines and mobile devices requires a subscription
Skype is one of the best WiFi calling apps for people who want to manage video calls, voice calls, and SMS messages in one platform. You can use Skype for free video and voice calls with up to 100 Skype users — and when you buy Skype Credits or a subscription, you can call and text mobile or landline numbers around the world. You can also purchase up to 10 local phone numbers for your business, though you can’t port an existing phone number.
With Skype, you don’t need to worry about malicious users listening in on your calls and accessing business data since video, voice, instant messages, and file transfers are encrypted.
Skype struggles to provide the minimum for a seemingly all-inclusive platform. Domestic calls aren’t included unless your clients are Skype users. The app doesn’t support MMS messages or allow you to receive text messages unless you’re in the US. Don’t expect phone features beyond the basics (like caller ID) either.
Skype isn’t a long-term phone solution for growing businesses; Microsoft phased out Skype for Business and now only recommends Skype for teams of 20 or fewer.
Key features of Skype
- Free unlimited video and voice calls with Skype users
- Local phone numbers in up to 25 countries
- Call recording
- Screen sharing
Skype pricing
To reach non-Skype users, credits are available to buy in $5, $10, and $25 increments. The rate to contact people varies by currency and country.
5. WhatsApp: Best for secure calling with other WhatsApp users
Pros
- Voice and video calls with up to 32 people
- Free text messaging
Cons
- No pricing plans or upgrades for business features
WhatsApp Messenger is an instant messaging app that’s used by over two billion people around the world to send free text messages — including multimedia like pictures, GIFs, and documents — and to call without international rates.
It supports free video and voice calls through its mobile or desktop app using your WiFi or data connection. It also provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring only you and the person you’re calling or texting with can read your communication history. The caveat is that you need an existing phone number to use WhatsApp, so you can’t create a separate phone number for your business calls and texts.
WhatsApp Business lets you build out a company profile and catalog for WhatsApp users to see. You can set up automated replies for incoming texts, but you won’t get any features for call management.
Key features of WhatsApp
- Free unlimited video calls, voice calls, and texts (data charges may apply)
- Group calls with up to 32 participants
- Automated texts (WhatsApp Business only)
- Text message templates (WhatsApp Business only)
WhatsApp pricing
Free to use
6. Viber: Best for calls using a smartphone
Pros
- Share stickers and GIFs
- Set disappearing messages
Cons
- Have to pay to call anyone outside the Viber network
Viber is often listed as one of the best free calling apps since it offers video calls, voice calls, and messages. Much like WhatsApp and Google Meet, it’s designed for Viber users to communicate through one-on-one and group chats. While you may see Viber marketed as free, you’ll have to pay per minute or pay for a subscription if you want to call anyone who doesn’t use Viber.
Viber is a pretty bare-bones app, even if you pay. It’s designed for personal use, so while you’ll get fun features like self-destructing messages, the ability to share stickers and polls you can text, you won’t get any features modern businesses need.
Key features of Viber
- Free unlimited video calls, voice calls, and texts with Viber users
- Disappearing messages
- Group chats
- Delete and edit seen messages
Viber pricing
Viber for personal use:
- Free to use
- Rates vary by country to call non-Viber users
Viber for business:
- Contact vendor for pricing for real-time customer support, an in-app call option for customers that allows them to contact your business for free, and more
7. Talkatone: Best for personal use
Pros
- Free US phone number
- Free calls and texts to and from US and Canadian numbers
Cons
- Can’t change caller ID after you’ve created an account
Talkatone is a WiFi calling app that lets you make calls on Android tablets, iPads, smartphones, and iPods. It offers unlimited access to calls, group chats, and texts wherever you are, which is useful for reps who travel a lot and need access to their conversation history on the go. You can also choose a free USphone number when you sign up with Talkatone, a feature that’s ideal for companies that have customers in the US..
However, Talkatone lacks features your business might need to scale. For example, you can’t send text messages to international numbers, and you can’t port your number over to Talkatone. The app also contains ads that are only removed when you upgrade to its premium subscription, which costs $3.99 per user per month.
Key features of Talkatone
- Free calling and texting to any US or Canadian phone number
- Free international calls between Talkatone users
- Free US number included
- Call forwarding (requires upgrade)
Talkatone pricing
- Free plan: Calling most US and Canadian numbers is completely free
- Talkatone Plus: $3.99 per user per month for no daily messaging limits (other limits may apply), forwarding your calls to any US or Canadian number, listening to your voicemails in high-quality audio, and more
The best WiFi calling app: OpenPhone
When you’re running a business, the best WiFi calling app will always be the one that makes communication with your clients and team members easy. Choosing a platform that supports real phone numbers and calls from any device — including your smartphone and computer — will give you the flexibility you need to grow your business.
On top of offering a variety of phone number options, OpenPhone provides features that go well beyond what your average landline or cell phone has to offer. You can save time and improve the customer experience by setting up an auto-attendant, using business app integrations, and more. Plus, you can easily collaborate with your team members by sharing phone numbers or reaching out with a free text or call.
Start your free trial of OpenPhone today.
WiFi calling is really free when you use an app like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp. Remember, the person you’re trying to call must have a Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp account, too.
OpenPhone is the best WiFi texting and calling app. From $15 per user per month, you can call and text customers in the US and Canada as much as you want — and they don’t need an account.
No, you don’t need an app for WiFi calling. This is because your smartphone can have built-in WiFi calling, which lets you make and receive voice calls over a WiFi network or hotspot instead of using your cellular network.
Here are the steps you need to follow to enable WiFi calling on a smartphone like an iPhone:
1. Open the settings menu. Navigate to Phone > WiFi Calling.
2. Slide the button next to Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
3. The slider turns green when WiFi calling is enabled.
The best app for calling abroad will have the features your business needs. With OpenPhone, for example, you can make international calls that cost you a fraction of what you could pay with a traditional carrier.
Here are the steps you need to follow to set up WiFi calling on a smartphone using an app like OpenPhone:
1. Sign up to create your account.
2. Verify your identity and provide credit card information.
3. Download the OpenPhone mobile app on your Android or iPhone.
4. Start making calls from your smartphone.
That’s it!