Does WhatsApp charge money for international calls?
WhatsApp itself doesn’t charge money for calling or texting someone who is in another country or while you’re traveling. The caveat is that you have to have an internet connection to call or text, meaning that unless you’re connected to a free Wi-Fi network or have an unlimited data plan, you’ll have to pay for the cellular data that you’ll use while calling.
How do WhatsApp international calls work?
When you call someone with WhatsApp, your call gets directed via the internet to WhatsApp’s servers. Then the call connects to the recipient. The process is similar to how voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phones work, connecting two users through the internet rather than mobile networks.
Your communication through WhatsApp are end-to-end encrypted using the Signal Protocol. As a result, only you and the recipient can see the messages or know the contents of the voice calls made using the app. Still, according to WhatsApp, it does “validate and respond to law enforcement requests based on applicable law and policy, and... prioritize responses to emergency requests” when it comes to users’ communication, so it isn’t fully anonymous.
How do international WhatsApp call charges work?
You won’t face any direct costs when calling with WhatsApp, whether it’s an international or domestic call. However, you will have to pay for the data you use:
Connection type
| WhatsApp charges | What you pay |
|---|
Wi-Fi at home | None | For your internet plan
|
|---|
Public Wi-Fi networks | None | Nothing, unless Wi-Fi access is paid |
|---|
Mobile data | None | For your phone plan |
|---|
Roaming data | None | Depends on your phone plan |
|---|
Travel eSIM | None | For your travel eSIM data plan only |
|---|
Because of the way that WhatsApp calls are set up — over the internet — you’ll pay nothing on WhatsApp. But because you do pay for the internet — unless you’re using a free Wi-Fi network — international calls with WhatsApp aren’t technically free.
For example, if you’re traveling with a travel eSIM like Saily, calls stay cheap — WhatsApp doesn’t use much data, and Saily eSIM data plans start from US$1.99. You can also get a Saily eSIM plan with unlimited data so you won’t have to worry about WhatsApp calls’ data consumption.
How much data do international WhatsApp calls use?
So how much data does WhatsApp use while calling internationally? Not much, especially if your call is voice only. Video calls are more data hungry, which can be costly if you have a pay-per-use mobile plan. The table below breaks down WhatsApp’s data usage on international calls and texts:
Method of communication via WhatsApp
| Estimated WhatsApp data usage |
|---|
International voice calls | Around 0.3 MB per minute |
|---|
International video calls | Around 5 MB per minute |
|---|
International text messages | Around 1 KB per message |
|---|
Do you have a trip coming up and are wondering how much data you’ll use? Try out Saily’s data usage calculator, which will estimate your total monthly data usage, including WhatsApp calls.
If you’re running low on data and want to save some while using the app to make calls, you can turn on WhatsApp’s low-data mode for calls. Go to your WhatsApp profile, scroll down to “Storage and data,” and enable “Use less data for calls.” While this will lower the quality of a call, you’ll have a stable connection to talk with your friends or family.
How to make international calls on WhatsApp
Making international calls on WhatsApp is simple, akin to the process of making a regular call on your phone. The only difference is that you’re using WhatsApp:
Open up WhatsApp.
Tap “Calls” and then “Call.”
Choose someone from your current contact list or tap “New contact” to add a new one.
Tap the call icon. For a WhatsApp video call, tap the camera symbol next to a person’s name.
The process is that simple. Keep in mind that for the call to go over smoothly, you and the receiver must have a stable internet connection, since a call’s quality depends on your link to WhatsApp’s servers.
Pros and cons of international WhatsApp calls
WhatsApp international calls have their benefits and drawbacks:
Pros of making international calls with WhatsApp
| Cons of making international calls with WhatsApp
|
|---|
No extra charges
| The receiver must have a WhatsApp account
|
|---|
Doesn’t require any international roaming minutes
| Requires a stable internet connection to maintain a call
|
|---|
End-to-end encrypted
| Won’t work if WhatsApp’s servers are down
|
|---|
Voice calls don’t use a lot of data
| Requires a phone number to sign up
|
|---|
Multi-platform support enabling calls using a phone, tablet, or personal computer
|
|
|---|
The main issues you might face are a recipient without a WhatsApp account or an unstable internet connection. The service’s own servers can, at times, go down, though it’s rare.
Other than that, WhatsApp is a great tool to reach your loved ones while you’re traveling. The app charges no additional fees to call internationally, you don’t need to have international roaming minutes, and it doesn’t use much data even when you’re calling from another country.
One of the main benefits of using WhatsApp to call internationally is that users aren’t charged extra, but you can still end up paying an expensive phone bill once you get home. Use these tips on how to avoid unexpected roaming fees, even if you’re making international calls with WhatsApp:
Turn off roaming on your primary phone line when traveling. When you’re abroad and using a travel eSIM, your phone settings might still default to using data with your primary SIM or eSIM. Turn off your primary phone line’s data roaming in your phone’s settings to avoid a hefty roaming bill.
Monitor your data usage. WhatsApp voice calls don’t use too much data — around 0.3 MB per minute — but video calls are more data intensive. Monitor how much data you’re using while calling and adjust accordingly.
Turn on WhatsApp’s low-data mode for calls. To reduce data consumption on calls, go to your WhatsApp profile, scroll down, and enable “Use less data for calls.”
Consider using safe Wi-Fi networks. Using Wi-Fi for your WhatsApp calls will save you data. However, make sure the network is secure — hackers can easily compromise a Wi-Fi network that isn’t password protected.
How does the Saily eSIM app help save on international WhatsApp calls?
One of the main ways a Saily eSIM plan helps you save from potential roaming fees while you’re making international calls with WhatsApp is the price you pay for mobile data. For example, a 10 GB plan in Spain is US$15.99 — providing enough data for 32,000 minutes of calls on WhatsApp. Using the Saily eSIM app, you can track your data use and top up before you run out.
In contrast, your contract with your mobile provider could have a per-megabyte roaming fee. At US$1 per megabyte, a 10-minute WhatsApp call — assuming data usage of 0.3 MB per minute — will set you back US$3. Some mobile providers have even higher per-use rates, such as AT&T with its US$2.05/MB rate if you don’t have a cellular plan that includes international roaming data.
You can also get the Saily Ultra plan and, in addition to saving on roaming charges with the plan’s unlimited mobile data, get access to a number of travel benefits. Saily Ultra’s perks include fast-track services and lounges at airports, complimentary subscriptions to NordVPN, NordPass, NordLocker, and Incogni, and 8% back in Saily credits on each purchase through the Saily app.
