photo by pcmag
You have many occasions to ring your family, boyfriend/girlfriend or close friends in your country while you are staying in Japan. A decade ago, we had to pay fortunes just to make an international phone call but now we have smartphones, thank goodness. Just download the same app in our phones, we can enjoy free domestic and international phone calls each other. There are so many apps released by companies all over the world and those apps also are featured with many useful tools. So, let’s have a look into 6 most useful free call apps.
Tango
A free call app developed in U.S. More than 300 million people users have downloaded this app on their phones to enjoy free texting, video chats and calls. It minimize the number of functions to offer a simplified handling. After downloading and simple account setting, you are ready for free talk. The video chat service is the most loved feature of this app for good quality of video and sound as well the straightforward handling. It is available in 18 languages including English, Japanese and Arabic.
iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/tango-wu-liaotekisuto-bideo/id372513032?mt=8
Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sgiggle.production&hl=ja
LINE
No explanation needed for this app, the best known free call app in Japan. Available in 16 languages, this app is also widely used among Japanese people residing overseas. Downloaded by over 560 million users all over the world, it allows you to enjoy free calls and video chats between users and texting which is attracting high popularity. Videos and sounds with good quality ensure a stable communication as long as it is connected to the internet. Picture and video sharing of the message service is also very popular in addition to the free call service.
iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/line/id443904275?mt=8
Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.naver.line.android&hl=ja
Skype
This probably is the best known free call service in the world even before smartphones came out. Skype smartphone app is available in 32 languages with a quality customer support. In addition to the free call and texting service, there is a normal phone service to call a mobile phone or landline phone at discounted rates. Also, video chat service can be used in a group which is useful for a business meeting. The sound quality has been gaining a good reputation and many Skype users on the computer also are using smartphone app.
iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/skype-for-iphone/id304878510?mt=8
Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.skype.raider&hl=ja
nextPlus
Widely used in U.S. and Canada. This app is to be used on Wi-Fi connection. It enables users to use free call and texting services same as other apps, but what is different about this app is that you will get an actual phone number by downloading it. Free calls are limited only between nextPlus users, but you can use your phone number to call a landline and mobile phone by purchasing the “nextPlus credits. The rate is cheaper than calling from an ordinary phone line. If you wish to use this app without WiFi connection, you can purchase a plan called “nextPlus GO” with extra fee.
iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/nextplus-talk-+-text-free/id920869470?mt=8
Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.nextplus.smsfreetext.phonecalls&hl=ja
KakaoTalk
South Korea’s No.1 SNS and free call app. The free call service allows up to 5 people to join as well as one to one call. No need to concern about talk time as it’s free 24hours a day. Other than the free call service, it provides other interesting tools such as free texting, stamps, walkie-talkie and a voice changer. Available in 16 languages, it is a free call app with good quality sounds no matter you are inside or outside of the country.
iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/kakaotoku-kakaotalk/id362057947?mt=8
Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kakao.talk&hl=ja
Viber
Highly popular SNS service in Europe and other areas with more than 700 million users. With Viber, you can use free calls and video chats between users. The same as other major free call apps, it offers highly demanded tools such as free texting and stamps. Also it’s sage to use as all phone calls and texts are encrypted. In Japan, this app is less common than LINE, but it has a lot more users internationally, meaning you can be connected with more people. A large number of Viber users tend to stick to only this app for international calls.
iOS
https://itunes.apple.com/jp/app/viber/id382617920?mt=8
Android
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.viber.voip&hl=ja
Tap and ring!
There are so many free call apps but they all are different by featuring original tools. The best app for you varies by where you are from or calling to. So compare them and find your favorite one. By the way, all these free call apps introduced in this column is to be used on WiFi connection. It still uses mobile data even though a phone call itself is free of charge. Connect to free WiFi or contract a plan with decent size of GBs to spare enough mobile data to use free call apps.
Related Article:
Let’s revise how to make an international phone call
