WhatsApp does not charge for calls to another country, voice or video. The call goes over the internet, so you pay only for your connection: usually nothing on Wi-Fi, and your own data plan on mobile data. Before a trip, check one thing: how much your mobile carrier charges for data roaming.
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Does WhatsApp Charge for International Calls?
No. WhatsApp has no per-minute fee and no fee for the country you call, and video calls are free too. As the WhatsApp Help Center explains, calls use your phone’s internet connection, not the minutes of your mobile plan.
So only the company that gives you internet access can charge you for a call: your mobile carrier, or a hotel with paid Wi-Fi. There is one condition: the person you call must also use WhatsApp.
How Do WhatsApp International Calls Work?
A WhatsApp call is a VoIP call. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a way to send your voice as data over the internet instead of the phone network. Your phone turns your voice into data and sends it over the internet to the other phone. Both people need the WhatsApp app and an internet connection.
The phone network and its international rates are not part of the call. So for WhatsApp, a call to your neighbor and a call to family on another continent are the same. This is true in most countries, but in some countries WhatsApp calls are limited, and a call may not connect.
Calls use end-to-end encryption: only the people on the call can hear it. WhatsApp states this on its calling page.
What Do You Really Pay For: Wi-Fi, Mobile Data or Roaming?
It all depends on how you connect to the internet on your trip.
| How you connect | Who may charge you | What to check |
| Wi-Fi at home, in a hotel or cafe | Nobody, or the hotel | Is the Wi-Fi free? |
| Home SIM with data roaming | Your mobile carrier | Roaming data price |
| Local SIM or travel eSIM | The SIM or eSIM seller | Size of the data package |
If your plan does not include data roaming, turn off data roaming on your phone. Then WhatsApp works only on Wi-Fi, and you get no surprise bill. The WhatsApp Help Center gives the same advice. Note that some public networks in airports and cafes block calls.
How Much Data Does a WhatsApp Call Use?
A voice call uses much less data than a video call. WhatsApp does not publish exact numbers: data usage depends on the length of the call and the quality of the network.
The easiest way is to check it on your own phone. Open WhatsApp settings, then Storage and data, then Network usage. This screen shows how much data your calls used. Make a short test call before your trip, and you will know your number.
If a video call on mobile data uses too much, turn on Data Saver during the call. The video you receive gets lower quality, but the call uses less data. Data Saver works only in 1:1 video calls and turns off after each call.
Does WhatsApp Charge for International Texts?
No, messages are free too: they go over the internet, like calls. Text uses almost no data, but photos, videos and voice notes use it much faster. If you have a small data package on your trip, turn off auto-download of photos and videos on mobile data. Then WhatsApp downloads them only on Wi-Fi.
How to Make an International Call on WhatsApp
An international call is the same as a normal call, except for one thing: the number must be saved in international format. This is a plus sign, the country code and the local number, without 00, 011 or other exit codes. For example, a US number with area code 408 is saved as +1 408 XXX XXXX.
- Save the contact with a plus sign and the country code.
- Open the chat with this contact in WhatsApp.
- Tap the phone icon for a voice call or the camera icon for a video call.
The WhatsApp Help Center explains the format rules.
Calling Italy, the UK, Israel or Australia From the US
From the US, a call to any country works the same way. Only the number changes. The main thing is the first zero of the local number: some countries drop it, and others keep it.
| Country | Code | How to save a mobile number |
| Italy | +39 | As is: mobile numbers have no zero |
| UK | +44 | Drop the 0: +44 7… |
| Israel | +972 | Drop the 0: +972 5… |
| Australia | +61 | Drop the 0: +61 4… |
Other countries follow the same rule. For example, Costa Rica is +506, Colombia is +57 and Cuba is +53. Country codes and dialling rules come from the ITU list.
Can WhatsApp Call Landlines or Regular Phone Numbers?
No. WhatsApp calls only people who have WhatsApp and internet. If you type a number without WhatsApp on the keypad in the Calls tab, the app offers to make a regular call. Then you pay your carrier’s rate for it.
You cannot call emergency numbers through WhatsApp either. The Terms of Service say the service gives no access to emergency services. For emergencies, keep a phone with a regular plan.
There is one exception: a person without WhatsApp can join a group call through a link in a web browser on a computer.
WhatsApp Calls vs International Calling Apps vs Carrier Calls
The choice depends on who you call. If the other person has WhatsApp and internet, a WhatsApp call on Wi-Fi is usually the cheapest. To reach a hotel, a bank or a landline, use an international calling app: it connects to the phone network and usually charges per minute. If you have no internet at all, a call through your mobile carrier works anywhere, but international rates are often higher.
What Does a WhatsApp Call Cost a Business?
A WhatsApp call is free for you, but not always for a business. Meta has the WhatsApp Business Calling API, a product for calls between a business and its customers on WhatsApp. Calls that customers start are free. For calls that the business starts, Meta charges per minute, and the price depends on the customer’s country. A business can call a customer first only with the customer’s permission. Actual as of November 2026; see the pricing page for details.
A VoIP provider is a company that sells internet calls to regular phone numbers. It works differently: it can call any phone, and it sets its own prices.
| Question | WhatsApp Business Calling API | VoIP provider |
| Who you can call | WhatsApp users only | Any phone number |
| What you pay for | Calls the business starts | The provider’s rates |
| Landlines | No | Usually yes |
Where a WhatsApp API Gateway Fits
The WhatsApp API gateway from GREEN-API is not Meta’s Calling API. It connects a regular WhatsApp number to your CRM or your own software. Through it, you can not only chat with customers but also call them.
For this, GREEN-API has the Calls plan. With it, your software can call WhatsApp users and answer their calls through the API. For example, an agent answers a customer right from the CRM in a browser, while the company phone stays in the office. Unlike the Calling API, there is no per-minute fee: the plan has a fixed price.
What you can do through the API:
- start a call with callsDial, answer with callsAccept, decline with callsReject and end it with callsHangUp;
- download call recordings with getCallRecording; they are kept for 60 days;
- see the call history with LastIncomingCalls and LastOutgoingCalls: who called, when and whether the call was answered.
This request starts a call:
curl -X POST "{{apiUrl}}/waInstance{{idInstance}}/callsDial/{{apiTokenInstance}}" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"chatId": "12025550123@c.us"}'
The response returns a call ID (callId). Your app handles the conversation itself: the audio goes over WebRTC, like calls in a browser. You do not have to build this from scratch: there is a ready JavaScript library, and a sample softphone opens in a browser with nothing to install.
To start, authorize the instance with a QR code in the console and connect the Calls plan. Support will tell you the terms. Keep the limits in mind: only one-to-one calls are available for now, and one call lasts no longer than 90 minutes. You can call only WhatsApp users, so the gateway does not replace landlines or emergency numbers.
Call and message only customers who contacted you first or agreed to calls. If a customer could not reach you, you can reply to the customer in the chat right away with the SendMessage method, and give them a way to stop messages. For example, ask them to reply “Stop”. Calls and messages to people who did not expect them lead to complaints, and WhatsApp can block the number.
You can try the gateway on the Developer plan and connect the Calls plan when you need calls.
WhatsApp Call Limits: How Long and How Many People?
WhatsApp calls have no time limit. A group call can have up to 32 people for voice and video. WhatsApp states this on its calling page. The limits for international calls are the same as for local ones, so one call can include family in different countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I use WhatsApp internationally?
You do not need to change anything: you only need internet. Even if you put a local SIM card in your phone, WhatsApp keeps working with your home number, and your chats stay in place. Just do not re-verify your number during the trip: you need the SIM card for that number to do it, as the WhatsApp Help Center explains.
Why is WhatsApp good for international travel?
One app covers calls, messages and photos, with no fee for international use. It works on hotel Wi-Fi, even with mobile data off. And your family can reach you on the same number as at home, even if you change SIM cards.
Does WhatsApp work in Europe?
Yes. In Europe, in Mexico and in most other countries, WhatsApp works the same way as at home. In some countries, WhatsApp calls are limited, so check the local rules before your trip.
Why are my WhatsApp international calls not working?
Most often, the other person has no internet or their phone is off. In a hotel or cafe, the network may block calls, so switch to mobile data. Also check that WhatsApp can use your microphone and camera, and update the app.