# Is there a way to make free phone calls from the US to Canada? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932 "2013-08-23T01:29:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/21 "2013-08-23T23:16:55Z")
For simple computer to computer video conference I use and recommend **VSee** ( [http://vsee.com/](http://vsee.com/) , [VSee - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSee) ). It works well even with low bandwidth and unlike skype, google and others it is not intrusive with your personal info. I hate this state of things where everything is linked to everything else and they all have all your information. Vsee is stand-alone and will not ask you who you kissed last night. It also has window sharing but for more focused desktop sharing I use **Teamviewer** which I also recommend. Teamviewer also has video conference but I tend to use each progam for its primary intended purpose. Both are free and not linked in any way with Microsoft, Google, facebook, or anything else. They are completely independent. When using vsee for videoconference on my computer I use a cordless headset which allows me to move around the house while we talk. It is very convenient to the point where I hate regular phone calls where I have to hold the phone to my ear. Vsee can also be used on an ipad. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/22 "2013-08-24T01:50:24Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Oh, okay, I guess that makes sense. I’d have sworn I managed to make a GV call over wifi when I was out of cell signal though… maybe I’m thinking of the Skype number I used for a while. If you get the Android app called GrooveIP, you can make GV calls through your smartphone’s data/wifi connection. Or you can call through GV on your PC as described above, but if you’re somewhere that has a landline (but that would charge long-distance for a call to Canada), it’s best to just use the landline to call through GV at crystal clear quality for absolutely free. ---
**Author:** ![pauly1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/23 "2013-08-24T03:09:13Z")
Hey all. I just made a phone call with it on gmail using my webcam as the microphone. It works and the calls are crystal clear. My question is, is that phone number that is displayed always going to be my phone number? im from nyc and this phone number that is displayed on the other end when i call my cell phone… it shows a california area code. Is that my google voice number always? Another question i have is i see how i called to another usa phone number its free. But if i try calling outside the usa and outside canada, then the phone dial won’t go through because it would say i have to buy credits correct? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/24 "2013-08-24T03:15:47Z")
> [@pauly1](#): > > Hey all. I just made a phone call with it on gmail using my webcam as the microphone. It works and the calls are crystal clear. My question is, is that phone number that is displayed always going to be my phone number? im from nyc and this phone number that is displayed on the other end when i call my cell phone… it shows a california area code. Is that my google voice number always? I don’t know about calling with a generic GV number (because I never have), but you can signup to get your very own, dedicated GV phone number for the very low price of free! (I was even able to pick my number so that part of it spells my last name. Cool eh?!) ETA: [Here’s the instructions](https://support.google.com/voice/answer/150640?hl=en) on how to get your free GV number. Once you have a GV number, you can have calls to that number forward to any of your real phones, then give out that new number from now on. Then you have complete control of all calls to that number, and can work all kinds of magic, distinctive rings/greetings for specific callers/groups, block specific callers/groups, all kinds of goodness. > [@](#): > > Another question i have is i see how i called to another usa phone number its free. But if i try calling outside the usa and outside canada, then the phone dial won’t go through because it would say i have to buy credits correct? Correct. Calls to US and Canada are free, but there is a very reasonable charge for international calls that you would have to purchase credits for. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/25 "2013-08-24T03:18:43Z")
> [@pauly1](#): > > Hey all. I just made a phone call with it on gmail using my webcam as the microphone. It works and the calls are crystal clear. My question is, is that phone number that is displayed always going to be my phone number? im from nyc and this phone number that is displayed on the other end when i call my cell phone… it shows a california area code. Is that my google voice number always? Yeah, it shows your Google Voice phone number. You can pay $10 (I think) to choose a custom one within the bazillion area codes that they have. > [@](#): > > Another question i have is i see how i called to another usa phone number its free. But if i try calling outside the usa and outside canada, then the phone dial won’t go through because it would say i have to buy credits correct? Yeah. I wouldn’t pay more than a few bucks in it at once to see how the voice quality is for wherever you’re calling. When I call my mother (in Taiwan), the voice quality is just tolerable and not great… YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/26 "2013-08-24T03:29:00Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Yeah, it shows your Google Voice phone number. You can pay $10 (I think) to choose a custom one within the bazillion area codes that they have. It’s free to get a \*new \*GV number (unless that’s changed, but I don’t think so). But there is a charge to port an existing number \*into \*GV, or an existing GV number _out_. > [@](#): > > Yeah. I wouldn’t pay more than a few bucks in it at once to see how the voice quality is for wherever you’re calling. When I call my mother (in Taiwan), the voice quality is just tolerable and not great… YMMV. Were you calling through a PC when you had that marginal quality? All my GV calls through a landline are always perfect quality, but I’ve never tried calling Asia. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/27 "2013-08-24T03:37:54Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > It’s free to get a \*new \*GV number (unless that’s changed, but I don’t think so). But there is a charge to port an existing number \*into \*GV, or an existing GV number _out_. I meant if the OP wanted to change his/her existing GV number (that s/he just got, apparently with a California area code). > [@](#): > > Were you calling through a PC when you had that marginal quality? All my GV calls through a landline are always perfect quality, but I’ve never tried calling Asia. I call through the PC and through my cell phone. Everything sounds like crap on my cell phone (not sure if it’s GV’s fault). It’s a lot better on the PC, but sometimes the long distance calls still have a delay, an echo, dropped seconds, or some combination of those. It’s not bad enough to make me switch to another service, but it’s also nowhere near landline quality. SkypeOut or calling cards usually give me better quality but GV’s integration with everything Google is why I keep using it. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/28 "2013-08-24T03:48:42Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > I meant if the OP wanted to change his/her existing GV number (that s/he just got, apparently with a California area code). I could be wrong, but it didn’t sound like the OP got their own assigned GV# yet, they were just calling through their PC and got a generic one. Even if they did get an assigned one, you could still just get a new Google/gmail account and sign up for a new GV# with whatever area-code is desired/available and you can even search for available numbers (that might spell certain desired words, if you’re lucky) within the desired area-code. > [@](#): > > I call through the PC and through my cell phone. Everything sounds like crap on my cell phone (not sure if it’s GV’s fault). It’s a lot better on the PC, but sometimes the long distance calls still have a delay, an echo, dropped seconds, or some combination of those. It’s not bad enough to make me switch to another service, but it’s also nowhere near landline quality. SkypeOut or calling cards usually give me better quality but GV’s integration with everything Google is why I keep using it. If/when possible, call through GV via a landline, and you’ll get much better, if not perfect, voice quality. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/29 "2013-08-24T05:30:06Z")
> [@voltaire](#): > > I could be wrong, but it didn’t sound like the OP got their own assigned GV# yet, they were just calling through their PC and got a generic one. Even if they did get an assigned one, you could still just get a new Google/gmail account and sign up for a new GV# with whatever area-code is desired/available and you can even search for available numbers (that might spell certain desired words, if you’re lucky) within the desired area-code. Oh, I didn’t realize it would let you places calls without a Google Voice number. And as for landlines, they’re too expensive ($20 a month?) ---
**Author:** ![pauly1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/30 "2013-08-24T06:21:43Z")
Got one last question. Can i make google voice calls from canada to the usa free of charge as well? At first i thought yes but then wouldn’t the google voice number not be a us number but a canadian one? ---
**Author:** ![pauly1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a8b319/32.png) [@pauly1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pauly1)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/31 "2013-08-24T15:57:24Z")
Anyone can ansswer this part? ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/32 "2013-08-25T19:50:03Z")
If you’re doing it all over the PC (instead of a cell phone or landline), it shouldn’t matter. The VOIP happens on their end; for you everything just gets transported over the internet instead of the telephone network. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/33 "2013-08-25T19:54:25Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I don’t know of anything free. > > For $.035/minute look into Onesuite: > [Hybrid Long Distance: cheap international calling with or without internet - OneSuite](https://www.onesuite.com/long-distance/) At that rate, it would take 29 minutes before you spent a single penny. I’d call that almost free. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/34 "2013-08-25T21:32:29Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > At that rate, it would take 29 minutes before you spent a single penny. I’d call that almost free. $.035 = 3.5 cents, and with a cursory look, it appears there’s an additional monthly charge of 300 cents. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/35 "2013-08-25T21:47:47Z")
Bad math on my part, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/36 "2013-08-25T22:31:12Z")
I just got an [OB100 Google voice landline bridge](http://www.amazon.com/OBi100-Telephone-Adapter-Service-Bridge/dp/B004LO098O) and it works better than advertised. You need a broadband internet connection and a landline phone (or phones) as well as a Google Voice number but all calls within the U.S. and Canada are indeed free (you can call other countries internationally too fairly cheaply but you have to add money to your Google Voice account to do that). You can also use it for free calls to anywhere internationally forever if the person you call has the same adapter. I hooked mine up in about five minutes. It is small and just connects straight into your broadband router and doesn’t depend on a computer. I hooked mine into a basic cordless phone system and now I have regular landline service throughout the whole house that sounds and works exactly like a paid landline phone plan and the sound and coverage quality beats the shit out of any cell phone. Total cost was $39 for the OB100 phone bridge and $40 for a three phone cordless system new. There are no more charges after that if you only use it for the U.S. and Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/37 "2013-08-25T22:58:41Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I just got an [OB100 Google voice landline bridge](http://www.amazon.com/OBi100-Telephone-Adapter-Service-Bridge/dp/B004LO098O) and it works better than advertised. You need a broadband internet connection and a landline phone (or phones) as well as a Google Voice number but all calls within the U.S. and Canada are indeed free (you can call other countries internationally too fairly cheaply but you have to add money to your Google Voice account to do that). You can also use it for free calls to anywhere internationally forever if the person you call has the same adapter. > > I hooked mine up in about five minutes. It is small and just connects straight into your broadband router and doesn’t depend on a computer. I hooked mine into a basic cordless phone system and now I have regular landline service throughout the whole house that sounds and works exactly like a paid landline phone plan and the sound and coverage quality beats the shit out of any cell phone. > > Total cost was $39 for the OB100 phone bridge and $40 for a three phone cordless system new. There are no more charges after that if you only use it for the U.S. and Canada. Nice, thanks for sharing that. Does it appear as a landline to Google Voice? (Meaning can you have it ring for incoming calls?) And do you know of any cordless phone systems that can browse Google Contacts? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/38 "2013-08-25T23:33:52Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Nice, thanks for sharing that. Does it appear as a landline to Google Voice? (Meaning can you have it ring for incoming calls?) > > And do you know of any cordless phone systems that can browse Google Contacts? Yes, it rings for incoming calls. It is indistinguishable from any other landline phone once you set it up and that process is relatively painless. It works and sounds the same as any other landline and it is always on as long as your internet router is turned on. I don’t know about the Google contacts question. I am not associated with the company that makes the OB100. I am just an impressed customer who was waiting for something like that to be invented. I had a MagicJack before it and that only worked about half the time and mine required my computer to work and it has an annual fee. This one doesn’t. It literally duplicates regular landline and gives you completely free calls after you buy it. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/39 "2013-08-25T23:40:51Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Nice, thanks for sharing that. Does it appear as a landline to Google Voice? (Meaning can you have it ring for incoming calls?) Yeah, it rings for incoming calls and \*works \*just like a landline (except if you lose power or internet service, or need to call 911), but if you want to get technical, it appears as a “Google Chat” in Google Voice. That’s how it works - it just reroutes what would usually be taking place on your PC (in Gmail, Talk/Chat/Hangouts) to your phone lines. The device logs on to Google with your Google account credentials. > [@](#): > > And do you know of any cordless phone systems that can browse Google Contacts? I don’t know, there are probably advanced “SIP phones” that would work, but if a smartphone would suffice for your purposes, you could just use that with the ObiOn smartphone app. Of course, if you were going to use only smartphones and not regular phones, you could do that without the need for the Obi in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-make-free-phone-calls-from-the-us-to-canada/666932/41 "2020-05-29T13:09:52Z")
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