RichMitch

Hi,

Random query, apologies in advance if this is something covered elsewhere on the site

Would anyone have some advice in regards to the best/most cost effective way(s) to call landline or mobile numbers in Canada from the UK at all please?

In the UK, my mobile network provider is SMARTY and I note that they charge 19p/minute which I don't think is too unreasonable from what I can make out.

If possible, I will call using WhatsApp / Facebook / Zoom etc

Thanks again Everyone

ChrisBan

Im still working my way through £10 I loaded into my Skype account in 2012, it generates a local number under Skype to go or whatever it’s called, and you just call that number as if you’re calling someone within Canada. So if you have unlimited minutes in Canada, you just end up paying the 2p a minute out of your Skype credit. Price increases slightly for the more premium numbers.

quality has improved in those 10 years, there used to be a much more noticeable lag back then, compared to when I last used it the other week. I’ve never really tried anything other than video calls with those other services so assume the recipient has to also have those services

dbd33

Everyone I call for domestic or social reasons; in the UK, in CH, in Iraq, Afghanistan, the CAR, uses WhatsApp.

Danny B

Have you tried Google Voice?

https://voice.google.com/u/0/about

HGerchikov

I use an App called Localphone. It dials as if you are calling a local number, and uses the cellphone network, which for me is more reliable than internet. It costs me 0.6c a minute to call my parents on their landline in the UK. It has the added advantage that my parents don't have to worry about using anything that they are not familiar with like WhatsApp as, to them, it is just a regular call. I am fairly certain it would work the other way - ie from UK to Canada.

Siouxie

It looks like you can use it from the UK - apparently they are a UK based company - that's a great find (one that I will be sharing with family members in the UK), so thankyou!
https://www.localphone.com/about
You can make a free test call from this link: https://www.localphone.com/services/local_numbers

Revin Kevin

As above Skype to phone maybe the way to go. If you want direct phone access GiffGaff costs 2p/minute UK to Canadian numbers.

RichMitch

Thanks very much for letting me know about this software, I have never heard of it before and it looks terrific.

RichMitch

Thanks for this information, Localphone looks like a great solution, I'll definitely install it and use it to make calls from the UK to Canada in the future.

RichMitch

Cheers ChrisBan - I haven't used Skype in years so I must resurrect my Skype account and get using it!

RichMitch

Thanks again dbd33, WhatsApp would normally be my communication tool of choice - just a pity that it doesn't work for landline numbers (from what I understand anyway!).

Sunnybrae

I pay BT £8.50 a month for unlimited international calls, it has a fair usage policy of 600 minutes a month which we generally get close to each month

RichMitch

That's great, thank you so much for this info, much appreciated.

glendem4

Ttag.ca is a cheap / free way to call 🇬🇧 landlines. https://ttag.ca/faq/making-calls-wit...k-from-canada/

RichMitch

Thank you so much for this info, that's terrific.