Can I make free calls with Google Voice?
What is Google Voice?
Google Voice is a telephony service from Google that provides users with a free phone number for calling, text messaging, and voicemail. With Google Voice, you can make and receive calls on your existing phone number as well as your Google Voice number (Tomsguide.com, 2022).
Some key features of Google Voice include:
– Obtaining a free phone number with a area code of your choice (Crazyegg.com, 2023)
– Making free calls within the US and Canada using your Google Voice number
– Low cost international calling
– Voicemail transcription and call screening
– Text messaging
– Multi-device connectivity – use on mobile, computer browser, etc.
In summary, Google Voice gives users a free additional phone number along with call management features and affordable calling options.
Making calls with Google Voice
Google Voice allows users to make free calls within the U.S. and Canada using the Google Voice app or website. To make a call with Google Voice on Android, open the Voice app and tap the menu icon in the top left. Then go to Settings and under “Calls,” tap “Calls started from this device’s phone app” to enable calling through the Google Voice app 1. On desktop, go to the Google Voice website, click on the “Calls” tab, and click on a contact’s name in the recent calls list to call them 2.
The Google Voice app allows you to make calls over wifi or mobile data, so you don’t necessarily need a phone plan to use it. The app provides a virtual phone number that can be used for calling and texting.
Free calls to US and Canada
Google Voice offers free calls within the US and Canada for users with a Google Voice number. This makes it a great option for domestic calling within the two countries. According to Google’s support site, “When you call from the US, almost all Google Voice calls to the US and Canada are free.”
So if you frequently make calls to phone numbers within the US or Canada, using Google Voice can allow you to avoid paying per-minute charges on a traditional phone plan. The free calling is a major benefit of Google Voice for consumers in the US and Canada looking to reduce calling costs.
However, Google notes that there are some exceptions, and calls to some specific numbers may cost 1 cent per minute. But overall, the vast majority of calls made within the US and Canadian phone systems using your Google Voice number will be completely free of charge.
For making affordable domestic calls, Google Voice provides an excellent free option for people located in the United States and Canada.
International calls
Google Voice charges international calling rates when you call an international number from a US number. The rates vary by country, with calls to landlines typically cheaper than calls to mobile numbers. According to Google’s support article, calls to Canada and many European countries are as low as $0.01 per minute. However, calls to some countries like Cuba can cost up to $2.00 per minute.
Using an international calling card in conjunction with Google Voice can help lower international calling rates further. Calling cards work by routing calls through a local access number before connecting to the international number. Companies like CallingCards.com offer calling cards with rates as low as 1 cent per minute to many countries.
Overall, while Google Voice offers reasonable international calling rates, using a calling card can dramatically reduce the cost, especially for calls to more expensive countries.
Call Quality
The call quality on Google Voice can vary depending on your internet connection speed and stability. When using Google Voice, calls are routed through VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), meaning the audio is transmitted as data packets rather than over a traditional phone line.
Call quality over Wi-Fi can be great if you have a strong, fast home internet connection. However, some users report issues with call quality dropping or sounding robotic when using public Wi-Fi or a congested network.1 Cellular data connections can also impact call quality, depending on the strength of your carrier’s network coverage. 3G connections tend to have lower call quality than 4G LTE.
Google recommends having at least 100 kbps symmetric (both download and upload) bandwidth for optimal call quality.2 Slower connections can lead to choppy audio, echoes, or dropped calls. Having a stable, low-latency internet connection is just as important as raw speed when it comes to providing smooth call quality.
Texting with Google Voice
One of the key features of Google Voice is the ability to send free texts over a data connection using your Google Voice number. This allows you to text seamlessly from your computer or mobile device without using your cellular texting plan minutes or paying extra fees.
On Android phones, Google Voice integrates directly with the Android Messages app, enabling you to send and receive texts right within your main messaging application. The texts will display using your Google Voice number rather than your regular mobile number.
For iPhone users, the Google Voice app must be downloaded separately to handle texting duties. While it lacks deep integration with the native iOS Messages app, it provides a fully-functional messaging experience.
Overall, texting with Google Voice gives you expanded functionality and helps you avoid texting fees when using a WiFi connection. It brings much of the texting convenience you’re used to across all your devices.
Source: https://voice.google.com/u/0/messages?pli=1
Voicemail and features
One of the most useful features of Google Voice is the customizable voicemail system. When someone leaves a voicemail for your Google Voice number, Google will transcribe the message and send you an email so you can read it. Voicemails are stored online for free, so you don’t have to worry about filling up a voicemail box.
Google Voice also allows you to record custom voicemail greetings for your number. You can set a default greeting that plays for all callers, or record separate greetings for specific groups of contacts. On Android, custom greetings can be recorded directly in the Google Voice app through the settings. This allows you to tailor your voicemail message for business or personal use.
Overall, the voicemail transcription and customizable greetings are some of the most useful features of Google Voice for managing calls and messages.
Using with Mobile and Landlines
Google Voice allows you to link your mobile number for seamless use.
According to a Google Voice support, if you want to forward a Google Voice number to a landline number, you need landline telephone service from a service provider and add that landline number on the call forwarding settings in your Google Voice account. This allows calls to be forwarded from your Google Voice number to your home landline number for a seamless experience.
By linking your mobile number and forwarding your landline, Google Voice integrates with both to provide unified calling capabilities.
Pros of Google Voice
Google Voice gives users several significant benefits that can make it a worthwhile phone number solution for both individuals and businesses. These include:
Free Calls in the US and Canada
One of the most appealing aspects of Google Voice is that it provides unlimited free calls within the US and Canada, as long as both parties are using Google Voice. Many users sign up just for the free calling over wifi, since it can allow them to cut costs on cellular minutes. Free calling within the same country saves money and improves communication.
Voicemail Transcription
Another great feature of Google Voice is that it can automatically transcribe your voicemails and send them as texts so you can easily read them without having to play them back. This makes voicemails much more convenient to consume, especially when you’re on the go. The voice to text transcription is generally accurate and overall quite useful for productivity.
Portable Google Voice Number
Since Google Voice gives you a unique phone number, it means you can keep the same number even when you switch devices or carriers. This portability of your Google Voice number provides great convenience and continuity. You can take it with you anywhere in the world and set up forwarding so that calls and messages reach you no matter where you roam.
Cons of Google Voice
Google Voice has some limitations compared to traditional phone services. One downside is call quality limits. Some users report issues with echoing and delay when using Google Voice for calls. This seems most common when calling traditional landline numbers. The call quality can vary depending on Internet connection and other factors. So it may not suitable for important situations like business calls with clients.
Additionally, integration with iPhones is not seamless. While Google Voice works on iPhones, it runs as a separate app. Some key native phone features like Visual Voicemail don’t integrate with the Google Voice app. So it may be less convenient compared to using it as your main phone number on Android. There are some workarounds but the experience is not as smooth as on Android.