Calling card or calling app: which should I use for international calls?
Short answer
It depends on what you have. A calling card works from any phone, even a landline with no internet: you dial an access number, a PIN, then the destination. TwinPhone, a calling app, needs internet instead, and has no access number, no PIN, no connection fee and credit that never expires; the rate shows before each call.
How do the two compare?
| Prepaid calling card | TwinPhone | |
|---|---|---|
| How you dial | Access number, PIN, then the number | Type the number in the browser or the app |
| Needs internet | No | Yes — Wi-Fi or mobile data |
| Works from a landline | Yes | No |
| Rate | On the card's rate sheet | Shown for the exact number before each call |
| Billing | Set by the card — check rounding and fees | Per minute, rounded up, one-minute minimum, no connection fee |
| Unused credit | Set by the card — check expiry | Never expires |
| What the other person sees | Set by the card's provider | A shared TwinPhone number, your rented number, or your verified mobile ($1.00/month) |
What should I check on a calling card?
Card terms differ by seller, so read them before you buy: whether there is a connection or maintenance fee, how calls are rounded, when unused credit expires, and whether the access number is free to dial from your phone. A low headline rate can come with charges that appear only in the terms.
When is a calling card the better choice?
When you have to call from a landline or a basic phone with no internet, or when your connection is too weak for a voice call. From a computer, or from a smartphone on Wi-Fi, an app is simpler: there are no codes to dial, and the rate for the exact number shows before you connect.
More questions
What does a TwinPhone call abroad cost?
Calls to the US and Canada cost $0.02 a minute; every other rate is on the rates page and appears in the dialer before the call.
Can I use TwinPhone from a landline?
No. TwinPhone runs in a browser or the app, so it needs an internet connection.
What is the smallest amount I can add?
$10, and the credit never expires.
Related questions
Still stuck?
Write to support@twin-phone.com from the email on your account. We reply to every message.
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