Staying connected with friends, family, or business contacts in other countries often requires making international calls directly from your phone. If you’re a Verizon customer in the United States, understanding your options for verizon international calling is key to managing costs and ensuring you have the service you need.
This guide outlines the primary ways Verizon Wireless and Fios Digital Voice customers can make calls from the US to international numbers.
What is Verizon International Calling?
Verizon international calling refers specifically to calls placed from your Verizon phone (mobile or Fios home phone) within the United States to phone numbers in foreign countries. This is different from international roaming, which involves using your phone while traveling outside the US.
Verizon International Calling Options for Wireless Customers
Verizon offers several ways for its mobile customers to place international calls:
- Standard Pay-Per-Minute Rates
- How it Works: If you don’t have a specific international calling plan or add-on, calls you make to international numbers will be billed on a per-minute basis. This is the default setting for most accounts.
- Rates: The cost per minute varies significantly depending on the destination country you are calling. Rates can range from just a few cents per minute to several dollars per minute for certain locations.
- Finding Rates: It is crucial to check the specific rate for the country you intend to call before making the call. You can find these standard verizon international calling rates on the Verizon website (usually in the international services or support section).
- International Monthly Plans & Add-Ons
For customers who make frequent or lengthy international calls, Verizon offers monthly plans or add-ons that can provide significant savings compared to pay-per-minute rates.
- Examples: Plans like “Global Calling Plus” or similar offerings typically provide a set number of minutes or unlimited calling to specific groups of countries (e.g., landlines in certain countries, or both landlines and mobiles in others) for a flat monthly fee added to your bill.
- Cost-Effectiveness: If you regularly call specific international destinations included in a plan, subscribing to one of these verizon international calling packages is often much more economical than paying per minute.
- How to Add: You can usually explore and add these international plans through your My Verizon account online, via the My Verizon app, or by contacting customer service.
- Included Calling to Canada & Mexico
- Common Feature: Many current Verizon Unlimited wireless plans (especially mid-tier and premium plans) include verizon international calling to numbers in Canada and Mexico directly from the US at no additional charge, as part of the standard plan benefits.
- Verification: Always check the specific details of your particular Unlimited plan to confirm if calls to Canada and Mexico are included and if any limitations apply.
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Verizon International Calling for Fios Digital Voice (Home Phone)
If you have Verizon Fios Digital Voice for your home phone service, similar options typically exist:
- Pay-Per-Minute: Standard international rates apply if no specific plan is active.
- Monthly Plans: Optional international calling plans are usually available to add to your Fios Digital Voice service, offering discounted rates or blocks of minutes to selected countries for a monthly fee. Check the Fios section of the Verizon website or your My Verizon account for details.
How to Make International Calls from the US
To place a direct international call from your Verizon phone:
- Dial the US Exit Code: Dial 011. (Alternatively, on most mobile phones, you can press and hold the 0 key to get the + symbol, which replaces the exit code).
- Dial the Country Code: Enter the specific code for the country you are calling (e.g., 44 for the UK, 49 for Germany).
- Dial the City/Area Code and Local Number: Enter the rest of the phone number, omitting any leading zero if applicable according to that country’s dialing rules.
Example (calling UK number 20 7123 4567): Dial 011-44-20-7123-4567 or +44-20-7123-4567.
Finding Rates and Plan Details
The most reliable sources for current verizon international calling rates and plan options are:
- Official Verizon Website: Look for sections dedicated to “International Services,” “Calling Plans,” or search for specific country rates.
- My Verizon App/Website: Log in to your account to view your current plan details, explore available international add-ons, and potentially look up rates.
- Verizon Customer Service: Contact support directly to inquire about rates and plan options suitable for your needs.
Tips for Managing Verizon International Calling Costs
- Check Rates First: Always look up the per-minute rate for the country you’re calling before dialing if you don’t have an international plan.
- Consider a Monthly Plan: If you make regular calls to specific countries, calculate if a monthly verizon international calling add-on would be cheaper than paying per minute.
- Leverage Included Calls: If your wireless plan includes calls to Canada and Mexico, use that benefit instead of paying extra.
- Explore Alternatives: For calls to people who also have smartphones and data/Wi-Fi access, consider using free or low-cost calling apps like WhatsApp Audio, FaceTime Audio, Skype, or Google Voice, especially for longer conversations. These use data, not traditional calling minutes.
Conclusion: Connecting Globally with Verizon
Verizon offers flexible options for verizon international calling, allowing you to connect with people around the world from the US. Whether you prefer the standard pay-per-minute approach for occasional calls, need the value of a monthly international plan for frequent conversations, or benefit from included calling to Canada and Mexico on your Unlimited plan, there’s likely a solution that fits. The key is to be informed: check the specific rates for your destination countries and explore available verizon international calling plans on the official Verizon website or app to effectively manage your costs while staying in touch globally.
