Staying connected with people across borders is important for many Verizon customers in the United States. Whether it’s calling family abroad, contacting international business clients, or reaching friends traveling overseas, understanding how verizon international calls work and the options available can help you communicate effectively and manage costs.
Understanding Verizon International Calls (vs. Roaming)
First, let’s clarify what we mean by verizon international calls in this context. This refers specifically to calls initiated from your Verizon phone (mobile or home) while you are located within the United States to a telephone number in another country.
This is different from international roaming, which involves using your phone while you are physically traveling outside the US. International roaming utilizes different plans and features, such as Verizon’s TravelPass or International Monthly Plan.
verizon international calls
Pay-Per-Minute Verizon International Calls: The Default
If you don’t have a specific international calling plan or add-on activated on your Verizon line, any international calls verizon connects for you are typically charged on a pay-per-minute basis.
The per-minute rate varies significantly depending on the country you are calling. Calling a mobile number in another country might also have a different rate than calling a landline there. Due to this wide variation, it’s highly recommended to check the specific rate for the country you intend to call before making the call to avoid unexpected charges on your bill.
Verizon provides an online tool on their website where you can look up the current pay-per-minute rates for calls from the US to virtually any country.
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Plans for Cost-Effective Verizon International Calls
For customers who make frequent verizon international calls, subscribing to a monthly international calling plan or add-on can offer considerable savings compared to the standard pay-per-minute rates. Verizon offers several options:
Check Your Base Mobile Plan First!
It’s important to note that many current Verizon Unlimited mobile plans (like Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, and Unlimited Ultimate) already include unlimited calling from the US to both Mexico and Canada at no additional cost. Review your plan details first, as you may not need a separate add-on if you primarily call these two countries.
International Calling Add-on Plans:
- Global Calling ($5/month per line): A good basic option, especially if Mexico/Canada calling isn’t included in your base plan.
- Provides unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada.
- Offers discounted per-minute rates (often starting around $0.05/min) to over 220 other countries.
- Global Calling Plus ($15/month per line): Ideal for those calling a wider range of countries frequently.
- Includes unlimited calling from the US to landline numbers in over 60 countries and mobile numbers in over 30 countries (including Mexico and Canada).
- Provides discounted calling rates to over 160 additional countries.
- Global Choice ($10/month per line): Best suited if most of your calls go to one specific country.
- You select one country from an eligible list of over 140 nations.
- You get a monthly allowance of calling minutes (up to 300, depending on the chosen country) specifically for calls to that nation. Calls exceeding the allowance are charged at a discounted rate.
- Also includes unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada and discounted rates to most other countries.
Managing Settings for Verizon International Calls
- Finding Rates: The best way to check pay-per-minute rates or the discounted rates under a specific plan is to use the international calling section and rate lookup tool on Verizon’s official website.
- Adding/Removing Plans: You can usually add or remove plans like Global Calling Plus or Global Choice easily through your My Verizon account online or via the My Verizon app (look under “Add-ons” or “International Features”). Alternatively, you can contact Verizon customer service for assistance.
How to Dial Verizon International Calls
To place a direct verizon international calls from the US, you typically dial the number in this format:
011 (US exit code) + Country Code + City/Area Code (if required by the destination country) + Local Phone Number
(Using the “+” symbol instead of “011” on most mobile phones also works).
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Option for Your Verizon International Calls
Verizon offers the flexibility to make verizon international calls either on a pay-per-minute basis or through more economical monthly plans for frequent callers. By checking your base plan for included Mexico/Canada calling, using Verizon’s online tools to verify rates for specific destinations, and comparing the Global Calling, Global Calling Plus, and Global Choice add-ons, you can select the most suitable and cost-effective way to stay connected globally from the US.
