Quick answer
To call India from the US, dial 011, then India's country code 91, then the 10-digit number. On a mobile, type +91 instead of 011 91. For a landline, add the city code without its first 0 (Delhi 11, Mumbai 22). From most other countries, dial 00 91.
The cheapest ways are internet calls: WhatsApp if the other person has it, or a pay-per-minute service for real phone numbers. With the TripoSIM US Number, calls to India cost $0.029 a minute, so $10 of credit buys about 344 minutes.
People call India from the US, the UK, Canada and everywhere Indians live and work. Yet many "how to call India" guides still mention Skype, which Microsoft switched off in 2025, and few explain why your family's phone may now show "International Call" when you ring.
This guide covers the dialing format, number types, city codes, time difference, costs and the honest pitfalls.
How to dial India: the format
| You are calling from | Indian mobile | Indian landline (Delhi example) |
|---|---|---|
| A US or Canadian mobile | +91 98XXX XXXXX | +91 11 XXXX XXXX |
| A US or Canadian landline | 011 91 98XXX XXXXX | 011 91 11 XXXX XXXX |
| Most other countries (UK, Europe and elsewhere) | 00 91 98XXX XXXXX, or +91 on a mobile | 00 91 11 XXXX XXXX |
| An app (WhatsApp, TripoSIM, calling apps) | +91 98XXX XXXXX | +91 11 XXXX XXXX |
The X's stand for the rest of the number. On a mobile phone, + replaces the exit code (011 from the US, 00 from most countries). Hold the 0 key to type +. More on this in our guide to dialing any country.
Indian number formats
- Mobile numbers have 10 digits and start with 6, 7, 8 or 9. People often write them with a leading 0 or +91 in front: drop the 0 when you add +91.
- Landline numbers are a city (STD) code plus a local number, 10 digits in total without the 0. Inside India, Delhi is written 011 and Mumbai 022; from abroad you drop the 0: +91 11 and +91 22.
- Toll-free numbers (1800…) usually can't be reached from abroad. Banks and airlines normally list a separate number for calls from outside India: use that one.
Area codes for major Indian cities
| City | Code after +91 | Inside India |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 11 | 011 |
| Mumbai | 22 | 022 |
| Bengaluru (Bangalore) | 80 | 080 |
| Hyderabad | 40 | 040 |
| Chennai | 44 | 044 |
| Kolkata | 33 | 033 |
| Pune | 20 | 020 |
| Ahmedabad | 79 | 079 |
Time difference between India and the US, and the best time to call
India uses one time zone, India Standard Time (UTC+5:30), with no daylight saving time. That means the gap to the US changes twice a year:
| US city | India is ahead by (US summer time) | India is ahead by (US winter time) |
|---|---|---|
| New York, Miami, Toronto | 9 hours 30 minutes | 10 hours 30 minutes |
| Chicago, Houston | 10 hours 30 minutes | 11 hours 30 minutes |
| Los Angeles, Seattle | 12 hours 30 minutes | 13 hours 30 minutes |
A 7 pm call in India is 9:30 am in New York in summer and 8:30 am in winter. For family, evenings in India (mornings in the US) usually work best. For offices, call between 9 am and 6 pm India time, Monday to Friday.
Why your call shows "International Call" in India
Since 22 October 2024, India's Department of Telecommunications has run a system that blocks incoming international calls that pretend to come from an Indian (+91) number, a common scam trick. Indian operators were also asked to label real overseas calls as international.
What this means for you:
- A call from a real foreign number, such as a US +1 number, is not what the system blocks. It reaches the phone, usually marked as an international call.
- Many people in India now ignore unknown international numbers because of scam calls. Ask your family to save your number as a contact, or send a WhatsApp message first saying you are about to call.
- Never use an app that shows a fake Indian number when you call from abroad. Those calls are the ones India blocks.
The ways to call India, compared
| Way | Reaches | How you pay | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your mobile plan's international calling | Mobiles and landlines | Per minute or an add-on | Check your plan: without an add-on, rates can be high, and much higher when you are roaming |
| WhatsApp, Google Meet, FaceTime | Only people with that app and internet | Free over Wi-Fi or data | Not for landlines, offices or a parent with a basic phone |
| Google Voice | Mobiles and landlines | Prepaid Google credit for calls abroad | Personal accounts are for people in the US; Google says that from India you can call other countries but not Indian numbers |
| Calling apps (Viber Out, Rebtel, Talk360, BOSS Revolution and others) | Mobiles and landlines | Prepaid credit or country plans | Compare the billing rules, not only the rate |
| TripoSIM US Number | Mobiles and landlines | Plan for your US number; India paid per minute from credit | $0.029 a minute; also gives you a US number for calls and WhatsApp |
What calls to India cost with the TripoSIM US Number
A US number that works wherever you are
300 minutes a month to the US and Canada, calls to 200+ other countries from $0.029/min with your TripoSIM credit, incoming calls, voicemail and texts from US senders. It works in the TripoSIM app over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Calls are billed per started minute, with no connection fee, and calls nobody answers are free.
| Call length | Cost |
|---|---|
| 5 minutes | $0.15 |
| 10 minutes | $0.29 |
| 20 minutes | $0.58 |
| 30 minutes | $0.87 |
$10 of credit buys about 344 minutes to Indian mobiles or landlines. A weekly 12-minute call to your parents costs $0.35, about $18.20 for a whole year of weekly calls.
TripoSIM US Number
Call Indian mobiles and landlines for $0.029 a minute from your own US number. You see the price before every call. See India call prices →
How to call India from the TripoSIM app
- Get the TripoSIM US Number ($100 a year or $12.99 a month), pass the short ID check and choose your US number in the app.
- Add credit in the app under Account › Wallet.
- Open the keypad, or tap Contacts to pick a saved number.
- Type +91 and the 10-digit mobile number, or +91, the city code without 0 and the landline number.
- Check the country and the price per minute shown under the number, then tap call.
- In a phone menu ("press 1 for…"), open the in-call keypad to press the numbers.
Common problems and fixes
- "The number you dialled does not exist": check you removed the leading 0 after +91, and that a mobile number has exactly 10 digits.
- Nobody answers: the person may be screening unknown international calls. Send a message first, and ask them to save your number.
- A bank's 1800 number doesn't connect: use the bank's number for calls from abroad, listed on its website.
- Poor sound: use stable Wi-Fi, or switch from weak Wi-Fi to mobile data. Internet calls need a steady connection more than speed.
If you live in India and want a US number of your own, read how to get a US phone number in India.
Frequently asked questions
What is the country code for India?
India's country code is 91. From a mobile phone, dial +91 and then the number. From a US landline, dial 011 91; from most other countries, dial 00 91.
How do I call an Indian mobile from the US?
Dial +91 followed by the 10-digit mobile number, for example +91 98XXX XXXXX. Don't add the 0 that people sometimes write in front of Indian mobile numbers.
How many digits is an Indian phone number?
Mobile numbers have 10 digits and start with 6, 7, 8 or 9. Landline numbers also have 10 digits including the city code, without the leading 0.
Can I call India for free from the US?
Only app to app: a WhatsApp or FaceTime call is free if the other person has the app and internet. Calling a real Indian phone number costs something; with the TripoSIM US Number it's $0.029 a minute.
Can I use Google Voice to call Indian numbers while I'm in India?
No. Google's help pages say that from India you can call other countries but not numbers inside India. Google Voice personal accounts are also only for people in the US.
Why do my calls to India show as "International Call"?
Indian operators were asked to label calls from abroad, and since October 2024 India blocks international calls that fake an Indian +91 number. A call from your real US number gets through and shows as international. Ask your contacts to save your number so they answer.
Can I text India from the US with the TripoSIM US Number?
No. It can receive texts from US and Canadian senders but can't send texts. Use WhatsApp or your mobile plan's international texts instead.
Do I need a US Number to call India with TripoSIM?
Yes. Calls to other countries are part of the TripoSIM US Number. The plan also includes 300 minutes a month to the US and Canada, and you can receive calls on your US number. See all call prices.
Fact check: 14 November 2026. India's spoofed-call system was launched by the Department of Telecommunications on 22 October 2024; Google Voice details come from Google's help pages. TripoSIM prices come from our live price list; the app shows the exact price before every call.
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