How to Call a Landline Abroad Without WhatsApp (2026)

With the TripoSIM US Number, calls to landlines and mobiles in 200+ countries start at $0.029 a minute, billed per started minute, and calls nobody answers are free. Only you need the app.

Free internet calls changed how families keep in touch. But a lot of important calls still go to people and places with no WhatsApp: a grandmother's landline, a bank's phone line, a hospital ward, a government office, a hotel front desk, a supplier who never answers messages.

This guide is organised by who you need to reach, because each situation has its own tricks.

Can WhatsApp call a landline?

No. WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram, Teams Free and Google Meet connect app to app over the internet. They can't ring a landline or a mobile that doesn't have the app, because reaching the phone network means paying the networks that connect the call. Any service that rings a real number charges for it, even if the price is small.

4 ways to call a landline abroad

Before you choose, see how call prices really work: rounding and connection fees matter as much as the rate.

Calling parents and grandparents

Older relatives often have a landline or a basic phone and don't use apps. A few habits make these calls work:

• Call from the same number every time and ask them to save it under your name. Many people now ignore unknown international calls because of scams.
• Pick fixed times. A regular "Sunday at 6 pm their time" call is easier for everyone than surprise calls.
• Landline or mobile: same price with us. On the TripoSIM price list, mobiles and landlines cost the same in almost every country, so call whichever they answer.
• Keep the call going on a steady connection. Use good Wi-Fi or mobile data on your side; they need nothing.

Family in India? Our guide to calling India covers city codes, time difference and why calls show as "International Call" there.

Calling banks, phone menus and helplines

• Use the number for calls from abroad. Toll-free numbers usually can't be reached from another country. Banks and airlines list a separate international number on their websites.
• Phone menus work. In the TripoSIM app, open the in-call keypad to press "1 for English" or type your account number.
• Have your details ready before you call: account number, card number, booking reference. Waiting on hold costs minutes.
• Never read out codes that a bank sends you, even if the caller claims to be the bank. Real banks don't ask for them.

Calling hospitals, clinics and government offices

• Check the opening hours and the time zone first. Many offices answer only in the morning.
• Write down names, dates and reference numbers during the call.
• Expect to be transferred. A long hold is normal, so ask for a direct number or a reference you can quote if you need to call again.

Calling hotels, landlords and businesses

• Call the property's own number, not a booking site's helpline, when you need something specific (late check-in, airport pickup, a room change).
• Short calls are cheap. A 3-minute call to a hotel in the UK costs from $0.18 with the TripoSIM US Number.

What calls cost with the TripoSIM US Number

Prices per minute, billed per started minute. Calls nobody answers are free.

Some number ranges cost more than the price shown (for example some UK special numbers); the app always shows the exact price before you call. See all 200+ countries.

How to call a landline abroad from the TripoSIM app

1. Get your US Number, pass the short ID check and choose it by US state or area code.
2. Add credit in the app under Account › Wallet.
3. Find the full number with the country code. Remove the leading 0 of the area code (most countries; Italy keeps it).
4. On the keypad type + , the country code and the number, or pick the person from Contacts.
5. Check the price per minute shown, then call.
6. Use the in-call keypad for phone menus.

Need the other direction, people abroad calling you? Read how to receive calls abroad without roaming.

Frequently asked questions

Can I call a landline abroad for free?

Rarely. Some phone plans include calls to certain countries, so check yours. Otherwise, calling a landline costs a little per minute, because the phone networks charge to connect the call.

Can FaceTime call a landline?

No. FaceTime calls only Apple devices (people on Android or Windows can join a FaceTime link, but can't be rung on their phone number). To reach a landline you need a service that calls phone numbers.

Does the person I call need an app or internet?

No. They answer on their normal landline or mobile. Only you need the app and an internet connection.

Is it cheaper to call mobiles or landlines abroad?

It depends on the service. The network you call charges to connect each call, and in many countries mobile networks charge more than landlines, so some apps price mobiles higher. On the TripoSIM price list, mobiles and landlines cost the same in almost every country. The app shows the price before every call.

Can I press numbers in phone menus during the call?

Yes. Open the keypad during the call in the TripoSIM app to answer phone menus or enter an extension.

Why can't I reach a toll-free number abroad?

Toll-free numbers are usually set up for callers inside that country only. Look for the organisation's number for international callers, often on its contact page.