How Can You Receive US Calls Abroad Without Roaming Charges? (2026)

Your bank in Ohio wants to call you. Your mum in Florida doesn't use WhatsApp. A client in Chicago only dials normal phone numbers. When you are abroad, every one of these calls can turn into a roaming charge.

It does not have to. Today, most calls can travel over the internet, and data abroad is cheap with a travel eSIM. This guide compares the options so you can pick the one that fits.

Why are calls abroad so expensive?

When your US line roams on a foreign network, your carrier usually charges you to receive calls as well as to make them, or sells a daily pass. Pay-per-minute roaming adds up fast, and daily passes add up over a long trip, even on days you take one short call.

Internet calls work differently. The call travels as data, so it costs only the data it uses: about 0.5 to 1 MB per minute for a voice call. So 300 minutes of calls use well under 1 GB.

Option 1: Wi-Fi calling on your US line

Many US carriers let your phone make and receive normal calls over Wi-Fi. When it works, calls to and from US numbers over Wi-Fi are often free or cheap, but the rules depend on your carrier, so check before you go.

Good for: keeping your exact US number when you have reliable Wi-Fi. Watch out for: it may not work over another SIM's mobile data, and some carriers limit it in some countries. Read does Wi-Fi calling work with a travel eSIM?

Option 2: WhatsApp, FaceTime and other calling apps

If the people calling you use WhatsApp or FaceTime, this is the easiest and cheapest option. Your WhatsApp number stays the same when you change SIMs, see how to keep your WhatsApp number with an eSIM.

Good for: friends and family who already use these apps. Watch out for: banks, doctors, schools, companies and many older relatives call normal phone numbers, not apps. And some countries restrict app calls, see our list of countries that block internet calls.

Option 3: A US number that rings in an app

A US number in an app works like a normal US phone number for the person calling you. They dial a US number, it's a local call for them, and your phone rings in the app wherever you are, over Wi-Fi or mobile data.

With the TripoSIM US Number you get:

• Your own US number, chosen by state or area code.
• Incoming calls with fair use up to 300 minutes a month, then callers go to voicemail.
• 300 outgoing minutes a month to US and Canadian numbers.
• Voicemail included, and incoming texts from US and Canadian senders.
• $100 a year, about $8.33 a month.

Good for: people who get regular calls from the US: expats, students, frequent travellers, and freelancers with US clients. Watch out for: it's a new number, so you share it with the people who call you. It can't call 911, and many banks and apps may not accept it for verification codes.

Can I forward my existing US number?

Many US carriers let you forward calls to another US number, such as your TripoSIM US Number. Then people keep calling your old number and the call reaches you in the app. Forwarding rules and costs are set by your carrier, and some charge for forwarded calls while you are abroad. Ask your carrier before you travel and test it at home.

Quick comparison

How to set up your phone before you fly

1. Get data for your trip: buy a travel eSIM for your destination and install it at home on Wi-Fi. Keep its line off until you land, because the plan starts when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
2. Keep your home SIM on for texts: leave your US line on so bank codes still arrive, but turn its data roaming off.
3. Set up your US number in the app: open the TripoSIM app and allow notifications and the microphone.
4. Test a call at home: ask someone to call your US number while your phone is locked, to make sure it rings.
5. Share your number: give it to the people and companies who need to call you.

Not sure how to install an eSIM? Follow our step-by-step eSIM install guide.

Will it ring when my phone is locked?

Yes, if the TripoSIM app is installed and notifications are allowed. Your phone rings like a normal call. If your phone is off, has no internet, or has notifications blocked, the caller reaches your voicemail and you can listen later.

Frequently asked questions

Do I pay to receive US calls with the TripoSIM US Number?

No per-call charge. Incoming calls are included with fair use up to 300 minutes a month. You only use a little mobile data, or none on Wi-Fi.

How much data does a call use?

About 0.5 to 1 MB per minute for a voice call. Even 300 minutes a month is well under 1 GB.

Can I receive texts from US banks on it?

You can receive texts from US and Canadian senders, but many banks don't send codes to internet numbers. Keep your bank linked to your normal mobile number. See can you receive OTP codes with a travel eSIM?

What if I run out of minutes?

Incoming calls above 300 minutes a month go to voicemail until your monthly reset. For outgoing calls you can buy 100 more minutes for $5, or wait for the reset on the day of the month you bought the number.

Does it work everywhere?

It works wherever you have internet, except where internet calling apps are restricted, such as the UAE. Check the local rules for your destination.

The bottom line

You don't need roaming to take calls from the US. Use Wi-Fi calling if your carrier supports it, WhatsApp for people who use it, and a US number in the TripoSIM app for everyone who still dials normal phone numbers. Add a travel eSIM for data, and your calls cost almost nothing to receive.