Well-known as the manufacturing hub of the world, China’s meteoric rise in the global economy started in the 1990s. The country was seen as a safe haven for companies to set up their units and enjoy the multiple benefits provided by the Chinese Government, including grants and tax holidays. Such a strategic approach has allowed China to become one of the top three superpowers in the world, and the overall growth and development are only going to get better with time, money, and more investments.
In recent times, China has been subject to major criticism because of the way it wants every company to abide by the rules laid down by its government, including communication apps. This is the possible reason why Signal – a popular encrypted messaging and voice calling app – is barred from operating within the country. As a result, you are only left with a handful of options for communication at your disposal. So, if you are planning to explore the different ways through which you can make free calls from the United States to China, then you can effortlessly do so by following this guide.
1) Make Calls Using Free Calling Apps
If you are looking for the easiest way to make free international voice calls, then exploring VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) should be your safest bet. However, as previously mentioned, due to the restrictions set by the Chinese Government, only a handful of VoIP apps work in the country seamlessly. Out of them, some of the most popular ones include – Line, WeChat, and WhatsApp.
As usual, VoIP apps rely on the internet to make voice calls, which means that you can use your mobile internet or any WiFi network to complete the process. And the free calling feature only works app-to-app, meaning that both the sender and receiver should be using the same app actively to connect with each other. It should be known that all of the apps mentioned above are free of charge and do not require any additional payment to make them usable. So, if you are ready to start calling, follow the suggested steps below.
- Start by first heading over to the official websites of Line, WeChat, or WhatsApp.
- Download the preferred app on your smartphone (either Android or iOS) and sign up for an account using your phone number and/or email address.
- Once signed in, proceed to provide access to your contacts list so that it becomes easy for you to connect with the person you want to.
- After that, start your calling sessions without any delay. Keep in mind that the person you are calling should have an active account and the respective app downloaded to his or her smartphone.
2) Register for Google Voice or Skype
Even though both Skype and Google Voice use VoIP to make calls (including international calls), they function differently. Firstly, Google Voice offers no free plans or app-to-app free voice calls like Skype. As a result, users are only allowed to subscribe to their monthly plans, starting at $10. Once you subscribe to a plan of your choice, Google Voice allows you to call anywhere in the world without any limitations.
On the other hand, Skype offers both free and paid plans. With the free plan, you only get app-to-app support, where you will be able to make calls to a registered Skype account. However, if you want to make calls to a real phone number across the globe, then you have to either purchase Skype credits or subscribe to one of its monthly plans. Whatever service you decide to choose, ensure that you follow the below-mentioned steps to get you going.
- Begin by first visiting the official web pages of either Microsoft Skype or Google Voice. Alternatively, you can also download the respective apps on your smartphone.
- Proceed to sign in to your Google or Microsoft account. If you do not have an account, then you need to create one.
- Once you have set up your profile with Skype, simply add the Skype account you want to call to your contacts list, and you can start calling. And if you want to call a real phone number, then you have to purchase Skype credits or a subscription plan.
- With Google Voice, after you have set up your profile and purchased a subscription plan of your choice, proceed to share your contacts list with the app or service, and you can start calling your desired person right away. Alternatively, you can also type in the phone number manually.
3) Activate an International Calling Plan
Relying on VoIP may not always work, especially for those living in a rural area with poor network coverage. For them, subscribing to a traditional international calling plan, courtesy of a US mobile service provider, makes more sense.
With popular mobile carriers such as Xfinity Mobile, Google Fi Wireless, and Boost Infinite, international calling has never been easier. Starting with Xfinity Mobile, you get unlimited international calling and texting from the United States to China for just $10 per day. Alternatively, if you do not want to subscribe to a plan, then you can pay the usual call rate of $0.60 per minute. Then comes Google Fi Wireless, which offers international calling facilities with its Unlimited Plus and Flexible plans for just $0.20 per minute. And lastly, Boost Infinite offers unlimited international calling and texting from the United States to China for just $50 per month. So, if you are ready to connect, follow the steps laid down below.
- Start your journey by visiting the official websites of Xfinity Mobile, Google Fi Wireless, or Boost Infinite.
- Choose your preferred service provider and proceed to sign up for a plan of your choice.
- If you are an existing customer, then after activation of your preferred plan, you can start calling.
- For new users, you need to first apply for a new SIM or E-SIM and then activate the plan of your choice before you can start calling freely.
