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What's the best telephone calling card deal?

One of my kids is going to be studying abroad in Europe this upcoming semester, and so in anticipation of this, I started researching the best ways to make calls to Europe from the US. I’ve learned that it’s generally cheaper to make a call with a calling card, but then I start looking at calling cards, and see that there are about a bajillion options, all with varying prices. Why all the differences, and how do I know what the best calling card is?

Dave's Answer:

This is a good question, and while I have some sense of the ins and outs of calling cards and why they are often not the bargain you think they are, I am going to ask my friend Jonathan Kraft, who runs a calling card research site. Here's what he explains:

Well, when it comes to calling cards, there are basically two types of calling cards, but they work on the same principle. There are physical cards (like you may see at the front of a grocery store in the “impulse buys” section, and there are “virtual” cards, which you buy online, and the dial-in number, as well as the PIN Code, are sent to your email inbox.

So which is better? Well, the type of card (physical vs. virtual) doesn’t really matter. I prefer the purchase online and get it sent to my inbox method because it's easier for me.

However, what you want to watch out for is the fine print (Isn't that always the case?) So, for example, here is a screen shot from a results page of a calling card retailer’s web site, for rates from the Continental US to Australia.

Typical telephone calling card costs and rates

At first glance, the card on the left is the best deal because it offers the lowest per minute rate. But if you look into the fine print of these individual cards, what you discover is that the card on the left is rounding every one of your phone calls by four minute increments. This is great if you only talk for 3 minutes and 59 seconds. But as soon as you talk for 4 minutes and 1 second, this card will count your call as having been 8 minutes.

And when all your time is suddenly used up, and you wonder how the time on the phone could have gone by so quickly, you suddenly will realize that the 4 minute rounding rate may not have been your best option. For this reason, I generally recommend that people make sure their calling cards are rounding calls to 1 minute increments, or, better yet, 1 second increments. I've seen cards that will round up to 8 minute increments! If the card you are thinking of using doesn't say what rounding method it uses, I wouldn't recommend it at all.

Whether you are purchasing a physical card or a "virtual" card, read the fine print, and find out what rounding method they use, before finalizing your calling card purchase.

Also, one other quick tip: Generally, when calling Europe (or most other places in the world), calling a cell phone is going to be significantly more expensive than calling a land line phone. There are lots of reasons for this, which I won’t go into now, but be aware of it, and make sure that if the person you are calling is using a cell phone, that you are looking for the cheapest rates for calling cell phones in the country you are calling.

Here's a simple form that lets you do some research to find typical calling card rates, and perhaps some better prices than you're used to:

Calling from to

Hope that helps you find a good calling card and have your child stay in touch with you for the least amount possible!

My thanks to Jonathan Kraft for his help teaching us how to make international calls from his site CallingAdvice.com. Also please note that the above form takes you to a calling card site using an affiliate link. By purchasing one of those cards through the link you'll help us keep our digital lights on. Thanks!

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Categorized: d) None of the Above (Article 7167)
Tagged: calling card, dialing card, phonecard
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Comments

Dave. Wouldn't you count this as a perfect situation for Skype? You mentioned that it was buggy in a business situation, but this seems to be ideal (assuming both parties have `puters and broadband connections).

Posted by: Dempsey at February 2, 2007 2:09 AM

Great suggestion, Dempsey, but I fear that most people have very little idea how to find Internet connectivity in a small town overseas, especially when they don't speak the language. I'd also be a bit concerned about the security of my Skype account in an unknown small Internet cafe...

Posted by: Dave Taylor at February 2, 2007 11:31 AM

I have a kid in Europe right now. Skype is the way to go - full spectum sound and while not as totally reliable as a land line phone, it is generally better than a cell phone (can you hear me now?).

Any kid at a university in Europe will have access to a university-provided network. No need to use WiFi so no worries about security. Plus the connection will be high-bandwidth so minimal delays etc. The connection will usually be in the dorm room. Student unions also usually have connectivity.

BRIGHT IDEA NUMBER 2
If your kid is used to chatting with friends via cell phone all over the US, another Skype feature may be useful. You can use a service called Skype In to get a phone number in your own local area. When someone calls this phone number, the Skype gateway connects the phone to your Skype account on your computer. So if the friend is calling (say) from college in Boston to your kids home area in Chicago, Skype will forward the call to the kids computer in Europe (you get a voice mail box in case the computer is off and you can also have if forwarded to another phone at what ever rates apply). The kids use their evenings and weekends or free minutes so the only cost is for the phone number which is 30 Euros (45-50 bucks) for the year.

Posted by: wundermac at February 4, 2007 2:44 PM

Hi WunderMac!

Thanks for going into detail about SkypeIn. It really is an awesome service, and your explanation above is a perfect application of it.

Posted by: Jonathan at February 11, 2007 12:11 AM

Hi Dave, great info. I work for Phonecarddepot.com and I wanted to let you know that skype is really great. Here's a tip...what I do is program a calling card into my cell phone. If you do that, you don't have to remember anything and you can just speed dial your son/daughter. I wrote an article on hit here: http://www.phonecarddepot.com/blog/2006/12/programming-calling-cards-into-cellular.html

I don't expect this article to make it into your comments as it may be viewed as spammy, I just wanted to let you know. Oh, at the site I mentioned at the top, you can even get calling cards for your son/daughter that will work from Europe, you can order it and add them as a recipient at purchase. Once added, your son/daughter will get an email copy of the phone card as well. Hope this helps.

Posted by: Taichi at February 11, 2007 11:47 PM

what is the best currency to pay in when using skype

Posted by: alan buttle at March 1, 2007 6:12 AM

Hi Dave,

great review on the calling card space. I've heard about you from jim at blogkits a couple of times about your great starbucks donation method. And now i see you answered a question about phone cards which do now work virtually but have on the go ability to pre program to your cell phone like Pingo at http://www.pingo.com/en/mobileusers.do

take care and keep on writing great answers

Posted by: Leo R. at March 12, 2007 8:06 AM

This is a bit late but I just found your site this morning! You've done a good job explaining some of the common calling card issues here. I've got a blog that's solely about calling cards - it's got even more info on how to choose a calling card. If anyone has any further questions about calling card features and options, I'm happy to help! http://callingcardsandphonecards.blogspot.com/

Posted by: Liz at April 17, 2007 11:48 AM

I have my cousin in New Jersey.The best way to talk to her is by skype.Skype is totally reliable,quick & easy.Its even better than a cell phone where there's a lot of network problems.So try out skype and enjoy!!!!! If u want to know more about skype visit www.skype.com.

Posted by: danie at May 5, 2007 6:51 AM

A phonecard NOT to get is Kertel. I got it from the French Post office(France Telecom), thinking that was a good reference. The first week it did not work at all( tech problems), after that it would cut off calls I made to the US after about 45 seconds!France Telecom refused to take any responsibility, I had to buy a different card to call home.

Posted by: marianne at August 6, 2007 2:13 PM

Hi Dave: I am a TTY user and I do not have a long distance service, but occasionaly I would like to phone my long distance friends (who don't know how to text or use computer) which is the best card for the Calif. Relay Service (CRS Sprint) Thank you Jpp

Posted by: Jo Poulsen at March 9, 2008 9:57 AM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!