How To Choose The Best Phone Card For International Calling

When you’re trying to stay in touch with friends and family abroad, choosing the right phone card can make a big difference in both the cost and quality of your calls. But with so many options available, it can be hard to know where to start.

In this article, we’ll go over some of the key factors to consider when choosing a phone card, as well as some tips for getting the most out of your card once you’ve made your purchase.

Types of phone cards

Before we get into the specifics of what to look for in a phone card, it’s important to understand the different types of cards that are available. There are three main types of phone cards: virtual and physical and disposable.

Physical phone card: this is what people generally think of when they think of a phone card – it’s about the size of a credit card and it has information on the card on how to use it – the card has no actual utility i.e. you don’t insert it into a payphone for example.

Virtual phone card: this is a lot more common. These phone cards are purchased from online retailers and are sent to you via email shortly after purchase, they’re easy to buy and you can be up and running within minutes.

Disposable: this is a phone card that has a short expiration date and is intended for very limited use, typically purchased by people looking to make one or two calls with it.

Factors to consider when choosing a phone card

When you’re looking for a phone card, there are a few key factors to keep in mind:

Rates and fees

Per-minute charges: This is the most obvious factor to consider, and it’s usually the one that gets the most attention. Make sure you compare the per-minute charges for different cards, and don’t forget to factor in any additional fees that may apply.
Connection fees: Some phone cards charge a fee every time you make a call. This can add up quickly, so be sure to take it into account when comparing cards.
Maintenance fees: Some phone cards charge a monthly or weekly fee to keep the card active. This is something you’ll want to be aware of, especially if you’re planning to use the card infrequently – avoid these cards!
Billing increments: otherwise known as “minute rounding” tells you how often your card is debited. If it has 5 min billing and the call costs 10c per minute then you are charged 50c every 5 minutes – if you’re call only lasted one minute then you are charge the full 50c meaning that your calls are a lot more expensive in this example – look for billing periods between 1-3 minutes.

Connection quality

Coverage area: This is more useful if you’re travelling between countries or regions, you want to make sure there are access numbers where you’re travelling to, this will leet you know whether they have coverage in that specific area.
Call quality: This can be harder to judge in advance, but you may be able to find customer reviews that can give you an idea of what to expect. If you have really poor audio the customer support team can actually help you resolve this issue fairly quickly.

Expiration dates

Pre-expired cards: Most phone cards have expiration dates that begin from your very first call but the ones you purchase from the supermarket or newsagent may have phone cards that are already expired
Expiration dates: expiration dates are typically 3, 6 and 12 months.

Accessibility and customer service

Availability of customer service: It’s always a good idea to choose a card from a provider that offers good customer service. This way if you run into any issues, you can get help quickly.
Ease of use: Look for a card that is easy to use and understand, so you don’t have to waste precious time trying to figure out how to make a call.

Bonus features or rewards

Rollover minutes: Some cards allow you to rollover unused minutes to the next month. This can be a great way to save money if you don’t use all of your minutes each month.
Bonus minutes: Check to see if your phone card service offers additional minutes if you spend more.

How to use your phone card

Once you’ve chosen a phone card, it’s important to know how to use it properly in order to get the most out of it.

Here’s a quick step-by-step guide:

Dial the access number provided by your phone card provider. This number is what gives you access to the service.
Once connected, you’ll be prompted to enter your PIN. This number is connected to your card balance, you’ll also hear how much call credit you have available.
After entering your PIN, you’ll be prompted to enter the international number you want to call. Make sure you include the country code when dialing.

That’s it – super easy.

As a bonus, if you’re using your cell phone you can actually program all of these steps in so that your phone does all of the dialing for you 😊

Tips for getting the most out of your phone card

Check the rates before recharging: call rates change from time to time and what used to be a cheap calling card may now be a lot more expensive. So before you buy your next recharge be sure to check the current calling rates so you’re overpaying for your calls.
Keep track of your minutes: Keep track of how many minutes you have left on your card, so you don’t run out unexpectedly.

Conclusion

Choosing the right phone card can be a bit of a hassle, but it’s worth it in the end to ensure that you’re getting the best rates and call quality for your international calls.

Remember to consider the rates and fees, connection quality, accessibility and customer service and bonus features when choosing a card. And don’t forget to use the card properly by following the step-by-step guide and tips provided in this article.