Which is the best calling card?

If you frequently need to make international calls, then you know how important it is to have a good calling card.

But with so many options on the market, it can be difficult to know which one is the best for your needs.

In this article, we’ll break down what you need to consider when choosing an international calling card, as well as our top picks for the best cards on the market.

Which is the best calling card?

Like most things, the “best” international calling card depends entirely on your needs. I know people who will only go for the cheapest option and that’s perfect for them, I know people who are willing to pay twice as much because they’re getting a few additional features or this particular calling card gives them more security in terms of quality calls, fast resolution in case of tech issues, etc.

So, let’s cover off the main things people look for when deciding on which is the best calling card.

Do you need the cheapest calling card?

This one is the easiest.

If you are interested primarily in the cheapest options available above all other things then you just need to look for the calling card that comes with the cheapest per minute rate and billing increment.

Ideally, you want to combine the lowest per minute rate with the shortest billing increment 1-3 minutes.

Do you need the best quality calling card?

If you’re looking for the “best” quality then that is a little tough since you need to know what determines quality for the sake of argument let’s look at two very important quality areas when it comes to international calling cards:

  1. Audio quality
  2. Technical issues

There’s no point in getting the lowest per minute price if you can’t hear the person on the other line due to all of the white noise or choppiness that may be coming through.

In this situation, you want to ensure that the calling card company is using high-quality carrier lines.

This you can only find out by asking the customer support team.

Good quality calling card services will charge a little more but will also have higher quality carriers so their customers will have clearer audio.

Having more carrier lines also helps with another aspect of quality service and that is being able to fix technical issues.

The most common technical issues you will face when working with a calling card company are issues with connections whether that be not being able to connect, poor audio, line dropping, or connecting to another country.

This actually makes up 90% of the issues.

Good quality services will be able to fix this type of problem that same day and most often within 30 minutes.

Good quality calling card services will also have a responsive customer service team available.

Do you need the most features?

  • Do you need SMS?
  • Do you need to be able to receive inbound calls?
  • Do you need automated billing so you are not cut off during a call?
  • When trying to decide on the best international calling card, it is important to first consider your needs.
  • Do you need to cover your phone number?
  • Do you need a virtual number?

All of these are additional features that sit outside of the typical calling card feature set.

Typically, customers will combine a calling card with an SMS service in order to bring these features together.

How to choose the best calling card

Finally, there are other things to take into account when choosing the best calling card and that is:

Hidden fees

Hidden fees are fees that are not openly stated on the website or calling card and are generally quite small but are used by calling card companies to recover from offering the lowest calling rates.

Connection fees

Connection fees are another very common fee and often times offer no additional benefit to the customer but in some cases calling card companies will offer a slightly lower calling rate, which does become a good value-add especially if you tend to make longer international calls.

Daily fees

These are the worst yet also one of the most common types of fees out there.

Daily maintenance fees are fees that are deducted from you credit balance every day or week regardless whether or not you are using the phone card.

My recommendation is to stay clear of these types of calling cards.

Check reviews

Finally, once you’ve narrowed down your options to a few potential candidates, it’s a good idea to check out some reviews before making your final decision. Reviews can be helpful in identifying any potential problems with a particular card that you might not have considered otherwise. Once you’ve read through a few reviews, you should have a good idea of which card is right for you.

Where to buy calling cards?

While you can buy calling cards from newsagents, supermarkets and other general stores, I highly recommend purchasing from a calling card retailer that specializes in calling cards, they will be able to offer a lot more support and guidance.

Conclusion

The best international calling card for you depends on your needs. If you need the cheapest option, go for the lowest per minute rate. If you need the best quality, look for calling cards that have multiple carriers and good customer service. If you need the most features, decide exactly on what features you need. How to choose the best international calling card: Consider your needs, compare prices, check reviews.