Cheap Calls
Where and how you can save some bucks on calls and messages?
Though this category is titled „Cheap Calls“, and the apps are intended to save you some bucks – be aware you often pay by other means. This category turns up third place for „average permissions requested per app“ (more than 25), even before the so-called anti-virus apps, only topped by the remote device management apps and Caller-ID apps requesting 1 permission more per app on average.
Save on Landline
2025-06-20
- Tariffic (3.7@661) 8
- toolani - International Calls (3.4@5,727) Ǥ 22
5
- Foocall: call & sms abroad (2.6@3,810) Ǥ 22
4
LastUpdate: 2023-12-13
Save via VoIP
2025-06-08
Some of these apps also offer short-message services.
- ooVoo Video Calls, Messaging & Stories (4.9@100) Ǥ 16
16
LastUpdate: 2017-10-31 Wikipedia; clients available for Mac, Win, iOS as well
- Talkray - Free Calls and Text (4.9@33) Ǥ 20
10
LastUpdate: 2019-01-18 incl. SMS; Phone & Tablet optimized
- satellite (4.6@15,579) Ǥ 20
2
Vorstellung 5/2019
- Skype (4.5@11,827,816) Ǥ 43 3
- Libon: Calls and Recharge (4.5@223,278) Ǥ 27
6
Wikipedia EN
- MobileVOIP international calls (4.5@103,891) Ǥ 19
4
- Google Meet (4.4@11,448,905) Ǥ 41
Vorstellung 8/2016
- Tango- Live Stream, Video Chat (4.3@4,920,003) Ǥ 42
3
Wikipedia; incl. SMS
- Rakuten Viber Messenger (4.2@16,940,496) Ǥ 66
7
Security Check 3/2017
; Ausführlicher Test 4/2017 mit Privacy-Check
; Wikipedia DE | EN incl. SMS; Privacy- & Datenschutz? Totale Fehlanzeige!
- Threema. The Secure Messenger (4.2@74,162; ~EUR 6.00) Ǥ 26
2
/ Threema Work. For Companies (3.8@1,987) Ǥ 38
/ Threema Libre (0@0) 38
Github; Video Review 3/2019 (DE); Video Backup & Restore (3/2019); Video Threema Webchat Howto 2/2017 (DE); Threema Video Tutorials; Vorstellung 8/2018 | 11/2018-1/2021; Wikipedia DE|EN; Audit 11/2015 | 3/2019; (Datenschutz-) Testbericht 2/2020
; FAQ; Libre (FOSS) version available via Threema’s own F-Droid repo; messenger with end-to-end encryption / Github
- Second Number for Call & Text (3.9@675,571) Ǥ 53
19
pay with your privacy (beware the tracksers!)
- TiKL Touch Talk Walkie Talkie (3.9@162,976) 12
7
LastUpdate: 2018-05-22 incl. SMS & Chat
- Cellbry (3.8@309) Ǥ 26
4
LastUpdate: 2020-04-22
- Jitsi Meet (3.6@52,258) Ǥ 21
4
Github; Anleitung 3/2020; Video Kurzanleitung 3/2020; Vorstellung 4/2020
- Vaani - International Calling (3.5@225) Ǥ 26
3
LastUpdate: 2022-03-13
- LINE: Calls & Messages (3.4@14,113,005) Ǥ 56
5
Wikipedia DE | EN
- Nextcloud Talk (3.3@1,636) Ǥ 39
1
Github
- KakaoTalk : Messenger (3.2@3,188,542) Ǥ 55
5
Wikipedia DE | EN
- Talkatone: Texting & Calling (3.1@193,704) Ǥ 32
17
- Wire - Secure Messenger (2.3@36,370) Ǥ 24
1 Github; Testberichte 4/2017 | 3/2020;
Privacy-Warnung 7/2018; Vorstellung 8/2018 - 4/2020; free/gratis, encrypted communication: voice, video and group chats; cross platform: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows. Or in the web browser.
- Pulse (0@0) 7
Redirect outgoing calls to Signal/Telegram/Threema
- WebCall (0@0) 19
LastUpdate: 2023-10-16 Github
Open SIP clients
2025-06-14
- Telesis SIP VoIP Softphone (5@230) Ǥ 25
LastUpdate: 2020-09-24
- Voip By Antisip (+Video) (4.3@471) Ǥ 15
LastUpdate: 2023-05-19
- Zoiper IAX SIP VOIP Softphone (4.1@75,223) Ǥ 44
1
- MizuDroid SIP VOIP Softphone (4@4,800) Ǥ 28
- baresip (3.9@31) 23
/ baresip+ (5@6) 24
Github
- Linphone (3.8@5,925) Ǥ 35
1
Wikipedia DE | EN; Anleitung für Sipgate; Clients also available for Linux, Mac, Windows, iOS, WP8
- Simlar - secure calls (3.8@158) Ǥ 27
Github; encrypted calls, FOSS
- Jami (3.7@1,923) Ǥ 26
Wikipedia EN; FAQ; Vorstellung 12/2019 | 5/2020; Testbericht 3/2020; Review 1/2021; desktop clients for Linux, Mac, Windows
- Denwa (3.6@106) 15
LastUpdate: 2020-06-24
- Sipnetic (3.4@1,864) Ǥ 24
Testbericht 2/2020; Anleitung für Sipgate
- Lumicall (3.1@62) 24
LastUpdate: 2021-10-13 Github
- Sipdroid (3@10,831) 27
Github; Wikipedia EN
- ASTPP Dialer - VoIP Softphone (1.7@122) 18
2
LastUpdate: 2023-08-31
- Antonia SIP Softphone - VoIP Mobile Dialer (1@118) 24
LastUpdate: 2020-02-24
Roaming Control
2025-06-20
- EU Roaming Data Watcher (3.6@38) 0
LastUpdate: 2020-05-31
- Roaming Guard (2.7@150) 7
1
LastUpdate: 2022-03-31
- Roaming Switch ON / OFF (2.3@309) 5 1
LastUpdate: 2022-03-10
Various savings
2025-06-20
- Serval Mesh (4.2@1,928) 30
LastUpdate: 2017-06-03 Github; Mesh network of phones (no central server)
Further Readings:
- Category Provider Tools: Contract Management and more
- Category Messenger & Conferences
- The 7 Best Free Calling Apps (Unlimited Calls With Wi-Fi) (6/2021 - 8/2023)
- The 5 Best Free Calling Apps for Making Free Phone Calls (4/2021 - 1/2023)
- Mit dem Smartphone im EU-Ausland: Wann fallen Kosten an? (6/2017 - 7/2019)
- Voice over IP – Telefonieren über das Internet (6/2016)
- Telefonieren über das Internet: So bleibt Ihr weltweit preiswert erreichbar (1/2016 - 4/2017)
- Die besten Skype-Alternativen für Android (11/2014 - 4/2020)
2025-06-21