How to Make International Calls with Google Voice: Step-by-Step Guide for 2025

Reaching customers or teammates abroad should be easy, not confusing. Yet many people find that Google Voice works differently once they try calling outside the United States.

The platform lets you place international calls from your computer or phone using your Google account. It’s a simple way to reach global contacts, but coverage and pricing depend on your plan. Free users can only call abroad from the U.S., and texting is limited to Canadian numbers. Business plans under Google Workspace expand calling options but still fall short for companies that handle frequent overseas communication.

That’s where CloudTalk stands out. It gives you worldwide coverage, clear rates, and advanced tools for teams that need reliable, high-quality international calls.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to make Google Voice international calls, what its main limits are, and when switching to a full-featured platform like CloudTalk can help you stay connected anywhere.

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How to Make Google Voice International Calls on Your Computer

Calling abroad from your computer with Google Voice can be done in a few simple steps. The process depends on whether you’re using the free personal version or Google Workspace for business. Below, you’ll find clear instructions for both, plus visuals to help you navigate the interface.

How to Make International Calls with Google Voice on the Free Plan

If you’re using the free version of Google Voice, you can call most international numbers directly from your web browser—but only while you’re in the U.S. Before you start, make sure you’ve added credit to your account, since international calls aren’t free.

Here’s how to do it step by step:

This method is perfect for casual users who occasionally need to reach international contacts. However, it’s limited to U.S. users and doesn’t support outgoing calls when traveling abroad—a frequent dealbreaker for remote teams.

How to Make International Calls with Google Voice for Google Workspace

If your business uses Google Workspace, you get access to expanded international calling features—depending on your plan level (Starter, Standard, or Premier).

Follow these steps to make international calls through Google Voice for Workspace:

Workspace accounts simplify dialing across multiple users and devices—but still limit calling outside supported regions. Businesses that frequently connect with customers in Asia, Europe, or Latin America often find these constraints restrictive.

For global operations, CloudTalk offers full international coverage without prepaid credits or geographic barriers. You can place or receive calls from anywhere, integrate with your CRM, and enjoy crystal-clear quality—ideal for remote and global teams.

Making Google Voice International Calls on Your Phone

You can also place overseas calls directly from your mobile device using the Google Voice app. The setup is similar on Android and iPhone, but there are a few small differences in how each platform handles permissions and default calling options. Below, you’ll find simple steps for both.

How to Make Google Voice International Calls on Android

If you’re using an Android phone, making international calls from Google Voice only takes a few taps. Before you start, make sure you’ve added calling credit to your Google Voice balance and that your phone is connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Follow these steps to connect:

While this setup works well for users in the U.S., it doesn’t support calls made while traveling internationally. The feature also excludes texting to numbers outside the U.S. and Canada.

How to Make Google Voice International Calls on iPhone

The process for iPhone users is almost identical. You’ll use the same country-code format, but Apple devices ask for calling permissions during setup.

Here’s how to get started:

Using Google Voice on iPhone is reliable for occasional international calls, but you’ll still face the same regional restrictions as Android users. For businesses or teams that call abroad daily, a unified system like CloudTalk offers unlimited international connections, automatic syncing with CRMs, and stable HD audio—no top-ups required.

Where Can You Place Google Voice International Calls From?

Google Voice offers international calling in many regions, but its availability depends on where your account was created and verified. At the moment, only users based in the United States can make international calls directly through a personal Google Voice number. That means if you’re wondering “will my Google Voice number work overseas?” — the answer is yes, but with limits.

If your Google Voice account is linked to a U.S. phone number, you can place international calls to most countries worldwide. However, you can’t initiate calls from outside the U.S., since Google Voice doesn’t officially support outbound connections from foreign IP addresses or non-U.S. phone numbers.

Here’s a quick overview of where Google Voice currently allows international calling:

You can check the full, country-specific pricing list inside your account by navigating to Settings → Payments → Calling Rates.

Google Voice connects calls through its SIP link (Session Initiation Protocol), which allows voice data to travel over the internet rather than traditional phone lines. This makes international calls cheaper and faster, but your connection still depends on local internet quality and availability.

While Google Voice for international numbers covers many destinations, its outbound support remains limited to U.S.-based users. If you need to place or receive calls while traveling, or run a distributed team across different time zones, CloudTalk provides a far more flexible setup. It supports local and toll-free numbers in 160+ countries, making it easy to connect with customers and teammates anywhere, without changing SIM cards or relying on SIP workarounds.

Can You Send International Texts with Google Voice?

If you’re asking “does Google Voice work internationally for texting?” — the answer is very limited. Google Voice lets U.S.-based users send text messages only to Canadian numbers, and that’s where its international SMS support stops.

Users outside the United States can’t send or receive texts through Google Voice at all. Even paid Google Workspace plans don’t expand this feature, which means your account’s region determines whether texting works in the first place.

For businesses or teams needing global communication, this can be a dealbreaker. That’s why many switch to CloudTalk, which supports two-way texting and calling in over 160 countries—making it a far better alternative for companies that outgrow how to make international phone calls with Google Voice alone.

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What Are the Limitations of Google Voice?

While Google Voice is convenient for personal use, it comes with several restrictions that can make it difficult for teams or businesses operating internationally. Below are the key limitations you should know before relying on it for daily communication or making international calls from Google Voice.

1. International Calling Is Limited to U.S.-Based Users

If you’re outside the United States, you can’t use Google Voice to place outbound international calls. Even if your number is verified, the system restricts connections from foreign IP addresses, which limits flexibility for remote or global teams.

2. Costs Add Up Quickly

Although rates may seem low at first, Google Voice charges per minute for every international call. When compared to modern VoIP solutions that offer unlimited plans or bundled minutes, Google Voice for international numbers often ends up being more expensive over time.

3. Separate Inboxes for Calls, Texts, and Voicemails

Unlike integrated phone systems, Google Voice keeps calls, SMS, and voicemail in separate tabs. This fragmented setup can slow down customer support or sales workflows, especially for teams managing multiple client conversations.

4. No Toll-Free or Local Business Numbers

You can’t register a toll-free number or buy local phone numbers in other countries through Google Voice. This limits how businesses can appear to customers abroad and reduces local trust and accessibility.

5. Limited Call Recording Features

Recording in Google Voice requires pressing “4” during a call, and only inbound calls can be recorded. There’s no automatic recording, which makes compliance tracking and agent training difficult—an important consideration for how does Google Voice work for international calls in regulated industries.

6. No Auto-Replies or Advanced SMS Tools

The platform doesn’t support automated replies, SMS scheduling, or bulk messaging. Businesses that rely on follow-ups or customer notifications must use third-party tools, which adds friction to basic communication workflows.

7. Minimal Integrations Beyond Google Workspace

Google Voice works best inside Google’s ecosystem but doesn’t integrate deeply with most CRMs or helpdesk software. If your team uses tools like HubSpot, Zendesk, or Salesforce, syncing call data requires manual work or third-party apps.

8. No Multi-User Collaboration

You can’t share a single Google Voice number across multiple team members, which limits teamwork and responsiveness. For businesses managing shared inboxes or international hotlines, this is a major operational gap.

Best Alternative to Google Voice for International Calls

CloudTalk

What Is CloudTalk?

CloudTalk is a cloud-based phone system designed for businesses that rely on high-quality international calling. It helps teams connect with customers in over 160 countries, manage inbound and outbound calls, and track every interaction in one centralized dashboard.

Who Is CloudTalk Best For?

CloudTalk is perfect for sales, support, and remote teams that handle global communication daily. Whether your agents work from different continents or your business serves clients overseas, CloudTalk ensures consistent call quality and seamless collaboration.

These are some of CloudTalk’s Features

Which Tools Does CloudTalk Integrate With?

CloudTalk connects natively with leading platforms like HubSpot, Salesforce, Zendesk, Pipedrive, Intercom, and Freshdesk. These integrations automatically sync contacts, log calls, and update records so your team always has full customer context.

What is CloudTalk’s pricing?

CloudTalk offers flexible plans tailored to business needs. With each of its plans offering more value than its competitors:

Upgrade Your International Calling Experience

Google Voice makes it easy to stay connected across borders. It’s affordable, simple to set up, and flexible enough for users who only make occasional overseas calls. With low rates and compatibility across devices, it’s a great starting point for basic global communication.

Still, businesses that rely on consistent international outreach need more than the basics. That’s where CloudTalk shines. It delivers instant voice connections, smart automation, and seamless integrations with the tools you already use — all while providing local and toll-free numbers in 160+ countries.

If you’re ready to expand your reach and communicate without limits, start your free CloudTalk trial today and experience what true global connectivity feels like.

About the author

Santiago Montaldo

Senior Copywriter

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Santiago Montaldo is a bilingual SEO copywriter and content editor with over five years of experience in SaaS and B2B. At CloudTalk he creates SEO-driven content on VoIP, call center software, and AI. His background in customer support at Equinix and SEO editing for LiveAgent gives him firsthand insight into how support teams operate and how SaaS content can truly inform, engage, and convert.