Do I need a phone to call a cell phone from my PC?

No. Your PC microphone and internet connection carry the call. You do not need a handset, a SIM card, or your own phone number.

Does the person I call need an app?

No. You call their normal mobile number. They answer like any other call, with no account and nothing to download.

How much does it cost to call a US mobile?

About $0.046 per minute, the same flat rate as a US landline, plus a small $0.004 connection fee per call.

Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox all work, on desktop and on mobile, with nothing to install.

Can I use a headset instead of my PC speakers?

Yes. A USB or wired headset works and usually sounds clearer. Select it as your input device in your browser or system sound settings.

Why can the person not hear me?

Almost always the browser is using the wrong microphone or the permission was blocked. Allow microphone access for the tab and pick the right input device.

Do I have to check if the number is a cell before calling?

Not for the US or Canada. The flat rate is the same for mobile and landline there, so the line type never changes what you pay or how you dial.

Call a Cell Phone From Your PC | StartACall | StartACall - Browser-Based International Calling

Reach any mobile without a phone in hand

Calling a cell phone from your PC works the same as calling a landline. StartACall routes your browser tab to the global phone network, so you type the number and the call rings on the recipient's mobile within seconds.

There is no extra hardware involved. Your PC microphone and speakers handle the conversation, and you do not need a SIM card or a phone number of your own to place the call.

Set up your dialer in under a minute

Open StartACall in Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox and create an account with Google or your email in less than a minute. Allow microphone access when the browser prompts you, since the call uses your computer audio.

Type the plus sign, the country code, and the full mobile number, then click call. For a US mobile that is +1, the area code, and the number. The recipient answers on their normal phone with no app to install.

What it costs to call a mobile

Billing is per minute with no monthly plan. A US or Canada mobile costs about $0.046 per minute, the same flat rate as a landline there, plus a small $0.004 connection fee per call.

Your first call is free with no credit card, so you can confirm the line is clear before adding any credit. The credit you do add never expires.

When calling a cell from a PC makes the most sense

If your own phone is out of battery, out of credit, or simply across the room, your PC becomes the dialer instead. It is also handy at a desk where you spend the day typing, since you can paste a number, call, and keep both hands on the keyboard rather than holding a handset.

On a work computer with no desk phone, or on a Chromebook that has no SIM at all, this is often the only way to place a real call. The recipient still rings on their ordinary cell, so they never know the call came from a browser rather than a phone.

Mics, headsets, and a clean line

Most PCs have a built in microphone that is good enough, but a USB or wired headset gives the recipient a clearer voice and cuts down on echo from your speakers. Pick the headset as your input device in your browser or system sound settings before the call if you want it used.

Keep the microphone permission allowed for the StartACall tab so you are not prompted every time. If the other side cannot hear you, it is usually that the browser is using the wrong microphone or the permission was blocked, both of which take one click to fix.

Calling cells in the US and beyond

For a US or Canada mobile the price is the same flat $0.046 per minute as a landline, so you never have to check whether the number is a cell before you dial. That is unusual, since most countries charge more to reach a mobile than a landline, and it makes calling US cells simple to budget for.

When you call a mobile in another country, the rate can differ from the landline rate there, but the dialing is identical: plus sign, country code, then the number. The flat US and Canada rate just means that within those two countries the line type never changes what you pay.

Call a cell phone from your PC

What you get

How it works

Open StartACall

Type the mobile number

Click call

Why people use StartACall

Instant setup

Pay as you go

No app, no SIM

Ready to make your first call?

How to call a cell phone from your PC