Do I need a headset to call from my laptop?

No. Your laptop's built in microphone and speakers work fine. A headset is optional if you prefer it.

Why does the browser ask for microphone access?

The call uses your microphone to send your voice, so you must allow access for the audio to work. You can do this in one click.

Can I call any phone from my laptop?

Yes. You can reach any landline or mobile worldwide, and the recipient needs no app or account.

Is there a cost to try it?

No. The first call is free with no credit card. After that you pay only per minute, with credit that never expires.

How do I pick which microphone the call uses?

Change the input device in your browser settings or system sound panel, then reload the StartACall tab so it uses your choice.

How do I stop the other person hearing an echo?

Use a headset or earbuds with a mic. Speakers and a mic in the same room cause echo, and a headset removes it entirely.

Does it work on a Chromebook?

Yes. It runs in the browser with no software to install, so a Chromebook works out of the box as long as it has internet and a microphone.

Call From a Laptop With the Microphone | StartACall | StartACall

Your laptop mic is all you need

StartACall uses your laptop's built in microphone and speakers to hold the conversation, the same hardware you would use for a video meeting. When you allow microphone access, the browser is ready to place a real call.

A headset works too if you prefer it, but it is not required. The internet connection carries the call to any landline or mobile, with no SIM card or desk phone involved.

Allow the mic, then dial

Open StartACall in Chrome, Safari, Edge, or Firefox and click to allow the microphone when prompted. Without that permission the browser cannot send your voice, so it is the one step to confirm.

Then type the plus sign, the country code, and the number, and click call. The line connects within seconds in clear high definition audio.

Free to start, then pay per minute

Your first call from the laptop is free, with no credit card required. It is an easy way to check that your microphone is being picked up correctly.

After that, billing is per minute with no monthly plan, and the credit you add never expires. A small $0.004 connection fee applies per call.

Choosing the right microphone and fixing permissions

If your laptop has more than one input, such as the built in mic plus a plugged in headset, the browser picks one by default and it may not be the one you want. You can change the input device in your browser settings or your system sound panel, then reload the StartACall tab so it uses the new choice.

If you blocked the microphone by mistake, the recipient will not hear you. Look for the small camera or microphone icon in the address bar, set the permission back to allow for the StartACall site, and you are good to go in one click.

Headset and echo tips for longer calls

Speakers and a microphone in the same room can create echo, where the other person hears their own voice come back. A headset or earbuds with a mic solves this completely, since the sound goes straight to your ears instead of into the mic.

For a long call, a wired headset is the most reliable, as it avoids the occasional dropout that bluetooth can have. Keep the laptop on a steady connection and you will hold a clear call for as long as you need.

Good for travel, work, and Chromebooks

A laptop is often the device you have on you when your phone is not the best option. On a trip with no working SIM, on a work machine with no desk phone, or on a Chromebook that has no cellular at all, the browser turns the laptop into a full dialer over wifi or data.

Because there is nothing to install, it works on locked down work computers where you cannot add software, and on a Chromebook out of the box. As long as the laptop reaches the internet and has a microphone, you can place a real call.

This makes the laptop a genuine backup line. If your phone is dead, lost, or simply at home, you can still reach anyone from the machine in front of you, dial a US number at about $0.046 per minute, and keep working without waiting to get back to your handset.

Call from a laptop with the microphone

What you get

How it works

Open StartACall

Type the 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 make calls from a laptop with the microphone