Is the first call to a cell phone really free?

Yes. Every new account gets one free call so you can test the voice quality, and we do not ask for a card to try it.

Does the person I call need an app?

No. You call their ordinary cell phone. They answer like any normal call, with no account and nothing to install.

How does calling from a browser work?

It uses WebRTC, the voice technology built into modern browsers. Your audio travels over the internet to StartACall, which connects it to the normal phone network so it rings a real cell phone.

What does it cost after the free call?

Billing is by the minute with no monthly plan. A cell phone in Canada or the United States is a flat rate near $0.046 per minute, plus a small connection fee per call.

Which browsers does it work in?

StartACall runs in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox on both desktop and mobile. There is nothing to download and no SIM required.

Do I need a SIM or my own number to call?

No. StartACall runs in your browser with no SIM and no number of your own. You only need a number of your own if you want to receive calls.

Free call to a cell phone from Canada | StartACall | StartACall

How the free first call works

Every new StartACall account includes one free call, so you can ring a cell phone and hear the voice quality for yourself before spending anything. There is no card to enter and nothing to install. You sign in, allow the microphone, type the number and call.

The call is a real one placed onto the mobile network, not a chat between two app users. The person you reach answers on their ordinary cell phone, with no account and no app on their side.

Calling from the browser, no app needed

StartACall runs in the browser, so it works in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox on a laptop or a phone. There is no SIM to insert and no separate number to buy in order to place a call. The connection runs from your browser tab straight onto the phone network.

For a cell phone inside Canada or the United States, type the plus sign, the area code and the number. For a mobile abroad, type the plus sign, the country code and the number, dropping any leading zero.

How browser calling actually works

The call uses WebRTC, the same voice technology built into modern browsers for video and audio. Your microphone audio travels over your internet connection to StartACall, which hands it off onto the regular telephone network so it rings a normal cell phone. Nothing about it depends on the other person having any software.

Because the audio rides your internet connection rather than a mobile signal, you can place the call from a laptop with no phone at all, or from a phone on wifi without using your mobile minutes. There is also no roaming charge when you are travelling, since your home carrier is never part of the call.

What happens after the free call

Once you have used the free call, billing is simply by the minute with no monthly plan. Calls to a cell phone inside Canada and the United States are a flat rate near $0.046 per minute, the same as a landline.

A small $0.004 connection fee applies per call, and the credit you add never expires. You can keep a small balance topped up and use it whenever you need to reach someone, with no recurring charge.

Step by step to make your first call

Open StartACall in your browser and create an account, which takes under a minute. When the dialler loads, allow the microphone when the browser asks. Type the cell number in international form, with the plus sign and the country or area code, then press the call button.

The call connects in a few seconds in HD voice, and the first one is free with no card. If you later want people to be able to call you back, you can add an optional US or Canada inbound number for roughly $2.14 to $5 a month, but it is never needed just to make calls.

Free call to a cell phone from Canada

What you get

How it works

Open StartACall

Enter the number

Click call

Why people use StartACall

Instant setup

Pay as you go

No app, no SIM

Ready to make your first call?

Make a free call to a cell phone from Canada

How the free first call works

Calling from the browser, no app needed

How browser calling actually works

What happens after the free call

Step by step to make your first call

Frequently asked questions

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