I’ve spoken to a lot of people who’ve been caught out by Verizon’s international charges: either calling from the US without realising they’re on pay-as-you-go rates, or landing abroad and using their phone before they’ve sorted anything out. Usually it’s the bill that tells them. The plans aren’t complicated once you understand what each one is for, but Verizon doesn’t make it easy to figure that out quickly.
This guide cuts through it. There are two distinct situations covered here:
- You’re in the US and need to call someone abroad (a relative overseas, an international client, a hotel you’re booking). Jump to Part 1.
- You’re traveling and need your Verizon phone to work while you’re abroad. Jump to Part 2.
Most people only need one. Pick your situation and skip to the relevant section.
Part 1: Calling internationally from the US
The four options explained
Pay-as-you-go
No monthly fee. Verizon just charges per minute whenever you make an international call. That sounds simple, but the rates are genuinely expensive: $1.79 per minute for most countries, rising to $2.99 per minute for many African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. For anything more than a very occasional short call, you’re paying far more than you need to. Other solutions exist at a fraction of this cost, which we cover at the end of this guide.
Global Calling ($5/month)
Adds discounted per-minute rates to 220+ countries, plus unlimited calling to Canada and Mexico. The rates are more reasonable than pay-as-you-go, but it’s not unlimited calling to most destinations. You’re still paying per minute, just at a lower rate.
Global Choice ($10/month)
Pick one country from 140 options and get up to 300 minutes per month to that country, plus unlimited calling to Canada and Mexico. The catch: many countries on the list don’t give you 300 minutes. Some are capped at as low as 60 minutes, which works out at $0.16 per minute at that level. This plan has a narrow use case. If you have a specific country you call regularly, check exactly how many minutes your destination actually gets before signing up. For a lot of people, a VoIP app or calling service will serve the same need more flexibly and cheaper.
Global Calling Plus ($15/month)
Unlimited calls to landlines in 60+ countries and mobiles in 30+ countries, plus discounted rates to 160+ additional countries. For frequent international callers, this is the most generous option and the one most likely to justify the monthly cost.
Which one to choose
| Your situation | Best option |
| Calling Canada or Mexico regularly | Global Calling ($5/mo) |
| Calling one specific country often | Global Choice ($10/mo), but check the minute allowance for your country first |
| Calling multiple countries or making long calls | Global Calling Plus ($15/mo) |
| Very occasional calls (a few times a year) | Pay-as-you-go for short calls only. Otherwise, look at alternatives |
How to add an international calling plan
Log in to your Verizon account online or through the My Verizon app. Full details and options on Verizon’s website.
How to dial internationally from the US
Use this format:
+ [Country Code] [Area Code] [Local Number]Or:
011 + [Country Code] [Area Code] [Local Number]Examples:
- UK: +44 20 7946 0958
- India: +91 11 1234 5678
- Mexico: +52 55 1234 5678
On most phones, pressing and holding the “0” key inserts the “+” automatically. Saving your international contacts in this format means you won’t have to think about it each time. For a full list of country codes, see our international dialing guide.
Part 2: Using Verizon while traveling abroad
Check your account before you leave
This is the single most important thing. Before you get on the plane, log in to your Verizon account and confirm whether you have an international plan active on your line.
If you don’t have a plan and use your phone abroad, Verizon will charge you at pay-as-you-go roaming rates automatically. Most people don’t find out about it until the bill arrives.
A real example: a US traveler arrived in the UK and called a hospital back in the States before setting up any international plan. They assumed it would count as a regular call. It didn’t. Verizon charged the standard pay-as-you-go international rate, and a fairly short routine call ended up costing several unexpected dollars. They found ZippCall afterwards while looking for a cheaper way to call home during the rest of their trip. The whole situation was easily avoidable.
Also confirm your device supports international roaming. Most modern smartphones do, but it’s worth a quick check in the My Verizon app before you travel.
TravelPass ($12/day)
TravelPass is the simplest option for most travelers. At $12/day in most countries ($6/day in Canada and Mexico), you get unlimited talk, text, and data using your existing domestic plan (the same allowances you have at home). You’re only charged on days you actually use your phone, so if you’re away for a week but only pick up your phone on five days, you pay for five days.
At $12/day, here’s what a trip looks like:
| Days used | TravelPass cost |
| 3 days | $36 |
| 5 days | $60 |
| 7 days | $84 |
| 9 days | $108 |
| 10 days | $120 |
If you’re on an Unlimited Plus or Unlimited Welcome plan: roaming in Canada and Mexico is already included at no extra daily charge. Verizon also offers 3 TravelPass days for $10/month as a bundle with those plans, worth checking if you travel a few times a year.
Monthly International Plan ($100/month)
For longer trips, the Monthly International Plan at $100/month includes 250 minutes, unlimited texts, and 20GB of high-speed data (then unlimited at 3G speeds), usable in 210+ countries.
The crossover point: at $12/day, TravelPass costs $96 for 8 days and $108 for 9 days. If you’re traveling for 9 or more days and expect to use your phone every day, the monthly plan works out cheaper.
One real limitation: the 250-minute cap. Heavy callers will hit it and pay $0.25/minute in overage. TravelPass uses your domestic plan’s minute allowance instead, which is usually more generous. Worth factoring in if you make a lot of calls.
What if you only need to make one or two short calls while abroad?
If you’re traveling and genuinely only need to make a short call once or twice (maybe to check on something back home), triggering a $12 TravelPass day for that might not be worth it. Calls made over Wi-Fi through a VoIP service won’t trigger a TravelPass charge. We cover that below.
When Verizon’s options aren’t the right answer
The pay-as-you-go rates are not worth it
At $1.79–$2.99 per minute, Verizon’s pay-as-you-go rates are extremely expensive compared to what other services charge. For context:
| Country | Verizon pay-as-you-go | ZippCall |
| UK | $1.79/min | from $0.02/min |
| Australia | $1.79/min | from $0.02/min |
| Mexico | $1.79/min | from $0.02/min |
| France | $1.79/min | from $0.02/min |
| Germany | $1.79/min | from $0.02/min |
| Japan | $1.79/min | from $0.05/min |
| Italy | $1.79/min | from $0.03/min |
| India | $1.79/min | from $0.17/min |
Full disclosure: ZippCall is my product, so factor that in. But the numbers are the numbers. If you’re making international calls without a Verizon plan, you’re paying far more than you need to. Whether you use ZippCall or another VoIP service, it’s worth comparing options before defaulting to carrier rates.
ZippCall works from a browser on any device (no app download needed). The person you’re calling just answers their regular phone; they don’t need anything installed. It runs over Wi-Fi or mobile data, and credits never expire. It works well for occasional callers who don’t want a monthly subscription. See current rates at zippcall.com/countries.
When TravelPass is the right call
If you’re traveling and want your US number to work (to receive calls, use data, not have to think about it), TravelPass is the right option for most trips. The per-day structure is clear and the simplicity is worth it.
The one scenario where it’s not: you’re only abroad for a short time and genuinely only need to make one or two brief calls. In that case, Wi-Fi calling via a VoIP service makes more sense than paying for a full TravelPass day.
FAQ
Is it free to call internationally on Verizon?
No. There are no free international calls on Verizon. You’ll pay per-minute at pay-as-you-go rates, pay a monthly fee for a calling plan, or pay a daily fee with TravelPass. There’s always a cost.
How do I avoid international charges on Verizon?
Add one of Verizon’s international plans before you travel or before you start making international calls. Alternatively, use a calling app or VoIP service that works over Wi-Fi; those bypass carrier charges entirely.
How do I prepare my Verizon phone for international travel?
Two things: confirm an international plan (like TravelPass) is active on your line before you leave. Without one, you’re on pay-as-you-go rates the moment you use your phone abroad. And confirm your device supports international roaming (most modern smartphones do, but check in the My Verizon app).
Can I use my Verizon phone internationally?
Yes, in 210+ countries using TravelPass or the Monthly International Plan. Without one of those plans active, your phone may still connect to a local network, but you’ll be charged at pay-as-you-go roaming rates, which are expensive.
What are Verizon’s pay-as-you-go international rates?
$1.79 per minute for most countries. $2.99 per minute for many African, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries. These apply automatically if you use your phone internationally without an active plan.
Entrepreneur and founder of ZippCall. After years living abroad, Josh built ZippCall to make international calling simple, affordable, and reliable.
Ready to Try ZippCall?
Make affordable international calls on web, iPhone, and Android devices. Crystal-clear quality with competitive rates.
1 minute setup. No subscription required.