Is There Really Such a Thing As Free VoIP?

Just as with the saying “There is no such thing as free lunch”, there is also no such thing as a completely free VoIP.  First, remember that you are paying for your high-speed Internet connection, which is where VoIP is transmitted over, so it’s not really for free.  However, you should also keep in mind that yes, there are a lot of VoIP companies that allow you to place and receive calls for free in their own network, but charge you for calls outside of their proprietary network.

VoIP companies offer free calls within their own network, and maybe to some specially chosen destinations, as a strategy.  By luring people into making and taking calls for free, limited only to their own network, users are then tempted to also purchase credits and make calls toward other paid destinations outside of their network.  So although VoIP companies offer free VoIP calls, it just serves as a prelude to purchasing more services that allow you to make calls to other networks in other destinations for a small fee.   

There is a number of software available today that will allow you to take advantage of free calls made via the Internet, each with different terms.  In some VoIP software, you can start conversations with other PC users that use the same software, of no cost.  This is especially very beneficial to those who do lots of long-distance calls, since you can actually use this software to place your calls for free.  However, just make sure that the person you are trying to call also uses the same software.

But for calls not made to PCs, but rather to ordinary landline telephones, then certain charges apply.  Although the charging fee is relatively lower compared to regular telephone lines, it still isn’t what you can call as free.      

There are also some VoIP software that allow you to place free calls to landlines in more than 40 countries all over the world, and also live video television.  However, as free as the word free can get, you are asked to pay a certain amount of money up front to use their “free” services. 

So in the end, there is really no such thing as free VoIP.  There are always conditions that apply.  Sure, you can make free calls to other users, as long as they are in the same network as you are.  But remember that although you pay a certain amount of money to enjoy more phoning privileges, the amount you pay is still lower compared to regular phone lines, so it’s still as good as being free.