How does BubblyPhone work?

BubblyPhone calls ordinary phone numbers over the internet. Create a free account, add credit from $5, and dial any mobile or landline from your browser or the iPhone and Android app. The person you call answers on their normal phone and doesn’t need any app.

Do I need a subscription to start?

No. Signing up is free and calling is pay as you go: add credit once and use it whenever you like. The only monthly charge is optional, your own phone number, if you decide to get one.

What do I need to make a call?

An internet connection, a microphone (your laptop’s built-in one is fine, a headset sounds better) and a recent browser, or the iPhone or Android app. You don’t need a SIM card or a phone plan.

Do I need a phone number to sign up?

No. Sign up with your email, Google or Apple account. We don’t ask you to verify a phone number.

How do I make my first call?

Sign in, add credit, open the dialer, pick the country and type the number. You’ll see the rate for that number before you press call. Allow microphone access when your browser asks.

What countries can I call?

Over 220 countries and territories, including the US, Canada, UK, India, Egypt, Australia, Germany, Pakistan and the Philippines. The Rates page lists every country with its prices.

How much does it cost to call?

It depends on the country and on whether you call a mobile or a landline, starting from $0.02 per minute. Type the number into the rate checker on our homepage, or see the Rates page, to see the exact price before you call.

How are rates determined?

Each country, and often each mobile network within it, costs a different amount to connect a call to, so rates differ by destination and by mobile or landline. The rate for the exact number you dial is shown before you call, and that’s the rate you pay.

How are calls billed?

Per started minute, at the rate for the number you called. A call of 2 minutes 10 seconds is billed as 3 minutes. Your call history shows each call’s length and cost.

Am I charged if nobody answers?

No. You’re only charged once the call is answered. Calls that ring out, are busy or fail to connect cost nothing.

Do my credits expire?

No. Your credit stays on your account until you use it. There are no expiry dates or time limits on your balance.

How much credit can I add?

Credit comes in packs of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. The larger packs include bonus credit: 5% on $10, 15% on $20, 20% on $50 and 25% on $100.

What happens if my credit runs out during a call?

The call ends when your balance can no longer cover the next minute. Before you dial, the dialer shows the rate so you can check you have enough. Add credit any time to keep calling.

Yes, rates are updated from time to time as connection costs change. You always see the current rate for a number before you call, and the call is charged at that rate.

Do transcription and translation cost extra?

Yes, they’re optional add-ons charged per minute on top of the call rate: call transcription is $0.02 per minute on the website, and live AI translation is $0.20 per minute. You only pay for them on calls where you switch them on.

What payment methods do you accept?

On the website you pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express through Stripe, so we never see your card number. In the iPhone app you pay through Apple, and on Android by card or Google Pay.

Credit already used for calls, texts, transcription or number fees can’t be refunded. Unused credit can be refunded on request, reviewed case by case: email hello@bubblyphone.com from your account email. Bonus credit isn’t refundable.

A call didn’t work. Will I be charged?

Calls that never connect aren’t charged. If a connected call was unusable because of a problem on our side, report it from the call’s page in your history or by email within 14 days, and verified failures are credited back to your balance.

Which currency do you charge in?

All prices and balances are in US dollars. If your card is in another currency, your bank converts the amount at its own rate.

What number does the person I call see?

By default they see one of our shared BubblyPhone numbers, chosen for the country you’re calling. If you get your own BubblyPhone number, your calls can show that number, or your own mobile once you’ve verified it.

Can I call both landlines and mobile numbers?

Yes. Mobile and landline rates often differ, so check the exact number in the rate checker before you call.

Can I press numbers during a call, for menus and extensions?

Yes. Open the keypad during the call to choose menu options or enter an extension, on the website and in the apps.

Can I call toll-free numbers?

Yes, and calls to toll-free numbers such as US 800 and 888 numbers are usually free. You just need some credit on your account. Some toll-free numbers only accept calls from inside their own country, so they may not connect from abroad.

How can I get the best call quality?

Use a stable Wi-Fi or wired connection, close video calls or large downloads, and use a headset to avoid echo. 4G and 5G mobile data work well too. If a call sounds choppy, the call’s page in your history shows whether the connection was the cause.

Do I need a good internet connection?

A stable connection gives the best sound. Wi-Fi or a wired connection works best, and 4G or 5G mobile data works well too. A weak connection can make the call choppy or drop it.

Can I get a transcript of my call?

Yes. Switch on transcription in the dialer before you call, and the transcript appears in your call history afterwards. It’s charged per minute on top of the call rate.

Can BubblyPhone translate my call?

Yes, on the website. Live AI translation lets you speak your language while the other person hears theirs, in 62 languages, with live captions. It’s in beta and costs $0.20 per minute on top of the call rate.

We don’t offer downloadable call recordings. If you need a record of what was said, switch on transcription to get a written transcript in your call history.

Can I make conference calls?

Not at the moment. Each BubblyPhone call connects you with one phone number.

Can I call emergency services (911, 999, 112)?

No. BubblyPhone can’t be used to call emergency numbers. Always use a regular phone line or your mobile for emergencies.

Can I receive calls and texts?

Yes, with your own BubblyPhone number. Calls ring in your browser or the app, can be forwarded to your mobile, or go to voicemail. You can also receive texts and reply to them.

How much is a phone number?

A US number is $3 a month plus a $3 one-time setup fee, paid from your balance. On the website there’s also a $9.99 monthly plan that includes the number and $6 of call credit each month.

Which countries can I get a number in?

At the moment we offer US local numbers. You can use a US number from anywhere in the world, and still call any country.

Does my number have voicemail?

Yes. Missed calls can go to voicemail, and messages are transcribed so you can read them as text or listen to them. You can record your own greeting.

Can I forward calls to my mobile?

Yes. Calls to your BubblyPhone number can be forwarded to your mobile. Forwarded calls are charged at the normal rate for the number they’re forwarded to.

Can I send texts from my number?

You can receive texts on your number and reply to them. Starting new conversations and bulk texting aren’t supported, and replies to some mobile networks may not be delivered.

Can my calls show my own mobile number?

Yes, if you have a BubblyPhone number. Verify your mobile with a short code call, then choose to show it on your calls. Some countries, such as the UK and India, block calls from abroad that show a local number, so there we show your BubblyPhone number instead.

Can I cancel my number?

Yes, any time, with no contract. When you cancel, the number is released and can’t be recovered.

Can I use BubblyPhone for business calls?

Yes. Many customers call clients, suppliers and partners abroad. With your own number, clients see a consistent number and can call you back, and call history shows every call’s length and cost.

Can I use BubblyPhone for sales and cold calling?

Yes, for calls you make yourself. Get your own number so prospects see a consistent number and can call back. You’re responsible for following the telemarketing rules where you call, such as do-not-call lists and permitted calling hours. Robocalls, automated dialers and spam calls aren’t allowed.

Can my team share one account?

Each account is for one person. For a team, each person can create their own account.

Can I call from my iPhone or Android phone?

Yes. Use the iPhone or Android app, or open bubblyphone.com in Safari or Chrome on your phone. Your account, balance and call history are the same everywhere.

Which browsers are supported?

Recent versions of Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Firefox, on computers and phones. No plugins or extensions are needed.

The other person can’t hear me. What should I check?

Make sure your browser or the app is allowed to use the microphone (look for the microphone icon in the address bar), that the right microphone is selected, and that no other app is using it.

Does BubblyPhone work with a VPN or abroad?

Yes. BubblyPhone works wherever you have internet, including when you’re travelling. Some VPNs and restrictive networks can affect call quality; if a call struggles, try without the VPN or on another network.

Are my calls secure and private?

Your side of the call is encrypted between your browser or app and our network. From there it travels over the regular phone network, like any phone call. Calls are only transcribed if you switch transcription on, and we never sell your data.

How do I delete my account?

Go to Settings and choose Delete account. Your account is closed, any numbers are released straight away and remaining credit is forfeited, so use or request a refund of unused credit first.

How do I contact support?

Email hello@bubblyphone.com from the email on your account. For a problem with a specific call, report it from that call’s page in your history so we can see the details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers about credit, rates, calling, numbers and your account. Can't find yours? Email hello@bubblyphone.com.

48 questions

Getting started

Rates & credit

Payments & refunds

Making calls

Your own number

Business calling

Apps & devices

Privacy & account

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