How to Call Brazil from USA: 8 Best Methods (Free & Cheap)

📅 2025-11-10 ⏱️ 19 min read ✍️ BubblyPhone Team

Complete guide to calling Brazil from USA in 2025. Compare free and paid options, learn dialing format, time zones, and save 99% on calls. Rates from $0.01/min.

Looking to call Brazil from the USA? With over 350,000 Brazilian Americans and strong business ties, calling Brazil is a common need. This guide shows you 8 proven methods from free options (WhatsApp used by 96% of Brazilians!) to ultra-cheap paid services at $0.01/minute.

⚡ Quick Answer: BubblyPhone ($0.01/min) offers the best value for calling any Brazilian number. For free calls, use WhatsApp (96% of Brazilians have it!). Save 99% vs. AT&T ($1.50-3.00/min).

How to Dial Brazil from USA

Standard Format:

011 + 55 + Area Code + Phone Number
or use: +55 + Area Code + Phone Number
Example: São Paulo Mobile
+55 11 98765-4321
(9 digits starting with 9 = mobile)
Example: Rio de Janeiro Landline
+55 21 3456-7890
(8 digits = landline)
⚠️ Important: Brazilian mobile numbers ALWAYS start with 9 and have 9 digits. Landlines have 8 digits and don't start with 9.

Major Brazilian Area Codes:

  • 11 - São Paulo: Largest city, financial center
  • 21 - Rio de Janeiro: Second largest, tourism hub
  • 61 - Brasília: Capital city
  • 31 - Belo Horizonte: Minas Gerais capital
  • 85 - Fortaleza: Northeast coast
  • 71 - Salvador: Bahia capital
  • 41 - Curitiba: Southern Brazil
  • 81 - Recife: Northeast business hub

8 Best Ways to Call Brazil

🏆 1. BubblyPhone - Best Overall

Rate: $0.01/min

Visit BubblyPhone.com → Buy credits → Enter +55 number → Click Call. Works in browser. Perfect for calling landlines or people without smartphones.

💚 2. WhatsApp - Most Popular in Brazil

Rate: FREE (96% of Brazilians use it!)

WhatsApp is THE dominant app in Brazil. Everyone uses it - not just for personal calls, but businesses, customer service, even government communication. If they have a smartphone, they have WhatsApp. Free calls and messages over WiFi/data.

💬 3. Skype

Rate: $0.023/min

Reliable backup for calling landlines when BubblyPhone isn't available.

📵 4. Google Voice

Rate: NOT AVAILABLE

Google Voice does NOT support calls to Brazil. Use BubblyPhone or WhatsApp instead.

🍎 5. FaceTime Audio

Rate: FREE (iPhone to iPhone only)

Works for iPhone users, but most Brazilians prefer WhatsApp regardless of device.

Cost Comparison

Service Rate/Min 1 Hour/Week Annual Cost
🏆 BubblyPhone $0.01 $0.60 $31.20
💚 WhatsApp FREE $0 $0
Skype $0.023 $1.38 $71.76
AT&T $1.50-3.00 $90-180 $4,680-9,360

💰 Real Savings Example:

Maria calls her family in São Paulo for 1 hour every week:

With AT&T: $1.50/min × 60 min × 52 weeks = $4,680/year
With BubblyPhone: $0.01/min × 60 min × 52 weeks = $31.20/year
Maria's Annual Savings: $4,649 - enough for a round-trip ticket to Brazil!

Time Zones: USA to Brazil

Most of Brazil (São Paulo, Rio, Brasília) uses Brasília Time (BRT, UTC-3):

  • From US Eastern: 1-2 hours ahead
  • From US Central: 2-3 hours ahead
  • From US Mountain: 3-4 hours ahead
  • From US Pacific: 4-5 hours ahead

Best times to call from Eastern Time:

  • 8-11 AM ET = 10 AM-1 PM Brazil (business hours)
  • 6-9 PM ET = 8-11 PM Brazil (personal calls)
Note: Brazil's DST policies change, so time differences can vary. Always verify current time before important calls.

Ready to Call Brazil?

Two solutions you need:

1. WhatsApp (FREE - 96% of Brazilians use it!)

2. BubblyPhone ($0.01/min - for landlines & businesses)

Start Calling Brazil for $0.01/min →

Ready to Start Calling?

Make international calls from your browser with BubblyPhone. No app needed, instant setup.

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