Call India from Singapore: 7 Cheapest Methods (2026)
Complete guide to calling India from Singapore. Compare 7 methods from free to S$0.07/min. Learn dialing format, best times to call, and save up to 99%.
To call India from Singapore, dial your carrier's IDD prefix (001 or 019 on Singtel, 002 on M1, 018 on StarHub), then 91, then the area code and number, e.g. 019 91 22 XXXX XXXX for Mumbai. On a mobile, +91 works from any carrier. WhatsApp calls are free if both of you have it.
Quick Answer
Cheapest way to call India from Singapore: WhatsApp, free if both parties have the app. To ring a real Indian number, Viber Out and Singtel's 019 IDD cost less per minute; BubblyPhone costs US$0.091/min (about S$0.12) to landlines and US$0.106 (about S$0.14) to mobiles, from your browser with no contract.
Dialing format: +91 + city/mobile code + phone number
Example: +91 22 XXXX XXXX (Mumbai landline) or +91 9XXX XXX XXX (mobile)
In This Guide
7 Best Methods to Call India from Singapore
1. BubblyPhone
Cost: US$0.091/min (about S$0.12) to landlines, US$0.106 (about S$0.14) to mobiles
Call Quality: HD voice over internet
Requirements: Internet connection, free app
Pros: Works in the browser, no contracts, per-minute billing
Cons: Requires stable internet
BubblyPhone calls Indian landlines for US$0.091 (about S$0.12) and mobiles for US$0.106 (about S$0.14) per minute, billed per started minute, with no contract. With Singapore's excellent internet infrastructure, you'll enjoy crystal-clear calls. Perfect for regular callers and businesses.
Try BubblyPhone Free →2. WhatsApp
Cost: Free (app-to-app)
Call Quality: HD voice & video
Requirements: Both parties need WhatsApp
Pros: Free, widely used in both countries
Cons: Can't call regular phone numbers
WhatsApp is extremely popular in both Singapore and India, making it the go-to choice for free calls. Over 500 million Indians use WhatsApp, so most of your contacts likely already have it. Video calls work great on Singapore's fast WiFi.
3. Google Meet
Cost: Free (Google account required)
Requirements: Both parties need Google account
Pros: High quality video, Google integration
Cons: More suited for video than voice
Google Meet is popular for business calls between Singapore and India. Free for personal use with up to 60-minute calls. Works seamlessly with Gmail and Google Calendar.
4. Viber
Cost: Free (app-to-app), S$0.07/min (Viber Out)
Requirements: Internet, Viber app
Pros: Good Viber Out rates to India
Cons: Less popular than WhatsApp
Viber offers competitive Viber Out rates to India for calling phone numbers. Free for Viber-to-Viber calls. Worth installing if your contacts in India use it.
5. Singtel IDD (001/019)
Cost: S$0.06-0.15/min (varies by plan)
Requirements: Singtel mobile/landline
Pros: No app needed, reliable
Cons: More expensive than VoIP
Singtel IDD rates to India are reasonable compared to other countries. Use 019 prefix for lower rates (budget IDD) or 001 for premium quality. Add the IDD Saver Pack for better rates.
6. StarHub IDD
Cost: S$0.05-0.12/min
Requirements: StarHub subscriber
Pros: Competitive India rates
Cons: Still more than VoIP
StarHub offers competitive IDD rates to India with various add-on packs. Consider the IDD Value Pack if you call India frequently.
7. M1 IDD
Cost: S$0.06-0.14/min
Requirements: M1 subscriber
Pros: Easy to use, no setup
Cons: Higher than VoIP options
M1 offers standard IDD rates to India. The IDD Plus Pass provides better rates for frequent callers. Use prefix 002 for budget rates.
How to Dial India from Singapore
Dialing Format
+ 91 + Area Code + Phone Number
Or use IDD prefix (001/019/002) + 91
Calling a Mumbai Landline:
+91 22 XXXX XXXX
22 = Mumbai area code
Calling an Indian Mobile:
+91 9XXX XXX XXX
Mobile numbers are 10 digits
India Area Codes
| City | Area Code | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai | 22 | +91 22 XXXX XXXX |
| Delhi/NCR | 11 | +91 11 XXXX XXXX |
| Bangalore | 80 | +91 80 XXXX XXXX |
| Chennai | 44 | +91 44 XXXX XXXX |
| Hyderabad | 40 | +91 40 XXXX XXXX |
| Kolkata | 33 | +91 33 XXXX XXXX |
| Pune | 20 | +91 20 XXXX XXXX |
| Ahmedabad | 79 | +91 79 XXXX XXXX |
Indian Mobile Carrier Prefixes
Indian mobile numbers are 10 digits starting with 6, 7, 8, or 9. Here are the major carriers:
Jio (Reliance)
6XXX, 7XXX, 8XXX, 9XXX
India's largest carrier, 400M+ subscribers
Airtel
7XXX, 8XXX, 9XXX
Premium carrier, good network
Vodafone Idea (Vi)
7XXX, 8XXX, 9XXX
Third largest carrier
BSNL
9XXX
Government carrier, rural coverage
Best Times to Call India
Time Difference
India is 2.5 hours behind Singapore.
Singapore: SGT (UTC+8) | India: IST (UTC+5:30)
Neither country observes daylight saving time.
Best Calling Windows
SG Morning (8-10 AM)
→ India: 5:30-7:30 AM (early morning)
SG Evening (7-10 PM) ✓ Best
→ India: 4:30-7:30 PM (evening)
SG Night (10 PM-12 AM)
→ India: 7:30-9:30 PM (dinner time)
Price Comparison: Singapore to India Calls
| Service | Mobile Rate | Landline Rate | Connection Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | S$0.14/min | S$0.12/min | None |
| Free* | N/A | None | |
| Viber Out | S$0.02/min | S$0.02/min | S$0.10 |
| Singtel IDD (019) | S$0.07/min | S$0.07/min | None |
| Singtel IDD (001) | S$0.15/min | S$0.15/min | None |
| StarHub IDD | S$0.07/min | S$0.07/min | None |
| M1 IDD | S$0.07/min | S$0.07/min | None |
* Free app-to-app calls only. Rates as of January 2026.
💰 Monthly Savings Example
If you call India for 60 minutes per week (240 min/month):
Singtel IDD (001)
S$36/mo
StarHub IDD
S$12/mo
BubblyPhone
S$28/mo
Save about S$8/month vs Singtel 001 with BubblyPhone
Call India from US$0.091/min
Join thousands of Singaporeans calling India with crystal-clear quality. Works on WiFi and mobile data. No contracts.
Get Started Free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the country code for India?
India's country code is +91. When calling from Singapore, dial +91 or use your carrier's IDD prefix followed by 91.
What is the cheapest way to call India from Singapore?
WhatsApp is free if your contact has the app. For a real Indian phone number, Viber Out and the budget IDD rates (Singtel 019, StarHub, M1) cost the least per minute. BubblyPhone costs US$0.091/min (about S$0.12) to landlines and US$0.106 to mobiles, with no app or contract.
What time should I call India from Singapore?
India is 2.5 hours behind Singapore. The best time is Singapore evening (7-10 PM), which is 4:30-7:30 PM in India - perfect for catching family after work.
Which IDD prefix should I use?
For Singtel, use 019 for budget rates or 001 for premium quality. StarHub uses 018, M1 uses 002. However, VoIP apps like BubblyPhone offer better rates than any IDD service.
Can I use Singapore number to call India on WhatsApp?
Yes! You can use WhatsApp registered with your Singapore number to make free calls to anyone in India who has WhatsApp. Both voice and video calls are free over WiFi or data.