Free Call to Portugal from US — $0.05/min (2026)
Call Portugal for $0.05/min with BubblyPhone — cheaper than Google Voice. WhatsApp dominant. No leading 0. +351 dialing guide, MEO/NOS/Vodafone carriers, Lisbon/Porto area codes.
Yes, you can call Portugal for free with WhatsApp, the dominant app there, or Messenger, as long as both people have the app and data. Calling a real Portuguese phone number costs $0.05/min with BubblyPhone, or $3.00 for a full hour. Below are the options for calling Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve.
Portugal shares the same timezone as the UK (WET/WEST), making it one of the easier European countries to call from the US East Coast — only 5 hours ahead of EST.
Free: App-to-App Calls
Both people need the app and internet. No charges, no limits.
1. WhatsApp — Dominant in Portugal
WhatsApp is the #1 messaging app in Portugal — used by virtually everyone. Voice and video calls are free and work well. Portugal has good 4G/5G coverage from MEO, NOS, and Vodafone PT, and fiber broadband is widespread in cities.
Note: The large Brazilian community in Portugal also uses WhatsApp heavily, creating a unified messaging ecosystem across both Portuguese-speaking countries.
2. Facebook Messenger — Also Popular
Facebook is widely used in Portugal, and Messenger voice/video calls are common. Many Portuguese families use both WhatsApp and Messenger. Either works well for free calls.
3. FaceTime — For iPhone Users
iPhone market share in Portugal is around 25-30%. Samsung and Xiaomi are more popular. FaceTime works if both sides have Apple devices, but don't assume your Portuguese contact has an iPhone.
4. Viber — Niche but Present
Viber has a small but loyal user base in Portugal, especially among older users who adopted it early. Not as common as WhatsApp, but free calls work well if your contact uses it.
Calling Portuguese Phone Numbers — Very Cheap
Portugal is one of the cheapest European countries to call:
| Service | Mobile Rate | Landline Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.05/min | $0.05/min | Browser, iOS, Android — very competitive |
| Google Voice | $0.10/min | $0.03/min | US Google account required |
| Rebtel | $0.36/min | $0.01/min | Unlimited plans available |
| Viber Out | $0.069/min | $0.069/min | Convenient if already on Viber |
| AT&T / Verizon | $1.50-3.00/min | $1.50-3.00/min | Up to 200x more expensive |
Our honest take: BubblyPhone ($0.05/min) is one of the cheapest options for Portuguese mobiles and needs no Google account. A 60-minute call costs $3.00. For landlines, Google Voice ($0.02/min) and BubblyPhone ($0.05/min) are both very cheap. But WhatsApp is still free.
How to Dial Portugal from the US
# From a US phone:
011 + 351 + number
# From a mobile (or VoIP app):
+351 + number
# Example — calling a Lisbon landline:
+351 21 234 5678
# Example — calling a Portuguese mobile:
+351 912 345 678
# Example — calling Porto:
+351 22 234 5678
Important: Portugal does NOT use a leading 0 for domestic calls — numbers are dialed the same way locally and internationally. Lisbon landlines start with 21, Porto with 22. Mobile numbers start with 9xx (e.g., 91x, 92x, 93x, 96x).
Major Area Codes
- Lisbon: 21
- Porto: 22
- Coimbra: 239
- Faro (Algarve): 289
- Braga: 253
- Funchal (Madeira): 291
- Azores: 292/295/296
Carriers & Mobile
- MEO (Altice): Largest carrier, formerly PT
- NOS: Second largest
- Vodafone PT: Third carrier
- Mobile prefixes: 91x (Vodafone), 92x (NOS), 93x (NOS), 96x (MEO)
- Coverage: Excellent nationwide, fiber widespread in cities
Which Method Should You Use?
Calling family in Portugal
WhatsApp — free, and universally used in Portugal. Video calls work great over Portugal's solid broadband infrastructure.
Calling a Portuguese business
BubblyPhone ($0.05/min) — a 30-minute business call costs $1.50. Works from any browser.
Calling a Portuguese mobile
BubblyPhone ($0.05/min) matches Google Voice ($0.05/min) for Portuguese mobiles, without needing a US Google account.
Calling Brazilian friends living in Portugal
WhatsApp — Brazilians in Portugal use WhatsApp even more than the Portuguese do. It's the default communication tool for the Brazilian-Portuguese community.
Tips for Calling Portugal
- Portugal is 5 hours ahead of EST (WET/WEST — same as UK). When it's 10 AM in New York, it's 3 PM in Lisbon. Best window: 10 AM - noon EST (3-5 PM Lisbon) or 2-4 PM EST (7-9 PM Lisbon)
- No leading zero — unlike most European countries, Portugal does not use a leading 0 for domestic calls. The number you see locally is the same you dial internationally (just add +351)
- Madeira and Azores — these Atlantic islands are part of Portugal and use +351. The Azores are 1 hour behind mainland Portugal (UTC-1)
- BubblyPhone is very competitive here — at $0.05/min, Portugal is one of the cheapest European countries to call. Google Voice charges about the same for Portuguese mobiles ($0.05/min)
- Skype shut down in 2025 — if you used Skype to call Portugal, switch to BubblyPhone ($0.05/min), WhatsApp (free), or Google Voice ($0.02-0.05/min)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I call Portugal for free from the US?
What is the cheapest way to call a Portuguese phone number?
What is the country code for Portugal?
Does Portugal use a leading 0 for phone numbers?
What's the best time to call Portugal from the US?
Call Portugal for $0.05/min
Open BubblyPhone in your browser and dial +351. A 60-minute call costs $3.00.
Try Free — Call Portugal Now