Free Call to South Africa from US — $0.38/min (2026)
Call South Africa for $0.38/min with BubblyPhone. WhatsApp dominant. Country code +27. Johannesburg 11, Cape Town 21. Load shedding affects connectivity. Vodacom, MTN, Cell C. SAST (UTC+2).
WhatsApp calls to South Africa are free when both people have the app, and it is the country's dominant messaging app. Calling a South African phone number isn't free: BubblyPhone charges from $0.38/min. The country code is +27, with Johannesburg at +27 11 and Cape Town at +27 21.
Whether you're calling family in Johannesburg, friends in Cape Town, or business contacts in Durban, here's every option for calling South Africa cheaply or for free.
Load Shedding Warning
South Africa experiences load shedding — scheduled power cuts that can last 2-12 hours. During load shedding, cell towers may lose power and internet connectivity drops. If your call doesn't connect or drops suddenly, load shedding is likely the cause. Check EskomSePush (a South African app) or ask your contact about their load shedding schedule before calling.
Free: App-to-App Calls
Both people need the app and internet. No charges, no limits.
1. WhatsApp — Dominant
WhatsApp is South Africa's primary communication app. Voice and video calls work well in urban areas. Vodacom and MTN offer strong 4G coverage in cities, though rural areas can be spotty.
Tip: During load shedding, switch to voice-only calls (lower bandwidth) or wait for power to come back. Many South Africans have inverters or generators, so they may still have internet.
2. Facebook Messenger — Popular
Facebook is widely used in South Africa. Messenger works for voice and video calls and is a common fallback when WhatsApp is having issues.
3. Telegram — Growing
Telegram is growing in South Africa, particularly among tech-savvy users. Voice call quality is good and it uses less data than WhatsApp video calls.
4. FaceTime — Moderate
iPhone has decent market share in South Africa's urban areas, especially among higher-income users. FaceTime works well for those with Apple devices.
Calling South African Phone Numbers
South Africa is moderately expensive to call:
| Service | Mobile Rate | Landline Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.38/min | $0.38/min | Browser, iOS, Android |
| Google Voice | $0.12/min | $0.13/min | US Google account required |
| Rebtel | $0.07/min | $0.35/min | Calling plans available |
| AT&T / Verizon | $3.00-5.00/min | $3.00-5.00/min | Up to 15x more expensive |
Our honest take: Rebtel ($0.07/min) and Google Voice ($0.12/min mobile) are cheaper than BubblyPhone ($0.38/min) for South Africa. WhatsApp is your best free option when load shedding isn't happening. For phone numbers, Rebtel offers the best rates.
How to Dial South Africa from the US
# From a US phone:
011 + 27 + area code + number
# From a mobile (or VoIP app):
+27 + area code + number
# Example — calling a Johannesburg landline:
+27 11 123 4567
# Example — calling a Cape Town landline:
+27 21 123 4567
# Example — calling a South African mobile:
+27 82 123 4567
Drop the leading 0: South Africans dial numbers starting with 0 locally (like 082 123 4567). When calling from the US, drop the 0 and use +27 followed by the rest. Johannesburg is 11, Cape Town is 21, Durban is 31.
Number Format
- Johannesburg: +27 11 + 7 digits
- Cape Town: +27 21 + 7 digits
- Durban: +27 31 + 7 digits
- Mobiles: +27 6X/7X/8X + 7 digits
- Drop the leading 0
Carriers & Mobile
- Vodacom: Largest carrier (~40% share)
- MTN SA: Second carrier (~30%)
- Cell C: Third carrier
- Telkom SA: Fourth carrier
- Coverage: Good urban, spotty rural
Which Method Should You Use?
Calling family in South Africa
WhatsApp — free and universally used. Check load shedding schedules to time your calls when power is on. Major cities have good 4G coverage.
Calling a South African business
Rebtel ($0.03/min landline) or Google Voice ($0.04/min). English is widely spoken in business. Call during business hours: 8 AM - 5 PM SAST.
Call keeps dropping
Load shedding is likely the cause. Ask your contact to check their schedule on EskomSePush. Try again when their power comes back, or switch to SMS/text in the meantime.
Tips for Calling South Africa
- South Africa is 7 hours ahead of EST (SAST, UTC+2). When it's 10 AM in New York, it's 5 PM in Johannesburg. Best window: 8-11 AM EST (3-6 PM South Africa)
- Load shedding affects connectivity — South Africa has scheduled power cuts that can take down cell towers and internet. Time your calls around the schedule
- Large SA expat community — there are significant South African diaspora communities in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. WhatsApp groups are the main way SA expats stay connected
- English is widely spoken — South Africa has 11 official languages, but English is the primary language of business and government. No language barrier for most calls
- Data is expensive — mobile data in South Africa costs more than in most countries. Your contact may prefer voice calls over video to save data
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I call South Africa for free from the US?
What is the country code for South Africa?
What is load shedding and how does it affect calls?
What is the cheapest way to call a South African phone number?
What's the best time to call South Africa from the US?
Call South Africa for $0.38/min
Open BubblyPhone in your browser and dial +27. A 60-minute call costs $22.80.
Try Free — Call South Africa Now