Free Call to Taiwan from US — Use LINE (Free) or BubblyPhone (2026)
Call Taiwan free with LINE (21M users — NOT WhatsApp). LINE dominates Taiwan like it dominates Japan. BubblyPhone $0.056/min. +886 dialing guide (don't confuse with +86 China). Taipei 2, Chunghwa Telecom.
Calling Taiwan costs just $0.056/min with BubblyPhone — $3.36 for a full hour. But here's what you need to know: LINE is the #1 app in Taiwan — not WhatsApp. With 21 million users out of a 24 million population, LINE dominates messaging, payments, and even news. The country code is +886(don't confuse it with China's +86).
Whether you're calling family in Taipei, a tech company in Hsinchu, or friends in Kaohsiung, here's every option for calling Taiwan cheaply or for free.
Free: App-to-App Calls
Both people need the app and internet. No charges, no limits.
1. LINE — The Only App That Matters
LINE dominates Taiwan with 21 million users out of 24 million people — roughly 90% penetration. Free voice and video calls work excellently. LINE is used for everything: messaging, payments (LINE Pay), news, taxi services, and even government communications.
Tip:If you don't have LINE installed, download it before calling Taiwan. It's not optional — it's how Taiwanese people communicate. Similar to how Japan and Thailand also use LINE as their primary app.
2. Facebook Messenger — Second Choice
Facebook is popular in Taiwan, and Messenger is commonly used as a backup. Some Taiwanese people use both LINE and Messenger, but LINE is always the default.
3. FaceTime — For iPhone Users
iPhone market share in Taiwan is very high — around 45-50%. Apple is extremely popular. FaceTime works well between Apple users, and many Taiwanese-Americans use it.
4. WhatsApp — Rarely Used
WhatsApp is not popular in Taiwan.Some people have it for international contacts, but it's not their default. Don't assume your Taiwanese contact uses WhatsApp — ask for their LINE ID instead.
Calling Taiwanese Phone Numbers — Affordable
Taiwan is moderately priced for international calling:
| Service | Mobile Rate | Landline Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.056/min | $0.056/min | Browser, iOS, Android |
| Google Voice | $0.04/min | $0.02/min | US Google account required |
| LINE Out | $0.05/min | $0.03/min | Built into LINE — natural for Taiwan |
| AT&T / Verizon | $1.50-3.00/min | $1.50-3.00/min | Up to 54x more expensive |
Our honest take: Google Voice ($0.04/min mobile) is slightly cheaper than BubblyPhone ($0.056/min) for Taiwan. LINE Out ($0.05/min) is competitive too. For landlines, Google Voice ($0.02/min) is cheapest. But LINE is free and everyone in Taiwan uses it — start there.
How to Dial Taiwan from the US
# From a US phone:
011 + 886 + number
# From a mobile (or VoIP app):
+886 + number
# Example — calling a Taipei landline:
+886 2 1234 5678
# Example — calling a Taiwanese mobile:
+886 912 345 678
# Example — calling Kaohsiung:
+886 7 234 5678
Important: Taiwan's country code is +886 — don't confuse it with China's +86. They are completely different. Taiwanese numbers start with 0 domestically — drop the 0: 02 becomes +886 2 (Taipei), 09xx becomes +886 9xx (mobile).
Major Area Codes
- Taipei: 2
- Taichung: 4
- Kaohsiung: 7
- Tainan: 6
- Hsinchu: 3
- Taoyuan: 3
Carriers & Mobile
- Chunghwa Telecom: Largest carrier (state-owned)
- Taiwan Mobile: Second largest
- Far EasTone: Third carrier
- Mobile prefixes: 09xx (all mobiles start with 09)
- Coverage: Excellent — very dense island with great infrastructure
Which Method Should You Use?
Calling family in Taiwan
LINE — it's free and every Taiwanese person uses it. Ask for their LINE ID. Don't bother with WhatsApp — it's not the norm in Taiwan.
Calling a Taiwanese business
Google Voice ($0.02/min landline) or BubblyPhone ($0.056/min). Many Taiwanese businesses also use LINE for customer service.
Calling a Taiwanese mobile number
Google Voice ($0.04/min) is slightly cheaper than BubblyPhone ($0.056/min). But LINE is free and everyone uses it.
Calling Taiwan's tech industry (Hsinchu/Taipei)
LINE for personal contacts, BubblyPhone or Google Voice for office landlines. TSMC, MediaTek, and most tech firms are in Hsinchu (area code 3).
Tips for Calling Taiwan
- Taiwan is 13 hours ahead of EST (CST, UTC+8). When it's 10 AM in New York, it's 11 PM in Taipei. Best window: 7-9 PM EST (8-10 AM Taipei next day) or 6-8 AM EST (7-9 PM Taipei)
- LINE is essential — install LINE before calling anyone in Taiwan. With 21M out of 24M people using it, there's no alternative. It's Taiwan's everything app
- +886 not +86 — Taiwan's country code is +886. China's is +86. Mixing these up will connect you to the wrong country. Double-check before dialing
- Night market hours — Taiwanese culture is lively in the evenings. People are often out at night markets from 6 PM - midnight. Try morning or afternoon calls
- Skype shut down in 2025 — if you used Skype to call Taiwan, switch to LINE (free), Google Voice ($0.02-0.04/min), or BubblyPhone ($0.056/min)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Call Taiwan for $0.056/min
Open BubblyPhone in your browser and dial +886. A 60-minute call costs $3.36.
Try Free — Call Taiwan Now