How to Call India Toll Free Number From the US

Published on: Apr 3, 2019

Calling toll-free numbers might not cost you anything but not when you’re calling from abroad. Like when you’re calling a toll-free number in India from a US mobile phone or landline.

If you want to call a bank, school or an airline in India, chances are they gave you a toll-free number. Does this mean you can call them at no cost whatsoever?

Well, yes and no.

It’s free when you call from a landline. However, calls from mobile devices are charged airtime minutes.

So what are toll-free numbers and how do they work?

Toll-free numbers are commonly used among businesses and customer service calls. It makes customer support much more accessible. Plus the business looks more professional.

You can usually tell it from the distinctive three-digit codes that precede it such as 800, 888, 877, 866, 855 or 844. These codes are not interchangeable. Dialing “1-888” instead of “1-800” will connect your call to a different user.

These three-digit prefixes are then followed by a destination number. Businesses can choose to customize it for easy recall. So it’s common to see toll-free numbers like 1-800-FLOWERS or 1-888-REPAIR.

But here’s the catch: toll-free calls are not really free. It’s paid for by the business. That’s why calls from international destinations are mostly blocked because they’re expensive. Other establishments allow it but you’ll have to pay for the call, meaning it won’t be toll-free anymore.

So how to call India toll free number from the US if international calls are blocked? Use a local number, of course. In this post, we’ll tell you how to do just that. Read on to find out more.

How To Call India Toll-Free Number From The US

The toll-free calling system in India works pretty much like the rest of the world. Except that it mostly just starts with “1800” followed by seven-digit destination numbers. To be able to place a call to these numbers, you must first be familiar with international dialing. Here’s a step-by-step guide on dialing India toll-free numbers when you’re calling from the US:

Dial 011 on your device. This is the exit code for all international calls from the US.
Dial 91 which is the country code for India.
Dial the three-digit code that precedes the toll-free number (i.e. 800, 888, 877). This is the area code for phone numbers in India. If you see a “1” before these codes, Just skip it. You don’t have to dial it.
Dial the rest of the Indian toll-free number you are trying to reach.

Cheap Calls to Toll-Free Numbers in India

Using a local number to call a toll-free number in India from the US usually involves two options: use a roaming service or sign up with MyLine.

A roaming service is when you use your sim from a local network provider in India while abroad. Not all service providers offer roaming though so if you choose to go down this path, you need to check it with them first.

What happens if you call an international toll-free number while on roaming? A large phone bill, that’s what. Roaming services aren’t exactly

known for being cheap. In fact, they’re generally very expensive. Call rates average three to five times that of the usual cost. So instead of saving money on a toll-free call, you end up spending more.

When you sign-up with MyLine, it will only cost you $0.011 per minute of calls to India. We’re willing to bet that’s less than half of what you would pay for a roaming call.

So how does MyLine work, you may ask?

It’s simple, really. With MyLine’s advanced VoIP technology, the caller number that will register on the other end of the line will be local even if you’re calling from the US. So the system will recognize it as a local call, thus ensuring it won’t get blocked. It’s not free but it certainly is the cheapest international call rate out there. You don’t even need to dial the country code.

Since it doesn’t charge any other hidden fees, MyLine has the cheapest rate for international calls to India from the US. And that includes calls to any landline and mobile numbers. International calling plans are insanely affordable too starting at only $2. Plus, their pay-as-you-go system means you won’t be tied to a contract. It’s affordability and flexibility rolled into one.

Get The Lowest Rates To Call International

MyLine offers some of the most affordable international calling cards available. Call abroad for as little as $2 for your first card. Check our international calling rate for your country on our website.

Click here to learn more about how to call between the USA and India.

About The Author

As an avid traveler, Judy Ponio loves to write blogs about traveling and how to save money when making international calls.