How to Make the Biggest VoIP Savings

1. Figure Out Where You Call the Most Often

If everyone you know lives in the same state as you, then VoIP doesn't have as much savings potential. However, if you're like many Americans with far-flung family members, VoIP offers significant savings. To determine how much, first make a list of everywhere they live. Now check with your local phone company for rates on peak hour calls to those places.

2. Compare Prices with VoIP Providers

Most VoIP providers offer significantly lower rates for international calls than any traditional telephone company. Many providers offer 10 cents a minute to India, three cents a minute to London, and three to four cents to China. Rates to Mexico vary between three and ten cents per minute. Can your phone company beat that for a peak hour call?

With VoIP, you don't have to worry about what time you call or for how long. The same rate always applies. You may even find that your basic plan includes free unlimited international calls to your top countries. Your savings won't be as high if you place most of your calls within the US, but at least you won't have to worry about the length of the call. With many plans, all US calls are included in your basic plan. Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands are considered US calls.

Some global plan includes additional countries for a low monthly fee, with no per-minute charges. If your top countries are on that list and you spend more than $5 a month calling them at VoIP rates, then sign up for the Global plan to save even more money.

3. Complete Your Calls as Usual

Once you have VoIP set-up, make all the long distance calls you normally make. At the end of the month, compare your billing statement to your last phone bill from your traditional phone company. You'll be amazed by the savings.

If you want the biggest savings on long distance and international calls, sign up for VoIP.