Two different kinds of "free"
Google Voice’s free calling is a US-based benefit: sign-up requires an existing US phone number and a Google account, and free calling covers the US and Canada — everything else, and everyone outside the US, is locked out or pays per minute. WhatsApp’s free calling is universal but conditional on the other person also having WhatsApp installed; it never touches the regular phone network, so a landline or a non-user is simply unreachable.
Google Voice vs WhatsApp vs Hyallo: side by side
| Feature | Google Voice | Hyallo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free to sign up | Yes, but needs a US number | Yes | Yes — email only, anywhere |
| Works for users outside the US | No | Yes | Yes |
| Calls any real phone number | Yes | No — WhatsApp users only | Yes |
| Free calls to US & Canada | Yes, for US users | Only between WhatsApp users | No — paid per minute |
| Pay-as-you-go to other countries | Yes, from the US | Not available | Yes — 180+ destinations, from anywhere |
What it costs to call popular destinations
Tap any destination for full rates and dialing info.
The verdict: who is each one actually for?
Google Voice fits someone based in the US who mostly calls US and Canadian numbers — for that, it is free and hard to beat.
WhatsApp fits calling anyone who also has WhatsApp, anywhere in the world, for free.
Hyallo fits everyone the other two lock out: anyone outside the US trying to use Google Voice, or anyone needing to reach a real phone number that isn’t on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Google Voice if I don’t live in the US?
Signing up requires an existing US phone number, which makes it impractical for most people outside the US. Hyallo has no such requirement.
Can WhatsApp call a landline?
No. WhatsApp calls only work between two WhatsApp accounts. Use a service like Hyallo to reach a landline or anyone without the app.