# How to make calls/texts back home while you travel

Staying connected with friends and family back home while traveling is crucial, and fortunately, there are several options to make calls or send texts without incurring excessive fees. Here’s a comprehensive guide:

Most of our SIMs don't come with calls & texts to USA or Australia but all of them come with data so that's why we highly suggest making your calls and texts for free via the Internet. 

It’s **much cheaper** than using mobile network rates, and will work via any data or WiFi connection - all you need is the right apps on your phone, and you’re good to go!

Here are our top picks:

### <mark style="color:yellow;">**WhatsApp**</mark>

* Download before you fly, so you can confirm your mobile number when you create your account
* Uses your Aussie phone number!
* Free calls, texts, photos and videos with anyone else who has the app
* Can’t call non-users or landlines&#x20;

### <mark style="color:yellow;">**Facetime & iMessage**</mark>

* Specific to Apple iOS users (sorry, Android buddies!)
* If you have an iPhone, you already probably do this whenever you send text messages to other iPhones (blue coloured text bubbles)
* Free calls, texts, photos, videos with other Apple iOS users
* Doesn’t work for landlines or Android users
* FaceTime is already installed on every iOS device and is super convenient for making calls. All you need to do is start a new FaceTime and choose audio or video, or click on the FaceTime video and telephone widgets when you click on an iPhone contact

### <mark style="color:yellow;">**Viber**</mark>

* Download before you fly, so you can confirm your mobile number when you create your account
* Uses your real phone number
* Free calls, texts, photos and videos with anyone else who has the app
* Can call landlines and non-users, for a fee (super cheap rates)
* Find out more about how you can get [Viber Out here](https://account.viber.com/en/)

### <mark style="color:yellow;">**Skype**</mark>

* Doesn’t use a real phone number
* Free calls, texts, photos and videos with anyone else who has the app
* Can call landlines and non-users, for a fee - you can [buy Skype call credits](https://www.skype.com/en/credit/)

### <mark style="color:yellow;">**Facebook Messenger**</mark>

* Works from your Facebook account = works with all your Facebook contacts
* Free calls, texts, photos, videos with anyone else who is “friends” with you&#x20;
* Can’t call landlines and non-users


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