There are 4.2 million Filipino-Americans in the United States. Many of them call family back home regularly. And many of them are getting absolutely robbed by their carrier.
What US carriers charge
Let's not sugarcoat it:
- AT&T: $3.00/min to Philippine mobile
- Verizon: $2.99/min to Philippine mobile
- T-Mobile: $3.00/min (without international plan)
A one-hour call to Mom in Manila: $180. That's a car payment. For a phone call.
The international plan trap
"But I have an international plan!" Great. Those typically knock it down to $0.25-0.50/min. A one-hour call is still $15-30. Better, but still a markup of 200-400% over what the call actually costs.
Your options, ranked
1. Cloud phone number (Best value + quality)
Use Jaambo or a similar VoIP service. Rate to Philippine mobile: $0.12/min. One hour: $7.20. That's 96% cheaper than AT&T.
The person you're calling doesn't need an app — their phone just rings like any other call. You call from your browser.
2. Calling card / PIN service
Old school but still works. Rates around $0.05-0.15/min. The catch: terrible audio quality, connection codes, expiration dates, and hidden fees that eat your balance.
3. WhatsApp / Viber
Free if both sides have the app and internet. But your lola in the province might not have reliable WiFi, and the call quality degrades fast on slow connections.
4. Your carrier's international plan
$10-15/month add-on for slightly less offensive rates. Still 2-4x more expensive than VoIP.
How to dial the Philippines
The format: +63 + area code + number
- Manila landline: +63 2 XXXX XXXX
- Mobile: +63 9XX XXX XXXX
With Jaambo, just type the number — we handle the country code automatically.
The math that matters
If you call the Philippines for 30 minutes a week:
| Method | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| AT&T (no plan) | $360 |
| AT&T (intl plan) | $45-75 |
| Jaambo | $14.40 + $5/mo = $19.40 |
Annual savings vs AT&T: $4,086. That's a round-trip flight to Manila.
Start calling the Philippines for less — check rates with our rate calculator.