The best voice calling apps for iPad that let you call all over the world, no actual phone needed!
Apple hasn't ever included a Phone app on the iPad, and maybe that's just as well. Do we really need to see people with 7.9- or 9.7-inch devices propped up to their heads? Yet iPad owners may certainly need to make calls too, and like the giant conference phones of old, in some cases, bigger really can be better. So, if you absolutely, positively need to get your call on, and the iPad is what you want to use, you'll need to check out some alternatives. Luckily, there are several excellent voice calling apps to choose from, and one is even built-right in!
FaceTime Audio
Apple's FaceTime Audio is included as part of iOS 7 on every iPad as part of the FaceTime app. It's just like regular FaceTime but, as the name suggests, is voice-only instead of video. You can use it to place calls to anyone else who's also using iOS 7. It works great, the audio quality is amazing, especially over WiFi, and it's completely free to anywhere in the world.
If most of the people you call are iOS users, FaceTime Audio is your go-to.
- Free - Comes with any iPad running iOS 7
Skype
Microsoft's Skype is easy to set up and simple to use. It's also completely free if all you want to do is call other Skype users. If you want to use it as an actual phone replacement, you can sign up for their paid service and get assigned a phone number that people can use to call you just like they'd call any other number. Skype supports both voice and video calling as well as regular chat. It's also one of the most widely used voice calling apps in the world, so the odds of friends and family using it may be greater than other services.
If you want an easy solution that's popular throughout the world, use Skype.
- Free - Download Now
Talkatone
Talkatone is one of the only apps available for iPad that fully uses everything Google Voice has to offer. It lets you make truly free voice calls a to any number, anywhere in the world, without having to forward calls from another number. It also works really well when used in conjunction with GV Connect (below). It may not have the prettiest interface in the world, but if you use Google Voice, or want to, it's what you need.
If you live and die by Google Voice, you need Talkatone.
- Free - Download Now
GV Connect
GV Connect allows you to place calls using your Google Voice number or listen to voicemails and manage your Google Voice chats. It also makes a great companion to Talkatone since it pulls in everything from your Google Voice account. There's even an option in settings that allows you to place calls with Talkatone, if you have it installed as well. Just dial a number and the Talkatone app instantly opens.
If you use Google Voice and Talkatone, GV Connect will round out your experience.
- $2.99 - Download Now
WePhone
WePhone is a simple to use third party phone service that lets you place calls anywhere in the world at much lower rates than your carrier. Since the calls work over data, they work wonderfully on your iPad. For people that don't place a ton of international calls but have the need, WePhone is a perfect option. It's easy to use for anyone since it looks just like the dial pad we're all used to on our iPhone.
If simplicity is your main concern and you don't mind paying a little for that convenience, it doesn't get much easier than WePhone.
- Free - Download Now
Your picks?
These are our favorite picks for best phone apps for iPad but we know that sometimes there are country restrictions or other options that we miss. Let us know what you use in the comments below and why you picked it!
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Tags: Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell leighton meester Lara Flynn Boyle lauren conrad elizabeth olsen
