If you’ve ever glanced at your Safaricom or Airtel bill after a long call to the States, you know the pain. International rates from Kenyan carriers can run anywhere from KES 20 to north of KES 50 per minute, depending on where you’re calling and when. That stacks up fast, whether you’re catching up with relatives, sorting things out with a business partner overseas, or handling client calls across time zones.
The thing is, you don’t have to pay those rates anymore. VoIP calling over the internet instead of through traditional phone networks has made cheap international calls from Kenya a real, everyday option. The trick is knowing which service to use and which plan actually matches how you call.
Why Carrier Rates Are Still So Steep
When you dial an international number from Safaricom or Airtel, your call gets handed off through a chain of agreements between carriers in different countries. Every handoff adds cost, and your carrier passes those charges straight to you, usually with a margin on top.
Sure, there are carrier bundles. Safaricom’s Tunukiwa international packages save you a bit, but the minutes are capped, the country list is limited, and whatever you don’t use expires quickly. Airtel’s international options follow a similar playbook. You get marginal savings, not game-changing ones.
How VoIP Flips the Equation
Voice over Internet Protocol, sends your call over the internet for most of the journey. It only touches the traditional phone network right at the end, when it connects to the other person’s mobile or landline. That last-mile connection is the only expensive part, and it’s a fraction of what a full international route costs through a carrier.
There’s a trade-off, though. Call quality depends on your internet. With solid Wi-Fi or 4G in Kenya, calls sound perfectly clear. On a shaky 3G connection, you might notice a slight delay or the occasional hiccup. For most people in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, or any decent-sized town, this won’t be a dealbreaker, but it’s worth being upfront about.
Your Options for Cheap Calls from Kenya An Honest Comparison
There are several ways Kenyans are making international calls in 2026, and the cost differences aren’t small. For someone calling the US or UK on a regular basis, switching from carrier rates to a VoIP plan can slash monthly costs by 60% to 80%.
How Numero’s Calling Plans Actually Work
Numero offers different flavours of calling credit, and picking the right one matters more than just going for the cheapest price tag.
Global Calling Credit
This is the flexible option. You top up credit through the app and use it to call any supported country from Numero’s dial pad. It works whether you’re dialling from a virtual number or your personal number. Rates shift by destination, but they consistently undercut what Safaricom or Airtel charge for international calls.
Global credit makes the most sense if you call multiple countries, say, family in India and a supplier in the UK. One credit balance covers everything.
Local Calling Plans
If nearly all your calls go to one country, this is where the real savings kick in. Here’s how it works: you buy a virtual number from a specific country (let’s say the US), then add local calling credit for that country. Now when you call any US number, you’re essentially paying American domestic rates, a tiny fraction of what a Kenya-to-US international call would cost.
You do need a Numero virtual number from that country, so there’s an extra step. But for heavy callers to a single destination, the maths work out strongly in your favour.
Calling Offers (Regional Bundles)
Numero also puts together regional bundles, packaged minutes for areas like Africa, Europe, or the Middle East at discounted rates. These are handy if you regularly call several countries in the same region.
You can check what’s currently available inside the Numero app, where you’ll see included countries and minute breakdowns before you buy anything.
Country-by-Country Breakdown
Kenya to USA
The US is one of the busiest corridors from Kenya, diaspora connections, business contacts, and students. Safaricom’s rates for US calls are steep, and even their bundles barely dip below KES 15 per minute.
With Numero’s global credit, you’re looking at a few shillings per minute. If you call the US often, buying a US virtual number with local credit is the smartest route. You’re effectively making a “domestic” American call, which costs almost nothing.
Kenya to UK
Another heavy corridor, driven by the large Kenyan community there and deep business ties. Carrier rates to the UK mirror what you’d pay for US calls, in other words, they’re not cheap. Numero’s global credit brings UK calls down significantly. For dedicated UK callers, a UK virtual number with local credit is the power move.
Kenya to UAE
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are major destinations for Kenyan workers, particularly in hospitality and construction. Calls to the UAE through Safaricom or Airtel aren’t the most expensive, but they’re far from affordable for regular check-ins. Numero’s VoIP rates cover UAE calls at competitive prices, making those weekly family calls much more manageable.
Kenya to India
Trade between Kenya and India keeps growing, and personal connections run deep across both countries. What Kenyan carriers charge for India calls varies a lot depending on mobile vs. landline. Numero’s rates to India are among the lowest you’ll find, especially valuable for business owners who need to talk to Indian suppliers or partners on a regular basis.
How to Buy Calling Credit on Numero
Getting set up is straightforward:
- Download the Numero app from the App Store or Google Play and register with your phone number.
- Go to Calling Plans inside the app.
- Pick your credit type: Top Up for global calling credit, Local Calling Plan if you have (or want to grab) a virtual number from the country you’re calling, or Calling Offers for regional bundles.
- Choose the amount or package that matches how much you actually call.
- Pay, and you’re done.
- Open the dial pad in the app and start calling. You can dial from your personal number or a Numero virtual number.
Calls go through your internet connection, so make sure you’re on Wi-Fi or stable mobile data for the best experience.
If you’re curious about how internet-based calling works under the hood, and why it’s so much cheaper, there are helpful international calling guides for expats and more detail on calling plan options worth exploring.
Things Worth Knowing Before You Make the Switch
Moving to VoIP calling isn’t without its quirks. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Emergency calls. VoIP services, Numero included, can’t dial emergency numbers like 999 or 112 in Kenya. Keep your Safaricom or Airtel SIM active for that.
No internet, no calls. If you’re somewhere with unreliable connectivity, carrier calls are still your backup.
Quality can vary. Most of the time, VoIP calls sound great. Occasionally, network congestion causes minor dips. This is rare on 4G and Wi-Fi, but it does happen.
The other person doesn’t need the app. This trips people up. When you call a regular phone number through Numero, the person on the other end just answers a normal phone call. They don’t install anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Numero virtual number to make international calls?
No. You can use Numero’s global calling credit to make calls using your personal number through the app. A virtual number is optional, but it unlocks local calling plans for specific countries, which can save you even more.
Can I call landlines?
Yes. Numero’s calls connect to both mobile and landline numbers across all supported countries. This matters particularly for business calls to offices in the US, UK, or India.
How does the call quality compare to a regular phone call?
On a stable 4G or Wi-Fi connection, VoIP calls through Numero are clear and sound very close to a normal call. Quality might dip slightly on slower connections, but for most users, it’s not something you’d notice.
Is there a monthly subscription, or do I pay as I go?
Both. Global credit works on a pay-as-you-go basis, while calling offers and local plans function more like subscriptions with set minutes. You pick whatever matches your habits.
Conclusion
Spending KES 25 to KES 50 per minute on international calls from Kenya just doesn’t make sense in 2026. VoIP calling through Numero brings those costs down dramatically, whether you’re ringing the USA, UK, UAE, or India. Setup takes minutes, the savings start immediately, and call quality holds up as long as your internet does. For Kenyan users, the bottom line is simple: your internet connection is your cheapest international calling tool. Numero just makes it easy to use. Learn more here Get a Second Phone Number in Kenya.
