How to Call India from the USA: Cheapest Ways (2025)

Let’s start off with a quote from the longest-serving US president, Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

Remember, remember always, that all of us, you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists. 

This is one of the numerous quotes that emphasize the role immigrants have played in US history. 

And they continue to do so, even today. 

The US is home to immigrants/expats from across the globe. Pew Research reports that Indian Americans are the second-largest Asian-origin population in the US. Indians account for roughly 21% of the US’s Asian population. 

But what relevance do these numbers hold to the topic? 

All immigrants/expats, regardless of their nationality, know the importance of staying in touch with their families back home. For some, hearing the voices of the loved ones may just be the thing they need to fight another day. 

And in instances like this, a common query arises among Indians: How to call India from the United States? 

Staying connected is easier when you choose the best prepaid phone plans built for real travel and everyday use.

Well, we heard you loud and clear. The sections below explore this topic in detail. Continue reading. 

Some Essentials Before You Call India from the United States 

Before you start calling Indian numbers from the US, there are some pointers you should consider. These pointers include general guidelines and some best practices that will make your international calling experience a pleasant one. 

Make Sure You Have a Valid International Calling Plan 

You will need a valid international plan to call an Indian number from the US. This fully depends on your network operator. 

Some operators will require you to buy a specific plan or add-on with international calling benefits. 

Then there’s Lyca Mobile, which includes international calling as part of its benefits. 

We’re talking about the Lyca Mobile Unlimited Pro plan. This plan includes international calling and texting benefits to 100 countries, including India. If you’re an immigrant/expat, purchasing this plan will meet your monthly national and international calling, texting, and data needs. 

Know the Right Format When Dialing 

The number format is one place where many make mistakes. The general international calling format goes something like this: 

The US Exit Code + The Destination Country Code + The Callee’s Number 

So, if you’re calling India, it would look like this: 

+011 91 XXXXX XXXXX 

Note that this format is for mobile phones only. You’ll have to add the local area code if you’re calling a landline number in India. 

The US Exit Code + The Destination Country Code + The Area Code + The Callee’s Number 

Here’s what calling a New Delhi landline number from the USA would look like: 

+011 91 11 XXXXX XXXXX 

Have the Right Apps Installed 

In addition to the traditional method of calling through the phone app, you can also call India from the US using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) apps. Some of the more popular ones include: 

• WhatsApp 
• Google Voice 
• Discord 
• Signal 
• Telegram 

It is important to note that the callee must have the app installed to receive the call. For example, if you’re calling using WhatsApp, the callee must also have WhatsApp installed on their phone. If your device supports digital SIM technology, you can easily switch to a Lyca Mobile eSIM plan.

How to Call an Indian Number from the United States 

Now that you have all the prerequisites, let’s get the answer to the question, “How to call India from the United States?” 

Here is how you make an international call to India from the United States on an iPhone. 

1. Open the Phone app. 
2. Tap on the keypad. 
3. Input the Indian number to call. You can add the + symbol by holding the 0 key. 
4. Tap on the phone symbol to make an international call. 

Follow the steps below if you have an Android device and want to call India from the US. 

1. Open the Phone app on your Android device. 
2. Enter the Indian number you’d like to call. Include the + symbol by holding the 0 key. 
3. Tap on the phone symbol to make the call. 

How to Call India from the United States for Free 

The international plans aside, you can also call any number in India for free if you have sufficient data balance. 

All you need is a VoIP app (like WhatsApp or Discord) and a mobile plan with plenty of data balance. The callee must also have the relevant app installed on their device. 

Let’s take WhatsApp as an example. Follow these instructions to make an international voice call using WhatsApp. 

1. Enable mobile data. 
2. Navigate to the contact you’d like to make the international voice call to. 
3. Make the call. 

Note that you can also make video calls using these apps. 

Data consumption is a major concern when making voice/video calls through the internet. On average, you use anywhere between 0.15 and 0.20 MB per minute for voice calls and 3 and 5 MB per minute for video calls. Make sure you have enough data allowance before making an international call using WhatsApp. 

Conclusion 

Hope this blog answers all the questions you have regarding calling India from the US. We have listed two methods here, and both have their pros and cons. 

You could consider the traditional method and call through your network operator. 

Or you could use your monthly data allowance and use a VoIP app to make an international call. 

Regardless of the method you choose, Lyca USA’s plans, like the Unlimited Plus, the Unlimited Pro, and the $39 Unlimited International Plan, will come in quite handy. Setting up your new connection is simple when you activate your Lyca Mobile SIM online.

All three plans allow you to make unlimited calls to India. Additionally, they also have plenty of data that can be used to make voice and video calls online without any worries. 

Happy calling!!!