Cellular vs. Wi-Fi Calling: A Traveler's Guide to Cheaper Calls

Landing in a new country is exciting, but the dread of enormous phone bills can quickly spoil the mood. For years, travelers have been battling expensive international roaming charges just to make a simple phone call. But what if you could use your own phone number to make and receive calls just like at home, without the scary bill? Thanks to modern smartphone features like Wi-Fi Calling and the magic of eSIMs, you can.

This guide will break down the difference between cellular and Wi-Fi calling and show you how to combine them to save a fortune on your next trip. Ready to become a savvy international caller? Get a head start by checking out Yoho Mobile’s flexible and affordable data plans for your next destination.

What is Cellular Calling? The Traditional Way

Cellular calling is what we’ve used for decades. When you make a call, your phone connects to a nearby cell tower, which routes your call through a global network to the person you’re trying to reach.

• Pros: It’s reliable and offers wide coverage, as long as you have a signal from a carrier.
• Cons for Travelers: When you’re abroad, your phone connects to a foreign carrier’s network. This is called ‘roaming.’ Your home carrier is then charged a high fee by the foreign network, and they pass that cost—plus a hefty markup—onto you. This is why a short call from Thailand or Italy can sometimes cost more than your lunch.

What is Wi-Fi Calling? Your Cost-Saving Ally Abroad

Wi-Fi Calling is a feature built into most modern smartphones that lets you make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi network instead of a cellular network. Essentially, it routes your calls over the internet back to your home carrier’s network. From there, the call is treated as if you made it from your home country.

• Pros: You can make calls to numbers in your home country at standard local rates (or for free, depending on your plan), completely bypassing international roaming charges. You also get to use your regular phone number, so friends, family, and banks can reach you as usual. Crystal-clear call quality is another bonus on a good Wi-Fi connection.
• Cons: You need a stable Wi-Fi connection for it to work.

The Game Changer: Combining an eSIM with Wi-Fi Calling

Here’s where it gets brilliant. What if you don’t have access to hotel or café Wi-Fi? You can create your own private, secure internet connection with a travel eSIM.

An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a digital SIM card that allows you to activate a cellular plan from a provider without a physical SIM card. For travelers, this means you can buy an affordable data-only plan from a provider like Yoho Mobile for the country you’re visiting.

Here’s how to use a data-only eSIM to make calls with your primary number:

1. You install a Yoho Mobile eSIM and get access to cheap, high-speed local data in, say, Japan.
2. You set your phone to use the eSIM for cellular data.
3. Your phone’s Wi-Fi Calling feature uses this cellular data as its internet connection.
4. You can now make and receive calls on your primary US, UK, or any other home number, but the call is routed over the cheap Japanese data plan you bought. You’ve effectively bypassed roaming charges for calls completely!

This powerful combination gives you the freedom to stay connected anywhere, not just in your hotel room. Plus, with Yoho Care, you get a safety net of backup data, so you’re never truly disconnected, even if you use up your plan.

How to Set Up Wi-Fi Calling for Your Trip

Setting this up is simple, but the key is to enable Wi-Fi Calling before you leave your home country.

Step 1: Enable Wi-Fi Calling on Your Primary Line (At Home)

• On iOS: Go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling and toggle it on.
• On Android: The steps can vary, but it’s usually under Settings > Network & Internet > Calls & SMS or a similar menu. Look for Wi-Fi Calling and enable it.

Step 2: Install Your Yoho Mobile eSIM

Before you depart or upon arrival, purchase and install your destination eSIM. With Yoho Mobile, the process is incredibly smooth.

• For iOS users: After purchase, there’s no need to scan a QR code. Simply tap the ‘Install’ button in the app or email, and your iPhone will guide you through a seamless, 1-minute installation process.
• For Android users: You can install your eSIM by scanning the QR code provided after purchase or by entering the activation details manually.

Don’t forget to check if your device is compatible on our eSIM compatible device list.

Step 3: Configure Your Phone Settings Abroad

Once you land, go to your phone’s cellular settings:

1. Turn on your eSIM line and enable data roaming for it (this is necessary for it to connect to local networks, but you won’t be charged extra by Yoho Mobile).
2. Set Cellular Data to use your Yoho Mobile eSIM.
3. Set your Default Voice Line to your primary SIM. This ensures all outgoing calls still use your main number.

Now, your phone will automatically use your eSIM’s data for Wi-Fi Calling, allowing you to call your home country without fear of roaming fees. You can find more detailed instructions in our eSIM setup guides.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I receive calls on my regular number with a data-only eSIM?

Yes, absolutely! This is one of the biggest benefits. As long as you have Wi-Fi Calling enabled on your primary line and an active data connection from your travel eSIM or a Wi-Fi network, your phone will ring just like it does at home when someone calls your regular number.

Does Wi-Fi calling use my eSIM’s data?

Yes. If you are not connected to a traditional Wi-Fi network (like in a hotel), the Wi-Fi Calling feature will use your travel eSIM’s cellular data to function. Since voice calls use very little data (about 1MB per minute), even a small data plan can support hours of talk time. It’s far more economical than paying per-minute roaming rates.

Is Wi-Fi calling free for international calls?

It depends on who you’re calling. When using Wi-Fi Calling abroad, calls back to your home country are typically charged as if you were making them from home—which often means they are free or included in your plan. However, if you call a number in a third country (e.g., you’re in France and call a hotel in Spain), you will likely be charged your carrier’s standard international long-distance rate.

What’s the best way to make international calls while traveling to avoid high fees?

The most effective strategy is the one described in this article: enable Wi-Fi calling on your primary number before you travel, and purchase an affordable, data-only eSIM from Yoho Mobile for your destination. This gives you the perfect combination of cost savings, convenience, and connectivity.

Conclusion: Call Smarter, Not Harder

Understanding the difference between cellular and Wi-Fi calling is the key to unlocking massive savings on your travels. By leveraging a powerful combination of your phone’s built-in Wi-Fi Calling feature and an affordable data eSIM from Yoho Mobile, you can leave the fear of bill shock behind.

Stay connected with loved ones, handle business, and navigate your trip with ease—all while using the phone number everyone already knows. Ready to try the future of travel connectivity? Get your first Yoho Mobile eSIM today and experience seamless, affordable communication on your next adventure.