How to Call Mexico from the US: Get Cost-Effective Solutions
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If you're a business owner and want to talk with your professional contacts or just an ordinary person in the US wanting to call a friend or family in Mexico, this guide can help you out.
The process of calling Mexico from the US can either be expensive and complicated or affordable and simple. It all depends on the method you choose. Today, we will explain how numbers in Mexico work, area codes that you must know, ways to call Mexico, and, most importantly, how you can call someone in Mexico for free.
How to Call Mexico from the US with Simple Steps
Dialing a traditional call to Mexico from the US can be done easily by using these steps:
1. Open the phone app and type 011 first; this is the country exit code.
2. Then tap in Mexico's country code, which is 52.
3. If the number you're trying to contact has a trunk code, i.e, 01, 045, or 044, skip them as these codes are used while calling inside Mexico.
4. Then enter the code of the area where that person resides whom you're contacting. You can refer to the table below to search for a specific area code. And then finally dial the phone number.
+ 1 + 55 (Area code) + phone number.
List of Popular Mexican Area Codes
As we have mentioned earlier, knowing the area codes when dialing an international call to Mexico is essential and here is the list you can refer to find a specific area code:
Certainly! You can split the list into two separate tables to make it appear more concise on the page. Here's how you can do it:
| MEXICO AREA CODES BY CITY | |
|---|---|
| Cities | Codes |
| Acapulco | 744 |
| Cancun | 998 |
| Celaya | 461 |
| Chihuahua | 614 |
| Ciudad Juarez | 656 |
| Cozume | 987 |
| Culiacan | 671 |
| Guadalajara | 33 |
| Cities | Codes |
|---|---|
| Hermosillo | 622 |
| La Paz | 682 |
| Mazatlan | 669 |
| Merida | 999 |
| Mexicali | 686 |
| Mexico City | 55 |
| Miquelon | 508 |
| Monterrey | 81 |
| Puebla | 222 |
| Puerto Vallarta | 322 |
| San Luis Potosi | 444 |
| Tampico | 833 |
| Tecate | 665 |
| Tijuana | 664 |
| Torreon | 871 |
| Veracruz | 229 |
Cost of calling Mexico from the US
International calls don't come cheap when you're using a cell phone or a landline. The best rates are at least $3.50 per minute for telephones and $3.65 per minute for mobile phones for making calls to Mexico.
Even if you have an international calling plan with a monthly fee, you still need to pay 9 cents each minute to call Mexico from a landline in the US, or 24 cents a minute from a US mobile phone.
If you want to make a monthly call to your grandparents in Mexico, then these rates might seem fine. But if you need to make regular calls to Mexico for business or personal reasons, then the costs will surely add up. But there are some ways to cut down the cost, which we will discuss next.
The Limitations of Traditional Calling: Why It Falls Short
Making calls in the old-fashioned way using a mobile network comes with several key drawbacks:
- Expensive Rates: Most of the US carriers charge somewhere between $1-$4 per minute for calls to Mexico if you don't have an international plan. Even if you're on an international plan, the cost can range between 9-24 cents per minute.
- No Flexibility at all: You will be limited to just voice calls, with no video, screen sharing, or even messaging functionality.
- Call Quality May Suffer: Depending on the network you're using, the call quality might drop or you may feel lag, especially when you're calling rural or remote Mexican areas.
- Lack of Business Features: If you want to call Mexico for business purposes, then remember that there will be no call recording, call forwarding, or integration with business tools available.
Alternative Ways When a Phone Call Isn't the Best Option
Traditional phone calls still have their place but in today's digital world, they are no longer the smartest option to go for. Especially when you need to make regular international calls.
Below, we'll break down the modern and smartest alternatives that will not only save you money but also create a smoother overall experience.
1Google Voice: Low-Cost Calling with a Familiar Feel
If you're looking for a tool that still feels like traditional phone calling but costs way less, then you can go for Google Voice.
It's a free phone service based on the internet that is provided by Google. It gives you a US phone number that you can use to make calls, receive texts, and receive voicemails. You can also forward calls to other numbers.
Why it works:
- Cheap International Rates: $0.01 per minute for landlines and approximately $0.02 per minute for mobile phones.
- Cross-Device Access: You can make and receive calls on any device that has internet including phone, tablet, and desktop.
- Call Forwarding: Route calls to your personal number or voicemail, which is perfect for those who are on the move.
- Keep One Number: You get one number that works everywhere so you don't have to juggle multiple contact numbers.
2WhatsApp & FaceTime: Free and Widely Used in Mexico
As we all know, WhatsApp is the most widely used messaging and calling app around the globe. If the person you're trying to contact in Mexico has a smartphone, chances are they already use it. So why not give it a chance?
Benefits of WhatsApp:
- Free Voice & Video Calls: As long as you both are on Wi-Fi or mobile data, calls are completely free.
- International by Default: WhatsApp was designed for global use, making it seamless to talk across borders.
- Text, Voice, and Video in One Place: You can easily share photos, files, and locations with the recipient all within the same chat. You can even send voice notes when texting isn't the ideal option saving you a lot of time.
- Group Chats and Group Calls: Can be really helpful when making team communication or staying in touch with friends or family.
FaceTime, on the other hand, is a perfect alternative of WhatsApp for iOS users offering:
- High-Quality Video Calls: Particularly good for one-on-one communication or family catch-ups.
- Apple-Only Ecosystem: Remember that FaceTime doesn't work on Android, so it's only useful if both parties use iOS devices.
3Zoom: Best for Remote Work and Formal Meetings
If you're looking for a communication tool that you can use to host professional meetings or collaborate with multiple people at once, Zoom can be the most reliable option in such a scenario.
Why Zoom is valuable:
- Face-to-Face Meetings: Zoom offers high-quality video conferencing.
- File Sharing and Screen Sharing: You can easily share files and your screen while in a meeting that's perfect for remote collaboration.
- Group Collaboration: You can add multiple participants to the meeting and can also record meetings for documentation.
Handle Time Differences to Avoid Calling at the Wrong Time
When calling Mexico from the United States, it's important to think about the time difference between the countries.
Mexico follows Central Time, which is:
- 1 hour ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S.
- 2 hours ahead of Central Time.
- And 3 hours ahead of Pacific Time.
So, it's smart to check the time in both places before you call.
This will also help you in making sure that you're calling your loved one at an appropriate time and it's also important if you're making a call for business purposes.
Final Words
We hope that after reading this article, you now know how to call Mexico from the US can be cost-effective and straightforward if you take the right steps and opt for free communication alternatives.
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