Calling Cards for Landlines or Mobiles | 0.9 ¢/min to Canada/USA | FREE with JAXTR

[jackboot]

This thread excludes VOIP services.
There are tonnes of these and lots of threads on VOIP.
This thread is for services that do not require using a computer to place the call.

The purpose of this thread is to consolidate info on the cheapest calling cards that can be used with a regular landline or mobile phone. Many calling cards look cheap but have hidden fees which are difficult to detect in advance of using the service. This thread will let everyone know which cards are "no bull".

Canada to Anywhere for FREE!!!

JAXTR
This really looks quite amazing - you can phone a huge number of countries around the world for free.
List of countries that can be called for free is here.
There does not appear to be any "catch" so give it a try and post your results! Only "downside" is that both you and the recipient must have a local access number.

Thanks goes to: drcrossover

List of Canadian cities with local access numbers:
Calgary
Edmonton
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Vancouver
Winnipeg

Canada to Canada

1. Best option
Name of card: Nengda Tong
Where to buy: CanJoy.com
*Note: CanJoy charges $9 for a $10 credit
Price per minute: 0.9 ¢/min (after canjoy discount)
Connection fee: No
Minimum call fee: No
Payphone surcharge: No
1-866 access number surcharge: 10 ¢/min
Expires: one year
Card increments: $5, $10
Support: Has a toll-free support number that goes direct to a customer service rep
Thanks goes to: Jackboot

2. NO LONGER RECOMMENDED (now charging a maintenance fee! Do not buy!)
Name of card: "Calling Card" (yep, that's what it's called)
Where to buy: CanJoy.com
*Note: CanJoy charges $8.20 for a $10 credit
Price per minute: 1.0 ¢/min
Connection fee: No
Minimum call fee: No
Payphone surcharge: No
1-800 access number surcharge: 4.0 ¢/min
Expires: DAILY MAINTENANCE FEE of unknown amount even though it is advertised as 1-year expiry and no maintenance fee
Card increments: $5, $10
Support: email only, vserve@rogers.com
Thanks goes to: Jackboot, ygtgxi, cywhiz, TorontoEh

Canada to Canada - Originating from Smaller Cities (no local access number).

Name of card: CiCi
This card works well because there is no surcharge for using the 866 access number.
Where to buy: Compusky
*Note: the rates on compusky's site are higher than actual - for current CiCi rates see the provider's page here
*Note: compusky charges $8.30 + credit card processing charge = $8.72 for a $10 credit
Price per minute: 2.18 cents (after compusky discount)
Connection fee: No
Minimum call fee: No
Payphone surcharge: No
1-866 access number surcharge: No
Expires: 6 months
Card increments: $5, $10
Thanks goes to: sjweyman

Canada to USA

If you know of a good one, post in this thread and let us know!

Canada to Overseas

1. FREE calls from telephone to telephone using JAXTR

2. G3 Telecom
Looks like a good service with some of the lowest rates for certain countries
"Rates may be higher for calls placed to mobile phones" is the only possibly tricky wording...
Thanks goes to: polypep
INDIA: 5.9 cents/minute
PAKISTAN: 6.9 cents/minute

3. SmartVoip
Very low rates to some overseas countries! Only downside is that they only have 5 local access numbers for all of Canada. They bill in Euro but the rates are listed in USD. It looks like placing calls to both mobiles and landlines are the same rate.
Thanks goes to: mong
INDIA: 0.7 cents/minute (USD)
PAKISTAN: 5.3 cents/minute (USD)

[Excessiveplayer]

Doesn't everyone have a cellphone anyways?

[sheriffabc]

Yes people do have cell phones @$0.20 per minute for long distance - and there is a tremendous market for these cards - so a gd thread

I normally buy the SIFA Card

Available at Peanut Plaza (Don Mills/Vanhorne, Toronto) - $4 for $5 card.

No service fee or other charges - clear reception

[TorontoEh]

good thread. i signed up with smartreach.ca they give $5 bonus when you buy a $5 account , 0.02 cents to US/Canada...

[stoomac]

If anyone has recommendations for Canada to Overseas it would be greatly appreciated - Bell is killing me to call Belgium

[EmperorOfCanada]

I use Yak (yak.ca) it might not be quite as cheap as those kind of calling cards but I just get billed every month for what I use and there is no minimum (I have had invoices less than a dollar).

They also have a callback feature which is great for us cell users with unlimited incoming plans.

Call quality is also good

[sjweyman]

These super cheap calling cards and sites are great for those people in the biggest cities in Canada but a lot of us live in smaller (but still big cities) that don't have a local access number ... which kind of defeats the point. Most of these services charge several cents per minute more to dial in via a toll-free number or don't offer that option at all.

I have done serious searching high and low for the best rate from ANYWHERE in Canada without prejudice and I've never found anyone that beats Cici phone cards @ 2.5c / min. This seems high to you Torontonians I know ... but trust me it isn't high for us New Brunswickers.

http://www.ontariophonecards.ca/cici

You can use the below number to make a call no matter where you are and you won't be billed extra. However, if you are in a calling zone that has a LAN I don't believe it will allow you to connect using the 1-866. You need to use the LAN if it is available.

Rest of Canada
1-866-312-5247
no extra charge

That being said there are cheaper VoIP options out there. Keep an eye on Google Voice (formerly Google Grand Central formerly Grand Central). I currently have an account that allows me FREE long distance on my cell phone or home phone (if I had one) anywhere in North America. They stopped allowing people to sign up for Grand Central a long time ago. They just launched Google Voice which is actually slightly inferior IMO and they will charge 1c per minute. New sign ups should be opened up very soon. Call quality is crystal clear with almost no delay. If you have a phone with a web browser like me and unlim internet you can use that to easily initiate your calls from anywhere.

[EmperorOfCanada]

These super cheap calling cards and sites are great for those people in the biggest cities in Canada but a lot of us live in smaller (but still big cities) that don't have a local access number ... which kind of defeats the point. Most of these services charge several cents per minute more to dial in via a toll-free number or don't offer that option at all.

I have done serious searching high and low for the best rate from ANYWHERE in Canada without prejudice and I've never found anyone that beats Cici phone cards @ 2.5c / min. This seems high to you Torontonians I know ... but trust me it isn't high for us New Brunswickers.

http://www.ontariophonecards.ca/cici

You can use the below number to make a call no matter where you are and you won't be billed extra. However, if you are in a calling zone that has a LAN I don't believe it will allow you to connect using the 1-866. You need to use the LAN if it is available.

Rest of Canada
1-866-312-5247
no extra charge

That being said there are cheaper VoIP options out there. Keep an eye on Google Voice (formerly Google Grand Central formerly Grand Central). I currently have an account that allows me free long distance on my cell phone or home phone (if I had one) anywhere in North America for free. They stopped allowing people to sign up for Grand Central a long time ago. They just launched Google Voice which is actually slightly inferior IMO and they will charge 1c per minute. New sign ups should be opened up very soon. Call quality is crystal clear with almost no delay. If you have a phone with a web browser like me and unlim internet you can use that to easily initiate your calls from anywhere.

Yak's callback feature should still work for you no matter where you are Otherwise you are right I think its about an extra 5 cents a minute if you dont have a local access number to use. (most major cities have one)

[zenzen]

If anyone has recommendations for Canada to Overseas it would be greatly appreciated - Bell is killing me to call Belgium

I use the VISA (or is it just VI) card to call Greece. Note that it only lasts a week. 8 hours for $2.50 (sometimes it gives me 16 hours for $2.50). That's a LOT (maybe too much) calling for 10/month.

[sjweyman]

Yak's callback feature should still work for you no matter where you are Otherwise you are right I think its about an extra 5 cents a minute if you dont have a local access number to use. (most major cities have one)

Ya, it probably would work ... but it is still 3.5c / min which is more. It also used to be higher with Yak (I think it was 4.5c / min for a long time). In any case ... 0.0c / min is better than either. I just wanted to present Cici as an option for people in smaller cities who normally get the short end of the stick. Just looking out for the little guys

[sjweyman]

If anyone has recommendations for Canada to Overseas it would be greatly appreciated - Bell is killing me to call Belgium

Cici is 3.7c / min to Belgium. Since you are in Toronto there are probably several cheaper options available as well ... but always look out for the hidden fees. Cici is a reliable, no hidden fee card.

[khowells]

If anyone has recommendations for Canada to Overseas it would be greatly appreciated - Bell is killing me to call Belgium

I call the UK a lot and use a mixture of numbers

1010710 has Up to 30 minutes for 99¢ and 5¢ for additional minutes to Belgium

[jackboot]

These super cheap calling cards and sites are great for those people in the biggest cities in Canada but a lot of us live in smaller (but still big cities) that don't have a local access number ... which kind of defeats the point. Most of these services charge several cents per minute more to dial in via a toll-free number or don't offer that option at all.

I have done serious searching high and low for the best rate from ANYWHERE in Canada without prejudice and I've never found anyone that beats Cici phone cards @ 2.5c / min. This seems high to you Torontonians I know ... but trust me it isn't high for us New Brunswickers.

http://www.ontariophonecards.ca/cici

You can use the below number to make a call no matter where you are and you won't be billed extra. However, if you are in a calling zone that has a LAN I don't believe it will allow you to connect using the 1-866. You need to use the LAN if it is available.

Rest of Canada
1-866-312-5247
no extra charge

Great suggestion for users in smaller cities! Looks like CiCi is the best option for users without a local access number. I've added it to the first post.

[jackboot]

Doesn't everyone have a cellphone anyways?

Isn't that kind of like asking, "Doesn't everyone in Canada speak English?" Kind of presumptuous...obviously the answer to both questions is no. But thanks for your contribution.

I normally buy the SIFA Card

Available at Peanut Plaza (Don Mills/Vanhorne, Toronto) - $4 for $5 card.

No service fee or other charges - clear reception

I found that card for sale online http://www.ontariophonecards.ca/sifa, and it indicates there is a $1/month "maintenance fee" as well as an unspecified connection fee. It looks like you'd be better off with the card in the OP.

good thread. i signed up with smartreach.ca they give $5 bonus when you buy a $5 account , 0.02 cents to US/Canada...

Looks like you'd be better off with the card in the OP too. 0.9 cents vs 1.9 per minute, and their website indicates they also charge tax. They also have very few access numbers and charge an extra 4 cents/min to use their 888 number.

[andr3y]

Here is a nice price comparison table i found for voip calling providers.
I use calleasy.com they are not bad.

http://backsla.sh/betamax