How to Save Money on Phone Calls - In the Philippines

I have been making a lot of phone calls recently due to a variety of reasons such as updating my credit card details, calling couriers and forwarders, talking to family and friends, etc. And I am exceeding my phone plan credit in the process. My goal this year is to save as much money as I can and I’m here to share with you guys some tips to save money on phone calls.

If you are residing in the Philippines and if you often make calls within the country then check out these helpful tips on How to Save Money on Phone Calls:

Photo by Philipp Lansing on Unsplash

Table of Contents

Use Messaging Apps

As much as I could, I only use messaging apps to make free calls as long as I’m connected to the internet. Aside from the internet access I have at home, I also use my data, and sometimes, I also use whatever free internet connection is available wherever I’m at.

Some of the most popular Messaging Apps in the Philippines that you can also use to make calls (as long as your call recipient also has this app) includes (but not limited to):

Viber
WhatsApp
Apple FaceTime
Facebook Messenger
Instagram
Skype
Google Duo/Google Hangout

Use Text Messaging

Since making calls is more expensive than texting. I usually use my text messaging app if my data is not working or if I don’t have any more data credits left on my account.

Use Unli Call Promo

If you are on a new postpaid plan then chances are you have access to Unli Calls and Text to all networks and you have a certain amount of free minutes to make phone calls to landlines.

If you are on prepaid though, you have to avail of the Unli Calls Promo especially if you’ll be making a lot of calls to different mobile numbers.

Here are the links to the Unli Calls Promo of various Mobile Networks in the Philippines:

Please do note though the most of the Unli Calls promo only applies to the same network/companies. So be sure to always check the mobile number prefixes of your call recipients to ensure that you will not be surprised with the phone charges.

Know Your Call Recipients’ Mobile Number Prefixes

As I have mentioned earlier, most Unli Calls promo on prepaid phones only apply to the same network or company unless otherwise stated on the promo.

To make sure that you will avoid getting charged additionally for the calls that you make outside your network, always check the mobile number prefixes of the numbers that you are calling.

Just to avoid confusion, the first four-digit of your mobile number is what’s known as the mobile number prefix.

For example, if your phone number is 09170000000, the first four digits are your mobile number prefix. In this example, it’s 0917, and this number belongs to the Globe network.

Here is a list of the mobile number prefixes in the Philippines for your convenience:

SMART and Talk ‘N Txt Mobile Network Number Prefixes


0813	0914	0938	0961
0907	0918	0939	0968
0908	0919	0946	0970
0909	0920	0947	0981
0910	0921	0948	0989
0911	0928	0949	0992
0912	0929	0950	0998
0913	0930	0951	0999

Globe and TM Mobile Network Number Prefixes


0817	0927	0955	0976
0905	0935	0956	0977
0906	0936	0963	0978
0915	0937	0965	0979
0916	0945	0966	0994
0917	0953	0967	0995
0926	0954	0975	0996
			0997

Sun Cellular Mobile Network Number Prefixes


0922	0931	0940	0944
0923	0932	0941	0973
0924	0933	0942	0974
0925	0934	0943

Again, please always check the mobile number prefixes before making a call.

Get a Mobile Plan that Suits You

Another way of saving money is by choosing the phone plan that suits your budget and your needs. If you don’t always make calls nor text messages and if you also don’t use that much data, perhaps you will save more money by using a Prepaid phone.

However, if you do send text messages and if you do make a lot of phone calls then compare the available plans in either Smart or Globe, or Sun to find which plan suits you best.

For example, in my case, I have the grandfathered plan of ALL-in 500 with Smart. I have always been exceeding my plan due to my phone call charge and it might be cheaper for me to move to the new Signature S Plan worth P999.

Get a Landline Phone

I have made a lot of mobile to landline calls in the past few weeks and this is one reason why I’m also considering getting a landline as an option. If you are a small business owner like me and if you find yourself making a lot of calls to landline numbers then this option is also worth considering.

Final Thoughts

To ensure that you make the best choice possible for this given scenario, it’s advisable to track your usage at least for a few weeks to determine which route is best to take.

In my case, I’m still tracking my phone usage so I can decide in a month or two if I’m going to upgrade my phone plan or if I’m going to get a landline instead.