If you’re a Canadian wondering how to call the United States from Canada, whether to contact family, for business purposes or other reasons, it’s actually easier than you think.
In most cases you just dial 1 before the USA area code, and then enter their seven-digit phone number. For example, 1 + 614 + XXX-XXXX would allow a call to Ohio from anywhere in Canada.
This should sound like a piece of cake, but the real question isn’t really how to dial, but rather how to make that phone call without costing a fortune with a long-distance bill.
Use cases
Maybe your parents are snowbirds and have set-up shop in Florida for the winter. Or perhaps you have a lucrative business contact based in New York, or even a friend road-tripping down the California coast that you want to check in with.
Sometimes travellers might need to call airlines or banks back home, too, meaning that dialling into the USA from Canada is pretty common.
Unfortunately, “common” doesn’t necessarily mean cheap or affordable, and traditional calls can trigger international or roaming fees that stack up considerably.
Cost considerations
When you ask your carrier how to call the United States from Canada, they will undoubtedly happily connect your call — but don’t be surprised if the consequent bill is higher than usual.
With even short conversations being expensive, it’s no wonder so many people turn to alternatives, including online phone numbers or eSIM data plans.
A smart setup: Hushed + aloSIM
One of the easiest ways to dodge those annoying, exorbitant charges is by pairing aloSIM (for low-cost data) with Hushed (for an affordable private number).
Head to the app store to download the aloSIM app to grab a Canadian or United States data plan instantly. Then, use a Hushed online number to call or text like normally would (only internationally).
You can expect the call quality to feel the same, but with your real number remaining private (and your mobile bill remaining reasonable).
Other alternatives
As convenient and inexpensive as they may be, of course, Hushed and aloSIM aren’t your only options. Plenty of travellers depend on wifi-based apps like FaceTime, Zoom, or WhatsApp to chat online or with mobile data.
These options are usually completely free if both sides use the same platform (with a few exceptions like number of participants or time limits). Likewise, messaging apps like Signal or Telegram can handle calls too, which is great if you’re already using them and need to make an international call.
In the cases where you need something more long-term or even permanent, a virtual number like Google Voice or Hushed can provide you a local, USA number so contacts don’t even have to dial internationally.
Making it work for you
So, is calling the USA from Canada complicated? No. The dialling itself is simple and the trick is choosing how you make the call. Skip the carrier fees and lean on data from aloSIM. If you want something that feels just like a regular call, add Hushed into the mix for an extra easy solution.
