Calling the Philippines from Canada: costs compared

What are the ways to call the Philippines?

1. Calling apps over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
2. A long-distance add-on that includes the Philippines.
3. A plan that includes calls to the Philippines.
4. Pay per minute at your carrier’s standard rate.

Calling apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger, FaceTime and Google Meet call other app users over the internet. On Wi-Fi they cost nothing extra. On mobile data, a voice call uses a small part of your plan’s data. Video calls use much more. App calls only work if the person you call has the same app and a working internet connection.

Carrier calls help when relatives are in an area with weak data, or when you call a landline, a clinic or an office.

Carrier options for the Philippines compared

Prices before tax, from each carrier’s website on November 5, 2026:

Two popular add-ons do not list the Philippines: Rogers’ $5 add-on (US, India, China and Hong Kong, the UK, Mexico and Bangladesh), and Freedom’s offer of 1,000 minutes to 14 destinations. Check the country list before you buy any add-on.

Other carriers, including Bell, Telus, Koodo, Fido, Virgin Plus, Lucky and chatr, publish their own rates. Use each carrier’s rate finder for the Philippines.

Worked example: 300 and 600 minutes a month

Maria calls her mother’s mobile in the Philippines. Here is the monthly cost before tax at the rates above:

If Maria is on Rogers 5G+ Popular, these calls are included in her plan. On Rogers’ newcomer page, that plan was $85 a month after the Auto-Pay discount, compared with $70 for 5G+ Essentials, which does not include the 27 countries. The plans also differ in data and roaming. Compare the whole plan, not just the calling. The international calling cost calculator can help.

Which option fits your situation?

• Your family has good data: app calls may be all you need.
• You call regular phones often and want a prepaid plan: compare Public Mobile’s add-on and plans with your current carrier. See Public Mobile review.
• You want a premium plan with roaming: Rogers Popular and Ultimate include the Philippines. See Rogers review.
• You call only a few minutes a month: a per-minute add-on such as Freedom World Saver may be enough. Without it, a 10-minute call at $1.90 a minute costs $19.

How to dial the Philippines from a Canadian mobile

chatr’s guide gives these steps:

1. Enter + (press and hold the 0 key).
2. Add the Philippines’ country code: 63.
3. For a mobile, dial the 10-digit mobile number without the leading 0. For a landline, dial the area code without the leading 0, then the local number. Manila, for example, is +63 2.

Questions to ask before you buy an add-on

Before you add a long-distance option, check these points on the carrier’s page or ask in a store:

1. Which countries are covered? Add-ons with similar names can cover different lists.
2. Are calls to mobile numbers included, or only landlines? Rates can differ between the two.
3. Is it monthly or one-time? Rogers and Freedom list their add-ons as a monthly price. Public Mobile lists its add-ons as a single price.
4. Do unused minutes roll over? Public Mobile says unused minutes on its long-distance add-ons roll over to the next cycle, but the 1,000 minutes included with its plans expire at the end of each billing cycle.
5. How is a call counted? Rogers says calls to mobile numbers are billed by the second with a 30-second minimum, and long-distance charges are rounded up to the next full minute.
6. Is the price before tax? All prices on this page are before tax.

For the Philippines, the most important question is the first one. Several add-ons that cover India and China do not cover the Philippines.

Before your first call

• Save your family’s numbers in international format, starting with +63.
• Check that the add-on shows on your account before you call.
• Make a short test call, then check your usage in your carrier’s app.

Tips to keep costs down

• Turn on Wi-Fi calling in the app when you are at home, so app calls do not use mobile data.
• Text instead of calling for short messages. Many Canadian plans include unlimited international texts.
• Add-on minutes are for calls made in Canada. When you visit the Philippines, roaming rules apply instead.
• Keep your Philippine SIM active if you still need it for bank or e-wallet codes. See keeping your home number for OTPs.

If you also support family with money, compare costs in sending money to the Philippines.

Common questions

Sources

• Public Mobile: plans and add-ons
• Rogers: 5G+ mobile plans (footnote 16 lists the 27 countries)
• Rogers: plans for newcomers
• Rogers: add-ons and long-distance rate finder
• Freedom Mobile: international calling add-ons and rates by destination
• Freedom Mobile: add-ons and offer terms (1,000 long-distance minutes offer, MyTab)
• chatr: how to call the Philippines from Canada

Checked against these sources on November 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.