With Google Nest and Home speakers and displays, you can make calls to friends, family and businesses with your voice. There are 3 different ways speakers and displays can make calls. Availability varies by country.
Duo calling
With Duo calling, speakers and displays can make and receive video or voice calls to anyone who has a Duo account.
Key features:
- Make and receive calls with other Duo users worldwide.
- Video and voice calling.
- Make calls between your speakers, displays, and mobile devices.
- All calls are free.
- Emergency calls cannot be made with Duo.
- With Google Nest Hub Max, you can also send and receive video messages.
Google-supported calling
Google-supported calling allows you to make free audio calls to mobile, landline and business phone numbers.
Important: As of mid-December 2020, if you're in the UK, you're no longer able to make Google-supported calls on your speaker or display. You can still make audio or video calls through Duo.
Key features:
- Supports making audio calls. Calls cannot be received.
- Calls within the US and CA are free.
- Show or hide your phone number when calling.
- Emergency calls cannot be made.
- Available in the US and CA.
Make calls through Google-supported calling
Carrier calling
With carrier calling, you can link your speaker or display with your call provider's mobile or landline phone plan. This allows you to make calls to anyone with a phone number available in your call provider's plan.
Key features:
- Supports making audio calls. Calls cannot be received, except through Telstra.
- International calling may be available.
- A subscription is required from a call provider.
- Call charges will be in accordance with your call provider's plan.
- Data charges may apply.
- Show or hide your phone number when calling.
- Emergency calling is not available except through Telstra.
Carrier calling is available through these call providers:
- Google Fi (US)
- Google Voice (US)
- Telecom Italia (Italy)
- Telstra (Australia)
Compare calling types
| Feature | Duo calling | Google-supported calling | Carrier calling |
| Video calling | Yes | No | No |
| Audio calling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Calling between displays, speakers, and phones | Yes | No | No |
| Receive calls from others | Yes, from other Duo users | No | No, except with Telstra |
|
Who you can call |
Make and receive calls with other Duo users worldwide | Most numbers within US and CA including mobile, landline, and businesses when located within these countries |
Depends on your service provider and plan International calling may be available |
| Cost | Free | Free if made from within and to the US and CA |
Charged based on service provider’s plan Data charges may apply Subscription required |
| Emergency calls | No | No | No, except with Telstra |
| Availability | Anywhere Google Nest or Google Home speakers or displays are sold | US and CA | Wherever your subscription service is offered |
Important: As of mid-December 2020, if you're in the UK, you're no longer able to make Google-supported calls on your speaker or display. You can still make audio or video calls through Duo.
Calling availability by country
| Country | Duo calling | Google-supported calling | Carrier calling |
| US | Yes | Yes | Yes (Google Fi and Google Voice) |
| CA | Yes | Yes | No |
| UK | Yes | No | No |
| IT | Yes | No | Yes (Telecom Italia) |
| AU | Yes | No | Yes (Telstra) |
| Other markets where speakers and displays are sold | Yes | No | No |
Important: As of mid-December 2020, if you're in the UK, you're no longer able to make Google-supported calls on your speaker or display. You can still make audio or video calls through Duo.
Make a call
Below are some of the things you can say to make calls:
Say "Hey Google," then:
- "Call [business name]."
- "Where is the nearest [business]?" then "Hey Google, call them."
- "Call [phone number]."
- "Redial."
- "Call [contact name]."
- "Video call [contact]."
- "Call [display or speaker name]."
The availability of commands will vary depending on the calling methods set up on your device. For example, if you’ve set up Duo calling and turned on personal results, you’ll be able to say "Video call [contact]" to make video calls. On displays, touch controls are also available when you set up household contacts. Learn more about how to set up and make calls with Duo calling, Google-supported calling, and carrier calling.
Use the Google Assistant while on a call
When you’re on a call, you can use voice commands related to your call. For example, ask to lower the volume of your call. Some queries not related to your call are not available while the call is active.
When you’re on a call, the person you call will perceive you say "Hey Google," then the call will be muted while you complete your request. If you make a video call, the call will be muted but the camera feed will continue to stream.
Frequently asked questions
What does my speaker or display record?
Google will record voice commands after "Ok Google" or "Hey Google." For example, "Hey Google, call Bob" or "Ok Google, hang up" would be recorded. The recording stops after that phrase.
Google does not record the phone conversation.
If I have multiple numbers associated with a contact, which one will my device call?
With Google-supported calling and carrier calling, the Google Assistant will ask you which number you'd like to call. Eventually, your Assistant will learn which number you prefer for certain contacts so that you can skip this step in the future. You can also edit your contacts to make them more unique at contacts.google.com.
With Duo calls, your device will call the number with a valid Duo account.
Can someone call me on my Home or Nest device (versus me calling them)?
You can receive calls made by someone using Google Duo.
To receive calls:
- Duo calling needs to be set up for your the device.
- Personal results need to be on.
- Do not disturb needs to be off.
- Night mode needs to be off.
- Downtime needs to be off.
Google-supported calling and carrier calling (except with Telstra) do not support incoming calls.
Can I block people from calling me on my speaker or display?
You can only receive calls made by someone using Google Duo. Learn more about how to block numbers on Duo.
You can also temporarily block all calls by turning on Do not disturb. Note: This will also disable incoming broadcasts and reminder notifications. To prevent call notifications on a regular schedule, set up night mode.
What happens when you reach a number that has a menu and says "press 2"?
Use your voice to navigate through a phone tree. When the phone system gives you the prompt for the option you want, such as "Press 2," say "Hey Google, press 2." With a Nest Hub or Nest Hub Max display, you can also use the dial pad 
Note: With Duo calls, you'll not be able to use voice commands in a call to navigate a phone system.