Buy credit to make calls

Important: This feature operates differently based on the type of account you have. Learn more about Google Voice account types.

To make paid calls, buy credit from Google Voice.

When you’re calling from the US, almost all Google Voice calls to the US and Canada are free.
Calls to a few places in the US and Canada cost one cent per minute (USD), or the listed rate for your local currency.
Calls to places outside the US are at listed rates.
Learn more about calling rates.

Tip: Your balance can't be more than $70.00.

Open the Voice app .
Tap Menu Settings.
Under 'Payments', tap Add credit.
To add to your balance, tap the amount of credit Add credit.
Select a payment method.
Tap Buy. You receive an email to confirm your purchase.
Next to 'Auto-recharge', you can select what to do when your balance falls below $2.00:
- $10, $25, $50: Automatically add this amount of credit. After you select your payment method, tap Save.
- Notify me via email: Get an email reminder when your balance is low.
- Off: Don't automatically add more credit to your account.

Tip: If you're not sure how much credit to buy, you can find the calling rate for a country or region. Next to 'Calling rates', tap Look up and enter the country/region that you want to call. Rates vary by country/region and are charged per minute.

Your bank statement might show an extra $1.00 transaction from Google. The transaction is a temporary authorisation request to make sure that your card is valid and has enough funds. It isn't an actual charge and will disappear.

If there's a credit purchase for a larger amount that you didn't make, find out how to report the unauthorised charge.

Know how much a call costs

When you’re calling from the US, almost all Google Voice calls to the US and Canada are free.
Calls to a few places in the US and Canada cost one cent per minute (USD), or the listed rate for your local currency.
Calls to places outside the US are at listed rates.
Learn more about calling rates.

Domestic and international calls use minutes from your mobile operator, unless you make calls over the Internet.

Long-distance charges

When you call someone, your call is routed through a randomly assigned US number. If the routed number’s area code isn’t the same as your area code, you might be charged long-distance rates. If you travel to another country/region, your operator can charge you international calling rates.

Standard airtime and text-messaging rates apply, based on your phone plan.

International charges

If you have a US number and call someone while visiting another country/region, you're charged international rates. Your mobile operator might also charge you extra roaming fees. To make calls without using roaming services, you can use Wi-Fi or mobile data.

Confirm that your paid call uses Google Voice

If the call is without charge, you get a message from Google Voice. The message says how much the call costs or that the call is being routed through Google Voice.

If you don't get a message, your call isn't using Google Voice. Your mobile operator might charge you.

Check if your call settings were changed by a recent update or another app that conflicts with Google Voice.

Use of data and text messages

You can only send text messages to numbers in the US and Canada.

Texts that you send

Texts that you send from the Google Voice mobile app or at voice.google.com use data. They can use data from your mobile phone plan or a Wi-Fi Internet connection. You don't need to buy Google Voice credit.

Texts that you receive

Based on your mobile phone plan, you can be charged for text messages that you receive.

If you have trouble buying credit

If you have problems paying for calling credit or you get one of the messages below, you might need to fix an issue with your payments profile.

'Your transaction cannot be completed'

If you’re asked to provide more information after you receive this message, follow the instructions. If not, try the following:

Check whether the billing address for your payment method, such as your credit card, matches the address in your Google Pay settings. If they don't match, update your address on pay.google.com and try the transaction again.
If you’re on an app, try to pay on the product’s website instead. If you’re on the website, try the app.
If you’re buying Google Voice credit on Google Pay, learn how to fix payment issues on your account.
If you’re using guest checkout on Google Store, sign in to your Google Account. If you don’t have one, create your Google Account.

'Unable to complete transaction: expired card'

Check if your payment method is up to date. If it isn’t, update it in Google Pay.

'Unable to complete the transaction. Please use another form of payment.'

Check if your payment method is up to date. If it isn’t, update it in Google Pay. Then, try your purchase again.
Make sure that you have enough money in your account for the purchase.
If you still have issues, contact your bank to check if there’s a problem with your account.
Try to make the purchase again with a different payment method.

'Your payment didn't go through. Please try a different payment method or try again later.'

Check if your payment method is up to date. If it isn’t, update it in Google Pay. Then, try your purchase again.
Make sure that you have enough money in your account for the purchase.
If you still have issues, contact your bank to check if there’s a problem with your account.
Try to make the purchase again with a different payment method.

'Your payment was declined due to an issue with your account.'

If you get this message, it might be because:

We noticed a suspicious transaction on your payments profile.
We need more information to protect your account against fraud.

To fix the issue, try the following.

Go to pay.google.com.
Act on any alerts or requests. Before you can buy anything through your Google Account, you may need to verify your identity.
Make sure that your name, address and payment information are up to date.

'Unable to process payment: low card balance'

You might not have enough funds in your account to make the payment. Check your account balance or contact your bank.

Ineligible or greyed out card

If your card is greyed out or you get a message that your card is ineligible, you can't use it for this type of purchase. Try to make the purchase again with a different payment method.

If you can't find the payment method that you want to use, follow the instructions on the screen to add a new one.

Why do I have a 'pending' transaction?

You may notice a pending transaction for calling credit on your card statement or Google Pay. This pending transaction is an authorisation request and not a charge. The authorisation request is a temporary hold that changes when the payment goes through.

Manage auto-recharge payments

If you turn on auto-recharge in Google Voice, your charges for calling credit show up under 'Subscriptions and services' in Google Pay. You can make payments by visiting pay.google.com. Auto-recharge payments can't be managed from the Google Pay mobile app.

Sign in to Subscriptions.
Find the Google Voice auto-recharge for calling credit and click Manage.

Cancel an auto-recharge

If you cancel an auto-recharge subscription, any payments that you already made won't be refunded.

Sign in to Subscriptions.
Find the Google Voice auto-recharge for calling credit and click Manage.
Select Cancel subscription.
Go to voice.google.com.
At the top right, click Settings .
On the left, click Payments.
Next to 'Auto-recharge', select Off.