How do I pay Google Voice to make a call?

What is Google Voice?

Google Voice is a virtual phone number and call management service provided by Google. With Google Voice, users are given a phone number that can be used to make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and access voicemail (Source).

Some key features of Google Voice include:

Call forwarding – Forward calls to your Google Voice number to any phone number or device

Voicemail transcription – Voicemails are automatically transcribed and sent to your inbox
Text messaging – Send and receive texts using your Google Voice number
Call screening – Screen calls by hearing the caller’s name and why they are calling before you answer

Call recording – Record incoming and outgoing calls for future reference

In summary, Google Voice gives users additional phone functionality through a virtual phone number, allowing call management, voicemail transcription, texting, call screening and more.

Making Calls with Google Voice

You can make calls using the Google Voice service in two ways – using the Google Voice app on your mobile device or by using the Google Voice website. Here is an overview of both methods:

To make calls using the Google Voice app on your Android or iOS device [1]:

Open the Google Voice app
Tap on the Calls tab

Tap on a contact to call or manually dial a phone number
Tap the call button to initiate the call

To make calls using the Google Voice website [2]:

Go to the Google Voice website and log in
Click on the Calls tab
Click on a contact’s name or phone number to initiate a call

The call will be placed using your Google Voice number

Both the mobile app and website allow you to make outbound calls to domestic and international phone numbers using your Google Voice phone number. The call quality and reliability is generally very good.

Google Voice Calling Rates

Google Voice offers competitive calling rates for calls to the US, Canada, and internationally. According to Google Voice’s support page, calls to the US and Canada are free for Google Voice users in the US. International calls start at $0.01 per minute to many destinations.

Some key details on Google Voice calling rates include:

Calls to the US (including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands) and Canada are free for Google Voice users based in the US.
Calls to landlines and mobile phones in over 100 international destinations cost only $0.01 per minute.

Calling rates to other international destinations start at $0.10 per minute for landlines and $0.23 per minute for mobile phones.
International calling rates can be checked on the Google Voice rates page before placing a call.

Overall, Google Voice offers very competitive international and domestic calling rates, especially to popular destinations. Adding credit to your Google Voice account allows you to make inexpensive calls worldwide.

Adding Credit to Google Voice

Adding credit to your Google Voice account allows you to make outbound calls using your Google Voice number. Since Google Voice provides free calling within the US and Canada, you only need to add credit if you plan to call other international numbers.

There are a few different ways to add money to your Google Voice balance:

Use a credit or debit card – You can add money directly through your Google Voice account settings by entering your card details. There is no fee for using a card.

Use Google Pay – If you have a Google Pay account connected, you can use it to add money to Google Voice.
Redeem gift cards – Google allows you to add money to your account by redeeming eligible gift card codes.
Set up automatic replenishment – You can configure your Google Voice account to automatically add more money from a payment method when your balance runs low.

The minimum amount you can add is $10. There is no maximum balance you can have in your Google Voice account. The money you add does not expire.

Adding a credit balance enables you to make outgoing calls to international numbers directly from your Google Voice number. The rates depend on the destination, so be sure to check the latest calling rates before adding money.

Buying Google Voice Calling Credit

There are a few different ways to add calling credit to your Google Voice account so you can make calls using your Google Voice number:

You can purchase calling credit directly through the Google Voice website. Simply go to voice.google.com and click on the Settings icon. Then click on Payments and you will see the option to purchase calling credit. You can add between $10-$50 in increments of $10. The payment will be charged to your Google Pay account or you can enter a credit card.

Another option is to purchase a Google Play gift card from various retailers and apply that credit to your Google Voice account. Gift cards come in denominations from $10 to $100. To redeem, go to Payments under Settings in Google Voice and enter the claim code from the back of the gift card.

You can also enable automatic replenishment for your Google Voice credit. This will automatically charge your credit card on file whenever your account balance gets low. You can set the trigger amount and the replenishment amount in the Payments settings.

Purchasing calling credit allows you to make low cost calls using your Google Voice number. Just make sure to monitor your balance and add more funds when needed so you don’t run out of credit mid-call.

Using a Credit Card

One way to add calling credit to your Google Voice account is by using a credit card. To add a credit card:

1. Go to the payments settings in your Google Voice account. You can find this under Settings > Payments.

2. Click “Add new credit card.”

3. Enter your credit card information including the card number, expiration date, and security code.

4. Agree to the terms and conditions.

5. Click “Save.”

Once you’ve added a credit card, you can use it to purchase calling credit for your Google Voice account. When purchasing calling credit:

1. Go to the Payments page in your Google Voice account.

2. Click “Add credit.”

3. Select the amount you want to add.

4. Click “Add credit.”

5. Confirm the credit card you want to use for payment.

The credit will be immediately added to your Google Voice account once the payment goes through. You can then use this credit to make calls from Google Voice.

Using Google Pay

One way to add credit to your Google Voice account is by using your Google Pay balance. To do this, you must first link your Google Pay account to your Google Voice account. Here are the steps:

1. Open the Google Voice website and click on “Settings” in the top right corner.

2. Click on “Payments” on the left side menu.

3. Under “Payment methods”, click on “Link to Google Pay”.

4. Follow the prompts to securely link your Google Pay account.

Once linked, you can use your Google Pay balance to add credit to Google Voice. Any available balance in your Google Pay account will automatically be used when adding credit in Google Voice before charging your payment method.

This allows you to seamlessly use your Google Pay balance to pay for Google Voice calls without needing to manually transfer funds between accounts. It’s a convenient way to leverage your Google Pay balance if you want to make calls with Google Voice.

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/googlepay/comments/nwsmgx/google_phone_number_for_google_pay/

Using Gift Cards

One way to add calling credit to your Google Voice account is by redeeming gift cards. You can purchase Google Play gift cards from various retailers and redeem them to add balance to your Google Voice account.

To redeem a Google Play gift card for Google Voice calling credit:

Open the Google Play app on your Android device or visit https://play.google.com/redeem on your computer.
Enter the gift card code or scan the barcode to redeem it.
The gift card balance will be added to your Google Play balance.

In the Google Voice app, go to Settings > Billing and tap “Add credit”.
Select “Google Play balance” as the payment method.
Enter the amount you want to transfer from your Google Play balance to Google Voice.

The credit will now be available for making calls in Google Voice. You can redeem multiple gift cards over time to keep adding credit to your account.

Automatic Replenishment

One convenient way to ensure you don’t run out of calling credit on Google Voice is to set up automatic replenishment. This allows you to configure your Google Voice account to automatically add more calling credit when your balance gets low.

To set up automatic replenishment:

Go to voice.google.com and log into your Google Voice account.
Click on the “Billing” link.
Under “Calling Credit Auto Replenishment”, click on “Manage”.

Check the box next to “Auto-replenish when balance is low”.
Enter the amount you want added to your balance each time it gets low (must be at least $10).
Enter your payment method and billing information.

Click “Save”.

Once setup, Google Voice will automatically add calling credit to your account whenever your balance drops below $10. This ensures you’ll always have enough credit on hand to place calls.

To cancel automatic replenishment, simply repeat the steps above and uncheck the auto-replenish box.

Making Low Cost Calls

There are several ways to save money when making calls with Google Voice:

Use Wi-Fi whenever possible. Google Voice calls made over Wi-Fi are free. Connect to a Wi-Fi network before making calls to avoid using your cellular data.[1]

Call US numbers while in the US. Calls to US numbers while you are physically located in the US are free. International calls will incur per-minute charges.[2]

Purchase calling credit in bulk. Buying calling credit in larger amounts like $10, $25, or $50 saves money compared to paying per minute. The savings per minute increase with larger credit amounts.[3]

Set calls to wi-fi only. In the Google Voice app settings, enable “Wi-Fi calling only” to prevent accidental mobile data usage that would incur charges.[1]

Use a Google Voice number as your voicemail. Forward your existing number to Google Voice voicemail to avoid carrier voicemail fees.[3]