Call US from France: Best Options for Expats in 2026

Calling the US from France costs 0.20-0.50 per minute on French carriers like Orange and SFR. Worse, US toll-free 1-800 numbers don't work at all from French phones. They just... don't connect. Here's how to call US numbers for pennies instead of euros.

The Problem with French Carrier Rates

French mobile carriers charge 0.20-0.50 per minute for calls to US numbers, and that's if your plan even allows international calls without a special package.

Orange's "Recharge Monde" option costs 15 for 60 minutes of international calls. That's 0.25 per minute for what amounts to a prepaid add-on. SFR classifies the USA as "Zone 2" and charges accordingly. Bouygues and Free Mobile aren't much better.

But here's the real problem: US toll-free numbers don't work from France. That 1-800 number on the back of your Chase card? Dead tone. The IRS toll-free line? Won't connect. French carriers block these calls entirely because toll-free numbers only work within the US. You need the company's international number instead.

Your Options Compared

You have four main options for calling the US from France: carrier rates, VoIP subscriptions, calling cards, or browser-based services. Here's how they stack up.

Method	Cost	Setup Required	Best For
French carrier	0.20-0.50/min	None	Emergencies only
VoIP subscription (Skype, etc.)	$5-30/month + per-min	App download, account	Frequent callers
Calling cards	Variable + hidden fees	Purchase card	Nobody in 2026
Browser-based (World Dialer)	$0.04/min	None	Occasional callers

The math: A 10-minute call to your US bank costs 2-5 on your French carrier. The same call through World Dialer costs $0.40. That's not a typo.

VoIP subscriptions like Skype or Vonage make sense if you're calling the US daily. But if you make a few calls a month to sort out bank issues or check in with family, you're paying a monthly fee for access you barely use. Subscriptions are for Netflix. Phone calls are for credit.

Calling cards still exist, technically. We don't recommend them.

Important US Numbers to Have

US 1-800 toll-free numbers don't work from France. Here are the international numbers that do.

Save these before you need them:

US Banks (International Lines)

Institution	International Number	Hours (ET)
Chase	+1 (713) 262-3300	24/7
Bank of America	+1 (315) 724-4022	Mon-Fri 8am-11pm
Wells Fargo	+1 (925) 825-7600	24/7

US Government

Agency	International Number	Hours (ET)
IRS International	+1 (267) 941-1000	Mon-Fri 6am-11pm
Taxpayer Advocate	+1 (515) 564-6827	Mon-Fri 8am-8pm

The numbers on the back of your card might be toll-free. Check the bank's website for their "international" or "call from abroad" number. It's usually buried in the contact page.

When to Call: Time Zone Math

France is 6 hours ahead of US Eastern Time and 9 hours ahead of Pacific Time. Call in your evening to catch US businesses during their workday.

Paris time to US business hours:

3 PM Paris = 9 AM New York
6 PM Paris = 9 AM Los Angeles
11 PM Paris = 5 PM New York (end of East Coast business day)

IRS international line hours in Paris time: 12 PM to 5 AM (next day). Yes, you might be calling the IRS at midnight Paris time. Tax season is fun like that.

How to Dial US Numbers from France

From a French phone, dial 00 1 followed by the 10-digit US number. From a mobile, just use +1.

Format examples:

Landline: 00 1 267 941 1000
Mobile: +1 (267) 941-1000
Wrong: 1-800-xxx-xxxx (won't work)

The +1 is the US country code. The 00 is France's international dialing prefix. On a smartphone, just tap + and the full number with country code.

Call US Numbers from France

You have the numbers. Here's the easiest way to dial them.

WorldDialer works from France (and everywhere else). $0.04/minute to US landlines. Browser-based, no VPN needed, no subscription required.

Next time you need to call home, we'll be here.

→ Try WorldDialer

Frequently Asked Questions

Does *67 still hide my number when calling the US from France?

No. *67 is a US carrier code and only works on calls placed within the North American Numbering Plan. From a French phone, the equivalent is #31# before the number on most GSM networks (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free), which blocks caller ID for that one call. The result on the US side is "Private," "Unknown," or "No Caller ID" depending on the receiver's phone. Caller ID blocking doesn't apply to emergency or toll-free numbers, which capture your line regardless.

Will my Free Mobile plan cover US calls without extra charges?

Sometimes, depending on your tier. The Free Mobile Forfait at 19.99 euros per month includes unlimited calls to US and Canadian landlines and mobiles. The Forfait 2 euros doesn't include any US calling. If you're on the mid-tier Forfait Series Free or older plans, check your "destinations incluses" list at mobile.free.fr. Outside of Free Mobile, Orange, SFR, and Bouygues all charge 0.20-0.50 euros per minute for US calls unless you add a "Recharge Monde" or equivalent international pack.

Can I keep my US phone number alive while living in France?

Yes, the most common options are Google Voice (free if you set it up before leaving the US with a US-based account), a paid US VoIP number through Telnyx or NumberBarn (around $2-5 per month), or keeping a US prepaid SIM active on a $3-10/month plan like Tello or US Mobile. Google Voice requires periodic activity to keep the number, and signing in from French IP addresses sometimes triggers account flags, so use a US VPN when logging in. The Google Voice number can forward SMS verification codes for US banks and brokerages.

Why does my call to a US 1-800 number sound like it connects then drops?

That's the French carrier handing the call off, the US toll-free system receiving it, then rejecting it for being international- origin. You hear ringing or a brief connection, then silence or a "this call cannot be completed" message. Toll-free numbers are paid by the receiving business, and most US companies disable international routing on those lines to avoid surprise charges. The fix is the direct-dial number — Chase at +1 (713) 262-3300, IRS at +1 (267) 941-1000, or whatever the company lists on its "International Contact" page.

Do I need a French bank card to buy World Dialer credit?

No. World Dialer accepts international credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) and PayPal, with billing in US dollars. A French Carte Bleue works as long as it's enabled for international online purchases — most are by default, but if your card was issued in the last few years it may have e-commerce blocking that needs to be switched off in your bank app. The minimum top-up is around $5, which buys roughly 125 minutes of calls to US landlines at $0.04/minute.