# Can I Call Landlines Using WhatsApp?

> WhatsApp can only call other WhatsApp users, so landlines are out of its reach - here's why, and how to call a landline from your phone or computer instead.

**TL;DR:** Unfortunately not - WhatsApp calls only reach other WhatsApp users on smartphones, so it cannot dial a landline (or any regular phone number). To call a landline over the internet, you need a service like CallTuv that connects to the real phone network.

It's one of the most common questions we hear, usually about calling parents or grandparents abroad who still use a home phone. The answer is unfortunately not - and understanding why makes the solution obvious.

## Why WhatsApp can't reach a landline

WhatsApp calls are **app-to-app**: your voice travels over the internet from the WhatsApp on your phone to the WhatsApp on the other person's smartphone. The call never touches the **regular phone network** - and a landline exists *only* on that network. No app on the other side means no call; there's simply no path from WhatsApp to a home phone, an office line, or any dialed number.

That's not a flaw, just a design choice - and it's the same for Viber, FaceTime Audio, and other app-to-app services. The full picture is in [CallTuv vs. WhatsApp and Viber Calls](/help/7156290-calltuv-vs-whatsapp-and-viber-calls).

## How to call a landline over the internet

What you need is a service that starts on the internet (so it's cheap and works from anywhere) but **ends on the real phone network** (so it can ring any number). That's exactly what CallTuv does:

1. [Create a free account](/help/4180257-getting-started-with-calltuv) with just your email.
2. [Add some credit](/help/8412937-how-to-top-up-your-balance) - from $5, and it never expires.
3. Open the dialer in your [browser](https://calltuv.com/web-phone-dialer) or the mobile app, pick the country, and dial the landline like any phone would - full steps in [How to Make a Call with CallTuv](/help/5273948-how-to-make-a-call-with-calltuv).

The landline rings normally, whoever's home picks up, and you talk. Nothing to install or explain on their side - which, for the grandparents this question is usually about, is the whole point.

## What it costs

Each destination has a transparent per-minute rate, shown in the dialer **before** you call - and landlines are often among the cheapest destinations to reach. Browse any country on the [rates page](https://calltuv.com/en/rates), and see [Understanding Rates and Per-Minute Billing](/help/6198430-understanding-rates-and-per-minute-billing) for how billing works.

## The setup most families land on

Keep WhatsApp for the relatives who have it - those calls are free and good. Keep a few dollars of CallTuv credit for the landlines and everyone without a smartphone. And if you [verify your own number as caller ID](/help/8927354-verify-your-own-number-as-caller-id), the landline's display shows *your* number, so they know it's you and can call you back on your regular line.