# CallTuv vs. Google Voice

> An honest comparison - Google Voice is a fine US service that most of the world simply can't sign up for, while CallTuv works from any country. Here's how to choose.

**TL;DR:** Google Voice personal accounts are essentially US-only - you need a US phone number to sign up, so most of the world can't use it. CallTuv works from any country with just an email address, and calls 200+ destinations pay-as-you-go.

People searching for cheap calls often run into Google Voice first - and then into its biggest catch. Here's a fair comparison, so you can pick the right tool for *your* situation.

## The availability gap

**Google Voice is, for practical purposes, a US service.** Signing up for a personal account requires a **US phone number** to link, and the service is designed around being in the United States. If you live in Israel, India, Nigeria, Brazil, the Philippines - most of the world - you generally can't open a personal Google Voice account at all. (The paid Google Workspace version exists in a limited list of countries, aimed at businesses.)

**CallTuv works from any country.** You sign up with [just an email address](/help/7391824-ways-to-sign-in-to-calltuv) - no phone number needed, no country restrictions on where you sign up or call from. See [Call From Any Country: Where CallTuv Works](/help/9057318-call-from-any-country-where-calltuv-works).

## What each is actually for

The two services solve different problems, honestly stated:

- **Google Voice** gives US users a **free US phone number** - with voicemail, texting, and free calls within the US. International calls are possible but are an add-on to its main job.
- **CallTuv** is built for **outbound international calling**: reaching real landlines and mobiles in [200+ countries](https://calltuv.com/en/rates) at low pay-as-you-go rates, from the [browser](https://calltuv.com/web-phone-dialer) or the [mobile app](/help/9145062-use-calltuv-on-any-device). It deliberately [doesn't provide phone numbers](/help/4821673-does-calltuv-provide-phone-numbers) or [receive calls and texts](/help/3746158-can-i-receive-calls-or-text-messages-sms) - that focus is [why it stays cheap](/help/3928746-why-is-calltuv-so-cheap).

## Side by side

| | Google Voice (personal) | CallTuv |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Available in | US (needs a US number to sign up) | Any country |
| Sign-up requires | Google account + US phone number | Just an email |
| Main purpose | A free US number with voicemail/SMS | Cheap calls to 200+ countries |
| Pricing model | Free US calling; per-minute international | [Pay-as-you-go](/help/6198430-understanding-rates-and-per-minute-billing), credit never expires |
| Show your own number | Your Google Voice number | [Your verified number](/help/8927354-verify-your-own-number-as-caller-id) or a Shared Number |
| Where it runs | US apps and web | Browser, iPhone, Android, [extension](https://calltuv.com/chrome-extension) |

## Which should you pick?

- **You're in the US and want a free US number for everyday local use** - Google Voice serves that well, and we'll happily say so.
- **You're anywhere else in the world** - Google Voice likely isn't available to you at all, and CallTuv is; that decides it.
- **You're mainly calling internationally** (family abroad, foreign businesses) - CallTuv's per-minute rates and its focus on exactly that job make it the natural choice, wherever you live. Trying it costs [$5](/help/8412937-how-to-top-up-your-balance).

Some people even use both: a Google Voice number for US matters, and CallTuv credit for the international calls. There's a fuller comparison on our [Google Voice alternative](https://calltuv.com/google-voice-alternative) page, and if you're new to CallTuv, start with [What Is CallTuv?](/help/5062184-what-is-calltuv)