Dial-Abroad.org - USA and World Phone Services, Comparisons, Reviews
Long Distance Carriers

Pioneer Telephone
Editor's choice

Pioneer Telephone is a great value and highly recommended. You get extremely low US rates and mostly very cheap international rates (but not as cheap as 3U Telecom). The customer service is known to be excellent as well. Do yourself a favor and sign up.

Sign Up

3U Telephone
3U Telecom
Editor's Choice

3U Telecom is a great choice and they also treat customers very well. 3U Telecom offers the cheapest international rates of all these carriers. All of 3U's rates, including the 4.8¢ rate, are billed in 1 second increments, so you only pay for your actual talking time. This small difference can save you a lot of money. 3U also has the best toll free number options, and they offer the same low international rates for your cell phone via an access number. They offer numerous other services and innovations that you can read about on their website. Sign up and you won't be sorry, especially if you're looking for the best international rates.

Sign Up

Cogniworld Long Distance
Cogniworld Long Distance

Cogniworld provides cheap US rates and respectable international rates. It's more expensive overall than the services listed above, and it lacks an edge when it comes to service and features. Basically, CogniWorld is a great choice if they have the best rate for the specific destination you want to call.

Sign Up

Long distance comparison and reviews

Here are three of the best, cheapest discount long distance carriers that I have found: Pioneer Telephone, 3U Telecom, and CogniWorld. These carriers are known for their excellent services and the rock bottom phone rates in the USA and international. Click on any carrier's name to learn more and sign up securely online.

Service Plans, Rates and Fees

 

  

Rating
5/5
5/5
3/5
  

Review Rate

3.25¢/min
4.8¢/min
3.49¢/min
  

Other Rate

2.7¢/min

-
-
  
 

These are state-to-state rates. In-state long distance rates vary depending on where you live. Pioneer - Only 1.9¢/min to other Pioneer users. The 2.7¢/min rate is billed in 60 sec increments, so the two rates are similar in actual use. 3U Telecom - Uses one second billing increments, so rate is lower than it appears.

Billing Units
6 sec
1 sec
6 sec
  Small billing units (increments) are better. The length of a call is rounded to the nearest unit. With 3U Telecom you only pay for the exact length of a call, so you'll save lots if you have frequent, short calls. CogniWorld has 6 sec increments for domestic calls and 30 sec billing increments for int'l calls. ZoneLD has varying billing units for int'l calls (6 sec to 60 sec) depending on the country.

Min Call
6 sec
1 sec
6 sec
 

Monthly
Fee

None
None
None
  
  Pioneer - 99¢ if you request a billing statement in the mail if you have less than $15 of usage for the month. 3U Telecom - 99¢ if you request a billing statement in the mail. CogniWorld - $1.99 if you request a billing statement in the mail and have less than $20 for the month.

Taxes
10.2% USF
3% Fed Tax
10.2% USF
3% Fed Tax
10.2% USF
3% Fed Tax

More
Fees

None
None
None
  "Other fees" include various charges carriers add without actually calling them monthly fees. In fact, they are "monthly fees" under a different name.
International Rates / In-State Rates / Alaska and Hawaii
   

Int'l
Rates

Australia 5.9¢
Brazil 6.9¢
Canada 5.9¢
Chile 4.9¢
China 4.9¢
France 4.5¢
Germany 4.5¢
Greece 4.9¢
India 20.9¢
Indo 6.9¢
Iran 19.9¢
Israel 4.9¢
Italy 4.9¢
Japan 5.9¢
Malaysia 5.9¢
Mexico 17.9¢
Nigeria 10.9¢
Philipp 22.9¢
Poland 5.9¢
Russia 4.5¢
Sing 4.9¢
S Africa 12.5¢
S Korea 5.9¢
Spain 4.9¢
Taiwan 5.5¢
Thail 5.9¢
UK 4.9¢
Australia 4.8¢
Brazil 4.8¢
Canada 4.8¢
Chile 4.8¢
China 4.8¢
France 4.8¢
Germany 4.8¢
Greece 4.8¢
India 13.9¢
Indo 5.9¢
Iran 13.9¢
Israel 4.8¢
Italy 4.8¢
Japan 4.8¢
Malaysia 4.8¢
Mexico 4.8¢
Nigeria 8.9¢
Philipp 19.9¢
Poland 4.8¢
Russia 4.8¢
Sing 4.8¢
S Africa 9.9¢
S Korea 4.8¢
Spain 4.8¢
Taiwan 4.8¢
Thai 6.9¢
UK 4.8¢
Australia 5.9¢
Brazil 5.7¢
Canada 9¢
Chile 6.9¢
China 8.9¢
France 5.9¢
Germany 6.3¢
Greece 8.5¢
India 25¢
Indo 9.4¢
Iran 21.7¢
Israel 6.7¢
Italy 5.5¢
Japan 6.8¢
Malaysia 6.8¢
Mexico 10¢
Nigeria 15.3¢
Philipp 42.8¢
Poland 8.8¢
Russia 4.3¢
Sing 4.8¢
S Africa 11.9¢
S Korea 13.6¢
Spain 5¢
Taiwan 6¢
Thai 10¢
UK 5.5¢
  
  The lowest rate for each country is marked in bold. The rates may change, so confirm when signing up. Some rates depend on the city you are calling. For this comparison, I have used: Brazil (Sao Paulo), India (Bombay), Indonesia (Jakarta), Mexico (Mexico City), Nigeria (Lagos), Russia (Moscow), Thailand (Bangkok). 3U Telecom offers an access number so you can get the same low international rates using your cell phone.

Alaska
Rate

12¢
4.8¢
12.6¢
  

Hawaii
Rate

12¢
4.8¢
9.5¢
  
Incoming Toll Free Numbers and Rates (Optional)
   

Toll Free
Fee/Mth
99¢
99¢
$1.50
  

Toll Free
Rates

Same rates
Same rates
Same rates
 

Free
Minutes

-
-
-
  

Setup
Fee
Free
Free
Free
  

Canada
Rate

5.9¢
4.8¢
9¢
  

Alaska Rate

39¢
4.8¢
12.6¢
  

Hawaii
Rate

26¢
4.8¢
9.5¢
  

Call
Route
No

Yes
No
  
  Adding a toll free number for personal or business reasons is both simple and cheap. The rates for Alaska, Hawaii, and Canada refer to incoming calls from those locations. 3U Telecom lets you route toll free calls to any phone or cell phone worldwide.
Billing and Account Management Options
   

Online
Mangmt

Yes
Yes
Yes
  

Billing
Auto billing to credit card
Auto billing to credit card
Auto billing to credit card
 

Toll Free
Support

Yes
Yes
Yes
  

Sign up
Process

Long distance carriers must follow a 3-step process to switch your service over. First, you sign up online. Second, they must verify that you really intended to switch providers. Only then can they switch your service.

After signing up you should receive an email with instructions. Read the email and make sure the verification gets completed without delay. By the way, the carriers will not charge any fee for switching your service, but your local phone company may add an administrative charge to your bill for that.

Sign Up
Link

 

Review

  
Important: You are responsible to read each provider's "Terms of Service" and verify information in this comparison. Rates, terms, and other details are always subject to change, and I cannot guarantee any of the details above will be accurate at the time when you read this page.