Is Long Distance Texting Free? Cheap Tips for Sending International Texts

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 26, 2021 References

Texting is so effortless that you might find yourself doing it without much thought. However, if you're texting someone internationally and you don't have an unlimited texting option, it can really cost you. Find out what's covered in your specific plan and check out our answers to questions about long-distance texting to prevent a surprise bill.

Question 1

Question 1 of 5:
What is considered long-distance for texting?

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International texts are considered to be long-distance. There's no recognized distance that domestically counts as long-distance, so anything you send internationally is considered long distance.^{[1]
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- For example, if you're in Hawaii and texting someone in New York, it's not long-distance because those states are in the same country. On the other hand, if you're in Florida and you want to text someone in Canada, that would be considered long-distance by your phone carrier.

Question 2

Question 2 of 5:
Will I be charged for international texting?

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Yes, you’ll be charged if your plan doesn’t include international coverage. Some phone carriers offer international texting as part of their coverage, but this depends on your specific plan. If your plan includes unlimited international texting, then long-distance texts are free.^{[2]
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- If you don't have an unlimited texting plan, you'll probably be charged for each text you send.
- You can read details of your phone plan on your account or stop into your carrier's local store to ask.

Question 3

Question 3 of 5:
How do international texting charges work?

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You'll be charged per text if you have limited or no international coverage. If your plan doesn't cover unlimited texting, you'll usually be charged for each international text that you send. This is usually around $0.25 per text or $0.50 for each video or picture message.^{[3]
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- If you've got a limited texting plan, you might accrue charges after you've sent a certain number of international texts.
- Don't worry—you won't be charged for long-distance texts that your phone receives, only the ones you send.
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You can text for free if you have unlimited international coverage. If you have an older plan, international texting might not be included in it. However, a lot of carriers will give you the option to pay a small monthly fee to add it to your plan.
- For instance, you might be able to add unlimited texting along with international calls for an extra $15 a month.^{[4]
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Question 4

Question 4 of 5:
What are the best free apps for international texting?

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You can use iMessage to connect your Apple product to wifi. If you and the person you're texting internationally are online, you can send free texts using iMessage on your Apple phone or tablet. iMessage is an instant messaging service that uses the internet, instead of your carrier's towers to send texts.^{[5]
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- Check your phone's settings. If the message doesn't go through, your phone might send it as a standard text message and you may be charged for sending an international text. You can turn off this feature if you like.
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Download WhatsApp to connect your Android to wifi. As long as the person you're texting long-distance has the same app, you can text each other for free using the internet instead of your carrier's service.^{[6]
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- Don't want to use WhatsApp? You could try Facebook Messenger or any messaging service that's available for download.

Question 5

Question 5 of 5:
Will I get charged for receiving long-distance texts?

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No—you can receive long-distance texts for free. The catch is that if you message back and you don't have an unlimited texting plan, you will get charged.^{[7]
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- Keep in mind that if you're traveling abroad and receiving these messages, you may get roaming charges unless you've got international coverage on your plan.