Alternatives · OpenDial Blog
OpenDial vs Rebtel: Which Is Better for International Calling?
March 29, 2026 · 6 min read
Rebtel and OpenDial both let you call real phone numbers internationally without roaming. But they work differently and suit different use cases. Here is an honest comparison.
What Rebtel is
Rebtel is a Swedish-founded VoIP service that has been around since 2006. It lets you call international phone numbers at lower rates than standard roaming. It has mobile apps for iOS and Android and uses a local access number trick on mobile calls to route calls more cheaply.
Rebtel is well-known in the international calling space and has a large user base, particularly for calls to Latin America, Africa, and South Asia. It offers both pay-as-you-go credit and subscription plans for frequent callers.
How Rebtel works under the hood
Rebtel's core mechanism routes calls through local phone numbers to reduce the carrier cost of the international leg. When you call through the Rebtel app, the call may go through a local number in the destination country, which lets Rebtel offer lower per-minute rates.
This works well when the routing is optimized for your corridor. Some users report variable quality depending on the destination, which can happen when the local routing infrastructure in a given country is congested or less maintained.
What OpenDial is
OpenDial is a browser-based international calling service. Unlike Rebtel, it does not require a mobile app. You call directly from your browser — desktop, laptop, or mobile — to real landlines and mobile numbers in 220+ countries.
OpenDial uses browser-based VoIP (WebRTC) to handle calls without any installation step. The call connects to the real phone network on the other end, so the person you are calling just answers their normal phone.
Key differences between the two
The most practical difference is app vs. browser. Rebtel requires a mobile app. OpenDial works in any modern browser on any device. If you prefer not to install calling apps, or if you need to call from a shared computer or a device where you cannot install software, OpenDial is more flexible.
Pricing structures also differ. Rebtel offers subscription plans that can reduce the per-minute rate if you call frequently. OpenDial is strictly pay-as-you-go with no subscription option. If you call the same country very often, Rebtel's subscription may work out cheaper per minute. For occasional calling, pay-as-you-go tends to be simpler.
Coverage and call quality
Both services cover a large number of countries. Rebtel has historically been strong for Latin America, Africa, and South Asia corridors. OpenDial covers 220+ countries including landlines and mobile numbers.
Call quality with any VoIP service depends on the routing infrastructure and your own internet connection. Both services use different underlying infrastructure, which means quality can vary by destination and time of day. The best way to evaluate quality for a specific corridor is to test with a small credit top-up before committing.
When to choose each one
Choose Rebtel if: you call one or two specific countries very frequently and want to take advantage of a subscription plan, you are comfortable installing and using a mobile app, and your destination is well-supported in their network.
Choose OpenDial if: you call occasionally or across multiple countries and prefer pay-as-you-go, you want to call from a browser without installing anything, or you need a simple fallback for roaming situations when you are traveling.
Short version
Both Rebtel and OpenDial solve the same core problem: calling real international phone numbers without paying roaming rates. Rebtel is app-based with subscription options; OpenDial is browser-based and pay-as-you-go.
Neither is universally better. The right choice depends on how often you call, whether you want an app, and which countries you need to reach. For a broader view of the landscape, see our guide to Skype alternatives that can call real phone numbers.