The need for the internet has grown drastically, and now many users cannot live without Wi-Fi or mobile data. If you have just bought your first iPhone but don’t have a data plan, rely on Wi-Fi, or have unreliable internet, you may question whether you can make and receive calls without data.
So, do iPhone calls use data? Normal iPhone calls don’t use data and use the service providers cellular network the iPhone is connected to. Making calls using iPhone apps like Facetime can use data if this is switched on or optionally, they can use Wi-Fi if the data is switched off.
You can call using the conventional phone app that doesn’t require data to initiate calls. You only need a stable network to communicate with other cellphone users and don’t have to use up your cellular data. However, you should turn on the data when you want to use calling apps like FaceTime that require an internet connection. Alternatively, you use Wi-Fi calling if there is a connection in range.
Some of the texts and calls on iPhones go through the internet, and it is understandable to worry that you will be cut off from your friends and family when you don’t have a data plan. Therefore, does it mean that you can only make calls when you have reliable internet service?
iPhone calls do not use data. Cellular data being on or off does not affect your ability to make or receive calls. As long as you have a stable network, you can communicate with other iPhone users without interfering with your data balance.
The sole purpose of the internet is to run online applications and allow you to surf the web and stream or download content. Therefore, you will not make calls through apps like FaceTime that require an internet connection. However, online calling apps can work if you have a Wi-Fi connection, or your carrier supports Wi-Fi calling.
You don’t need to panic if you travel to a remote area without dependable Wi-Fi because you can still connect to your loved ones using the default calling application on every cell phone. All you need is an affordable plan from your service provider, and you can call and text your loved ones. Similarly, you can always turn it off and stick to the default call application if you have limited data. You can even set up a monitoring app that tracks your data usage.
Cellular data helps users access the internet when there is no Wi-Fi in range to give you the freedom to surf regardless of your location. It also runs other online applications, including calling apps to help you make calls over the internet.
If you turn it off, you automatically shut down the online apps and cannot run anything that requires data. Cellular data does not control mobile calls going over your provider’s network; thus, you can turn it off when you want to call.
However, you will not receive your mails, browse, or do anything online. Network providers understood that not every user has data plans on their phones, leading to the creation of Wi-Fi calling.
Your carrier must support it first, allowing its VoIP to service the connection. While the feature is available on android phones by default, you must activate it before using it on your iPhone. This way, you can use home, work, school, or public Wi-Fi to make and receive calls.
If you have Wi-Fi calling, your provider will reroute all calls to your network whenever your data is weak. The Wi-Fi will automatically kick in if you use online apps if the cellular internet is too weak.
It is straightforward to use; you dial the number you need and pick when someone calls, and the feature will work in the background to maintain the connection. The condition is that you should have an Android or iPhone and support from your carrier.
How Do I Call on an iPhone Without Using Data?
If you don’t have a cellular plan, you must have Wi-Fi for your surfing and streaming needs. Luckily, most institutions and social places have free internet making it possible to stay online even without a data plan. If you want to communicate with others but want to save your limited internet, you may seek alternative ways to make unlimited calls and SMSs.
You can call on your iPhone without using data through your service provider’s network or Wi-Fi connection. You can call or text directly without an internet connection if you have an affordable plan from your carrier. Many users find it cheaper to buy minutes or get unlimited SMSs.
Alternatively, you can connect to it and access Wi-Fi calling if you have Wi-Fi at home or in a public place. The only restriction is that it only works on Android and iOS, and your carrier must support it. Lastly, there are several online apps that you can use for unlimited calls through Wi-Fi.
If you have a SIM card on your iPhone, you can always make calls offline to another number through your service provider’s plans. You don’t need a Wi-Fi connection or mobile data to communicate with other users.
If you go to areas with unstable internet, you only need your carrier’s network to be reliable to facilitate it. Alternatively, there is Wi-Fi calling for users with Wi-Fi connectivity at home or around them.
If you primarily use Wi-Fi and hardly connect cellular data, you can also make calls for free over the network. You don’t incur additional costs if the Wi-Fi is free with this feature. Thanks to carriers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile supporting it, the providers treat it like a regular phone call. You will only have to pay extra if you have a limit and exceed it. Thankfully, Wi-Fi calling is encrypted, keeping hackers from deciphering your call contents.
Even if you cannot use your data for online calling apps, you can still use Wi-Fi. Several applications offer unlimited calling and texting services as long as there is an uninterrupted internet connection. However, most of them are restricted only to callers and receivers who have installed the app and are inaccessible by regular landlines.
However, there are some exceptions like TextNow for users in Canada or the US. It offers unlimited talk time to any number in the region, but you must pay for international calls. WhatsApp, Google Duo, and Skype are other famous ways to call via Wi-Fi.
WhatsApp and Skype only work for users with the apps installed but have comprehensive coverage since many people have them. On the other hand, Google Duo supports group chat and has fantastic features like allowing you to use masks and stickers.
Can You Call Without Data on an iPhone?
Calls using cellphone data rely on a cellular connection to initiate a call to the recipient. Most phone users buy monthly data plans from a preferred carrier that offers SMSs, free calls, and data, but they may deplete even before the month ends. If you are a heavy data user, you may ask whether you can still make calls without an internet connection.
You can call without data on your iPhone using the default calling app or Wi-Fi calling if you need an alternative internet source since you want to save your data plan or don’t have an active data plan. It is possible to use up all the available internet that your carrier provides through the plan when you desperately need to make an urgent call. If you have reliable Wi-Fi access, note that it is not a default feature on iPhones, and you may need to activate it to make calls without data.
Besides cellular internet, you can also make VoIP calls using a Wi-Fi connection. Alternatively, you can initiate cellular voice calls if you have a plan from your service provider. With the first choice, you will need to tether your phone to Wi-Fi after enabling Wi-Fi calling, or you can use apps like FaceTime to make calls, provided that you have an active internet. If you settle for Wi-Fi calling, you won’t need to download any application.
Still, you will have a solid signal to make calls to anyone regardless of their handset type. The platform lets you operate normally without turning on your cellular network. However, while you can use FaceTime for calls, you can only call other iPhone users, but Wi-Fi calling is accessible to Android and iOS device owners. Remember that you must activate it on your iPhone since it is not a default program.
Therefore, before you resort to calling without data, you need to enable it on your phone first and ensure that your carrier supports it. Luckily, with constant Wi-Fi at your disposal, you are always free to communicate without extra charges. You also don’t need cellular data to make standard voice calls as long as you have service from your provider.
If you have a monthly voice plan, you can still call friends and family, even when you have depleted your cellular internet plan. Ultimately, without data on your iPhone, you can stay connected through Wi-Fi via Wi-Fi calling and still access the conventional voice calls provided that you have cellular service.
If you always have Wi-Fi, you may want to know how to activate it on your iPhone. Setting it up involves a few simple steps. First, open Settings on your iPhone,
- click “Cellular”
- navigate to find “Wi-Fi Calling”
- next, toggle it on
- select “Enable” on the pop-up window.
Check for a Wi-Fi icon next to your carrier’s name on the phone’s screen next to the battery bar to confirm whether you have successfully turned it on.
Does a Cell Phone Call Use Data?
Smartphones have become a daily companion for many people since they perform several tasks and maintain connections with other users. You will notice that most of these tasks require internet access explaining why you may wonder whether it is necessary to have data to make simple phone calls.
Cell Phones don’t need data to initiate or receive calls. Once you have an active voice service plan from your carrier, you can seamlessly start conventional calls from your cellphone to another regardless of your type of handset, as long as you have robust signal coverage. However, you can make VoIP calls using data via Skype, WhatsApp, and FaceTime, among other applications. For such instances, the carrier bills your calls on your internet data plan while your monthly voice airtime remains intact.
Therefore, your handset doesn’t require data to make regular calls; instead, it uses voice service to link with the intended receiver. Otherwise, if you want to make calls using programs like WhatsApp, you will have to use up your cellular data. If you don’t have Wi-Fi access, you may have to obtain a data plan from your service provider; otherwise, you will excessively pay for using the internet.
If you make regular cellular calls on your smartphone, it will help to have a voice plan, but you will require data if you prefer VoIP calls. Knowing that traditional cellular calls don’t consume data, you can make some adjustments if you still learn that your consumption rate is too high. For instance, you can keep connecting your handset to home Wi-Fi to help reduce excessive data usage.
Additionally, you can disable apps that excessively consume data, and depending on your phone, it is easy to tweak the settings to limit data usage. Android users can open Settings, go to Network and Internet, tap Mobile Network, and finally, App Data Usage. Here, you can see the programs consuming excessive internet and by how much, allowing you to restrict them.
Finally, you can make some settings to minimize data consumption. For instance, you can disable automatic system app updates, restrict video auto-play on your social media, and reduce the image quality on your video platforms to standard. Cellular data is always pricier than Wi-Fi and avoiding its usage on calls can save you a lot of money, especially when you have a working service from your carrier.
Watching your data limit will keep your monthly bills in check, but there’s no harm in using your cellular data for calls if you have a great deal and can afford it. Fortunately, some of the most recent smartphone versions have Wi-Fi calling, which can also help save your data. However, to be safe, you can stick to regular cell phone calls that don’t consume data; besides, carriers usually have affordable call plans for their users.
Wrap Up
Data plans from carriers offer internet access when Wi-Fi is out of range. However, the internet can be costly, mainly if you regularly use it for calls. Thankfully, you don’t need the internet to make phone calls. You can use the conventional calling app on every phone through your carrier’s network or Wi-Fi calling.
Every phone has a traditional calling system, and your carrier should have affordable plans to make the service cheaper. Alternatively, if you can connect to Wi-Fi, you can use Wi-Fi calling or free online apps. Platforms like Skype and WhatsApp have audio and video calling where you can chat with your loved ones.
