How to Call the Philippines from the US in 2026: Rates, +63 Format and the Cheapest Way

The Philippines is home to over 110 million people and has one of the largest overseas diaspora communities in the United States. Whether you are calling a family member in Manila, a colleague in Cebu, or a business partner in Davao, knowing the correct dialing format will save you time and frustration. This guide covers everything you need to call the Philippines from the US, including the country code, area codes, time zone tips, and the cheapest calling options available in 2026.

Quick Reference: Dialing the Philippines from the US

The basic dialing format for calling the Philippines from the United States is:

From a landline: 011 + 63 + area code + local number

From a mobile phone: +63 + area code + local number

Example (landline in Manila): 011 63 2 8123 4567 or +63 2 8123 4567

Example (mobile): 011 63 917 123 4567 or +63 917 123 4567

Philippine landline numbers consist of the country code 63, an area code of 1 to 2 digits, and a 7- to 8-digit local number. Mobile numbers are 10 digits long after the country code.

Step-by-Step Dialing Instructions

How to call a landline in the Philippines

1. Dial the exit code: Enter 011 from a US landline, or use the + symbol on your mobile phone.
2. Enter the country code: Dial 63 for the Philippines.
3. Enter the area code: For example, 2 for Manila, 32 for Cebu, or 82 for Davao.
4. Enter the local number: Dial the remaining digits to complete the number.

A complete call to a landline in Manila would look like: 011 63 2 8XXX XXXX or +63 2 8XXX XXXX.

How to call a mobile phone in the Philippines

Filipino mobile numbers start with 09 when dialed locally (e.g., 0917 123 4567). When calling from the US, you replace the leading 0 with the country code +63.

1. Dial 011 (or use +).
2. Dial 63.
3. Dial the 10-digit mobile number without the leading 0 (e.g., 917 123 4567).

Example: +63 917 123 4567

Using the + symbol

On any smartphone, you can hold the "0" key or tap + directly. This replaces the 011 exit code and works from any country. For more details on international dialing, see our complete international calling guide.

Philippines Area Codes and Major Cities

City	Area Code	Example Number
Manila (Metro)	2	+63 2 8XXX XXXX
Cebu	32	+63 32 XXX XXXX
Davao	82	+63 82 XXX XXXX

Most calls to the Philippines from the US are placed to mobile phones rather than landlines. Landline infrastructure is limited outside of major metro areas, and the vast majority of Filipinos rely on mobile devices for everyday communication.

Best Time to Call the Philippines from the US

The Philippines operates on Philippine Standard Time (PST), which is UTC+8. There is no daylight saving time.

• PST is 13 hours ahead of US Eastern Time and 16 hours ahead of US Pacific Time.
• If it is 8:00 AM in New York, it is 9:00 PM in the Philippines, a good window for evening personal calls.
• If it is 6:00 AM in Los Angeles, it is 10:00 PM in the Philippines.

For personal calls, try calling between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM Eastern Time, which corresponds to 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM in the Philippines when most people are home and available. For business calls, the best overlap is early morning Eastern Time (7:00 AM - 9:00 AM ET), which catches the end of the Philippine business day.

Keep in mind that many Filipinos are night owls and are accustomed to receiving calls in the late evening, especially from relatives in the US.

How Much Does It Cost to Call the Philippines?

How you call	Typical cost per minute	30-minute call	Notes
AT&T / Verizon pay-per-use	$1.00 – $3.50+	$30 – $105	Highest cost. Applies unless you have an international add-on.
Carrier international add-on	$0.25 – $0.99	$7 – $30	Requires a monthly fee on top of the per-minute rate.
Calling cards	$0.05 – $0.20	$1.50 – $6	Watch connection fees, rounding, and expiry on unused balance.
Google Voice	~$0.05 landline / ~$0.10 mobile	$1.50 – $3	Requires a US number and a Google account.
Browser VoIP (BoraPhone)	From ~$0.02 landline / ~$0.03 mobile	Under $1	No app, no contract. First call free.

Compare the mobile rate. Philippine mobile termination fees are high on every provider, and most Filipinos use mobile as their primary line, so the mobile column is the one that matters. A service advertising a low "calls to the Philippines" price is usually quoting the landline rate.

Family calls to the Philippines tend to be long, which magnifies the difference: at carrier rates, a weekly hour-long call home costs more per month than most people's phone bill. Check the live Philippines rate page for exact current pricing, or our international calling rates report for the wider comparison.

Editor's Tip: For the best balance of quality and price without downloading any software, we recommend using BoraPhone to make international calls from your browser.

Tips for Calling the Philippines

• Drop the leading zero on mobile numbers. Filipinos write their mobile numbers starting with 09 (e.g., 0917 123 4567). When calling from the US, replace that leading 0 with +63, so it becomes +63 917 123 4567.
• Expect to call mobile numbers most of the time. Landline usage in the Philippines is limited, especially outside Metro Manila. Most Filipinos use prepaid mobile phones as their primary line.
• Use messaging apps for free calls. Facebook Messenger and Viber are extremely popular in the Philippines. If your contact uses one of these apps, you can call for free over Wi-Fi. See our guide on free international calls.
• Be aware of the large time difference. With a 13- to 16-hour gap depending on your US timezone, it is easy to accidentally call at an inconvenient hour. Set a reminder for your ideal calling window.

FAQ

Can you call the Philippines with a US cellular phone?

Yes. Every major US carrier, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and the prepaid networks that run on them, can dial Philippine numbers directly with no special setup. Just dial +63 followed by the number without its leading 0.

The catch is cost, not capability. Unless you have added an international calling plan, the call bills at pay-per-use rates of roughly $1.00 to $3.50 per minute, and it is charged whether or not the other person picks up a long voicemail greeting. Two things worth checking before you dial: whether your plan includes any international allowance, and whether you are on Wi-Fi, because if you are, a browser or app-based VoIP call from that same phone costs a few cents per minute instead.

What is the cheapest way to call the Philippines from the US?

VoIP, by a wide margin: a few cents per minute against $1.00 to $3.50 on pay-per-use carrier rates. BoraPhone calls Philippine landlines and mobiles from your browser with no app to install and the rate shown before you connect; see the current Philippines rates. For genuinely free calls, Messenger and Viber work when both sides have the app.

Do I need to drop the 0 when calling a Philippine mobile from the US?

Yes. Filipino mobile numbers start with 09 when dialed locally, but when calling internationally you must replace the leading 0 with the country code. For example, 0917 123 4567 becomes +63 917 123 4567.

What is the best app to call the Philippines for free?

Facebook Messenger and Viber are the most widely used communication apps in the Philippines. If both you and your contact have the app installed, calls over Wi-Fi or data are completely free. For calls to actual Philippine phone numbers, BoraPhone offers some of the lowest rates available.

Is it cheaper to call a Philippine landline or mobile?

Landline rates are typically slightly lower than mobile rates, but the difference is small with VoIP services. Since most Filipinos use mobile phones, you will likely be calling mobiles more often. With BoraPhone, mobile rates to the Philippines start at just a few cents per minute.

Ready to call the Philippines without the high fees? Try BoraPhone today for crystal-clear international calls directly from your browser, with no downloads required.