Fongo Mobile provides a free local and long-distance mobile phone communication tool for anyone to connect, communicate, and text with friends and family. By installing the Fongo Mobile App, which is free to download on your smartphone, you can make unlimited free calls to anyone in Canada at absolutely no cost to you. Except for the Canadian Territories.
Another advantage you get with Fongo is the real phone number. That’s correct, with the Fongo Mobile App, you’ll get a real Canadian phone number. Isn’t that great? If you’re more into texting and media messaging, you’ll get that FREE with Fongo Mobile. But the only drawback is that the other person should install the Fongo Mobile App as well.
In the article, let’s take a look at everything Fongo Mobile has to offer in 2023. Now, let’s get started.
What Is Fongo Mobile?
Fongo Mobile is a Canadian telecommunications company that offers free calling and texting services over the Internet. It operates as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) and uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to provide its services.
Here’s an overview of Fongo Mobile:
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Free Calling and Texting: Fongo Mobile allows users to make free voice calls and send text messages to other Fongo users in Canada, as well as to numbers in the United States. This service is particularly beneficial for individuals who want to reduce their calling and texting costs.
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Mobile App: Fongo Mobile is primarily accessed through its mobile app, which is available for Android and iOS devices. Users need to download the app and create an account to start using the service.
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Local Canadian Phone Numbers: When you sign up with Fongo Mobile, you receive a local Canadian phone number. This number can be used to receive calls and texts from other users and to make free calls to other Fongo users.
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Paid Add-Ons: While basic calling and texting to other Fongo users are free, Fongo offers paid add-ons for additional services. For example, you can purchase a Canadian phone number (outside of your local area) or subscribe to affordable international calling plans.
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VoIP Technology: Fongo Mobile uses VoIP technology to route calls and texts over the Internet rather than traditional cellular networks. This means that you need a stable internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data) to use the service effectively.
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In-App Purchases: Fongo Mobile offers various in-app purchases for additional features and services. These may include purchasing credits for international calling or unlocking specific functionalities within the app.
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Coverage: Fongo Mobile’s coverage is not tied to a specific cellular network; instead, it relies on internet connectivity. As long as you have access to a reliable internet connection, you can use the service.
Keep in mind that while Fongo Mobile offers free calling and texting, it might not be suitable for everyone. The quality of VoIP calls can vary depending on the strength of your internet connection, and certain features may have additional costs. Additionally, as with any service, it’s always essential to check for any updates or changes in Fongo Mobile’s offerings, terms, and conditions.
Fongo provides free calling and messaging on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android, and BlackBerry 10. Free doesn’t mean less, start saving money today. Fongo is headquartered in Waterloo Region, Canada. You can also replace your current home phone service with Fongo Home Phone. Fongo Mobile App is Free to download and is available exclusively on the iOS, Google Play Store, Amazon AppStore, and the Huwaei App Gallery.
Fongo Mobile Unique Features
Fongo Mobile offered several unique features that set it apart from traditional mobile carriers and other VoIP services. Please note that features and offerings may have changed since then, so it’s advisable to visit Fongo Mobile’s official website or contact their support team for the most up-to-date information. Here are some of the unique features that were available at that time:
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Free Canadian Phone Number: When you sign up for Fongo Mobile, you receive a free local Canadian phone number. This allows you to make and receive calls and texts to other Fongo users in Canada and the United States without any additional charges.
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Free Incoming Calls: With Fongo Mobile, incoming calls to your Fongo number are entirely free. This is especially advantageous if you want to receive calls from friends, family, or business contacts without incurring call fees.
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Free Voicemail: Fongo Mobile includes free voicemail, so callers can leave you messages if you’re unable to answer. You can listen to your voicemail messages through the app or via email notifications.
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Low-Cost International Calling: While calling other Fongo users is free, Fongo Mobile offers competitive rates for making international calls to destinations outside of Canada and the United States. Users can purchase credits to use for international calling.
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Text Messaging: In addition to free calling, Fongo Mobile also enables free text messaging to other Fongo users. You can send and receive text messages through the app, making it a cost-effective way to stay in touch.
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In-App Purchases: Fongo Mobile allows users to make in-app purchases to access additional features, such as subscribing to international calling plans, buying Canadian phone numbers outside their local area, and unlocking specific functionalities.
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Wi-Fi or Data Calling: Since Fongo Mobile uses VoIP technology, you can place calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data. This can be useful in areas with poor cellular coverage but a stable internet connection.
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Ad-Supported Option: Fongo Mobile offered an ad-supported version that allowed users to make free calls and texts by viewing advertisements within the app. Users who preferred an ad-free experience could opt for paid plans.
Fongo Mobile Features
Here is the list of features and benefits Fongo Mobile offers:
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Free Calls and Texts – Fongo to Fongo unlimited calls and messages completely free of charge. Just make sure that your friends have Fongo installed on their phones! That’s it and it is unlimited and free minutes.
- List of Free Fongo Services:
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Local Phone Number
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Visual Voicemail
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Caller ID
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Fongo to Fongo Messaging
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Call Waiting
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Call Forwarding
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Conference Calling
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911 Service
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Unlimited Free Calls across Canada – Including all 10 provinces free of charge
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International call rates – Just 2 cents a minute to the US, UK and China.
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Keep your number – You do not want to change your mobile number? Do you. Fongo lets you keep your existing mobile number, it is just an app anyways.
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Oh yeah did I forget to mention – You can host conference calls on Fongo too. There’s no time limit nor any fees associated.
How Does Fongo Mobile Work?
Fongo Mobile uses Voice-Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to place and receive calls and send and receive messages using your existing data plan (3G/4G) or a nearby WiFi connection and Fongo’s nationwide network.
You also have the Fongo Mobile, Fongo Home Phone, Fongo Works – The 100% FREE cloud-based phone system for small businesses and the Fongo Conference Call.
What Is Fongo Mobile Works?
Fongo Works is a free cloud-based phone system for small businesses you run on your existing smartphone.
You’ll receive a free local phone number for your business with up to 6 member extensions. Sign-up takes less than 10 minutes, and your business phone system is up and running.
It also comes with great free features and paid add-ons at prices any small business would love.
Fongo Mobile Add-On Features
1. Free local Phone Number
Fongo comes with a real phone number for unlimited calling to any number. Have family and friends in a different city or province? Choose a phone number in their local area so their calls to you are free. Or log in to your account and transfer your existing home or mobile phone number to Fongo for a $25 one-time fee. It’s fast and easy.
“It’s completely legal. There is no catch,” says Greg Dalton, president of Fongo. “It’s just new technology.”
2. Call for Free – Mobile or landline, unlimited
Fongo Mobile’s Free Calling Cities cover 85% of Canada so you can call almost anywhere for free, anytime. Period. Plus, Fongo offers low worldwide rates with World Credits.
Fongo mobile call rates to the US, UK, and China are as low as 2 cents per minute.
You can check the Fongo World calling rates by clicking here.
3. Send Unlimited Text and Picture Messages on Fongo
Send that clever text. Upload a favorite photo. Fongo Messaging lets you share content with Fongo friends for free. All incoming text messages are free.
Add an unlimited text messaging (SMS) package nominal monthly fee to text non-Fongo phone numbers.
4. Enjoy free calling features – No “extra” charges
Fongo free calling features include visual voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, 911 service, and more.
With Fongo Mobile:
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You can eliminate your long-distance and local calling costs.
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You’ll almost eliminate or greatly reduce your texting costs.
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Stop paying for premium features like voicemail and caller ID – you get these free from Fongo.
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Consider reducing the size of your existing mobile plan since Fongo calls use data, not your expensive voice minutes. Or, switch to a data-only plan.
Have an iPod touch or iPad with WiFi? It just became your ultimate free phone with no monthly bill.
How To Sign Up To Fongo and Installation Guide
Signing up for Fongo Mobile is quick and easy.
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Install Fongo Mobile on your smartphone, get your new phone number, and start placing calls and sending messages instantly with Fongo Mobile. Encourage your friends to call and text you on your new Fongo Mobile phone number.
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No need to update your contact information with friends and family.
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Call and text from anywhere in the world and save. Simply find a spot with WiFi coverage to place calls or send messages back home. All calls to our Free Calling Cities are free, no matter where you’re calling from. Or add World Credits for calls to locations outside of Fongo’s Free Calling Cities.
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Receive incoming call and message notifications even if you’re using another app or your phone is in sleep mode.
Fongo Paid Features
Now, that we have seen what Fongo is and what it does. Let us quickly take a look at all the paid features Fongo has to offer.
To add the below-mentioned paid features to your Fongo Mobile service, go to Fongo Mobile App and select “Add-ons” from the menu and pick the service you want.
1. If you are looking for Unlimited Canada-wide texting plans, Fongo has some of the best prices for you. Below are the plans.
Unlimited Canada Texting (SMS)
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$2.79 – 1 month
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$5.49 – 3 months
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$9.99 – 6 months
2. In case, you are more inclined towards the Global Texting plans, below is what the Fongo Mobile offers:
Unlimited Global Texting (SMS)
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$3.99 – 1 month
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$8.49 – 3 months
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$14.99 – 6 months
3. Fongo World Credits
Fongo Mobile lets you purchase long-distance credits for international calling on the Fongo Mobile App.
The cost is reasonable as well at Just 2 cents per minute to the US, China, the UK many other locations.
4. Remove All Ads
With Fongo Paid plans, for a one-time fee of $6.99 you can permanently remove all the ads, add navigation shortcuts, and have the ability to set your own call display name in the Fongo Mobile app.
5. Phone Number Transfer
You can now transfer your existing mobile phone number to Fongo for a one-time fee of $25.00.
To transfer your number all you need to do is log in to your Fongo Mobile account and select Online Store and complete the required formalities.
Fongo Home Phone
Fongo Home Phone is great for the price from a plug-and-play perspective. However, as a techie, I had found a few caveats from my own experience:
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Incoming caller-ID almost always presents only a number. They don’t do CNAM dips, so names will only show from other VOIP providers.
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Voicemail Waiting indicator updates are sometimes delayed by minutes to hours
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Caller ID Time zone for provinces/territories that don’t observe DST (Saskatchewan, eastern BC, Yukon) may be 1 hour off in the summer since their provisioning server doesn’t have configuration exceptions for those areas…
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Technically all SIP and media traffic is unencrypted. Fongo’s servers don’t support that if you are concerned about security.
Other than that, the call quality was always fantastic and reliable. Long-distance rates to the USA are good too. Good flexibility with forwarding and simultaneous ringing other numbers, like your mobiles too. The voicemail system can e-mail you the voicemails as sound file attachments. (low-quality MP#) – and also detects fax tones and switches to receive faxes and email them to you too as PDF attachments.
Final Words
Fongo Mobile provided a unique and attractive option for individuals seeking cost-effective ways to stay connected with friends, family, and business contacts.
Key highlights and conclusions about Fongo Mobile include:
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Free Calling and Texting: Fongo Mobile’s primary appeal lies in its ability to offer free voice calls and text messages to other Fongo users in Canada and the United States. This is especially beneficial for users looking to save on their communication expenses.
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Local Canadian Phone Number: Users are provided with a local Canadian phone number upon sign-up, allowing them to receive calls and texts from other users without incurring additional costs.
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VoIP Technology: Fongo Mobile utilizes VoIP technology, enabling users to place calls and send messages over the internet using Wi-Fi or mobile data. This can be advantageous in areas with limited cellular coverage.
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Low-Cost International Calling: While local calling and texting are free, Fongo Mobile offers competitive rates for international calls, making it a convenient option for users with international connections.
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In-App Purchases: Fongo Mobile allows users to customize their experience by offering in-app purchases for various services, such as international calling plans or alternative Canadian phone numbers.
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Prepaid and Ad-Supported Options: Fongo Mobile operates on a prepaid basis, providing control over monthly expenses. Additionally, an ad-supported version allowed users to access free calling and texting in exchange for viewing advertisements.
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Reliable Wi-Fi or Data Calling: With the reliance on internet connectivity, Fongo Mobile’s service quality is highly dependent on the strength of the internet connection available to the user.
As with any service, it’s essential to verify the most up-to-date information directly from Fongo Mobile’s official website or customer support channels to ensure that the features and offerings mentioned here are still accurate. Overall, Fongo Mobile’s unique approach to providing free calling and texting services has made it an appealing choice for cost-conscious users seeking an alternative to traditional mobile carriers.
Well, I found my new phone service! I talk to a lot of people across Canada as well as in the US. Since I do a lot of online communications on the go, this will be super handy. I can’t rely on Skype unless I am stationed at home. Thanks for the honest review and breakdown of their service.
Thanks Sara, glad you liked it 🙂
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Although Fongo’s web site is inviting it is also misleading. To use your mobile you must rely on Wi Hi. So your callers need to be near their Wi Hi for it to work, go out on the street and try to phone home; no can do. They have an arrangement with Pay Pal on billing you need to contact Pay Pal to cancel your account with Fongo. Fongo takes no responsibility for it. I just phoned my credit card company to have mine cancelled and a new one issued.
Their home phone service is good using VOIS.
Thanks for letting us know John, your comments are helpful to others reading.
This is a great article and find Fongo exactly what I am looking for. Thank you for your research & insights.
Thanks for the feedback.
After being away for 4 months we tried to reestablish our home phone with fongo. We have tried and spent hours on our cell phone trying to establish communications with a human with no results. we have left messages and never got a return call. on line we have been issued ticket number and have received msgs on line from someone or some computer none of which has rectified our problem.. If you expect to talk to a tech rep. forget it they do not respond. I believe the service is great one if you can get it.. We certainly have not been able to resolve our problem. We have been trying for over one and a half weeks with countless attempts.
Thanks for the comment Richard, helps others reading this blog post.