No Fee Phone Cards

Best for local and short calls

No fee phone cards are just as they promise - they have no hidden fees or access fees. This label is a means of distinguishing the card from other comparable types, such as the connection fee or low fee cards. Typically, a no fee card has a higher rate than other types - but, because it has no additional charges, it is the actual rate you will be using (rounded up to the next minute or two, depending on how the usage is calculated and recorded). These cards are most useful if you plan to make short calls, or if you plan to use them for local service. They are also good if you plan to travel and use them in different areas within the same country, as they often come with a toll free phone number that allows you to use the card even outside of any listed local access numbers for the service.

No fee phone cards are the easiest and most straightforward of the calling card or phone card options, and as such they are typically the most popular option for customers who are new to using phone cards. The only hidden fee with these cards is typically a maintenance fee, generally ranging from $0.10 - $0.25 per week or month of inactivity. Charging of these fees depends on the legal environment in the area where the card is purchased - in some areas, “No Fee” simply means that there are no fees whatsoever, including no maintenance fee. In other areas, maintenance fees are not considered a charge for phone service, rather a charge for the maintenance of the account, and thus they are permitted legally. These fees gradually reduce the value of an inactive card, and thereby lower the issuing company’s obligation to maintain records of accounts (cards) not being used. This typically does not pose a problem to users of prepaid phone cards, as the $5 to $25 denominations tend to get consumed within a month or two.

It is important to note however, that although no fee cards are unquestionably the easiest cards to use - requiring the least analysis in order to figure out the real cost of a particular call - they do NOT necessarily offer the lowest rate available. In some cases, an international call lasting an hour or more made using a low fee or connection fee card can be significantly less expensive than a comparable no fee card - but the accounting may be considerably difficult.