How to Use GrooVe IP to Make Free Calls on Your Android Device

Make VoIP calls without using your mobile plan

Updated on December 2, 2020

You can make free local calls within the U.S. and Canada on your Android smartphone or tablet with the GrooVe IP app. This guide shows you how to set it up. These instructions apply to GrooVe IP for Android, but there's also an iOS version.

You need to set up a PayPal account and pay a small monthly fee to reserve a GrooVe IP phone number.

How to Set Up GrooVe IP for Free Calling

Follow these steps to start making calls on your Android device:

Download GrooVe IP from the Google Play Store.
Launch the app and tap Get Started.
Fill out the registration form. Then, check your email, follow the link to verify your account, and log in to the GrooVe IP Portal.
Select Balance in the GrooVe IP portal.
Select a payment option under Add Funds (PayPal, PayPal Credit, or PayPal Debit Card).
Search for your area code to find a number you want and select Purchase Number.

If you aren't automatically prompted to search for a phone number, select Numbers on the left side of the portal page.
Launch the GrooVe IP app on your phone and tap Login.
Enter your email and password, then allow the app permission to access your contacts.
Tap a contact to make a call, or tap the dial pad.

You must be connected to Wi-Fi to make calls.

Is GrooVe IP Really Free?

Although GrooVe IP advertises itself as a free service, you must pay a small monthly fee for one of its phone numbers. You get 45 text messages and 10 minutes of free outgoing calls every month. After that, you need to purchase minutes.

What You Need to Use GrooVe IP

The technical requirements for using GrooVe IP are minimal:

A smartphone or tablet that runs Android 2.1 or later.
A mobile data plan or Wi-Fi connectivity. You can use a mobile data plan, but then your calls won't actually be free. A home Wi-Fi network is ideal.

GrooVe IP needs to run permanently on your device if you want to use it to receive calls. This consumes some additional battery charge.

Why Use GrooVe IP?

Google Voice allows you to ring multiple phones through one phone number that it provides. Gmail calling allows free calls, but not on mobile devices. GrooVe IP adds VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) to the setup, bringing these assets into one feature and allowing you to use your free Wi-Fi connection to make and receive calls.

In this way, you can make unlimited calls to any number in the U.S. and Canada and receive calls from anyone in the world, all without using your mobile phone plan's voice minutes. This doesn't prevent you from using your phone as you normally do.

Calls you make with GrooVe IP are free only to numbers within the U.S. and Canada. Emergency calls (i.e. 911) are not available with the system.

How to Link Your Google Voice Number to GrooVe IP

You can use your Google Voice account to receive calls on your phone. Google Voice service isn't available outside the U.S. The setup described here benefits you even if you are outside the U.S., but you need to create the Google Voice account from within the U.S.

Go to Voice.Google.com and register for a number if you don't have one, then select the Settings Gear.
Select + New linked number under Account, then enter your GrooVe IP number.
Select Calls in the left menu, then select the toggle next to your GrooVe IP number under Call forwarding to enable it.