“Can’t we call landlines from the LINE app for free…”
‘I usually use the LINE app for free calls in Japan, so I don’t want to pay high call charges…’
“I wonder if we can make free calls right now, instead of just reviewing our calling plans and carriers…”
In fact, with “LINE Out Free”, an additional feature of the LINE application, you can call from LINE app to landlines for free, although there is a time limit.
You don’t need to install any additional application or set troublesome configuration.
This article is mainly about “LINE Out Free”, which allows free calls.
With “LINE Out Free”, you can make free calls to people who are not on your LINE friend list.
I have no complaints about the call quality.
With “LINE Out”, you can also call landlines at low rates with no time limit.
“Line Out” is introduced in other article.
LINE Out Free allows free calls from LINE app to landlines.
“LINE Out Free” is one of LINE app’s calling features.
By viewing the advertisement in advance, you will receive up to 5 minutes of free calls to landlines and mobile phones domestically and internationally (as of October 2022).
Within Japan, you can make a 3-minute free call to a landline and a 2-minute free call to a cell phone.
Of course, you can use this service for free of charge.
I use LINE Out Free for calls that take less than 3 minutes to complete, such as reservations at a restaurant.
| to Country/Region | to landline | to mobile telephone |
|---|---|---|
| U.S.A | 5 min/time | 5 min/time |
| Canada | 3 min/time | 3 min/time |
| JAPAN | 3 min/time | 2 min/time |
| Mexico | 3 min/time | 1 min/time |
| Italy, Portugal, Peru, Taiwan, Cyprus, Hungary, Puerto Rico, Sweden | 3 min/time | – |
| India, U.K. | 2 min/time | 1 min/time |
| Argentina, Romania, Israel, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Norway, New Zealand | 2 min/time | – |
| Switzerland, Australia, Iceland, Dominican Republic, Poland, Netherlands | 1 min/time | – |
However, the following restrictions apply,
I think it acceptable and the benefits of free are greater.
- 5 free calls per day (within Japan)
- Forced disconnection when the maximum free call time is reached.
- About 30-second advertisement plays before the call begins.
- No emergency call function. You cannot call emergency call to fire, police, emergency services, or other emergency agencies.
- You cannot call toll-free.
- As with browser use, there is a charge for connection to the Internet.
The official LINE app website states that the ads are 15 seconds long, but I have seen them run for 30 seconds.
How to make free calls with “LINE Out Free”
- Start LINE app.
- Tap the “Home(ホーム)” button in the lower left corner of the screen to display the home screen.
- Tap “View All(すべて見る)” to display a list of services.
- Select “Useful Tools(便利ツール)” from the category and tap it.
- Tap “LINE Out Free” from the list of useful tools to display the call screen.
- Tap “LINE Out Free” at the top of the call screen.
- When the numeric keypad input screen appears, enter the phone number and tap the call button.
- An advertisement is displayed and the remaining time of the advertisement is shown in the upper right corner.
- When the remaining time reaches zero, the message “You have earned a reward(報酬を獲得しました)” will appear and tap “✕”.
- Switches to the dial-out screen and the call is sent out.
- If the person answers, the free call is initiated.
When the maximum free call time is reached, the call is forced to end.
If you have a good idea that you can finish the call within 3 minutes, such as a dentist appointment, it would be very useful.
When calling a mobile phone or landline within Japan, a warning tone sounded before the call was forced to terminate.
When I called a mobile phone, the warning tone sounded 20 seconds before the call was forced to end.
“LINE Out” offers cheap calls! No time limit & no frequency limit!
“LINE Out Free” has restrictions on calling time and the number of free calls per day, but “LINE Out” has no time or frequency restrictions.
Naturally, there are no advertisements displayed and you can call immediately.
You have to purchase “Call credit” in advance, but it is unbeatable compared to carrier phone rates, which are 3 yen per minute, so this is also recommended.
In case you are wondering, it was not possible to automatically continue paid calls with “LINE Out “after “LINE Out Free” ended.
まとめ
- With “LINE Out Free,” you can call landlines for free.
- “LINE Out Free” is an additional feature of the LINE app, so you don’t need to install additional apps or troublesome settings.
- You can call to landlines for 3 minutes/time and mobile phones for 2 minutes/time for free in Japan.
- Up to 5 free calls per day (within Japan)
