Cheap calls to Ethiopia from Australia start at 25.5c a minute with no connection fee, on African Dream: 25.5c to landlines and 27.4c to mobiles. Here is every card ranked, the best card for the way you call, and what regular calls cost a month.
Find the Cheapest Card for Your Ethiopian Calls
Pick landline or mobile and how long you usually talk. The calculator checks every card for that exact call.
Enter how long you talk to see the cheapest card.
Every Card for Ethiopia, Ranked
Each row shows the landline and mobile rate, the connection fee, how the card rounds up your minutes, and what a 20 minute call to an Ethiopian landline costs.
| Card | Landline | Mobile | Connection fee | Billed in | 20 min landline call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. African Dream | 25.5c/min | 27.4c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $5.36 |
| 2. Hello World | 27.8c/min | 29.9c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $5.84 |
| 3. India Call | 32.4c/min | 34.8c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $6.80 |
| 4. Easy Calling | 34.4c/min | 52c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $7.22 |
| 5. Mabuhay Pinoy | 36.4c/min | 54c/min | None | 2 min blocks | $7.28 |
| 6. East Star | 35.4c/min | 36.4c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $7.43 |
| 7. Marathon | 38.4c/min | 40.4c/min | None | 4 min blocks | $7.68 |
| 8. Cricket | 39.1c/min | 40.4c/min | None | 2 min blocks | $7.82 |
| 9. Asian Connection | 41c/min | 44.4c/min | None | 2 min blocks | $8.20 |
| 10. Call Anywhere | 34.4c/min | 35.4c/min | 99c | 3 min blocks | $8.21 |
| 11. Super Deal | 39.4c/min | 42.3c/min | None | 3 min blocks | $8.27 |
| 12. Mates Rates | 36.4c/min | 37.4c/min | 79c | 3 min blocks | $8.43 |
Top 12 of 36 cards, sorted by the cost of a 20 minute call to a landline. See all 36 cards.
Best Card for the Way You Call
| If you make | Best card | Cost per call | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short calls to a landline (5 minutes) | African Dream | $1.53 | 25.5c/min, no connection fee, 3 min blocks |
| Short calls to a mobile (5 minutes) | African Dream | $1.64 | 27.4c/min, no connection fee, 3 min blocks |
| Long calls to a landline (1 hour) | African Dream | $15.30 | 25.5c/min, no connection fee, 3 min blocks |
| Long calls to a mobile (1 hour) | African Dream | $16.44 | 27.4c/min, no connection fee, 3 min blocks |
What Regular Calls Cost a Month
Small differences per minute add up when you call Ethiopia often. These are the cheapest cards for three common calling patterns.
| Calling pattern | Best card | About a month |
|---|---|---|
| A 10 minute call every day to a mobile | African Dream | $98.64 |
| Three 20 minute calls a week to a landline | African Dream | $69.61 |
| One 1 hour call a week to a mobile | African Dream | $71.19 |
A month is counted as 30 days or 4.33 weeks. Prices exclude what your own provider charges for calling the local access number.
Card Sizes and Bonus Credit
| Card | Card sizes |
|---|---|
| African Dream | $5, $10, $20, $30 (+$3 bonus), $60 (+$6 bonus) |
Bigger cards come with bonus credit on some brands. Credit lasts 6 months from your first call or last recharge, and a recharge brings back any credit that has expired.
Start Calling Ethiopia in Three Steps
- Buy the card online. We email you the PIN and the local access numbers.
- Dial the access number for your city, then your PIN.
- Dial 0011 251 and the number without its first 0, then press #. A mobile written 091 123 4567 becomes 0011 251 91 123 4567.
Compare every card that calls Ethiopia, with landline and mobile rates and talk time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to call Ethiopia from Australia?
With a phone card, a 10 minute call to a landline in Ethiopia costs $3.06 on African Dream. A 1 hour call on African Dream costs $15.30 to a landline and $16.44 to a mobile. Prices include any connection fee and are for calls from a local access number.
What is the cheapest way to call Ethiopia from Australia?
A prepaid phone card is usually cheapest when the person you call is on a normal landline or mobile. The lowest rate is 25.5c a minute on African Dream with no connection fee. With no connection fee, landlines start at 25.5c and mobiles at 27.4c, both on African Dream.
Do calls to Ethiopian mobiles cost more than landlines?
Yes. With no connection fee, the lowest rate is 25.5c a minute to a landline and 27.4c to a mobile, both on African Dream. Check the mobile column in the table if you mostly call mobiles.
How do I dial a +251 number from Australia?
Dial 0011 251, then the number without its first 0 if it has one. A mobile written 091 123 4567 becomes 0011 251 91 123 4567. On a mobile phone you can type +251 instead of 0011 251.
Do Ethio telecom and Safaricom numbers cost the same to call?
Yes. Each card has one rate for all Ethiopian mobiles. Ethio telecom mobiles start with 09 and Safaricom Ethiopia mobiles start with 07. Drop the 0 either way: 0011 251 9 or 0011 251 7, then the rest of the number.
What is the time difference between Australia and Ethiopia?
Ethiopia is on UTC+3 all year and has no daylight saving. It is 8 hours behind Sydney in mid January and 7 hours behind in mid July.
Can I call Ethiopia for free from Australia?
Internet calling apps are free when both people have the same app and a data or Wi-Fi connection. To reach a landline, a basic mobile or someone with weak internet in Ethiopia, a phone card costs from 25.5c a minute to a landline and 27.4c to a mobile, with no connection fee.
Do phone cards expire?
Our cards stay active for 6 months from your first call or your last recharge. A recharge restores any credit that has expired.


Recharging PIN