To call the Philippines from the US, dial 011 (the US exit code), then 63 (the Philippines country code), then the number without its leading 0. A mobile written 0917 XXX XXXX becomes 011 63 917 XXX XXXX, or +63 917 XXX XXXX from a cell phone.
Most calls to the Philippines go to mobiles, which all start with 09. The other number you'll often see is a Metro Manila landline, which became 8 digits in 2019. This guide covers both, the 12- to 16-hour time difference (the biggest in this series), costs, and the messaging apps most Filipinos actually use.
The short version
| What you dial | For the Philippines | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| US exit code | 011 | Or + on a cell phone |
| Country code | 63 | |
| Trunk prefix | 0 (drop it) | Used only for calls inside the Philippines |
| Mobile number | 10 digits after +63, starting with 9 | 09XX XXX XXXX locally |
| Full pattern (mobile) | 011 63 9XX XXX XXXX | +63 9XX XXX XXXX on a cell phone |
Step by step from a US phone
- 1. Look at how the number starts: 09 means a mobile. 02 means a Metro Manila landline. Other 0 codes are provincial landlines.
- 2. Drop the leading 0: The 0 is only for calls inside the Philippines. 0917 XXX XXXX becomes 917 XXX XXXX.
- 3. Dial 011 63, then the rest: From a US landline, 011 63 917 XXX XXXX. From a cell phone, +63 917 XXX XXXX. Smart and Globe, the two largest Philippine mobile networks, both show their numbers in this +63 form for callers abroad.
- 4. Save contacts as +63: The same entry then works for regular calls, texts, WhatsApp and Viber.
Philippine number formats
| Type | Written in the Philippines | From the US |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | 09XX XXX XXXX (11 digits) | 011 63 9XX XXX XXXX |
| Metro Manila landline | (02) 8XXX XXXX | 011 63 2 8XXX XXXX |
| Provincial landline | (0 + area code) + local number | 011 63 + area code + local number |
Mobile prefixes no longer tell you the network. The first digits after 09 (0917, 0918, 0998 and so on) used to identify the carrier. With mobile number portability, a number can move between networks, so don't rely on the prefix to guess the carrier or the cost.
Metro Manila went to 8 digits in 2019. Under a National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) order, Metro Manila landlines (area code 02, which also covers nearby areas such as parts of Rizal, Cavite and Laguna) added a digit on October 6, 2019. PLDT numbers added an 8 in front, so an old 123-4567 became 8123-4567; other carriers used other leading digits. If an older Manila number has only 7 digits after the 02, it's out of date; ask for the current one.
Worked example
Because no fictional range is published for the Philippines, these use X for the digits. Say a virtual assistant in Cebu gives you a mobile number of 0917 XXX XXXX, and your supplier's Makati office lists (02) 8XXX XXXX:
| Written as | Dial from a US landline | Dial from a US cell phone |
|---|---|---|
| 0917 XXX XXXX (mobile) | 011 63 917 XXX XXXX | +63 917 XXX XXXX |
| (02) 8XXX XXXX (Metro Manila) | 011 63 2 8XXX XXXX | +63 2 8XXX XXXX |
| +63 (0) 917 XXX XXXX | 011 63 917 XXX XXXX (skip the (0)) | +63 917 XXX XXXX |
Time difference from the US
The Philippines is on Philippine Standard Time, UTC+8, all year. It has no daylight saving time, so the gap to the US changes by an hour when US clocks change.
| US time zone | Philippines ahead by (US summer, March to November) | Philippines ahead by (US winter) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (New York) | 12 hours | 13 hours |
| Central (Chicago) | 13 hours | 14 hours |
| Mountain (Denver) | 14 hours | 15 hours |
| Pacific (Los Angeles) | 15 hours | 16 hours |
| Hawaii | 18 hours all year | 18 hours all year |
In practice, Manila is already on tomorrow. When it's 8 p.m. Tuesday in New York in summer, it's 8 a.m. Wednesday in Manila. US evenings line up with Philippine mornings, and US mornings with Philippine evenings. That's why teams working with Philippine staff or support centers often meet at 7 to 9 p.m. Eastern.
When you set a call time, write it in both time zones and include the day, for example "Tuesday 8 p.m. ET / Wednesday 8 a.m. Manila". Calendar invites handle the conversion for you, but a time written in a text or email doesn't, and the date line is where most missed calls come from.
What it costs
- Carrier rates: Calls to the Philippines are usually not included in standard US cell plans. Check your carrier's international rates for the Philippines, which may list mobiles and landlines separately, or add an international calling feature if you call often.
- Prepaid calling cards and apps: Calling apps that call real phone numbers sell credit by the minute; compare their current Philippines rates.
- App-to-app calls: WhatsApp, Viber and Facebook Messenger calls use only data, which is why they're the usual way families and remote teams talk.
- Roaming: If you're traveling in the Philippines with a US phone, roaming rates apply instead. A local prepaid SIM is often the cheaper option; ask the seller what ID you need to register it.
Texting and messaging apps
Regular texts to a Philippine mobile use the same +63 9XX format. They may cost extra on your plan, so check before sending many.
For everyday contact, ask which app the person prefers. WhatsApp, Viber and Facebook Messenger are all common in the Philippines. For WhatsApp, save the contact as +63 and the 10 digits starting with 9, for example +63 917 XXX XXXX, with no leading 0.
Common mistakes
- Keeping the 0: 011 63 0917… won't connect. It's 011 63 917….
- Using a 7-digit Metro Manila number: since 2019 they're 8 digits after the 2.
- Calling at 9 a.m. Eastern to reach a Manila office: it's 9 or 10 p.m. there.
- Forgetting the date line: it's usually the next day in the Philippines, so "Friday" deadlines arrive earlier there.
- Assuming a 0917 number is on a particular network: numbers can be ported.
Sources
Country code and dialing prefixes: ITU list of E.164 assigned country codes and ITU dialing procedures (international and national prefixes). Mobile format: Smart Help, How to make international roaming calls and Globe, Postpaid international roaming FAQs. Metro Manila 8-digit numbers: PLDT, 8-digit landline migration and GMA News, October 2019. Clocks: 15 U.S.C. § 260a (US daylight saving time runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November). WhatsApp: WhatsApp Help Center, How to add an international phone number. All checked October 19, 2026.
Where Chargezen fits
To be clear up front: Chargezen isn't an international calling service. It doesn't sell calling plans or numbers in the Philippines; its numbers are US (+1) numbers only. For calls to the Philippines, use your carrier, a calling app or WhatsApp as described above.
Where it helps is the other direction, when customers in the Philippines reach your US business. From a Philippine phone, customers dial 00 1 and your 10-digit US number (or +1 on a mobile). With a 12- to 16-hour gap, a customer calling in their afternoon reaches you in the middle of the night. Concierge answers calls on your US number day and night, from the business details you give it, so a call that lands at 3 a.m. your time still gets answered. When a caller needs a person, Concierge alerts your team in the Finn app and the browser, and a teammate can join the live call. Calls, texts and notes for each customer stay in one thread in the team inbox.
See the phone channel and the AI receptionist, get a local or toll-free US number, or bring the number you already have. If you sell subscriptions to customers abroad, see international subscriptions.
Related terms: VoIP, toll-free number and number porting. Related guides: how to call the UK from the US, how to call Mexico from the US and how to share one business number with your team. See also how to call the US from the Philippines, how to call Australia from the US and how to call Japan from the US.
Frequently asked questions
What is the country code for the Philippines?
63. From the US, dial 011 63, or +63 on a cell phone, then the number without its leading 0.
How do I call a Philippine cell phone from the US?
Drop the 0 from the 09XX number and dial 011 63 9XX XXX XXXX, or +63 9XX XXX XXXX from a cell phone.
How many hours ahead is the Philippines?
12 hours ahead of US Eastern time from March to November and 13 hours in winter, because the Philippines doesn't use daylight saving time.
Why does a Manila number have 8 digits?
Metro Manila landlines moved from 7 to 8 digits on October 6, 2019, under an NTC order. Dial 011 63 2 and the 8 digits.
Can Chargezen call or text the Philippines?
Chargezen isn't an international calling or texting service and offers US (+1) numbers only. Use your carrier or a messaging app. Chargezen answers calls that customers abroad make to your US number.
