How to Make Phone Calls from an iPad

If you’ve ever wondered how to make phone calls from an iPad, we’re going to show to set it up quickly (and cheaply).

Whether your iPad is brand-new …

You might have received a new device as a gift, or an upgraded iPad was the dangling carrot as part of a renewed data plan. Nothing better than a shiny new iPad, right? It’s tough not to love that rush of adrenaline and dopamine that comes from a new electronic device. Shiny and fast with a screen that glistens like the ice after the last pass of the zamboni. A perfect moment of the digital age.

… or your iPad’s super old

All good things must come to an end. Slowly but surely, with a little help from technological advances that move at the speed of light, everyday (okay, constant) use and a sprinkle of planned obsolescence, our once coveted devices begin to slow, or stop completely. However its end may have come to be, eventually, they all find their way to the retirement drawer, or box. (Admit it, you kept the box. It’s okay. It’s a really nice box.)

No SIM card? No problem. 

You don’t need a SIM card to call and text with your iPad. Promise! Make the most of a newer iPad — and prevent an old iPad from being put out to pasture — by quickly turning it into a device that can make and recieve phone calls, and send and receive real text messages.

Go beyond iMessage and FaceTime

Don’t get me wrong. I love iMessage and FaceTime. I love that my iPad can show exactly the same iMessage and FaceTime conversations as my phone, because they’re all connected to my Apple ID.

iMessage and FaceTime limit you to communicating with other iOS devices. You can’t make regular phone calls or send regular text messages, so speaking with someone on an Android phone or a landline is out of the question.

How to text and make phone calls from an iPad

Instead of sticking solely with iMessage and FaceTime, you can turn your iPad into calling and texting device using the Hushed app. Hushed is available for both iOS and Android. Get the latest version by downloading it directly from Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

1. Get a free Hushed account.

On the “Sign Up” page within the app, enter your username and select a password. Your username should be an email address so that you can reset your password if you ever forget it. Hushed does not use any account verification, so if you enter a fake email address, make sure that you remember your password. With a Hushed account, you can log into your account from any iOS or Android device and manage all your numbers.

2. Choose a phone number.

Choose a U.S. or Canada number from any of our available area codes! Or select a random area code, if you’re feeling lucky. For detailed info number/country availability, check out the menu listings under ‘Get New Numbers‘ in the app’s main menu. Once you have your number, you can start calling and texting easily!

3. Pick a plan.

Hushed offers a variety of package options! These fall into 4 different categories: • Unlimited Plan Subscriptions • Prepaid ‘7/30/90/365 Day’ Local Plans • Pay-as-you-go ’30 Day’ International Plans • Credit Packages To pick your plan, check out the menu listings under ‘Get Credits’ in the app’s main menu.

Who should try this?

1. Seniors

Navigating technology can be overwhelming or just not of particular interest to some folks, including seniors who tend to use their mobile devices for classic communication (rather than learning the latest TikTok craze). Keep Granny connected by showing her how to make phone calls from an iPad. She’ll have a nice, large screen. She can have all her contacts saved in the Hushed app. And she’ll have her own phone number for chatting with friends and family. Be sure to add her to your child’s contact list so they can exchange texts without the added cost of a traditional phone plan.

2. Kids without a phone plan

It’s great to give children an understanding of the technology that is an inescapable and important part of our future. However, they don’t need to be exposed to every modern trend or idea all at once. Limiting them to age-appropriate content and a pre-approved contact list is a great way to ease them into the responsibilities of online access. They can make phone calls with an iPad with their Hushed phone number for calls and text.

3. Travellers using an eSIM

Roaming charges are a wildly annoying aspect to travel. But, in this day and age, the need to stay in contact while out of town is a non-negotiable. Whether you’re on a road trip to a nearby locale or jet-setting across the globe, you can make phone calls with an iPad by just securing a Hushed online number as part of your travel planning. No regular sim card or eSIM required!

A perfect use for old iPads

It’s also worth noting that sustainability is an underrated and oft-overlooked virtue in discussions of technology. The financial and material cost of construction are worth appreciating in our devices, particularly with a very limited ability to recycle or reuse components. By repurposing it to make phone calls with an iPad, including using them simply for texting, we can extend the longevity and help keep it from ending up in the landfill before its time.