Does Google Duo Show up on Phone Bill? Facts Explained

Have you made too many calls on Google Duo and now are wondering, does Google Duo show up on phone bill? Well, YES and NO.

Google Duo is completely free to use and is available on multiple platforms including, iOS and Android. Unlike “FaceTime” on iOS, Google Duo relies on your phone number.

This software allows you to make phone calls to people who are in your “Contacts List.”

Now, how can you reduce your phone bill and use Google Duo at the same time?

If you use Google Duo too much, instead of a cellular network, try to use WIFI. Additionally, you can also disable background app refresh, change carriers, lower video resolution or use data monitors to limit your phone bill.

Keep reading to learn how you can reduce your phone bill while still using Google Duo.

How does Google Duo Show Up on Phone Bill?

So, it’s rational to ask, do google duo calls show up on your phone bill? Well, these calls won’t use your “Phone Minutes” as they work on the internet connection.

Here are some ways in which Google Duo can increase your phone bill:

Data Usage

Google Duo makes phone calls over an internet connection. So, if you are using cellular data to make phone calls, it will surely increase your “Data Usage.” According to a report, Google Duo can use up to 8MB of data per minute.

Call History

With the latest update of this app, your Google Duo calls will show up in your personal call log.

So, if you accidentally make a phone call from your personal call log as a “Google Duo Call,” you might consume your phone minutes and increase your phone bill.

The best thing about “Google Duo” is that it makes both audio and video phone calls over the internet. So, if you want to control your phone bill, you can use Google Duo to do that.

How to Use Google Duo and Still Reduce Your Phone Bill – Methods

Even though Google Duo is free of cost, it is still stable and reliable.

Plus, this software comes with several additional features, including end-to-end encryption and the “Knock Knock” feature that allows you to see the “Live Video” of your caller even before you answer.

In addition, as this software only utilizes your data, it is pretty easy to use Google Duo and still control your phone bill. All you have to do is control your data usage, and you are good to go.

Here are some of the most effective methods that you can follow to use Google Duo and still reduce your phone bill:

Method #1 Use WIFI

Nowadays, everyone has access to a stable WIFI. Therefore, instead of cellular data, you should use WIFI to make phone calls through Google Duo.

To use WIFI on your smartphone, follow these steps:

1. Go to the “Settings” app
2. Click on “Internet and Connections”
3. Select “WIFI” or “Wireless Connection”
4. Toggle it ON
5. Enter “Password” of your WIFI by selecting your “SSID”

That’s it. With these simple steps, you can use Google Duo on WIFI. Once you connect to a certain WIFI network, your cellular data will automatically turn off.

Tip: If you use WIFI instead of cellular data, you can use Google Duo on multiple devices, including smart TV and laptops, to make phones calls to other people.

Method #2 Disable Background App Refresh

If you don’t have access to the WIFI network, you can disable background app refresh to control your data usage. Both Android and iOS devices allow you to disable this feature.

Here is a step-by-step guide about how to disable background app refresh on Android:

1. Go to the “Settings” app
2. Scroll down and select “App and Notifications”
3. Click on “All Apps”
4. Find “Google Duo”
5. From the menu, toggle OFF the “Background Data” slider

For iOS devices, you’ll need to follow these steps to disable background app refresh:

1. Go to the “Settings” app
2. Click on “Cellular”
3. Find “Google Duo”
4. Disable the “Slider”

Once you disable the “Background App Refresh” for Google Duo, it won’t use any cellular data until you open the app.

Note: The only disadvantage of this method is that you won’t get incoming calls on Google Duo until you open the software.

If you are expecting an important call on Google Duo, this approach is surely not convenient for you.

Method #3 Change Carriers

To reduce your phone bill on one sim, you can also change the carriers.

This option is suitable for those who have an internet package on one sim but want to use Google Duo that is registered on another sim.

Follow these steps to change carriers on Android:

1. Go to the “Settings” app
2. Click on “Mobile Networks”
3. Select “Network Operators”
4. Choose the Carrier you would like to connect to
5. Set as Default

To change carrier on iOS devices, follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Go to the “Settings” app
2. Select “Carriers”
3. Turn OFF the “Automatic” Setting
4. Choose the Carrier you would like to connect to

It’s worth taking into note that if your selected carrier does not have an internet package, Google Duo will surely increase your phone bill for that phone number.

Method #4 Lower Video Resolution

If you are one of those users who make too many video calls on Google Duo, you might need to lower video resolution to reduce your phone bill. By default, Google Duo makes HD video calls at 720p.

However, you can reduce this resolution according to your internet connection and preferences.

Follow these steps to lower the video resolution on Google Duo:

1. Open the “Google Duo” app and click on “Settings”
2. Tap on “Call Settings”
3. Scroll down and select the “Data–Saving Mode”
4. Toggle it ON

Once you activate the “Data-Saving mode,” the app will automatically lower the video resolution to reduce your data usage as well as phone bill.

Tip: Google Duo is now using AV1 technology to make video calls, which means even low-bandwidth videos will appear much higher quality than before.

Therefore, the lower video resolution will reduce the phone bill but won’t affect your video calling experience.

Method #5 Use Data Monitors

To limit cellular data usage on your smartphone, data monitors are quite effective.

In addition, data monitors are already available on your smartphone, so you don’t have to download a third-party app.

For Android, follow these steps to monitor your cellular data:

1. Go to the “Settings” app
2. Click on “Wireless and Networks”
3. Select “Data Usage”
4. Set a “Limit” to get a warning message

To locate data monitor on iOS devices, you’ll need to follow the following steps:

1. Go to the “Settings” app
2. Click on “Cellular”
3. Select “Mobile Data”
4. Set a “Limit” according to your package

Once you set a specific limit according to your data package, your smartphone will send a warning message once you use up all of your allotted data.

With this approach, you’ll be able to use Google Duo without using too much cellular data.

Read Next: What Happens if I Don’t Pay my Phone Bill?

Final Thoughts

Google Duo uses an internet connection to make phone calls to other users and does not utilize your “Phone Minutes.” As a result, Google Duo won’t show up on your phone bill. However, if you use a cellular network, it will surely increase the “Data Usage” tab.

Google Duo makes audio and video phone calls over the internet. So, if you are wondering, does Google Duo show up on phone bill?

You don’t have to worry as long as you are using WIFI or an internet package to use this software.