Beside lets you make and receive phone calls using your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data). Calls work on the Beside mobile app, on the web at app.beside.com, and on Beside for macOS.
You can call any U.S. or Canadian number, and your contacts can reach you on your Beside number at any time.
How calling works on Beside
Beside uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to route calls through your internet connection instead of your carrier's cellular network. This means:
Calls work over Wi-Fi or mobile data - no cellular minutes needed
Call quality depends on the strength and stability of your internet connection
Calls are automatically recorded and transcribed by default, with AI-generated summaries
Place a call
On the web app
Go to app.beside.com. You can start a call in two ways:
From the dial pad: click the phone icon in the top-right corner to open the Make a Call dialer, enter a U.S. or Canadian number, and click the green call button
From a contact: open Contacts in the sidebar, find the person you want to reach, and click Call next to their name
📌 Business plan with multiple lines: use the line switcher in the top-left of the sidebar to pick the line you want to call from before starting the call.
On the mobile app
There are several ways to start a call from the Beside mobile app:
From the dial pad
Open the Beside mobile app
Tap the Inbox tab
Tap + in the top-right corner
Tap the dial pad icon
Enter the number you want to call
Tap the call button
From your contacts
Open the Beside mobile app
Tap the Inbox tab
Tap + in the top-right corner
Select a contact
Tap the phone icon next to their name
From your call history
Open the Beside mobile app
Tap the Inbox tab
Tap any recent call to call back
Receive a call
When someone calls your Beside number, Beside will ring on any surface where you're signed in (mobile app, web app, or Beside for macOS). If you've set up call forwarding from your primary carrier number, calls to that number are forwarded to your Beside number and ring the same way. You can:
Answer by tapping or clicking the green button
Decline by tapping or clicking the red button
Let it ring - if you don't answer, the call goes to your AI Receptionist or voicemail based on your settings
📌 Note: On mobile, make sure Beside has permission to display notifications and that Do Not Disturb is off, otherwise you may miss incoming calls. On the web app, the Beside tab needs to be open to receive incoming calls.
During a call
While on a call, you can:
Mute your microphone
Switch audio output (speaker, Bluetooth, headphones, etc.)
Stop recording mid-call if needed.
📖 Stop recording a call
On mobile, you can also switch between Wi-Fi and cellular network without hanging up by tapping the network icon.
When you miss a call
If you don't answer, one of two things happens:
Your AI Receptionist picks up (if enabled and the caller is within your scope)
The caller is sent to voicemail (if the AI is off or the caller is excluded)
All missed calls are logged in your call history regardless.
Choose which number appears on outgoing calls
By default, your Beside number appears when you call someone. If you want your existing business number to show instead, you can set up Caller ID.
FAQ
Can I make calls from the web app?
Can I make calls from the web app?
Yes. Go to app.beside.com, sign in, and either click the phone icon in the top-right to open the dialer, or click Call next to a contact. Incoming calls also ring on the web as long as the Beside tab is open.
Can I make calls from Beside for macOS?
Can I make calls from Beside for macOS?
Yes. You can make and receive calls from Beside for macOS using the same line as your mobile app. You need to set up your line on mobile first.
📖 Send texts and make calls on macOS
Does Beside use my cellular minutes?
Does Beside use my cellular minutes?
No. Beside routes calls over your internet connection (Wi-Fi or mobile data), not your carrier's voice network. Your carrier minutes are not used for Beside calls.
Can I call international numbers?
Can I call international numbers?
Not yet. Beside currently supports calls to U.S. and Canadian numbers only. International calling is coming soon.
📖 Make international calls
My calls are dropping or have no audio. What should I do?
My calls are dropping or have no audio. What should I do?
This is usually caused by a weak or unstable internet connection. Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or move to a location with better signal.
📖 Why calls fail
Are all my calls recorded?
Are all my calls recorded?
Yes, by default. Beside records and transcribes all calls to provide summaries and transcripts. You can stop recording during a call or disable it for specific contacts. 📖 Listen to and download call recordings
If I call another Beside user's personal phone number from Beside, does it ring in their Beside app?
If I call another Beside user's personal phone number from Beside, does it ring in their Beside app?
No. Beside only handles calls placed to a Beside number (the one provisioned for an inbox, or a number ported into Beside). If you call someone's personal carrier number - even if they also use Beside - the call goes through their carrier, not through Beside.
To reach someone in their Beside app, dial their Beside number instead.