011 vs + Dialing Prefixes in US and Canada 2026
Security Specialist
In the US and Canada, 011 is the traditional international exit prefix. The plus sign is the portable way to write the same kind of international call on mobile phones and many calling apps.
They are not two country codes. They are two ways to start an international dialing sequence.
Use 011 on landlines
From many US and Canadian landlines, the pattern is 011 + country code + national number. For example, London can be dialed as 011 44 20 followed by the local number.
This format is tied to calling from the North American Numbering Plan area.
Use plus for saved contacts
The plus sign tells the device or network to use the correct international access method. A contact saved as +44 20 ... can work from the US, Canada, Europe, or another country without rewriting it.
That is why plus format is usually better for phones, CRMs, and address books.
Do not combine them
Avoid formats like 011 +44 or +011 44. Choose either 011 44 ... or +44 ....
Combining both is one of the most common reasons international calls fail.
Use 011 when dialing manually from a US or Canadian landline. Use +country code when saving contacts or dialing from a mobile phone.