Best Skype Alternatives

Microsoft’s decision to shut down Skype in May 2025 left users with a choice: Transition to Microsoft Teams or find another alternative for free calls.

While Teams is a powerful tool for professionals, it’s not the most intuitive or useful for the thousands who relied on Skype to stay in touch with friends and family, both domestic and international. So, we put together a list of the best alternatives for Skype that will keep you connected for free, with even more perks than before. 

Best Skype Alternative Overall

Why was Skype shut down?

Microsoft, which acquired Skype in 2011, discontinued the service in May 2025. While it may not have feel like it to its loyal users, Skype had been declining in popularity since 2016, losing more than 80% of its monthly active users to competitors like Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Google Meet to name a few. Additionally, Microsoft had developed its own video and voice calling system, Microsoft Teams, so it made sense for the company to consolidate Skype users into Teams and manage one platform rather than two.  

Pros & Cons of Microsoft Teams

Who needs a Skype alternative?

If Microsoft Teams doesn’t fulfill your communication needs – notably if you used Skype as a second phone number or need to maintain the ability to call other mobile or landline numbers – then your best path forward is to find another alternative.  

How to pick out the best Skype alternative

Skype was a great tool for communicating, but the one feature that made it stand out was its ability to provide a second phone number to use to contact other valid mobile or landline numbers, anywhere in the world. Not many other alternatives offer that service, which is invaluable to a lot of Skype users. While apps like Viber and WhatsApp offer seamless video and audio calling, they rely on both parties having access to the app. That’s not always feasible or accessible in other parts of the world. Having your own second phone number that offers an easy route to contacting anyone else in the world simply by dialing their phone number is what sets TextNow apart from the other alternatives. If you still need some help with deciding what works best for you, though, here is a simple checklist:  

1. Determine your top feature requirement(s). First, determine what you need the alternative for. If it’s for contacting family and friends abroad via their landline or mobile phone number, then it’s imperative that you only look for services that provide you with your own phone number to call and/or can still contact international numbers with a VoIP workaround.  
2. Consider how you want to use the alternative. Most alternatives will offer their services on a variety of platforms, such as a mobile app and a browser and/or desktop app as well. But it’s important to pick the alternative that works best on the platform you’re most comfortable using. 
3. Set your budget. Many users chose Skype because it was free. If you want to stick to a no-cost solution, look for free calling apps or free texting alternatives. Beware that some services may offer a free tier but require a paid upgrade to get some of the features you want. 

Is it safe to use a Skype alternative?

Yes, most alternatives will be safe to use. Services that are closed – meaning that both users have to be using the same service to have a conversation (e.g. WhatsApp, Viber) – tend to be more secure because they can offer end-to-end message encryption.  

Frequently asked questions about Skype alternatives