The best alternatives to Skype after its shutdown

16 May, 2025

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After years of helping people stay in touch—whether for work meetings, long-distance calls, or casual chats—Skype has officially shut down. For many, it was the default app for video calls and messaging. But with its retirement, users are now looking for reliable, easy-to-use alternatives that can fill the gap.

The good news? There are plenty of great options out there, each with its own strengths. Whether you need something for professional meetings, quick voice calls, or group chats with friends, this guide will walk you through the best alternatives to Skype and help you find the one that fits your style and needs.

Contents

What happens to Skype users after its shutdown?
10 Best alternatives to Skype
How to choose the best Skype alternative for you
Boost your productivity: All your video and chat apps in one place
How to Add These Skype Alternatives to Rambox

What happens to Skype users after its shutdown?

As of May 5, 2025, Skype has officially shut down. This change affects both free and paid users of Skype, though Skype for Business remains active and unaffected. So, what happens now?

The good news is that Microsoft has made it easy for users to transition. If you log in to Microsoft Teams using your Skype credentials, your contacts and chat history (except for some types of messages) will transfer automatically. You’ll get a prompt in the Skype app guiding you through this process. The move to Teams is fast—usually under a minute—and doesn’t require creating a new account.

If you’re not interested in using Teams, you can also choose to export your Skype data manually before January 2026. After that date, Microsoft will begin deleting all remaining user data.

Paid users can still access the Skype Dial Pad through the Skype web portal and inside Teams Free, using existing Skype Credits or subscriptions until the end of their billing cycle. However, starting April 3, 2025, new purchases for Skype Credit, Skype Numbers, and calling subscriptions are no longer available.

A few important changes to note:

Features like SMS, call forwarding, and caller ID setup are no longer offered.
Private conversations, bot chats, and messages with business accounts won’t be migrated to Teams.
You can continue receiving calls on your Skype Number until your subscription ends, or choose to transfer it to another provider.

In short, Microsoft is encouraging all Skype users to switch to Teams Free, which comes with similar features and more advanced tools for communication and collaboration.

10 Best alternatives to Skype

With Skype now retired, you might be wondering which app to use next for your calls, messages, or meetings. Whether you’re looking for something simple for personal use or a robust platform for work, here are 10 solid Skype alternatives to help you stay connected.

1. Microsoft Teams

If you were a Skype user, Microsoft Teams is the natural next step—especially since Microsoft is actively encouraging the switch. With the free version of Teams, you can chat, make voice and video calls, share files, and organize meetings, all in one place. Plus, if you sign in using your Skype credentials, your contacts and most of your chat history will be transferred automatically.

Teams is more than just a messaging app—it’s designed for collaboration. You can integrate your calendar, create groups or communities, and even use it for light project management. It’s a solid choice whether you’re staying in touch with family or coordinating with coworkers.

Great for: Former Skype users, remote teams, family communication, small businesses.
Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and web.

2. Google Meet

If you’re not a fan of Microsoft and prefer working with Google’s tools, Google Meet is a strong choice for professional communication. Integrated seamlessly with Gmail and Google Calendar, it makes scheduling and joining meetings fast and efficient—no need to install anything extra.

Google Meet offers high-quality video and audio, screen sharing, real-time captions, and end-to-end encryption for secure meetings. It supports large group calls, making it ideal for team check-ins, client presentations, and remote collaboration. While it doesn’t have built-in messaging like Skype, it works well alongside Google Chat for a complete communication setup.

Great for: Teams using Google Workspace, client meetings, remote work.
Available on: Web, Android and iOS.

3. Zoom

Zoom became one of the most widely used video conferencing platforms in the world—and for good reason. It offers reliable performance, HD video and audio, and a wide range of features tailored for professional use, including virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, and meeting recording.

Designed with teams and businesses in mind, Zoom supports large group meetings, webinars, and integrations with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365. It’s also known for its ease of use, even for first-time users, making it a go-to solution for remote teams, consultants, and client-facing professionals.

If you want to explore all the key differences between Zoom and Skype, don’t miss our full review: Zoom vs Skype – Best video conferencing comparison 2025

Great for: Professional meetings, webinars, remote teams, client presentations.
Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web.

4. Discord

Originally designed for gamers, Discord has evolved into a powerful communication platform that’s now used by remote teams, communities, and even startups. It offers voice channels, video calls, text chat, file sharing, and screen sharing—all organized into customizable servers.

For professional use, Discord is especially useful if you work in a collaborative environment where real-time communication matters. You can create channels for different topics or teams, share updates instantly, and even integrate bots or tools to manage workflows. It’s less formal than platforms like Zoom or Teams, but that’s exactly what makes it appealing to creative teams and agile workspaces.

Great for: Startups, creative teams, project collaboration, community-based work.
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web.

5. Aircall

If your work involves a lot of phone calls—especially with clients or sales prospects—Aircall is a great alternative to Skype. It’s a cloud-based phone system designed for businesses, offering features like call routing, voicemail, call recording, and detailed analytics.

Aircall integrates easily with popular CRM and help desk tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Zendesk, which makes it ideal for sales and support teams. You can set up international numbers, manage teams, and monitor performance, all from a simple dashboard. It’s built for business communication from the ground up.

Great for: Sales teams, customer support, small and mid-sized businesses.
Available on: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, web.

6. Google Duo

Google Duo is a simple and reliable video calling app that’s now integrated into the Google Meet experience for personal accounts. While it was originally created for one-on-one and small group video chats, it’s evolved to support larger meetings and now benefits from Google Meet’s improved features.

For professionals who want a lightweight and easy-to-use tool for quick video calls—especially on mobile—Google Duo is a solid option. It offers high-quality video, end-to-end encryption, and works seamlessly across Android and iOS. It’s not built for large teams or project collaboration, but for quick, direct video contact, it does the job well.

Great for: Quick video calls, mobile-first professionals, simple personal meetings.
Available on: Android, iOS, web (via Google Meet).

7. Google Voice

Google Voice is a great choice if you need a simple, cloud-based phone service for work. It lets you make and receive calls, send text messages, and manage voicemail from your computer or mobile device—using a dedicated phone number that stays the same no matter where you are.

For professionals, Google Voice is especially useful when separating personal and business calls, or if you’re working remotely and need a consistent way to stay reachable. It integrates smoothly with Google Workspace and offers features like call forwarding, spam filtering, and voicemail transcription.

Great for: Freelancers, remote workers, small businesses, Google Workspace users.
Available on: Android, iOS, web.

8. OpenPhone

OpenPhone is a modern business phone system built for startups, remote teams, and growing companies. It gives you a dedicated business number that works across devices, so you can call, text, and manage communications from anywhere.

What sets OpenPhone apart is its clean interface and strong focus on team collaboration. You can share numbers with teammates, set up auto-replies, and even keep a shared inbox for calls and messages. It also integrates with tools like Slack, HubSpot, and Zapier, making it a smart choice if you want a flexible and scalable alternative to Skype for business use.

Great for: Startups, remote teams, small business communication.
Available on: Android, iOS, web, desktop (macOS and Windows).

9. WhatsApp

While WhatsApp is widely known for personal messaging, it’s also a practical tool for business communication—especially for small teams or client-facing professionals. With features like voice and video calls, group chats, and file sharing, it covers many of the basics that Skype offered.

For more structured use, WhatsApp Business provides tools like automated replies, business profiles, and quick message templates, making it a solid choice for customer communication—particularly on mobile. While it doesn’t offer a dedicated desktop app, there are ways to access both WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business from your computer.

Need more than one WhatsApp account? Discover how to use multiple WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business accounts as desktop apps.

Great for: Client communication, small businesses, mobile-first teams.
Available on: Android, iOS, web, desktop (only WhatsApp)10. Telegram.

10. Telegram

Telegram is a fast, secure messaging app that’s become popular among professionals who need more flexibility and control. It supports voice and video calls, group chats, file sharing, and even channels for broadcasting content—making it a versatile tool for both internal communication and audience engagement.

One of Telegram’s key advantages is its multi-device support. You can log in from different platforms and keep everything in sync, without needing your phone to be connected. It also offers features like scheduled messages, chat folders, and advanced privacy settings that go beyond what most messaging apps offer.

Need more than one Telegram account? Discover how to use multiple Telegram accounts as desktop apps.

Great for: Remote teams, client communication, professionals who value privacy and flexibility.
Available on: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, web.

How to choose the best Skype alternative for you

With so many apps available, picking the right replacement for Skype depends on how you communicate and what features matter most to you. Here are a few key questions to help guide your decision:

Do you mostly use it for work or personal use?

For professional meetings and team collaboration, tools like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet offer advanced features. For personal chats or small business communication, WhatsApp or Telegram may be more than enough.

Do you need voice, video, or both?

Some apps focus more on video quality (like Zoom), while others are better for voice calls and messaging (like Google Voice or OpenPhone).

Are you working alone or with a team?

If you’re part of a team, look for platforms that support group chats, file sharing, and integrations with other tools you already use.

Do you need to make international calls or manage a business number?

Services like Aircall, OpenPhone, or Google Voice offer great telephony features, while most messaging apps are better for internet-based calls.

In the end, the best Skype alternative is the one that fits your workflow—whether that means seamless meetings, easy file sharing, or staying reachable on any device.

Boost your productivity: All your video and chat apps in one place

If you want to boost your productivity, the first step is saying goodbye to the time you waste switching between tabs and opening or closing desktop apps throughout the day. So, how can you do that? With Rambox.

Rambox is a workspace simplifier that helps you stay focused by keeping all your essential tools in one place. It offers over 700 predefined apps, and you can easily add all the Skype alternatives from this list to your personalized workspace—no need to jump between platforms anymore.

How to Add These Skype Alternatives to Rambox

Already picked your favorite Skype alternative? With Rambox, you can keep all your communication tools just one click away—no more switching between tabs or opening multiple desktop apps.

Here’s how to add any of the apps from this list to your Rambox workspace: