Skype has made a personal hate and love relationship with its legacy users throughout its journey. With the notification “Skype is retiring in May 2025” most business users who have been using Skype for a decade now, are searching for Skype alternatives before the support ends by Microsoft.
While Skype was once the go-to solution for video calls and online meetings, it was evident that the overall platform was outdated and Microsoft never integrated Skype into its existing ecosystem. Thus, a variety of Skype alternatives are in the market now that offer advanced features, better integrations, and enhanced security.
Let’s dive into our list of “Top 10 Skype Alternatives in 2025”.
#1 Skype Alternatives – Microsoft Teams
Launched On: 2017
Active Userbase: 320 million monthly active users
Subscription Model: Free plan available; Business and Enterprise plans via Microsoft 365
Popularly used in: Corporate offices, educational institutions, remote teams
Unique Features:
- Deep integration with Microsoft 365 applications like Outlook, OneDrive, and SharePoint
- Virtual phone system with AI-powered features
- Built-in task management and real-time collaboration
- Secure communication with enterprise-grade security
Key Features:
- Video conferencing platform with high-quality calls
- Screen sharing and meeting recordings
- Chat feature with team messaging and file sharing
- Voicemail transcription and cloud-based phone system
- AES 256-bit encryption for privacy and security features
Pros:
- Excellent choice for businesses looking for seamless integrations
- Comprehensive communication platform with real-time collaboration tools
- Strong alternative to Skype with additional features
Cons:
- Can be resource-intensive on desktop and mobile phone
- Limited features on the free plan
#2 Skype Alternatives – Google Meet
Launched On: 2017
Active Userbase: 300 million daily meeting participants
Subscription Model: Free plan available; Advanced features with Google Workspace subscription
Popularly used in: Corporate meetings, online education, healthcare communication
Unique Features:
- Seamless integration with Google Calendar and Google Drive
- High-quality video conferencing with unlimited meetings
- AI-powered noise cancellation for better audio calls
Key Features:
- Video calls with screen sharing and meeting recordings
- Includes group meetings with up to 250 participants
- Secure communication with end-to-end encryption
- VoIP calls and calls to landlines via Google Voice integration
- Collaboration tools for business users
Pros:
- Reliable alternative with excellent security features
- Real-time collaboration and task management for business teams
- Cloud-based platform with mobile and desktop app support
Cons:
- Limited features on the basic plan
- Additional cost for enterprise-grade security and recording options
#3 Skype Alternatives – Viber
Launched On: 2010
Active Userbase: 1.2 billion registered users
Subscription Model: Free for Viber-to-Viber calls; Viber Out for calls to mobiles and landlines
Popularly used in: Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia
Unique Features:
- Strong encryption for privacy and secure communication
- AI-powered spam detection and unwanted calls filtering
- Chat platforms with group messaging and file sharing options
Key Features:
- High-quality video calls with additional features like stickers and GIFs
- VoIP services for cost-effective international calling
- Desktop version and mobile app for seamless communication
- Business-friendly features for corporate teams
- Calls to mobiles and landlines at competitive pricing
Pros:
- Cost-effective alternative for international calls
- Secure communication with AES 256-bit encryption
- Chat tools and collaboration features for businesses
Cons:
- Limited adoption in North America
- Basic features compared to more advanced telephony platforms
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#4 Skype Alternatives – Zoom
Launched On: 2011
Active Userbase: 300 million daily meeting participants
Subscription Model: Free plan available; Business, Pro, and Enterprise plans
Popularly used in: Corporate businesses, remote teams, educational institutions
Unique Features:
- High-quality video conferencing with up to 1,000 participants
- AI-powered background noise suppression
- Zoom Phone for cloud-based business calls
Key Features:
- Video conferencing tool with unlimited meetings on paid plans
- Virtual phone system with advanced telephony features
- Team messaging with collaboration tools
- Meeting recordings and automatic transcriptions
- Secure communication with enterprise-grade security
Pros:
- Default choice for business users requiring high-quality video calls
- Comprehensive communication solutions for remote teams
- Excellent option for large-scale online meetings
Cons:
- Additional cost for premium features
- Security concerns due to past vulnerabilities
#5 Skype Alternatives – WhatsApp
Launched On: 2009
Active Userbase: 2.5 billion active users
Subscription Model: Free for all users
Popularly used in: Global, with a strong user base in India, Brazil, and Europe
Unique Features:
- End-to-end encryption for secure messaging and calls
- WhatsApp Business for sales team communication and customer engagement
- Chat history backup with cloud storage integration
Key Features:
- High-quality video calls and voice calls for personal and business use
- Group chats and file sharing options
- Business-friendly features like automated replies and catalogs
- Desktop version for seamless integrations
- AES 256-bit encryption for secure messaging
Pros:
- Popular choice for personal communication and business messaging
- Cost-effective alternative with unlimited meetings via group calls
- Secure communication with industry-leading encryption
Cons:
- Limited features for professional video conferencing
- No built-in meeting recording or scheduling tools
#6 Skype Alternatives – WebEx
Launched On: 1995
Active Userbase: 200 million monthly active users
Subscription Model: Free plan available; Paid plans for advanced features
Popularly used in: Large enterprises, government organizations, healthcare, education
Unique Features:
- AI-powered features like noise removal and real-time translation
- Enterprise-grade security with AES 256-bit encryption
- Advanced telephony features with cloud-based phone system
Key Features:
- Video conferencing platform with high-quality calls
- Screen sharing and application sharing
- Integration with Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, and third-party tools
- Business-friendly features like meeting recordings and transcription
- VoIP services for calls to mobiles and landlines
Pros:
- An excellent option for corporate teams needing enterprise-grade security
- Powerful Skype alternative with cloud-based features
- Built-in task management and collaboration features
Cons:
- Additional cost for premium plans
- Can be complex for personal use
#7 Skype Alternatives – Jami
Launched On: 2016
Active Userbase: Not disclosed i.e. Secure communication, privacy-conscious users, open-source advocates
Subscription Model: Completely free and open-source
Popularly used in: Privacy-focused communities, developers, and secure business communication
Unique Features:
- End-to-end encryption with decentralized communication
- No reliance on centralized servers for better security features
- Fully open-source, making it a strong alternative to Skype
Key Features:
- High-quality video calls with peer-to-peer architecture
- Chat feature for instant messaging and file sharing
- Secure communication without storing data on cloud servers
- Business-friendly features for enterprise collaboration
- Available on desktop and mobile versions
Pros:
- Reliable alternative for privacy-focused communication
- Free and open-source with no additional cost
- No central authority, reducing risk of data leaks
Cons:
- Limited features compared to business communication tools
- Not widely used for corporate collaboration
#8 Skype Alternatives – Talky
Launched On: 2013
Active Userbase: Not Disclosed due to privacy reasons
Subscription Model: Free to use
Popularly used in: Web-based video conferencing, casual and business meetings
Unique Features:
- No account or installation required—works directly in the browser
- Simple interface for video conferencing with easy screen sharing
- Secure communication with built-in encryption
Key Features:
- Video conferencing tool with a simple link-sharing system
- Includes group meetings with up to 6 participants
- File sharing and real-time collaboration
- Screen during video calls for seamless presentation
- High-quality video and audio calls
Pros:
- Cost-effective alternative for quick online meetings
- No need to download an app or create an account
- Easy to use for external communication and guest participants
Cons:
- Limited features for large meetings or business users
- Not suitable for enterprise-level collaboration
#9 Skype Alternatives – WeChat
Launched On: 2011
Active Userbase: 1.3 billion monthly active users
Subscription Model: Free to use; WeChat Pay for additional services
Popularly used in: China, Southeast Asia, and parts of Europe
Unique Features:
- All-in-one platform with messaging, video calls, and payment integration
- Business-friendly features for companies looking for customer engagement
- Chat platforms with built-in mini-apps and social media functionality
Key Features:
- High-quality video calls and voice calls
- File sharing, chat tools, and collaboration features
- Social media integrations for personal and business communication
- Business plan available for corporate teams and brands
- Secure messaging with end-to-end encryption
Pros:
- Excellent choice for businesses looking to engage with customers
- Includes group meetings and team messaging in a single app
- Comprehensive communication solutions with payment
Cons:
- Limited availability outside China due to regulatory restrictions
- Not ideal for enterprise-grade video conferencing
#10 Skype Alternatives – GoTo Meeting
Launched On: 2004
Active Userbase: 10+ million users
Subscription Model: Paid plans with a free trial available
Popularly used in: Corporate businesses, sales teams, remote teams
Unique Features:
- AI-powered features for meeting transcriptions and automatic note-taking
- Seamless integrations with Google Workspace and Microsoft 365
- Secure communication with enterprise-grade security
Key Features:
- High-quality video conferencing with VoIP calls
- Business-friendly features like meeting recordings and transcriptions
- Desktop to mobile syncing for seamless collaboration
- Calls between users with real-time collaboration tools
- Chat feature with dedicated team channels
Pros:
- Ideal choice for corporate teams needing advanced features
- Strong alternative with built-in task management
- Secure and reliable communication platform for business users
Cons:
- No free plan available for personal use
- Additional cost for advanced telephony features
Conclusion
All Skype alternatives mentioned above come with their own set of uniqueness and features. We encourage you to try out a few of them, before finalizing one end solution. If you are looking to develop a custom platform for your enterprise use, we at Octal Digital offer custom web development Houston services with the latest secure communication tech like Web Sockets and AI to make your work environment more productive. Consult our skilled developers today!
FAQs
1. What is replacing Skype?
Various platforms like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet are gaining popularity as Skype alternatives for video conferencing and communication.
2. Why is Skype no longer popular?
Skype has lost ground due to competition from more advanced Skype alternatives with user-friendly platforms that offer better integration, features, and stability.
3. Why is Skype closing down?
Skype isn’t closing down, but it is being overshadowed by Microsoft’s other service, Teams, which is more tailored for business collaboration.
4. What is the Google equivalent of Skype?
Google Meet serves as the primary platform for Skype alternatives within the Google ecosystem, offering video conferencing and communication features.
