It’s been ages since I last used Skype, but you’ve got to give it respect. It was once the go-to platform for video calls before Zoom and other services took over. If you needed to make an international call or set up a video chat, Skype was the best option out there. But as time passed, it struggled to keep up, and a lot of people, myself included, moved on.
Now, Microsoft is officially pulling the plug on Skype on May 5 to focus on Teams. You can log into Teams with your Skype credentials and bring over chats with contacts automatically. Teams still offers core features that Skype does with the addition of meeting hosting, calendar integration, and community-building tools. But if you just can’t see yourself switching to it, there are other options to consider. Here are the top five apps to start with.
Google Meet
Pros
- Free & works within browsers.
- Live captions & AI-powered features.
- Background blur & virtual backgrounds for privacy.
- Integration with third-party apps.
Cons
- No built-in recording feature in the free version.
- Requires a Google account to start or host a meeting.
- No direct integration with external scheduling tools outside Google Calendar.
One major thing Google Meet has over Skype is its seamless integration with Google’s ecosystem. Cliche as it sounds, it’s an important factor since you won’t need to download any apps. If you use Gmail, Google Calendar, or Google Drive, Meet is already embedded within them. You can schedule and join meetings right from your browser or the preinstalled app on your Android phone.
Also, Skype allows you to make international calls to regular phone numbers with Skype Credit or subscriptions. That means you could call someone’s landline or mobile phone even if they weren’t using Skype. Google Meet, on the other hand, doesn’t offer that kind of traditional phone calling.
It’s strictly a video conferencing platform, so both parties must join via the internet using a link. If you’re mainly looking for Wi-Fi-based calls and video chats, Meet works. But if you need to call actual phone numbers, use Google Voice instead.
Zoom
Pros
- Competitive pricing, with a free tier available.
- Advanced AI Companion that summarizes meetings & transcriptions.
- End-to-end encryption.
- User-friendly interface.
Cons
- The free plan has a 40-minute meeting limit.
- Some AI features require higher-tier subscriptions.
- Limited phone support unless on a Business plan.
Although it’s mainly designed for businesses and organizations that need a cloud-based phone system, Zoom is still a great choice. You should use it because the interface is more modern and has richer features. Among them is support for meetings of up to 100 participants for 40 minutes on the free plan.
Zoom also comes with Team Chat, Whiteboard, Mail, and Calendar, giving you built-in collaboration tools that Skype never fully developed. The app allows you to control what people see, which will be useful when you have a messy background or want a more professional appearance.
Breakout rooms let you split a large meeting into smaller groups as the host for team discussions, workshops, and classrooms. Virtual backgrounds allow you to replace the real background with an image or blur effect.
If you want phone numbers, you’ll have to get them through Zoom Phone, which is a separate paid service. It offers toll-free numbers in various countries, and they receive calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Jami
Pros
- No central servers.
- Supports multiple accounts.
- Available on Windows, Linux, macOS, Android & iOS.
- Supports voice & video calls.
Cons
- Doesn’t always stay active in the background on some phones.
- Some users report stability issues.
- Concerns over developers considering opt-in data collection.
Before anything else, Jami is a completely decentralized and peer-to-peer communication platform that doesn’t rely on servers to relay data. This one factor makes it heavily different from Skype, which routes your calls and messages through centralized servers.
Because Jami is free and open-source, it doesn’t collect your data, show ads, or impose restrictions on features. Every message, call, and shared file is end-to-end encrypted, so that only you and the recipient can access the content.
By itself, Jami doesn’t provide phone numbers or connect to traditional phone networks. It works purely over the internet, so you connect using your Jami username. But if you have a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) provider, you can link your Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) account to Jami and make regular calls.
OpenPhone
Pros
- Affordable pricing for small & midsize businesses.
- Easy sign-up & intuitive interface.
- Daily, weekly & monthly analytics.
- Integrations with popular apps through Zapier.
Cons
- Difficult to reach live customer support.
- Limited features in the basic plan.
- Charges a $19 sign-up fee & monthly messaging fees ranging from $2 to $3.
OpenPhone is a business phone system that provides virtual phone numbers for calls and texts. It offers US and Canadian phone numbers and allows you to port your existing number.
It also provides AI features that transcribe calls, summarize them, and deliver automated replies. If you handle multiple customers, these tools help you respond faster and ensure no message gets lost.
Viber
Pros
- Text messaging, voice calls & video call support.
- Good call quality even on a 3G connection.
- Offers fun stickers, emoticons & doodle features.
- Make calls to landlines & non-Viber users at competitive rates.
Cons
- Difficult to reach live customer support.
- Limited user base. You may struggle to find contacts who also use it.
- Many stickers require in-app purchases.
Viber balances personal and group communication with strong security. It offers free, high-quality voice and video calls that work across mobile and desktop with synced chats. You can send group texts to 100 participants. Expressive tools also exist to help you animate conversations with GIFs and stickers.
Viber Out is also another useful feature. Although it requires payment, it allows you to call landlines and people who don’t have Viber. The service works more like an international calling card, and you’ll need to add money to your Viber Out credit.
The app clearly breaks down call costs for different countries before you make a call, so there’s no cause for concern over where your money has disappeared. Like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram, you need to enter your phone number as your unique identifier. Once you’re in, use it like the aforementioned messenger apps.
Connect with people at your convenience
Aside from call apps like Skype, mobile virtual network operators can help you save money, especially if you travel often. Many MVNOs offer multi-line plans with affordable rates, and some even support electronic SIMs. To cut costs further, consider prepaid plans instead of postpaid ones. They too have lower rates without long-term commitments.
