Skype closes: the best alternatives

After 23 years of service, Skype definitively closed on May 5, 2025. Find out why the electronic messaging pioneer disappears. What are the best alternatives to continue your video or VoIP calls with ease?

What are the best alternatives to Skype?

With the closure of Skype, many options are available to users, whether for occasional video calls, professional meetings or VOIP calls to fixed and mobile lines.

For video calls:

• Google Meet: free with a Google account, up to 100 participants, but limited to 60 minutes beyond 3 participants in free version. The workspace version (from $ 7/month) allows advanced functions. Co-hosts, surveys, q & r, rooms, YouTube diffusion, and even an AI assistant
• Zoom : up to 100 participants, with recording, whiteboard and transcription. The free version is limited to 40 minutes. Subscription from $ 13/month to unlock the companion and extended meetings
• Webex : Cisco solution with a free plan for 100 participants and 40 minutes. Paid plans (from $ 12/month) with AI assistant, surveys, and up to 1,000 participants
• Discord : limited to 25 participants, but without restriction of duration. Ideal for small teams or personal uses
• Slack Huddles : useful for fast exchanges between colleagues. Up to 2 people free, 50 by paying (from $ 7/month)
• Signal : secure and free, up to 50 participants, simple and efficient for punctual calls

For VoIP calls to fixed or mobile lines:

• Viber Out: offers packages from $ 5.99/month, like Skype, to call classic numbers all over the world
• Google Voice: allow VOIP calls with dedicated number, but only available in the USA and Canada
• Zoom Phone : VoIP extension of zoom with various international plans
• Teams Phone : solution integrated into Microsoft Teams, especially for professional use
• Skype Dial Pad (Transitory) : users can use their remaining credits to make calls via free teams or the Skype web portal, as long as the balance remains active

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Why firm Skype and how to recover your data?

After years of domination, Skype has not been able to adapt to competition and new habits. The failure of his recovery during the pandemic precipitated his decline. Microsoft preferred to refocus his efforts on Teamsbecome its main communication platform.

To avoid any data loss, two options are available to users:

• Migrate to Microsoft Teams : Just connect with your Skype identifiers to automatically transfer contacts and messages
• Export Skype data : Connect to Skype, go to Settings> Account> Your account, then to the web portal. You can download your files, discussions and contacts

The end of Skype marks the end of an era, But many reliable alternatives are there to take over.