Skype Alternatives

Best for: Cloud messaging, groups, channels, bots, and calls

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app for personal chats, groups, channels, communities, bots, file sharing, voice calls, and video calls. It can replace Skype for users who mainly need fast cross-device messaging and large communities, but its regular cloud chats should not be confused with default end-to-end encrypted messengers.

Pricing: Telegram is free to use with optional Telegram Premium for extra limits and features.

Best for: Team channels, work chat, files, huddles, and integrations

Slack is a workplace communication platform for channels, direct messages, huddles, files, canvases, lists, workflows, and integrations. It is a better Skype replacement for teams that need organized work conversations and app integrations rather than a simple consumer calling app.

Pricing: Slack has a free plan and paid Pro, Business+, and Enterprise plans.

Best for: Privacy-focused encrypted messaging and calls

Signal is a privacy-focused messenger for text, voice messages, media, group chats, voice calls, and video calls. It is a strong Skype alternative for users who want free private communication with default end-to-end encryption and a simpler experience than workplace chat platforms.

Pricing: Signal is free and supported by a nonprofit model and donations.

Best for: Discontinued Google messaging and calling service

Google Hangouts should not be listed as an active Skype alternative. Google replaced Hangouts with newer communication products such as Google Chat and Google Meet. This item should be archived or redirected to an active Google messaging or meeting product.

Pricing: Discontinued; current pricing and signup are not applicable.

Best for: Private personal messaging, groups, and calls

WhatsApp is a free messaging and calling app for personal chats, groups, voice messages, media sharing, communities, and voice or video calls. It is a practical Skype replacement for users whose contacts already rely on phone-number-based messaging and who want simple mobile-first communication.

Pricing: WhatsApp is free for personal messaging; business products have separate terms.

Best for: Community servers with text, voice, video, roles, and bots

Discord is a communication platform for communities, friends, gaming groups, creators, and interest-based servers. It supports text channels, voice channels, video calls, roles, moderation tools, and bots. It is a strong Skype alternative for persistent communities and group voice.

Pricing: Discord is free to start, with paid Nitro and server-related upgrades.

Best for: Peer-to-peer encrypted messaging protocol and clients

Tox is a decentralized, peer-to-peer encrypted messaging protocol with multiple third-party clients. It may interest users who want open-source communication without a central service, but the specific client, platform support, and maintenance status should be reviewed before publishing.

Pricing: Tox clients are generally free and open source, but availability depends on the chosen client.

Best for: Low-latency open-source group voice chat

Mumble is a free, open-source, low-latency voice chat application often used by gaming groups, communities, and self-hosted voice servers. It is a Skype alternative for users who mainly need reliable group voice rather than broad messaging, video meetings, or consumer social features.

Pricing: Mumble is free and open source; server hosting may add separate costs.

Best for: Consumer messaging, calls, groups, and communities

Rakuten Viber is a messaging and calling app for one-to-one chats, group chats, communities, stickers, disappearing messages, audio calls, and video calls. It can replace Skype for users who want consumer messaging and calls with strong mobile support and desktop companions.

Pricing: Viber-to-Viber messages and calls are free; paid calling services may still apply.

Best for: Open-source video meetings and self-hosted conferencing

Jitsi Meet is an open-source video conferencing platform for browser and mobile meetings. It is not a full Skype-style contact app, but it is a useful replacement for users who need account-light video calls, self-hosted meetings, and open-source web conferencing.

Pricing: Jitsi Meet is open source and can be used free; hosting and support costs depend on deployment.

Best for: Matrix-based encrypted messaging and collaboration

Riot.im was renamed Element. Element is a Matrix-based encrypted messaging and collaboration app for individuals, communities, and organizations. It is a strong Skype alternative for users who want decentralized communication, Matrix interoperability, and self-hosting or sovereign deployment options.

Pricing: Element has free apps and paid organizational hosting or enterprise options; verify current plans.

Best for: Secure organizational messaging, calls, and collaboration

Wire is a secure messaging and collaboration platform for organizations, with messaging, calls, conferencing, file sharing, and end-to-end encryption. It is more business-focused than Skype and fits teams that need governance, compliance, and secure collaboration controls.

Pricing: Wire has free and paid organizational plans; verify current limits and deployment options.

Best for: Self-hosted team messaging and collaboration

Mattermost is an open-core, self-hosted collaboration platform for team messaging, channels, workflows, calls, screen sharing, and technical teams. It is a stronger Skype alternative for organizations that need private infrastructure, compliance controls, and developer-oriented workplace chat.

Pricing: Mattermost has self-hosted and paid Professional or Enterprise options; verify current plans.

Best for: Free/libre peer-to-peer messaging and calls

Ring was renamed Jami. Jami is a free/libre communication app for peer-to-peer messaging, audio calls, video calls, and group chats, with no phone number required. It is relevant for Skype users who want an open-source, privacy-oriented communication tool with a different account model.

Pricing: Jami is free/libre software; verify deployment and support options for organizations.

Best for: Open decentralized communication protocol and network

Matrix is an open protocol and network for secure, decentralized communication, not a single Skype-style app. It is relevant for users who want interoperable chat, federated rooms, open APIs, and the option to choose clients such as Element or host their own Matrix server.

Pricing: Matrix is an open network/protocol; costs depend on chosen clients, hosting, and managed services.

Best for: Skype migration, free chats, meetings, communities, and Microsoft-connected collaboration

Microsoft Teams Free is Microsoft’s recommended destination for Skype consumer users. It supports chats, video calls, communities, file sharing, and project collaboration. It is the most natural option for users who want Microsoft account continuity after Skype retirement.

Pricing: Teams Free is available for individuals; paid Microsoft 365 or Teams plans add business features.

Best for: Video meetings, calls, webinars, and screen sharing

Zoom is a video meeting and collaboration platform for personal calls, business meetings, webinars, chat, rooms, and screen sharing. It is a practical Skype replacement for users who mainly used Skype for video calls, scheduled meetings, or cross-platform conferencing.

Pricing: Zoom offers a free Basic plan and paid plans; verify current meeting limits and regional pricing.

Best for: Google video meetings, screen sharing, and Workspace calls

Google Meet is Google’s video meeting platform for browser and mobile calls, screen sharing, scheduled meetings, and Google Workspace collaboration. It is a practical Skype alternative for users who want meeting links, Gmail or Calendar integration, and simple web-based video calls.

Pricing: Google Meet has free access and paid Workspace features; verify current meeting limits.