Skype has been in the business for quite some time now. The brand has become synonymous with messaging and video calls. It has a pretty large fan base even before Microsoft launched it in 2011.
Even though Skype boasts of having amazing features like allowing free of cost video calls and text messaging, it is replaceable. It is the 21st century, and the world has advanced enough to provide alternatives to Skype.
No matter what your reason is, be it an aversion to Microsoft products or the sheer urge to try something new and unchartered, this list will act as a guiding light and make the search a much more straightforward process for you.
Here is the list of best alternatives for Skype clients to make video calls…
Slack
If there is one app that is highly underrated but is steadily gaining ground, it is Slack. With the introduction of integrated video calling in 2016, it has become one of the must-have business apps of today. It is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.
Video calling on Slack doesn’t make your pockets lighter and is free for all. It is a really good alternative to skype if you have up to 15 participants to do a video call.
Another fantastic feature is that it allows third-party plug-ins. Some of these plug-ins will enable you to make external calls from the app.
Well, its name is enough. All of you know so much about this app already that I don’t even need to elaborate on. Some of its features are lovable. Firstly, it is free to use. It doesn’t even have a premium version. Secondly, it offers end-to-end encryption.
It might not suit your needs if you are looking for a more stylish Skype client alternative, but it performs its functions well. It can easily share photos, videos, and attachments and can even set up groups of 256 people. The best part is that it is effortless to gain access to a WhatsApp account. All you need is a functional internet connection and a mobile number.
Group video calls had been almost an unchartered territory of Skype. However, now WhatsApp has also started providing these services on Android and iOS. Even we can use it on Windows, macOS, and Linux either as an app or its web version.
Viber
Viber has all the bases covered. It is not glued to just one platform and has spread its net everywhere right from Android, iOS, Windows 10 to even a desktop app. Much like WhatsApp, Viber makes use of mobile numbers so it can be comfortably used with other phone and messaging apps. The fact that it is free is the icing on the cake. However, if you wish to make international calls, you would need to pay. You can opt for Viber Out and contact your favorite person sitting across the globe. Apart from the variety of stickers that come with almost every other app, Viber also allows Group Calling. It is ad-free.
There are numerous other features offered by this app. It provides chat extensions, end-to-end encryption, support for stickers and GIFs, and chats “communities” with unlimited members. However, there are certain drawbacks too. For one, you would need to pay if you want to make a call to a non-Viber user. Another major drawback is that the number of people you can make a video call at once is limited to two. As I guess you would have already fetched from the information provided until now, this app might not be the best option if you want a skype alternative more suited to business needs.
Talky
One of the main differences between Talky and other apps is its limited application. It is primarily web-based and does not facilitate cross-platform communication. However, it does have an iOS app. This drawback is partly overcome by the fact that it allows you to video call, 15 people, at once and thus conduct a virtual hang out with your friend circle online when the weather isn’t suitable outside. It can also work as a great business tool as it provides a screen sharing feature. This means that what is happening on one person’s screen can be easily seen by others on the call.
Just because it is a web-based app doesn’t mean that you have a lot to worry about on this Skype alternative. Chatrooms are extremely simple to create. You need to create a URL and share it with the rest of your group. To ensure that no unwanted elements gain access to this safe space, you can use passwords to lock your chat rooms.
Talky is pretty simple in its application. It doesn’t require the user to download any software or apps. It doesn’t even need a person to have an account. Its characteristic of being primarily web-based makes it more user-friendly to an extent. If simplicity is what you are looking for, you don’t need to look any further.
imo free video calls and chat
Imo is a free and very popular app that we can use to message and video call your friends and family for free, no matter what device they are on. It offers high-quality video and voice calls on Android and iPhone; free and unlimited messages and video and voice calls over 2G, 3G, 4G, or Wi-Fi; Group video calls with friends, family, and others; Photo and video sharing and hundreds of free stickers.
This is primarily a mobile-based application. However, it can also be accessed on a desktop. One limitation here is that even for logging onto the web-based platform, you would require a mobile phone. Apart from that, its app for Windows 10 and that for macOS can be found easily on the Microsoft and Apple stores respectively.
WeChat offers quite extensive services by way of texts, calls, video calls, and group calls and can be effectively used to replace your current SMS and phone apps. In some countries, you can use WeChat even to make calls on mobile phones and landlines. However, this feature has not been extended across the globe until now. The tale doesn’t end here. You can further enhance your social circle by connecting to people through the “People Nearby” feature available of Skype alternative WeChat.
Jitsi
If you are concerned about your privacy, this is the best free app available for your needs. It open-sources alternative to Skype for a business alternative that is available on almost all platforms including Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, and the web. Being open-source means that its source can be thoroughly checked to ensure that there are no malicious intents that might hinder your safe experience. It comes with tons of features.
The best of these features are concerned with privacy protection like password-protected chatrooms. It is an excellent option for business clients as well as it allows live streaming from YouTube, sharing of text documents for collaboration, and even the facility of telephone dialing if the person you want to communicate with isn’t connected to the internet. The screen sharing feature is a real treat. It is similar to Talky and doesn’t require the user to create an account.
Jami
If you are a social butterfly or are looking for an app to satisfy your business needs, Jami can be a good option as there is no bar on the number of people you can video call with at any given time. Another unique feature is its reliance on Distributed Hash Tables (DHT) as opposed to centralized servers for communication.
The privacy concerns are on the rise, and features like DHT provide the much-needed relief. This feature ensures that there is no mass surveillance of data.
Moreover, the private keys are stored on specific devices and not on the Jami accounts. So, Jami has no access to your data whatsoever. Apart from the other essential features, Jami also comes with the much-coveted feature of call recording.
Telegram
One of the secure and wonderful skype alternatives for both businesses and personal usage. The best thing is it doesn’t download media files directly on your smartphone rather it will save on you secure Telegram’s cloud under the user account. So, no matter which device you are using to access Telegram your important files and documents will not store locally unless and until you do it manually. The only thing which makes it half alternative to Skype is not having the ability of video calls.
Note: ooVoo is no longer maintained by its developer, however, it is still available to use. So, here it is just for knowledge.
ooVoo
ooVoo is a stark contrast to Talky. It is available on almost every platform that you can think of. There is a specific drawback associated with it. Due to the raging privacy concerns, the fact that this app uses emails and social media connections to facilitate and further encourage communication between people may not be liked by many. But, this also means that you can connect with people who are not using ooVoo. If someone is not ooVoo, they can answer your calls through Facebook too.
Just like most of the other apps, ooVoo provides a range of emoji, stickers, and GIFs to choose from. These can be used on video calls as well. Though it is free, you cannot let your kids use it freely without supervision. It makes frequent attempts to claw in money by way of selling avatars. If you are into video calling and are frustrated with slow network connection, this app might be just what you are looking for. With its patent SuperClear technology, it promises crystal clear video calls even on the slowest of networks.
Do you know of any other brilliant Skype alternative? If yes, do let us know. If you have any queries regarding our suggestions as well, we will be glad to sort them out.
Other Resources to Read: