6 Best Skype Alternatives of 2024

Why we chose GoTo Connect over Skype

GoTo Connect is our overall best alternative to Skype for companies looking to save money on international calls. VoIP providers like Skype typically charge per-minute rates for making calls worldwide, which can incur expensive, unexpected charges. 

With GoTo Connect, you get unmetered calls to 52 countries for a fixed monthly fee. This benefits businesses wanting to communicate freely with clients abroad without worrying about fluctuating call charges. On top of this, you get a cloud phone system with unlimited access to over 100 enterprise-ready features for configuring call flows and customizing call-handling processes. 

GoTo Connect only supports local, toll-free, and vanity numbers, so if you need an international number to establish a local presence in other regions, you might want to look elsewhere. In this case, we recommend RingCentral, which offers local dialing options in over 99 countries. 

Why we chose Zoom Phone over Skype

Between Zoom vs Skype, Zoom offers a more flexible VoIP service for businesses needing custom subscriptions to accommodate their team’s varying call volumes. Zoom Phone allows companies to mix and match metered and unlimited calling plans, including metered calls in the U.S. and Canada, unlimited domestic calls, and unlimited calls in one of the 48 countries.

Regardless of the plan you choose, Zoom Phone provides all-inclusive access to core business phone features like auto-attendants, call recording, call transfer, and virtual phone numbers. Plus, installing the Zoom desktop app gives you a unified platform for phone, meetings, and chat, allowing for a more streamlined collaboration across channels.

On the downside, unlimited international calling via Zoom Phone is limited to 15 countries, with a starting fee of $10 per month. If you need more coverage for making calls abroad without extra fees, check out GoTo Connect, which offers unlimited calls to 52 countries at a fixed monthly cost. 

Why we chose Nextiva over Skype

Nextiva is one of our top alternatives to Skype. With its AI-driven platform for managing customer communications, it offers a single app for all customer interactions across all channels, giving you a unified view of the entire customer journey. 

The Customer Experience plugin includes a bundle of applications that let you track customer sentiments, automate surveys, and manage customer contacts. Threaded conversations bring together all interactions in one screen to give you the full context of previous conversations. When a customer contacts your company, the Call Pop feature will display all the relevant details about the caller so you get all the information you need before the call. 

Unfortunately, Nextiva’s monthly per-user charges can be pricey for small teams on a budget. Discounts are reserved for long-term contracts and teams with more than 20 users. If you’re looking for budget-friendly VoIP apps like Skype, but need the same robust features as Nextiva, consider Zoom Phone. This provider offers affordable monthly plans at only $10 per user, including access to all essential business phone features. 

Why we chose RingCentral over Skype

RingCentral is one of the most comprehensive alternatives to Skype thanks to its feature-rich platform for calling, video meetings, and messaging. One of our best VoIP providers for small businesses, RingCentral delivers a range of advanced call management features to handle high call volumes. With its call routing capabilities, you can customize how inbound calls are handled after business hours, forward calls in a specific order, and set up notifications for missed calls. 

Team collaboration is further streamlined through its full suite of communication tools like video conferencing, team messaging, file sharing, and even project management tools. It delivers an all-in-one workspace where users can host unlimited meetings, assign tasks, share files in any size or format, and start a real-time chat. 

One major drawback of RingCentral is that its comprehensive offerings can be overwhelming for small teams with basic call needs. If you’re looking for a no-frills VoIP solution without the fancy features, give Google Voice a try. This VoIP provider offers one of the most affordable per-user fees in the market and is fairly straightforward to use.

Why we chose Google Voice over Skype

Google Voice, our top pick for the best free VoIP phone service, is one of Skype’s closest competitors. Both providers allow free calls online and basic calling features. However, what’s great about Google Voice is it offers business phone plans for a minimal cost, perfect for small teams with low-level usage. 

With a monthly starting fee of $10 per user, Google Voice users can enjoy unlimited calls between Google Voice numbers, unlimited SMS within the U.S., and voicemail transcription services. Upgrading to higher tiers unlocks broader geographical coverage, enhancing the global reach of your business phone system. 

On the downside, Google Voice doesn’t support as many VoIP features for handling fluctuating call volumes. If you’re looking for a full-featured VoIP solution that doesn’t break the bank, we recommend Zoom Phone. It has the same monthly starting fee of $10 per user and allows users to customize their call plans based on their unique needs and budget. 

Why we chose Microsoft Teams Phone over Skype

While Microsoft Teams mainly works as a team collaboration app, it also offers a reliable calling solution through its cloud phone system. The Teams Phone enables VoIP calling within the Teams app, empowering users to collaborate while handling customer calls. You can start voice calls with a Teams contact and hop on a quick conversation to share updates or clarify details. 

Voice-enabled channels facilitate collaborative calling by connecting a call queue to a specific Teams channel. This enables all members of the channel to share information while they take calls in a queue. With this feature, queue agents can easily communicate via chat if they need help with a specific customer concern. 

Teams Phone does have flaws, specifically for managing complex phone configurations for high call volumes. If you’re looking for a robust phone solution with rich collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, check out RingCentral. This provider offers a unified platform for all business communication needs, featuring tools that encourage teamwork and a smooth caller experience. 

Still not seeing the right VoIP solution for your business? Check out our comprehensive VoIP Software Buyer’s Guide for more options.