Skype emerged as one of the most popular video calling apps since its launch in 2003. While Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype in 2011 introduced a range of updates to the app, its voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) service remains subpar compared to its competitors. Its free version supports international calling, audio conferencing, text messaging, and chat.
The best Skype alternatives offer complete call management capabilities, a diverse selection of app integrations, and stronger security features. Below, we selected the top VoIP providers that surpass Skype in terms of services and overall functionality to help you with your buying decision.
Top Skype alternatives & competitors
Top Skype Alternatives
Expert Score
Key Features
GoTo Connect
- Unlimited calls to 50+ countries
- Smart call routing
- Automated SMS
Zoom Phone
- Elevate calls to meetings
- Interactive voice response (IVR)
- Holiday and business hours routing
Nextiva
- Unlimited conference calls
- Call flow builder
- Warm and cold transfer
RingCentral
- Advanced call handling
- Call summaries and highlights
- Call queue routing options
Google Voice
- Voicemail transcription
- Multi-level auto-attendant
- Ring groups
Microsoft Teams Phone
- Advanced call control
- Voice-enabled channels
- Screen pop
Overall Reviewer Score
4.74/5
Pros
- Unlimited calls to 50-plus countries
- Scalable service plans
- Up to 100 phone features
- Customizable softphone
- Drag-and-drop dial plan editor
Cons
- Unpublished fees
- Lacks add-on options
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.
Overall Reviewer Score
4.73/5
Pros
- Mix types of plans in an account
- All-inclusive monthly plans
- Make calls from multiple devices
- All plans have 24/7 support access
- Elevate calls to video meetings
Cons
- Charges extra for call queue analytics
- Limited app integrations
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.
Overall Reviewer Score
4.6/5
Pros
- Generous toll-free minute allocation
- Unlimited conference calls
- Free number porting
- A choice of a local or toll-free number for free
- Clean and modern interface
Cons
- Requires a third-party software installation to expand integration options
- Bigger discounts are exclusive to teams of 20 or more
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.
Overall Reviewer Score
4.44/5
Pros
- Complete call management features
- Up to 300 integrations
- Rich collaboration tools
- Base plan includes multi-level IVR
- Supports global phone system services
Cons
- Limited SMS allotment per plan
- Pricier than other alternatives
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.
Overall Reviewer Score
4.42/5
Pros
- Budget-friendly plans
- Free version for Google account owners
- Seamless Google Workspace integration
- User-friendly interface
- Unlimited SMS in the U.S.
Cons
- Base plan is limited to 10 users
- Limited business phone features
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.
Overall Reviewer Score
4.24/5
Pros
- Integrates seamlessly with Microsoft products
- Subpar business phone features
- Full-featured video conferencing
- Free version includes video and chat capabilities
- Solid security policies
Cons
- Complex to set up and use
- Service plans require an annual subscription
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.
Is Skype right for you after all?
For many years, Skype has been an invaluable tool for video calling, messaging, and audio calls. It’s completely free to use but minimal charges apply for international calling and local phone numbers. Despite being free, Skype offers a suite of essential features like call recording, screen sharing, live subtitles, file sharing, and background effects.
Skype also supports VoIP calling, allowing users to call landlines and mobile phones using the Skype app. For a flat fee, you get unlimited incoming calls and a choice of local phone number in any of the 25 countries supported. By purchasing Skype credits, you can make calls and send text messages from anywhere in the world.
The popularity of Skype soon declined as alternative video conferencing platforms emerged with more advanced features and stronger integration capabilities. Competitors like Zoom, Webex, and Google Meet quickly gained market traction due to their seamless user experiences and better collaboration tools.
Skype made it into our list of the best Zoom alternatives due to its affordable international calling rates and accessibility features. We strongly recommend it for personal and small business use, offering a budget-friendly platform for basic conferencing needs.
Choosing the best Skype alternative
Skype is a promising VoIP phone service for teams wanting to save costs on a full-fledged business phone system. It offers the right number of features that won’t overwhelm a solopreneur or small team. However, given its lack of integrations and limited call management capabilities, it’s worthwhile considering other options that best suit your unique business needs.
- If your business makes frequent international calls and wants to save on per-minute charges, choose GoTo Connect. You can enjoy unlimited calls to 52 countries worldwide.
- For businesses experiencing seasonal call volumes throughout the year, Zoom Phone’s unlimited and metered call plans make it a great choice.
- Nextiva is best for sales and support teams needing access to customer engagement tools.
- Enterprise-level companies dealing with large call volumes will benefit from RingCentral’s sophisticated call management system.
- We recommend Microsoft Teams for customer service agents needing to collaborate for knowledge sharing and issue escalation.
- Google Voice is a cost-effective solution for solopreneurs or small teams needing a basic VoIP platform.
