9 Skype alternatives to switch to in 2025

Zoom Workplace is well-known for its dynamic, all-in-one UCaaS platform that integrates video conferencing alongside phone, chat, and other collaboration tools. You can start hosting unlimited, HD video meetings for a maximum of 100 attendees for 40 minutes at a time on the Basic plan.

Some of Zoom’s other standout features include: 

• Flexible screen sharing: Share anything from your whole desktop to a portion of your screen, device audio, and even the video feed from a second camera.
• Real-time collaboration: Attendees can write or draw on shared screens and co-edit files, including Zoom Docs, Google Docs, and Microsoft Office files, making teamwork easier regardless of location.
• Zoom Team Chat: Message team members and share files with just a few clicks, including in meetings. When continuous meeting chat is enabled, you can even access messages sent during the meeting after it’s over.
• Zoom AI Companion: Included at no additional cost for eligible paid plans, Zoom AI Companion can provide real-time meeting assistance, such as answering questions about the conversation and providing detailed meeting summaries after the call. AI Companion can even generate a project brief or first draft based on info from your meeting transcript.

Moreover, Zoom is committed to enterprise-grade security and privacy, with the ability to enable end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for meetings. Admins can use data routing controls to better keep tabs on how information travels. Additional security features like waiting rooms, role-based access control, and meeting passcodes are designed to help create peace of mind. 

Zoom’s comprehensive library of compliance certifications and attestations reflects the controls put into place to help customers maintain security, privacy, and compliance.

Microsoft Teams offers an easy-to-use voice- and video-calling experience. You can start a video call from the app or the web browser, no additional downloads needed. Sharing your screen is just as straightforward thanks to a whiteboard feature that lets attendees add sticky notes and comments. 

Microsoft Teams is a straightforward choice if you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem. You can access Word, OneDrive, PowerPoint, and other tools within a few clicks inside of Teams. Teams is also far more secure than Skype, offering end-to-end encryption, enhanced storage abilities, and better data management. 

That said, many users feel that the complex user interface is a bit of a drawback. Its security features, though better than Skype’s, also fall short because of how easy it is for anyone — guests included — to upload files, increasing the risk of someone adding a malware-packed PDF to the chat. With that said, if you’re a Microsoft user looking for a communication tool that connects to your full suite, Microsoft Teams fits the bill.

Google Meet is a solid, user-friendly Skype competitor. You’ll need a Google account to access calls, but once you’ve logged in, you can start creating meetings and inviting participants. Google Meet’s participation features like hand raising, emoji reactions, breakout rooms, and the in-meeting chat app make it easy to share your thoughts during a meeting without interrupting a speaker. 

Google Meet’s free subscription is a good place to start for individuals but may be limited for larger organizations. You can host meetings with up to 100 participants for 60 minutes, while sharing your screen and recording sessions.

RingCentral’s full-feature cloud phone system offers an all-in-one communication solution, including phone, messaging, and video conferencing features, ideal for both consumers and businesses. You can integrate its phone system with other business applications like Gmail, Salesforce, Zendesk, and Outlook. And with enterprise-grade services come enterprise-grade security and encryption.

Users have found that RingCentral’s biggest drawbacks are a less intuitive user interface, more limited texting features, and a short call storage period. It’s also more expensive than other apps like Skype and Zoom, with less emphasis placed on team chat functionality.

Webex is an enterprise Skype alternative. The free plan lets you schedule 40-minute meetings for up to 100 participants. 

Webex features end-to-end encryption and uses a zero-trust security framework that verifies each user and device. Meeting hosts have granular control over participation, content sharing, and recording permissions. Webex appeals to enterprises with strict regulatory requirements, and all enterprises have access to single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication.

You can use Slack to send text chats and audio recordings, or hop on video calls, though it's primarily designed for messaging, so the video and sound quality may not be as robust as the other Skype alternatives on this list. 

Users love Slack, but it does have some constraints when it comes to being a Skype alternative. Slack’s free plan is pretty limited, only allowing two people in a group.

You’ll find the same voice and video calls, messaging, and group chats here as you would with other Skype competitors. You can get free text, voice, and video calls from Viber, and if you don’t mind paying a bit, you can add international phone calls to that list. The free plan includes ads, though Viber considers itself “ad lite” — which basically means the ads try to be unobtrusive and only appear at the end of your video calls. 

The biggest difference between Skype and Viber is that with Viber, you have to provide your phone number. No mobile number means no Viber. If you want to switch devices, you’ll have to deactivate your account, export your messages, and import your data into a new device.

Originally designed as a gamer chat platform, Discord is a low-cost Skype business alternative. It’s best for smaller teams of 25 or less. Its unlimited meeting lengths, screen sharing, and breakout room features make it a flexible — and much more affordable — option. Even its free plan is ad-free. Its customization settings make it easy to set up servers and personal emotes. 

Users have spoken about privacy issues with Discord in the past. Despite its DDoS and IP address protection, users have complained of data breaches and compromised personal and location data leaks. Managing multiple servers and having to switch from server to server can also be a hassle.

GoToMeeting is a business budget-friendly Skype alternative. Its meeting transcripts and larger participation limits make it an appealing option for enterprises looking to maintain virtual communications without breaking the bank. 

Despite its lack of a free plan, its subscription costs are reasonably priced, especially considering the high-quality video and audio, screen sharing, recording, chat, and a beta AI-powered notes feature. Users can just join calls, no account or additional setup needed. You also get password protection, meeting locks, and security encryption.