Most popular alternative: Zoom
Suitable for various scenarios.
Reliable service.
Premium features are not free.
Some privacy issues.
Zoom is one of the fastest growing Skype alternatives. That's because it's very flexible. It works for both audio calls and video chats, and you can use it for one-to-one or group calls. Simple to use, it runs on all possible platforms, including your desktop. Just be careful, as it's easy to get zoombombed and other security issues.
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02 out of 07Best for quick calls: Slack
Screen annotation function.
Works in a web browser.
Great for business team collaboration.
Free users have limited features.
Slack is often thought of primarily as a business tool for collaboration via text and instant messaging, but you can also make audio and video calls through the service. On the free tier, you can only video chat with one other person, but if you just need to make a quick call, this is a great option since you probably already have Slack open and ready. It's also ideal for quick on-screen collaboration and annotation, which is very useful in business environments. If you want more powerful features, just subscribe.
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03 out of 07Easiest to use: WhatsApp
Huge user base.
Group text chat with up to 256 people.
Very easy to use.
There are only 4 people in the video chat.
Since it's owned by Facebook, there are some privacy concerns.
WhatsApp is one of the largest instant messaging services in the world. It connects billions of users and offers more than just instant messaging. You can also use it for voice and video calls and group chats. Video chat is limited to four people, which makes it more intimate than most video chat apps, but it's popular enough that if you're trying to arrange a chat with a less tech-savvy relative, they probably still know how to use WhatsApp.
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04 out of 07Best for Apple users: FaceTime
Built into all Apple products.
It's very simple to use.
Totally free.
Windows and Android users can only join ongoing calls.
App only available for Apple devices.
If you own an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, FaceTime is a very easy-to-use solution, assuming the person you want to talk to also has an Apple device. It's as easy as making any other phone call and still offers end-to-end encryption. You don't even need to install it as it's all built into Apple products, making it perfect for newbies.
In iOS 15 and macOS Monterey (12.0) and later, FaceTime gains additional features, including the ability to share your screen, listen to music, and watch movies simultaneously with the person you're talking to.
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05 out of 07Best for chatting with friends: Facebook Messenger
Access is fast.
Almost everyone has an account.
Additional features such as the ability to send money.
Security issues related to Facebook.
Not of much use to businesses.
Just want to chat with friends via audio or video call? Facebook Messenger is a great way to do this in seconds. Almost everyone has an account, so you don't have to worry about complicated setup since it just works through the user's browser. The service allows you to easily schedule audio calls with up to 50 accounts. The only real downside is that there's no encryption involved, which means Facebook Messenger isn't suitable for business use due to privacy concerns.
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06 out of 07Best for one-on-one calls: Viber
End-to-end encryption.
Very similar to Skype.
Messages can be deleted.
Limited free features.
Viber works a lot like Skype, offering free text, voice and video calls, with the option to pay to call numbers around the world. Crucially, group audio calls can be set up quickly. There are some banner ads, but they are not intrusive. Another benefit of being able to delete text messages you see is increased privacy. However, if you want more than just a one-on-one video call, you'll need to pay.
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07 out of 07Best for open source enthusiasts: Jami
Completely peer-to-peer.
End-to-end encryption.
No ads.
Less well known.
There are relatively few users.
Looks a bit basic.
Keen to embrace a Skype alternative that doesn't belong to a big company? Jami is an open source solution that works on a peer-to-peer basis. This means there is no risk of any company monitoring your activity or keeping logs. It's ad-free and completely free to use, while still offering key features like audio and video calling, screen sharing, and conference calling.
The only problem here is the need to get others on board, as Jami is far from a well-known brand. This may work in its favor, though, as it should be more secure from hackers. While it looks very basic and lacks the cool demos used by more mature applications, it gets the job done.
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