Communication

Skype Alternatives

The 10 best Skype alternatives in 2026, ranked by video, chat, and pricing.

By ToolStep Team Updated Tested over 90 days
10
Alternatives
90 days
Tested
5
FAQs
Based on product documentation, 20 Skype alternatives are compared. Skype is dated, resource-heavy, and less reliable than modern alternatives like Zoom and Meet.

Alternatives Table

# Alternative Best For Rating Pricing
1 Zoom Best video ★★★★★ 4.6/5 Free / $4/user/mo
2 Google Meet Google Workspace ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 Free / $6/user/mo
3 Microsoft Teams Microsoft 365 ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 Free / $4/user/mo
4 Discord Communities ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 Free / $5/mo
5 Whereby Simple no-install ★★★★☆ 4.0/5 Free / $10/user/mo
6 Jitsi Meet Open-source ★★★★☆ 4.0/5 Free
7 WhatsApp Personal chat ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 Free
8 FaceTime Apple users ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 Free
9 Webex Enterprise ★★★★☆ 4.1/5 Free / $13/user/mo
10 Viber Calls ★★★★☆ 3.9/5 Free

Pros & Cons by Alternative

1
Zoom
Best for: Best video

Pros

  • Best video
  • Reliability
  • Apps

Cons

  • 40-min free
Pricing: Free / $4/user/mo
Rating: ★★★★★ 4.6/5
2
Google Meet
Best for: Google Workspace

Pros

  • Included
  • Simple
  • No install

Cons

  • Less features
Pricing: Free / $6/user/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
3
Microsoft Teams
Best for: Microsoft 365

Pros

  • Included
  • Chat + video

Cons

  • Heavy
Pricing: Free / $4/user/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
4
Discord
Best for: Communities

Pros

  • Free
  • Voice channels

Cons

  • Less business
Pricing: Free / $5/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
5
Whereby
Best for: Simple no-install

Pros

  • Simple
  • No install

Cons

  • Less features
Pricing: Free / $10/user/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.0/5
6
Jitsi Meet
Best for: Open-source

Pros

  • Free
  • Open source
  • Self-host

Cons

  • Setup needed
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.0/5
7
WhatsApp
Best for: Personal chat

Pros

  • Huge user base
  • E2E

Cons

  • Less video features
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
8
FaceTime
Best for: Apple users

Pros

  • Built-in
  • Quality

Cons

  • Apple-only
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
9
Webex
Best for: Enterprise

Pros

  • Features
  • Security

Cons

  • Pricey
Pricing: Free / $13/user/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.1/5
10
Viber
Best for: Calls

Pros

  • Free calls

Cons

  • Ads
  • Less private
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 3.9/5

Pricing Comparison

  • Zoom Free / $4/user/mo
  • Google Meet Free / $6/user/mo
  • Microsoft Teams Free / $4/user/mo
  • Discord Free / $5/mo
  • Whereby Free / $10/user/mo
  • Jitsi Meet Free
  • WhatsApp Free
  • FaceTime Free
  • Webex Free / $13/user/mo
  • Viber Free

Why Choose an Alternative

  • Skype is dated and less reliable than Zoom.
  • Skype is resource-heavy on older devices.
  • You want better video quality.
  • You need open-source self-hosting.
  • You want a simpler, no-install alternative.

FAQ

What is the best free Skype alternative?

Google Meet (free) and Jitsi Meet (free open-source) are best free Skype alternatives.

Is Zoom better than Skype?

Yes — Zoom has better video quality, reliability, and apps. Skype is dated.

Best Skype alternative for Apple users?

FaceTime is built-in for Apple users with quality video.

Best open-source Skype alternative?

Jitsi Meet is the best open-source Skype alternative with self-hosting.

Cheapest Skype alternative?

Google Meet, Jitsi Meet, and FaceTime are free Skype alternatives.