Best Skype alternatives: apps like Skype

246+ similar apps compared and reviewed

4.5 avg rating
10 free apps
Updated November 2026

Whether you want more options like Skype or a completely different take on the same concept, our curated list of 246+ similar apps has you covered. Updated for 2026 with the latest ratings and comparisons.

Top Alternatives to Skype

WhatsApp#1

WhatsApp by WhatsApp Inc.

Group messaging & calling
4.7😊(19M ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#2in Social Networking
WhatsApp screenshot 1
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Connect with friends and family through messaging, voice, and video calls. Organize groups, share media, and make plans easily. Enjoy private conversations with end-to-end encryption across multiple devices.

What We Love

  • πŸ’¬ Great communication tool
  • 🌍 Connects people globally
  • πŸ”’ Secure and private messaging
  • πŸ“± Versatile features (calls, video, groups)
  • πŸ†“ Free to use

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Bugs and glitches (freezing, crashing, notification issues)
  • πŸ”’ Privacy concerns with data sharing
  • πŸ™ˆ Lack of customization and control (status, groups)
  • πŸ“€ Backup and restore issues
  • 🚫 Arbitrary account bans
Discord - Talk, Play, Hang Out#2

Discord - Talk, Play, Hang Out by Discord Inc.

Group Chat That’s Fun & Games
4.7😊(3.6M ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#5in Social Networking
Discord - Talk, Play, Hang Out screenshot 1
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Connect with friends and communities through voice, video, and text chat. Customize your space with unique emojis and stickers, and easily join conversations or gaming sessions. Stream content and discover what your friends are up to.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Stable and intuitive platform
  • 🀝 Great for communities and collaboration
  • πŸ€– Useful bots and integrations
  • 🎨 Customizable servers and profiles
  • πŸ’¬ Convenient messaging and voice chat

Room to Improve

  • πŸ” Difficult to navigate and search
  • πŸ”’ Concerns about safety and moderation
  • πŸ’° Restrictive free features, pushing for paid Nitro
  • πŸ› Bugs, glitches, and UI issues
  • πŸ”‹ High battery consumption on mobile
Messenger#3

Messenger by Meta Platforms, Inc.

Text, audio and video calls
4.7😞(14M ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#9in Social Networking
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Connect with friends and family through text, audio, and video calls. Share photos in high definition, create shared albums, and send large files. Features an AI assistant for instant answers and creative image generation.

What We Love

  • πŸ“± Useful for staying connected with friends and family
  • πŸ—£οΈ Enables easy communication through text, voice, and video
  • πŸ’¬ Convenient group chat features
  • 🌐 Works across multiple devices and platforms

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Frequent crashes and bugs
  • πŸ”’ Privacy and security concerns
  • πŸ”„ Unnecessary updates that remove useful features
  • πŸ“€ Issues with message delivery and notifications
  • πŸ—‚οΈ Cluttered interface and poor organization of chats

More apps like Skype

4
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Rakuten Viber Messenger
Message with Confidence
Free

Connect with over a billion people through secure messaging and free audio/video calls. Enjoy group chats, disappearing messages, and low-cost international calls. Express yourself with stickers, GIFs, and lenses, or explore communities and AI bots.

Free messaging and callsEnd-to-end encryptionGroup chats up to 250 members
🌐 Social Networking
(831K)
free with in-app purchases
5
Telegram Messenger
Telegram Messenger
Telegram Messenger
Fast. Secure. Powerful.
Free

A fast, secure, and feature-rich instant messaging application. It offers end-to-end encryption for private chats, large file sharing, and group chats with up to 200,000 members. The app is designed for reliability, even on weak mobile connections, and provides extensive customization options.

Fast and secure instant messagingCross-device synchronizationUnlimited media and file sharing
🌐 Social Networking
(286K)
freemium
6
Facebook
Facebook
Facebook
Connection starts here
Free

Connect with friends, discover communities, and explore interests through personalized feeds, reels, and AI-powered tools. Share your world with custom creations and private messaging. Features may vary by region.

Personalized feed customizationAI-powered content creationMarketplace for buying and selling
🌐 Social Networking
(29M)
ad-supported
7
Signal - Private Messenger
Signal - Private Messenger
Signal - Private Messenger
Say β€œhello” to privacy.
Free

A private messaging app focused on security and end-to-end encryption. It allows free text, voice, and video communication, with features like disappearing stories and large group chats. Built by a non-profit, it prioritizes user privacy above all else.

End-to-end encrypted messagingFree encrypted voice and video callsLarge group chats up to 1000 people
🌐 Social Networking
(1.1M)
free
8
Google Meet
Google Meet
Google Meet
Video calling and meetings
Free

Connect with friends, family, and colleagues through high-quality video calls and meetings. Schedule calls, send video messages, or join spontaneous conversations. Integrates with Google Workspace apps for enhanced productivity.

High-quality video and audioSpontaneous calls or scheduled meetingsReal-time translated captions
🌐 Social Networking
(2.3M)
free
9
WeChat
WeChat
WeChat
Calls, chats, and more
Free

Connect with friends and family through messaging, voice, and video calls. Discover news, local services, and games within the app. Features mobile payment and health tracking capabilities.

Text, photo, voice, and video messagingGroup chats up to 500 membersHigh-quality voice and video calls
🌐 Social Networking
(82K)
free with in-app purchases
10
JusTalk - Video Chat & Calls
JusTalk - Video Chat & Calls
JusTalk - Video Chat & Calls
Meet Happy, Share the Moment
Free

Connect with friends, family, and colleagues globally through high-quality voice and video calls, instant messaging, and interactive features. Share moments, play games, doodle together, and express yourself with fun effects and stickers.

High-quality voice and video callsDual Capture and DuoFace video sharingVideo call effects and filters
🌐 Social Networking
(77K)
free with in-app purchases