Skype is gone: Here are the best alternatives for internet calls in 2025

LOS ANGELES - Microsoft pulled the plug on the once-popular VoIP service on May 5, 2025, ending more than two decades of internet-based voice and video calls. 

While some features are shifting to Microsoft Teams, it’s a business tool—not a plug-and-play consumer replacement. That leaves many former users, especially expatriates and long-distance callers, scrambling for alternatives.

What happened to Skype?

The backstory:

Microsoft announced in February that it would shut down Skype, ending support for subscriptions and preventing new number sign-ups. Some existing Skype functions—like the dial pad and call credit—are temporarily accessible through the web portal or within Teams, but only if users still have an active balance or number.

RELATED: Microsoft officially shuts down Skype today

Those who want to keep their existing Skype number can port it to another service, but Microsoft won’t do it for them. Users must start the process with their new provider before their number expires.

What can you use instead of Skype?

What you can do:

There’s no perfect one-size-fits-all replacement, but several options fill specific needs:

• Google Voice offers free calls to the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico and lets you get or port a number. But it only works if you’re physically located in the US during sign-up—VPNs won’t help. Porting from Skype costs $20.
• Viber, once a close Skype rival, still lets users buy credit to call international numbers, but you can’t get a number to receive calls anymore.
• Zoom Phone and Teams Phone allow calling and SMS functions, but both are paid services. Microsoft’s Teams Phone is only available for businesses, not individuals.
• Virtual wireless carriers like Tello offer affordable plans that can be used overseas—but you’ll need a phone to use them, not just a laptop or desktop.
• VoIP platforms like Zoiper, VoIP.ms, CallCentric, Virtual Landline, and Mytello cater mostly to businesses but may suit tech-savvy users seeking flexibility.
• Hushed, an app originally designed for anonymous calling, now positions itself as a Skype alternative. Users can purchase or port US, Canadian, UK, or Puerto Rican numbers—but there’s no guarantee those numbers will receive verification texts.
• Number parking services like NumberBarn and ParkMyPhone allow users to hold onto a phone number for a small monthly fee, even if they’re undecided about a new platform.

What you can’t do with Skype alternatives

Some things are still unclear or limited:

• You cannot use an international eSIM to replace Skype. These digital SIMs are designed for mobile networks, and Skype numbers don’t tie into a physical carrier’s infrastructure.
• Many VoIP services do not reliably receive two-factor verification texts, which is critical for users who relied on Skype numbers to log into bank accounts or apps from abroad.

What's next:

For expats, small business owners, or families with relatives abroad, losing Skype isn’t just an inconvenience—it can disrupt how they communicate. Skype numbers were a lifeline for those living overseas who needed a US number to receive texts or make toll-free calls.

Even though there are plenty of modern communication apps, few match Skype’s specific combination of flexibility, simplicity, and affordability. Knowing what your needs are—whether it’s voice calls, number portability, or receiving texts—will guide you to the right replacement.