sitealternatives
Video calls · 12 alternatives

Instead of Skype, try one of these 12.

Every alternative is lined up against Skype on what people actually switch for: price, open source, self-hosting, offline use and platforms. Skype sits in the first row, so you can see what you give up.

Show onlySorted by likes · 12 of 12
Alternative
Price
Open source
Self-host
Offline
Platforms
SkypeWhat you have now
Classic calling app for video chat and cheap phone calls.
PriceFreemium
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Telegram#1
Cloud chat with channels, bots and large group support.
PriceFree
premium $5/mo
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Signal#2
End-to-end encrypted messaging from a nonprofit.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Jitsi Meet#3
Free, open-source video calls with no account required.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflineNo
Platforms
Web · iOS · Android
Discord#4
Voice, video and text chat for communities and friends.
PriceFreemium
Nitro $10/mo
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflineNo
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Element#5
Decentralised, encrypted chat built on the Matrix protocol.
PriceFree
hosting from $5
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Mattermost#6
Secure, self-hostable collaboration for technical teams.
PriceFreemium
from $10/seat
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Zulip#7
Threaded team chat that keeps busy conversations organised.
PriceFreemium
from $7/seat
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Tox#8
Peer-to-peer encrypted chat and video calls
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflineYes
Platforms
Win · Mac · Linux · Android
Mumble#9
Low-latency open-source voice chat built for gamers.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflineYes
Platforms
Win · Mac · Linux · iOS
Matrix#10
Open federated protocol powering decentralized chat and calls.
PriceFree
Open sourceYes
Self-hostYes
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
Wire#11
Encrypted messaging and calls aimed at business users.
PriceFreemium
from $7/mo
Open sourceYes
Self-hostNo
OfflinePartial
Platforms
Web · Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android
TeamSpeak#12
Classic gaming voice chat with server-based rooms.
PriceFreemium
Open sourceNo
Self-hostNo
OfflineYes
Platforms
Win · Mac · Linux · iOS · Android

How to read this. “Yes” means fully supported by the maker. “Partial” means it works with caveats. Likes reflect community popularity; vendors can’t pay for them or for placement. How we compare.

Skype alternatives at a glance

Skype is a freemium video calls app. We compared 12 alternatives: 9 are open source, 7 are completely free, 6 can be self-hosted and 3 work fully offline. The most popular is Telegram, with 3.1k likes.

Most liked overallTelegram

Cloud chat with channels, bots and large group support.

Free
Best free optionSignal

End-to-end encrypted messaging from a nonprofit.

Free · Open source
Best open-source optionJitsi Meet

Free, open-source video calls with no account required.

Free · Open source · Self‑hostable
Best to self-hostElement

Decentralised, encrypted chat built on the Matrix protocol.

Free · Open source · Self‑hostable

More video calls apps

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