After 23 years of service, Microsoft officially shut down Skype on Monday, May 5, 2025, marking the end of an era for one of the most iconic video-calling platforms in tech history. Launched in 2003, Skype became synonymous with online voice and video communication, enabling millions to stay connected across personal, educational, and business settings. Its free Skype-to-Skype calls, affordable international rates, screen sharing, and cross-device accessibility made it a trusted choice for users worldwide.
While the closure is a blow to longtime users, there are several alternative platforms that offer similar or even enhanced features.
Microsoft Teams is the natural successor for Skype users. It allows users to log in with existing Skype credentials, retaining contacts and chat history. Designed with collaboration in mind, Teams supports video calls with up to 10,000 participants, robust file sharing, messaging, and enterprise-grade security.
Zoom is another popular choice, especially for businesses and educational institutions. It supports up to 100 participants on its free plan (with a 40-minute limit), and offers features like screen sharing, meeting recordings, whiteboards, and breakout rooms.
Google Meet is ideal for users already within the Google ecosystem. It offers up to 100 participants and a 60-minute limit on free plans. With a Google Workspace subscription, users can unlock additional tools like breakout rooms and co-hosts.
Signal and Slack cater more to smaller teams and casual users. Signal provides secure, encrypted video calls for up to 50 participants, while Slack’s Huddle feature allows quick, informal calls within team chats.
For gamers or small teams, Discord is a solid option. It supports calls for up to 25 participants, with features like screen sharing and unlimited call durations.
Webex, meanwhile, offers a professional-grade experience with up to 100 participants for free, and paid tiers supporting up to 1,000 attendees, along with AI-powered tools.
Casual users can also turn to WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Apple FaceTime for everyday video calls.
Skype may be gone, but its spirit lives on in a new generation of communication tools ready to help you stay connected.
