Skype is shut down – here's the best Skype alternative for international calls

Yes. Microsoft retired consumer Skype on May 5, 2025. The standalone Skype app is deprecated and existing Skype Credit and subscriptions stopped renewing. Microsoft Teams replaced Skype for Business but does not replicate Skype Out (calls to regular phone numbers from a browser).

For calling regular phone numbers (landlines, mobiles, support lines) Phonecall is the most direct replacement for Skype Out: browser-based, per-minute rates to 180+ countries, no app to install on either side, and credits never expire.

Teams supports outbound calls only with a paid Teams Phone license, which is designed for businesses with full phone systems. It is not a drop-in replacement for casual Skype Out users who only need to call a few numbers a month.

No. Phonecall routes the call to the regular phone network, so the recipient answers on their normal landline or mobile. They do not need an account, app, or internet connection.

Rates are per-minute and depend on the destination and number type. They start at around $0.02/min for major destinations and are shown before you dial. There is no subscription and no minimum top-up.

No service can move Skype Credit out of Microsoft. Microsoft has been processing refunds for some unused balances – check your Microsoft account. Phonecall is a separate service and you start with a free first call.

Yes. Phonecall runs in mobile browsers (Chrome and Safari work best) and on desktop. There is no native app to install – just open the page and dial.

Phonecall routes calls through carrier-grade HD voice infrastructure. On a stable internet connection, quality is comparable to a regular phone call. Use headphones to reduce echo if you are in a noisy environment.

Yes – Phonecall gives every new account a free 60-second trial call to any landline or mobile in 180+ countries. After that, calling is pay-as-you-go: no monthly fee, no subscription, no minimum top-up. App-to-app messaging tools (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram) are also free, but only if the person you're calling uses the same app on a smartphone – they don't reach landlines or support lines.

Skype's two features – chat with other Skype users and Skype Out calls to phone numbers – split between different replacements. Microsoft pushed existing Skype users to Microsoft Teams for chat and video, but Teams' phone-calling features require a paid Teams Phone license aimed at businesses. For the Skype Out feature (calling regular landlines and mobiles from a browser), Phonecall is the closest direct replacement: no subscription, per-minute pricing, browser-based.

Your first call with Phonecall is free – up to 60 seconds to any landline in 180+ countries, no credit card required. That's enough time to confirm a phone number works, leave a short message, or test call quality before you spend anything. After the free trial, calling landlines is pay-as-you-go from around $0.02 per minute. There is no permanent free tier for unlimited landline calling – every long-distance carrier has to pay termination fees to the local phone network.

With Phonecall, you don't need an account to try a call. The first 60-second trial call works from any browser without signing up. If you want to add credit and keep calling, you'll create an account with email or Google – but no phone-number verification is required, and you can use a virtual email if you prefer not to share a primary one.

For calling regular landlines and mobiles abroad – the use case Skype Out covered – Phonecall is the closest match. It runs in any browser, charges per minute (not per call or per month), shows the rate before you dial, reaches 180+ countries, and the credit you buy never expires. App-to-app calling (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Telegram) is fine when the person you're calling also uses that app on a smartphone, but it can't reach a hotel front desk, a bank, an embassy, or a parent's landline.