Skype Bids Farewell in May – Here’s What to Use Instead  

After more than two decades of facilitating global communication, Skype is set to discontinue its services. Microsoft, which owns the platform, has officially announced that Skype will shut down on May 5, 2025.

Users have two primary options: they can either transfer their contacts and conversations to Microsoft Teams or download their Skype data and transition to a different video-calling service.

To make the transition easier, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide on how to migrate to Teams or back up Skype data. Additionally, we’ve compiled a list of alternative video-calling platforms to help users find a suitable replacement.

Transitioning from Skype to Microsoft Teams

Before the shutdown date, Skype users can seamlessly move to Microsoft Teams by logging in with their Skype credentials. Once signed in, their chats and contact lists will be automatically imported.

Teams offer many of Skype’s familiar features, including individual and group video calls, messaging, and file sharing. However, while Skype was primarily designed for casual use and small groups of up to 20 people, Teams is geared toward business and enterprise users, supporting up to 10,000 participants in a single meeting. It also boasts advanced security features and integrates with a wide range of productivity tools such as Evernote, OneDrive, Office 365, Salesforce, SharePoint, and Trello.

Teams are accessible on multiple platforms, including Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, and the web, ensuring users can stay connected regardless of their device.

How to Save Your Skype Data Before the Shutdown

For those who prefer not to transition to Microsoft Teams, exporting Skype data is still highly recommended. This ensures that important messages, files, and contact details are preserved for future access.

Steps to Export Skype Data:

1. Open Skype and sign in to your account.

2. Click on the three horizontal dots located beneath your account name in the top-left corner.

3. Navigate to Settings > Account & Profile > Your Account.

4. You will be redirected to Skype’s web portal, where you can choose one of the following export options:

– Export Contacts (.csv) – Saves your contact list.

– Export Caller ID Numbers (.csv) – Exports stored caller ID details.

– Export Files and Chat History – Downloads conversations and shared files.

5. Select Submit Request and proceed.

6. Once the export process is complete, click Download to retrieve your data.

Top Alternatives to Skype

If you’re looking for a reliable video-calling platform to replace Skype, several strong alternatives offer a range of features.

Google Meet

One of the most accessible options, Google Meet is free to use with a Google account. Since many users already have Google accounts, switching to this platform is relatively seamless.

Key features include:

– Video meetings with up to 100 participants

– Screen sharing and meeting recording

– Basic meetings up to 60 minutes (for free accounts with more than three participants)

For businesses and power users, Google offers Google Workspace plans, unlocking premium features such as:

– Up to 25 co-hosts

– Breakout rooms for smaller group discussions

– Live Q&A sessions and polls

– YouTube livestreaming

– AI-powered tools via Gemini assistant (for automatic note-taking and custom backgrounds)

Google Workspace pricing starts at $7 per month, with additional tiers at $14 and $22 per month, offering more advanced capabilities.

Exploring Top Alternatives to Skype

Zoom

Zoom remains one of the most widely used video conferencing platforms, offering features such as private and group chats, screen sharing, a collaborative whiteboard, and meeting recordings with transcript access. It supports up to 100 participants in a single session, making it a solid option for both personal and professional use.

However, free-tier users face a 40-minute limit per meeting. To host longer sessions, a paid subscription is required, with plans ranging from $13 to $18 per month. Subscribers also gain access to Zoom’s AI Companion, which can generate meeting summaries and answer queries based on transcriptions.

Webex

Owned by Cisco, Webex provides a robust set of video conferencing tools similar to those of its competitors. Users can take advantage of screen sharing, session recording, an interactive whiteboard, and more.

The free version allows up to 100 participants per meeting but comes with the same 40-minute time cap as Zoom. For those needing extended meeting durations and additional features, Webex offers paid plans starting at $12 per month, with higher tiers at $22 and beyond. Upgrading unlocks an AI-powered assistant, live polling, Q&A sessions, and expanded meeting capacity for up to 1,000 attendees.

Slack

Although Slack isn’t designed for large, structured meetings, it excels at quick, impromptu team calls. Its Huddle feature allows users to transition seamlessly from a chat to an audio or video conversation.

On the free plan, Huddles are limited to just two participants, but paid plans ($7 or $12 per month) increase this limit to 50 attendees. For organizations already using Slack for workplace communication, its built-in call functionality makes it a convenient alternative.

Signal

Known primarily as a secure messaging app, Signal introduced group video calling in 2020, supporting up to 50 participants per session.

While it isn’t a direct replacement for Skype, it offers link-based call invitations, similar to Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams. This allows users to share a meeting link without needing to create a dedicated group. Best of all, Signal is completely free to use.

For mobile users looking for simple video call solutions, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Apple FaceTime are also viable alternatives for smaller group chats.