Skype is officially gone. We tested and compared the top 10 alternatives for affordable international calling — with real rates, honest pros and cons, and no fluff.
Microsoft officially discontinued Skype in May 2025, leaving millions of users without their go-to international calling service. Teams doesn’t fill the gap — it’s a business tool, not an affordable way to call family abroad. This guide compares the 10 best alternatives based on pricing, features, call quality, and ease of use.
We evaluated each service on: subscription requirements, credit expiration policies, whether an app download is needed, browser-based calling support, country coverage, call quality, and transparent pricing. All rates are current as of June 2026.
| # | Service | Subscription | Browser | Credits Expire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PhoneTheWorld | No | Yes | No |
| 2 | Google Voice | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Vonage | Yes | No | Yes |
| 4 | Viber Out | Yes | No | Yes |
| 5 | Rebtel | Yes | No | Yes |
| 6 | MyTello | Yes | No | Yes |
| 7 | Talk360 | Yes | No | Yes |
| 8 | No | No | N/A | |
| 9 | Dingtone | Yes | No | Yes |
| 10 | Microsoft Teams | Yes | No | Yes |
Best for: Anyone who wants a simple, no-commitment way to call internationally from any browser
Best for: US residents who primarily call within North America
Best for: Heavy callers who want a traditional home phone replacement
Best for: Existing Viber users who occasionally need to call phone numbers
Best for: Regular callers to specific countries who want a subscription plan
Best for: European users who want a simple pay-as-you-go mobile app
Best for: Mobile users who want a simple calling app
Best for: Calling friends and family who already have WhatsApp
Best for: Users who want free calling through ad engagement
Best for: Business users already on Microsoft 365
We assessed each service against the following criteria, weighted by what matters most to people calling family and friends abroad:
All rates are current as of June 2026 and were verified from each provider’s official website. No defamatory claims — all comparisons are factual and source-backed.
Microsoft announced in 2025 that Skype would be discontinued as the company focuses on Microsoft Teams. Skype officially closed in May 2025. Users were encouraged to migrate to Teams, but Teams lacks affordable pay-as-you-go international calling features that Skype was known for.
For free app-to-app calls, WhatsApp and Google Voice (US only) are good options. However, if you need to call actual phone numbers internationally — which was Skype's main paid feature — PhoneTheWorld is the best alternative with no subscription, no app download, and credits that never expire.
Rates vary by destination, but PhoneTheWorld offers competitive pay-as-you-go rates starting from 2 cents per minute with no connection fees. Google Voice offers low rates for US users but is limited to US residents. Rebtel offers good rates through subscription plans but requires a monthly fee.
Yes. PhoneTheWorld works entirely in your browser using WebRTC technology — no app download needed. Google Voice also works from a browser for US users. Most other alternatives (Viber, Rebtel, Vonage, MyTello, Talk360) require downloading a mobile or desktop app.
PhoneTheWorld is the only major international calling service where credits never expire. Skype credits expired after 180 days, and most alternatives (Viber Out, MyTello, Talk360, Dingtone) also have expiring credits. This means with PhoneTheWorld, you only pay for what you actually use.
Switching is simple: 1) Sign up for a new service like PhoneTheWorld (free, takes 30 seconds), 2) Add credits (start with $5), 3) Start calling the same phone numbers you called on Skype. Your contacts do not need to switch — you are calling their regular phone numbers, not app-to-app.