Skype closed down - here are top 6 Skype alternatives for international calls

For the past 10 years, whenever I needed to call an international number, I used Skype. It had my back when I had to clear things up with the US university admissions from Austria, arrange a hotel pickup in Bali, or call my EU bank to see why my card was blocked while I was trekking through Argentina. I could call anywhere in the world for cents, and it was delightful.

In February 2025, Microsoft announced it was closing Skype down, and on May 5 it officially stopped operations. I was really sad when I heard the news – with Skype, a huge chunk of my life disappeared. It felt the same way as if, one day, nobody would be playing on Call of Duty 2 servers anymore (that hasn’t happened yet, right?).

Anyway, here I’ve compiled a list of the top 6 alternatives to Skype for international calling. I used the following criteria to select them:

• VoIP-based. That means I only need an internet connection to use the service. Calls from most SIMs abroad are prohibitively expensive, and eSIMs typically include only data. I want to be able to make calls with just a mobile internet connection or WiFi.

• Affordable rates. The main reason I used Skype was to avoid those absurdly large phone bills from abroad. A decent Skype replacement should solve this problem just as well.

• Pay-as-you-go pricing. With Skype, I could load $5 and use it whenever I needed. If you only need international calls occasionally, you don’t want to be forced into a subscription.

• Globally available. I need to be able to sign up, log in, and call from nearly every country in the world (well, almost all – North Korea, while nice, isn’t a must). If I need a VPN just to access the service, that’s a dealbreaker.

Nice-to-haves:

• Buy a phone number. I’d like to buy a stable phone number that won’t disappear randomly and isn’t ridiculously priced (like many VoIP numbers are).

• Incoming calls. I only received incoming calls to Skype couple of times a year, but ideally I’d like to get calls on the number I buy, in case my outbound call goes unanswered.

• Custom caller ID. Some apps let you display your own number when calling. That’s great, especially when calling cautious older relatives who won’t pick up unknown numbers.

• Support for team communication. This is more niche, but if I can use the same service for both personal and business use – calling clients with my assistant, for example – that’s a huge win.

1. Yadaphone

I’m biased here, but I think Yadaphone is the best solution if you just need a simple service that lets you make outbound calls like Skype used to do. It’s built by fans of Skype, so you’ll feel right at home here.

The sign-up process is super straightforward. You can register with your email or Google account – no phone number verification needed. Then you get the option to make a 1-minute test call to check if the service works for you. After that, you can buy credits in $5, $10, $20, $100, or custom amounts. Yadaphone runs on a pay-as-you-go model – no subscription required.

Yadaphone is a browser-first solution. It works on Chrome, Safari and Firefox. Both mobile and desktop browsers are supported.

By default, the person you call will see one of Yadaphone’s own US numbers. You can also use your real number as caller ID. To do that, you get a verification call, enter the code, and you’re good to go.

You can also receive calls, but only if you buy a number – $1.95/month for a US or Canadian line. It works globally with no paperwork involved. Calls land in your browser, and you can answer them from any device. If you want to use your phone number for outbound calls only, you can set up call forwarding and get inbound calls right on your cell phone.

The rates at Yadaphone are pretty low. Calls to US and Canada cost 2 cents per minute, UK and Australia – 4 cents per minute. It supports more than 150 countries, which should be enough for most users.

Where Yadaphone really shines is team support. In Yadaphone you don’t need to buy a subscription to get a team plan. Enterprise plans come at $150 pay-as-you-go credits, which you can use as you please. Teams can share caller IDs and the numbers they purchase. There are no seat limits, so it works for organizations of any size. As a nice add-on, you can see all the calls your team makes on the analytics dashboard. That’s a helpful feature if you have a lot of no-answer calls and you want to analyze what’s going wrong.

Best for: individuals and teams who want a simple, powerful, and flexible alternative to Skype for international calling – with real caller ID, team features, and zero subscription pressure.

Yadaphone official website: yadaphone.com

2. Google Voice

Google Voice is a reliable VoIP app backed by a huge company. It has one huge downside though – you can’t use Google Voice unless you have a US number to sign up. No workaround or VPNs will help. You need a US SIM and physical presence in the US to get started. But once you’re in – it’s golden.

Google Voice gives you a virtual US phone number that works anywhere in the world. You can call and text any number in the US and Canada for free, which already makes it appealing to anyone staying connected with people in North America. The rates for international calls are quite low – often just a couple of cents per minute.

You top up with $10, $20, or $50 via Google Pay. There’s no monthly fee or subscription. Google Voice works on the pay-as-you-go basis and your credit doesn’t expire.

Text messaging is limited to US and Canadian numbers, but it’s free and works smoothly. The app itself is pretty barebones – call history, voicemail transcription, basic spam filtering – but for most people, that’s all they need. There’s no desktop app, but the browser version is responsive and reliable.

If you’re running a business, there’s a paid version available via Google Workspace. It starts at $10/month per user and adds call routing, admin features, and user management – though oddly, there’s no shared caller ID or shared balance. Each user’s account is completely separate, which limits collaboration.

Bottom line: if you already have a US number (or created your account years ago), Google Voice is a fantastic free or low-cost option for international calling. But if you’re outside the US and trying to sign up today – this probably isn’t the tool for you.

Google Voice official website: https://voice.google.com/u/0/about

3. Viber Out

Viber Out is the paid calling side of the popular Viber messaging app. If you already use Viber to chat with friends or family, making international calls is just a natural next step, it’s gonna be an easy transition.

Getting started is simple: download the app, verify your number, and you’re ready to call. You can top up starting from $5, or opt for a subscription if you make regular calls. For example, there’s a 57-country unlimited plan for $5.99/month.

The rates for other destinations are fair – maybe not the rock-bottom cheapest, but definitely reasonable. Call quality is consistently good, and your actual phone number typically shows up on the other person’s caller ID, which makes conversations feel more natural and trustworthy.

Viber Out works across both mobile and desktop, and your balance is synced across devices. However, this is a solo tool – there are no business or team features, no dashboards, no shared numbers. Also worth noting: you can’t receive regular phone calls. Viber removed its virtual number feature, so unless the other person is using Viber too, it’s outbound-only.

The app itself can feel a bit noisy – there are lots of stickers, news tabs, and promo popups vying for your attention. But once you’re on the call screen, it’s clean and reliable.

Best for: personal use, like calling family abroad or confirming a hotel booking overseas. Not ideal for business or team collaboration.

Viber out official website: https://account.viber.com

4. Yolla

Yolla is a sleek, mobile-only app built specifically for international calls – and it does that one thing really well.

Setup is quick: install the app, verify your number, and you’re good to go. You can top up your balance using a card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay, and you’ll even get some bonus credit on your first top-up.

Rates are generally in the 2–3¢/min range, which makes it a middle-ground option – not always the absolute cheapest, but consistent and fair.

What makes Yolla stand out is that it shows your real number when you call. That’s surprisingly rare among VoIP apps, and it’s quite useful – especially if you’re calling businesses or people who might ignore unfamiliar numbers.

Yolla also lets you send international SMS (about 15¢ per message), which is a dying feature in most calling apps. However, it’s outbound-only: no incoming SMS, no voicemail, no rented numbers, and no virtual number support.

There’s no desktop version, and definitely no business tools.

This is a minimalist app for individuals – particularly frequent travelers, expats, or remote workers who just need a reliable, no-nonsense way to make global calls.

Yolla official website: https://yollacalls.com

5. MyTello

If you’re looking for the cheapest way to call internationally, no frills, no fluff – MyTello might be your best bet.

It’s incredibly barebones: you sign up with your email, verify your number, and you’re in. There’s a browser version and a simple mobile app. You get a small signup bonus, and you can top up with $5, $10, or $25 using a card or PayPal. Your credit doesn’t expire as long as you make at least one call every 6 months, and unused funds are refundable.

Rates are excellent – India: 2.7¢/min, Germany: under 2¢/min, Australia: 1.7¢/min. There’s a small connection fee (about 5¢ per call), but it barely matters unless you’re making tons of short calls.

Don’t expect any extras: there’s no SMS, no incoming calls, no voicemail, and no caller ID customization. You get what you pay for – just outbound calls at some of the best rates available.

Despite its simplicity, it’s quite reliable and user-friendly. If your only goal is to reach people overseas without blowing your budget, MyTello delivers exactly what you need.

MyTello official website: https://www.mytello.com

6. Rebtel

Rebtel offers standard VoIP calling, but can also route calls through local phone lines, which is a huge plus if you’re in an area with poor internet or mobile data.

Getting started is simple: you need to download the app, verify your number, and you’re ready to dial. You can either pay as you go or subscribe to a monthly plan. For example, unlimited calls to India cost $12/month, and there’s also a global plan that covers 50 countries.

Call quality is excellent, and the hybrid system means you’re not relying entirely on your internet connection. If you’re traveling or live somewhere with unreliable Wi-Fi, this can be a game-changer.

The person you’re calling doesn’t need to have the app – they’ll just see a normal incoming call from a real number, making communication seamless.

There’s no support for team accounts or rented numbers, and you can’t send or receive SMS. The interface is clean and focused – mostly just a dialer, your balance, and your call history.

Ideal for: people who frequently call the same few countries and want something simple

Rebtel official website: https://www.rebtel.com



Which one should you pick?

• If you want something that feels like Skype and just works in the browser with no app – go with Yadaphone. Cheap, clean, and team-friendly if you need it.

• If you already have a US number, grab Google Voice. Free for US/CA calls, dirt-cheap for the rest, and runs forever once set up.

• If you just want to call family once in a while and already use Viber – Viber Out is fine. Nothing fancy, but does the job.

• If you’re traveling and want to show your real number, with no caller ID customization, go with Yolla. Mobile-only, simple, and gets you through weird situations like booking something from a random SIM.

• If price is all that matters, it’s MyTello. No complicated features, no fluff, and it has some of the lowest international rates around.

• If your internet is unreliable, use Rebtel. The only app here that lets you route through real local lines. Great for long calls or low-bandwidth places.

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I hope you enjoyed my review! Let me know what you are switching to after Skype's demise and who's your favorite contender for the VoIP king's crown 👑