Skype Shutting Down? Switch to These Top Apps!
After reigniting connections worldwide for 23 years, Skype, the famed video-calling service, will shut down. The parent company, Microsoft, has confirmed that the official sunset date for the service is May 5, 2025.
The new owner Skype allows its users to either transfer all contacts and chat history to Microsoft Teams or opt to download their Skype data and go down another video-calling lane.
We have put together a painstaking guide that helps users transfer to Teams or download Skype data. Also, we have compiled a list of other video-calling apps for your convenience.
How to Move from Skype to Microsoft Teams
As far as the transitional stages go, the Teams platform allows Skype users to sign on for free with Skype details until May 5.
Once signed on, all chats and contacts should transition onto the app without the intervention of the user.
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Microsoft Teams is similar in function to Skype, allowing one-on-one and group calls, messaging, and file-sharing of documents. Where Skype was primarily aimed at smaller groups of up to 20 and casual use, Teams takes a more corporate approach by allowing video calls of more than 10,000 participants in a meeting.
On top of that, it has solid protections for sensitive information and numerous integrations, including Evernote, OneDrive, Office 365, Salesforce, SharePoint, Trello, among others.
The Teams application runs on Android, iOS, Mac, PC, and the web.
How to export Skype data
For users who aren’t so keen on migrating to Microsoft Teams, we still recommend that they export their account data, for the preservation of important information such as messages, files, and other relevant contact details that can be accessed in the future.
- Open Skype and log in.
- Click the three horizontal dots under the account name in the top left corner.
- Go to Settings > Account & Profile > Your Account.
- Once redirected to Skype’s web portal, choose Export contacts (.csv), Export Caller ID numbers (.csv), or Export files and chat history.
- The option “Export files and chat history” allows the downloading of Conversations and Files.
Proceed to click Submit request and Continue. - When the export process is complete, click Download.
Best Alternatives to Skype
Google Meet
One major advantage of Google Meet is that it is free with a Google account. Since many people have Google accounts and are already using Google, switching to this platform should not be too difficult.
With Google Meet, users can hold meetings with up to 100 participants, record their meetings, share screens, etc. A drawback of the free plan is that for meetings with more than three participants, there is a 60-minute time limit.
Larger organizations might want to purchase a Google Workspace plan with features such as up to 25 co-hosts, breakout rooms for smaller group discussions during meetings, polling, Q&A sessions, livestreaming to YouTube, and more). Workspace plans start at $7/month, $14/month, and $22/month. Paid subscriptions also include AI-powered tools through Gemini assistant, which helps Meet users take notes and customize background images.
Zoom
Zoom is yet another popular web conferencing tool. It is packed with useful things, including a 100-participant limit, one-on-one and public chat, and a full feature set including notes, whiteboard, and screen-sharing capabilities. Recording of meetings and transcripts are also available to users.
On the downside, on a free plan, one will have only 40 minutes in a meeting. This pushes users to buy a subscription that costs between $13/month to $18/month in order to avoid abrupt cutoffs. Paid subscribers for the AI Companion feature of Zoom, allowing summarizing meetings and asking questions about transcribed meetings.
Webex
Another option is the Webex video conferencing tool owned by Cisco, which offers a comparable suite of services, including screen sharing, recording sessions, whiteboard capabilities, etc.
About the same as its competitors, the free plan allows up to 100 attendees, but unfortunately, limits meeting times to 40 minutes. Webex is on the pricier end at $12/month, $22/month, and up with subscription options. All paid tiers come with an AI assistant, live polling, Q&A, and more features supporting teams of up to 1,000 attendees.
Discord
Originally designed for gamers to interact seamlessly during sessions, Discord has grown in popularity among personal users and smaller teams as a viable Skype alternative. Larger companies aren’t really recommended as it limits calls to 25 participants.
Moving on to the upside, users will enjoy unlimited meeting lengths and much more, such as screen sharing, recording meetings, and breakout groups. They complement their free plan with two additional options, which go for $5/month and $10/month, making it one of the cheaper alternatives out there, depending on the user’s needs.
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