Skype is officially out of operation-these alternatives are worth a try

After connecting users around the world for 23 years, the well-known video telephone communication service software Skype officially withdrew from the historical stage. Its parent company Microsoft confirmed that the official end date of the service is May 5, 2025.

Skype users face two choices: one is to migrate all contact and chat data to Microsoft Teams, and the other is to download personal data and turn to other video calling services. In order to help users make a smooth transition, we have compiled a data migration guide and a list of high-quality alternative applications.

1. Operation guide for migrating to Microsoft Teams

Users can directly use their Skype account to log in to Teams for free, and all chat logs and contacts will be automatically synchronized to the new platform after logging in.
Teams has core functions similar to Skype, supporting one-to-one and group calls, messaging, and file sharing. But there is a difference in the positioning of the two: Skype focuses on daily communication in small groups (up to 20 people), while Teams focuses more on business scenarios. A single video conference can accommodate up to 10,000 people, and it is equipped with advanced security features and rich third-party integrations (such as Evernote, OneDrive, Office 365, Salesforce, SharePoint, etc.).Trello et al.).
Teams supports the use of all platforms on Android, iOS, Mac, PC and Web.

2. Skype data export steps (applicable to non-Teams users)

In order to ensure that important data such as chat history, files, and contact information can be stored for a long time, it is recommended to make a local backup：

1. Open Skype and log in to your account；
2. Click the three-point icon below the account name in the upper left corner；
3. Go to "Settings"→ "Account and Profile"→ "Your Account"；
4. After jumping to the Skype Web terminal, select the export type (contact. csv, caller ID number. csv or file with chat history)；
5. Select "Export Files and chat History" to download the conversation content and attachments；
6. After submitting the request and waiting for the processing to complete, click "Download" to get the backup file.

3. Inventory of high-quality alternatives to Skype

1. Google Meet

advantage: It can be used for free by binding to a Google account. It is extremely friendly to users who already have a Google account. It supports up to 100 people to participate in the meeting at the same time, and has functions such as meeting recording and screen sharing.
attention: The free version has a 60-minute duration limit for meetings of more than 3 people. Enterprise users can upgrade to Google Workspace (starting at US 7 7 per month) to unlock advanced features such as 25 co-hosts, group discussion rooms, meeting voting, and YouTube live streaming. They can also experience intelligent services such as Gemini artificial intelligence assistant-assisted note-taking and custom background generation.

2. Zoom

Core functions: The free version supports meetings of 100 people, and provides tools such as private chat/group chat, meeting minutes, whiteboard collaboration, and screen sharing.
restrictions: The free meeting lasts up to 40 minutes in a single session. The paid version (starting at US 1 13 per month) can remove the time limit and unlock intelligent functions such as AI meeting summaries and voice-to-text questions.

3. Cisco (owned by Cisco)

Features: The free version supports meetings of 100 people (also limited by 40 minutes of duration), and the paid version (starting at US 1 12 per month) can be expanded to 1,000 people. It is equipped with AI assistants, real-time voting, question-and-answer interaction and other functions, which are suitable for medium and large teams.

4. Discord

positioning: Originated from the game player community, it is more suitable for individuals or small teams. The free version supports simultaneous calls by 25 people. The highlight is that there is no limit on the length of the meeting, and it provides screen sharing, meeting recording, and group discussion functions. The paid version (starting at US 5 5 per month) can unlock higher image quality and server customization permissions, which is cost-effective.

5. Slack

Applicable scenarios: The main team communicates instantly, and its “Huddle" function can quickly initiate informal audio and video calls in the chat window. The free version only supports calls for 2 people, and the paid version (starting at US 7 7 per month) can be extended to 50 people, which is suitable for temporary communication and informal meetings.

6. Signal

Highlights: An instant messaging tool that focuses on encrypted communication. Starting from 2020, it supports video calls of up to 50 people, and supports generating links to share directly to participate in the conference. It is completely free and pays attention to privacy protection. It is suitable for users with high data security requirements.

Other lightweight options

For the needs of small group video calls, mobile users can also consider WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger (which supports multi-person calls) and Apple FaceTime (only for use between Apple devices).

With the end of Skype, users can choose a more suitable platform according to their own needs: Teams or Webex are preferred in business scenarios, individual users can try Google Meet or Discord, and Signal is recommended if they pay attention to privacy. Complete data migration or backup in a timely manner, and you can seamlessly connect to new communication methods.