The software all belonging to the same “family” makes for several simple integrations that’ll come in handy for offices running on Microsoft. It’s also a great alternative if you’re using other Microsoft tools in your workflow or to manage your tasks, like Word, Excel, or Outlook. If that appealed to you, it’s a good option to consider first. Here are a few of our favorites.Īs another Microsoft team chat tool, Microsoft Teams is likely the alternative that will remind you most of Skype in terms of look and feel.
![multi chat client that includes skype multi chat client that includes skype](https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/180718-ai-made-paintings-03.jpg)
So if you’re frustrated with the tool but have never tried switching away from it, now’s a great time to take a look at the Skype alternatives out there. That means more stable software, frequent updates, and modern features. Skype competitors are now frequently leaner, faster, and more agile than Skype ever was, even before its acquisition. And the company’s size and age, which were once benefits of using the mobile device and desktop app, have become what’s holding it down. Now you have a whole variety of video conferencing and team chat apps and tools to choose from. When you first started using Skype, there likely weren’t many comparable video chat alternatives, but VoIP has come a long way since then, or even since its acquisition by Microsoft in 2011. If that’s happening frequently, it may be time to click “uninstall.”
![multi chat client that includes skype multi chat client that includes skype](https://cdn.ndtv.com/tech/images/gadgets/skype_group_video_call_feature_screenshot_video.jpg)
Surely you’ve had a meeting or two delayed by the app not opening, along with awkward moments on calls where the caller’s face is frozen.Īnd while occasional video conference glitch is inevitable, relying on buggy software for something as crucial as work communication can quickly kill your productivity, along with your mood. It may still be an affordable way to talk to your team and meet with outside colleagues, but it’s not as reliable as it used to be. That’s starting to be the case for Skype. The software was one of the first video conferencing apps to become a household name, which is why so many of us have had it installed on our computers both at work and home in the past.īut while they deserve credit for popularizing video calls and making our lives making our lives more connected than phone calls or instant messaging, just because a company did it first doesn’t mean they currently do it best. If there’s an OG of voice over IP services, Skype is it.