Skype Alternatives for International Calls and SMS - GT #30
15+ alternative Skype apps that can be used to make low-cost international calls and - where possible - to send SMS text messages.
Hello my friend, glad to have you for this new edition of Good Tools.
Thanks to your feedback and votes in last month newsletter poll, the focus of this issue is on Skype alternatives that allow international calling and texting.
On May 5th 2025 Skype has officially retired its app and migrated those who were interested in maintaining a Microsoft branded tool to its newest version of Teams.
I have been using Skype for over 20 years, as I was one of the early adopters back in the early 2000’s. The tool has been particularly useful for me for running and recording consulting sessions at-a-distance with my clients, as well as my preferred means to dial out a few times a month to a handful of friends and family after I completely dismissed the use of the telephone for voice calling and receiving.
Now that Skype has gone, I have been looking for free alternatives, that just like the original Skype extra paid services (Skype Out, Skype Number, etc.), would allow me to dial family and friends far away (I live in Asia but most friends and family are in Europe and in the Americas), without adding significant costs or excessively complicating my daily routines.
Here are the results of this research work.
May this roundup of several Skype alternative tools for international calling and SMS texting be useful to you.
Robin Good
Skype Alternatives for International Calls / SMS: My Recommendations
🥇 1. Quicktalk
Why it stands out:
True Skype-style replacement built from scratch: real number, unlimited international calls and texts (36 countries), simple pricing, and a clean user experience.
Best for:
Freelancers and solopreneurs who need one reliable number to serve clients across borders without juggling credits or watching ads. Perfect if you’re selling services or managing client relationships in Europe, the US, or Australia.
Tradeoffs:
No instant messaging, no video calls, and no extra phone features beyond call forwarding. If you need rich chat or integrated collaboration, this isn’t it.
🥈 2. Line
Why it stands out:
Massively popular alternative to Whatsapp across Asia, offers rich messaging, free Line-to-Line video and voice calls, and super-cheap international calling through LINE Out—even ad-supported free minutes. Lightweight, social, and effective.
Best for:
Users with contacts in Japan, Thailand, or Taiwan, or anyone looking for a no-cost way to make occasional international calls. Also great as a secondary channel for communication with LINE users.
Tradeoffs:
No phone number, no SMS, and no real phone features like voicemail or call forwarding. Purely outbound for calling.
🥉3. Dingtone / TalkU
(same parent company – similar features)
Why they stand out:
Free apps with real phone number, cheap international calling (from 1–2¢/min), SMS/MMS support. Integrates voicemail, call forwarding, and even earn-to-use models. Can be 100% free if you're willing to engage with ads and tasks.
Best for:
Individuals on a tight budget, digital nomads, side hustlers, students, or anyone needing a backup line with global reach. Also great for anonymous or disposable use cases.
Tradeoffs:
Limited MMS, no video chat, and VOIP numbers are recycled, which means a higher risk of spam, blocked SMS verifications and numbers may not work with banks or 2FA systems. Reliability is decent but not always top-tier, and support is limited.
🏅4. Yolla
Why it stands out:
Think of it like a modern calling card for cheap international calling and SMS. It lets you call and SMS over 150 countries, and your real number shows up as the caller ID, adding trust and recognisability.
Best for:
People who need to make reliable international calls or send SMS without giving up their real identity—especially useful for personal or informal business communication. Great for those who want to avoid contracts or subscriptions.
Tradeoffs:
No phone number, no inbound calls, no voicemail, no desktop version. It’s outbound-only, so it won’t replace your phone line, just supplement it. Also lacks instant messaging and video.
All the Skype Alternatives that support International Calls and optionally SMS
Desktop & Mobile
Line
Quicktalk
Viber with Viber Out
Microsoft Teams
Zoom Phone
Zadarma
Mobile-Only
Dingtone
TalkU
Talk360
Hushed
AI Phone
iPlum
Rebtel
Yolla
MagicJack
Google Voice
TextNow
Web-Only
Skype Dialpad
PopTox
Desktop & Mobile (6)
Line
Popular messaging app especially in Asia (Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan) also offers free voice and video calls over the internet. Large user base as an alternative to WhatsApp (over 80 million). One-on-one and group messaging and free Line-to-Line calls/video. Supports paid calls to regular phone numbers through its Line Out. This allows users to call mobiles and landlines at affordable per-minute rates. These can be as low as a few cents per minute (starting at $0.02), plus users can earn minutes of free outbound calling by watching ads.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Web / Chrome extension.
Free phone number: No.
International calls: Yes. Calling real phone numbers abroad is supported via Line Out at low per-minute rates (e.g. a few cents/minute). You can optionally watch ads to get a few minutes of free international calling.
SMS: No.
Features: No calling related extra features.
Pricing: Line Out calls are pay-per-use – buy credits in-app (e.g. $0.99 for 100 Line coins) and spend on calls. Example rates: ~$0.02/min to many countries’ landlines, higher (up to ~$0.15) for some. No monthly fee required; ad-supported free minutes available.
Ideal for: Users with many contacts on Line (especially in Asia) who want an all-in-one messenger with calling. Great for free international communication among Line users, and occasional cheap calls to phone numbers. Not ideal if you need a true phone replacement (no SMS or inbound number), but excellent as a complementary app for social connectivity and low-cost outbound calls.
QuickTalk
Young VoIP service pitching itself as a replacement for Skype’s phone features. It’s loghtweight and designed for simplicity: you sign up and instantly get a working phone number in your chosen country. Unlimited calling to 36 countries and SMS texting are included in all plans.
Platforms: PC, Mac, iOS and Android + Web app
Free phone number: Yes in your chosen country
International calls: Yes – unlimited calls to 36 countries
SMS: Yes - unlimited
Features: Call forwarding
Pricing: apx. $9 per month for the Solo plan which includes unlimited calling/texting and one phone number.
Ideal for those needing one flat subscription with which to call most of North America, Europe, China, Australia, and more without worrying about per-minute. On the con side it offers no basic instant messaging features as video calls or rich IM.
Viber (with Viber Out)
Viber is a well-known messaging app that also offers Viber Out, a feature to call any landline or mobile number worldwide at very low rates. Viber provides free messaging, voice, and video calls between Viber users, similar to what Skype did. With Viber Out, you can dial real phone numbers –
Platforms: PC, Mac, iOS and Android
Free phone number: Yes
International calls: Yes, outbound only
SMS: NO SMS to regular numbers - only to other Viber users
Pricing: flexible: you can buy credits (few cents/min) or an unlimited calling plan (~$8–$10/month)
Ideal for those who need an alternative to Skype for international calls to real numbers at low cost but with good quality.
Microsoft Teams (with Teams Phone)
Teams is Microsoft official Skype successor for consumers. With the addition of Teams Phone (a paid add-on), individual users can make and receive calls to real phone numbers and even get their own phone number besides having access to all classical messaging features as chat, video meetings, file sharing, etc.
Platforms: PC, Mac, Web, iOS, Android.
Free phone number: Yes
International calls: Yes, paid. Low rates
SMS: Limited to only some world regions
Features: Voicemail, call transfer/hold, call forwarding - screening - blocking
Pricing: Unless you use Teams to communicate only with other Team users, this is a paid service – In the US it’s about $15/month for unlimited nationwide calling, or ~$32/month for international plan. Requires Microsoft 365 account. There’s no pay-as-you-go; you pay monthly for the calling feature. Casual users might find it overkill or less intuitive than a simple phone app.
Ideal for power users or those who want a one-stop communication hub that includes phone service.
Zoom Phone
Cloud phone service built into the popular Zoom application adds the ability to get your own number and make/receive calls and SMS from the Zoom app. It’s essentially a softphone with all the bells and whistles of a business phone system, but available to individuals. You can obtain local numbers in 40+ countries and call worldwide.
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android.
Free phone number: - Yes + you can port in your old number
International calls: Yes.
SMS: Limited - only in some world regions (currently only in US, Canada, UK, AU).
Features: Voicemail, call transfer/hold, PBX features, call routing, recording
Pricing: Zoom Phone is paid only – about $10–15/month per user for unlimited calling in one country/region. Pay-as-you-go plans are ~$10/month plus usage.
Ideal for power users who need its advanced features and reliability. High call quality and seamless integration with Zoom’s video meetings (you can easily escalate a call to a Zoom Meeting). Overkill if you only need occasional calls.
Zadarma
Comprehensive cross-platform cloud telephony (PBX in the cloud) and VoIP provider offering virtual phone numbers in over 100 countries. 15+ years on the market. It targets small businesses and power users for whom it can replace a traditional business phone system. For individuals can be used to get a cheap number and low per-minute rates to call and send SMS worldwide while offering multiple integrations (CRM, messenger bots) and an API. Interface and setup may be a bit complex if you’re not telecom-savvy.
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux (softphone apps), Android, iOS, and any SIP device. Web browser phone option.
Free phone number: Yes, paid. Monthly fee (starting ~$2). On paid plans included.
International calls: Yes. You can call any country. Pay-as-you-go rates are very low (e.g. $0.01–$0.03 to many countries per minute). It offers unlimited calling packages to specific countries or regions as add-ons.
SMS: Yes if your virtual number supports SMS. For example, UK and US virtual mobile numbers support texting. SMS are charged per message (like $0.01–$0.05 each depending on destination). Receiving SMS is supported on some numbers too.
Features: Cloud PBX with IVR menus, extensions, ring groups, call transfer, hold, etc., call recording (with cloud storage and even speech transcription/analytics on higher plan), voicemail to email, conditional call forwarding (set rules for when to forward calls), CRM integrations (Zoho, Bitrix24, etc.), API.
Pricing: Standard (free) plan at $0/month, pay per minute and per number and allows up to 5 users/extensions. Office plan $39/mo (10 users) includes 1 number + 2500 min. Numbers ~$2–$10/mo each depending on country. No setup fees, cancel anytime. You just pay for any phone numbers and call minutes you use.
Ideal for small to medium businesses that need a flexible and powerful phone system with international presence – for example, startups with remote teams, companies serving global clients needing local numbers in multiple countries, etc. Great for tech-savvy individuals who want a customized phone solution.
Mobile-Only (11)
Dingtone
Mobile app with large user base large user base (100+ million worldwide) provides a second phone number and free or cheap calling/texting over Wi-Fi or data. Users can make unlimited app-to-app calls and messages for free, and call regular phones or send texts to real numbers at very low rates. It supports direct purchases of credits and phone numbers. Also offers 100% free option which gets you a free U.S. phone number and allows you to earn calling credits via daily check-ins, watching ads, inviting friends, but which is highly vulnerable to spam.
Platforms: iOS and Android. Web dashboard/VoIP softphone for PC use via browser, SIP-compatibility on VoIP desktop phones or other apps.
Free phone number: Yes. Dingtone can provide a free U.S. (or other country) number. Continued free use of the number usually requires periodic top-up of credits or activity. Can also purchase a permanent number (or more than one) for a low monthly fee (around $2–$5 depending on country).
International calls: Yes.
SMS: Yes. To most North American numbers and many international destinations. If you have a Dingtone number in a certain country, you can text within that country. Limited MMS support (picture messaging).
Features: Voicemail (with custom greeting), call blocking for unwanted spams, call forwarding, caller ID control (choose which of your Dingtone numbers shows), group messaging and even a PTT “walkie-talkie” mode for fun. All Dingtone numbers are multi-channel, meaning they can handle multiple concurrent calls.
Pricing: Credits per minute. Pay-as-you-go. Rates are very low – e.g. ~0.9 credits/min to the U.S. or Mexico, ~2 credits/min to India, ~7 credits/min to Nigeria. There are also monthly packages for international calls. Phone numbers cost around $3–$5 monthly (or less if paid via credits). Pay-as-you-go calling is about 1¢ per minute (or even lower) to many destinations. International SMS costs a few credits each.
Ideal for: Individuals who need a secondary number for privacy or travel and who want to make occasional international calls or texts for extremely low-cost service.
TalkU
TalkU is a free calling and texting app that, like Dingtone (both from the same company), offers a free second phone number and the ability to make free or ultra-cheap calls worldwide via Wi-Fi or data. With TalkU, you can sign up and immediately get a US or Canadian number that can receive calls and texts from any phone. To call regular phone lines or send SMS to non-users, TalkU uses a credit system (you earn or buy credits to pay for those calls/texts). No monthly fees or contracts. The ability to send not just texts but also share pictures, videos, and even one’s location through the app makes it feel like a well-rounded messaging solution too.
Platforms: iOS and Android.
Free phone number: Yes. Free U.S./Canada phone number when you sign up that can receive calls and texts from any normal phone. Maintaining it may require occasional usage or watching ads.
International calls: Yes, paid.
SMS: Yes. You can send SMS to any number using credits, and receive SMS to your TalkU number for free. MMS are not supported.
Features: Calling, texting, and voicemail, call forwarding, call blocking for specific numbers. TalkU shows typing indicators and read receipts in chats (like modern messengers).
Pricing: Free with ads – you earn earn credits to use the services or buy credits cheaply (for instance, $0.99 for 100 credits, etc.). No monthly fee required. Optional ad-free or unlimited subscriptions exist (~$9.99/month). International rates are around 1–2 credits/minute for many countries, making it extremely low-cost to use.
Ideal for anyone who wants to eliminate phone bills or get a second line for free. It’s ideal for students, people on tight budgets, or those who love the idea of “earning” their phone service by watching some videos. Best for lightweight personal use, everyday calling/texting, and for those who value a free solution over absolute reliability.
Talk360
Mobile app similar to Skype Out or traditional calling cards focuses on affordable international calling to landlines and mobiles. Install the app, buy some calling credit, and dial international phone numbers – the person you call does not need the app or even an internet connection. Good call quality. Talk360 does not provide a personal number; it is outbound calling only. The app is pay-as-you-go – there are no subscriptions required. In fact, Talk360 gives every new user a free test call (a few minutes) so you can hear the quality before spending money.
Platforms: Android and iOS.
Free phone number: No. Outbound calling only.
International calls: Yes. Supports calls to any phone number in the world (196+ countries). Very competitive per-minute rates (usually a few cents).
SMS: No.
Features: Caller ID verification (so you can show your own number when calling). Rate checker in-app to see call costs before dialing. Works on both Wi-Fi and cellular data seamlessly.
Pricing: Pay per call. Example rates: US $0.05/min, UK $0.05 (landline) – $0.20 (mobile)/min, Kenya ~$0.11/min, South Africa ~$0.21/min. No monthly fee required. Optional unlimited calling plans ($10–$50/month for different country groups). Free trial for new users (first call up to 2 minutes free).
Ideal for: Great for calling abroad when the recipient is not tech-savvy (elderly parents with landlines, for example). Ideal if you need an easy, reliable way to make international long-distance calls without asking the other person to install anything. Not trying to replace your everyday messenger.
Hushed
Popular mobile app offers private, temporary phone numbers widely used for privacy because it allows you to call and text without revealing your personal number. Looks like a normal phone dialer and messaging app. Supports over 300 area codes across the US, Canada, and the UK. Flexible: supports multiple numbers active for different purposes. It includes unlimited SMS and calling packages for North America at a low cost. Security: little personal info is required to sign up, calls can be masked, anonymous texting is allowed, and there is an end-to-end encrypted messaging mode with other Hushed users.
Platforms: iOS and Android. Can also access Hushed account via a web browser for basic functions.
Free phone number: Yes, paid.
International calls: Yes. For international calling, you must activate the 30-day worldwide plan and use prepaid credits. International per-minute rates are decent (5-10¢/min to many countries).
SMS: Yes. Free to US, Canada, UK numbers. International texting (sending texts to non-US/Canadian numbers) is only available on the worldwide plan and only from US/Canada numbers.
Features: Anonymous calling & texting (your identity is protected), voicemail with custom greeting for each number, call forwarding, call routing, burnable numbers and a secure messaging mode (end-to-end encrypted chat between Hushed users). It also has auto-reply options (e.g. send an automatic text reply when you miss a call.
Pricing: Unlimited Plan: $4.99/mo (or $47.99/year) per number for unlimited calls/texts in US/Canada. Prepaid Plans: e.g. $5.99 for 30 days, $34.99 for 1 year. International (worldwide plan): $6.99 for 30-day global access + pay per minute/text via credits.
Ideal for privacy-conscious users – anyone who needs a throwaway or secondary number to keep their personal number confidential. Great for online dating, selling items online, freelancers needing a local number briefly, or even people in professions like journalism or law enforcement where anonymous communication is important.
AI Phone
AI-powered calling app specializing in real-time voice translation (in 100+ languages) and transcription during calls. Essentially, it merges a typical second-line app with cutting-edge AI translation and transcription. It works also on voice or video calls in WhatsApp, Telegram, LINE, or WeChat. Offers a personal phone number with which to make/receive regular calls. On the negative side, the app requires a combination of a subscription and per-minute credits, which some feel is too costly for heavy use, though users who only need it occasionally find the costs manageable.
Platforms: iOS and Android only.
Free phone number: Yes but requires purchase (about $6.99 weekly or $9.99 monthly for a US/Canada number).
International calls: Yes. Rates are usage-based via credits, but you must also have an active subscription.
SMS: Yes. MMS support. International texting may be limited to certain countries.
Features: AI summaries of calls, voicemail, custom voicemail greetings, call forwarding and blocking, spam call filtering, AI auto-replies for texts.
Pricing: Subscription + credits model. For example: ~$4.99/month for AI-assisted calling features, ~$9.99/month for a phone number, plus packages of minutes (credits) sold separately.
Ideal for: Professionals and travellers who frequently deal with language barriers – e.g. international business callers, expats communicating with locals, multilingual customer support. Also helpful for anyone who needs accessible communication (the live captions can aid the hearing-impaired). Not aimed at casual users.
iPlum
Mobile-centric VoIP service that provides second phone numbers and global calling/texting, originally aimed at professionals but great for individuals. With iPlum you can choose a phone number from over 20 countries (or multiple numbers). It supports both calling and SMS. Notably, you can get international numbers – for example, a UK or Australian number – which not all services offer. iPlum focuses on privacy and security as well, offering spam call blocking, encrypted messaging, and even HIPAA-compliant texting for those who need itgetvoip.com.
Platforms: Android and iOS + web interface
Free personal number: Yes, with choice of different countries
International calls: Yes - unlimited to US & Canada - extra fee for elsewhere
SMS: Yes - MMS support to US & Canada
Features: Call forwarding to any phone, voicemail with transcriptions, call recording and auto-attendant features
Pricing: Start around $8–$11/month which include a bundle of minutes & texts, or you can pay-as-you-go with credits. For example, $9.99/mo might get you unlimited US calls/texts and some international credits.
Ideal for those - especially in US and Canada - looking for a full-service phone line via an app.
Rebtel
Mobile app specializing in low-cost international calls with a twist: it can use either data or traditional phone lines (or a combination). The app, available on iOS and Android lets you call anywhere in the world. No instant messaging or video chats. With a good internet connection, it works like a normal VoIP app. Otherwise Rebtel can dial a local access number in your country that then routes the call internationally. This “local call” method improves reliability, making it sound like you’re on a local call even when reaching across the globe.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Free personal number: No
International calls: Yes
SMS: No
Features: None.
Pricing: you can pay per minute with credits or get an unlimited subscription for specific countries. E.g., pay-as-you-go rates to many countries are just ~$0.01–$0.03 per minute. No contracts – you can top up $5 at a time or subscribe/cancel as needed. Or, if you call one country a lot, you might choose an unlimited monthly plan (e.g. $12/month for unlimited calls to India). They even offer a Global Unlimited plan covering 50 countries for one rate
Ideal for those are looking for a mobile app that provides them with the ability to work without internet (by using local access numbers) or with spotty connectivity. Also good for anyone needing to make international calls at low rates without needing to receive calls or having desktop access. Not a full Skype replacement – but for outgoing calls worldwide, it’s worth considering.
Yolla
Mobile app for outgoing-only international calling and texting at accessible rates it is like like a modern calling card app. You use Yolla to call any landline or mobile abroad and when you call through Yolla, your friends/family see your regular number, so they know it’s you.
Platforms: Android and iOS
Free personal number: No
International calls: Yes - to over 150 countries
SMS: Yes - to over 150 countries.
Features: Uses your mobile phone number as Caller ID
Pricing: It uses a pay-as-you-go model: you preload credits and it deducts per minute or per SMS. Rates are very low – often a few cents per minute (some calls as low as $0.004/min). For example, calling many European or Asian countries might cost ~$0.01–0.02 per minute, and sending an international SMS is about $0.15. There are also promotional bundles (like “100 minutes for $0.99” offers for new users).
Ideal for those needing exclusively the ability to call internationally at low-rates via a mobile app.
MagicJack
VoIP – known for its small adapter that let users make cheap calls over the internet. MagicJack offers an app-based service along with the option of using the physical device. It is one of the cheapest ways to get unlimited calling to regular phones. It essentially works like SkypeOut + Skype Number did, but with a subscription model. The companion MagicApp (iOS/Android) lets you call and send SMS from your smartphone using your MagicJack number.
Platforms: iOS and Android (USB device for PCs)
Phone number: Free phone number (US) (or you can port your old number over)
International calls: Yes – unlimited calls to US and Canada - calling beyond North America requires buying prepaid credit (rates are low)
SMS: limited to the US – international texting isn’t supported
Pricing: For about $39/year (roughly $3.25/month), MagicJack gives you unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada. International calls are paid as extra.
Ideal for those in the US, not interested in having desktop access. Often recommended for cutting landline bills.
Google Voice
Free VoIP service that gives you a virtual U.S. phone number for calls, texts, and voicemail. It’s especially popular among U.S. users for its unlimited free calling and texting to any number in the U.S. and Canada. Hard-to-beat on this front.
Note: What most people don’t know is that Google Voice can also be used in most EU countries and in many other countries around the world by paying $10/mo as business users rather than as individuals. More info here.
Platforms: Web, iOS and Android
Free phone number: Yes
International calls: Yes - low-rates
SMS: Yes - send and receive + MMS support
Features: Voicemail + transcriptions, call forwarding/screening/blocking
Pricing: Free for personal use (pay for international calls and messages)
Ideal for US-based users (or that appear to be so), those seeking integration with the Google ecosystem of apps and for those in other countries willing to spend $120/year as business users.
TextNow
VoIP service provides a completely free phone plan over Wi-Fi or cellular data. Users get a free phone number and can make unlimited calls and texts to the U.S. and Canada at no cost. (TextNow makes money via ads in its app.) Paid plans are available to make international phone calls and to send SMS.
Platforms: Web, iOS and Android
Free phone number: Yes
International calls: Yes. Paid add-ons for mobile data or international calling.
(competitive rates are available as well as monthly bundles).
SMS: Yes - send and receive + MMS support
Features: Voicemail, caller ID + works over Wi-Fi or cellular
Pricing: Free for personal use (calls and texts to US and Canada). Purchase data passes as needed—hourly, daily, or monthly—without long-term commitments. Competitive rates for international calls to over 230 countries with prices starting at less than $0.01 per minute.
Ideal for those - especially in the US and Canada - looking for an app that allows them to call and send SMS messages to basically any number in the world, either for free or at very low rates.
Web-Based
Skype Dial Pad
Skype is not available anymore, but users with active subscriptions and Skype Credits are able to use the Skype Dial Pad to continue to make calls to landlines and mobile numbers. You can find the dial pad on the web at calling.web.skype.com or by logging into Microsoft Teams Free.
PopTox
Web-based Skype alternative that allows you to make free internet calls from your browser – no app download or account signup required. To use it you go to the PopTox website, enter the number you want to call, and PopTox connects you. Free for limited daily use. Often used for quick, occasional international calls or if you’re in a situation where you can’t use a phone. Doesn’t require registration, like an internet payphone that’s free to use in short bursts. All in all, people view PopTox not as a primary service, but as a convenient emergency or occasional tool.
Platforms: Web only. Best on Chrome/Firefox due to WebRTC (it won’t work on older browsers or Safari due to tech limitations.)
Free phone number: No. Outbound calls only.
International calls: Yes. Free for a few minutes and 2-3 callas a day. If you need more, their plans cover up to 130 countries. It’s an excellent option to call internationally when you have internet access but no phone plan.
SMS: No.
Features: None.
Pricing: Free for a few short calls per day (the exact limit is not fixed publicly, but expect ~2–5 min per call and a couple calls/day). Unlimited plans: $10/mo (49 countries) up to $50/mo (130 countries). Credit top-up: available for per-minute use if preferred.
Ideal for occasional international callers and emergency use. For example, if you’re at a computer lab and need to quickly call someone, or if your phone died but you have internet PopTox is perfect. It’s also great for people who cannot install software on their machine (like on a public or work computer) but need to make a quick call.
N.B.: When using VoIP phone numbers, certain services (like WhatsApp or other services verification or certain banking OTPs) might not work with them.
Also one should be aware that free VoIP numbers are often recycled after a user closes or terminates an account. This makes such numbers highly prone to be vulnerable to spam calls.
Research Methodology
I have used all major LLMs, from ChatGPT 4o to Claude, Gemini, Grok and DeepSeek to search and identify all of the potential Skype alternatives that can do international calling.
I then selected the ones that looked more interesting for my type of audience (indie entrepreneurs, creators, experts and consultants) and which I felt had the more interesting and useful features.
With AI assistance I have generated summary reviews for each of the selected tools that I used as a basis to prepare the final in-depth analysis for each app.
I have finally picked the four most interesting Skype alternatives based on my personal experience, giving preference to the ones that I would personally consider adopting to replace Skype international calling and SMS abilities.
I am not affiliated with any of the companies listed in this issue, nor I receive any compensation from any of the apps reviewed in this roundup.
Thank you for being a Good Tools reader.
If you have found this research useful for you, the best way to make me happy is to click the heart icon at the end of this issue, leaving a comment or sharing this issue with an interested friend.
from sunny Koh Samui (Thailand)
Robin Good
Find more alternatives here: https://www.myskypealternative.com/
New entry: https://sonetel.com/