You can download Skype analogues here. We select an alternative program to Skype to replace it. Alternatives to Skype - review of well-known analogue programs

Today, Skype is the undisputed leader among programs designed for organizing video communication between users. However, as is well known, the popularity of a product does not always indicate its quality.

Is Skype really the best or are there programs that can provide better communication? It is believed that such programs really exist, at least that’s what their developers say.

In this short post we will look at three free programs that claim the right to be called a full-fledged substitute for Skype.

VSee

Despite the convenience, simplicity and excellent quality of the communication provided, this simple and convenient program is known to a relatively small number of Russian-speaking users.

VSee is intended primarily for organizing multi-user video conferencing, but can just as successfully be used for communication between two users. The program is free for personal use, easy to install and configure. After installation, the user will need to create an account and create a list of contacts.

Ideal for both informal meetings and for organizing collaboration on various projects. The main advantage of VSee is its low bandwidth requirements. If Skype video transmission requires at least 350 kb/s, then you can communicate in VSee at only 80-120 kb/s. In addition, VSee has the ability to demonstrate your computer to other users. VSee currently only works on Windows.

ooVoo

Unlike VSee, the ooVoo program does not need any special introduction. Cross-platform, lightweight and convenient. If we talk about differences in relation to Skype, then ooVoo uses its own infrastructure to manage the transmission of audio and video data.

ooVoo pays special attention to video quality. In this regard, ooVoo is perhaps even superior to Skype, although on the other hand, the quality of the picture may depend on various external factors.

If ooVoo is ahead of Skype in one area, it is in organizing group video communication. Among other features of ooVoo, it is worth noting file transfer, recording sessions, adding video effects, screen broadcasting, as well as the ability to communicate through the web interface, without installing the client on the computer. In addition to everything, ooVoo supports working with popular social networks Facebook and Twitter, as well as video hosting.

http://www.oovoo.com

Viber

And in conclusion, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with another useful program called Viber. Initially, the application was developed for, but more recently it became available for Windows and Mac OS. With this small and very simple program you can make video calls, send text messages to friends, and organize a multi-user chat.

A distinctive feature of this application is its exceptional ease of use, as well as automatic synchronization between your computer and mobile device. And of course, cross-platform - Viber supports almost all popular mobile platforms.

http://viber.com

Bottom line

So, all that remains is to find out which of these programs is better and whether these applications can really replace Skype. Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered unambiguously.

VSee is simple, is convenient and undemanding in terms of communication quality, but at the same time it is English-language, works only on Windows and is extremely unpopular in our area.

ooVoo is convenient, is Russian-language, supports work with mobile platforms, but at the same time, some of its functionality is available only on a commercial basis.

Viber compatible with almost all devices, but at the same time it has limited functionality.

As you can see, each program has its own advantages and disadvantages. Well, what about Skype? Skype is universal and this is the main secret of its popularity. It seems to us that of these three programs, only ooVoo can serve as a worthy replacement; Skype, in turn, can replace them all.

Skype can deservedly be called a legendary program. It has found application absolutely everywhere - it has entered the lives of business people, students, gamers; the vast majority of people in the world communicate using Skype. The product is constantly updated, new functions are added and old ones are optimized. However, along with changes that are aimed at improving the product, there is also a noticeable increase in the weight of the installation file, opening time, and increased requirements for hardware, operating system, and components. Outdated machines can no longer fully work with new versions of Skype, so we have to look for alternatives among existing competitors.

This article will list the five most popular programs, which in terms of functionality can compete with the giant of the communication industry. It's worth noting that this isn't a ranking of best to worst wreck or vice versa, it's just a general list of worthy replacements.

One of the most popular programs for communicating online. It is a fairly strong competitor to Skype because it has similar capabilities. Communication takes place both in text mode with sending files, stickers, emoticons, etc., and in video communication mode. Live chats based on interests, an incredible number of free stickers and emoticons, encrypted text chats and video calls, and most importantly - not a single paid element or subscription - all this puts ICQ on par with Skype, and in some places even surpasses it.

QIP

Everyone has heard about this program; it is not far behind ICQ in popularity. Its meaning is the same - the same text messages (but with a much poorer list of emoticons), voice and video calls. Unfortunately, this application has not been developed for a very long time, so the technologies used here were outdated almost 4 years ago. The interface also leaves much to be desired. Although someone will definitely find a certain “old school” quality in this and will use the program at least out of a sense of wonderful nostalgia.

Agent Mail.ru

The Agent was first heard of long before Skype became popular. It was also available in a browser version - then you didn’t need to install anything on your computer; to communicate, you just had to log in to the site. Time does not stand still - and the Agent has grown significantly in his capabilities. Now it includes video/audio calls, text messaging with emoticons, sending files and much more. Calls to regular phones are also available for a fee, listening to music from My World and games from Meil.ru. Integration with other communication services deserves special attention - here the user can connect to ICQ, VKontakte, and Odnoklassniki.

Zello

An incredibly interesting Internet radio project. There are no text messages or video calls, communication takes place as in a real walkie-talkie - short voice messages. The technology is built in such a way that communication over the Internet is divided into so-called “Rooms” - voice chats based on interests. An interesting idea, traffic savings, small size, cross-platform and complete absence of fees for anything - these are the main advantages of Zello, which can, although not completely, compete with Skype, a stripped-down alternative, so to speak..

RaidCall

Skype is very convenient because you can create voice and video conferences, that is, group chats. Gamers use this in multiplayer games. However, the more users in the group, the more resources Skype consumes, taking up the space that the game should occupy. To eliminate this drawback, they came up with RaidCall - group video and audio chats for those who care about computer performance during a conversation. The program practically does not consume computer resources, which is why it has gained popularity among gamers. Interesting design and thoughtful execution make this product an excellent analogue to Skype for gamers.

This article examined the most popular analogues of Skype. They are needed for those who decide to change something on their computer, or are not satisfied with the policy or capabilities of Skype. It turns out that there are a sufficient number of slightly less popular programs that are capable of keeping pace with the undisputed leader in the online communication industry.

Skype is one of the first computer programs that made it possible to make video calls to mobile device users. In recent years, competitive analogues of Skype have been developed. You can download the best applications from us. They will compete with the mobile and desktop versions of Skype.

Here are the review participants - full-fledged analogues of Skype:

Viber application: cross-platform replacement for Skype

The popular Viber program, already loved by many, has been downloaded by more than 7 million users around the world. It is the most famous and worthy replacement for Skype. In addition to a huge community, the Viber application has the functions of an Internet messenger with the ability to attach audio and video files, as well as voice messages, data on the location of an object, contact information and a wide variety of emoticons. Among the additional capabilities of the Viber messenger are group chats (up to 200 people).

This program has both regular and video calls, and in good quality, according to the developers - in HD. Thanks to Push notifications, you won't miss a Viber call even when your device is turned off. Among other things, the application has such social network elements as public chats of famous people and magazines, etc., and has support for the Android Wear system.

Thus, Viber is a successful analogue of Skype for computers and mobile platforms (iOS and Android). Thanks to new features and following trends, Viber manages to compete with Skype. It is not surprising that the growth of Viber’s audience has only accelerated in recent years (at the moment, the messenger’s audience is about 600 million users).

Google Hangouts Messenger

Google Hangouts is a kind of alternative to FaceTime and is included in the Android OS. There is a corresponding mobile version of the program for iOS.

Admittedly, the alternative is not so bad. The application allows you to exchange messages and videos in real time. What's attractive about Hangouts is that it's cross-platform and linked to a Google account. Accordingly, Hangouts integrates perfectly not only on Android, but also on Mac. Essentially, Hangouts replaces the Google Talk chatting feature found in Gmail and Google+.

Google Hangouts for Android is more than simple. It establishes a direct connection between two interlocutors, similar to Skype. Like Skype, in Hangouts you can send text and voice messages to other users, which will be available to them later if these users are offline. In addition, group chats are supported.

As for using Hangouts as a replacement for Skype - yes, that makes sense. In some situations, Google's program consumes less traffic and behaves more predictably and does not interrupt the connection (however, sometimes connection dropouts occur in Hangouts, but these are extreme cases). Voice calls via Google Hangouts are completely free, just like Skype.

If you have an Android phone, you need to connect your Google account - this is a bridge between many services, including Hangouts. The application imports contacts from your address book and allows you to export them back. In principle, Skype offers the same thing during installation.

Thus, Hangouts is a good alternative to Skype with tight Google integration by default.

Google Voice - Skype replacement for landline calls and SMS

Google Voice is a client for VoIP telephony with the functions of incoming/outgoing calls, SMS messages, voice mail.

In 2017, Google Voice developers remembered that the client had not been updated for a long time and was significantly behind Skype and other instant messengers. Therefore, the first major update in the last 5 (!) years was released. This came as a surprise to many users of the program and service.

First of all, Google Voice has a user-friendly interface. The web client and mobile application for Android and iOS have a modern design, light colors, a tabbed interface, convenient for working with messages, calls, and voicemail. The exchange of SMS messages is similar to other instant messengers; messages grouped by topic are available for each contact.

Google Voice also has new features. Photo sharing, MMS, and a quick reply function available through the notification panel are supported. Transcription of voice messages is currently only possible for English and Spanish.

The Google Voice service provides users with a virtual number, similar to landline phones (and programs like Skype). You can call virtual and real numbers, make outgoing calls. Voice is still the only app with voicemail functionality and voicemail text transcription.

Thus, Google Voice is an interesting alternative to Skype. With the latest update, there's a lot to think about, especially if you use Skype to call landlines and send SMS.

By the way, the Voice application is integrated into, so both applications can be used in conjunction.

Line for Android - a free alternative to Skype

LINE is another super popular instant messenger and probably a good replacement for Skype for computer and mobile platforms. Quality indicator - wide community of > 6 million people.

Mobile analogue of Skype - LINE

By the way, LINE Corporation has developed an excellent camera for Android - . We recommend this application to replace the standard camera shell.

The Line program for Android includes a messenger with a large number of emoticons and stickers, audio and video calls, as well as a news feed for each user. Using the latter, you can share interesting moments from your life with friends using text messages, music, photos and videos, and even locations on the map. LINE users can subscribe to news feeds of other people, including various celebrities, bloggers and others. There are no such functions even in Skype itself.

Thus, in the “face” of Line we get an attractive analogue of Skype with dozens of unique functions.

Line messenger is available for various devices: smartphones, tablets and desktop solutions (although the application was originally developed for Android and iOS). The Line Camera mobile application can be downloaded on Android for free using the link below.

WhatsApp (WhatsApp for Android)

The last participant in the review is Facebook's own messenger called WhatsApp. This iconic and popular messaging app is one of the few apps in history to boast over one billion downloads. WhatsApp is one of the most popular services in the history of the Internet.

Using WhatsApp messenger, you can communicate and also create group chats. This application uses all the features of Material Design. Over time, the developers of WhatsApp for Android have been slowly building out all sorts of communication features over the past few years, and this desire only seems to be growing.

Definitely, WhatsApp is one of the best instant messengers for Android. A kind of replacement for Skype (another one, along with Viber).

imo Video calls and chat

Messenger "Video calls and chat" for Android

The mobile application "imo Video calls and chat" has two main functions: text messaging with the ability to transfer multimedia files and voice messages, as well as audio and video calls. At the same time, there are many additional features, such as sending emoticons and stickers, creating group chats or joint video conferences. It is noteworthy that the entire history of correspondence is saved on the developers’ server and can be accessed from any other device in your personal account.

Zello walkie-talkie is another program for communication like Skype

First of all, it should be noted that there is no ability to make video calls in the Zello walkie-talkie application, which is why it is inferior to other Skype analogues. However, the main advantage of this application is the audio conference function with up to 1000 subscribers. At the same time, you can create your own password-protected audio channel, track the online status of other users, use a Bluetooth headset and view message history.

Tango: free video calls

An excellent video chat app, Tango has a number of core features. Audio and video calls, correspondence via messages, including in group chats, as well as the ability to use emoticons and stickers, change the status of your profile. Like the LINE app, Tango for Android has a news feed for each user, the ability to comment on posts and photos, and share them.

Tango as an alternative to boring Skype

An interesting feature of the “Tango: free video calls” program is the presence of mini-games that you can play directly while talking with your interlocutor. Therefore, the function of turning on/off video recording during a call will be relevant.

Let's sum it up

We looked at six advanced programs like Skype. Of course, all analogues of Skype - each to one degree or another - have their own advantages and disadvantages. Leaders include Viber and LINE, whose multi-million audience speaks for the quality of these applications. Most of the programs mentioned have some social networking features that Skype itself lacks. The unusual Zello walkie-talkie is perfect for users who want to save on regular calls and allows you to create mass conferences. Google's creation, Hangouts, is widely cross-platform, meaning it is supported on almost any mobile device, laptop and home PC, which significantly expands the circle of users' communication. Depending on the listed properties, you can choose what to replace Skype with, in accordance with your requirements.

More recently, users all over the world used the wonderful Skype program to communicate with each other. The application, running on any platform, was capable of transmitting text messages in real time, using voice and video communication. But after Skype was acquired by Microsoft, many problems arose. First of all, the program has become more resource-demanding; now not every phone will be able to launch a video call. There is a problem with registration, which requires you to create a Microsoft account. The program is constantly advertising something. The time is not far off when Skype will become paid. Is there really no alternative for a computer with Windows and for Android? The focus of this article is a program similar to Skype.

Tender is announced

In order to find an analogue of Skype, you need to decide on the selection criteria - the functionality of the program and the platform on which the application should work.

Platform. The most popular platforms are Android, iOS and Microsoft. Linux and Blackberry are welcome, they are in the minority, but they also have the right to exist.
Sending text messages. This is the main requirement for the program, because correspondence gives users the opportunity not only to think carefully before writing, but also to keep a history of communication.
Voice communication in real time. Free communication from anywhere in the world not only saves money, but also brings pleasure.
Video communication. It is more of an entertaining nature, but it is a fairly popular function among users.
Creation of conferences. A very convenient functionality in business when you need to negotiate collectively or for holding seminars.
Resource requirements. The program should start quickly and use few resources. The important resources of a device are considered to be RAM, processor time, and a communication channel.

A holy place is never empty

Not long ago, an analogue of Skype called Viber was introduced to the world. In a short period of time, the application quickly spread among users and became very popular. So, how did the program win the hearts of millions of users?

The program is compatible with any platform. The joke that Viber is not installed except on the refrigerator means that owners of any mobile phones and operating systems on computers can use this wonderful program.
Text chat. It is unique - you can transmit not only text, but also pictures, video and audio messages.
Audio and video calls. The Viber program easily establishes a connection with the interlocutor and provides communication using the device’s video camera in real time.
Lots of useful little things. Simple registration linked to a mobile phone number. Synchronizing contacts, identifying owners of numbers who are already using Viber, and notifying them about the installation of the program. No advertising and absolutely free. If you have GPS on your phone, you can transmit your location to your interlocutor.

Small flaws in the Viber program

It's hard to believe, but they exist, and lately developers have been in no hurry to fix them. Although the application is compatible with any operating system, there are significant differences in Viber programs installed on different devices.

Owners of Android and iPhone are the luckiest ones - the entire range of services existing in Viber is open to them. Owners of BlackBerry with operating system version seven or lower are not able to transfer audio and video files. Owners of Microsoft and Bada operating systems will be left without an avatar and will join the owners of old BlackBerrys. Even though the application was initially positioned as an analogue of Skype for Android, we would like more functionality and fully working synchronization of contacts in its operation under the Windows and Linux operating systems.

An interesting offer for residents of Russia

This is not the first year that Russian residents have been using the “branded” service “Multifon” for communication, developed by specialists from the Megafon company. From year to year, Multifon acquires new capabilities, and the price for calls to mobile phones is rapidly approaching zero. The Russian analogue of Skype has only one significant drawback - Multifon is available only to subscribers of the Megafon network. But there are countless positive functions.

The program uses a SIP client, which allows you to use any SIP client, the same X-Lite or Fring, instead of the green “branded” program from Megafon, which are more flexibly configured and have more functions.
As in Skype, you can correspond, make video and audio calls completely free of charge between Megafon users.
Calls to mobile phones on the GSM network are significantly lower than the tariffs of the same Skype. There are applications for any operating system, including workstations.
The Russian analogue of Skype allows you to record conversations during audio and video calls.

Another inexpensive solution from Russian programmers

If the use of video when communicating in real time is not critical, another Russian analogue of Skype, Beam, deserves positive user reviews. The program can conduct text correspondence and allows users to make calls within the network completely free of charge. Like Skype, the program can make calls to landline and mobile lines, and the price is significantly lower than its competitors. Users of the Beam program note the high quality of sound during communication. All this is thanks to IP telephony, which is used in the product code.

There is also a negative in using the brainchild of Russian programmers, it is the only one, but it is quite significant - the application can only be installed on Android and IOS devices.

About social networks

It is no secret that sending messages, files, making audio and video calls can be done in the same Odnoklassniki, Google or the Mail.ru service. According to statistics, the number of users of social networks is an order of magnitude greater than the number of owners of the Skype program. But they do not use such a wonderful opportunity to communicate. What's the matter?

An analogue of Skype works through social network servers, which are already overloaded due to high traffic. Naturally, there is no question of any quality of voice or video transmission. The only thing you should pay attention to is the ability of the same Mail.ru to work on any platform, including mobile devices of the 2000s.

Players from all over the world, unite!

There is no way around the online gaming program called RaidCall. The Skype analogue for Windows was not chosen by players by chance. There is hardly a free program that can organize audio conferences for a large number of people in real time. The program's interface may look like Skype, but there are many positive differences.

High quality sound. Thanks to the use of the external RaidCall server, the creation of a conference on which is also free, players do not feel discomfort in communication.
Low requirements for computer resources. Taking several megabytes of RAM from the system, the program takes 1% of its resources from the processor, which is a high figure among similar applications.
Compatible with different platforms. Android, Windows, IOS, Linux and other operating systems are familiar with the program, and everything works great.

Five thousand people in an audio conference?

This is possible with the TeamSpeak program, which is capable of uniting up to 512 people into an audio conference, who can communicate without problems in real time. The program also provides messaging capabilities between users and allows you to send files. Like RaidCall, the application can work with different platforms and is undemanding of system resources. Thanks to the use of an external server, the sound quality in an audio conference is high, regardless of the number of participants.

TeamSpeak, an analogue of Skype, has one drawback - the server part of the application is paid. This means that to create a conference, you need a moderator who must rent a “room” on the server with a specific IP address. He provides this address to all conference participants with whom he needs to communicate.

Google's free software, called WebRTC, was initially unappreciated by both users and developers. As soon as Russian developers, interested in the software, created a Russian analogue of Skype and began integrating it into the masses, Google revived its project. Several developers of free browsers, such as Opera, Firefox and Google Chrome, announced to the world about new technologies implemented in their software.

WebRTC is an open Internet protocol that, like other analogues of Skype for PC, allows you to make audio and video calls in real time. The code is written in JavaScript, which means that the owner of any device can use the service, regardless of the operating system and device performance. The main condition is the functionality of the browser.

Finally

The listed analogues of Skype for computers and mobile devices are just the tip of the iceberg. Having proven themselves well among users, thanks to positive reviews, programs attract attention. If you delve deeper into this topic, you can find thousands of similar Skype analogues. There will never be one ideal communication program that satisfies all requirements. As soon as an application gains popularity, it is bought by the giants of the IT industry and becomes paid or resource-intensive - this is a pattern. You need to learn to keep up with the times, find and use free applications according to the assigned tasks.

If you're looking for a complete alternative to Skype, Discord will probably best suit your needs. Compared to Skype, this software can be considered quite young.

In Discord you will find almost all the features that you get in Skype. Chats, calls, video calls and group conferences are all fast and easy. The design is simple and modern, so even beginners can quickly figure it out.

The most convenient way to use Discord is on your PC through the official software itself, or on your smartphone through the Discord app for iOS and Android. But even on other computers, you can quickly log in via the web app and use all the features.

Alternatives to Skype: ICQ and Yahoo Messenger

ICQ and Yahoo Messenger

Tox: Skype alternative without hidden eavesdropping

Tox: competitor messenger for Skype

A few months after it was revealed that the NSA had direct access to Skype servers and theoretically read every conversation, a new messenger was released. Tox should be considered a secure alternative to Skype. Messages, phone calls and video chats are encrypted and thus protected from eavesdropping. The data to be transmitted is not sent through the server and is not cached there, but is transmitted directly through a Peer-to-Peer connection with the chat partner.

Although Tox has the basic features of a messenger, Skype offers many additional options. Tox is available for Windows, Mac OS, Linux and as an Android application. Even if the messenger is considered very secure, you will most likely have to invite your friends to Tox.

Video telephony on Facebook

Facebook messenger

Facebook offers a similar service as does Google. If you and your friends are active on these services,