Microsoft Skype shutting down – best private video call alternatives
Looking for a Skype replacement? We’ve got you covered with this review of the best private video call platforms.
Quick Summary: Best private video call platforms
- Jitsi Meet: Free service that’s anonymous with great features
- Wire: Paid service perfect for business use with default end-to-end encryption
- Calyx Meet: Free and anonymous but with limited features
- Brave Talk: Private, secure and easy to use, but with a limited free version
Jitsi Meet, Wire, Calyx Meet, and Brave Talk are all private and secure video calling platforms that make great replacements for Skype. While we can see that Google Meet and Microsoft Teams have useful features and are free, they are not open source and don’t offer end-to-end encryption.
If you are 35 years or older, I’m pretty sure that once in your life you’ve had a Skype account. I’m also pretty sure, you haven’t used it in the last five years, not even once. So it’s no surprise that Microsoft is finally shutting down Skype – which was mainly used by private users and which Microsoft never managed to commercially sell to businesses.
Yet, the history – and its success during the early days of the internet – is amazing: Around the world, Skype is recognized as one of the first video calling platforms which was used in the early to mid-2000s for people to call family members, loved ones, and for businesses to communicate fast and easily via video call. In fact, for many, the app with the recognizable blue cloud logo revolutionized the way they communicated online. And back then almost everybody had it – just like today everybody has WhatsApp and Signal. Now, 22 years since it was created, Skype has officially closed down, and Microsoft which acquired the platform in 2011 has been encouraging the remaining Skype users to switch to Microsoft Teams but there are better Skype replacements, especially ones with more security and privacy.
Don’t switch to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is now one of the most popular video calling platforms, but this does not mean it is the best. Although popular, there is an obvious shift to move away from Big Tech services like Microsoft and Google. For example, through DeGoogling or within Europe the movement to choose European products. Now people and companies in Europe are moving away from Microsoft and opting for more private European alternatives.
This is happening for a reason: there are big warning signs that Microsoft products should be avoided. For example, in the New Outlook all emails and login credentials are stored on Microsoft’s cloud storage which leads to compliance issues and breaches of data protection law. Beyond this example, Microsoft is a US tech giant, not particularly famous for protecting users’ privacy.
Now that we know that Teams is not the best Skype replacement, let’s take a look at the best private video call platforms.
Best Skype alternatives
Jitsi Meet
Jitsi Meet is a perfect Skype replacement as it’s free, requires no sign up, is end-to-end encrypted, has high-quality video and audio, and all standard video call features like chat.
With a strong focus on privacy, Jitsi Meet is an open source platform that is encrypted, although it’s not end-to-end encrypted by default, this security feature can be turned on. Jitsi does not track you, log your details, or store your data. It also stands out as you do not need to create an account to use the platform making it fully anonymous.
The interface is simple and easy to use, plus it has all the features you need like screen sharing, video and audio in HD quality, and chat. The platform is also scalable allowing you to have unlimited video calls with up to 50 participants, and there’s no cap on the meeting time which popular platforms like Zoom limit to 40 minutes in free plans.
Jitsi Meet is free to use and available via web browser, or through its mobile apps available for iOS, Android, and you can even download the Android app from F-Droid.
Wire
Wire is an excellent paid for Skype replacement for personal and business use with its easy-to-use file sharing, chat, and video calling which are all end-to-end encrypted by default.
Wire is an open source collaboration platform that offers messaging, video calls for individuals or large meeting groups, and file sharing - all end-to-end encrypted by default. Wire stands out for being one of the best paid end-to-end encrypted video chat platforms. If you used Skype for business purposes, Wire is a perfect replacement as it has a good user interface and all the standard features you’d need for business collaboration. Just like small businesses looking for better privacy are choosing Tuta Mail for an email address, they also choose Wire for online video calling. Unlike Jitsi Meet and Calyx Meet, Wire does require account sign-up with an email address to use the platform.
For individual use, Wire can be used for free but this version is limited to basic features like messaging and doesn’t come with video or audio conferencing. To use Wire as a Skype replacement with its video call features, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan which costs €7.45 per month, paid yearly. Wire can be used via browser or through its mobile apps available on iOS, Android (via Google Play or F-Droid), and through its desktop apps for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Calyx Meet
Calyx Meet is a great private and secure video platform that’s free to use, open source, and end-to-end encrypted but with simpler features.
Calyx Meet was created by the Calyx Institute, a non-profit that is known for building secure and private tools. Calyx Meet is based on Jitsi, and it also offers an end-to-end encrypted calling platform that’s open source, secure, and private but in terms of features it is more limited compared to other video call platforms. Like Jitsi, it’s also anonymous, does not require sign-up to use, and does not have any time limits on call duration.
Calyx Meet is completely free to use, and it has no native apps but is available via the browser only.
Brave Talk
Brave Talk is a private and secure video platform offered in the Brave Browser that has a limited free plan and a premium plan. Brave Talk is open source, end-to-end encrypted, and does not come with tracking or data collection.
Brave Talk is a privacy-focused video call platform offered by Brave, the company known for Brave Browser. Brave Talk is end-to-end encrypted, open source, and does not come with tracking or data collection. Basically, it is a whitelabeled Jitsi client in the Brave Browser. This video call platform comes integrated into Brave Browser, which means you don’t need to log in or download an app to use the service, but you need to download the Brave Browser or Brave app.
For free use, Brave Talk has unlimited free calls with no call time limits, but in the free version it only allows you to have up to four participants in a video call which might be too limited for some. Brave also offers Brave Talk Premium, a paid subscription, that comes with more features like recordings, hosting tools, and calls with up to 100 participants which costs $7/month. The tool is available through Brave Browser online, or it can be used through the Brave Browser app on mobile for Android and iOS, and for desktop on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What about Google Meet?
Since Microsoft Skype has shut down, you might be inclined to use Google Meet, and we don’t blame you – it’s easy to use and integrated into other Google platforms making it a quick and hassle-free choice. But just like Microsoft Teams, choosing Google Meet is not a good option, especially if you value privacy and anonymity.
When it comes to Google tools, we’d highly recommend opting for alternatives. Luckily, today more people are becoming aware of the scary amounts of data Google collects and tracks and are realizing the importance of data privacy. Because of this, privacy-focused alternatives for Google products have emerged. Like Tuta Mail as a Gmail alternative, and private browsers to replace Chrome. Believe it or not, these alternatives are just as good feature-wise, and even better when it comes to keeping your private data safe.
A final Goodbye to Skype
While bidding farewell to the iconic Skype is sad, it came as a natural step. Most private users on Skype have long switched to calling their loved ones on WhatsApp – or even better on Signal, an amazing WhatsApp alternative. The decline of Skype usage has been dramatic and went hand-in-hand with the success of popular chat apps that integrated video calling features.
However, if these chat apps are too limited for your use-case, you now have the chance to switch to a better, privacy-first video call platform. This is a positive thing because as covered earlier - Wire, Jitsi, Calyx Meet, and Brave Talk - are just as good as Skype in terms of features, but even better when it comes to respecting your data and privacy.
It’s 2025, and Skype has finally shut down. It’s time to stop using data-hungry apps from Silicon Valley tech giants and start choosing privacy-first alternatives!
Happy encrypting!
