The Best Open Source Skype AlternativesTop Video Calling Apps & Instant Messengers like Skype

The best open source alternative to Skype is Signal. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 100 alternatives to Skype and loads of them is open source so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting open source alternatives to Skype are Tox, Element, Wire and Jami.

More about Skype
Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard
Skype alternatives page was last updated

Alternatives list

  1. Signal icon

    Signal

     1378 likes

    An open-source messaging app emphasizing privacy with encrypted communication. Share texts, calls, photos, and videos without ads or trackers, available across major platforms. Developed by Signal Technology Foundation and praised globally for security measures.

    221 Signal alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    Signal screenshot 1
     
    |
    8
    Signal vs Skype Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    patrykmilhouse
    10

    Secure, encrypted, not owned by Microsoft or Facebook, keeps your data safe.

    Top Negative Comment
    bchpls
    0

    Signal is so privacy friendly that requires your phone number to register. A phone number which in many countries has to be registered with providing your ID. Private messenger my arse!

    matmarspace
    Positive
    0

    Great private end to end encrypted messenger!

    3 of 8 comments
    • Signal is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Signal is Privacy focused and Security-focusedSkype is not according to our users
  2. Tox icon

    Tox

     562 likes

    With the rise of widespread government monitoring programs, Tox is an easy to use application that allows you to connect with friends and loved ones without anyone else listening in.

    215 Tox alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    The Universal Tox Client. A Tox client that runs on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, FreeBSD & the web. Written in JS using React & React Native / electron.
     
    |
    5
    Tox vs Skype Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    beatrupp
    12

    It is completely decentralized, open source, you can freely choose your client (from terminal, over Windows, to iOS)

    Guest
    Positive
    5

    free for most of the feature. But no group chat yet, and difficult to sync between multiple devices.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    -21

    You cannot setup your microphone properly on any of the major clients. Useless

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 5 comments
    • Tox is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Tox is Privacy focused and Security-focusedSkype is not according to our users
  4. Element icon

    Element

     793 likes

    Provides secure collaboration with end-to-end encryption, supporting chat, voice, and video calls. Available on all major platforms, it enables digital sovereignty with a decentralized design and interoperability through bridges to systems like Slack and Teams. Includes enterprise-grade SaaS.

    313 Element alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    • Snapcraft
    Video calls for desktop and mobile
     
    |
    6
    Element vs Skype Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    TheEmperorArt
    4

    Discord is like Skype but better. Element is like Discord but better.

    Guest
    Positive
    5

    FOSS, free, open source, own nodes etc.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    3

    Cross platform in terms of Apps and equally good using a browser.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 6 comments
    • Element is Free Personal and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Element is Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
  5. Wire icon

    Wire

     319 likes

    Wire is the most secure collaboration platform featuring messenger, voice, video, conference calls, file-sharing, and external collaboration –all protected by the most secure end-to-end-encryption.

    284 Wire alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flathub
    • Snapcraft
    Wire screenshot 1
     
    |
    9
    Wire vs Skype Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    svenjost
    12

    Group audio calls with screen sharing functionality, open source, nice UI.

    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Wire is free, open source and easy to use and, most importantly, PRIVATE. It transmits data only in an encrypted way that even the creators of Wire cannot see, so you can be sure your content is YOURS, and not something the likes of Microsoft (who own Skype) can read, analyze, hand on to authorities or lose to hackers.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Truly secure and feature reach

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 9 comments
    • Wire is Free Personal and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Wire is Security-focused and Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
  6. Jami icon

    Jami

     239 likes

    Jami (formerly GNU Ring, SFLphone) positions itself as a potential free Skype replacement

    164 Jami alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami video conference OS X
     
    |
    9
    Jami vs Skype Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    6

    Fast, very secure and Open Source.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    no server's involved to store our data and no id needed to chat, a complete alternative to something like whatsapp

    only problem is the push notification makes the app non functional, so local DHT is the only option

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Jami is feature-rich and works peer-to-peer (without a server) and is safe as the code is open-source.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 9 comments
    • Jami is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Jami is Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
  7. Mumble icon

    Mumble

     486 likes

    Free, open source voice chat featuring low-latency, high quality audio, secure encrypted communication, self-hosting options, in-game overlays, positional audio, scripting support, low resource usage, and robust user permission controls for gaming and collaboration.

    57 Mumble alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • PortableApps.com
    • Haiku
    Client (Mumble 1.3.0)
     
    |
    5
    Mumble vs Skype Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    4

    Completely open source, very high quality

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    4

    Mumble requires a server to run

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Lightweight high quality audio chat. Self-hosted and encrypted, so your communications are private.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 5 comments
    • Mumble is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Mumble is Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
  9. Matrix icon

    Matrix

     395 likes

    Open standard protocol enabling decentralized, encrypted instant messaging, VoIP signaling, IoT device connectivity, and persistent data management across federated servers without central control or single points of failure, bridging communication platforms.

    172 Matrix alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • WebRTC
    • Python
    • JavaScript
    • Go (Programming Language)
    • Cloudron
    • Java
    • Perl
    Main Page
     
    |
    1
    Matrix vs Skype Comments
    Alexey Korepov
    Positive
    4

    Feature-full modern free opensource instant messaging server with federation.

    • Matrix is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Matrix is Privacy focused and Security-focusedSkype is not according to our users
  10. Jitsi Meet icon

    Jitsi Meet

     289 likes

    Go ahead, video chat with the whole team. In fact, invite everyone you know. Jitsi Meet is a fully encrypted, 100% open source video conferencing solution that you can use all day, every day, for free.

    153 Jitsi Meet alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Apple Watch
    • F-Droid
    Jitsi Meet screenshot 1
     
    |
    3
    Jitsi Meet vs Skype Comments
    Guest
    Positive
    6

    This is an excellent Skype replacement. It's free, open source, encrypted and you don't need to install anything. You simply go to the website, choose a link and email it to the person you want to speak with. Everything happens in your browser. You can password protect your session, have group conversations, share screen, chat and collaborate on text documents. Easier even than Skype and much more private.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    1

    Skype for free, with better quality and more secure.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Positive
    0

    Fast, secure and Open Source.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Jitsi Meet is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Jitsi Meet is Security-focused and Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
  11. Linphone icon

    Linphone

     143 likes

    Linphone is one of the most famous open source softphones in the world. It is fully SIP-based, for all calling, presence and IM features.

    81 Linphone alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    iOS Assistant
     
    |
    2
    Linphone vs Skype Comments
    vladmihaisima
    Positive
    0

    It is able to do voip calls without headaches. Sound quality seems better than skype.

    Guest
    Positive
    4

    Allows voice, video and text converstaions

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    • Linphone is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Linphone is Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
  12. Zulip icon

    Zulip

     268 likes

    Threaded group conversations combine live and asynchronous messaging, separating topics for organized collaboration, supporting open-source, cloud, and self-hosted deployments, secure communication with encryption, and multi-platform access for diverse teams.

    229 Zulip alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    Zulip screenshot 1
     
  13. Rocket.Chat icon

    Rocket.Chat

     160 likes

    Open-source chat server supporting real-time group, direct, and private messaging, video calls, file sharing, helpdesk chat, API integrations, desktop notifications, emojis, LDAP authentication, cross-platform apps, and customizable extensions for teams.

    145 Rocket.Chat alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Cloudron
    Rocket.Chat screenshot 1
     
    |
    1
    Rocket.Chat vs Skype Comments
    edlee
    Positive
    -2

    Good alternative to Slack because it is free and self-hosted.

    • Rocket.Chat is Freemium and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
12 of 61 Skype alternatives