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.

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Skype alternatives are mainly Instant Messengers but may also be Video Calling Apps or Group Chat Apps.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Skype.
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Skype is the most popular free voice-over IP and instant messaging service globally. It allows users to text, video and voice call over the internet. Users can also call landlines and mobiles at competitive rates using...

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Skype alternatives page was last updated Jun 8, 2024
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  1. Signal icon
    Signal icon

    Signal

     1207 likes
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    Signal is a messaging app with an unexpected focus on privacy, combined with all the features expected from a modern IM app. Signal has received a lot of praise from all around the world for its security and privacy-respecting technologies.

    221 Signal alternatives
    Signal screenshot 1

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Flathub
    • Ubuntu
    • Debian
    Signal screenshot 1
    Signal screenshot 2
    +4
    Signal screenshot 3

    Top Signal Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Encrypted Chat
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Security-focused
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Video Calling
    7.  Instant Messaging
    8.  Self Destructing Messages
    9.  Private messaging
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Encrypted Connection
    12.  Mobile friendly
    Signal iconSkype Icon

    Signal VS Skype

    Is Signal a good alternative to Skype?
     
    Comments about Signal as an Alternative to Skype
     
       
    sedeti

    this is like skype without the data log

    Top positive comment •Feb 21, 2021
    3
    bchpls

    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!

    Top negative comment •Jun 8, 2024
    -1
    Guest

    Strong encryption, high quality sound. Uses both WiFi and Mobile Data to grant the best possible quality. Recommended by Edward Snowden. Enjoy!

    Positive comment •Mar 25, 2020
    3
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    3 of 7 comments
    Skype Icon
    Signal icon

    • Most users think Signal is a great Skype alternative.

    • Signal is the most popular Open Source alternative to Skype.

    • 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 icon

    Tox

     546 likes
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    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.

    210 Tox alternatives
    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • F-Droid
    qTox. A Tox client developed in C++ with the Qt framework
    uTox. A Tox client written in C using OS primitives to draw it's interface
    +5
    Ricin. A Tox client written in Vala using the GTK toolkit.

    Top Tox Features

    1.  Encrypted Chat
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Peer-To-Peer
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Security-focused
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Multiplatform
    9.  Screen Sharing
    10.  Lightweight
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  AES-256 Encryption
    Tox iconSkype Icon

    Tox VS Skype

    Is Tox a good alternative to Skype?
     
    Comments about Tox as an Alternative to Skype
     
       
    beatrupp

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

    Top positive comment •Mar 17, 2017
    12
    Guest

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

    Positive comment •Jun 13, 2018
    5
    Guest

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

    Negative comment •Aug 17, 2017
    -21
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    3 of 5 comments
    Skype Icon
    Tox icon

    • Most users think Tox is a great Skype alternative.

    • Tox is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Tox is Decentralized, Privacy focused and Security-focusedSkype is not according to our users
  4. Element icon
    Element icon

    Element

     690 likes
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    Element is a secure collaboration and messaging app based on the Matrix protocol. It’s decentralised to deliver digital sovereignty, and based on an open standard for easy connections and interoperability. It is end-to-end encrypted by default.

    294 Element alternatives
    Video calls for desktop and mobile

    License model

    • Freemium • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Matrix.org
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Cloudron
    Collaboration widgets
    Collaboration and screen sharing
    +1
    Connect with other apps

    Top Element Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Decentralized
    3.  Federated
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Privacy focused
    6.  Encrypted Chat
    7.  Video Calling
    8.  Instant Messaging
    9.  Matrix Protocol
    10.  Voice Chat
    11.  Direct Messaging
    12.  Federation
    Element iconSkype Icon

    Element VS Skype

    Is Element a good alternative to Skype?
     
    Comments about Element as an Alternative to Skype
     
       
    TheEmperorArt

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

    Top positive comment •Oct 12, 2022
    3
    Guest

    FOSS, free, open source, own nodes etc.

    Positive comment •Jul 19, 2020
    3
    Guest

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

    Positive comment •Mar 26, 2020
    2
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    3 of 6 comments
    Skype Icon
    Element icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Element is a great Skype alternative.

    • Element is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to Skype.

    • Element is Freemium and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Element is Decentralized and Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
  5. Wire icon
    Wire icon

    Wire

     303 likes
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    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.

    282 Wire alternatives
    Wire screenshot 1
    Wire screenshot 2
    +2
    Wire screenshot 3

    License model

    • Free Personal • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Top Wire Features

    1.  End-to-End Encryption
    2.  Security-focused
    3.  Video Calling
    4.  Encrypted Chat
    5.  VoiP Calls
    6.  Encrypted calls
    7.  Screen Sharing
    8.  Privacy focused
    9.  Multiple Account support
    10.  WebRTC
    11.  Secure File Sharing
    12.  Voice Chat
    Wire iconSkype Icon

    Wire VS Skype

    Is Wire a good alternative to Skype?
     
    Comments about Wire as an Alternative to Skype
     
       
    svenjost

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

    Top positive comment •Oct 11, 2016
    12
    Guest

    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.

    Positive comment •Sep 26, 2019
    1
    Guest

    Truly secure and feature reach

    Positive comment •Apr 25, 2019
    0
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    3 of 9 comments
    Skype Icon
    Wire icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Wire is a great Skype alternative.

    • Wire is the most popular SaaS alternative to Skype.

    • 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 icon

    Jami

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

    162 Jami alternatives
    Jami video conference OS X

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Jami conference call Linux
    Jami screensharing Linux
    +9
    Jami instant message on mobile device

    Top Jami Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Video Conferencing
    5.  Peer-To-Peer
    6.  Multi Platform
    7.  Video Calling
    8.  Encrypted Chat
    9.  End-to-End Encryption
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Screen Sharing
    Jami iconSkype Icon

    Jami VS Skype

    Is Jami a good alternative to Skype?
     
    Comments about Jami as an Alternative to Skype
     
       
    Guest

    Fast, very secure and Open Source.

    Top positive comment •Dec 20, 2017
    5
    Guest

    Very good alternative to Skype, WhatsApp and other mainstream chat software. Decentralised, free and open source!

    Positive comment •Jul 6, 2020
    1
    Guest

    Jami seems to be really providing the service it declares and not interested in tracking its users in a confused way as other Skype alternatives do (ie Google Hangouts).

    Positive comment •Jun 10, 2019
    3
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    3 of 6 comments
    Skype Icon
    Jami icon

    • Almost everyone thinks Jami is a great Skype alternative.

    • Jami is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Jami is Decentralized and Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
  7. Mumble icon
    Mumble icon

    Mumble

     465 likes
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    Mumble was the first and is the most successful and wide spread free and open source software for VoIP. It was the first VoIP software to provide low-latency audio suitable for gaming, and at the same time was a pioneer in high audio quality.

    49 Mumble alternatives
    Mumble 1.2.3 Release Candidate – some users in different channels

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • iPhone
    • BSD
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • PortableApps.com
    User-Comment and Avatar – Comments can be set for users and channels
    Descriptive wizards guiding users through setup and configuration
    +5
    In-Game Overlay – see who’s in and who’s talking while in-game

    Top Mumble Features

    1.  Voice Chat
    2.  Lightweight
    3.  Group Voice Chat
    4.  In-Game Overlay
    5.  Self-Hostable decentralized P2P network
    6.  Cross-Platform
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Portable
    9.  3D voice
    10.  Dedicated Server Hosting
    11.  Positional audio
    12.  Low Latency
    Mumble iconSkype Icon

    Mumble VS Skype

    Is Mumble a good alternative to Skype?
     
    Comments about Mumble as an Alternative to Skype
     
       
    Guest

    Completely open source, very high quality

    Top positive comment •Nov 13, 2016
    4
    Guest

    Mumble requires a server to run

    Top negative comment •Nov 19, 2015
    3
    Guest

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

    Positive comment •Feb 21, 2018
    1
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    3 of 5 comments
    Skype Icon
    Mumble icon

    • Most users think Mumble is a great Skype alternative.

    • Mumble is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
  9. Matrix.org icon
    Matrix.org icon

    Matrix.org

     336 likes
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    Matrix defines a set of open APIs for decentralised communication, suitable for securely publishing, persisting and subscribing to data over a global open federation of servers with no single point of control.

    160 Matrix.org alternatives
    Main Page

    License model

    • 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

    Top Matrix.org Features

    1.  Decentralized
    2.  End-to-End Encryption
    3.  Federation
    4.  Team Collaboration
    5.  Random Video Chat
    6.  Privacy focused
    7.  Distributed
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  VoiP Calls
    10.  No Tracking
    11.  Multiple Account support
    12.  Real time collaboration
    Matrix.org iconSkype Icon

    Matrix.org VS Skype

    Is Matrix.org a good alternative to Skype?
     
    Comments about Matrix.org as an Alternative to Skype
     
    Alexey Korepov

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

    Positive comment •Aug 21, 2017
    3
    Skype Icon
    Matrix.org icon

    • Most users think Matrix.org is a great Skype alternative.

    • Matrix.org is Free and Open SourceSkype is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Matrix.org is Decentralized and Privacy focusedSkype is not according to our users
7 of 61 Skype alternatives