Five of the Best Skype Alternatives for Making Free Calls – Make Tech Lighter
Five of the Best Skype Alternatives for Making Free Calls
Skype is such a big part of our daily lives that it’s become synonymous with free online voice calling, just as Google has with online searches and WhatsApp with messaging. But it can also be a cumbersome lump of software, hogging more system resources than you think it should and not working all that well on mobile platforms, so it’s good to be open to alternatives.
Here’s our hand-picked list of the best Skype alternatives, displaying that there is a world outside Microsoft’s popular VOIP program.
1. Viber
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Not fairly as popular as Skype, but with eight hundred million users talking to its tune nonetheless, Viber is the next best thing for many people. It uses up much less bandwidth than Skype (about 250kb per minute of voice calls), and you can technically have a group talk with up to two hundred fifty people (which sounds like chaos to me, but to each their own).
While Skype may be more feature-packed and suggest better movie quality, Viber’s offerings actually work better than Skype for the most part. Of course, you’ll need to persuade your friends to make the switch if you’re to get the most out of it!
Two. Google Hangouts
Compatibility: Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, Android, iOS
Hangouts may have been largely shunned on mobile platforms by Google in favor of its more intuitive, more contemporary successor, Google Duo, but if you want to make movie calls on your computer without downloading any cumbersome programs, it remains a fine option.
If you have Chrome, you just need to go to hangouts.google.com, then choose who you want to call – via voice or movie – from your Google contacts, and you’re good to go. You’ll need a Hangouts plugin if you’re using Safari or Internet Explorer (which you shouldn’t be using at this point). Sadly, you won’t be able to use Hangouts in Firefox any more because the browser no longer supports traditional plugins.
Trio. FaceTime
Compatibility: MacOS, iOS
Non-Apple owners have nothing to see here, but if you do own one of the fruity-themed devices, then you’ll get to indulge in the minimal slickness that is FaceTime.
The speed of connections, the quality of movies, and the coherent interface make FaceTime a superior alternative to Skype that’s sensational to users of Apple devices. There are no frills here, no big, bimbo animated emojis, just very functional calling. On mobile devices you can even use FaceTime to make regular phone calls via WiFi if you’re in an area with a poor cellular signal.
Four. ooVoo
Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS
Lesser known than the other big hitters on this list, ooVoo is a relatively fresh kid on the block, suggesting movie and voice calling for its users. The company’s in-house SuperClear technology supplies call quality that helps it challenge with Skype (if not fairly match up to it … yet). The interface also feels a bit “2002,” but maybe some people consider that to be retro now.
An added perk of ooVoo is its fresh Chains feature which lets you link numerous movies to create so-called ‘stories’ that give you a nicely-presented tapestry of the movie talks you have with certain people. You can then share these or simply cherish them as memories. It’s a superb touch, and it alone makes this app worth checking out.
Five. Talky
Compatibility: Web browsers, iOS
If you’re looking for a web-based Skype alternative but aren’t a fan of the entire Big Brotherly Google ecosystem and don’t want to use Hangouts, you should attempt Talky. It can be used with any web browser and doesn’t require any plugins.
It’s remarkably elementary – you just go to the Talky.io homepage, create a URL/name for your talk room, then click “Begin a talk” and share the URL with your pals. You can set up passwords so not just anyone can wander on in, and business users can also add bespoke features for collaboration, screen sharing and so on with the help of Talky’s engineers.
Before We String up Up …
It’s very effortless to get used to using a specific program for specific purposes which is why so many people default to Skype. But recall that if it doesn’t work for you, then it’s indeed not that hard to switch it. Just make sure to get your friends onboard as well because you don’t want to end up talking into the void!
The Accomplish Beginner’s Guide to Ubuntu 16.04
Are you tired of using Windows or OS X as your operating system and thinking of attempting out, and possibly switching, to Linux? In this Accomplish Beginner’s Guide to Ubuntu 16.04 ebook, we will guide you and display you everything you need to know about Ubuntu – the most popular Linux distro.
Trio comments
A few days ago, a fresh app called ‘Ring’, from the GNU project, just released its very first stable release.
It has a strong concentrate on privacy and security. It’s multiplatform, quick, and free! It would be nice if you attempt it and encourage its use and development. 🙂
I also use Gruveo, the world easiest Movie call, which can be found here:
You only have to agree with the call participants on a room, then come in in the room name and wait to the participants to join.
You can also register a code and let your friends or customers leads hassle-free movie calls.
Five of the Best Skype Alternatives for Making Free Calls – Make Tech Lighter
Five of the Best Skype Alternatives for Making Free Calls
Skype is such a big part of our daily lives that it’s become synonymous with free online voice calling, just as Google has with online searches and WhatsApp with messaging. But it can also be a cumbersome lump of software, hogging more system resources than you think it should and not working all that well on mobile platforms, so it’s good to be open to alternatives.
Here’s our hand-picked list of the best Skype alternatives, demonstrating that there is a world outside Microsoft’s popular VOIP program.
1. Viber
Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS
Not fairly as popular as Skype, but with eight hundred million users talking to its tune nonetheless, Viber is the next best thing for many people. It uses up much less bandwidth than Skype (about 250kb per minute of voice calls), and you can technically have a group talk with up to two hundred fifty people (which sounds like chaos to me, but to each their own).
While Skype may be more feature-packed and suggest better movie quality, Viber’s offerings actually work better than Skype for the most part. Of course, you’ll need to persuade your friends to make the switch if you’re to get the most out of it!
Two. Google Hangouts
Compatibility: Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, Android, iOS
Hangouts may have been largely shunned on mobile platforms by Google in favor of its more intuitive, more contemporary successor, Google Duo, but if you want to make movie calls on your computer without downloading any cumbersome programs, it remains a fine option.
If you have Chrome, you just need to go to hangouts.google.com, then choose who you want to call – via voice or movie – from your Google contacts, and you’re good to go. You’ll need a Hangouts plugin if you’re using Safari or Internet Explorer (which you shouldn’t be using at this point). Sadly, you won’t be able to use Hangouts in Firefox any more because the browser no longer supports traditional plugins.
Three. FaceTime
Compatibility: MacOS, iOS
Non-Apple owners have nothing to see here, but if you do own one of the fruity-themed devices, then you’ll get to indulge in the minimal slickness that is FaceTime.
The speed of connections, the quality of movies, and the coherent interface make FaceTime a superior alternative to Skype that’s off the hook to users of Apple devices. There are no frills here, no big, stupid animated emojis, just very functional calling. On mobile devices you can even use FaceTime to make regular phone calls via WiFi if you’re in an area with a poor cellular signal.
Four. ooVoo
Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS
Lesser known than the other big hitters on this list, ooVoo is a relatively fresh kid on the block, suggesting movie and voice calling for its users. The company’s in-house SuperClear technology supplies call quality that helps it contest with Skype (if not fairly match up to it … yet). The interface also feels a bit “2002,” but maybe some people consider that to be retro now.
An added perk of ooVoo is its fresh Chains feature which lets you link numerous movies to create so-called ‘stories’ that give you a nicely-presented tapestry of the movie talks you have with certain people. You can then share these or simply cherish them as memories. It’s a excellent touch, and it alone makes this app worth checking out.
Five. Talky
Compatibility: Web browsers, iOS
If you’re looking for a web-based Skype alternative but aren’t a fan of the entire Big Brotherly Google ecosystem and don’t want to use Hangouts, you should attempt Talky. It can be used with any web browser and doesn’t require any plugins.
It’s remarkably elementary – you just go to the Talky.io homepage, create a URL/name for your talk room, then click “Commence a talk” and share the URL with your pals. You can set up passwords so not just anyone can wander on in, and business users can also add bespoke features for collaboration, screen sharing and so on with the help of Talky’s engineers.
Before We Dangle Up …
It’s very effortless to get used to using a specific program for specific purposes which is why so many people default to Skype. But reminisce that if it doesn’t work for you, then it’s indeed not that hard to switch it. Just make sure to get your friends onboard as well because you don’t want to end up talking into the void!
The Finish Beginner’s Guide to Ubuntu 16.04
Are you tired of using Windows or OS X as your operating system and thinking of attempting out, and possibly switching, to Linux? In this Accomplish Beginner’s Guide to Ubuntu 16.04 ebook, we will guide you and display you everything you need to know about Ubuntu – the most popular Linux distro.
Trio comments
A few days ago, a fresh app called ‘Ring’, from the GNU project, just released its very first stable release.
It has a strong concentrate on privacy and security. It’s multiplatform, rapid, and free! It would be nice if you attempt it and encourage its use and development. 🙂
I also use Gruveo, the world easiest Movie call, which can be found here:
You only have to agree with the call participants on a room, then inject in the room name and wait to the participants to join.
You can also register a code and let your friends or customers leads hassle-free movie calls.