May 5 2025, is the day Skype will cease to exist as Microsoft retires it, pushing people to switch to their Teams offering. The death of Skype was a slow one, but one that has been coming for quite some time now.
While it may be appealing to switch to Teams, it is still Microsoft, the not-so-privacy friendly company☠️
So, why not give open source Skype alternatives a chance instead?
You can stop sending your data to companies, and privately communicate with your friends and colleagues.
Join me as I take you through some solid choices for secure and reliable video communication.
1. Jami
Jami is a popular decentralised secure communication platform that offers messaging, voice calls, and video calls.
Unlike Skype, Jami operates on a peer-to-peer architecture, which results in enhanced privacy and reliability for the people who use it.
There are no restrictions on the number of messages, file size to upload, and calls. You can do it all, as long as you want, without sharing any personal information with the app.
You can read up on our detailed coverage on Jami to learn more if you're intrigued by it.
Key Highlights
- Supports group chats
- End-to-end encryption
- Peer-to-peer networking
- Self-hostable
- Can work as an SIP client
Get Jami
You can get Jami for platforms like Linux, Android, Android TV, Windows, iOS, and macOS from the official website.
Suggested Read 📖
Ankush Das
2. Linphone
As an open source VoIP (Voice over IP) application, Linphone enables high-quality audio and video calls using the SIP protocol. It is an ideal choice for both enterprises and organisations who prefer a secure, reliable way of communicating.
You can choose between white label, open source, and proprietary license giving you flexibility on what you want.
Key Highlights
- Supports VoIP calls
- Multi-platform support
- Leverages SIP protocol
- White label, open source, and proprietary license options
Get Linphone
The official website hosts the packages for Linux, Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. I had to sign up for a Linphone account to test things out, but there is also the option to connect to a third-party SIP account.
3. Jitsi Meet Online
If you are someone who likes a communication solution that works in your web browser and mobile phones, then Jitsi Meet Online can be a good choice for you. It is a free, open source videoconferencing service from Jitsi that facilitates secure, encrypted meetings, with many useful features like chat, screen sharing, and recording.
You can also choose to host your instance, and customize it to your heart's content. It has been one of the best open source video conferencing solutions out there.
Key Highlights
- Unlimited participants
- Minimal account setup
- Supports screen sharing
- Self-hostable
Get Jitsi Meet Online
For communicating with others, you can either self-host Jitsi or directly start a meet on Jitsi Meet Online. Keep in mind that you have to create an account if you want a moderated video meet, and have the meeting URL booked in advance.
4. MiroTalk
Similar tp Jitsi Meet, we have MiroTalk, a browser-based videoconferencing tool that uses WebRTC for real-time communication. Anyone who uses MiroTalk can expect to take advantage of an interactive whiteboard, seamless file sharing, and low-latency audio/video calls.
Key Highlights
- Can be self-hosted
- No installation required
- Low-latency connections
Get MiroTalk
Being a no-nonsense service, using MiroTalk is as simple as visiting the official website and joining a room. You just have to enter a display name and click on "Join meeting".
There's ChatGPT integration as well, though I would want to stay away from that.
5. Element
Element is one of the best Matrix clients, enabling decentralized and secure communication over text, voice, and video. It can be a great Skype alternative if you find the other options on this list to be too complicated.
Users can either self-host or sign up with Element’s free hosted service for their account. These approaches ensure flexibility and control over one's data.
Element offers end-to-end encryption, allowing users to have private conversations without a third party snooping in. It also supports file sharing, group chats, and integration with other services.
Key Highlights
- Easy file transfers
- Self-hostable
- Powered by Matrix protocol
- Supports voice and video calls
Get Element
You can get Element for both desktop and mobile, with apps being made available for Linux, Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS. There is also Element web if you don't prefer installing apps.
Ankush Das
6. Wire
While Wire has a strong focus on team communication, it can still be used for personal use to connect with other people over text, voice, or video. The platform provides end-to-end encryption by default, while offering a user-friendly experience for everyone who tries it.
If you are an organisation looking for a secure alternative to Skype, this can be a great option to explore.
Key Highlights
- End-to-end encryption
- Supports multi-device sync
- Real-time team collaboration
Get Wire
Before you proceed, please ensure that you have a Personal account configured if you are an individual user. I say that because, during my testing, I mistakenly went for a team account during the onboarding. Applications can be downloaded for Linux, Android, Windows, iOS, and macOS from the official website. There is also a web version for those who prefer webapps.
7. Nextcloud Talk
Nextcloud is a versatile open-source remote working tool, and Nextcloud Talk provides excellent video conferencing and communication capabilities. If you have a Nextcloud server, the Talk portal offers features like screen sharing and messaging, fulfilling your video conferencing needs.
However, the only catch here is, setting up a Nextcloud instance requires some technical expertise.
Key Highlights
- Screen sharing
- Messaging
- Integrated into the Nextcloud ecosystem
- Self-hostable
Get Nextcloud Talk
To utilize Nextcloud Talk, you need a Nextcloud server. Once your server is live, Nextcloud Talk can be used for video conferencing and communication.
Wrapping Up
It is easy to replace Microsoft's Skype in 2025, with all the open source solutions out there.
Furthermore, the open source options offer way better control, customizations, and privacy-friendly features to give you a better user experience
💬 If you feel that I missed any good alternatives, please let me know in the comments. What will you be choosing to replace Microsoft's Skype? Let me know!
from It's FOSS https://ift.tt/kwWbMRs
via IFTTT
