WEB DESK: The news of Microsoft ending Skype in May 2025 has hit the internet by a storm and while no one is surprised, many have been hit hard by the news.
The Skype retirement news was very generously brought to us by Microsoft, the company that had purchased the app over 14 years ago. Microsoft’s Skype shutdown announcement is sudden but unsurprising as the company has long pushed for its Microsoft Teams app to be the messaging and video calling portal of choice.
Skype’s last day of service has been set for May 5, 2025, following which users will be forced to switch to another platform for all their video calling needs. Microsoft is hoping its Teams platform will be the alternative that people turn to, but users also have the option of using the built-in export tool to take their chat and contact data elsewhere.
With Skype shutting down, users will have to adapt and turn to another alternative in 2025. The sunsetting of Skype is a sad time for many older users in particular.
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Users do not have to be alarmed about losing access to their data immediately, as Skype’s last day of service is May 5, 2025. All the features will remain functional until then, giving people a chance to migrate their chats and contacts to another platform. The easiest option is to log into the free Microsoft Teams portal with the same login credentials, so the data will be transferred automatically.
If you have another preferred app, you can also consider using the export tool to transfer your data to it before Skype’s termination.
SKYPE ALTERNATIVES
Depending on what your needs are, there will be different services that are best suited for you. In 2025, it’s easy to find an alternative to Skype considering the number of providers out there.
WhatsApp: Best for one-on-one calls
- Zoom: Best for group video calls
- Talky: Best for group chats and password-protected rooms
- Viber: Best for calls to domestic and international phone numbers
- Google Meet: Best for quick calls or scheduled ones
- Mytello: Best for cheap international calls
- Discord: Best for organizing communities and server customizability
- Whereby: Best for custom business branding for calls
- Cisco Webex: Best for businesses that require constant, real-time communication
- Slack: Best for team chats and workplace organization, although it did face an issue with its platform recently
- StreamYard: For those who host shows and podcasts and need a way to record conversations