Alternatives to Skype

1

Skype

For the longest time now, Skype has been known as the undisputed world leader in video call apps. This app became so popular to the extent that the term “Skyping” was considered to be a verb denoting the act of making a Skype call. However, in the process of time Skype users began expressing their concerns over service disruptions occasioned by too many crashes, low quality and some level of general mistrust with Microsoft, the company offering the Skype service.

#Group Chat & Notifications #Communication #Chat

2

Hangouts

With this app, you can chat over video, text and do video and text chats with up to ten people at a time for free. If you are in the US or Canada, you can also enjoy free VoIP calls. For those outside the two regions, they can also enjoy paid VoIP calls, at a relatively lower cost compared to other VoIP calls providers. Users of Google Hangouts can also broadcast live hangouts at no fee through Hangouts on air. The live hangouts session is normally recorded and can be uploaded to the user’s YouTube channel. Google Hangouts beats Skype in that there is no need to install any third-party app or software to use the service. All you need to do is to sign in to your Google plus or Gmail account and start using hangouts and all its features.

#Group Chat & Notifications #Communication #Messaging

3

appear.in

To use the app, users have to visit the Appear.in website or launch the iOS app and create a “Room” link which they can then share with those they wish to chat with. Once a recipient clicks on the shared link, the room will open in his or her browser. Users can choose between video calls, voice calls or send text chats to those in the chat room. To enhance the security and privacy of the chat room, users can create a free account with Appear.in which will allow them to lock the room and keep off intruders.

#Group Chat & Notifications #Video Conferencing #Communication 1 social mentions

4

ooVoo

ooVoo is an app that looks and operates in like manner as WhatsApp. ooVoo is superior to WhatsApp in that it allows for screen sharing. Users can make free calls to other ooVoo users. The app can be run on Android, Web, iOS and Windows. The web-based version can support up to 12 people at a time. Users can use the app to make paid calls to landlines and mobiles.

#Communication #Messaging #Group Chat & Notifications

5

WhatsApp

WhatsApp allows users to call other users who are on WhatsApp. This app is available on iOS, Android, Windows, Web and Desktop. However, the calls can only be made on iOS, Android and Windows. WhatsApp’s popularity in Canada, the U.S. and Europe has seen it attract huge following which number more than one billion users globally. Both the video and voice calling are done using the data plan that the user is subscribed to.

#Communication #Messaging #Instant Messaging 24 social mentions

6

Viber

Viber makes it possible for users to make international calls from their desktops. This app allows users to enjoy free voice and video calls and text chats with their friends and family members using the same app. The video call sessions on Viber can accommodate up to 40 people at any one time. International and domestic calls are billed from just above $0.01 per minute. Viber can also be used to send text, documents, video messages and images via the app. The app is secured such that all messages sent through it are encrypted.

#Chat #Group Messaging #Internet Calls

7

Talky

#Communication #Group Chat & Notifications #Messaging 5 social mentions

8

Voca

Voca allows users to make affordable international calls via the users’ data or Wi-Fi connections. Users can enjoy the lowest call rates when calling over 230 countries through the Voca app. If connecting to other users on Voca, video calls, text and voice calls are absolutely free. Users just have to ensure that they have an active data plan or their Wi-Fi connections are on. All messages and calls are encrypted for enhanced security ensuring that all messages shared via the app are safe and secured.

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