Skype is gone — here's the business replacement your team actually needs

The Skype replacement built for business calling.

Microsoft wants you in Teams at $57+/user/month. Phound gives your team real business calling, messaging, video, and built-in AI — no Microsoft required — from $18/user/month.

Free forever plan · Phound Business from $18/user/month · No IT department required

Quick Answer

Phound is the best Skype alternative for business. Since Skype shut down, Phound gives teams a real business phone number, HD voice calling, international calls, AI call summaries, team messaging, and video meetings — all in one app. It works on iPhone, Android, Mac, and Windows. Phound Basic is free forever. Phound Pro starts at $9.99/user/month. Phound Business — with shared team numbers, AI analytics, and admin tools — is $18/user/month. Number porting is supported, so you can keep your existing number.

The Skype Problem

Skype is out. Teams is overkill. What now?

Skype shut down. Microsoft's answer is Teams — a product built for large enterprises with IT departments, not the professional or small team that just needs to call clients and message colleagues.

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Teams needs Microsoft 365

Full Teams Phone requires an M365 subscription plus a separate Teams Phone add-on, plus Copilot for AI. That's $57+/user before the month starts.

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Consumer apps don't cut it

Zoom, WhatsApp, and FaceTime work for personal calls. They're not built for business phone numbers, shared team inboxes, or calling clients who haven't installed anything.

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You deserve AI — without the add-on bill

Skype never had AI. Teams charges $30/user/month for Copilot on top of everything else. Phound builds call summaries and transcripts into every plan, because it should be standard.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Skype vs Teams vs Phound: what your team actually gets

An honest look at what each platform delivers — and what it costs to get there.

Feature Skype (shut down) Microsoft Teams ($57+/user/mo) Phound (from $18/user/mo)
Business phone number Skype Numbers only Teams Phone add-on required ($8–$15/user/mo) Included on Pro & Business
HD voice calling Yes Yes Yes, with noise cancellation
Call anyone (no install needed) Skype-to-phone calls Requires Teams Phone + PSTN Call any number, any device
Team messaging Basic chat Full messaging & channels 1:1 and group, alongside calls
Video meetings Yes Yes Included on all plans
AI call summaries Not available Copilot add-on ($30/user/mo) Built in — every plan
Meeting transcripts Not available Copilot add-on required Built in — every plan
Number porting Skype numbers can't transfer Yes — weeks of IT setup Yes — bring your existing number
Works without Microsoft 365 Yes Full features require M365 Any email, any device
Setup time Simple (legacy) Weeks, with IT Under an hour, self-serve
Free tier (truly functional) Shut down Limited, no phone Free forever — Phound Basic
All-in price (calling + AI) $57.50+/user/mo $18/user/mo — everything included

What Phound Gives You

Everything Skype had. And the parts it never did.

Phound was built for the professional who needs to make real business calls — not an enterprise IT team managing a telephony rollout.

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Real business calling

Call clients, customers, and colleagues from a real business phone number. HD voice and noise cancellation — call anyone, on any network, without asking them to install anything.

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AI that's actually built in

Every call is summarized. Every meeting is transcribed with action items. AI isn't a $30/user add-on — it's woven through every plan, because that's how it should work.

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Calls and messages, one thread

1:1 and group messaging lives alongside your calls — so the whole conversation stays in one place. No switching to Slack to follow up on a call you just had in Teams.

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Every device, always in sync

iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows — all synced. Take a call on your phone, follow up on desktop. Your team calls with you wherever you are.

Skype Alternatives for International Calls

International calling without the per-minute sticker shock.

Skype's international calling was one of its best features. Phound Pro and Business include US and international local phone numbers — so your team can have a local presence in multiple countries and call clients worldwide at competitive rates, without the recipient needing to install anything.

  • US and international local numbers on Pro and Business
  • Call any number worldwide — mobile or landline
  • Recipients don't need to download or install anything
  • AI call summaries on every international call — no matter the time zone
See international calling →
SkypeShut down. International numbers no longer available.
Microsoft TeamsRequires Teams Phone add-on + calling plan. Weeks of IT setup.
Phound ✓International numbers included on Pro ($9.99/mo). Same-day setup.

Available on iPhone and Android

The Skype alternative that works on every device your team uses.

Phound is built mobile-first. The iOS and Android apps are full-featured — not stripped-down companions to a desktop app. Make calls, send messages, join video meetings, and review AI summaries from anywhere.

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iPhone (iOS)

Native iOS app. HD calling, messaging, video meetings, and AI summaries — all synced across your devices. Download free from the App Store.

Download for iPhone →
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Android

Full Android app on Google Play. Same calling, messaging, and AI features as iOS — optimized for Android devices. Free to download.

Download for Android →
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Mac & Windows

Desktop apps for Mac and Windows. Everything stays in sync — start a call on your phone, continue messaging on desktop without missing anything.

Download for desktop →
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Browser

No download required. Join calls and meetings directly from your browser — useful for clients or guests who don't have Phound installed.

Open in browser →

Keep your number. Leave Skype behind.

If your team had a Skype Number, you don't have to change it. Phound supports number porting — bring your existing number with you so every client who already has it can still reach you. No announcements. No disruption.

Port my number →

Simple Pricing

Start free. No Microsoft tax. No add-on games.

Every feature you need to replace Skype — and the parts Teams charges extra for — at a price that doesn't require a spreadsheet to justify.

Phound Basic

Free forever

A better way to connect and collaborate.

  • Unlimited Phound-to-Phound calling
  • Voice and video calling
  • Unlimited meetings (up to 100 participants)
  • 1:1 and group messaging
  • Meeting summaries
  • Mobile + desktop apps
Get Started

Phound Business

$18 / user / month

Comprehensive workspace and connectivity.

  • Everything in Pro
  • Shared team numbers & routing
  • Team inbox & admin dashboard
  • Centralized user management
  • CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce)
  • Priority support
Get Started

Common Questions

What people ask when Skype shuts down

What are the best Skype alternatives for international calls?
Phound is the strongest Skype alternative for international calls. Phound Pro and Business include US and international local numbers — so your team can maintain a local presence in multiple countries. You can call any number worldwide at competitive rates, and recipients don't need to install anything. See international calling for details.
With Skype shutting down, what are the alternatives?
The main alternatives since Skype shut down are: Phound (best for business calling — free plan, from $18/user/month with AI); Microsoft Teams (enterprise-grade but $57+/user/month for calling + AI); Zoom (strong for video, calling is an add-on); Google Meet (video only, no real phone calling); WhatsApp (consumer messaging, no business phone number). Phound is the closest like-for-like Skype replacement: calling, messaging, video, and a real phone number in one app.
What is the best Skype alternative for iPhone?
Phound has a full-featured native iOS app — not a stripped-down mobile companion. The iPhone app supports HD calling, team messaging, video meetings, and AI call summaries. Everything stays in sync with the desktop app. Download free from the App Store.
What is the best Skype alternative for Android?
Phound is available on Android via the Google Play Store and is one of the best Skype alternatives for Android users. The app is full-featured — calling, messaging, video meetings, and AI summaries — and syncs with your desktop and browser. Download it free.
What are the best free Skype alternatives?
Phound Basic is the best free Skype alternative. It includes a real business phone number, calling, messaging, and video meetings at no cost — forever. No credit card required. Other free options: Google Meet (video only, no phone number) and WhatsApp (messaging and video, no business phone number). Phound Basic is the only free option that gives you an actual phone number for making and receiving calls from clients.
What are the best Skype alternatives for personal use?
For personal use, Phound Basic (free) is a strong Skype alternative — you get a real phone number, calling, messaging, and video meetings at zero cost. Other options include FaceTime (Apple devices only), WhatsApp (messaging and video, no phone number), and Google Meet (video). Phound Basic stands out because it gives you an actual phone number you can use to call anyone, not just other app users.
What is the best Skype alternative for phone calls?
For phone calls specifically, Phound is the best Skype alternative. It gives you a real business phone number and lets you call any mobile or landline number — without the recipient needing to install anything. Calls use HD voice with noise cancellation. Phound Basic is free; Pro is $9.99/user/month; Business is $18/user/month.
What is the best Skype alternative for video calls?
Phound includes video meetings on all plans — free through Business. Video supports screen sharing and up to 500 participants on Pro and Business. Unlike Zoom, Phound includes calling, messaging, and AI alongside video, so you don't need multiple apps. AI meeting summaries and transcripts are included on every plan.
Can I keep my number when I switch from Skype?
Yes. Phound supports number porting — bring your existing business number with you so clients can still reach you without any announcement or disruption.
Why not just use Microsoft Teams instead of Skype?
Teams is designed for enterprises with IT departments — not the team that just needs to call clients and message colleagues. Full Teams calling requires an M365 subscription plus Teams Phone ($8–$15/user/mo) plus Copilot for AI ($30/user/mo), totaling $57+/user/month. It also requires IT setup that can take weeks. Phound gives your team calling, AI, and messaging for $18/user/month with no Microsoft dependency and setup under an hour. See the full Phound vs Microsoft Teams comparison.
How long does setup take?
Under an hour, self-serve. No IT ticket. No tenant configuration. No calling-plan provisioning. Your team is live and making calls the same day you sign up.

The Skype replacement your business was looking for.

Calling, messaging, video, and AI in one place — without the Microsoft dependency or the enterprise price tag.

Free forever plan · Phound Business from $18/user/month · No annual contract required