When it comes to calls and video calls over the Internet, the first program or phone app that comes to mind is definitely Skype, which for years has been synonymous with video calls for anyone who has learned to use the PC and later smartphones. However, if we talk about videoconferencing or video chat applications, there are some alternatives that absolutely live up to, if not in many cases better than Skype ; these alternatives offer the possibility of communicating with video and audio (but also only with audio, becoming a sort of free telephone call via the Internet) both using a computer and using a specific app for smartphones.
Let's see together the best apps and alternative programs to Skype that we can install as a program on our computer and on our mobile phone.
READ ALSO: Best free video chats to create video conferences and online video calls
1) Facebook Messenger
One of the best alternatives to Skype is definitely the Messenger, i.e. the messaging service integrated into the Facebook social network.
Using this service we can call and video call all our friends that we have added to the social network, thus showing themselves as the first choice in the home environment to make this type of communication (now everyone has Facebook).
We can access it directly from the browser by logging into Facebook with our account, then selecting one of the online friends in the sidebar of the chats and finally, in the small window that will appear at the bottom, we click on the camera icon to start the video -call.
To make a simple voice call, just click on the handset symbol, so you can make free calls at any time of the day.
If we have Windows 10 as the operating system, we can also install the Messenger app from here -> Messenger App Windows 10 .
If, on the other hand, we want to use Facebook Messenger on our mobile phone, just download the right app for our smartphone here -> Messenger (Android) and Messenger (iOS).
READ ALSO: Facebook Web Messenger to chat from the PC browser as from a mobile phone
2) Telegram
Another very useful service for making free calls over the Internet is Telegram, the famous rival chat service of WhatsApp with many additional features.
We recommend that you start using Telegram on our smartphone first by downloading the free apps from here -> Telegram (Android) and Telegram (iOS).
Once we have created our new account (associated with our phone number) we can add friends by looking for them in the address book (if they already use the app), looking for them in the search bar or inviting them to install the app in turn by entering the number phone.
Open the chat with our friend, we click on the three dots at the top right and select the item Call to make a free call.
This app is preferable to the others thanks to the privacy and high encryption policies applied to communications, which prevent any type of interception.
To make the same calls also from PC (both with mobile contacts and with other contacts that use the PC version) we will only have to download the dedicated program for Windows, Mac and Linux from the link here -> Telegram Desktop .
READ ALSO: Calls with Telegram, safe and of superior quality
3) WhatsApp
The most used messaging app in the world is certainly WhatsApp, which now integrates both video calls and free voice calls for many versions (without paying anything, since they use the Internet).
To take advantage of WhatsApp, just download the specific app for our operating system for free from here -> WhatsApp (Android) and WhatsApp (iOS).
Once the app is installed, simply provide your phone number, confirm the security code with the SMS and start chatting immediately, adding friends and relatives in our address book (the contacts who already have will be immediately shown WhatsApp in the address book).
Once the communication chat is open, just click on the symbol of the video camera or handset to make a video call or a classic voice call, always free of charge.
Even if WhatsApp has multiple Telegram users, the latter has been treated earlier because it also allows you to call from PC, which is not currently possible with the Web version and the dedicated WhatsApp app for PC (maybe it will be introduced in future updates) .
READ ALSO: Use Whatsapp to make free calls
4) Viber Messenger
Another less famous app than the previous ones but still very good for free calls and video calls via the Internet is Viber, available as a smartphone app from here -> Viber (Android) and Viber (iOS).
The app allows you to make good quality calls and video calls with a proprietary encryption system, able to guarantee maximum security during our conversations (we are on a par with Telegram for the security of the data transmitted).
To use the app we will have to follow the same steps already seen for the other solutions: we enter the phone number, confirm the account and add friends who use the same app, so that we can start communicating.
Viber is also available as a program for Windows and for Mac, just download the right program from here -> Viber Desktop .
READ ALSO: Call and text with Viber
5) Other alternative apps to Skype
If we are looking for other programs and applications alternative to the Skype program, below we have collected all the other solutions that we can try for free:
CamFrog is a multi-platform communication tool that can be used to make voice calls, video calls and to send instant text messages on Windows PC, Mac, Android tablets and mobile phones and iOS-based systems.
The program tries to give the user many more options than Skype, especially for video communication, which is absolutely high quality.
The user can view the videos in full screen mode and above all, a unique feature between the video communication applications and programs, it allows you to record video calls and video messages;
- Amazon Alexa, the voice assistant app provides free calls to all users, even using the Amazon Echo.
- Tango, a messaging app similar to Whatsapp and Viber, with the function of internet calls, for iPhone, Android and Windows PC;
- VSee, also capable of recording video calls;
- FaceTime, the ideal app for video communication between users who only use Apple devices (Mac, iPhone and iPad).
- VoxOx video communication application for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android;
- UberConference, a video conferencing service for iPhone and Android.
For professional use the best alternatives to Skype for group video conferences (between several people) are:
- GotoMeeting
- Zoho Meeting
- Cisco Webex
- Join.me
- Aircall
- Ringcentral
- Amazon Alexa, the voice assistant app provides free calls to all users, even using the Amazon Echo.
In another article, we talked about alternatives to Skype for calling at lower prices and rates.
