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Skype

Skype

Overview

What is Skype?

Skype (the personal edition) is a free web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software. The free version includes audio and video Skype-to-Skype calls, ability to call mobile phones and landlines, paid international calling, and conference calling capabilities for up to…

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Recent Reviews

Great for one on one

6 out of 10
October 18, 2023
Incentivized
It has allowed us to connect with our team members around the world in one on one scenarios. It is helpful to be able to see them face to …
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Call on a budget!

8 out of 10
November 09, 2021
Incentivized
We use Skype, to conduct and monitor all our Sales calls and reach out programs, It is used primarily by our sales, product/Ops, and …
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Awards

Products that are considered exceptional by their customers based on a variety of criteria win TrustRadius awards. Learn more about the types of TrustRadius awards to make the best purchase decision. More about TrustRadius Awards

Popular Features

View all 17 features
  • High quality audio (131)
    7.9
    79%
  • High quality video (129)
    7.8
    78%
  • Desktop sharing (114)
    7.3
    73%
  • Low bandwidth requirements (126)
    6.4
    64%

Reviewer Pros & Cons

View all pros & cons
Verified User
Professional in Corporate
Management Consulting Company, 201-500 employees
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Pricing

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Skype

Skype

N/A
Unavailable

What is Skype?

Skype (the personal edition) is a free web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software. The free version includes audio and video Skype-to-Skype calls, ability to call mobile phones and landlines, paid international calling, and conference calling capabilities for up to 25 people.

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Would you like us to let the vendor know that you want pricing?

56 people also want pricing

Alternatives Pricing

GoTo Connect

GoTo Connect

$27
per month per user
What is GoTo Connect?

GoToConnect, from GoTo, is a cloud-based business phone system with built-in web-based video conferencing solutions. It includes features such as call analytics, call recording, softphone, fax to email, voicemail to email, and desktop integration.

PanTerra Networks

PanTerra Networks

$12.95
per month per seat
What is PanTerra Networks?

PanTerra is a provider of unified cloud-based services for communications, enterprise file sharing and mobility solutions for mid-market enterprises (MME), headquartered in Santa Clara. The Company's Streams service provides - Unified Communications and SmartBox - Communications-Enabled Content…

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Product Demos

Skype Video Call Demo Video (No Audio)

YouTube

One Chat - All in one Messenger for WhatsApp, Fb, Skype & more

YouTube

Designing a Drawer / Sliding panel in Winform App C# (Skype Demo)

YouTube

Skype on Symbian Video Demo

YouTube

Demo of Skype for the iPhone

YouTube

Sony Xperia M Skype Video Call Demo - Front Camera Quality - PhoneRadar

YouTube
View more demos
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Features

Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software

Features related to the performance, reliability & compatibility of web conferencing and webinar (online events) software.

7.4
Avg 8.0

Screen Sharing

Features related to remote screen sharing capabilities.

6.8
Avg 7.9

Online Meetings / Events

Features related to hosting and attending meetings and events online.

6.7
Avg 8.2

Online Events Collaboration

Features related to collaboration between attendees during web conferences, webinars, and other online events.

7.7
Avg 8.4

Online Events Security

Features related to the security of meetings and other events held via web conferencing/webinar software.

7.3
Avg 8.3
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Product Details

What is Skype?

Skype (the personal edition) is a free web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software. The free version includes instant messaging, audio and video Skype-to-Skype calls, the ability to call mobile phones and landlines, paid international calling, and conference calling capabilities for up to 25 people. During video sessions, users also have the option to share their screen with other participants. Other distinctive features include background blurring, voice and text translation, location share, conversation search, and integration with Microsoft's Digital Assistant, Cortana.

This version of Skype works on phones, desktop, tablet, browsers, Alexa, and Xbox. Users can call landlines and mobile phones from around the world by paying for Skype Credit or signing up for Skype subscriptions, a monthly contract for users who only need service to specific regions. Users can also pay to have a local phone number through Skype Numbers, so that they can answer phone calls from their desktops, tablets, or smartphones. They can also send SMS text messages and share their location using the Skype mobile app.


Skype Video

What is Skype?

Skype Technical Details

Operating SystemsUnspecified
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Skype (the personal edition) is a free web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software. The free version includes audio and video Skype-to-Skype calls, ability to call mobile phones and landlines, paid international calling, and conference calling capabilities for up to 25 people.

Reviewers rate Live chat highest, with a score of 8.4.

The most common users of Skype are from Mid-sized Companies (51-1,000 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(2599)

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(76-100 of 136)
Companies can't remove reviews or game the system. Here's why
October 28, 2019

Skype is a time-saver

Ray Fisher | TrustRadius Reviewer
Ray Fisher
Chief Operating Officer
All-In Staffing, Ltd (Staffing and Recruiting, 501-1000 employees)
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype is great for group meetings and to cover company progress, goals, etc. I personally would not use Skype for employee reviews, promotions, disciplinary actions etc. I think there are a lot of advantages to using Skype for group meetings but I also believe that some meetings need to be personal and face to face.
October 18, 2019

Skype is an average quality product but does its job when it comes to messaging and making audio/video calls

Verified User
Employee in Corporate
Leisure, Travel & Tourism Company, 10,001+ employees
Score 4 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
It's perfect for communicating with coworkers, especially when you have a quick question. It's informal, which make things easier and fast. I wouldn't recommend Skype for communicating with customers, in my opinion, it's not cut out for that. I like Skype, it's pretty efficient, but I can't stand it's boring interface and inability to customize pretty much anything.
October 17, 2019

Skype is an excellent tool for online video conferencing!

Shawngela Pierce | TrustRadius Reviewer
Shawngela Pierce
Life Coach | Public Speaker
Seek Within You (Professional Training & Coaching, 1-10 employees)
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype is definitely suitable for businesses that need to meet in a virtual environment. It is free if the other person is using Skype. I have never done the group calls but I could definitely see this as being beneficial for companies that have employees in different areas. Using Skype for that scenario would be very cost-effective.
September 24, 2019

Skype Connect with those around you anywhere!!!

Erica Terry | TrustRadius Reviewer
Erica Terry
Advising and Evaluation Counselor
Cal State University San Marcos (Higher Education, 501-1000 employees)
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype was extremely helpful when we had a team meeting and it was mandatory and I was out of the office working remotely and needed to be able to call in. It is also well suited for those international clients needing to call in, text chat, video share etc. It is less appropriate in a setting that video or sound is not approved. However, you are still able to chat with one another.
September 23, 2019

Great Video Conferencing and More

Kaleb-John Loo | TrustRadius Reviewer
Kaleb-John Loo
Senior Firmware Engineer
Spirent Communications (Telecommunications, 1001-5000 employees)
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
If everyone in the office utilizes Skype, it can be a great tool for office communication. However, when some employees only stick to email, it loses its effectiveness as the messages that you send are never received. Skype is also good if your customers or other businesses utilize it, but if not, then there is also little value there.
September 17, 2019

Skype is simply sensational!

Lindsey Schultz | TrustRadius Reviewer
Lindsey Schultz
Business Development Manager
Speedeon Data (Marketing and Advertising, 11-50 employees)
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype is great if an entire organization, especially remote folks, are always logged on and ready to chat when not in a meeting. It would not work well if certain people were not logged on and easily accessible. It is very easy to see if someone is busy or available and is much easier than picking up the phone or getting out of your seat.
September 16, 2019

A great tool for collaboration

Verified User
Engineer in Information Technology
Banking Company, 5001-10,000 employees
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
It is used for communicating with other colleagues and works best for instant communication. It is also used for screen sharing, which helps in collaboration with other teams during end-to-end testing scenarios. It is less appropriate if you are presenting in front of the team and someone pings you for something in the middle of the meeting. It should have a feature to avoid those scenarios.
September 16, 2019

Skype lives up to the hype!

Verified User
Manager in Sales
Marketing and Advertising Company, 11-50 employees
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
I would say it is well suited for any time that you really need to use your personality/body language to get your point across. Words are not always enough alone, you need the visual. I would say do not use it in a crowded noisy place. Not everyone around you wants to be in on your meeting. It's not very private.
September 15, 2019

My Second Choice

Mark Cruver, M. Ed. CSA, CEP | TrustRadius Reviewer
Mark Cruver, M. Ed. CSA, CEP
Founder/Owner/Lead College And Career Consultant
Capstone Educational Consultants, LLC (Education Management, 1-10 employees)
Score 4 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype serves individual, one-on-one conversations very well. I have had trouble with sound quality in the past, but it often clears up over time. Video bandwidth can be a problem for many users, so ensuring use on a wifi connection is almost imperative for any scenario. Otherwise, it is good for most any circumstance.
September 14, 2019

Sky's not the limit with Skype!

Verified User
Program Manager in Sales
Financial Services Company, 1001-5000 employees
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Well suited for day to day conversations or seeing if a peer is out of a meeting or available. You can connect quickly for a chat online if using video which can be very helpful to clarify discussions. Great that you can also connect using your mobile device and stay in touch on the go. Has served me multiple times at the cottage.
September 12, 2019

Used to be the best, but competition is growing stronger and better.

Carlo Borja | TrustRadius Reviewer
Carlo Borja
Online Marketing Specialist
Time Doctor (Internet, 51-200 employees)
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype is great for video calls that involve less than 10 people. So, you would have to use other alternatives if you decide to do a company-wide chat of more than 10.

Skype's archive of messages is really great if you plan on storing conversation history for a long time.

If your computer is old, you may have trouble using it to the full. It hogs up computer memory.
September 10, 2019

Excellent free phone/video calling tool for global meetings

Amanda Layman | TrustRadius Reviewer
Amanda Layman
Founder
Tigris Content Marketing (Marketing and Advertising, 1-10 employees)
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype is great for global calls since it seems to be well-known and used around the world. However, I prefer to use Zoom for most regular and US-based meetings since it's a little faster to get into a meeting and you can just share a link with anyone (whereas I believe Skype requires you to have an account and sign-in, which takes a little bit more time).
September 10, 2019

Skype has grown a lot, but is still a little outclassed by Teams and Zoom

Ho'omana Nathan Horton | TrustRadius Reviewer
Ho'omana Nathan Horton
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Oklahoma State University (Research, 5001-10,000 employees)
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype is pretty good as an integrated tool for quick communication between departments. However, Zoom is lightyears ahead of Skype (and everything else we've tried) as a videoconferencing solution. Teams (another, newer Microsoft product) works for all the things I like about Skype namely within-organization collaboration and communication and is more streamlined and tightly connected to the Office suite in ways that Skype is not.
September 10, 2019

Good for the money

Verified User
Administrator in Corporate
Education Management Company, 11-50 employees
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
It is well suited for situations where you have to interview a person when they are in a different state or country. Although companies will use it to avoid human contact, it is less effective when using it in a situation where the meeting could have been in person. For quick catch-ups with visuals or day-long conferences, Skype is a hero because it allows for two offices or persons to work together in long-distance.
February 21, 2019

Skype is awesome for personal use

chongsok lim | TrustRadius Reviewer
chongsok lim
사무국장
정보통신기획평가원 (Information Technology and Services, 201-500 employees)
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
A good scenario for Skype is to use it for private meetings or small meetings without any critical issues. This is because you can make a call again if it's to your friends or colleagues.
A bad scenario for Skype is to use it for important business meetings. This is because you can lose your opportunity to a bad connection while communicating.
January 04, 2019

Skype takes the cake when it comes to video calls!

Jeff Huisjen | TrustRadius Reviewer
Jeff Huisjen
Director of studentLife
Mount Pleasant Community Church (Religious Institutions, 11-50 employees)
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype is perfectly suited for long-distance interviews and for long-distance collaboration. It has helped us to explain our needs to someone in a much more personal way than a phone call or e-mails would be. The ability to have multiple people on one call OR to setup a system that allows communication from a table of people has been a huge help.
December 18, 2018

Skype: Microsoft's Playground

Verified User
Executive in Customer Service
Computer Software Company, 11-50 employees
Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Skype is well suited (and the only reason I still use it) when making international calls and paying minutes by the pennies. I still have my credit card attached to it and will get auto repay when my credit goes below $2. It's great for that. But that's all.
December 17, 2018

Return on investement of Skype for business

Louis F. DeWeaver III, M.S.I.S. | TrustRadius Reviewer
Louis F. DeWeaver III, M.S.I.S.
IT Security Administrator
Northwood University (Higher Education, 201-500 employees)
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Likelihood to Recommend
Meetings can be conducted using this service and the information that needs to be shared can be independently viewed by each participant. This makes it a lot easier to facilitate discussions, create individualized impacts, and convey information in a more memorable way.

Someone cannot access emergency numbers through Skype in an emergency except in specific communities or jurisdictions. Individuals could call non-emergency phone numbers that could then relay their needs to the appropriate department, but this would create delays in service implementation. Under the current structure, modern phone services are still more reliable.
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