The overall usability of Skype depends hugely on the quality of your internet connection. If it’s patchy or not good, using the app will be challenging. If you’re blessed with good internet and, especially if some of the extra features are useful to you personally, you’re likely to have a decent calling experience with Skype. Skype is available for pretty much any platform you can imagine, including xBox and Alexa. There are lots of alternatives, but not all are standalone VoIP apps like Skype. Many users would use video calling on messaging apps as an alternative, or even the messaging function on social networks like Facebook. In terms of completeness, you’re unlikely to get the same number of features and long history of use offered by Skype but, if you personally don’t need the extras, this won’t be a problem. There’s nothing very wrong with Skype, but we struggle to be too enthusiastic about it.

Many users will now take care of their calling and video calling needs via other apps, so if there’s no need to use Skype and the Skype-specific features it offers aren’t a major draw to you, then we don’t think you’re likely to move. In some geographic areas, the choice you have for video calling might be very much more limited and, in a situation like that, if Skype is an option, we understand why you’d choose it - more often than not, it works.

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