Skype

Skype is a communication app from Microsoft for voice calls, video calls, text chat, and file sharing. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and in the browser. You need a Microsoft account to use it. Calls between Skype users are free; calling landlines and mobile phones requires paid Skype credit or a subscription.

What it does

Video calls support up to 100 participants in a group. Click a contact, hit the camera icon (or Ctrl+Shift+K), and you are in. Screen sharing is available during any call - click the two-squares icon and choose whether to share your whole screen or a specific window. You can record calls directly from the three-dot menu, and recordings stay in the chat for 30 days.

The real time translator (Settings > General > Skype Translator) translates voice and text during calls. It works across dozens of languages and is surprisingly usable for basic conversations, though it stumbles on slang and fast speech.

For calling regular phone numbers, enter the number on the dial pad with the country code and call. Rates vary by country but are generally cheaper than mobile carriers for international calls.

Who it is for

Skype still has a niche for cheap international calls to phone numbers and for the built-in translator. For video calls between people who already use it, it works fine. But if you are starting fresh, most people have moved to Zoom for meetings or WhatsApp for personal calls. I mostly use Skype when I need to call a foreign phone number without paying mobile rates.