Can you really replace Skype with Microsoft Teams? Skype vs Microsoft Teams Comparison 2025

Can you replace Skype with Microsoft Teams in 2025? With Skype shutting down in May, Microsoft is urging users to switch to Teams. While Teams is great for meetings and work chats, it doesn’t fully replace Skype — especially for international calling.

In this Skype vs Microsoft Teams comparison, we’ll show how the two services differ — and introduce Yolla, a simpler, low-cost option for calling mobiles and landlines worldwide.

Which App Is Right For You In 2025?

This quick comparison table breaks down what each platform offers, so you can decide what fits your needs in 2025.

Main Features Overview

Skype shuts down in May 2025. Microsoft is moving users to Teams, where they can still chat and make internet calls using their Skype accounts.

But Teams isn’t ideal for those who relied on Skype for low-cost international calls. It’s built for meetings, file sharing, and workplace chats – not affordable calling.

Yolla fills that gap. It’s made for international voice calls, with no extras to get in the way. You can call mobiles and landlines in 190+ countries, talk app-to-app for free, and even reach people without internet.

Fees: Skype vs Teams vs Yolla

In 2025, price still matters — especially if you're calling internationally. Here's how Skype, Microsoft Teams, and Yolla compare when it comes to costs.

Skype

Skype is being retired in May 2025, and most paid services have already stopped:

• No new Skype Credit, subscriptions, or Skype Numbers
• Existing balances can still be used, but won’t renew
• SMS, call forwarding, and Caller ID end May 5
• Dial Pad access is limited to Skype web or Teams Free

Skype-to-Skype calls are still free, but it’s no longer a reliable option for affordable international calling.

Microsoft Teams

Teams is free for messaging and video calls — but not for calling phones. To do that, you need Microsoft Teams Phone, a paid add-on built for businesses.

Three plan options:

• Domestic Calling Plan —Local calls, with shared minute pools (e.g., 3,000 mins/user in the US)
• International Calling Plan — Global minutes to 196 countries
• Pay-As-You-Go Plan — No free minutes; all calls charged per minute

To use any of these, businesses must:

• Buy Teams Phone licenses
• Assign and manage plans via Microsoft 365 admin settings

It’s a strong solution for large teams, not for casual or personal callers.

Yolla

Yolla is built for easy international voice calling and texting:

• Call mobiles and landlines in 190+ countries
• Free calls between Yolla users
• No connection fees or hidden charges 
• Top up anytime or get minute bundles for even better value

Affordable Pricing

Yolla pay-as-you-go rates start at $0.04/min. SMS costs $0.15/message.

Check Yolla Rates

Current Minute Bundle Deals

• India: 300 minutes for $4.99
• Nigeria: 100 minutes for $11.10
• Ghana: 100 minutes for $18.00
• Kenya: 80 minutes for $12.00

These bundles give more minutes at a lower cost — perfect if you call the same country often.

Free and Earned Credit

• All Yolla-to-Yolla calls are free
• Invite friends and earn $3 in bonus credit when they top up
• Just note: the caller needs Wi-Fi or mobile data; the person you're calling doesn’t need internet at all

Yolla uses VoIP to start the call, then connects through traditional phone lines. So you can call even basic mobiles or landlines — ideal for areas with poor connectivity.

International Calling Capabilities

Not all apps let you call real phone numbers abroad. Some are just for online chats, while others connect you to mobiles and landlines directly. In 2025, Microsoft Teams and Yolla take very different approaches.

Microsoft Teams

Teams can connect to mobile and landline numbers in other countries – but only if you buy Teams Phone, a business add-on.

With it, you get:

• High-quality calls via the public phone network (PSTN)
• Enterprise tools like call queues, auto attendants, and voicemail
• Internal app-to-app calling for team members

But these features require admin setup, licensing, and a paid plan. Teams Free does not support international phone calls, making it hard for individual users or families to rely on.

Yolla

Yolla is designed to make international calling easy for everyone:

• Call mobiles and landlines in 190+ countries
• Free calls between Yolla users
• No subscriptions or setup needed
• Get minute bundles for cheaper rates if you call the same country often
• Reach people who don’t have the app or internet

Yolla uses the internet (Wi-Fi or data) on your side but connects to the regular phone network on the side of the person you call, so even basic phones or offline users can pick up.

Compared to Skype or Teams, Yolla is simpler, more flexible, and better suited to everyday cross-border calling.

Online Meetings and Collaboration Tools

Can Microsoft Teams replace Skype? It can — if what you need is a workplace tool.

Skype was never built for true team collaboration. It offered one-on-one and group chats, video calls, and screen sharing — but not shared calendars, co-editing, or real project tools. It worked fine for casual catch-ups or simple calls, but it wasn’t made for coordinated teamwork.

Now that Skype is being phased out, Microsoft is encouraging users to move to Teams Free, which keeps your contacts and chat history but shifts the experience into a more professional setting.

Microsoft Teams, by contrast, is designed for team productivity. You can:

• Host scheduled meetings with links and invites
• Chat with groups or individuals
• Share files, calendars, and meeting notes
• Collaborate in real time with Microsoft 365 tools
  
  

It’s ideal for workplace communication — but can feel overly complex if you’re just looking to make a call or send a quick message.

Yolla doesn’t aim to replace Skype’s meeting features. It doesn’t include file sharing, group chat, or video calls. Instead, it’s focused entirely on what many people originally used Skype for: affordable international voice calls, especially to people without internet access or smartphones.

Accessibility and Device Compatibility

Skype works on most platforms but is being phased out by May 2025.

Microsoft Teams runs best on desktops. It’s powerful for work, but mobile use feels cluttered for casual users.

Yolla is lightweight and mobile-first, ideal for calls on the go, even with older phones or limited connectivity. No desktop needed.

Security and Privacy

Skype has basic encryption but no longer receives updates, making it less secure over time.

Microsoft Teams offers strong business-grade security but relies on admin settings, limiting user control.

Yolla encrypts calls, doesn’t access contacts without permission, and stores no call content. It follows strict GDPR rules and keeps privacy simple and user-controlled.

Which App Should You Use Now?

Can Microsoft Teams replace Skype in 2025? Yes — if you need a tool for work meetings, chatting with coworkers, or sharing files.

But if you used Skype to make simple, low-cost international calls, Teams won’t feel the same. It’s made for businesses, not everyday calling.

Skype is shutting down. Teams is built for office work. Yolla is the app that fills the gap for people who just want to call mobiles or landlines abroad, even if the person they’re calling doesn’t have internet.