Can you really replace Skype with Zoom? Skype vs Zoom Comparison 2025
Skype is shutting down in 2025, and many people are wondering: Can Zoom replace Skype?
Both apps let you make calls over the internet — but they are made for different things. Skype was easy for personal chats and international calls to mobiles and landlines. Zoom is mostly for work meetings and online classes.
In this article, we compare Skype and Zoom to see what they can and can’t do. And we’ll explain why Yolla is the best option for people who want to stay in touch with family and friends — even if they don’t have internet or the app.
Looking for a Skype replacement? Try Yolla — free app-to-app calls and low-cost landline/mobile calls. No subscriptions.
Main Features
For years, Skype was the app many people trusted for international communication. It was simple, affordable, and let you call landlines and mobiles around the world — something that helped millions of people stay connected across borders.
But in 2025, Microsoft officially shut Skype down. Its replacement, Microsoft Teams Free, is mainly for business use. For those who just want to call a friend, check in with family, or handle something urgent back home, Teams doesn’t quite fit.
Zoom has become the new go-to for remote meetings and online classes. It’s packed with features like breakout rooms and screen sharing. But it’s not made for quick conversations or regular calls. You can’t just open it and dial a number — it needs links, planning, and coordination.
Yolla, on the other hand, was built for real-life communication. Whether you’re living abroad, travelling, studying, or managing life across countries, it gives you all the options in one place:
- Call landlines and mobiles in over 190 countries
- Make free calls to other Yolla users over Wi-Fi or data
- Show your real number when you call, so people know it’s you
- Earn free credits by inviting friends
- Even call banks, airlines, embassies, or anyone who doesn’t use calling apps
With Yolla, you can call people — not just contacts online.
Fees and Payment Options
Skype lets users pay per minute or buy a monthly plan for certain countries. It worked well for years, but between different rates, auto-recharges, and now the platform shutting down, it’s become less useful and more confusing.
Zoom is free for group meetings (up to 40 minutes), but anything longer or more professional needs a paid plan. To call mobiles or landlines, you’ll need Zoom Phone, starting at £8-16/month. Add £8/month for international calling and £4/month for extra numbers, and you’re already at £20-36/month—before you’ve even made a call.
Thankfully…
Yolla keeps it simple. No subscriptions. No complicated tiers. Just:
- Add calling credit in small amounts ($4, $8, $16)
- Your credit is used based on country rates (starting at just $0.04/min)
- Buy minute bundles for extra savings — like 200 minutes to the U.S. for just $0.99
- Popular bundles include destinations like India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Brazil, and more
- Send mobile top-ups to loved ones in other countries
- And of course, Yolla-to-Yolla calls are completely free
💬 Try Yolla today — free to download, free to call other Yolla users, and low-cost for everything else.
International Calling Options
When it comes to international calls, the biggest question is: can you call someone who’s not online?
With Zoom, the answer is no — unless you pay for Zoom Phone. It’s built for video meetings, not global voice calling. If your contact doesn’t have Zoom or isn’t online, there’s no way to reach them.
Skype used to be one of the few apps that could call real phone numbers. You could dial landlines, mobiles, and stay in touch even if the other person didn’t have an app. But with Skype now gone, that need is growing again.
Yolla fills that gap. It gives you two easy ways to connect:
- Call another Yolla user for free
- Or call their landline or mobile number, even if they don’t have Yolla or internet access
Call real phones, not just apps — no links, no accounts, and no internet needed on their end. With Yolla, you can reach loved ones, businesses, banks, and hotels in 190+ countries.
Need help finding the perfect Skype replacement? Our Skype Alternatives for International Calls guide is a great place to start.
Wi-Fi and App-to-App Calling
You’re on the go. Maybe you just remembered to call your uncle back home. Maybe you’re walking through an airport or using patchy café Wi-Fi. What you don’t want is a 12-digit meeting code or a “Please install this app first” message.
Zoom: It’s made for scheduled meetings, not quick chats. You need to create a meeting, send a link, wait for the other person to join. It’s great for business — but too formal for everyday conversations.
Skype: It used to be the go-to for free app-to-app calls. But by the end, it had become unreliable. Many users faced dropped calls, laggy audio, or login issues — especially on older phones.
Yolla: It just works. Calls between users are free, high-quality, and instant — no setup needed. And if the person you want to reach doesn’t have the app? You can still call their mobile or landline number like any regular call. No links. No confusion.
Day-to-Day Experience and Accessibility
For anyone who uses calling apps daily, experience matters. Zoom can feel heavy — it’s designed for screen sharing and long meetings. Not for calling your sister just to say goodnight.
Skype was once smooth and easy. But as support faded, it became unreliable and hard to use — especially on slower devices or patchy networks.
Yolla is designed with everyday use in mind:
- Runs well on older phones
- Works on slow connections
- No complicated setup
- Available everywhere
- Helpful support
- Useful features
Whether you're managing life across borders or just need to make a quick call, Yolla makes it easy.
Looking for a better way to call landlines now that Skype is gone? Our Skype Replacement for Calling Landlines guide breaks it down clearly.
Skype vs Zoom vs Yolla: Features Comparison Table 2025
Not sure which app fits your needs? This quick comparison shows how Skype, Zoom, and Yolla stack up for pricing, call options, and everyday use.
|
Platform |
Pros / Cons |
Fees |
International Calling |
Online Calls |
Wi-Fi or |
Extra Features |
|
Skype |
✅ Familiar to many ❌ Retired in 2025 ❌ Buggy on some phones |
Top-up or monthly plan |
✅ Yes – landlines/mobiles |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes |
Number display, Skype credits |
|
Zoom |
✅ Great for work ❌ Needs meeting links ❌ No calling phones |
Free basic plan Paid features |
❌ Not included (Zoom Phone only) |
✅ Yes |
❌ No |
Webinars, screen share, recording |
|
Yolla |
✅ Easy to use ✅ Global reach ❌ Top-up needed for paid calls |
Free app-to-app Low-cost bundles |
✅ Yes – landlines/mobiles |
✅ Yes |
✅ Yes – no links needed |
Bonus credits, caller ID, call people who are offline, international SMS, sending mobile top-ups, eSIM |
Wondering how Skype compares to Microsoft Teams? Our Skype vs Microsoft Teams guide lays it all out for you.
Which Platform Works Best?
If you still have Skype, you can make a few more calls — but with support ending, it won’t last. In fact, Skype has already been removed from the Google Play Store and App Store, so new users can’t download it anymore — it’s time to move on.
Zoom is perfect for team meetings and webinars. But for personal calls, it adds too many steps. It’s not designed to help you reach people on their regular phones.
Yolla is built for flexibility.
Whether you’re:
- Calling a friend for free who also has Yolla
- Reaching a family member without internet
- Dialing a hotel, bank, or customer support line abroad
- Sending an international SMS
- Topping up someone’s mobile balance
- Using a data eSIM to stay connected from wherever
You can do it all in the Yolla app.
Want to know how free calls work? Check out our Yolla Free Calls guide to learn how to invite friends and earn credits.
Can You Really Replace Skype with Zoom? The short answer? No. Zoom is a great app for work meetings, but it is not good for everyday communication. You can’t use Zoom to call a landline or mobile number (unless you pay for a special business feature). And you can’t just open Zoom and call someone without planning a meeting. Skype was better for calling anyone, anywhere. But now Skype is ending. So what should you use? Yolla is the best choice if you want to: Call landlines or mobiles in 190+ countries Make free calls to friends and family who also use the app Talk to people who don’t have a smartphone or internet And you don’t need to switch apps. With Yolla, it all works in one place. Download Yolla now and start calling — free to other users, and cheap to mobiles and landlines worldwide.
