Top Skype Alternatives for Cheap International Calls

By Ana Vitaly on 10/16/2019

 

 

A simple search of phrase "I hate Skype" on twitter will yield thousands of results and reasons why people are not happy with Skype. You are probably reading this article because of one of the following most likely reasons:

• Your account just get blocked by Skype.
• Your ISP just blocked Skype because you happen to live in a "highly regulated" country.
• You are unhappy with the glitches in your Skype app.
• You  are unhappy with the constant barrage of e-mails from Skype cluttering your inbox or the ads you are forced to watch while using Skype.
• You are unhappy with what Skype charges you for international calls or the fact that the calls keep getting disconnected. 

Given all the darn "unhappiness" Skype is causing to millions of good folks out there, I thought I will do my own research and find out if there are any good Skype alternatives that you should consider trying. 

My focus in the article will be to to review the best alternatives to Skype that can be used to make cheap international calls. 

 

1- letsBrik 

https://www.letsBrik.co 

 

letsBrik is a unique product because it does not require you to download an application either on your computer or your smartphone. This new VOIP product out of Silicon Valley is entirely web browser based. Like Skype, it offers free letsBrik to letsBrik video & audio calling.

Surprisingly, international calls are free to more than 10 countries. Yes, international phone calls to mobile or fixed phones are entirely free to more than 10 countries such as US, Canada, Singapore, Germany, Spain, etc. It also lets anyone make free 1-minute calls to a larger list of countries without the need to sign-in or sign-up. From a customer's standpoint, it is a great product because you can quickly launch the app using your web browser, make a 1-minute free call to your friend or family member abroad and then decide if you like the service before you make a decision to sign up and start paying. 

International calling rates charged by letsBrik are a fraction of what Skype or what your regular mobile carrier would charge. If you are looking to not download an app, want to make quick phone calls from any device, and, if you are looking for high quality of international calling, then letsBrik is a great option. 

Here are some additional features you can check out: 

• You can set your real caller ID for international calls. 
• There is no hidden fees or monthly commitments. Pricing is based on your usage - charged per minute depending on the country you are calling. 
• You can see a full history of all the calls you have made and how much you were charged. 

2- Viber 

 

 

The company that made exchanging stickers via IM super cool is now also offering international phone calls to all countries. You can not just make free viber calls to other viber users, you can now call anyone on their regular mobile or fixed number using a feature called Viber Out. It is not free, ofcourse. The rates are not as cheap as letsBrik but if you already have Viber installed on your phone then it might be the most convenient option. 

It is also available across all major OS platforms such as iOS, Android and Windows. Unfortunately, there isn't a web browser based app available just yet. The company is focused on providing a great native app based experience to its users. 

3- Localphone

 

 

Localphone is a VOIP based company out of UK and has become one of the major consolidators of VOIP traffic in recent years. They also provide wholesale VOIP termination service through a recently acquired company called Voxbeam. 

Localphone offers native apps for Android, iOS and Desktop. It is unique in that it makes international calls local. All your international friends are assigned a local phone number by Localphone - when you dial the local number, Localphone connects the call to your friend's international phone number. The caveat with the service is that you need a working phone number for the service to work as the first leg of the call is supported by your regular phone connection. If you travel alot or have a mobile service plan that charges by the minute, this might not be the cheapest option. On the contrary, if you do not have internet connection or live in a country with a poor internet infrastructure, then Localphone is a great option for making cheap international calls. 

The company has global VOIP infrastructure can offers good quality international calling service. The rates are a lot cheaper than Skype's as well. 

4- Lycamobile

 

Lycamobile is a MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) that operates in a few countries including United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and others.  Lycamobile sells international pay-as-you-go SIM cards to consumers wanting to make international telephone calls. I am listing this as a Skype alternative here because if you like the convenience of making international phone calls directly from your mobile phone but do not want to pay extremely expensive international termination charges to your mobile carrier, then Lyca Mobile is the way to go. It is not as cheap as the other options I listed above, but it provides you the convenience of using your regular mobile service plan as the medium for making cheap international calls. 

You can purchase Lycatel SIM card directly from its website. 

5- Google Voice

 

Google Voice provides Skype alternative for cheap international calling. It also acts as a unified system for managing both incoming and outgoing phone calls. Like letsBrik, calls to US & Canada are completely free. Rates to other countries are also comparable to Skype's. The only catch is that the service is currently only available to US residents. Google Voice also offers free text messages from both its Web and mobile applications to US based mobile numbers.

What you can do with Google Voice

• Text from your computer: Send text messages to up to five contacts at a time, straight from your computer's browser.
• Make voicemail as easy as email: Read transcriptions of your voicemails, add notes, download, and share voicemails.
• Customize your callers' experience: Screen calls and create personalized greetings for family, friends, or coworkers.
• Pick up calls from any phone: Choose to receive calls at home, work, or on your mobile phone, based on who's calling or when.
• Talk the way you want to: Make international and conference calls, block unwanted callers, and listen in on voicemails.

6- Rebtel

 

Rebtel is very similar to Localphone. It makes international calls local. Every foreign/international contact in your phone book is assigned a local phone number. Example: If you are based out of US and you want to call your friend in Germany, Rebtel will assign a US based number for your friend. Whenever you want to call your friend, you will call the Rebtel-provided US number which will connect you directly to your friend's phone number in Germany. Again, like Localphone, it requires you to have a regular mobile service. Rebtel offers Apps for iOS and Android phones. It also offers subscription based pricing where you pay a set amount every monnth (regardless of whether you use the service or not) and in return you receive competitive international calling rates to most countries. Definitely, a Skype alternative that offers good quality international calls at low rates.