Skype shuts down after 22 years
Users who want to keep their Skype data can export their information until January 2026. After that, all remaining data will be deleted.
Skype has officially shut down as of today, May 5, 2025. The closure comes after nearly 22 years in operation, during which Skype became known for making international voice and video calls accessible and affordable for millions of people worldwide. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 and says the decision is part of a strategy to focus on its other platform, Microsoft Teams.
Skype’s journey began in 2003 when it made it easy for users to make voice calls over the internet, both to other Skype users and to traditional phone numbers. Over time, Skype changed owners multiple times, eventually becoming part of Microsoft’s portfolio. During its peak, Skype had hundreds of millions of users and was seen as a leader in online communications.
However, as new messaging and calling apps like Google Meet, FaceTime, WhatsApp, and Zoom gained popularity, Skype’s users declined. Microsoft has increasingly invested resources in Teams, which is now its main communication app for businesses and individuals.
For those who still need to make calls to landline and mobile phone numbers from their computers or smartphones, though, there are still quite a few Skype alternatives available. Zoom Phone, an add-on to the regular Zoom app, lets users make internet-based calls to landlines and mobiles, as reported by Fast Company.
Google Voice is still around and gives users a phone number and lets them make calls to most numbers globally, though this option is mainly available in the United States and Canada. Microsoft Teams itself, with the Teams Phone add-on, also gives calling capabilities, though it is mainly designed for business use. Viber Out is an option that allows users to call phones worldwide through a simple subscription.
Users who want to keep their Skype data can export their information until January 2026. After that, all remaining data will be deleted.
