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Is Skype free? Skype pricing explained
Skype has features like screen sharing, group video calls, call recording, and more, making it one of the best video call and chat apps. You can even use Skype to make calls and send text messages to local and international phone numbers, a feature that isn’t available with most of its competitors. However, not every Skype feature is free. Here’s what you need to know about Skype’s pricing.
QUICK ANSWER
Skype is free for any Skype-to-Skype interactions. This includes messages, voice calls, and video calls. You can also share your screen, record calls, share images, and more. You must sign up and pay for Skype Credit or discounted "Skype to phone" plans to make direct calls to international numbers.
KEY SECTIONS
Is Skype free?
Skype is free for any Skype-to-Skype interaction. You can send messages, make voice and video calls, share your screen, record calls, share images, and more. As long as both parties have Skype, everything you do is free.
However, Skype also lets you directly call international phone numbers to keep in touch with friends and family who don’t have Skype. Like any international calling service, this isn’t free. You can either pay for Skype Credit, which works as a pay-as-you-go balance, or sign up for discounted monthly calling subscriptions.
What is “Skype to phone” plans, and how much do they cost?
Skype to phone plans is discounted subscriptions that let you make international calls directly from a phone number, even if the other person doesn’t have Skype.
You can search for the country you want to call to determine the minutes you’ll get and the monthly cost. Plans start as low as $2.99 per month for unlimited calls to the US, going up to $7.99 for 800 minutes a month to India. If you plan to make international calls to more than one country, you can get a global subscription for $13.99. You can sign up for “Skype to phone” plans here.
You can also buy Skype Credits if you don’t plan to make international calls regularly. Credits can be purchased for $5, $10, or $25 bundles and refill your account when required. A $10 Skype Credit gets you 434 minutes to the UK and US and around 666 minutes to India. You can learn more about the regional rates and buy Skype credits here.
FAQs
Yes, screen sharing is free on Skype.
Yes, group video calls on Skype are entirely free. You can call up to 100 people on Skype.
You only need Skype credit or a subscription to a “Skype to phone” plan if you want to make calls to international phone numbers. Skype-to-Skype chats, voice calls, video calls, and other available features are free.
A Skype phone number lets others call you from a mobile or landline, and you can answer the call using the Skype app. Unfortunately, a Skype phone number isn’t free. The price changes depending on what region your number will be from. Getting a US phone number will set you back $6.50 per month or $52.26 for an annual plan.
Microsoft officially retired Skype for Business in July 2021 and replaced it with Microsoft Teams.