The best alternatives to Skype

12 European alternatives · updated 10 October 2026 · How we select

Skype’s shift to Microsoft Teams left many European users facing higher costs and stricter vendor lock-in. If you need a video and chat tool that keeps data in the EU, offers end-to-end encryption, or avoids Microsoft’s ecosystem, the options below deliver the same core features with clearer compliance and simpler pricing models. Several include free plans or self-hosting for full control.

In short

Skype covers voice calls, video calls, instant messaging and group chats. European alternatives: Stackfield, Vectera, Nextcloud Talk, Tixeo and Digital Samba and 7 more. By area: Vectera, Nextcloud Talk and Tixeo for voice calls; Stackfield, Vectera and Nextcloud Talk for video calls; Stackfield, Vectera and Nextcloud Talk for instant messaging; Stackfield, Vectera and Nextcloud Talk for group chats.

European alternatives to Skype

Stackfield🇩🇪 DE

All-in-one German workspace for tasks, team chat and video calls, end-to-end encrypted

Replaces Skype’s team chat and video calls with a workspace; lacks standalone voice calls.

Video callsInstant messagingGroup chatsFrom €9/user/mo★ 4.8 (179 reviews)

EU hostingGDPRISO 27001

Stackfield vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve and straightforward onboarding
End-to-end encryption and strict EU data residency (Germany-only servers, no non-EU access)
All-in-one collaboration suite: tasks, chat, video calls, file sharing and whiteboards in one tool

Limited global adoption and brand recognition outside Europe, leading to resistance from users of established tools like Slack or Teams
Mobile app lacks functionality and user-friendliness compared to desktop experience
Customization options are restricted

Vectera🇧🇪 BE

Secure video meetings with built-in whiteboard and AI summary, Belgian, GDPR-compliant.

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with meetings that include whiteboard and AI notes.

Covers all of SkypeFrom $30/mo★ 4.7 (337 reviews)

EU hostingGDPRFree planISO 27001

Vectera vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Browser-based with no downloads required, ensuring quick and frictionless access for clients
Intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies navigation and adoption
Stable video calls with consistently good picture quality, outperforming some competitors

Occasional lag or connectivity issues during video calls, particularly with larger groups or weaker networks
Limited storage capacity for recordings and meeting room content, prompting user requests for expansion
Calendar integration could offer more flexibility, especially for handling multiple time zones

Nextcloud Talk🇨🇭 CH

Self-hosted video and chat from Switzerland with end-to-end encryption and EU hosting

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with self-hosted encrypted calls and chat.

Covers all of SkypeFrom €42/user/yr★ 4.6 (632 reviews)

EU hostingGDPROpen SourceISO 27001

Nextcloud Talk vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Strong data privacy and sovereignty with self-hosting and full data control, ensuring GDPR compliance and preventing metadata leakage
Excellent customer support with quick, precise responses, often directly from developers, especially in paid subscriptions
Seamless integration with other Nextcloud apps (Files, Calendar, Contacts, Deck, Office) for unified collaboration

Mobile apps (especially iOS) suffer from bugs, unreliable notifications, and limited integration of features like calendar and mail
Video call performance is unstable with more than 2-3 participants without the High-Performance Backend (HPB), which is complex and costly to set up
Initial setup and configuration can be complex for non-technical users, with overwhelming feature options and insufficient documentation

Tixeo🇫🇷 FR

French video conferencing with ANSSI-certified end-to-end encryption and EU-only hosting.

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with encrypted meetings and messaging.

Covers all of Skype★ 4.6 (12151 reviews)

EU hostingGDPRCSPN (ANSSI)

Tixeo vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

High-level security with true end-to-end encryption certified by ANSSI, suitable for compliance-heavy sectors
Reliable, high-definition audio and video quality with stable performance
User-friendly interface balancing simplicity and advanced features for quick adoption

Some advanced features feel less polished compared to mainstream conferencing tools
Interface may appear formal and less intuitive for first-time users, requiring brief onboarding
No free version available, limiting accessibility for some users

Digital Samba🇪🇸 ES

Embeddable, end-to-end encrypted video calls hosted exclusively on EU servers

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with embeddable encrypted calls and chat.

Covers all of SkypeFrom €99/mo★ 4.5 (101 reviews)

EU hostingGDPRFree plan

Digital Samba vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Reliable, high-quality video and audio performance with minimal disruptions
Browser-based access without downloads or installations, enabling quick and easy use
Strong security measures and full GDPR compliance for data protection and privacy

Interface can be unintuitive, with a noticeable learning curve for non-technical users
Limited customization options compared to competitors, especially for advanced use cases
Occasional audio issues and missing advanced collaboration features

Proton Meet🇨🇭 CH

End-to-end encrypted video calls with open-source code

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with end-to-end encrypted calls and chat.

Covers all of SkypeFrom $7.99/user/mo

Swiss hostedGDPROpen SourceFree planISO 27001

Proton Meet vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Genuine end-to-end encryption (MLS protocol) ensures no third party, including Proton, can access meeting content
Clean, polished interface with intuitive controls and no download required for meeting creation
Solid call quality and connection stability despite encryption overhead

Feature set perceived as simpler or more limited compared to established platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams
Free tier includes participant and duration limits; premium plans may be seen as costly relative to feature scope
External participants may hesitate to join due to unfamiliarity with the platform

ClickMeeting🇵🇱 PL

Polish webinar platform with EU hosting and end-to-end encryption for up to 10,000 attendees.

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with a webinar platform for large groups.

Covers all of SkypeFrom €31.92/mo★ 4.6 (1787 reviews)

EU hostingGDPRISO/IEC 27001:2022

ClickMeeting vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Intuitive, user-friendly interface requiring minimal training, even for non-technical users
High reliability and stable performance, including for large webinars with 150+ participants
Responsive and helpful customer support with human agents, not bots

Limited branding and customization options, including email templates and graphic editing
Additional costs for recording storage, which some users find restrictive
Occasional technical issues, such as connectivity problems or browser-specific streaming errors

Whereby🇳🇴 NO

Browser-based video meetings from Norway, no app, no logins, EU-hosted.

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with browser-based meetings and no logins.

Covers all of SkypeFrom $10.99/mo★ 4.3 (11696 reviews)

EU hostingGDPRFree planISO 27001

Whereby vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Extremely simple and intuitive interface with no downloads or installations required for guests
High-quality video and audio, particularly well-regarded for small meetings
Customizable and branded virtual meeting rooms with useful features like screen sharing, breakout rooms, and chat

Participant limits on free and paid plans (e.g., 4 or 12 participants) restrict use for larger meetings
Lacks advanced features like built-in meeting recording (add-on), robust breakout room management, and direct file sharing
Mobile apps, especially on Android, are less developed with missing features and occasional performance issues

OpenTalk🇩🇪 DE

Open-source video conferencing from Germany, built for public authorities and regulated sectors

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with open-source encrypted calls and chat.

Covers all of SkypeFrom €7.50/user/mo★ 4.0 (1 reviews)

EU hostingGDPROpen SourceFree plan

OpenTalk vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Strong GDPR compliance and strict data protection with servers located in Germany
Comprehensive core feature set including chat, direct messaging, surveys, voting, and virtual workshops
Supports diverse communication needs for businesses, educational institutions, and public sector organizations

User interface perceived as less polished and intuitive compared to major competitors
Onboarding and initial setup may require more effort or clearer guidance
Occasional performance issues or system responsiveness reported

Convay🇫🇮 FI

Finnish enterprise video platform with EU-only data processing for up to 10 000 participants

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with an enterprise platform for up to 10,000.

Covers all of SkypeFrom $9.99/user/mo★ 4.0 (140 reviews)

GDPRFree planISO 27001

Convay vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies project management and team collaboration
Straightforward onboarding process with quick setup and easy workflow configuration
Clear, well-organized communication features that reduce chaos and enhance collaboration

Mobile app performance can be slow, particularly during large meetings
Limited third-party integrations compared to competitors like Microsoft Teams or Zoom
Initial UI navigation may be confusing for new users, indicating a learning curve

alfaview🇩🇪 DE

German HD video conferencing with EU-only hosting and ISO 27001 certification for universities and public authorities.

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with HD video calls for universities and authorities.

Covers all of SkypeFrom €1/mo★ 2.9 (4 reviews)

EU hostingGDPRISO/IEC 27001:2017

alfaview vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Clean, intuitive interface that requires minimal onboarding and reduces user fatigue
Stable, high-quality video and lip-synchronous audio for groups of 20 to 100+ participants in real time
Comprehensive feature set including live transcription, translation, file sharing, recording, breakout rooms, whiteboard, VIP highlighting, and permanent virtual rooms

Limited recurring critiques in available reviews; no prominent drawbacks identified
No significant feature gaps or support issues reported by users

Pexip🇳🇴 NO

Norwegian enterprise video platform with EU-only hosting and native Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Cisco integration.

Replaces all Skype communication jobs with an enterprise platform and Teams/Zoom integration.

Covers all of Skype★ 4.4 (129 reviews)

EU hostingGDPRISO/IEC 27001:2013

Pexip vs Skype →

What users praise and criticise

Strong interoperability across platforms (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco, Poly SIP devices) without compatibility issues
Simple setup and intuitive meeting join process, including for non-IT users and meeting room systems
High-quality, stable video and audio performance, even under challenging network conditions

User interface perceived as outdated and less intuitive compared to competitors
Complexity for non-technical users due to overwhelming number of options
Limited customization options for workflows and meeting room management

All Skype alternatives at a glance

Which part of Skype each alternative covers.

Provider	Voice calls	Video calls	Instant messaging	Group chats	From	Rating
Skype 🇺🇸 (the tool you are replacing)	✓	✓	✓	✓	–	–
Stackfield 🇩🇪		✓	✓	✓	€9	★ 4.8 (179)
Vectera 🇧🇪	✓	✓	✓	✓	$30/mo	★ 4.7 (337)
Nextcloud Talk 🇨🇭	✓	✓	✓	✓	€42/user/yr	★ 4.6 (632)
Tixeo 🇫🇷	✓	✓	✓	✓	On request	★ 4.6 (12151)
Digital Samba 🇪🇸	✓	✓	✓	✓	€99/mo	★ 4.5 (101)
Proton Meet 🇨🇭	✓	✓	✓	✓	$7.99	–
ClickMeeting 🇵🇱	✓	✓	✓	✓	€31.92/mo	★ 4.6 (1787)
Whereby 🇳🇴	✓	✓	✓	✓	$10.99/mo	★ 4.3 (11696)
OpenTalk 🇩🇪	✓	✓	✓	✓	€7.50	★ 4.0 (1)
Convay 🇫🇮	✓	✓	✓	✓	$9.99	★ 4.0 (140)
alfaview 🇩🇪	✓	✓	✓	✓	€1/mo	★ 2.9 (4)
Pexip 🇳🇴	✓	✓	✓	✓	On request	★ 4.4 (129)

Prices per user and month in the cheapest paid plan. Ratings are weighted across G2, Capterra, OMR and other portals, with the review count in brackets.

Skype: the facts

What to know about the tool you are replacing, with sources.

Headquarters: 🇺🇸 US · since 2003

What users value in Skype

Widely recognized for ease of use
Reliable for international calls

What they criticise

Privacy concerns due to data collection practices
Limited advanced features in free tier

Sources: skype.com · researched 5 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which European tool can fully replace Skype for calls, chat and video?

Stackfield, Tixeo, Digital Samba, Vectera, OpenTalk, Nextcloud Talk, ClickMeeting, Convay, alfaview, Whereby, Pexip and Proton Meet all cover voice calls, video calls, instant messaging and group chats. Stackfield also includes tasks and team collaboration.

Which European Skype alternative offers a free plan?

Digital Samba, Vectera, OpenTalk, Convay, Whereby and Proton Meet provide a free plan. OpenTalk and Proton Meet are also open source.

Can I take my Skype data with me when I switch?

Skype does not provide established export formats for migration. Check the import options of the tool you shortlist.

Where does Skype keep my data?

Skype is headquartered in the US. EU data residency and transfer mechanisms are not established.

Which European Skype alternative is best for GDPR compliance?

Tixeo, Digital Samba, Vectera, OpenTalk, Nextcloud Talk, alfaview and Proton Meet are GDPR-compliant with EU-only hosting. OpenTalk and Proton Meet are also open source.

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