Best Skype Number Alternatives for Business in 2026

Skype’s virtual phone number service was discontinued on May 5, 2025, shutting off local number access, call routing, and messaging for businesses that had relied on it in 160+ countries. If you’re one of the Skype users still struggling for a replacement, you’re not alone, and the good news is that the alternatives to Skype available today do far more than Skype ever did.

This guide covers 10 Skype number alternatives designed specifically for small and mid-sized businesses, rather than bloated enterprise platforms or consumer-only apps that stop at basic calling. You’ll get a side-by-side comparison, a breakdown of what actually matters when picking a VoIP provider, and a direct feature comparison against what Skype used to offer.

Skype’s shutdown didn’t just remove a phone number; for many businesses, it removed a local presence customers had come to recognize. The right way to replace Skype is to restore that presence while adding call management, advanced features, and CRM integrations that Skype never had.

Why Trust KrispCall?

KrispCall has provided cloud telephony and virtual business phone numbers to businesses in 100+ countries as a solid alternative to legacy systems. While we’re one of the providers featured in this comparison, every alternative is evaluated against the same criteria: features, pricing, coverage, ease of migration, and overall value.

To ensure accuracy and transparency, this guide follows our content update methodology, software review methodology, and content integrity statement, which explain how we research, review, and update our content.

Best Skype Number Alternatives for Business 2026

Since Skype has officially been discontinued, businesses are now looking for reliable VoIP service alternatives that offer modern communication features and better long-term support. These are the best alternatives for businesses looking for Skype number alternatives: 

Provider	Starting Price	Virtual Numbers	Best For
KrispCall	$12 /user/month	100+ countries	SMBs needing global local numbers
Google Voice	$10 per user/month	US only	Freelancers/solopreneurs
Grasshopper	$14 /user/month	US & Canada	Solo operators
RingCentral	$20 per user per month	Over 80 countries	Enterprise unified communications
Aircall	$30 /user/month	Over 100 countries	Sales-focused small teams
Twilio	Varies by countries	100+ countries	Developers building custom telephony
Sonetel	$9.95/month	78 countries	Startups on a tight budget
Zoom Phone	$16 /user/month	40+ different countries	Teams already using Zoom
CallHippo	$19 /user/month	50+ countries	Small sales and support teams
Zadarma	$39 per month	100+ countries	Business testing VoIP on a low budget

1. KrispCall – Best Overall Skype Number Alternative for SMBs 

KrispCall is a cloud phone system built for SMBs that need global virtual numbers, team call management, and CRM sync without enterprise-level complexity or pricing like Skype. It enables businesses to manage global calls, SMS, text messages, and voicemails from over 100 countries via web browsers and mobile apps, without requiring physical hardware.

Unlike Skype, which phased out its Skype for Business features and requires individual Skype credits, KrispCall is a fully scalable infrastructure built for collaboration. It supports multiple team members accessing shared numbers, live call supervision, and business-focused analytics. 

KrispCall key features

• Unified callbox: Consolidates call calls, texts, voicemails, file sharing, and contact notes into a single interface so teams do not have to switch between multiple apps. 
• Global numbers: Provide instant access to local, toll-free numbers and mobile virtual numbers in over 100 countries for seamless international calls. 
• Advanced call management: Includes multi-level IVR (Interactive Voice Response), automated call routing, and cloud-based call recording.
• AI features and productivity tools: Features include AI call coaching, sentiment analysis, and power dialers for sales and support teams. 

KrispCall pricing and plans 

KrispCall pricing plans start at $12 per user per month when billed annually.

• Essential Plan: $15 per user/month (or $12/user/month if billed annually).
• Standard Plan: $40 per user/month (or $32/user/month if billed annually).
• Enterprise Plan: A customizable tier for large organizations that requires contacting sales.

Integrations 

• HubSpot
• Salesforce
• Zapier
• Pipedrive
• Zoho CRM

2. Google Voice – Best for freelancers or US-only solopreneurs 

Google Voice is a strong VoIP and virtual phone service for those looking for a good Skype alternative with a Skype number. It offers seamless inbound and outbound calls, free calls for domestic US/Canada, and smooth Google Workspace integration.  

For users who already rely on Google’s ecosystem, it can be a practical way to replace Skype while saving money. However, its availability and features are more limited than some business-focused VoIP platforms, so it may not suit every use case.

Google Voice key features

• Voicemail-to-text transcription: Automatically converts voicemails into readable text and sends them directly to your email.
• Two-way SMS: Fully functional SMS texting with native thread layouts.
• Spam filtering: Automated blocking tools deflect known robocalls and telemarketers.
• Call flipping: Seamlessly switch a live call from your desktop app browser to your mobile phone app with a few clicks, without hanging up or interrupting the audio.

Google Voice pricing and plans 

Google Voice pricing plan offers a free version as a personal plan, while business plans range from $10 to $30 /user/month and require an active Google Workspace account, which you can cancel anytime.

• Starter Plan: ($10) per user/month; includes basic admin, desktop phone support, and three-way calling.
• Standard Plan: ($20) per user/month; adds automated call handling, ring groups, call recording, and AI tools like call summarization.
• Premier Plan: ($30) per user/month; includes advanced reporting (BigQuery) and multi-national location support. 

Integrations 

• Gmail
• Google Calendar
• Google Contacts
• Google Meet

3. Grasshopper – Best for professional setup for solopreneurs and micro-teams.

Grasshopper is a cloud-based virtual phone system designed for solopreneurs and small businesses. It replaces personal numbers with dedicated business lines (local, toll-free, or vanity) and routes calls directly to your existing phone number, mobile or desktop devices via the Grasshopper mobile app.

Grasshopper key features

• Number selection: Offers local, toll-free, and custom vanity numbers for handling local calls.
• Call routing: Features an automated receptionist to direct and forward calls.
• Extensions: Create separate extensions for each department or employee.
• Business texting: Sends and receives SMS text messages using your business number.
• Voicemail transcription: Converts voice messages into text and emails them.

Grasshopper pricing and plans 

Grasshopper cost provides flat-rate virtual phone plans designed for entrepreneurs and teams, starting at $14/month when billed annually.

• True Solo: $14/month (annual) or $18/month (monthly) for 1 user, 1 number, and 1 extension.
• Solo Plus: $25/month (annual) or $32/month (monthly) for unlimited users, 1 number, and 3 extensions.
• Small Business: $55/month (annual) or $70/month (monthly) for unlimited users, 4 numbers, and unlimited extensions.

Integrations 

• Invoice Simple
• Ruby
• Slack
• Google Workspace
• Zendesk

4. RingCentral – Best for enterprises wanting one platform for all communication

RingCentral is an enterprise unified communications platform that consolidates calls, video, team messaging, and fax into a single licensed system, that replaces consumer VoIP platforms like Skype with advance business-oriented tools. 

It provides dedicated local and toll-free numbers, team messaging, and comprehensive call routing, making it an ideal step up for growing teams needing better reliability and collaboration tools. 

RingCentral key features

• Unified communications: Combines business SMS, virtual fax, video conferencing, conference calls, and VoIP calls into one single app.
• Answering rules: Handles calls differently based on caller ID or time of day, including routing for emergency calls. 
• Live analytics: Tracks call volumes, wait times, and team performance metrics.
• Call queues: Holds callers in line until an agent is free. 

RingCentral pricing and plans

RingCentral plans start at $20-$45 per user per month when billed annually, depending on your chosen tier. 

• Core: Starts at $20/user/month (annually) or $30/user/month (monthly). Includes 20 users and video meetings for up to 100 people.
• Advanced: Starts at $25/user/month (annually) or $35/user/month (monthly). Adds features like automatic call recording and integrations with CRM platforms.
• Ultra: Starts at $35/user/month (annually) or $45/user/month (monthly). Unlocks unlimited users, device status reports, and advanced analytics.

Integrations 

• Beetexting
• Nuclei SMS Archiving
• Microsoft Teams
• HappyFox
• Insightly

5. Aircall – Best for Small sales teams that live inside a CRM all day

Aircall is a sales-focused cloud phone system built around CRM workflow — every call logs automatically, and managers can monitor or join live calls without leaving the dashboard, serving as a powerful upgrade over standard Skype phone numbers. 

It replaces basic VoIP features with advanced capabilities like shared call lines, call routing, and deep CRM integrations. Ultimately, it allows businesses to scale operations globally while tracking team performance with advanced analytics. 

Aircall key features

• Intelligent routing & IVR: Automatically guides callers to the right departments using smart voice menus and customized ring strategies.
• AI Voice capabilities: Provide AI features such as AI-generated call summaries, key topic recognition, and sentiment analysis directly in the call logs to save time on manual note-taking.
• Power dialer: Automates outbound calls from a selected list to accelerate sales campaigns.
• Shared inbox: Enables agents to collaborate on voicemails, assign tasks, and leave internal notes. 

Aircall pricing and plans

Aircall uses a per-license pricing model with a minimum requirement of three licenses.

• Essentials: $30/user/month (annual) or $40/user/month (monthly). Includes core features, IVR, and over 200 integrations with other services.
• Professional: $50/user/month (annual) or $70/user/month (monthly). Includes unlimited calls, power dialer, and unlimited recording retention.
• Custom: Quote-based for 25+ licenses

Integrations 

• Alloy Automation
• Integrately
• MobiCRM
• OneUp Sales
• REISift

6. Twilio – Best for technical teams building custom telephony into their own product

Twilio is a programmable communications API that lets engineering teams build custom voice, SMS, and contact center workflows from scratch rather than adopting a fixed product. It provides the infrastructure to build tailored business phone systems for business purposes, automated contact centers, and multi-channel messaging solutions. 

Twilio key features

• Twilio Flex: A fully programmable contact center platform that supports omni-channel routing, intelligent task management, and custom UIs. 
• Conversation intelligence: Extract sentiment, intent, and actionable context across voice and messaging using generative AI language operators.
• Twilio studio: Visually build and control automated communication flows, chatbots, and call routing without writing complex code.
• Voice insights: Monitor and troubleshoot global call quality with high-precision time-series metrics and call progress events 

Twilio pricing and plans

Contact sales for pay-as-you-go pricing. 

Integrations 

• Stripe
• Deepgram
• Virgil Security
• Spoke
• Citrix

7. Sonetel – Best for startups that need international numbers on a minimal budget

Sonetel positions itself as a budget-friendly alternative to Skype Numbers, especially now that Microsoft no longer offers Skype numbers or Skype number transfers. It focuses on giving users a professional phone presence with local or international numbers, plus business-useful calling, cheap calls, and call forwarding features. 

The platform also emphasizes AI-based tools and business-oriented communication features that go beyond basic calling.

Sonetel key features

• Call forwarding: Route incoming calls to any device, mobile number, or landline number globally so you never miss a lead.
• AI call summaries: Automatically transcribe business calls and generate brief summaries of agreements reached and topics discussed, all directly in the app.
• Voicemail-to-text & SMS-to-email: Receive transcribed voicemails and forwarded text messages directly to your email inbox for faster, organized communication.
• API integrations: Use developer tools to automate communication workflows or embed call capabilities directly into your software.

Sonetel pricing and plans 

Sonetel offers a scalable pricing model, starting at $0/month for basic features and up to $29.95 per user/month for advanced business plans.

• Basic Plan: $0.00 /month
• Premium Plan: $9.95 /month
• Business Plan: $29.95 /month

Integrations 

• Zapier MCP (Model Context Protocol)
• Slack
• Microsoft Teams
• Trello
• Zoho

8. Zoom Phone – Make and Receive Business Calls Without Leaving Zoom

Zoom Phone is a robust, cloud-based VoIP system designed for modern businesses. It natively integrates voice, video meetings, and team chats into one platform.

It operates by giving users dedicated business numbers to make and receive calls over the internet. It is a major upgrade if you are moving away from Skype or looking to replace a legacy business PBX. 

Zoom Phone key features

• Business Numbers: Local, toll-free, and international options available.
• SMS & MMS: Native business text messaging is included.
• Smart Routing: Auto-attendants, call queues, and interactive menus.
• AI Features: Automated voicemail transcriptions and call summaries.
• Meetings Integration: One-click transition from a voice call to a Zoom video meeting.

Zoom Phone pricing and plans 

Zoom Phone pricing ranges from roughly $10.50 to $24.50 per user, per month, offering a choice between metered (pay-as-you-go), unlimited domestic, or global flat-rate calling, depending on whether you purchase a standalone plan or a bundled Zoom Workplace package. 

• US & CA Metered: $10.50/user per month
• US & CA Unlimited: $16/user per month
• Pro Plus: $20.50/user per month
• Business Plus: $24.50/user per month

Integrations 

• Microsoft 365
• Xyte
• Marketo
• Workday
• Google Workspace

9. CallHippo – Best for small teams running structured outbound sales campaigns

CallHippo is a cloud-based virtual phone system that serves as a powerful business alternative to standard Skype Numbers by offering local phone numbers in over 50+ countries. 

Unlike Skype, it includes advanced business tools like Interactive Voice Response (IVR), call routing, and native CRM integrations to support sales and support teams. It operates entirely without hardware via mobile and desktop apps, making it ideal for remote teams looking to establish a global presence.

CallHippo key features

• Call analytics: Tracks call volume, wait times, and agent performance.
• Smart switch: Automatically switches carriers mid-call to prevent dropped calls.
• Call barging: Lets managers listen to live calls and join them instantly.
• Predictive dialer: Dials contact lists automatically and connects only to live answers. 

CallHippo pricing and plans 

CallHippo’s pricing ranges from a free basic plan for solo users to tiered monthly subscriptions.

• Starter: Generally around $19 per user/month, offering basic analytics and a limited number of calling minutes.
• Professional: Typically $30 per user/month, adding call recording, a power dialer, and advanced analytics.
• Ultimate: Around $45 per user/month, geared towards scaling sales teams with larger international SMS allowances and custom integrations. 

Integrations 

• Freshservice
• Airtable
• TalentLyft
• Ontraport
• Groove

10. Zadarma – Best for businesses testing VoIP viability before scaling up spend

Zadarma is a cloud PBX with a free entry tier, making it the lowest-risk way to test VoIP infrastructure before committing to a paid plan. It is ideal if you need global numbers, business-grade features, and cheap international rates. 

This provides an enterprise-grade cloud communication ecosystem with a presence in over 110 countries, no matter which different country your customers are calling from. 

Zadarma key features

• AI voice agent: Customizable, AI-powered assistants for handling routine calls, answering questions, and directing customers 24/7.
• Call tracking: Powerful analytics tools that help you monitor marketing effectiveness and optimize your ROI on advertising spend.
• Speech analytics: Transcription and speech recognition of call audio to support analytics and training. 
• Cross-platform support: Dedicated webphone, mobile apps (iOS/Android), and eSIM for travelers. 

Zadarma pricing and plans 

Zadarma provides free, low-cost, and tiered premium pricing plans tailored to user needs.

• Standard Plan: $0  per month per 5 users
• Office Plan: $39  per month per 10 users
• Corporation Plan: $79  per month per 20 users

Integrations

• Bitrix24
• Flowlu
• Odoo
• Clientify
• RetellAI

What Virtual Numbers Did Skype Offer?

Skype offered virtual phone numbers (known as “Skype Numbers”) that functioned as traditional inbound lines tied directly to a user’s Skype account. These virtual numbers relied on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to route standard cellular or landline calls straight to the Skype app on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

The two main Skype virtual number types are: 

• Personal numbers: Skype personal numbers are free or low-cost tier, letting individual users receive calls from landlines and mobiles on a local number, aimed at consumers and freelancers.
• Business numbers: It integrates with Microsoft 365, giving small teams a shared number tied to their organization rather than to an individual. 

Both tiers covered local numbers in 160+ countries and let users receive calls without a SIM card, but neither included the call routing, recording, or CRM integration that modern VoIP platforms now treat as standard. 

Why Skype Virtual Numbers Are No Longer an Option?

For years, a Skype Number was the fastest way to get a local presence in a country without a SIM card. That’s gone now; Microsoft retired Skype entirely, numbers included, and there’s no path back.

What Was a Skype Virtual Phone Number? 

A Skype virtual phone number assigned users a local phone number in their chosen country, enabling inbound calls from landlines and mobiles without requiring a physical SIM card. Subscriptions started at roughly $3.53 per month for a US number, with pricing varying by country.

Why Did Microsoft Shut Down Skype Numbers?

Existing Skype numbers stopped working after May 5, 2025, and the port-out window, the period during which users could transfer their number to another carrier, closed on that same date. Businesses that didn’t port out in time lost their number permanently, along with any call history tied to it.

• Declining demand: Skype’s user base fell from around 150 million monthly users when Microsoft acquired the company in 2011 to roughly 23 million by 2020, and had dropped to just 16.2 million monthly active users by February 2025 (TheGuardian.com), a fraction of what it once commanded over a decade earlier. 
• Competition from modern VoIP: Purpose-built providers now offer number porting, SMS, auto-attendants, and app-based calling with none of Skype’s legacy baggage,  features that Skype’s aging architecture never caught up to.
• Strategic shift to Teams: Microsoft explicitly framed the retirement as a move to streamline its free consumer communications offerings around Teams, its modern collaboration hub, which had already grown to roughly 320 million monthly active users.

What to Look for in a Skype Number Alternative?

When choosing a Skype Number alternative, prioritize services that offer virtual number provisioning, reliable VoIP call quality, and cost-effective international calling rates. Connecting these core features seamlessly ensures a smooth transition, allowing you to maintain a professional global presence

Geographic coverage and local number availability

Local numbers build trust with customers and improve answer rates; a number with a local area code increases call answer rates by up to 4x compared to unknown or toll-free numbers. If your customers are in multiple countries, coverage should be the first filter you apply, not the last.

Business features Skype never offered

IVR and call routing, call recording, CRM integration, and team management tools are now standard among VoIP providers, but Skype never offered any of them. When evaluating alternatives, check whether these come standard or require an upgraded tier; pricing pages sometimes bury the features that actually matter for a growing team.

Pricing models – Monthly vs. pay-as-you-go

Fixed monthly plans (typically priced per user) offer predictable costs with no hidden fees and are easier to budget for a 5–10 person team. Pay-as-you-go pricing, like Twilio’s, can be cheaper at low call volumes but becomes harder to forecast as usage grows. Match the model to how predictable your call volume actually is.

Number portability

If you still have an active number with another provider (not Skype, since that window has closed), check whether a new provider supports porting your existing number in, and how long the process takes. Some platforms complete ports in days; others take weeks, depending on the originating carrier. Pay-as-you-go pricing can also make sense for businesses that mainly need cheap international calls rather than bundled domestic usage.

KrispCall vs. Skype – Feature-by-Feature Comparison 

KrispCall is a dedicated business VoIP phone system designed for team communication, sales, and global presence. Skype is primarily a consumer-oriented app meant for video calls and group chats, though it offers limited calling capabilities. 

Features	KrispCall	Skype
Virtual phone numbers	Yes (100+ countries)	Yes
Call recording	Yes	No
IVR/call routing	Yes	No
CRM integration	Yes (HubSpot, Salesforce, Zapier)	No
Pricing	$12 per user per month	$3.50
Number portability	Yes	Limited
Mobile + desktop apps	Yes	Yes

Get a Skype Number Alternative That Actually Works for Your Business 

Skype virtual numbers are gone, but your business doesn’t have to lose local presence, inbound calls, or customer trust. The right Skype number alternative gives you everything Skype offered, plus the call management, team features, and CRM integrations it never did.

KrispCall gives you virtual phone numbers in 100+ countries, starting where Skype left off, and going far beyond it. Whether you need a local number in the US, Australia, Canada, or the UK, or want to manage your entire business phone system from one app, KrispCall is built for exactly that.

Ready to Replace Your Skype Number

Skype Numbers may be gone, but your business communication doesn’t have to suffer. Get a virtual phone number in 100+ countries, manage calls and messages from one platform

Get started