The best Skype alternative for calling abroad
Microsoft retired consumer Skype in May 2025, leaving millions of people looking for a way to call real phone numbers abroad without it. RobinPhone is the closest like-for-like replacement: it calls landlines and mobiles in 175+ countries straight from your browser, pay-as-you-go from $0.02/min, with no app to install and no subscription. Your first 1-minute call is free.
RobinPhone vs Skype
| Feature |  RobinPhone | Skype |
|---|---|---|
| Available now | Yes | No — retired May 2025 |
| Calls to landlines & mobiles | Yes, 175+ countries | Was paid (Skype Credit) |
| App required | No — runs in your browser | Yes — desktop/mobile app |
| Subscription | None — pay-as-you-go | Credit + subscriptions |
| Pricing | From $0.02/min | Discontinued |
| Free trial | First 1-minute call free | — |
Pricing
Skype's paid calling (Skype Credit and calling subscriptions) has been discontinued. RobinPhone replaces it with transparent pay-as-you-go pricing — you see the per-minute rate before the call connects, and your credit never expires.
RobinPhone rates to popular destinations (per minute):
| United States | $0.02/min |
| United Kingdom | $0.02/min |
| Japan | $0.04/min |
| Philippines | $0.28/min |
| Australia | $0.03/min |
Live rates — see the full rates for 175+ countries.
The verdict
If you used Skype to call ordinary phone numbers overseas, RobinPhone is the most direct replacement: same core job — real calls to real phones — but from a browser tab, with no app, no subscription, and pay-as-you-go rates from $0.02/min.
Want the wider field? Our 2026 shortlist of Skype replacements that call landlines.