Replacement for Skype

MaryD

MaryD

MaryD

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Joined
9 Feb 2019
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Location
Oxford, UK
I don't know if this is the best place to ask, but ...
With the loss of Skype, can anyone recommend a platform for text based chat?
It's necessary to be usable without a smartphone, although at a pinch a smartphone could be used to create an account which can then be used on a PC.
I really want a platform which is not connected to Microsoft or Meta.
 
I use Discord for most things now, although some of the limitations of the free version are a touch annoying. Equally speaking, the paid tiers offer a lot of useless fluff that's of little use to me outside of one or two things also.

That said, it can be used with most devices including desktops from both a downloadable application and a web URL.
 
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Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Microsoft wants to move Skype users to Teams, but that has two problems.
1. It's Microsoft.
2. It's more suited to corporate users than individuals.
I already use Discord so that wouldn't cause to to install another platform, although one of the friends I chat to on Skype doesn't have Discord.

I forgot to say in the original post, I use Skype to chat to individual friends and also to small groups. Discord seems to allow that. I'll also have a look at Signal.
 
Not 100% on topic, but still Skype related: what are you guys using for video calls? I've been Skyping (video) since 2007, so well before COVID. I like MS Teams but I feel that Teams is for work and Skype is for home. Like with the OP's query, it would need to be cross-platform with desktop and mobile. I've used Signal for 3 years but I think the video calling facility is mobile only.
 
Pawnless Endgame said:
Not 100% on topic, but still Skype related: what are you guys using for video calls? I've been Skyping (video) since 2007, so well before COVID. I like MS Teams but I feel that Teams is for work and Skype is for home. Like with the OP's query, it would need to be cross-platform with desktop and mobile. I've used Signal for 3 years but I think the video calling facility is mobile only.
Click to expand...
I have the option to video call on the Signal desktop app on mac.
 
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Pawnless Endgame said:
Not 100% on topic, but still Skype related: what are you guys using for video calls? I've been Skyping (video) since 2007, so well before COVID. I like MS Teams but I feel that Teams is for work and Skype is for home. Like with the OP's query, it would need to be cross-platform with desktop and mobile. I've used Signal for 3 years but I think the video calling facility is mobile only.
Click to expand...
For home, either Zoom or Google Meet, have never really needed any other option.
 
Pawnless Endgame said:
Not 100% on topic, but still Skype related: what are you guys using for video calls? I've been Skyping (video) since 2007, so well before COVID. I like MS Teams but I feel that Teams is for work and Skype is for home. Like with the OP's query, it would need to be cross-platform with desktop and mobile. I've used Signal for 3 years but I think the video calling facility is mobile only.
Click to expand...

Discord has video calling too, it's a pretty robust application tbh.
 
MaryD said:
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Microsoft wants to move Skype users to Teams, but that has two problems.
1. It's Microsoft.
2. It's more suited to corporate users than individuals.
I already use Discord so that wouldn't cause to to install another platform, although one of the friends I chat to on Skype doesn't have Discord.

I forgot to say in the original post, I use Skype to chat to individual friends and also to small groups. Discord seems to allow that. I'll also have a look at Signal.
Click to expand...

You're objecting to moving from one Microsoft platform to another on the basis that the new platform is made by Microsoft? I don't get it.
 
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