Top 15 Skype for Business Alternatives 2024

Once a popular choice, Skype for Business struggles to keep up with today’s fast-paced, hybrid, and remote-working environments. 

Unlike Skype, many popular tools now combine video calls with advanced project management, document sharing, and real-time collaboration features. Microsoft has been phasing out Skype for Business in favor of Microsoft Teams, leaving it with fewer updates and a reduced role in the market.

But finding the right Skype for Business alternative isn’t easy. 

My team and I’ve tried countless communication tools and narrowed down the essentials: any good platform needs seamless video conferencing, screen sharing, instant messaging, plus top-notch security and flexibility.

Whether you manage a large team or a small business, there are options to boost productivity, strengthen communication, and address your security needs.

Read on to discover them!

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What Should You Look for In Skype for Business Alternatives?

When picking a Skype for Business alternative, it’s not just about video calling and instant messaging anymore—those are table stakes for team chat applications. 

What really matters is finding a platform that supports collaboration, integrates seamlessly with other tools, and ensures secure communications across the board. Flexibility is key, too. Business users’ teams might be a mix of in-office and remote workers, so they need something that works equally well across devices and locations.

A few key features I always look for:

• External integration capabilities: Connectivity with external tools, like project management apps, to make my workflow more efficient and collaborative
• Calendar syncing features: Simplified scheduling of meetings and reminders without unnecessary strings of emails
• Meeting management resources: Built-in note-taking and transcription tools to keep everyone aligned on action items and improve communication
• Data protection: Strong data privacy features like end-to-end encryption and customizable access controls

Choosing the best alternative to Skype for Business should enhance—not complicate—your team’s workflow. Keep these factors in mind, and you’ll be on the right track.

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The 15 Best Skype for Business Alternatives to Use

When considering alternatives to Skype for Business, it’s important to focus on specific features based on your communication needs. Whether you’re looking for enhanced collaboration tools, better integration with other software, or more flexible pricing models, at least one of these 15 alternatives is likely to fit you to a T. Each tool has unique strengths, and I’ve found that there’s something here for every kind of team.

1. ClickUp (Best for asynchronous work communication)

ClickUp is the most comprehensive Skype for Business alternative I’ve found, particularly in remote work scenarios. With smooth, effortless collaboration being its raison d’etre, ClickUp makes it super-easy for teams to conduct online meetings and sync their workflows.

ClickUp Meetings are perfect for scheduling, conducting, and managing discussions, whether virtual or in-person Through ClickUp Meetings, you can:

• Frame your agenda as a checklist, marking each item “done” as it’s addressed
• Take rich, detailed notes for each meeting
• Assign action items to team members directly via comments 

ClickUp also offers a variety of templates to make meetings more productive. 

Download This Template

For example, the ClickUp Meetings Template helps teams manage agenda items, facilitate real-time discussions, and capture insights during and after meetings. You can use it to access upcoming meetings and tasks in one cohesive view to avoid planning conflicts.

Using ClickUp’s Meeting Minutes Template has transformed how I document and share meeting outcomes.

Download This Template

This template enables me to capture essential details, decisions, and action items in meeting notes and assign each task to specific team members with deadlines. 

 Further, ClickUp Clips are an incredibly easy way to record and share video messages. 

ClickUp Chat offers seamless communication within tasks and projects, allowing teams to collaborate in real time. Its threaded conversations, direct messaging, and file sharing keep discussions organized and context-driven. 

As a bonus, ClickUp can be integrated with a wide range of existing video tools, such as Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

ClickUp best features

• Communicate asynchronously with tools like Meetings, Clips, and Chat right within ClickUp
• Integrate with Slack, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and more
• Brainstorm collaboratively and bring your ideas to life with tools like pens, sticky notes, shapes, and connectors in ClickUp Whiteboards
• Initiate video calls directly from tasks and projects using ClickUp’s Zoom Integration
• Automate tasks like taking meeting notes, transcribing video recordings, and generating summaries with AI using ClickUp Brain

ClickUp limitations

• New users may find the interface overwhelming at first

ClickUp pricing

• Free forever
• Unlimited: $7/month per user
• Business: $12/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing
• ClickUp Brain: Add to any paid plan for $7 per member per month

ClickUp ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (9,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (4,000+ reviews)

2. Zoom (Best for video conferencing)

Zoom has almost become synonymous with video conferencing platforms. It’s a popular choice for various meeting types—from team huddles to large webinars.

Zoom’s immersive view feature creates a virtual environment where participants can appear together in a shared background. This can be especially useful during workshops or training sessions. 

Personally, I like its live transcription feature, which provides real-time captions that can make meetings more accessible for non-native speakers and participants with hearing impairments.

Zoom best features

• Capture meetings in HD for easy playback of important discussions and decisions
• Integrate Zoom with ClickUp and Slack to schedule, manage, and join meetings directly from preferred platforms
• Use virtual backgrounds and filters to maintain a professional appearance or enhance engagement during meetings

Zoom limitations

• Privacy and security issues raised by some users
• The 40-minute limit on group meetings can be restrictive
• The free plan restricts the number of participants

Zoom pricing

• Free basic plan
• Pro: $14.99/month per user
• Business: $21.99/month per user
• Business Plus: Contact for pricing

Zoom ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.5/5 (55,000+ reviews)
• GetApp: 4.6/5 (13,000+ reviews)

3. Slack (Best for team collaboration)

When it comes to team collaboration, Slack stands out because it allows users to send instant personal and group messages, hop on audio or video calls, share their screens for better context, and attach files, links, and multimedia elements to conversations.

Slack’s search functionality enables quick access to past conversations and files. Features like emoji reactions and threaded conversations lend a more organized and interactive approach to communication.  

Slack best features

• Customize notifications to focus on essential updates
• Share files effortlessly within conversations, enabling team members to collaborate on documents, images, and presentations without switching platforms
• Integrate Slack with ClickUp, Google Drive, Trello, and Asana
• Automate workflows with the Workflow Builder

Slack limitations

• The free plan limits access to the most recent 10,000 messages
• Without proper management, notifications can become overwhelming
• New users may need some time to get used to the setup

Slack pricing

• Free Version
• Pro: $7.25/month per user
• Business+: $12.50/month per user
• Enterprise Grid: Contact for pricing

Slack ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.5/5 (33,000+ reviews)
• TrustRadius: 9/10 (8,000+ reviews)

4. Hive (Best for project management and communication)

Hive impressed me with its flexible workspace. It allows me to customize my dashboard to highlight specific workflows, like campaign timelines or priority tasks, and even adjust settings to display exactly what my team needs front and center.

It also offers threaded comments and task assignments. Its reporting features provide valuable insights into team performance and project timelines. These reports give us a much better handle on bottlenecks and resource allocation, helping us keep projects on track with fewer surprises along the way.

Hive best features

• Use integrated project management tools that combine task assignments, team communication, and file sharing while connecting with frequently used tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Zoom
• Collaborate in real time with teams through Hive’s shared inbox and project chat
• Customize your workspace with flexible layouts, allowing teams to switch between Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and other views to suit different project management styles
• Track time efficiently with built-in timers and reporting features

Hive limitations

• The interface can be a bit overwhelming
• For smaller teams, the pricing may be on the higher side

Hive pricing

• Free version (limited features)
• Starter: $1/month per user
• Teams: $3/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Hive ratings and reviews

• Capterra: (200+ reviews)
• G2: 4.6/5 (500+ reviews)

5. Microsoft Teams (Best for Office 365 integration)

For organizations already using Office 365, Microsoft Teams feels like a natural fit. The integration is so tight that I can jump from a chat to co-editing an Excel sheet without switching windows. 

I especially appreciate the ability to schedule and join meetings directly in Teams without toggling back to Outlook. Document collaboration is smooth—Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files open within the app, and any updates sync instantly for everyone on the team.

Teams has built-in multi-factor authentication and advanced encryption that’s a relief when managing sensitive data.

Microsoft Teams best features

• Create dedicated channels for each project or team for focused discussions and easy access to relevant files and resources
• Host video conferences with up to 5,000 participants, featuring HD video and screen-sharing capabilities
• Access built-in file sharing and storage with OneDrive and SharePoint, enabling smooth collaboration, document versioning, and secure access across teams and devices

Microsoft Teams limitations

• Occasional audio latency issues during video calls

Microsoft Teams pricing

• Free Version (limited features)
• Microsoft 365 Essentials: $4/user/month
• Microsoft 365 Business Basic: $6/month per user
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard: $12.50/month per user

6. Troop Messenger (Best for secure messaging)

For teams looking for a highly secure and user-friendly communication tool, Troop Messenger impressed me with its thoughtful design and focus on security. Setting up channels and groups is straightforward. File sharing is seamless, too; I can send images, PDFs, and even large video files without needing any third-party tools.

I like its self-hosted deployments; this gives organizations complete control over their data and compliance with industry regulations. 

The platform also includes features like attendance tracking and status updates.

Troop Messenger best features

• Safeguard every message and file with end-to-end encryption, ensuring only intended recipients can access your communications
• Send self-destructing messages that vanish after being read, providing an extra layer of privacy for confidential discussions
• Set up temporary groups for ad-hoc projects, allowing secure collaboration with team members without permanent access

Troop Messenger limitations

• Fewer integration options compared to larger platforms
• Some aspects of the interface feel less intuitive
• Lags during peak usage times

Troop Messenger pricing

• Free version (limited features)
• Premium: $2.5/month per user
• Enterprise: $5/month per user
• Superior: $9/month per user

Troop Messenger ratings and reviews

• Trustpilot: 4.3/5 (10+ reviews)
• G2: 4.6/5 (70+ reviews)

7. Chanty (Best for simple team communication)

Chanty is a surprisingly intuitive tool that simplifies team communication. Its focus on usability really stands out. Right from the start, the “Teambook” feature organizes all files, links, and tasks in one place, so I can quickly find documents or revisit past conversations without hunting through endless chat threads.

It provides real-time collaboration, allowing team members to edit documents simultaneously. The platform also supports audio calls and video calls directly within the app.

Chanty best features

• Retrieve unlimited message history to quickly find and reference important conversations
• Assign and track tasks using built-in task management tools that allow you to set deadlines, priorities, and status updates
• Work with a streamlined user interface that minimizes distractions and maximizes productivity with intuitive navigation and easy access to features
• Share files effortlessly with drag-and-drop functionality, enabling real-time collaboration on documents and media within chat threads

Chanty limitations

• For more complex projects, its built-in task management features might fall short 
• Fewer pricing plans and options compared to competitors
• Limited third-party integrations

Chanty pricing

• Free Version (limited features)
• Business: $3/month per user

Chanty ratings and reviews

• GetApp: 4.7/5 (30+ reviews)
• G2: 4.5/5 (40+ reviews)

8. GoTo Meeting (Best for automated meeting transcriptions)

GoTo Meeting has long been a preferred video conferencing solution by professionals seeking reliability and ease of use. The tool offers unique features like its Smart Meeting Assistant, which provides access to meeting recordings that capture audio, screen-shared content, participants’ webcams, and a written transcript through a web link. Users can search recordings to pinpoint key insights or action items for easy follow-up.

GoTo Meeting best features

• Prioritize security with end-to-end encryption, ensuring confidential conversations remain protected
• Handle various group sizes with ease
• Use interactive drawing tools and intuitive screen sharing to make discussions more engaging
• Enable meeting hosts to lock meetings, preventing unauthorized participants from joining

GoTo Meeting limitations

• The plain user interface might feel uninspiring
• Accessing certain functionalities may require higher-tier plans, potentially limiting options for smaller teams or startups

GoTo Meeting pricing

• Professional: $12/month per user
• Business: $16/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing

GoTo Meeting ratings and reviews

• GetApp: 4.4/5 (11,000+ reviews)
• Gartner: 4.3/5 (1,000+ reviews)

9. Cisco Webex Teams (Best for enterprise solutions)

Cisco Webex Teams has impressed me with its comprehensive features tailored for enterprise-level organizations. One of its key offerings is the integrated digital whiteboard, which enables teams to brainstorm and annotate ideas effectively during meetings. Its Webex Assistant enhances productivity by enabling users to schedule meetings and set reminders through voice commands. 

Cisco Webex Teams best features

• Integrate with Cisco hardware to enhance the user experience, enabling smooth connectivity with devices like Webex Room Kits and Cisco phones
• Gain insights into meeting engagement and productivity with analytics tools that provide feedback on participant involvement and meeting effectiveness
• Use rich messaging features that support threaded conversations, enabling clear context in discussions and facilitating easy file-sharing
• Use AI-driven collaboration tools that enhance productivity by providing real-time transcriptions, intelligent meeting summaries, and smart scheduling

Cisco Webex Teams limitations

• The initial setup, especially for security features, can be complicated
• Pricier than other Skype for Business alternatives
• Some users may find restrictions on the size of file uploads cumbersome

Cisco Webex Teams pricing

• Free Version (limited features)
• Starter: $14.50/month per user
• Plus: $25/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Cisco Webex ratings and reviews

• Gartner: 4.5/5 (3,000+ reviews)
• Software Advice: 4.4/5 (7,000+ reviews)

10. Google Meet (Best for seamless Google Workspace integration)

Google Meet, just like other Google tools, is a reliable choice for business communication, especially if you’re already using Google Workspace. The platform’s integration with Google Calendar and Gmail makes scheduling and joining meetings a breeze. With its focus on security and ease of use, it’s well-suited for both casual catch-ups and formal discussions.

Google Meet best features

• Customize video backgrounds or apply visual effects during meetings
• Record meetings easily to revisit discussions. Recorded sessions are saved directly to Google Drive
• Raise your hand to speak, allowing moderators to manage questions during meetings. This keeps discussions organized and inclusive
• Enjoy advanced noise cancellation technology, which filters out background noise during conversations

Google Meet limitations

• Meetings are restricted to 60 minutes each for free users
• Compared to some other platforms, it offers fewer customization options

Google Meet pricing

• Free Version (limited features)
• Business Starter: $6/month per user
• Business Standard: $12/month per user
• Business Plus: $18/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Google Meet ratings and reviews

• Gartner: 4.5/5 (1,000+ reviews)
• Software Advice: 4.5/5 (11,000+ reviews)

11. Mattermost (Best for open-source collaboration)

Mattermost is a community-driven platform that prioritizes user engagement and flexibility. 

The in-app markdown support is a nice touch, allowing me to format to-dos cleanly, which helps maintain clear communication within the team.

For task management, Mattermost’s Kanban-style boards are simple but effective, letting me assign tasks, track progress, and manage workflows within the same app. The fact that Mattermost is open-source is another big advantage—it gives teams complete control over data and customizations, which is great for privacy-conscious organizations.

Mattermost best features

• Control your data security with a self-hosted option that ensures complete management of sensitive information
• Enhance communication using rich messaging features that support threaded conversations and file-sharing
• Use integrations and custom plugins to tailor the platform to a team’s unique workflow and tools

Mattermost limitations

• The initial setup can be challenging for non-technical users
• The mobile app can be slower and less responsive than the desktop version

Mattermost pricing

• Free Version (limited features)
• Professional: $10/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Mattermost ratings and reviews

• TrustRadius: 8.5/10 (100+ reviews)
• G2: 4.3/5 (300+ reviews)

12. Rocket.Chat (Best for secure messaging and collaboration)

Rocket.Chat supports multi-channel communication with both public and private channels, keeping discussions neatly organized by project or team. Its built-in translation feature is useful for global teams like ours, enabling instant communication across multiple languages.

The platform even offers a live chat plugin, which you can use to provide customer support directly through your website. 

Rocket.Chat best features

• Customize the chat interface to align with your team’s preferences—from integrating your branding to configuring permissions
• Access relevant information quickly via a search function
• Customize bots and integrations to fit your workflows

Rocket.Chat limitations

• The self-hosting option can be challenging to set up for some users
• Support resources may be less extensive
• The simple interface may feel dated for users accustomed to slicker UIs

Rocket.Chat pricing

• Starter (limited features)
• Pro: $4/month per user
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Rocket Chat ratings and reviews

• Capterra: 4.3/5 (150+ reviews)
• G2: 4.2/5 (300+ reviews)

13. Viber (Best for personal and small business communication)

Viber focuses on personal communication and small-business interactions. Its simplicity and ease of use allow for quick messaging and calling without the complexity of larger platforms. I also appreciate its effortless file-sharing feature.

Its high-quality voice and video calling work smoothly even on low-bandwidth connections, which is great for team members working remotely or on the go.

Viber best features

• Enjoy cost-effective communication through free calls and messaging
• Collaborate effectively using group chat functionality
• Synchronize across multiple devices and switch between mobile and desktop so that there are no missed messages

Viber limitations

• Lacks integrations with popular productivity platforms like Google Workspace, Slack, or Trello, which makes it less suitable for advanced workflows
• The desktop version, while functional, is not as feature-rich as the mobile app

Viber pricing

• Transactional: $0.002 per message
• Promotional: $0.002 per message

Viber ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.2/5 (4,000+ reviews)
• Software Advice: 4.4/5 (4,000+ reviews)

14. Wire (Best for secure and private messaging)

Wire has impressed me with its commitment to secure and private messaging.

End-to-end encryption provides peace of mind, making it a solid choice for teams that need confidentiality.

I also find the user interface clean and straightforward, which helps streamline communication without distractions.

Wire best features

• Access anywhere using Wire across devices, including iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and web browsers
• Streamline collaboration by sharing documents directly within conversations
• Facilitate team collaboration through group chats. The tool’s video conference feature can allow for up to 150 participants using Messaging Layer Security (MLS) 

Wire limitations

• Fewer integrations
• May not be ideal for large organizations
• It may not be as widely adopted as some competitors

Wire pricing

• Free Version (limited features)
• Enterprise: $8.29/user/month
• On-premise: Contact for pricing

Wire ratings and reviews

• GetApp: 4.5/5 (60+ reviews)
• Software Advice: 2.9/5 (700+ reviews)

15. Element (Best for decentralized communication)

Element is a well-rounded communication platform designed for teams that need collaboration flexibility. The platform offers single sign-on (SSO) through SAML and OpenID Connect, making it easy to authenticate with existing identity systems. Its low bandwidth mode allows users with limited internet connectivity to enjoy a smooth communication experience.

Element best features

• Utilize decentralized architecture to gain complete control over data and enhance privacy in communications
• Access rich integrations with popular productivity tools such as Google Drive, Trello, and JIRA
• Customize the user interfaces to tailor the communication experience for your team

Element limitations

• Some users may initially find the platform challenging to use
• May lack some advanced functionalities compared to mainstream tools
• Setting up integrations can be complicated

Element pricing

• Free Version (limited features)
• Business: $5/month per user
• Enterprise: $10/month per user

Element ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.3/5 (20+ reviews)
• Apple: 3.3/5 (500+ reviews)

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Optimize Team Engagement By Evaluating Alternative Platforms 

Seamless integrations, enhanced video quality, and user-friendly interfaces are the most important features that separate good video conferencing platforms from great ones. 

Features like real-time collaboration and advanced security protocols are important, too. They ensure fluid and secure communication at all times. 

To get the most out of your video collaborations, though, your collaboration platform needs to be strongly integrated with all the other software you use. And that’s where ClickUp scores. It not only offers a vast library of features and templates for all kinds of teams, but also integrates with other tools you might already have grown familiar with. 

Plus, it brings your conversations together with your projects into one unified interface. 

Try ClickUp today and experience the joy of communication without the costs of context-switching!

Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.

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