Do I need to download an app to use Kinvo?

No. Kinvo works entirely in your browser using WebRTC technology. Just sign up, add credits, and start calling. It works on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on any device with a microphone.

How does the Kinvo credit system work?

Buy credits in preset amounts ($5, $10, $20, $50, or $100) or a custom amount. Each call deducts credits based on the per-minute rate for that country plus a $0.05 connection fee (only charged when the call is answered). Credits never expire. Larger packs include bonus credits: $20 pack gets +$1, $50 gets +$5, $100 gets +$15.

What countries can I call with Kinvo?

Kinvo supports calls to over 150 countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Germany, France, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Philippines, and most of Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America. Both landline and mobile numbers are supported.

Is Kinvo call quality good?

Yes. Kinvo uses WebRTC with HD voice codecs for crystal clear audio. All calls are encrypted end-to-end. Call quality is typically better than traditional phone calls, with real-time quality indicators showing latency and packet loss.

Can I use my own phone number as caller ID on Kinvo?

Yes. You can verify your personal phone number through Kinvo's caller ID feature, and recipients will see your real number when you call. You can also purchase virtual phone numbers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Do Kinvo credits expire?

No. Your credits stay in your account indefinitely until you use them. There are no hidden fees, no monthly minimums, and no expiration dates.

Is Kinvo a good alternative to Skype for international calls?

Yes. Kinvo was built specifically to fill the gap left by Skype's shutdown in May 2025. Like Skype, Kinvo offers affordable international calls with a pay-as-you-go model. Unlike Skype, Kinvo requires no app download — calls are made directly from the browser. Kinvo supports 150+ countries with HD WebRTC voice quality, team accounts, and caller ID verification.

How much do international calls cost with Kinvo?

Rates vary by country. Calls to US and UK landlines start from $0.01/min. Mobile rates are typically higher. There is a $0.05 connection fee per call, charged only when the call is answered. You can check exact rates for any country before you dial. Every new account gets a free 1-minute test call.

What is the cheapest way to call internationally from a browser?

Kinvo is one of the most affordable browser-based international calling services. With rates starting from $0.01/min for popular destinations, no subscription fees, and credits that never expire, it is significantly cheaper than traditional phone plans or calling cards. The pay-as-you-go model means you only pay for the minutes you use.

Does Kinvo support team or business accounts?

Yes. Kinvo offers team accounts with shared credit wallets, member management, per-user spending limits, and admin dashboards with per-member call analytics. Teams are created with a $150 minimum credit purchase, with no seat limits.

Is Skype Still Available in 2026?

Last updated: March 28, 2026

No. Skype is not available in 2026. Microsoft permanently shut down Skype on May 5, 2025. The Skype app, Skype numbers, Skype Credit, and all Skype calling features have been discontinued. For international calls to phone numbers, the closest replacement is Kinvo, a browser-based VoIP service with pay-as-you-go rates from $0.01/min.

Skype Shutdown Timeline: What Happened

Skype launched in 2003 and was acquired by Microsoft in 2011 for $8.5 billion. For over two decades, it was the dominant VoIP service for international calls, video calls, and instant messaging. Here is the complete timeline of Skype's discontinuation.

Feb 2025

Microsoft announces that Skype will be shut down, with all users transitioned to Microsoft Teams. A migration period begins.

Mar–Apr 2025

Skype displays migration prompts. Users can export chat history and contacts to Microsoft Teams. Skype number renewals are suspended.

May 5, 2025

Skype officially shuts down. The app stops functioning. Skype numbers are deactivated. Skype Credit balances are forfeited or migrated. All Skype-to-phone calling (SkypeOut) ceases permanently.

Jun–Dec 2025

Microsoft offers limited Skype Credit refunds. Teams absorbs Skype's messaging and video features but does not replicate pay-as-you-go international calling.

2026

Skype no longer exists. The domain redirects to Microsoft Teams. Former Skype users who need international phone calls have migrated to alternatives like Kinvo, Viber Out, and Google Voice.

Are Skype Numbers Still Available in 2026?

No. Skype numbers were permanently discontinued when Skype shut down on May 5, 2025. Here is the current status of every Skype calling feature:

Skype NumbersDiscontinued. All existing Skype numbers were deactivated. You cannot purchase, renew, or port Skype numbers. The phone numbers themselves have been released back to carriers.

Skype CreditDiscontinued. Remaining balances were forfeited or partially migrated to Microsoft Teams. The refund window has closed. Credits that expired under the 180-day policy were not recovered.

SkypeOut (Skype-to-Phone Calls)Discontinued. You can no longer use Skype to call landlines or mobile phones. Microsoft Teams does not offer an equivalent pay-as-you-go feature for individual users.

Skype Calling Plans / SubscriptionsDiscontinued. Monthly and annual Skype calling plans (e.g., “Unlimited US & Canada”) were cancelled. Active subscriptions were prorated and refunded.

Skype Chat & Video (migrated to Teams)Skype's messaging and video calling features were absorbed by Microsoft Teams. Free Teams accounts support chat and video calls, but not pay-as-you-go phone calls to regular numbers.

Skype Number Replacement: Virtual Phone Numbers in 2026

If you relied on a Skype number for receiving calls, you need a virtual phone number from a different provider. Here is how the options compare:

Feature	Skype Number (was)	Kinvo Virtual Number
Status	Discontinued	Available now
Countries	25+ countries	US, UK, Canada, Australia
Price	~$6–8/month	From $5/month
Rings in browser	Required Skype app
Outbound calls included		(pay-as-you-go)

Kinvo virtual numbers work just like Skype numbers did — you get a local phone number that people can call, and it rings in your browser. The difference is that Kinvo also includes outbound calling to 150+ countries from the same account. See all rates and virtual number pricing.

What Replaced Skype for International Calls?

Microsoft Teams replaced Skype for chat and video, but Teams does not offer pay-as-you-go international calling to phone numbers. For that specific use case — calling landlines and mobiles abroad at cheap rates — here are the top replacements:

Closest Replacement

Kinvo — Browser-Based International Calling

Kinvo is the most direct replacement for Skype's calling features. It works entirely in your browser (no app), offers pay-as-you-go credits that never expire, and covers 150+ countries with rates from $0.01/min. It is the closest thing to how SkypeOut worked — but modernized with WebRTC HD voice quality.

Try Kinvo free

Microsoft Teams — Chat & Video Only

Teams inherited Skype's messaging and video calling. Free accounts support group video calls and chat. However, calling phone numbers requires a paid “Teams Phone” add-on designed for businesses — not a like-for-like Skype replacement for individuals.

Viber Out — App-Based International Calling

Viber Out offers pay-as-you-go international calling through the Viber app. Rates are competitive, but it requires downloading the Viber app and credits expire after 6 months of inactivity.

Google Voice — US-Only Option

Google Voice offers free US domestic calls and international calling, but it is only available to users in the United States and requires a Google account. Not a global Skype replacement.

For a detailed comparison of all alternatives, see our full Best Skype Alternative guide or our Skype Alternatives comparison blog post.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Skype still available in 2026?

No. Microsoft permanently shut down Skype on May 5, 2025. The Skype app, Skype for Web, Skype numbers, Skype Credit, and all Skype calling features have been discontinued. Users were migrated to Microsoft Teams for chat and video, but Teams does not offer Skype's pay-as-you-go international calling to phone numbers.

Does Skype still exist in 2026?

No. Skype no longer exists as a product. Microsoft officially retired Skype on May 5, 2025 after 22 years of service. The brand, the app, and all associated services have been permanently discontinued. Microsoft Teams replaced Skype for messaging and video calls, but not for international phone calls.

Is Skype discontinued in 2026?

Yes. Skype was discontinued on May 5, 2025. Microsoft announced the shutdown in early 2025 and gave users several months to transition. All Skype services — including calls, messaging, Skype numbers, and Skype Credit — were terminated on the shutdown date.

Can you still buy a Skype number in 2026?

No. Skype numbers were discontinued when Skype shut down in May 2025. You cannot purchase, renew, or use Skype numbers. Existing Skype numbers were deactivated. As an alternative, Kinvo offers virtual phone numbers in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia that work similarly — people call your virtual number and it rings in your browser.

Are Skype numbers still available in 2026?

No. All Skype numbers were permanently deactivated when Microsoft shut down Skype on May 5, 2025. If you had a Skype number, it is no longer active and the number has been released. For a replacement, Kinvo offers virtual phone numbers starting from $5/month in multiple countries.

What happened to my Skype Credit?

When Skype shut down on May 5, 2025, remaining Skype Credit balances were either forfeited or partially migrated to Microsoft Teams. Credits that had already expired under Skype's 180-day inactivity policy were not recovered. Microsoft offered a limited refund window in the months following the shutdown, but that window has since closed.

What replaced Skype for international calls?

For international calls to phone numbers (landlines and mobiles), Kinvo is the closest replacement. It offers browser-based calling to 150+ countries with pay-as-you-go credits from $0.01/min — similar to how Skype's SkypeOut feature worked, but without needing to download an app. For video calls and messaging, Microsoft Teams replaced Skype.

Does Skype still work for international calls?

No. Skype's international calling feature (SkypeOut) was discontinued along with the rest of Skype on May 5, 2025. You can no longer use Skype to call phone numbers. For international calls to landlines and mobiles, Kinvo is the most direct replacement with rates from $0.01/min and no app download required.

How much does a Skype number cost in 2026?

Skype numbers are no longer available at any price — they were discontinued in May 2025. Before the shutdown, Skype numbers cost approximately $6-8/month depending on the country. As an alternative, Kinvo virtual phone numbers are available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia starting from $5/month.

Is Microsoft Teams the same as Skype?

No. Microsoft Teams replaced Skype for messaging and video calling, but Teams does not offer Skype's pay-as-you-go international calling to phone numbers. Teams has a "Teams Phone" add-on for businesses, but it requires a Microsoft 365 subscription and is designed for enterprise use — not for individuals making cheap international calls. For that use case, Kinvo is the closest replacement.

Need a Skype Replacement? Try Kinvo Free

Browser-based international calling to 150+ countries. No app download, no subscription. Pay-as-you-go credits from $5 that never expire.

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No credit card required. Free 1-minute test call included.