Top 8 Skype Alternatives Android

Video calling these days when one has the advantage of an ever present 3G signal is easier than ever, and with apps like Skype, you can even call landlines for an affordable free. In fact, Skype is so convenient that it has often replaced more established means of communication in countries where international calls are a part of daily life. Phone cards are now done with, as people seek to communicate with folks back home through Skype, either on their mobile devices or in the nearest Internet cafe.

It’s a lot more convenient, and costs less! Skype is undoubtedly one of the major players when it comes to video calling applications and services. Owned by Microsoft, it is the heavy hitter in the market that has since become the venerable alternative, since it has been around for so long. But what about the Skype alternatives that have cropped up over the years? Many of these are well worth your time, and while most can’t compete with Skype in terms of functionality, they may suit certain situations better.

8. Zangi (Free)

Let’s kick things off with Zangi, one of the lesser known Skype alternatives sout there. One of the main plus points of this video calling app is the fact that it supports calls over low data networks such as 2G and Edge, which is of course huge for those who are stuck with that kind of coverage. There are some excellent security features here, though we should note that Zangi is really designed for those with low end devices. – Download from Google Play

7. LINE (Free)

LINE is the most popular communications app you’ve never heard of, with a massive following in Asian countries that is slowly translating itself to success in the US. It features free voice an video calls, and is integrated with the contact list on your smartphone which makes it easier and more convenient than ever. While LINE exists as a viable alternative to Skype, there is a certain emphasis on the messaging side of things. It’s also a lot brighter, with efforts to engage the younger audience using things like emojis and stickers. And it’s great when it comes to cross-platform abilities! – Download from Google Play

6. Tango (Free)

Tango is another of those venerable video chatting platforms that has seemingly been around forever and ever, which might suggest that it isn’t topical enough to exist among these modern Skype alternatives. On the contrary, however, the team behind Tango have done an excellent job updating this service and improving it over the years. It features messaging, free voice calls and video calls, and there is even a strong social aspect here, allowing you to meet people in your area that share similar interests. While Tango doesn’t offer the kind of powerful communcation tools that Skype boasts, it remains a valid alternative and its focus on the social side of things (content, too) is something that a lot of users will find appealing, especially in this day and age! – Download from Google Play

5. Glide (Free)

So, Glide is an app  that I didn’t initially intend to place on the list, but is well worth mentioning regardless of the fact that it isn’t technically a video calling app. Indeed, technically this one is a video messaging app, meaning that you record videos and send them just as you would images or text. There are some live chatting features here, as the person you are sending the video to can watch you record it live (if that makes sense) but it’s really for those who like to communicate in a non-immediate fashion but with video and audio. Remember those friends that always send you voice clips in response to stuff on WhatsApp? Well, Glide is a lot like that only with videos!  – Download from Google Play

4. ooVoo (Free)

Yes, ooVoo is another of these services that looks to combine all modes of communication, from messaging and texting to voice calls and video calls, all housed under the convenient roof of a single application. The app is actually remarkably popular these days, with over a million reviews on the Play Store at the time of writing and more than 50 million downloads. The video calls here are absolutely free for those with a connection (WiFi is probably preferable, but 3G works), and there is even functionality included tht is designed to detect changes in connection speeds and help to avoid those annoying dropped calls. We should note here that video calls are free for up to 12 participants, but if you want to go over that number it might be better to check out a different app. – Download from Google Play

3. Facebook Messenger (Free)

A list such as this wouldn’t quite be complete without at least a passing mention of the likes of Facebook and WhatsApp. While we’re still waiting for the latter to break into the video calling market with their own added functionality, there is still Facebook Messenger’s video calls which are an excellent alternative. The best thing I can say about video calling on Messenger is that, while I’ve found myself convincing others to download apps like Viber in order to communicate, everyone has Messenger and as such it is the best go to alternative if your friends don’t have the likes of Viber or Skype installed on their devices.  – Download from Google Play

2. Viber (Free)

If there’s one app that comes close to challenging Skype in terms of funcionality, it’s probably Viber. This app has also been around for some time, and is great when it comes to calling other users but also calling them on their cellphone or landline. Unlike some of the other apps on this list, it actually started life as a voice calling app so it’s easy to see where the strengths behind Viber truly lie. It has of course graduated somewhat since then to provide messaging and video functionality. There are around 600 million people using Viber around the world, which not only shows how popular it is but also means that you won’t have to introduce many of your friends to the app when you finally decide on this one as your choice among the various Skype alternatives out there on the market. – Download from Google Play

1. Hangouts (Free)

Being a Google fan isn’t compulsory if you own an Android device, but it certainly does help. Many Google services are built right into your device, which makes interacting with them easier than ever. If you own and use a Gmail account, for example, Hangouts becomes the logical step when seeking a platform for work-based communication, since you can add contacts to your circles on Google+ and then interact as you wish. The same goes with Google Drive, since all your storage space from Gmail ties into this. It’s just a lot more convenient, and this is coupled with Google’s insistence in updating things like Hangouts and constantly improving them so as to provide the best possible service. Hangouts might not stack up in certain areas when compared to Skype, but it is a lot more convenient for Google users, and does do the whole multiple person conversations and conferences thing very well. – Download from Google Play