Five browser-based calling tools exist right now that require zero installation and can replace everything Skype did — including calls to regular phone numbers. Skype was shut down in May 2025 and folded into Microsoft Teams, leaving millions of users scrambling for something that just works. This article covers five alternatives you can open in a tab, start using in minutes, and — for most of them — call actual landlines and mobiles worldwide.
Key Takeaways:
- Skype was permanently retired in May 2025; its replacement (Microsoft Teams) requires an app download for most users and is built for enterprise, not casual callers
- At least 3 of the 5 tools below work entirely in your browser with no download, no plugin, and no IT department required
- Per-minute rates to reach real phone numbers vary from $0.02 (USA/Canada) to $0.46 (Philippines) depending on the service — so the cheapest option depends entirely on where you're calling
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What Happened to Skype — and Why You Need Something New
Skype didn't just get updated. It was switched off. Microsoft officially retired the service in May 2025 and migrated all accounts to Microsoft Teams. Teams is a capable product, but it's built around corporate workflows — meeting rooms, project channels, IT admin dashboards. If you just want to call your supplier in Manila or your mother in Guadalajara, it's overkill wrapped in overkill.
The other problem: Teams nudges you hard toward its desktop app. Technically there's a web version, but its calling features are restricted depending on your licence tier. For anyone who relied on Skype's simplicity, that's a frustrating step backwards.
The good news: the alternatives to Skype for international calls have genuinely improved. Several work entirely in your browser — no extension, no plugin, nothing to install.
1. GlobCall — Two Clicks, Live in Any Browser
GlobCall is the most straightforward option on this list. You open globcall.com/call, add a small balance, and you're calling real phone numbers worldwide — landlines, mobiles, everything — straight from your browser tab. No account setup wall, no app store, no waiting for a download to finish.
Rates are flat and publicly listed. USA and Canada land at $0.02/min. UK landlines are $0.03/min. Calls to India run $0.08/min. That's competitive against every major calling card or VoIP service available, and there's no monthly fee quietly draining your balance during quiet months.
For businesses, it goes further. You get local numbers in 100+ countries, a shared team balance with no per-seat fees, and unlimited team members on one account. A remote team of five or fifty pays the same structure — top up and go. If you want to understand how that model compares to traditional seat-based pricing, this breakdown is worth reading.
The honest weakness? It's not built for video calls. Pure voice, browser-based, no fluff.
2. Google Voice — Solid, But US-Focused
Google Voice works in Chrome without any installation and has since its early days. You get a free US number, can make calls to US/Canada numbers at no charge, and the interface is genuinely clean. For someone calling within North America, it's hard to beat on price.
Here's the catch: international calling outside the US/Canada costs money, and the rates aren't always the lowest. More importantly, Google Voice is only available to US-based Google accounts. If you're in the UK, Australia, or anywhere else, you can't create a new account at all.
It also won't give you a local number in another country. So if you're trying to appear local to customers in Germany or Mexico, it can't help. For a closer look at what it actually offers versus what's marketed, the GlobCall comparison with Google Voice breaks it down honestly.
3. Viber — Works in Browser, But "Free" Has an Asterisk
Viber has a web version at viber.com that works without downloading the desktop app. Viber-to-Viber calls between app users are free. That's the headline. The asterisk is that calling actual phone numbers — the thing most Skype users actually did — requires Viber Out credits, purchased in advance.
Viber Out rates are decent for some routes. They're not always the lowest. The experience also leans toward being a messaging app that also does calls, rather than a calling tool first. The browser interface reflects that — navigation is fine, but it's clearly not built for rapid outbound dialling.
One thing Viber does well: it's genuinely popular in Eastern Europe and parts of Southeast Asia. If your contacts are already on Viber in Ukraine or the Philippines, free app-to-app calls make a lot of sense. But for calling a hotel in Japan or a bank in Nigeria, you're paying per minute either way — so compare rates carefully before committing.
For more context on the free-vs-paid calling reality, this article is blunt about what's actually free and what isn't.
4. Microsoft Teams (Free Tier) — The Skype Heir, With Caveats
Yes, Teams is on this list. Because technically, the free tier works in a browser — and if you're migrating from Skype, your account may already be there. Microsoft moved Skype contacts and credit into Teams automatically.
For Teams-to-Teams calls and video meetings, it works fine in the browser. Calling external phone numbers is a different story. That requires Microsoft Teams Phone, a paid add-on tied to Microsoft 365 licences. It's not cheap, and the setup isn't quick.
So if your use case is "I want to video chat with colleagues who already have Teams," the browser version handles that reasonably well. If your use case is "I need to call a real phone number in Australia or Canada," Teams Phone gets expensive fast. This Teams Phone alternative comparison goes into the numbers if you want specifics.
Teams is worth keeping open — but probably not as your primary calling tool unless your whole organisation is already deep in the Microsoft ecosystem.
5. Whereby — Best for Video, Not for Calling Phone Numbers
Whereby is a fully browser-based video conferencing tool. No account required for guests, no app — just a link. Share a room URL and anyone can join from their browser in seconds.
It belongs on this list because a large chunk of Skype's actual usage was video calls between people who already had the app. Whereby handles that use case cleanly. The free tier supports rooms of up to 100 participants. The interface is minimal in a good way.
What it doesn't do: call phone numbers. Full stop. If you need to reach a landline, a mobile, or a toll-free number in another country, Whereby isn't the tool. It's excellent for scheduled calls with people who can click a link, and essentially useless for ad-hoc outbound calling to a contact who isn't already at a screen.
Think of it as the right tool for team standups and client meetings — the wrong tool for calling your bank abroad or reaching a toll-free number from another country.
How to Pick the Right One for Your Situation
The honest answer is: it depends on what Skype was doing for you.
You mostly called phone numbers internationally. Use GlobCall. It's the closest direct replacement — browser-based, pay-as-you-go, no monthly commitment, and it reaches actual phone numbers in 100+ countries. Check the full rate list before you load up, but for most popular routes the per-minute cost is among the lowest available.
You mostly video-called people who also had Skype. Try Whereby for new contacts, or Teams if they've already been migrated. Both work in a browser. Neither requires a download on either end.
You called US/Canada numbers and you're US-based. Google Voice is probably your cheapest option. Free domestic calls are hard to argue with.
You need to call contacts in Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia who are already on Viber. Use Viber's web version for app-to-app calls — those are free and work fine in the browser. Just don't assume that extends to calling actual phone numbers.
For teams with international staff scattered across time zones, the shared-balance model at GlobCall is worth a closer look. One balance, unlimited team members, no per-seat fee. Here's how remote teams are using it in practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I call a real phone number from a browser without downloading anything?
Yes. GlobCall works entirely in your browser and connects to real landlines and mobiles worldwide starting at $0.02/min. You don't need an app, plugin, or extension — just a browser, a microphone, and a small prepaid balance. This FAQ explains the mechanics in more detail.
Is there a free option that works in the browser without any download?
Sort of. Whereby and the free tier of Teams both handle video calls between users for free, in-browser, with no download required. But "free calls to phone numbers" doesn't really exist at scale — this article is honest about where the free tier ends.
What replaced Skype for calling landlines cheaply?
The closest replacement for Skype's paid calling feature is a browser-based VoIP service. GlobCall, Viber Out, and Google Voice (US only) all offer per-minute rates to landlines. For a side-by-side breakdown of what each service actually charges, this comparison is current for 2026.
Does Microsoft Teams work in a browser without downloading anything?
The free tier of Teams works in a browser for video meetings and messaging. Calling actual phone numbers requires Teams Phone, which is a paid Microsoft 365 add-on. It's not available without a subscription and isn't designed for casual international calling.
What's the cheapest way to call internationally from a browser in 2026?
For USA and Canada, $0.02/min via GlobCall is about as low as it gets. Calls to India run $0.08/min, Australia $0.05/min to landlines, Mexico $0.03/min. Rates vary by country — this FAQ breaks down what affects international call pricing.
The Bottom Line
Skype is gone. The five tools above cover every use case it served — and in most cases cover them better.
- GlobCall: best all-round browser replacement for calling real phone numbers internationally, business or personal
- Google Voice: best for US-based callers who mainly call North America
- Viber: best if your contacts are already on Viber in key regions
- Microsoft Teams (free): best for video meetings between people already in the Microsoft ecosystem
- Whereby: best for no-friction video calls where everyone can click a link
None of them require a download. All of them work today.
If you want to replace what Skype actually did — pick up the phone and call someone, anywhere in the world, for a few cents a minute — start a call right now at GlobCall. No installation. No monthly fee. Just dial.
