Skype Number alternative after Skype's shutdown

Microsoft retired Skype in May 2025 and pointed users to Microsoft Teams (Free). If you relied on a Skype Number so friends, clients or family could call you on a local number, you now need another way to stay reachable. This guide explains what to look for in a replacement and how a real ZuteSIP number covers the same ground, and more.

What changed, and who is affected

Skype was one of the best-known ways to get a phone number that was not tied to a SIM card. Many people used a Skype Number as a "virtual number": a local number in another country that rang in the Skype app wherever they were.

With Skype retired and users directed to Microsoft Teams (Free), anyone who shared that number with contacts, printed it on a website or used it for account sign-ins has to plan a move. For the exact status of a specific Skype Number or account, Microsoft's own support pages are the right source.

What a Skype Number was used for

Giving relatives abroad a local number they could call at domestic rates
A local business line for clients in a country where you don't live
Receiving calls on a laptop or phone while travelling, without a local SIM
Keeping personal and work calls separate
A stable contact number that stayed the same when you moved

What to look for in a replacement

People searching for a virtual number to replace Skype usually want the same convenience: a number in a chosen country that reaches them online. It pays to check a few things before you choose, because not every service offers the same features.

Real numbers from national numbering plans (mobile, local or toll-free), so normal phones can call them
Incoming calls, plus incoming SMS for verification codes and messages
Several ways to answer: a browser dialer, a SIP app on your phone or computer, or forwarding to any phone
Coverage in the countries you actually need, not just one or two
The ability to keep the number for as long as you want
A clear promise if the number doesn't work for you, and simple, transparent pricing

How ZuteSIP covers each point

ZuteSIP offers real phone numbers on national networks in 181 countries, with mobile, local and toll-free types depending on the country. People often call this a virtual number because you use it online, but it is a real number from the country's numbering plan that receives calls and SMS like a SIM.

Every plan includes unlimited incoming calls and unlimited incoming SMS, 500 outgoing SMS and 1,000 outgoing calling minutes per month. You get SIP credentials that work with Zoiper, Linphone, MicroSIP, Bria, 3CX, Asterisk and FreePBX, call forwarding to any phone, a browser dialer and a dashboard where SMS appear in real time.

You keep the number as long as you want, with renewals charged automatically from your wallet. Pricing is simple: from $1.80 per month, billed yearly ($21.60 per year), for any number type in any country.

Moving from a Skype Number to ZuteSIP

List the countries where people used to call your Skype Number, and choose the number type that fits: local for a familiar area code, mobile if you also need SMS verification, toll-free for customers.
Sign up at ZuteSIP with just an email address. You don't need to live in the country.
Top up your wallet with USDT or USDC on Tron (TRC-20), BNB Smart Chain, Polygon, Base or Solana, and order the number.
Activation usually happens within minutes of payment. Set up call forwarding, log in to a SIP app, or simply keep the browser dialer open.
Tell your contacts about the new number and update it on your website, email signature and important accounts.

Two guarantees for peace of mind

Every number comes with a 7-day replacement guarantee. If the number doesn't work for you within 7 days of purchase, for example an app or website won't accept it or codes don't arrive, you can swap it for a new number in the same country, free and instantly, with one click in the dashboard. You get up to 2 free replacements per number, whether or not it has been used.

There is also a 7-day money-back guarantee: if the number hasn't been used for any call or SMS, you can get a full refund within 7 days of purchase.

Beyond what a Skype Number offered

Because ZuteSIP numbers receive SMS as well as calls, they work for more than conversations. You can receive login codes from WhatsApp, Telegram, Google and thousands of other services, and if any app doesn't accept your number, the replacement guarantee gives you a new one free.

SIP support also means the number can plug into a business phone system such as 3CX or FreePBX, so a small team can share one local line.

Included on every plan

Unlimited incoming SMS
Unlimited incoming calls
500 outgoing SMS per month
1,000 outgoing minutes per month
SIP credentials, call forwarding and web dialer
Keep your number as long as you want
Works with WhatsApp, Facebook, Google, Telegram and thousands more
7-day replacement guarantee — free new number if it doesn't work for you
7-day money-back guarantee if the number is unused

Numbers from $1.80 per month, billed yearly ($21.60 per year). Pay with USDT or USDC.

Frequently asked questions

Is Skype still available?

Microsoft retired Skype in May 2025 and directed users to Microsoft Teams (Free). For details about a specific Skype account or Skype Number, check Microsoft's support pages.

Can I move my Skype Number to ZuteSIP?

ZuteSIP provides new numbers from its own inventory, so you choose a fresh number in the country you need. Many people pick a number with the same area code so contacts still see a familiar local number.

Is a ZuteSIP number a virtual number?

People often call it that because you use it online, without a SIM. Technically it is a real phone number from the country's national numbering plan, so normal phones can call and text it.

How do I answer calls without Skype?

Use the browser dialer, any SIP app such as Zoiper, Linphone or Bria, or forward calls to any phone number you already have.

Can I receive SMS as well as calls?

Yes. Every plan includes unlimited incoming SMS and calls, and messages appear in your dashboard in real time.

What does it cost?

From $1.80 per month, billed yearly ($21.60 per year), including 500 outgoing SMS and 1,000 outgoing minutes per month.

What if the number doesn't work for me?

Within 7 days of purchase you can replace it with a new number in the same country, free, up to 2 times. If the number is unused, you can instead get a full refund within 7 days.