Skype isn't available any more, free or paid. Microsoft retired Skype on May 5th, 2025, and moved users to Microsoft Teams Free, which you can sign in to with your old Skype details. Skype for Business wasn't part of that change.
If you're searching because an old link or app still mentions Skype, here's what Microsoft's own support page says, checked as of October 2026: what replaced it, what happened to paid features and numbers, and whether your old chats still exist.
What happened to Skype, in order
| Date | What Microsoft says happened |
|---|---|
| April 3, 2025 | Last date existing calling and Skype Number subscriptions automatically renewed |
| May 5th, 2025 | Skype retired, for both free and paid users |
| December 1, 2025 | Cut-off for using Teams Free if you want your Skype history kept there |
| April 1, 2026 | Deletion of Skype data began |
| May 2026 | All Skype Number subscriptions ended |
| June 15, 2026 | Last date to request an export, after which inactive users' data was fully deleted |
What replaced free Skype
Microsoft's answer is Microsoft Teams Free, which it says offers many of the same core features and more. You sign in to Teams Free on any supported device using your Skype credentials, and your contacts and chats transfer automatically.
Microsoft also stopped offering paid Skype features to new customers, including Skype Credit and the subscriptions for international and domestic calls. Remaining paid users could reach the Skype Dial Pad from the Skype web portal and inside Teams Free.
How to move from Skype to Teams Free
- Download Microsoft Teams Free or open it on the web.
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account details you used for Skype.
- Check your contacts and chats, which Microsoft says transfer automatically.
- If you were a paid Skype user, find the Skype Dial Pad inside Teams Free.
- If your old history is missing, read the next section before assuming it's lost.
Microsoft also says you can use Teams Free to check your past Skype and Teams activity, so that's the first place to look for anything you need.
Can you still get your old Skype chats?
It depends on when you last used it. Microsoft says your Skype chat and call history stays available in Teams Free if you were an active Skype user between December 2024 and February 2025 and then moved to, and used, Teams Free before December 1, 2025.
If that's you, open Teams Free and look there first. If it isn't, Microsoft says data deletion began on April 1, 2026, and the export portal took requests until June 15, 2026, though exports after April 1 might not reflect your full history. For anyone who wasn't active in Skype and Teams Free in that window, Microsoft says the data was completely deleted after June 15th 2026.
Microsoft explains the history rules as part of focusing on people actively using Teams Free while reducing how long it keeps older, inactive Skype data. It also warned that large files or long histories could take up to 30 days to export, which is why it urged people to request exports early.
What about your Skype Number?
Microsoft says all Skype Number subscriptions ended in May 2026, and Skype Number port-out requests are no longer available. If you needed to keep the number, the window to move it to another carrier has closed.
Should your business still mention Skype?
No. If your website, email signature, booking page or social profiles still show a Skype name or a 'call me on Skype' button, replace it. Microsoft's own page is clear the service is retired for both free and paid users, so anyone who tries to reach you that way is stuck. Swap in the tool you use today, whether that's a Teams link, a video meeting booking link or a phone number, and check old PDFs and proposals too, because those get forwarded for years.
Free alternatives to Skype now
If Teams Free isn't what you want, there are plenty of free options for calls and video. Here's how I'd choose:
- If you liked Skype's contacts and chat history, sign in to Microsoft Teams Free with your Skype account first.
- For quick video calls with clients, look at Zoom's free plan and its time limits.
- For calling friends and family abroad, a messaging app with free voice calls is usually simplest.
- For business calls with a phone number, budget for a paid business phone service, because Skype Numbers are gone.
- Delete old Skype shortcuts and links from your website and email signature so clients don't hit a dead end.
That last step matters more than it sounds. A 'Skype me' button that leads nowhere makes a business look out of date the moment someone clicks it.
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My verdict: is Skype free?
Skype isn't free or paid now, because it no longer exists. The free replacement Microsoft offers is Teams Free, and it's the easiest move if you want your old contacts. If you're choosing a calling tool from scratch, see the best Skype alternatives, whether Microsoft Teams is free and my list of the best free calling apps.
Frequently asked questions
Is Skype still free?
No. Microsoft retired Skype on May 5th, 2025 for both free and paid users, and points people to Microsoft Teams Free instead.
What replaced Skype?
Microsoft Teams Free. Microsoft says you can sign in with your Skype credentials and your contacts and chats transfer automatically.
Can I still download my Skype history?
The export portal accepted requests until June 15, 2026. Data deletion began on April 1, 2026, and inactive users' data was fully deleted after June 15th 2026.
Do I need a new account for Teams Free?
No. Microsoft says you can sign in to Teams Free on any supported device using your Skype credentials.
Is Skype for Business affected?
No. Microsoft says the retirement affected free and paid Skype users, but not Skype for Business.
How long did a Skype export take?
Microsoft says export speed depended on the size of your history and media files, and large or long histories could take up to 30 days.
Can I still transfer my Skype Number?
No. Microsoft says all Skype Number subscriptions ended in May 2026 and port-out requests are no longer available.
What happened to Skype Credit?
Microsoft stopped offering paid Skype features, including Skype Credit and calling subscriptions, to new customers. All Skype Number subscriptions ended in May 2026.
