Any alternatives to Skype that do not need a smart phone to sign up?

[arwen]

Throwing this question out to any techies who may have suggestions.

I am in a group that uses Skype to share communication in an ongoing chat group - messages, videos, images, etc. We are from all over the world and most do not want to get or use an Internet connected smart phone - most prefer Desktop use of Messaging apps. And of course, Skype is being discontinued in May 2025. They say you can migrate to Microsoft Teams, but I think you need a 365 license for that, and Teams is mostly used by companies and corporations.

Nearly all of the alternate messaging Apps I have looked at that allow you to use it on your computer desktop, need you download the App first on your Smartphone.



(They really seem to want to force everyone to have smartphones. And beside people choosing to not want to have one of those intrusive things in their life, smartphone contracts are NOT cheap - for many people, a smartphone contract costs as much per month as a weeks' worth of groceries per month, and they simply cannot afford it. Separate issue.)

Bottom line - any techies have any suggestions for an alternative to Skype as a messaging app that does NOT require a Smartphone for signup and/or use?

[Sue (Ayt)]

Arwen - Would Discord work for your needs? It is what the mods here use to meet and share ideas and files. And we don't need Smartphones.
https://discord.com

edit to add - Another one I have used for a small chat group in the past that was easy and still exists is https://www.chatzy.com

[Casey Claar]

Would signal work? I wonder.

[dim]

https://github.com/pluja/awesome-privacy
https://github.com/pluja/awesome-pri...o-conferencing

[gini]

Yeah,they try make it very difficult to survive without a smartphone.
In some places you just cant get things done without it.

i cant use most of the apps on my laptop because i refuse to use a smartphone so i cant use things like whatsapp, telegram, signal,skype, airbnb etcetera.

-
i wonder how thats gonna work with the CBDC's for the people who dont want or cant afford a smartphone.
-

i really dont trust and get bad vibes from this machines called smartphones and i also look for an alternative to be able to use some apps without them.

[Mark (Star Mariner)]

I'd recommend Discord, as Sue put forward. It should serve all your needs quite comfortably.

BTW: Avalon has a discord channel for those who weren't aware. Follow this link for details (Member's Only).

[palehorse]

try session app, no phone, no email, no name, no nothing. just download and use it.


https://getsession.org/assets/videos...ssion/720p.mp4

Download link here: https://getsession.org/

~~~

My favorite of all times is XMPP protocol and IRC (both does not require phone numbers, only email). XMPP is not an app per se, but you can find all the information on getting started right here: https://xmpp.org/getting-started/

I use Gajim client (https://gajim.org/) on Linux (some distros has it installed by default, if not you can easily install it, there is packages for most distros), it is a Desktop program, no need for Browser, there is option for proxy too.

On Android the best app around is: Conversations IM (https://conversations.im/)

Truly I would not look further, anything that ask you a phone, should be taken with a grain of salt.

~~~

Another option for phones only, however there is some open source Desktop apps available, it is Briar (https://briarproject.org/), it is a bit tricky, messages are synced between the users via bluetooth or wifi (standard behavior), but it is possible to also sync through Tor network, it just require extra little setup. It is peer-to-peer, no phone number required.
Personal note: I used a Briar Desktop years ago and it was a bit buggy, since I had only 1 contact in there I decided not to use it anymore.

~~~

Yet another good option is Tox (https://tox.chat/), peer-to-peer, decentralized, allow connect over Tor network, has Desktop app for most devices, it is very complete app but highly experimental, so it has bugs specially with video conference feature. I used it for several years, so far so good. If you need voice messenger and video calls, then I would go with JAMI (https://jami.net/), it is a Desktop app that is closer to Skype/Teams. No need phone number.

I hope that helps in your decision

[Edit]
forgot another one to the list: JITSI MEET (https://jitsi.org/) no need for account if you use it online, but you have the option to self-host it which is great for privacy, however installation may be a little tricky.

p.s. Nothing above is as easy and practical as Skype/Whatsapp/Etc - But that is the price to cut off from those bastards, once you learn how to use the before mentioned apps it will be smooth on daily use. I used all the apps I mentioned above, XMPP and IRC are the most difficult ones to get started, I used to have my own servers with both more than a decade ago, but it added to my personal bills and I had to let it go.

[Strat]

I have a similar group, we're a bunch of penpals from across the world. We use whatsapp which does have a desktop app. Sometimes for some people who live in the 3rd world will have issues with it for whatever reason and when that happens google meet works great.

[ThePythonicCow]

Posted by gini (here)
Yeah,they try make it very difficult to survive without a smartphone.
In some places you just cant get things done without it.

i cant use most of the apps on my laptop because i refuse to use a smartphone so i cant use things like ... telegram ... etcetera.

According to this page, you can use Telegram w/o a smartphone:

How To Use Telegram Without Phone Number in Four Ways

Though you can’t use Telegram without a phone number, you don’t have to use your cell phone number. You can use your landline or an alternate number from an app such as Text Free, Google Voice, Burner, or TextNow. Telegram uses your number to verify your identity.

Telegram is a nifty alternative to regular texting because it’s free, fast, and private. But for extra privacy, you might be wondering: can you use Telegram without a phone number? Though you technically can’t use Telegram without a phone number, it doesn’t need to be your mobile number.

In this article, I’ll explain how to get alternate phone numbers from four sources and how to set up a Telegram account using your new or landline number.

The article then goes on to suggest four ways to get a phone number, including the option of using a classic landline phone number, or programs you can run on your computer that essentially make your computer provide telephone capability over the Internet.

(Yes, the article title is a bit misleading. Perhaps it should be How To Use Telegram Without a Cell Phone Number in Four Ways.)

===

However - caution - I had a Telegram account that was bound to a Voice Over IP (VOIP -- Internet) phone number. But then late in 2022, Telegram suddenly closed that account without notice or explanation ever offered. I do not know to this day whether the problem was between my chair and my keyboard, or a deliberate act by Telegram to close accounts bound to VOIP numbers, or some more random glitch in the Matrix. Fortunately, I keep good backups of my Telegram activity, and I was able to bring up a second Telegram account and reconnect to all that mattered without too much trouble, so that was not a serious problem long term.

[arwen]

Thanks so much all! I will reply properly in a while, alas I had what seems to be a fatal computer crash - been out since yesterday morning, borrowing another computer to send this message. The laptop is at the repair shop to see if anything can be done to recover it. Offline for a while, will reply when I can.

[John Hilton]

Skype closes on May 5th, according to a message that popped up when I last used it (Tuesday).

Another question: do any alternatives provide a speech to text facility? One of the members of our group is profoundly deaf (MS) and, although he can lipread, I personally don't enunciate very clearly and nor do other group members. So STT is essential.

EDIT: I asked Grok AI.


Me: Does the group video call service of Discord provide a speech-to-text facility?

Grok: As of the current date, March 31, 2025, Discord's group video call service does not natively provide a built-in speech-to-text facility. Discord offers robust voice and video communication features, including group video calls, but its core functionality focuses on real-time audio and video interaction rather than automatic transcription of spoken content into text during calls.
However, there are a few points to consider:
1. Text-to-Speech (TTS) Availability: Discord does have a text-to-speech feature, which converts typed messages into spoken audio using the "/tts" command in text channels. This is the opposite of speech-to-text and is not applicable to video or voice calls directly.
2. No Native Speech-to-Text: There is no official feature within Discord’s group video call system that transcribes spoken words into text in real time. The platform does not provide an integrated tool for this purpose as part of its standard offerings.
3. Third-Party Solutions: Users interested in speech-to-text functionality during Discord video calls can rely on external tools or bots. For example:
◦ Bots: Some Discord bots, developed by third-party creators, can join voice channels and transcribe audio to text using APIs like Google Speech Recognition or Wit.ai. These bots would need to be invited to the server and configured appropriately, but they are not part of Discord's official feature set.
◦ External Software: Programs like OBS with plugins, or standalone speech-to-text applications (e.g., Windows Speech Recognition, Google Live Transcribe, or Otter.ai), could be used alongside Discord to transcribe audio from a call, though this requires additional setup and may not integrate seamlessly.
4. Accessibility Features: While Discord has improved its accessibility options (e.g., screen reader support and TTS for text messages), it has not yet implemented speech-to-text for voice or video calls as a native feature. This suggests that such a facility is not currently a priority in their development roadmap based on available information.
If you need speech-to-text for a specific use case (e.g., accessibility or record-keeping), you would need to explore third-party tools or bots and set them up manually. Keep in mind that the effectiveness of these solutions depends on the quality of the bot or software and the complexity of the audio environment (e.g., multiple speakers, background noise).
For the most up-to-date information, you might want to check Discord’s official support pages or community forums, as features can evolve over time. Would you like me to search for specific third-party tools or bots that could help with this?


Me: Can you please name a group video calling service which is free, cross-platform (Windows and Mac), does not require a telephone number and provides a speech-to-text facility?


Grok: Based on your requirements—free, cross-platform (Windows and Mac), no telephone number needed, and offering a speech-to-text facility—one option stands out: Microsoft Teams.
Here’s why it fits your criteria:
• Free: Microsoft Teams offers a free version that includes group video calling. You can host meetings with up to 100 participants for up to 60 minutes, and one-on-one calls have no time limit.
• Cross-Platform: It works seamlessly on both Windows and Mac, with desktop apps available for both operating systems, as well as a web version that runs in browsers like Chrome or Edge.
• No Telephone Number Required: You can sign up and use Teams with just an email address (e.g., a Microsoft account or any email for the free version), no phone number is necessary.
• Speech-to-Text Facility: Teams provides live captions and transcription features. While the transcription feature (which generates a full text record of the meeting) is typically part of paid Microsoft 365 plans, live captions—real-time speech-to-text displayed during the call—are available in the free version for many languages. This makes it suitable for basic speech-to-text needs during group video calls.
How It Works:
• Download the Teams app for Windows or Mac, or use it directly in a web browser.
• Sign in with an email address (no phone number needed).
• Start or join a group video call by sharing a meeting link with participants.
• Enable live captions in the settings during the call to see real-time speech-to-text.
Limitations:
• The free version’s live captions are robust but may not offer the full transcription downloadable as a file (a paid feature). If you need a complete transcript saved post-call, you’d need to explore paid plans or third-party tools.
• Group calls are capped at 60 minutes in the free tier, though you can restart the call if needed.
Alternatives:
While Microsoft Teams meets all your criteria, another option to consider is Jitsi Meet, a free, open-source video conferencing platform. It’s cross-platform (Windows and Mac via web browser), requires no phone number (just visit meet.jit.si and start a meeting), and supports group calls. However, Jitsi Meet does not natively offer speech-to-text. You’d need to integrate it with an external service or browser extension for that functionality, which might not be as seamless.
Given your specific need for a built-in speech-to-text facility, Microsoft Teams (free version) is the strongest match. Would you like more details on setting it up or exploring other tools?

____

Edit: Fakebook Messenger appears to provide what I need. It seems to be possible to sign up with a throw-away email address and no phone.

Zoom is another possibility but the free version limits video calls to 45 minutes. Also, only the person setting up the call can invoke speech-to-text.

[arwen]

Thank you all again so much for your detailed replies. For Signal and WhatsApp, both need to be downloaded onto a smartphone first, so they are out. I and my group are testing out the various options suggested above, and again, really appreciate the time taken by all here to give such good information. Probably will post a short note here on what we finally settled on.

[Yoda]

Posted by arwen (here)
Thank you all again so much for your detailed replies. For Signal and WhatsApp, both need to be downloaded onto a smartphone first, so they are out. I and my group are testing out the various options suggested above, and again, really appreciate the time taken by all here to give such good information. Probably will post a short note here on what we finally settled on.

Arwen, I bought an inexpensive smartphone, activated it on a network called Telus. They offer a "talk and text" plan for $100 CDN for 365 days. I installed WhatsApp, on both phone and desktop. I keep my smartphone in a Faraday pouch, in my desk. The only time I pull it out is to take pictures, or reactivate my WhatsApp after they screw it up with upgrades.

[Strat]

Posted by arwen (here)
Thank you all again so much for your detailed replies. For Signal and WhatsApp, both need to be downloaded onto a smartphone first, so they are out. I and my group are testing out the various options suggested above, and again, really appreciate the time taken by all here to give such good information. Probably will post a short note here on what we finally settled on.

Why not use Google Meet and Google Chat? I haven't used Chat but I've used Meet quite a bit professionally and casually, it's really good.

@JohnHilton if your friend needs help with speech to text let me know. I don't know of any free solutions off the top of my head but I can ask around. I've worked in the online accessibility field and there's lots of solutions out there.

Regardless, best of luck to the both of you! I'm sure yall will figure it out one way or the other.

EDIT: If you (or anyone) needs help using Google Meet shoot me a PM and I'll walk you through it step by step.

As a heads up they'll definitely sell your info but they all do. Microsoft is the worst offender IIRC. I imagine there's other apps which allow you to totally opt out but I'm not aware of them, if there is someone please post it. If the price is reasonable I'll happily pay for it so I can stay private.

OPSEC is a big thing with me but part of OPSEC is having one device that's basically the sacrificial one (lol) meaning you allow to be monitored and you have a separate device where you're more secure and careful what you do and where you go and what you download.

As a side note I wouldn't be surprised if Google has a grand plan to continue offering these great services for free then one day flip the switch and add a price tag. So many people rely on their services as is and if they decided to shut it all down and ask for a fee they'd have lots of people and companies bent over a barrel and many would find it easier to just pay the fee then move all their documents over to something else. I could be wrong, time will tell.

[Trail]

https://meet.jit.si/ or https://talk.brave.com

[John Hilton]

Brief update.

Fakebook Messenger provides a group video chat facility for free. It took awhile to figure out how to set it up and it required only an email address - no phone number - to create a Fakebook account. Unfortunately, there's no speech-to-text transcription facility, so we can't use it.

Next we plan to try Microsoft Teams. My deaf friend has been provided with an account and, provided that he sets up the call, he can select the transcription feature for himself, so it should work. He invites the rest of us via email and we don't need an account.

If that fails, we'll try Zoom.