For some reason, there are countries and organizations that prevent people from using the single most popular VoIP app – Skype. While we strongly disagree with such policies (and practices), no one is asking us for opinion. 🙁
Luckily, there are many VPN services that — once installed — let you seamlessly use Skype, no matter where you happen to be at that moment. The keyword here is “seamlessly” as many VPNs promise to deliver such an experience, but fail to do so.
Don’t you worry though, cause we did the grunt work of trying all the various options, only to come up with the list of proven VPN services. Our list includes those that have been “field-tested” to work in most places around the world, and selecting any one of them will let you Skype whoever and whenever you want.
So are you ready to join the Skype party? Check out the VPNs below:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
Its network has 5,000+ servers spread across 60 countries, which directly translates into faster download and upload speeds. NordVPN is also very secure, relying on the strong 256-bit encryption combined with secure VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2/IPSec). But as a user, you get a seamless experience with all this technology "doing its thing" in the background.
NordVPN is well suited to pretty much every task you throw at it — accessing Skype being just one of them. You can also rely on NordVPN to access other banned sites, torrenting, video streaming services, or just to keep a low profile on the web. It also doesn't keep any logs and has an independent audit to prove that.
NordVPN is highly recommended to anyone looking for a reliable VPN.
Pros
Cons
- Good for both torrenting and streaming
- Works in China
- Solid network with servers in 60+ countries
- Easy to use apps on multiple platforms
- Live chat isn't always available
- Fairly pricey
Summary
Astrill is not the most affordable option on the market, but it gets the job done and that — we think — matters the most.
In addition to Skype, Astrill will have your back whether you need it for watching popular TV shows and movies on a streaming platform, or downloading files via BitTorrent — all while keeping your identity under the radar. And this is especially true if you live or work in China where the company's stealth protocols kick in to let you access all the popular sites that are by default blocked by the country's censors.
Astrill's apps are available across platforms and devices, and are easy to use. Nevertheless, you get a host of advanced features tech-savvy folks are used to get. A highly recommended VPN.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
There are a few other VPNs that come close, but as far as the majority of users are concerned — this is the best VPN service they could sign-up for.
ExpressVPN has great desktop and mobile apps as well as browser extensions. Also, it is well suited for video streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and others.
However, what makes it stand out is its ease of use and we can't emphasize this enough. One could tell a significant amount of time has been spent making sure that even the advanced features are easily accessible. And we love it for that. Plus, let's not forget ExpressVPN's speed which tends to leave other services in the dust. So whether you need a VPN for Skype or anything else - ExpressVPN won't let you down.
Pros
Cons
- Fast download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
- Great for torrenting
- Advanced privacy features (i.e. Tor over VPN)
- Relatively small number of servers
- There are no browser extensions
- Live chat support is not always available
Summary
You can also rely on PrivateVPN for torrenting and streaming without paying a premium. It is, in fact, one of the most affordable options in its league and we love it for that.
Customer support may not be on par with bigger players but it's not like you should experience many problems anyway. You will get the same level of security and privacy as with other services, and a single license will let you run PrivateVPN on up to 6 devices. Pretty cool.
Pros
Cons
- Works in China
- Many servers in Asia
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Advanced services like VyprVPN Cloud
- No browser extensions
- Torrenting could be better
Summary
It manages to bypass restrictions in high-censorship countries and elsewhere by relying on its proprietary Chameleon protocol — which can easily slide under the radar. The same capability lets VyprVPN users access Skype from all around the world.
VyprVPN is also great for accessing video streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max and so on — delivering the true buffer-free experience you can rely on. It will also work with BitTorrent, and consequently - Kodi.
VyprVPN has a strict zero-logs policy. Period.
The popular VoIP app
One of the most popular VoIP apps, Skype is available across platforms and devices — allowing users to make audio and video calls, chat and send files over the Internet. Skype-to-Skype calls are free, while calls to landline telephones and mobile phones have a price tag that is typically lower than that of traditional telecom companies.
Skype’s name is derived from “Sky peer-to-peer“, which was then abbreviated to “Skyper”. However, some of the domain names associated with “Skyper” were already taken. Dropping the final “r” left the current title “Skype”, for which domain names were available.
Skype history highlights
Key things to know about Skype:
- Released in August 2003, it was created by the Swede Niklas Zennström and the Dane Janus Friis, in cooperation with Ahti Heinla, Priit Kasesalu, and Jaan Tallinn.
- In September 2005, eBay acquired Skype for $2.6 billion. That, however, hasn’t worked for the online auction service and…
- In September 2009 – Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired 65% of Skype for $1.9 billion from eBay.
- Microsoft bought Skype in May 2011 for $8.5 billion. Shortly after its acquisition, Microsoft began integrating the Skype service with its own products, and today its business “version” is part of the Microsoft 365 suite.
- In March 2020, Skype was used by 100 million people on a monthly basis and by 40 million people on a daily basis. That was a 70% increase in the number of daily users from the previous month, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Skype’s division headquarters are in Luxembourg, but most of the development team and 44% of all the division’s employees are still situated in Tallinn and Tartu, Estonia.
Skype is banned in some places
Some network administrators have banned Skype on corporate, government, home, and education networks, citing such reasons as inappropriate usage of resources, excessive bandwidth usage and security concerns.
Each region has different motives and policies that influence Skype service blocks. As Skype offers free video calls over the internet, some telecom companies fear for lost revenue and block all VoIP apps, not just Skype.
Among the countries that block VoIP services are Guyana, Kuwait, Libya, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Syria, and UAE.
Also, there are regional limitations in some places, including Belize, Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Mexico, Myanmar, Pakistan, Panama, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Venezuela.
The easiest way to bypass the Skype block is to use a VPN. It will help you hide your activity from the government and ISP surveillance and won’t lag the connection.
Look beyond Skype
You need a VPN for many things, not just for accessing Skype. A good VPN will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, iPlayer, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
- Download files with BitTorrent anonymously
The top contenders that check all these boxes — while also working nicely with Skype — include the following:
