If you've used Skype to call an actual phone number in another country, you're looking for the same core thing most people are: a cheap, reliable way to reach a landline or mobile abroad without a full phone plan. If you're weighing up where to do that now, here's an honest comparison.
What people actually used Skype for
Setting aside app-to-app video chats, the durable, practical use of Skype was calling real phone numbers — a hotel overseas, a relative's landline, a business in another country — at rates cheaper than a normal carrier. That's the job to be done, and it's exactly what Localcall is built for.
What to look for in an alternative
When you're replacing a tool like this, four things matter more than anything:
- It calls real landlines and mobiles, not just other users of the same app.
- Pricing is transparent — you can see the cost before you commit to a call.
- No subscription lock-in — you're not paying a monthly fee for calls you might not make.
- It works without friction — ideally right in a browser, on any device.
How Localcall compares
Localcall does the calling-a-real-number job and then adds a few things on top:
- Pay-as-you-go, per minute. No subscription. You add credit, and the rate for your destination shows before you connect. Look up any country on the rates page.
- Browser-based. No app, no SIM — open the dialer and go.
- Live translation. Speak your language while the other person hears theirs, in real time, on a normal call.
- AI voice agents. Hand off routine calls — reservations, appointments, logistics — and get a summary back.
You can see a fuller feature-by-feature breakdown on the comparisons page.
Pricing: subscriptions vs pay-as-you-go
The biggest practical difference is the billing model. A subscription charges you every month whether or not you call. Pay-as-you-go charges you only for the minutes you use — the first minute, then six-second increments after that. Top-up packs start at $9.99, and credits are valid for 12 months from purchase, so occasional callers aren't paying to keep an account alive between calls.
For most people who call abroad now and then, that's simply cheaper.
Features a plain calling app doesn't have
Two of Localcall's features don't have a Skype equivalent:
- Real-time, two-way translation on a live call, with nothing for the other person to install.
- AI voice agents that can place a routine call for you in the local language.
These turn "make a cheap call" into "get the thing done," even across a language barrier.
When a subscription still makes sense
To be fair: if you make a very high volume of international calls to the same destination every single day, a flat-rate plan can sometimes win on raw per-minute cost. Pay-as-you-go shines for everyone else — travelers, families spread across countries, and anyone whose calling is bursty rather than constant.
How to switch
Switching takes about a minute:
- Create an account.
- Add a little credit to your wallet.
- Open the dialer, enter the number, and call.
There's nothing to migrate and no contract to cancel. When you're ready, see what your usual destinations cost and make your first call.