# Why CallTuv Is a Skype Alternative

> Skype retired, and with it the easiest way to call real phone numbers from a computer - here's what CallTuv replaces, what it does better, and what it doesn't try to be.

**TL;DR:** CallTuv does what most people actually used Skype for - calling real landlines and mobiles cheaply from a computer or phone - with pay-as-you-go credit, no subscription, and no software install. What it doesn't replace is Skype's video calls.

For twenty years, "Skype credit" was how millions called real phone numbers cheaply from a computer. With Skype retired, many people are looking for the piece that actually mattered to them - and that piece is exactly what CallTuv does.

## What CallTuv replaces

The Skype feature most worth replacing wasn't app-to-app chat (plenty of free apps do that) - it was **calling real landlines and mobile numbers** from your computer, paying per minute from a small credit balance. CallTuv is built around precisely that:

- Call any regular phone number in **200+ countries** - the recipient needs no app, no account, no internet. See [What Is CallTuv?](/help/5062184-what-is-calltuv)
- **Pay-as-you-go credit**, starting at $5, that [never expires](/help/6198430-understanding-rates-and-per-minute-billing) - familiar territory for anyone who kept Skype credit.
- Works **straight in the browser** - no software to download and install on your computer - plus [iPhone and Android apps](/help/9145062-use-calltuv-on-any-device) for calling on the go.

## Where it's actually nicer than Skype was

- **No install, no account software** - open [calltuv.com](https://calltuv.com), sign in with your email, call. See [Getting Started](/help/4180257-getting-started-with-calltuv).
- **Show your own number.** [Verify your mobile or landline](/help/8927354-verify-your-own-number-as-caller-id) once and recipients see *your* number and can call you back on your regular line - no paid "Skype Number" needed for that.
- **Included extras:** [free call recording](/help/2359680-recording-calls), [shared balances for families and teams](/help/6027384-how-teams-and-shared-balance-work), and transparent per-minute rates shown before every call.

## What CallTuv doesn't try to be

Fair is fair: Skype also did **video calls and group video chats**, and CallTuv doesn't - it focuses on voice calls to real phone numbers. Most people pair CallTuv with whatever video app their family already uses (FaceTime, WhatsApp, Zoom). CallTuv also [doesn't provide phone numbers](/help/4821673-does-calltuv-provide-phone-numbers) or [receive calls and texts](/help/3746158-can-i-receive-calls-or-text-messages-sms).

## Trying it takes five minutes

Create a free account, top up $5, and call the same number you used to call on Skype - the [rates page](https://calltuv.com/en/rates) shows the per-minute price first. There's also a fuller comparison on our [Skype alternative page](https://calltuv.com/skype-alternative).