Skype alternatives in Russia: the best video calling apps to replace Skype

Contents

• Skype is shutting down
• What should Russian companies do?
• The best Skype alternatives: video calling apps in Russia

Skype is shutting down

Microsoft announced that it will shut down Skype on May 5, 2025 and move all users to the free MS Teams plan. It's a big shake-up: for a long time, Skype was the main way many companies communicated.

That said, Microsoft took its first steps toward retiring Skype back in 2021. That's when it ended technical support for Skype for Business and stopped signing up new customers. Existing customers can keep using it until 2025, when support for Skype for Business ends completely.

Microsoft is now focused on developing MS Teams and integrating it with its other products. As a reminder, Microsoft Teams has been blocked in Russia since March 2024: you can't pay through Russian banks, and access to the service is restricted. That's why many organizations started moving to Russian alternatives even before Skype shut down.

What should Russian companies do?

1. Save your data from Skype In case the service gets cut off, export everything you need ahead of time. Skype lets you export your chat history, including text, images and files.

Here's how:

• Go to the export page and sign in with your account.
• Choose to download "Conversations," "Files" or both.
• Exported messages include Skype messages and SMS, polls, scheduled calls, SWIFT cards and location shares.
• Exported media includes files, images, videos, video messages, voicemail and call recordings.
• Select "Submit request," then "Continue" when prompted.
• Check the export page periodically to see the status of your export. It will appear at the top of the page under "Available exports."
• The download link for your files will also appear there once they're ready.
• Click "Download" to download your files.

2. Define your key requirements for a new app Ask yourself:

• Which Skype features were critical?
• What was missing in Skype?
• Are you looking at cloud or on-premise?
• Will you need help with the switch?

Skype comes down to two main parts: chats and calls. Most business solutions include both. We've put together a comparison table of popular team chat apps across 100+ criteria to help you figure out what you need.

3. Test the alternatives Once you've set your criteria, pick the best-fit services for a pilot. A few tips:

• Run the test with a small team, collect feedback and pick the best option.
• Appoint "ambassadors," internal experts on the new app who help everyone else get up to speed. It works better than just sending out instructions.
• Plan your chat structure in advance. It helps to keep a spreadsheet and use it to recreate the channels you need in the new service.
• Make sure you have access to your archives. If you can't migrate your history, keep it as an export.
• Make the transition smooth: let employees use both apps side by side while they adjust.
• If you have a large headcount, roll out changes in stages, starting with the departments that are most open to change.

Below is a list of popular Russian products. For each one, you'll find an interface video and an overview of its features, customers and roadmap. For a more detailed review, see our separate article.

The best Skype alternatives: video calling apps in Russia

Pachca

Pachca is a team chat app for mid-size and large businesses with built-in video conferencing for up to 1,000 participants, AI agents and advanced integrations. Calls run on Pachca's own video platform: recording, screen sharing, a chat that's saved after the call ends and a window you can minimize to keep working in the app. Besides calls, there are chats, cross-chat threads, tasks and message encryption both in transit and at rest. It's built by «Primavera», an independent company fully focused on the quality of its team chat app.

Integrations are built on an open API with full workspace management, a CLI, SDKs, webhooks, a bot builder and a plugin in the official n8n catalog. AI agents run on the same foundation: you connect a personal agent (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex) through the CLI, and it pulls task context straight from the thread, while a team agent is set up as a bot that colleagues @mention in discussions.

The app is especially popular with teams in IT, digital, retail and EdTech. Customers include Lamoda, Ivi, Beri Zaryad, Burger King, Unisender, MIPT, SuperJob and others.

Roadmap: major upgrades to the video platform and expanded bot capabilities.

App store ratings:

• 🍏 AppStore: 4.6; 🤖 PlayStore: 4.1

Pricing:

• from 159 ₽/mo per user, support included
• from 399 ₽/mo per user with SSO and Active Directory
• 20% off with annual billing and 75% off for educational institutions and nonprofits

eXpress

eXpress is a team chat app focused on security: two-layer encryption, three-factor authentication and crypto containers. The standard feature set includes chats, video calls, threads and bots for automation. It's available in cloud and on-premise versions.

Its customer stories include rollouts at small, mid-size and large businesses, as well as in the public sector. The interface is intuitive, but customization options are limited.

Roadmap: stronger security, new built-in apps, better video call quality and improved access management.

App store ratings:

• 🍏 AppStore: 4.5; 🤖 PlayStore: 4.0

Pricing:

• Free version
• From 3,000 to 15,000 ₽/year per user. Annual billing only, depending on the plan and number of licenses (perpetual licenses are available).

VK Teams

VK Teams is part of the VK ecosystem, with a familiar interface in the style of VKontakte and WhatsApp*, which makes it easier to get used to. Features include group chats, video calls for up to 300 participants, simple bots, document collaboration, corporate cloud storage and email.

Cons: complicated sign-up that requires linking a domain, a confusing admin panel in VK WorkSpace and limited bot capabilities.

Roadmap: better video conferencing, integrations with other VK products and stronger security.

App store ratings:

• 🍏 AppStore: 4.7; 🤖 PlayStore: 3.5

Pricing:

• With a "VK WorkSpace" subscription: from 199 ₽/mo
• On-premise pricing is quoted individually
• You can't buy the chat app on its own because it's part of the VK Workspace subscription.

Compass

Compass is a team chat app with a simple interface. It's available in the cloud and as an open-source on-premise version. There's no web version, which makes it less convenient. It's best suited to small teams. It has chats, calls, basic integrations and message actions.

Cons: no tools for managing large teams, like adding people to chats in bulk.

Roadmap: stronger security, new features and adapting to the needs of large tech teams.

App store ratings:

• 🍏 AppStore: 4.5; 🤖 PlayStore: 3.9

Pricing:

• Free version with limitations
• 390 ₽/mo per user on the "Бизнес" plan, 490 ₽/mo on-premise

Loop

Loop is a team chat app built on Mattermost that you can install on your own servers or use in the cloud. Beyond the basics, it has some unique features, like isolated teams.

Cons: limited options for managing users in bulk and dependence on Mattermost's architecture.

Roadmap: more ready-made integrations and improvements to existing tools.

App store ratings:

• 🍏 AppStore: 4.5; 🤖 PlayStore: 4.3

Pricing:

• Free version with limitations
• 249 ₽/mo per user
• On-premise pricing is quoted individually

Yandex Messenger

Yandex Messenger is part of the "Yandex 360 for Business" ecosystem. It covers the basics: chats, threads, calls, reactions and voice messages. It lacks chat folders and flexible notification settings. Bots are only available on advanced plans.

Cons: no way to customize it for your needs, and notification settings are limited.

Roadmap: better performance and improvements to chats.

App store ratings:

• 🍏 AppStore: 2.7; 🤖 PlayStore: 3.1

Pricing:

• Free version with limitations
• With a "Yandex 360 for Business" subscription: from 249 ₽/mo per user

MTS Link Chats

MTS Link Chats is part of the MTS Link ecosystem. It's a young app that still lacks some basic features, like chat folders and adding members in bulk. It's aimed at small and mid-size businesses, with a focus on video calls.

Roadmap: more integrations via webhooks and API.

App store ratings:

• 🍏 AppStore: 4.4; 🤖 PlayStore: 4.2

Pricing:

• Free version with limitations
• With the "Коммуникации и совместная работа МТС Линк" subscription: from 3,283 to 15,600 ₽/year per user. Annual billing only, depending on the plan and number of licenses.

You'll find a full list of team chat apps, not just Russian ones, in our article. And if you're choosing a platform specifically for video conferencing, read our guide to choosing a video conferencing platform for business.

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For the full ranking with a comparison table across 100+ criteria, see "Top 15 team chat apps of 2026".

• Meta Platforms Inc. (Facebook, Instagram) declared extremist and banned in Russia.