Skype vs Nextcloud Talk: Which Is the Better Video Chat Tool

June 3, 2025

Introduction

Skype has been around for over two decades and is still used by individuals and businesses for video calling and chat. But in 2025, it’s no longer the best option available. Rising concerns over data privacy, vendor lock-in, and flexibility have pushed users to look for alternatives.

One of the most powerful competitors is Nextcloud Talk, an open-source, privacy-first communication platform that’s growing in popularity — especially in Europe and the enterprise space.

In this detailed comparison of Skype vs Nextcloud Talk, we’ll break down features, performance, usability, and security so you can decide which tool is the right fit for you in 2025.

Quick Feature Comparison Table

1. Privacy and Security

Skype:

Skype uses Microsoft-owned infrastructure and stores your chat logs and metadata on the cloud. While some private conversations can be encrypted, group conversations and video calls are not fully end-to-end encrypted by default.

• Data stored on Microsoft servers
  

• Backed by a US company, subject to surveillance laws (e.g., CLOUD Act)

Nextcloud Talk:

Built with data sovereignty in mind, Nextcloud Talk allows you to self-host your communication infrastructure or use a GDPR-compliant European host. It supports end-to-end encryption, especially for one-on-one and group calls, and gives you complete control over your data.

• Fully open-source
  

• GDPR-compliant by design

• No third-party tracking or surveillance risk

Winner: Nextcloud Talk — hands down the better choice for anyone who prioritizes security and privacy.

2. Features and Collaboration

Skype:

Skype offers basic video chat, screen sharing, file transfers, and chat. While it’s easy to use and familiar, its feature set is quite limited when compared to modern platforms.

• No integrated task management

• No document collaboration

• No native team dashboards or project tools

Nextcloud Talk:

Nextcloud Talk is part of the Nextcloud Hub — a suite of productivity apps including file storage, calendars, task boards (Deck), document editing (Office), and more. It’s like having Google Workspace or Microsoft Teams, but open-source and fully in your control.

• Fully integrated with Nextcloud Files, Calendar, Deck, and Collabora Online
  

• Group video calls, screen sharing, chat

• Persistent chat channels for teams

• WebRTC support, no plugins required

Winner: Nextcloud Talk — more than just a video tool, it’s a full productivity platform.

3. Usability and Accessibility

Skype:

Skype’s interface is clean and user-friendly. It works well across all platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and web. No technical setup is required — it just works.

• Great for individual users or simple team chats

• Very easy for beginners

• Interface is polished but outdated in terms of team functionality

Nextcloud Talk:

Nextcloud Talk is slightly more technical to set up if you’re self-hosting, but many providers offer managed hosting with zero configuration required. The UI is clean, modern, and highly customizable. It’s available via:

• Web browser

• Desktop apps (Windows, Linux, macOS)

• Mobile apps (iOS, Android)

However, compared to Skype, the first-time setup can be harder for non-technical users — unless they use a hosted Nextcloud provider.

Winner: Skype for ease-of-use, but Nextcloud Talk wins for flexibility and power users.

4. Cost Comparison

Skype:

Skype is free for Skype-to-Skype calls. However, international phone calls and SMS require Skype Credit. There are also Microsoft subscription services for Skype for Business (merged into Teams now).

Nextcloud Talk:

100% free and open-source. If you self-host, you only pay for the server. If you use a managed provider, you pay based on user tiers — usually lower than enterprise SaaS tools like Teams or Zoom.

Winner: Nextcloud Talk — better long-term value, especially for teams or privacy-conscious users.

Use Case Breakdown

If your focus is easy calling and messaging, Skype still does the job. But if you need a full collaboration suite with data privacy, document editing, and team coordination, Nextcloud Talk is the clear winner.

Conclusion: Is Nextcloud Talk Better than Skype? 

Yes — for most professional and privacy-conscious users, Nextcloud Talk is better than Skype in 2025.

Skype is simple, familiar, and good for casual communication. But it falls short when it comes to privacy, collaboration, and modern team needs.

Nextcloud Talk:

• Gives you data control
  

• Offers E2E encryption
  

• Integrates deeply with file sharing, calendar, and more

• Works great for remote teams, businesses, and compliant organizations
  

While Skype is easy to use and quick to set up, it doesn’t provide the tools needed to support modern digital work environments.

If you’re serious about your communication — whether you’re a business, school, or privacy-conscious individual — Nextcloud Talk is the smarter Skype alternative.