The Great Switch: Switching Your Skype Incoming Number to a European or Non-US VOIP Provider (European and Non-US VOIP Alternatives)

This is just a quick update today for anyone like me who was an early adopter of Skype, conducting video calls and using an incoming UK (or other country’s) telephone number via Skype to run a business across borders while travelling the world in the early 2000s. The concept of being a “digital nomad” is now quite common, but when I bought my first Skype number (a London number, of course) to work with clients across the UK while living in Austria, the US and elsewhere, I thought I was terribly clever. And aside from a few clients who became friends, no one realised I wasn’t UK-based.

I digress.

If, like me, you are the proud owner of a Skype incoming number that’s printed on business cards, embedded in email signatures, and tucked into muscle memory, and if, like me, you have some attachment issues and don’t want to let go of a number you’ve had for 20+ years, then now’s the time to think about how to keep your number.

For those not in the know: Microsoft is retiring Skype in May 2025.

If you have an incoming Skype number and want to keep it, you’re now in the position of needing to find a new digital home for it.

And that’s what we’re looking at today, focusing on finding European or other non-US alternatives.

What’s the deal with “European providers”? [Scroll down if you know all this]

If you’ve read previous editions of this newsletter, you’ll know that I’m on a mission to move away from US-based tech companies and digital providers—in part to build digital resilience, in part to support brilliant non-US businesses, and in part as a protest against what’s happening in the US government with Trump, Vance and co. While my actions are a mere drop in the metaphorical ocean, I’m putting my money where my mouth is. You can read more here, if you’re interested.

TL;DR – The One Option That Worked for Me

No affiliate links – just my thoughts.

⭐⭐ Voipfone

After a brief panic that I might lose my beloved London number and a bit of research, I found Voipfone. They offer a free 30-day trial and a very helpful guide specifically for people wanting to port Skype numbers (see: https://www.voipfone.co.uk/solutions/skype).

Setting up an account was quick. I followed their step-by-step guide, submitted the necessary documentation, and within ten days—voilà—my Skype London number became my Voipfone London number.

They offer plenty of business-friendly features: Virtual PA scripts, on-hold music, voicemail, and more. But for my purposes, I just need my London number to forward calls to wherever I happen to be in the world. They offer packages for this, including a £5/month plan with 100 minutes, as well as a pay-as-you-go option—ideal for people like me who only receive a few incoming calls a month. Compared to my Skype setup (I believe I was paying around €60 per year, excluding call minutes), this feels fair and flexible.

Learn more: https://www.voipfone.co.uk/

Three Other Options in Europe

The Great Switch: My Journey So Far

In each update, I try to provide a quick outline of my progress in switching providers.

My switch to pCloud is now fully complete, and working perfectly. It look a little bit of time to figure out some of the differences to Dropbox, but all sorted. Happy.

• Office Suite → Migrating from MS Office to LibreOffice (started in 2025 and now an active work in progress). Still ongoing.

My switches:

• April 2025: Skype incoming number → Voipfone.
• March 2025: Calendly → SimplyBookMe.
• March 2025: Dropbox → pCloud (plus local backup).

Before this “switching” project started:

• Email & Calendar → Switched to Fastmail years ago.
• Time Tracking → Used Toggl for ages.
• Browser → Primarily use Firefox, now also looking at Vivaldi.

On the list (to assess or move):

• Newsletter tool (from Mailchimp → something else)
• Book keeping tool (from Zoho books → something else)
• CRM tool (from  Bigin → something else)
• MS Office (from MS Office → Libre Office)
• Video conferencing (from Zoom – so sad, I love Zoom! → something else)
• Online whiteboard (from Mural – so sad, I love Mural! – → something else)

And that’s it!

If you want to reduce reliance on US-based services, follow The Great Switch. Sign up for my newsletter on LinkedIn or at The Great Switch for weekly(-ish) updates, alternative software ideas, and insights into my own steps to move away from US-based digital tools and services. No ads, no affiliate links—just practical recommendations to help you make the switch, support European digital businesses (along with Open Source developers and businesses that look interesting outside the US), and build resilience in uncertain times.