With the unfortunate demise of Skype, it’s hard to go past the Signal messaging app.
Having used both apps for years it’s a shame Skype ended the way it did. Microsoft could have spun it off and started charging for it to make it viable.
Signal, in the other hand, is free and open source. The two apps are similar from a usability standpoint, with the main difference being Skype had a global directory available for user searches. Signal doesn’t have that but it will match a local phone contact with anyone who also has Signal.
A great thing about Signal is its native cross platform support. With Skype, and other apps, Linux support has been a afterthought.
TIP: Signal works well as a fast cross platform clipboard. Just pair your mobile and desktop devices and you can share text with all your devices in an instant.
If you’re looking for an efficient cross platform SMS-like app then Signal is awesome!
