Since 2007, magicJack has made it possible for users to make phone calls over the Internet while retaining their existing phone number. Its affordable plans, portability and useful features have been a defining factor allowing it to become Amazon's best-selling consumer VoIP device. Certainly, the popularity of magicJack comes from the appeal of its practical functions, which enable users to make, forward and filter both mobile and landline calls. Moreover, the brand has been implementing new upgrades to their device, optimizing network connection and improving overall voice quality. However, as pointed out by its users, magicJack requires a stable, high-speed Internet connection to work properly. Slower Internet connections usually result in poor quality calls and even cause them to be dropped altogether. Also, despite being a low-cost option, many users tend to prefer solutions that offer their services for free.
Therefore, it is convenient that users with a slower Internet connection, or people looking for a free substitute, take a look at some of the best alternatives to magicJack. Needless to say, there are many video conferencing options to choose from, and their particular usefulness can only be determined by the ability to solve the needs of each individual user. So, here are seven of the best alternatives available on the market.
Here's a list of magicJack competitors and alternatives:
Apart from serving as a messaging platform, Google Hangouts offers both video and voice calling options. As a free solution, it provides its users with the means to communicate with other Hangout members through an Internet connection, allowing up to 10 contacts to join the call. Google Hangouts is available on mobile and desktop, and while needing a working connection to make or receive calls, it doesn’t require a high-speed Internet connection to keep users on the line. Furthermore, Hangouts offers the option to buy credit to make landline or phone calls, allowing users to make international per-minute calls to numbers outside the United States and Canada.
Talky is a simple screen sharing and video chat platform that teams and groups can use to communicate with each other through the browser. Instead of relying on personal accounts, users can easily share a unique link with others in order to meet in an online room, allowing them to communicate through chat messages, voice and video. Each room supports up to 15 people and can be locked at any time to avoid letting uninvited users in. Additionally, Talky offers a screen sharing feature to enhance each user’s communication options. Despite not supporting phone and landline calls, Talky allows anyone with an Internet connection to join in a virtual conversation with others.
Being essentially an instant text messaging, video chat and voice call platform, ooVoo allows people to communicate with others through the Internet for free. However, ooVoo users can also choose to make domestic and international calls to landline and phone numbers for a small fee. Similarly to Talky, ooVoo offers users the option to connect with each other by sharing a unique link to a digital room without the need to sign up. Up to 12 users can connect to a call at the same time. In addition, both screen sharing and group calling options are supported, and a call recording feature is also available.
Available either through the browser or as an iOS application, Whereby is a free video streaming and video calling platform that users can employ to call one another without the need of signing up. Along with other notable alternatives mentioned above, Whereby makes use of shareable unique codes to allow users into a digital room to keep their conversations within the group, with the option of hosting group calls for up to 8 people. As a rule, all the essential voice and video calling options, as well as a screen sharing feature, are supported. Landline and mobile phone calls, on the other hand, are not available. The platform and all its features are accessible and completely free to use.
WhatsApp is certainly one of the best known and most popular messaging and VoIP applications out there. Being an entirely free communication option, people worldwide use it everyday due to the simplicity of its interface and the usability of its features. WhatsApp is available for Windows, iOS and Android, and allows its users to communicate exclusively with other WhatsApp members via messages, voice and video calling through an Internet connection. Despite not supporting landline or mobile calls, as well as lacking a group call option, most users agree that the platform is more than enough to solve all their communication needs.
The free Viber application provides users with a variety of options; from chat, voice, video and group calling, to file sharing features. Through Viber, people can share, send and download all types of files and documents across all the major platforms. Furthermore, it allows members to make international mobile and landline calls for a small fee, and protects their privacy by ensuring the encryption of all communication channels. Comparatively, Viber has also implemented the option of communicating through public chats in order to enhance the users’ experience.
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When it comes to magicJack, most users tend to agree that it continues to be a reliable and trustworthy option. It is important to note that, while there are hundreds of options available on the market, there is not a definitive option that is guaranteed to work for everyone. On the other hand, it is always useful to look for other possible alternatives and research every option in order to find a solution that may offer a better user experience. The list provided above intends to be a guide to other reliable options, thus presenting software solutions which allow people to make phone calls over the Internet for free.
Finally, It is clear that magicJack is here to stay, and it would be impossible to deny its success as a VoIP solution. However, that doesn’t mean that its users should be discouraged to try other alternatives. Everyday, more software providers upgrade their services to make their programs more attractive, useful and accessible, appealing to old and new audiences alike.
